A Penny's Worth of Affection novel Chapter 74

Penny gathered the hem of her skirt to avoid the damp earth of the garden, thankfully deserted as the evening air was too cold to permit any outside walks. She wrapped her arms around herself, wishing she had a shawl to ease the biting cold, allowing her skirts to brush unheeded against the dirt. The solitude eased her heartache somewhat, and she immersed herself in observing the frozen flowers until a rustle drew her attention.

"I wondered where you had got to." Alasdair smiled as he came to stand beside her, shrugging out of his jacket to drape it over her shoulders.

"Thank you," Penny said, grateful for the warmth of the jacket. "I needed to get some fresh air. It is quite stifling in there."

"Indeed. Lovely wedding though." Alasdair studied the flowers intently for a moment, then sighed and turned to face her. "May I ask a somewhat personal question, Miss Inglewood?"

Penny nodded, giving him a curious look. "Of course. Please ask me anything."

"Please know that if you do not wish to provide an answer, I understand completely."

She laid a hand on his arm. "Please. Ask?"

He hesitated for a moment as though debating whether to ask, then squared his shoulders in decision. "Forgive my forwardness, but I have been wondering about this..." He sighed and ran a hand through his red hair. "Newbridge, is he courting you, or perhaps you are in love?"

"Oh!" Penny said, at a loss for words. She could hardly fault him for asking given the strange circumstances surrounding her relationship with Phillip. She thought for a moment, mulling her answer over in her mind. Phillip was most certainly not courting her, but could she deny her feelings for him? She shut her eyes, and instantly, an image of him flirting shamelessly with Laura Talbot swam before her. She opened her eyes with a small gasp and shook her head. "No, he is not courting me, and I am not in love with him."

A look of relief swept over Alasdair's face, and he smiled brightly, reaching for her hand to place a kiss upon it. "I am most glad to hear that, Miss Inglewood, very happy indeed."

Penny managed a small smile, even though her heart ached. She was filled with guilt for denying her feelings for Phillip, but she had to accept the truth. Phillip would never love her, but with Alasdair, she was certain to be comfortable, and hopefully, love would come soon enough. "I am happy you find the answer pleasing," she whispered, head lowered to stare at the ground.

"Then I will wait no further to press my suit." Alasdair took both her hands in his and looked deep into her eyes, his grey eyes anxious and eager. "I earnestly pledge you my heart and my home if you will do me the honour of becoming my wife."

The fire burning brightly in the study cast long shadows over the room, partially obscuring Penny's features from her father's scrutiny. "Are you certain this is what you want?" Sir Inglewood asked, furrowing his brows as he studied his daughter intently.

She shifted in her seat in front of his desk and lowered her head bashfully to study her hands folded primly on her lap for a few moments before she nodded. "Yes, Papa. Alasdair is a good man, and I believe I will be happy as his wife," she replied in a quiet voice, still engrossed in her hands. Then she looked up and smiled at her father. "It is what I want."

Sir Inglewood leaned back against the high-backed leather chair and regarded his daughter, deep in thought. He idly drummed his fingertips on the desk littered with books and knickknacks accumulated from his travels, the sound echoing loudly in the silence of the room. Not for the first time, he wished his wife were still alive, for she would have been able to correctly judge the play of emotions running across his eldest daughter's face. All he could do now was give his consent and hope to God Penny would find some happiness with this Scotsman just as his younger daughter had.

Finally, he sighed and leaned forward. "I have spoken at length with Mr. Lachlan, and I have no doubts as to his integrity and soundness. So if you are sure of your decision, I have no objections to the match. But I must say I am a bit put off by this nonsense about getting married in Scotland. An English wedding will do just fine, and why the haste? A week is not enough time to contract a wedding."

Penny chuckled. "We decided there is simply no need for a prolonged engagement. And I do not want a big wedding. After all, I am already twenty-six. Besides, Lucy has had a big wedding, and surely that is more than enough festivity? And I want to be married in Scotland, Papa. That decision is mine."

"Very well." Her father rose from his chair and sighed. "We will come down to Scotland in a week's time. I take it you and your young man will be leaving much earlier?"