“Yes, so you keep telling me.” Besotted was a rather strong word. Mother acted as if Simon had been composing love sonnets and plying Petra with trinkets and flowers. He had done no such thing. He’d told her once that he believed an excess of emotion would be frowned upon by his peers. Simon was incredibly conscious of anything smacking of impropriety. The most Petra had ever received from him was a brotherly peck on the cheek.
“I find him delightful and well-mannered,” Mother continued. “Mature beyond his years. Pendleton will make you a fine husband.”
“Then perhaps you should marry him, Mother.” Petra’s obedient manner finally slipped. She was exhausted with Mother’s litany regarding the wonderfulness of Simon. Everyone, especially Mother, expected Petra to be so bloodygratefulSimon wanted her. The entiretonhad congratulated Petra on her good fortune.
Mother gave her a hard stare. “I’ll tolerate none of your missish behavior, Petra. I see a streak of rebellion in you of late I do not care for.”
Fuming at her mother’s chastisement, Petra took a deep breath, her gloved hands automatically crawling into her lap. Clasping her fingers had been ingrained in Petra for so long, the action was nearly second nature: a sign of a well-mannered young lady, one who is seen and not heard.
“I feel I don’t know Simon as I should. If I’m going to agree to be his wife, I would like to know better the man whose children I must bear. If the Pendletons are to become my family, should I not come to know them better?”
“Bearing Simon’s children is the privilege of his wife.” A humph of frustration. “And that iswhywe are traveling to his estate, Petra. So that you may come to know each other better. At your insistence.” Mother shook her head and went back to her book. “This change in your usually obedient nature has been most noticeable since your brother’s marriage. I blame outside influences.”
Mother was referring to Arabella.
Petra turned her attention back to the window. Marriage to Simonwouldbe incredibly advantageous. He was wealthy, intelligent, and highly respected, even if some in thetonconsidered Simon a bit tightly laced. He was charming. Unfailingly polite. Handsome. But she hadn’t any great passion for him. There was no glancing at him with longing from across a crowded ballroom. Nor the racing of her pulse when he drew near.
Perhaps only time was needed. Away from London, in the country, Petra was hopeful passion would bloom between them, or at the very least, something more than friendship. Perhaps she was being unrealistic, for most marriages began with little affection.
I want what Rowan has with Arabella. A spark.
That’s why she’d insisted on this tedious journey to Simon’s home. Petra was determined to be hopeful.
I felt such mad desire once and it only took a moment.
The wild scenery of the Peak district flew past the window and transformed into an image of a large, broad-shouldered man with eyes the color of sapphires. Rude and ill-mannered Morwick may have been, but Petra had relived the kiss he’d given her thousands of times. She’d called him a monster and instead of being offended or apologizing, as any true gentleman would have, Morwick hadkissedher. And worse, she’d enjoyed the press of his lips against hers, the way his larger form had trapped her against the wall, as if he were claiming her. Morwick hadn’t even touched her, except for his mouth, but her skin heated and pulsed as if he had.
Petra pressed a hand to her stomach as her insides took an unwanted turn. She forced herself to focus on the beauty outside the coach window.
Her knowledge of the area was woefully lacking. This part of England was divided into the Dark Peak and the White Peak. The Dark Peak consisted of cliffs and hills of gritstone which rose above the moors to overshadow portions of the White Peak, littered with fields of limestone. What little she knew of the area was the result of information Simon had imparted over dinner with her parents several weeks ago. The area east of Castleton, where Simon’s estate lay, was home to the only known deposits of Blue John. The mineral was known for the distinctive purple, yellow and blue banding and was incredibly rare. Many years ago, Simon’s father had found a vein of Blue John on the land surrounding Brushbriar, and the Pendletons had become quite wealthy as a result.
The Marsh home possessed two vases made of Blue John, which Mother had proudly showed to Simon after dinner.
“I doubt I could be happy here,” Petra said, mainly to irritate her mother. “It’s quite dreary.” Perhaps Mother would take the hint and order the coach be turned around. She and Simon could continue to court when he returned to London and Petra could make her decision in familiar surroundings.
“I quite agree. I’ve never cared for the moors. Thankfully, Lord Pendleton spends most of his time in London. He’s becomeveryimportant in Parliament,” her mother reminded her for the hundredth time, not looking up from her book. “He has a lovely house in Mayfair across from a park. A wonderful address to be sure. Think of the dinners you’ll preside over.”
Petra tried to imagine herself as a politician’s wife, hosting dinner parties for London’s elite, but didn’t find the role as appealing as her mother did. Politics bored her, although Petra was involved in several charities and concerned especially with reforms affecting children. That was what had first attracted her to Simon; she’d heard him speak at a ladies luncheon on the subject. He’d been sopassionateabout the subject matter. Petra had found him incredibly appealing.
As the coach came over a rise in the road, an immense lake came into view, the water studded with large boulders, sparkling in the meager sunlight. Birds swooped down across the expanse, calling to each other. It was a serene, peaceful scene and Petra’s mood calmed. She had a sudden longing to kick off her shoes and race through the tall grass as she had before Mother had begun to groom her into the young lady she now was. It was tedious being demure all the time.
“I do hope Agnes and Tessie arrived at Lord Pendleton’s with no incident and have not shirked their duties. I shall want a lie-down when we arrive, and our clothing aired. I was unsure about sending them ahead of us, but possibly it was for the best. I’m not sure what else we could have done with you feeling ill and lingering in bed.” Mother’s brow wrinkled. “I do hope Lady Pendleton doesn’t find the appearance of our servants without us to be ill-mannered.”
“I am sure Simon’s mother is most understanding.” Mother was obsessed with appearances and the merest hint of impropriety horrified her. “You wrote her a note, after all.” It was apparent Mother’s biggest concern was Lady Pendleton andnotPetra’s physical state, for she hadn’t asked Petra how she was feeling since the coach had left the inn some hours ago. “Since you asked,” Petra jabbed at her mother, “I’m feeling marginally better.”
Mother leaned over her. “Nerves, Petra, nothing more. Why don’t you shut your eyes and try to take a nap? I’d hate—”
Mother’s words were cut off as the coach lurched violently to the left, then to the right, knocking Petra’s head sharply against the window before unseating her. The contents of her stomach, only recently settled, lurched wildly, before the coach shuddered and came to a stop.
Petra lifted her head from the windowpane with a wince, gingerly touching a finger to her temple.Bollocks, that hurt.
“DearLord. Petra, are you all right?” Her mother’s worried face swam before her. “I hope that doesn’t bruise. Goodness, whatever is Jenkins thinking, shaking us about in such a manner?”
“I’m fine, Mother.”
Satisfied, Mother sat back and clasped her gloved hands in her lap in expectation, waiting for the coach to begin moving once more.
“Perhaps an animal ran out in front of the coach,” Petra surmised. The lovely bonnet, created especially to accompany her new traveling dress, had been knocked sideways. One of the tiny blue flowers decorating the brim had fallen off. Petra discreetly picked up the flower and tucked it into the pocket of her dress, hoping her mother wouldn’t notice. Mother wished Petra to look her best for her first introduction to Lady Pendleton, and the dress had been made especially for the occasion.
