Part 17 (2/2)
”Thank you for this wonderful gift.” She took the smallest step closer, the slimmest fraction from his delicious lips. His head tilted, only a hair's breadth, the scant s.p.a.ce between them quickly evaporating.
”I don't know why you're thanking me. You said the package came with no card.”
She could feel the soft heat of his words and something akin to excitement unfurled in her stomach, and lower, awakening desire all over again. She placed her palms flat against the wall of his chest and the deep thud of his heart beneath her palm beat in tune with her own. Arousal flittered through her, tempting her to be naughty.
”Penelope.” The word of warning was more romantic murmur. ”Your sister may return at any time.” Without fail, he sought to protect her.
”I doubt it.” She sighed with gratification and slid her hands up to his shoulders. They were incredibly strong shoulders. Here was a man who would protect her and carry her troubles as surely as he carried his own. ”Aubry is looking for my ivory embroidered gloves, is she not?”
He nodded in answer, his eyes fixed upon her lips.
”Well.” She couldn't keep the smile from her voice. ”Those gloves are here in my pocket.”
”You little minx, sending your sister on a fool's errand so I might capture a kiss.”
He began a slow descent to her mouth, but she objected promptly. ”It would be shamelessly poor manners to take advantage of this situation. I'm unchaperoned and helplessly alone.”
She'd gone up on tippy-toe. Their lips separated by a breath, a sweet enticement, the charming cleft in his chin, each element of their embrace perfectly in place. She grabbed the ends of his collar. ”Good thing I've never been a stickler for etiquette.” And Penelope brought her mouth to his.
Chapter Twenty-Two.
Lightheaded from their stolen kisses, Penelope meandered into the front hall a short time later. Phineas left to pursue an errand and she bade him goodbye with a blissful smile, the intensity of his kiss stinging her lips with pleasure. With the intention of going above stairs to find Aubry and call off the search for her gloves, she entered the foyer as the door opened and a squeal of delight rang out. A pet.i.te young lady swept into the hall and bolted to embrace Jenkins with affection. Not intending to gawk, Penny noted the visitor's perfectly coiffed hair, a similar shade to Phin's, and her impeccable traveling habit, the ideal shade of yellow.
The visitor approached and clasped her hands within her own, words tumbling out faster than Penny could follow.
”You must be Penelope. My mother wrote me about your visit with your sister. I'm so happy to meet you. I'm Julia Betcham.”
The vivacious greeting proved a little overwhelming and as Julia linked her arm, Aubry entered the foyer anxious to investigate the noise and commotion. Introductions followed and the three ladies advanced to the parlor where Jenkins a.s.sured refreshments would arrive with haste. They fell into friendly conversation and tea was served as Julia turned to Aubry, a mischievous smile on her lips.
”Is it true my mother hired Monsieur Andre to teach you French? He's a terribly strict taskmaster. Phineas and I never made him proud as we struggled through the language.”
Julia appeared as affable as her brother and Penny warmed with the sudden thought if everything resolved neatly, she would gain not just a new friends.h.i.+p, but a sister of the heart in kind to Lady Fenhurst's relations.h.i.+p with Dorothy Livingston.
Aubry's implicit smirk answered Julia's question. With a little breath she launched into a few stilted sentences to showcase what she had learned so far.
”Bonjour, Mademoiselle Julia, chere amie.”
Julia's giggle escaped, but she tried to stifle the rest of her laughter. ”Oh no, you didn't mean that.” She leaned over and grasped Aubry's hand in an encouraging squeeze, her sunny disposition contagious. ”What did you want to say?”
”Oh dear, I meant to express we would be great friends. It's the same phrase your brother uses when speaking to my sister. I have it right, do I not?”
Aubry glanced in her direction and Penny nodded in affirmation, an impish smile revealed as she tried to explain. ”Aubry and I thought it implied friends.h.i.+p. I do consider your brother a good friend.”
A glint of delight sparkled in Julia's eyes. ”My, now this is interesting. My brother may consider you more than a friend. I daresay Phineas would never use the words chere amie lightly. Are you sure it's what he called you?”
There was no denying Julia's hopeful smile, but there was also no mistaking his words. Phineas used the phrase more than once whenever they'd shared a tender moment. Penelope remembered each occurrence as if engraved upon her heart.
