The Artistic Pursuit

Chapter 20 - The ride

Pen fidgeted in her seat, glaring at the evidence in Colin's hand. It took ten minutes before he even tried to engage with her.

"How could you Pen?"

"How could I? How could I?" She aimed her index finger at him "How could you?"

She growled "I told you, it was my secret, and you took it from me anyway. What gives you the right Colin"

She waited for him "What gives you the right. What you wrote of Miss Thompson?"

"Ah I knew that was the reason you are acting like a fool"

"You ruined her Pen. I cared for her and you ruined her. Do you not understand that. Me! That you claim is your friend. Me, that you claim you loved. How could you"

Her voice sounded strained. Getting louder with every syllable "I tried to tell you, I warned you and it was you who disregarded my warnings. I had only one choice before you were stuck with a girl that had no feelings for you whatsoever. I heard her and my mama planing her seduction. Are you really so stupid"

"Me. What a joke. You are the one putting yourself in danger with the Queen, no less"

"Why are you so angry! That I was cleverer than you. That I put you and El before myself or did you just want a reason to be angry with me"

He shook his head unsure what to say

"I saw you watching me and Benedict in the hall"

Colin's face went down unsure of a retort.

Pens eyes started to stream "Do you really hate me so much that you wish me to be unhappy"

"That is not it!" He struggled getting his words out, his lips started to tremble

"Then what in the devil is it?" She shouted so loud. That Colin barked back "Because I love you"

All went quiet. The rocking of the carriage seemed louder than it was just moments ago.

"It is too late Colin. I am courting your brother. I waited over four years to hear those words. Now. And now it is just too late"

His brain told him to stop talking but he lost his common sense five minutes ago "Do you still love me?"

"No" she lied. There was a nagging feeling at the back of her mind. She could not tell him because she also loved his brother.

He held the Pamphlet tight, rereading the words. He read them aloud

"I challenge you to double your efforts your majesty because I will not stop unless you give me a reason to"

"You will get hurt Pen, don't you see. What if Benedict finds out?"

Pen frowned "He already knows"

"So you told him and not me?"

Colin gave a hard swallow "I see"

Penelope told Benedict and not him. That felt like a slap in the face.

She tried to backtrack "I told him by accident, I thought he was speaking of my identity but he was speaking of the night at the studio"

Colin was forced to remember that painting all over again.

"Pen, why were you there?"

"You had just ran away from me. After the kiss"

He nodded. Disappointed of his actions that night. "I needed to get away for a while. I did not realise your brother would be there. My identity remained safe. I was so disguised even your brother did not realise it was me"

"Lady Galway was my escape" she spoke in an Irish accent.

Colin's eyes grew wide "Why run away?"

"Why did you?"

"Because I didn't want to admit to you how I felt about the kiss"

"Men have the freedom to do whatever they choose. I had to play pretend just to get out of Mayfair"

"It was still dangerous"

"I've been in worse danger"

Shit. What will Ben think when he sees me coming out of the carriage.

"Can you drop me outside my home. I will walk to yours and talk to Ben" the idea of Ben thinking something had happened between her and Colin it would break my heart.

"Very well" like she would give him a choice in the matter.

Benedict was taking a stroll when he witnessed Penelope getting out of the family carriage. He froze in his path.

The carriage rode off and Pen started walking across the square only to see Ben standing there.

"Ben!" She looked at his sour expression.

She stepped closer to him grabbing his arm "Trust me, it is not what you think but we do need to talk"

"Very well" was all he said as he escorted her over to his home. Sneaking her straight upstairs to the study.

He turned to face her "Explain!"

"I was leaving a package for my distributor at St Agnes when Colin was suddenly behind me"

"Did he follow you?"

"No, he would not have realised it was me"

She held his arm "but Ben, he knows, he took the writing and read them and forced me to travel home with him"

She smoothed her hand down his arm to meet his "There was a lot of shouting, mostly on my end. I hate to know what you thought happened"

"You are well though?"

She nodded "Ben?"

"Hmmm"

"We are alone in here"

He did not think about that until she said. He stepped closer to her.

She looked up at him. Her eyes burning into his. His thumb traced her bottom lip as he pulled her chin up a little.

"Pen. I need to court you properly. Not rush things. You deserve that"

"Ben, I don't think I am that patient"

The air got hot and heavy. Their lips were so close. Benedict made a fist, forcing himself to stop "Until tomorrow, Pen"

Her voice so seductively soft "Until tomorrow"

"I will walk you out, before you are seen"

"One more thing though..." he hated himself for even asking "... Do you still love Colin?"

"I don't want to lie to you" his light dimmed a little as she said the words "I do"