Bewitched (10 page)

Bewitched

Ten

John stood on the street corner in one o
f the working class districts of
London later that afternoon.

An oversized livery wagon pulled by two dapple-gray steeds rattled down the muddy, half-frozen street. People bundled in heavy wool hurried along the sidewalks, rushing in and out of buildings
,
going about their
daily
business. The smell of
fresh bread rolled from a well
-
maintained, albeit shabby, inn. Through the window he spied the pale face of Simon’s mother, Mrs. Carlson, seated at a table with his three younger brothers. John had set them up with a hot hearty meal, and arrangements for a warm, dry room until more permanent arrangements could be made.

“Mr. Jeffries is in there?”
John pointed
to the main door of
the
run down
rooming house
Mrs. Carlson and her children had been relegated to
.

Simon nodded.

John twisted
the emerald family ring off his little finger. He handed the piece to Simon. “You give this to Jeffries just like we discussed, all right
?
”

“I will, milord.” The boy took the ring and darted across the street. John followed at a more leisurely pace
.
Through the window he spied Simon approach
ing
the wooden counter. A
man of middling years
stepped out and stooped over the lad.
No doubt Mr. Jeffries.

Simon
handed the man the ring.

Jeffries
’
round face reddened with rage. “You only brought ba
ck one bloomin’ piece? Yer mother
will pay fer this.” He grabbed the boy’s coat and closed his fist around the ring, raising it over his head with malicious intent.

Simon flinched hard.

John threw the door
open with a violent crash. Jeff
ries startled
, losing his grasp on Simon’s shirt. Simon quickly darted behind John, panic and relief lining his little face.
The low burning anger within John roared to life. He had no patience or empathy for those who would use or abuse children.

Jeffries gulped, raking a nervous glare over John. “Wh-who are you?” he asked, obviously unused to ranking gentleman in his rooming house.

“Someone with little use for thieves.” John stormed into the lobby, closing in on Jeffries.
An ivory handled letter opener with an elephant carved in the handle winked from the counter. John’s frown deepened.
“And you’ve stolen from some very good friends of mine.”

“N-not I. Th-the boy.” Jeffries scrambled backward, dropping John’s ring to the floor.

Stepping over the ring, John snared the worn
ascot
around Jeffries’s neck and dragged
the fiend to within an inch of his face. “I know all about how you’ve used this lad and lorded his mother’s poor health over him.”

Jeffries gulped. Dread pooled in his gray eyes
.

“What have you done with the stolen belongings?”

“M-most of it’s s-sold,”
he stammered. “But there are a few things still locked up in me office.”

“Good.” John released his collar. “The magistrate will be very interested to see that.”

“If you go to the magistrate the imp will be arrested as well,” Jeffries threatened, voice  wrought with desperation.

John pierced him with a silencing glare. “Not if
I have anything to say about it
.
” He
swiped the letter opener from the countertop and turned back to Simon. John
stopp
ed short as he came
face to face with Penelope.

*
             
*
             
*

Penelope stood between her uncle and Simon, staring at John with a combination of shock and
p
ride. Warm ti
ngles floated through her veins and sailed straight to her heart. Who would have imagined he’d go to such length to help this boy.

John appeared equally stunned to see her. “What are you doing here?”

Penelope opened her mouth to reply, but her uncle spoke first. “My niece insisted we see after the welfare of Simon’s family. Wouldn’t let me alone until I ordered up the carriage.”

The ghost of a
smile tugged at John’s lips as his gaze fell warm upon her. A twinkle of wonder lit his eye. “Did she now?”

Their eyes locked across the small room. Bonded. Penelope’s breath caught. Something in John’s eyes—warmth… tenderness… affection
… shivered through her. And yet it was more than that. Stronger. Trapped in his eyes,
a wealth of
emotions
stirred within her. She trembled again. Throat dry. What did it mean? Not even Colton had inspired such a powerful reaction
,
and she’d fancied herself in love with him.

Love.

Could this be… love?

