Six
“Kate! Marie!” Penelope exploded into their private sitting room after bidding her unexpected caller farewell. “This is a disaster. Lord John said he was compelled to call on me. Compelled.”
“So?” the sisters asked in tandem, staring up at her with matching owlish eyes.
“Don’t you see? The love potion worked.”
Kate dropped her book and stood, clasping her hands in excitement. “Oh, that’s wonderful.”
“No,” Penelope cried in exasperation. “It is not wonderful at all. It’s awful.” She flopped into a chair, resting her head in her palm.
“Come now, Penny. It isn’t that bad,” Marie placated. “He is very handsome and a war hero I’m told.”
Kate all but squealed with excitement. “Another officer?”
“A major I think.”
“Just imagine,” Kate gushed, “he’ll be married in his uniform. Oh, Penelope, what a sight it will be.”
Penelope rolled her eyes. “Married? Haven’t you heard a word I’ve said?”
Marie and Kate shared one of their annoying looks before turning back to Penelope. “We thought you wanted to get married.”
“Of course I want to get married, but not like this. And not to him. He is Colton’s brother for Heaven’s sake.” Penelope sighed, shoving away the disappointment tugging at her heartstrings. For just a moment in the parlor she’d connected with John. She’d looked down at the Easter lily and then up into his eyes. A little spark had lit between them, leaping from his deep brown eyes and warming her from the inside out. For the space of a heartbeat she’d completely forgotten her heartbreak, believed he was an erstwhile suitor bringing her a truly thoughtful gift. Until she’d remembered the Gypsy potion and asked after his motives. She drew a slow breath before continuing. “I want to marry a man who chooses to marry me, not one induced to do so from a magic spell.”
“Then why did you use the potion at all?” Kate sat beside her.
“Because… because…” Penelope shrugged, defeated. “I never thought it would work.” She glanced up at her cousins. “But now we must set this to rights. Where is Corinne?”
Marie pursed her lips for a long moment as though contemplating their options or mayhap even regretful of the turn of events. “She is helping Mrs. Hargrave polish silver. I’ll fetch her.”
Within ten minutes their maid was fully aware of Penelope’s situation.
“How can we reverse the potion?”
Corrine slumped back in the chair, staring up at Penelope with wide, unblinking eyes. “I don’t know how to undo the potion, milady. No one has ever asked me that before, and to be perfectly honest…” Her gaze shifted from Penelope to Marie and Kate. “I never believed it would work.”