”Yes, I'm certain, and now more than curious. If the term doesn't mean dear friend, please tell us the translation.” She placed her hand atop her sister's where it rested on the chaise. Could she dare dream it a term of endearment? A whisper of true affection?
”Chere amie does imply friends.h.i.+p, but the most intimate kind. It means cherished loved one. A man would never use the term lightly, most especially my brother. If Phineas confessed emotion, I know he's smitten. He's never told a falsehood in his life. The words could only come straight from his heart.” She paused, her smile lessening the smallest bit before she continued. ”Well, I couldn't be happier. Of course, that is, as long as you feel the same.”
Penelope's eyes flared at the path of the conversation, but then with opportune timing the Countess rushed into the room. A flurry of disorder followed. Ecstatic her daughter had arrived, Lady Fenhurst could not ask questions quickly enough nor wait for the answers.
”You look wonderful. Brighton has proven the answer for your melancholy.” She hugged Julia for the third time. ”You received your brother's letter? He explained everything to you?”
Julia's easy smile faltered and Penelope realized mother and daughter wished for time alone. She nabbed Aubry's hand and they excused themselves, hurrying upstairs to discuss their new friend and more to the point, the interesting French words chere amie.
Much to Penelope's disappointment, Phineas did not return for dinner and sent word he'd been detained. They may have shared a bevy of delightful kisses that morning, but she yearned to see him again. Dinner conversation was lively though and all four ladies found a great deal of laughter when, in the middle of the dessert course, Mon Ami fluttered to the table and perched on Lady Fenhurst's high-backed dining chair, scaring the Countess out of her wits with a squawk of the highest decibel. Everyone was startled, and Penny secretly wished Phineas could have enjoyed the scene. It was the first time she ever heard Lady Fenhurst refer to the parrot in less than flattering terms, French or no French. Jenkins managed to lure the bird into its cage using a seedcake to gain his interest. Then the cage door was wired shut now that Mon Ami had learned a new trick.
Later when everyone dispersed for the evening, Penelope meandered through the townhouse, unsettled and curious about Phin's prolonged absence. She couldn't keep him from her thoughts for more than two minutes, didn't he miss her even a smidgeon? With a furtive glance over her shoulder to spy servants in sight, she climbed the backstairs full knowing it was wrong to walk past his bedchamber door, yet she couldn't seem to help herself.
”Penny, what are you doing up here?”
Good heavens, she forgot Julia shared the floor. She whipped around and tripped over her words to form a suitable excuse. ”Oh my, I must have been daydreaming. I walked right past my door...”
Julia's brow furrowed in confusion as she stepped from her bedchamber.
”And up the stairs, and into this hallway...” Penelope backed away, her slippers catching on the plush hall runner. ”Silly me. I need to get my head out of the clouds.”
Julia smiled, a large knowing smile, but Penny wasted no more time and turned so abruptly her skirts curled around her legs as she dashed down the hall.
She was out of breath when she neared her bedchamber, but before she could calm, an arm shot from the shadows, catching her around the waist and reeling her in.
”Aah, there you are,” Phineas murmured, as though he'd found her by accident.
She was pulled flush against him and dragged back into the shadows with lightning finesse. The antic.i.p.ation that built during the day, her hope to see him, to kiss him again, burst like a firework once lit. His arm tightened around her waist when she made no reply, but truly, she needed a minute to digest the wonderful sensations flooding every point of her body.
”Phineas.” Her hushed whisper was further m.u.f.fled against the cloth of his cravat. He loosened his hold, but the heat of his body remained. ”You missed dinner.”
”I missed you.” He nibbled at her neck, his hot mouth finding an especially sensitive area. ”And I'm starved. You have no idea.”
She grinned, her heart full.
”What are you smiling about?” His words vibrated against her throat, the tantalizing sensation humming over her skin as his lips continued to explore.
Somehow his hands moved to her ribcage and were making steady progress upward. She needed to stop him, after all they were in the hallway and anyone might happen upon them.
”Aubry is in the drawing room reading French to my mother.”
He read her thoughts effectively then his thumbs pa.s.sed over her nipples, now pebbled and tight against her bodice, and she bit her lip to force back a moan of pleasure.
”No wonder that bottom lip is so delectable. You're always mistreating it. Here, let me see.” He captured her mouth in a ravenous kiss, nothing at all like the pleasant ones from earlier in the day.
There was no mistaking the intention of this kiss.
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