Impossible
. She’
d only just met John.
A
nd yet…
Once again s
he sensed herself sinking deeper into the dark oblivion of his beautiful eyes. S
he
knew
him
on an intimate, soulful level
.
What she felt for John stemmed far deeper than anything she’d experienced with Colton.
She
blinked, drawing a sharp breath
, reining in her thoughts
.
What did she know of intimacy?
Memory of his betrayal just that
afternoon—
his
being bribed to court her—flashed
through her mind
, s
parking her back to reality.
Penelope jerked her head to the side, severing the link of their eyes.
Obviously she had no idea what real love entailed.

“
L
ady Penelope,
”
Simon exclaimed, his youthful face glowing with excitement. “You’ll never believe what Lord John has done for us.”

*
             
*
             
*

An hour later, Mr. Jeffries was in the hands of the magistrate, and Simon had been returned to his family. Mrs. Carlson proved tearfully grateful for the f
ood, better living arrangements, and
the
promise of
medical care provided by
the Duke of Havenward’
s personal physician. John and
Penelope’s uncle also promised to be in touch about
a
job once Mrs. Carlson’s health improved.

Outside the inn,
John knelt to the boy’s eye level. “Remember, Simon, you can always ask Lord La
ndon or me for help if you
need it.”

“I will,
S
ir.”

“That’s a boy.” John ruffled the lad’s hair as he stood
.

Unexpected warmth suffused Penelope as she watched John interact so tenderly with the child. Confused, she spun away and hurried to her uncle’
s coach, reminding herself that
John had no interest in finding a wife. Penelope knew this well. Kate had spoken with Mrs. Turner who knew every detail of the scandal surrounding John’s first marriage. Penelope had no desire to further entangle her emotions with another unattainable man.

“Lady Penelope!” John’s call sent sharp tremors shooting through her.

Penelope stopped short, not wishing to make a scene or heighten her uncle’s suspicions. She squeezed her eyes shut, drew a ragged breath and then turned to face John.

“Penelope,” he repeated softly, expression gruff and troubled.
A flicker of hope lit within her.
“Could I beg a moment to apologize for my deplorable behavior?
” He hesitated.
“
My intent was never to cause you harm.”

Penelope sighed, disappointment settling in her breast. She didn’t know what she’d expected for hi
m to say or do. Drop to a knee and profess to love her? Beg her hand in marriage? No. Penelope was quickly coming to realize
just
how fanciful the prospect of finding love was.
The poets lied. Love was for a select few and the rest of mankind must simply make do. Humiliation set back in
. How silly
she’d been to believe in that love potion.

“There is no need to concern yourself with my feelings, my lord. Thank you for helping Simon’s family.” She lifted her skirt
s
and turned to the waiting carriage.
Briefly she hesitated, half turning back to him.
“
I’ll ask you not to call on me again
.
Goodbye.
”

*
             
*
             
*

Fed up with lies and petty insecurities, John
marched through the snow to Colton’s club.
He could not banish Penelope’s broken expression from his mind. Whatever
she claimed, he’d hurt her. Colton’s butler had informed John that
the duke would likely dine
at
Townsends
and then play cards
late into the night
.
John was not inclined to wait for Colton’s return.

“Lord John,
” the door attendant said. “Might I…”

“
No.” John
cut the servant off
. “
Where is my
brother
?”

The attendant blinked, momentarily flustered.
“
Th-the duke is
in the back, milord.”

With a curt nod, John strode deeper into the establishment, gaze fixed forward to avoid any unwanted greeting or conversations. He wasn’t in the mood.
Within moments he spotted Colton’s dark head. He sat at a table with two other
gentlemen
John didn’t readily recognize.

Colt glanced up
and
grinned
.
“John. Would you care to join us?” He motioned to one of the open chairs.

“It’s done,” John stated without preamble
, fixing his brother with a steel gilded glare
. “Keep your bloody urn. Penelope knows of the ruse.”

Colton’s jovial expression faltered.
He shot to his feet and
jerked his head toward a
n open
doorway
. He
stomped into the
abandoned hallway.

John quickly followed.

Colt whirled, eyes flashing.
“What do you mean she knows?”

John sighed. He didn’t wish to delve into the tale of fairytale love potions and
G
ypsy hokum. “I told her.
I know what it is to be toyed with
,
and s
he needed to know before
we
hurt
her
any further.”

“Hurt her? How would she be hurt? You were supposed to call on her a few times and make her feel special
.
”

“And then what?” John demanded. “Was I supposed to simply drop the chit without a word?”

