The Unexpected Bride by Elizabeth Rolls

Author:Elizabeth Rolls
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-09-29T04:00:00+00:00

The following morning Penelope arose and sent a message to the stables to find out when it would be convenient for Johnson to ride out with her. The answer came back before she was out of her bath that Johnson would be at her disposal whenever she wished.

Penelope thought about this carefully as she dried herself. ‘Very well, Ellen. Please lay out my riding habit, and then when I am dressed you may send someone to tell Johnson that I shall be down directly after breakfast.’

‘Yes, my lady.’

‘And, Ellen.’

‘My lady?’

‘I think I will go for a good long walk after my ride and take something with me to eat. Just fruit, bread and cheese will do, and whatever you would like to eat if you will come with me.’

Ellen blinked in surprise. ‘Don’t you think you’ll get tired, my lady?’ Then, remembering her place, ‘I mean, of course I’ll come, but…’

Penelope set her jaw and said firmly, ‘No buts. Just lay out my habit and think about what you’d like to eat for lunch!’

Ellen did as she was told and shortly, arrayed for riding, Penelope made her way down to the breakfast parlour. As she passed along the corridors and galleries she told herself firmly that she would not, absolutely would not give her husband the slightest reason to think she cared about his attitude towards her. If he felt like being friendly, or even amorous, she would simply be polite. Constant rejections when she overstepped some invisible boundary were too hurtful.

It did not occur to her that Peter was the one who kept on stepping over the emotional boundaries which he had set for their relationship.

Peter rose to his feet at her entrance and laid down his morning paper. ‘Good morning, Penelope. Would you care for a cup of tea?’

‘Thank you, my lord, that would be lovely.’ She congratulated herself silently on the cool, but polite tone of her voice.

It was on the tip of Peter’s tongue to remonstrate with her for being so formal but he decided to let it pass. Something in her face warned him to tread warily. She was wearing what her mother and sisters would have described as ‘Penny’s keep-out look’.

He poured her tea and set it down before her. Observing the snugly fitted habit, he enquired, ‘Were you planning to ride this morning Penelope?’

‘Thank you, my lord. Yes, I have sent a message down to the stables and Johnson is expecting me after breakfast.’

Peter sat down and thought about this. He knew perfectly well that he had behaved badly the previous day and that he should offer to escort his wife, but her very next words showed how little that would be appreciated.

‘I think I shall enjoy riding out with Johnson,’ she said sweetly. ‘He seems very easy to talk to. And afterwards Ellen and I are going to take Gelert for a long walk with a picnic lunch.’

‘Good heavens, girl! You’ll be exhausted!’ he exclaimed before he could stop himself.

Penelope looked amused and replied, ‘You must not concern yourself about me.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.