Colton raked a palm through his hair, frustrated. “I suppose I hadn’t considered that.”

“That’s the problem, Colt. You
never
plan ahead.” John hesitated. “Or did you believe no girl would be interested in me?”

Sheepish, Colton met John’s gaze. “Perhaps.”

“Regardless,” John said, pushing the subject forward, “she knows
you put me up to it,
and we did hurt her feelings.”
Guilt seized John’s heart. Guilt and a few other rusty emotions he’d nearly forgotten
existed
.
“Are you ready to explain fully what this whole charade was about?”

For a second
,
Colton’s staid expression faltered. He looked haunted. In the blink of an eye, the
vulnerability
evaporated, and he stubbornly set his jaw. “
Leave it alone, Johnny. You are no longer involved.
”

Bewitched

Eleven

“
My
,
you had some excitement while the girls and I were out!” Aunt Laura exclaimed, breezing into Penelope’s bedroom that evening. Kate and Marie
rushed in behind her
.

“Oh, yes.” Penelope quickly sat up, resting the book she’d been attempting to read on the
blue and green
coverlet. “I never would have guessed little Simon had been stealing from us.”

“Yes, yes, George told me all about that.
”
Aunt Laura waved dismissively. “
But Colonel Holbrook proposed.
Penelope, that is
wonderful!
Everything we’ve hoped for.
”

Penelope’s heart sank and she glanced down at her hands, folding them nervously in her lap.

Kate and Marie
sat on either side of her. Kate reached over and clasped Penelope’s hands. “Do you want to marry Colonel Holbrook?”

Penelope looked up, meeting her cousin’s worried gaze. She opened her mouth to reply, but no words came readily to her lips. All afternoon she’d tried to picture herself as Colonel Holbrook’s wife. Standing at his side, sharing his bed, being his partner in life,
but all she could see was John.

John set
fire
to her blood.

The memory of John’s hands
made her hungry for more while the mere thought of Colonel Holbrook’s intimate touch turned her stomach.
“I… I don’t know,” she
whispered, afraid to look at her aunt.

Penelope knew she could not rely on the generosity of her aunt and uncle forever. They would never turn her out, but being responsible for th
ree girls out in society was exhausting, and m
arriage offers weren’t exactl
y pouring in for Penelope
.

“
Kate
, Marie, leave Penelope and I to a mome
nt alone.”

For once the twins did not argue
with their mother
and filed slowly from the room after giving Penelope encouraging hugs.

Laura sighed, perching on the mattress beside Penelope. “I know you were hoping for a love match,” she said after a long moment. “When I was your age, I was much the same.”

Penelope glanced into her aunt’s kind eyes.

“My marriage to your
u
ncle was arranged by my parents
,
and I was terribly disappointed at the time.” A small, wistful smile quirked Laura’s lips. “I had grand ideas of meeting a dashing gentleman and falling madly in love.”

“Not an uncommon dream,” Penelope said.

“No.” Aunt Laura turned to Penelope with a warm grin. “And I found that love, Penelope. Not in the way I would have expected
, however. It took time,
and work,
but
I f
ell in love with the very man I married.”

Penelope gulped. While her aunt’s words were meant
to be comforting,
she
could not shed a sense of
suffocating
panic.

“
What of Lord John?
Do you have reason to believe he might propose?”

Penelope’s heart twisted. “
No.
”

The pair lapsed into a companionable silence.

“Well, there is no need to give the colonel an answer immediately. It is often best to make men wait a bit.” Laura winked
conspiratorially
. “Come, it is time to dress for Lady St. John’s dinner party.

Penelope stifled a groan.
The last thing she wanted was to attend another simpering party. Heaven help her if Colton, John or Colonel Holbrook attended. If she
didn’t see any
of them for
another
fifty years it would be too soon.

“I know you didn’t feel up to shopping this afternoon, but I found you the most beautiful ribbon,” Laura chattered on.
“And I think a bit of distraction will be good for you. I’ll send the girls in. You can all prepare together.”

*
             
*
             
*

Heaven, apparently, was
not
on Penelope’s side that evening. While it didn’t appear Lord John or Colonel Holbrook
was
in
attendance
, she spotted Colton almost immediately.
Humiliation burned in her cheeks. She spun quickly to avoid his notice
, and
ducked into a corner beside a large potted plant
.
She’d been lagging far enough behind Marie and Kate that neither of the twins noticed her quick withdrawal.

Penelope drew a ragged breath and
Penny
ked
from behind one of the fat green leaves. Her gaze collided with Colton’s. She sucked in a horrified breath and jerked back behind the plant.

Too late.

Colton glanced surreptitiously about the room and then strode directly toward her.

Oh, dear Lord…
Penelope’s brain whirled, searching for some escape from a confrontation with the duke. None appeared forthcoming. She’d successfully—if unwittingly—cornered herself.

“Lady Penelope,” Colton said quietly, stopping a respectful distance away from her.

“Your Grace.” Penelope
stepped away from the plant and
dipped briefly, wishing to stem the embarrassed heat racing down her neck.

“I won’t bother you with unnecessary pleasantries,” he continued. “My brother informed me that you are aware of our… arrangement regarding his paying you a few visits.”

Penelope bristled, squaring her shoulders, and meeting his dark glower head on. How dare he
approach her about the humiliating matter
!
“There is no need to explain, Your Grace.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, my cousins are waiting.
”
She began to step around him.

He quickly parried the move.
“Penelope, wait, please, I only wanted to apologize.”

She
halted, skewering the top button of his silver vest with a piercing glare.
“Very well then, you’ve apologized.” She attempted to shove past him a second time, but he snared her arm just above the elbow.

“I’m sorry,” he
insisted
, a hint of vulnerability ringing through his tone. Penelope paused, glancing into his eyes. “I led you on last summer and t
hen t
urned my back without a word
.”

Anger
flared. “So you felt it necessary to bribe your jaded brother
in
to court
ing
me?”

Colton
hesitated
,
chagrined
. “Not my greatest scheme
I’ll grant you
.
”
He flashed
a crooked
smile.

Penelope cocke
d an eyebrow, unimpressed by his flirtatious ploy
. Rather than find his expr
ession adorable
as she used to, she was totally unaffected.
The prospect was oddly freeing.

His
smile fell and his
gaze
grew serious
.
“
I—I wanted you to feel special. Last summer circumstances changed
,
and rather than further our relationship, I had no choice
but
to cut it short.”

“Did my father’s display in the House of Lords affect your change of heart?”

“No,” he replied quickly. Too quic
kly. “Not entirely,” he amended. The duke sighed heavily.
“I felt guilty
for my treatment of you
. Somehow I thought you’d feel better if a gentleman paid you court. I thought it might do my brother some good as well.”

Penelope
closed her eyes for a moment. John’s brooding visage stared back at her, wrenching her heart. The raw pain of learning their meetings had been orchestrated to assuage Colton’s guilt grated her nerves.
How the brothers must be laughing at her.
After a long moment she opened her eyes.

Colton gazed down at her, expression thick with genuine concern. Penelope’s anger faltered.
Who was she to judge the good intentions of others? After all, she’
d set out to dose the duke
with a love potion.
Sh
e gave her head a wry shake
.
“
You meant no harm
, Colton, but a bit of honesty might have prevented
all
of this…
discomfort.
”

*
             
*
             
*

“You’ll be glad to know I apologized to Lady Penelope,” Colton stated, striding into the breakfast room the following morning.

Shocked, John glanced from his steaming pile of eggs and sausage to his elder brother. “Jesus, Colt, it’s only half past seven. What are you doing up?” Normally John believed it would take an act of parliament to drag
Colton
from his bed before noon.

“Did you hear what I said about Penelope?” Colton demanded, yanking a chair back from the table. He didn’t immediately sit.

John carefully set his fork on his plate, contemplating his brother’s dark mood. “You apologized?”

“Yes.”

“How did she take it?”

Colton raked a palm through his hair and dropped heavily onto the chair. “I don’t know.
She looked damned upset.”

John could imagine. The vision of her broken face the day before refused to give him peace.”

“I suppose it’s of no matter,” Colt went on. “I understand she is to marry Holbrook.”

“H-holbrook?” Cold misery poured through John’s veins, dousing his appetite.

“Yes,” Colton replied. “I expect a formal announcement will be made a
t
the
Landon’s
Valentine’s Day
ball
to
morrow
night.”