At least Louisa seemed to be trying to put her Cheltenham tragedy behind her. She was laughing and dancing with one of Sir Jasper’s friends, looking not at all as if the day before she had been on the verge of a hysterical scene at a picnic. She had been so good all evening. Nev felt something loosen in his chest; Louisa was the darling little sister he remembered again. She didn’t hate him. All that had been wrong with her was a touch of the blue devils. He could still fix this.
If Percy left the neighborhood, she would forget him quick enough. If only Sir Jasper had not clumsily tried to be generous and invited Thirkell.
Thirkell was talking to his cousin across the room, and it occurred to Nev that he could still appeal to Thirkell for help. Thirkell might be angry with him, but surely he would see reason for Louisa’s sake.
He made his way around the dance floor. “Thirkell, Miss Lovelace.” He bowed over Cousin Harriet’s hand. “I hope I’m not intruding.”
Thirkell became very preoccupied with his fob. “Evening, Nev.” Nev’s heart sank.
Harriet smiled at him. “Of course you’re not intruding. I was about to take myself off anyway. I’m engaged to Mr. Avery for the next dance and I want to get a glass of punch first.”
“Try the lemonade instead,” Thirkell told her.
“But I like punch.”
“It’s not very good punch.”
Nev wasn’t listening. He remembered, suddenly, the last time he had spoken to Harriet. The three of them had been supposed to lend Harriet countenance, and instead he had engaged her for two dances and then run off without dancing them. “Miss Lovelace, I-I just wanted to tell you that I’m very sorry for my shabby behavior, when we met. I am ashamed to remember it.”
She blushed and smiled at him. “I was very angry at the time, but I assure you I’d quite forgotten. That was the night you met Lady Bedlow, wasn’t it? I was glad just to be there. We all thought it was so romantic, how you picked her out of the crowd without knowing who she was and then married her so soon afterward.”
Nev was aware that this was the most charitable interpretation possible of his and Penelope’s abbreviated courtship. He wished even more that he had not been so thoughtless. “I wish I could dance, so that I might make it up to you tonight.”
She had a very sweet smile. “All my dances are taken.”
He nodded and watched her go. “She’s not a wallflower now.”
“No,” Thirkell said. “I knew she just needed a little boost.”
“Thirkell, the last time I saw you-”
“Didn’t think you’d mind if I was just staying in the neighborhood,” Thirkell said, an edge in his voice. “I wanted to see Percy.”
It hurt, though Nev knew he had no right to feel that way. “That wasn’t what I wanted to say. I’ve missed you. I-I was an ass. I’m sorry.” He could no longer remember what all the fuss had been. He had been afraid they would drag him into expensive dares and brandy and cards and horse races. When had he thought he would find the time? It was easy to be frugal. It would be beyond him, now, to spend a hundred pounds on a wager, knowing what it would buy. No, he had failed in other ways, bigger ways, ways he could not even have imagined then. His grand gesture seemed childish and small.
He wondered, if he had been less absolute-if he had not been so harsh to Percy-if Percy would have been more reluctant to carry on with Louisa.
To Nev’s surprise, his apology rendered Thirkell even more uncomfortable. “I-er-don’t give it another thought.” But it was several seconds before he raised his head and met Nev’s eyes. “I’ve missed you too, Nev. I wish it could be the three of us again, like it’s always been. I don’t see why it can’t be.”
“God, so do I. But-Thirkell, did Percy tell you why I dismissed him?”
“Percy’s been your best friend since you were eight,” Thirkell said, not answering, by which Nev assumed that he had. “You ought to patch it up with him.”
“I’d like to. But my sister has to come first. Come on, Thirkell, you know Louisa and her enthusiasms.”
“They generally seem to last. How long has she been mad for pirates, now?”
That was true, and yet…“Louisa could never bear an unkind word from anybody,” Nev said, low and intent. “How will she feel when she’s ostracized by everyone?”
Thirkell bit his lip. Nev was about to follow up his advantage when Macaulay appeared at his elbow, frowning. “I think Lady Bedlow may be ill. She’s acting feverish.”
Seventeen
“What?” Nev didn’t wait for an answer. He crossed the room and knelt beside Penelope. “How do you feel, sweetheart?”
She smiled mistily at him. “Nev. You came back.”
Definitely not typical Penelope. He drew in a deep breath and tried to think. Leaning forward, he pressed a kiss on her forehead like his mother used to do when he was a child. Her skin didn’t feel hot. “Do you feel sick?”
“Not anymore. Please don’t be cross with me, Nev. I tried to eat, I just couldn’t. Thank you for cutting my food for me.” She smiled at him again and reached for his hand. It took her a couple of tries to grab it.
Nev was so relieved he almost laughed out loud. If it had been anyone but Penelope, he would have realized instantly. “How many glasses of punch did you have, Penny?”
She blinked several times. “Just two.”
Nev frowned. That shouldn’t have been enough to get her foxed, even on an empty stomach. Just then Louisa tapped his shoulder, looking worried. “Mama’s falling asleep on her feet, Nev. Do you think she’s coming down with something?”
Nev picked up Penelope’s near-empty glass and drained it. Sure enough, it tasted faintly of brandy. “Someone’s spiked the punch,” he said disgustedly, getting to his feet. “You know Mama always falls straight asleep if she has more than half a glass of wine.”
“Am I foxed, Nev?” Penelope asked.
“I think you are. Who on earth would-” Nev groaned; Thirkell had told Harriet to drink lemonade. Thirkell had followed him to the couch where Penelope was sitting; Nev turned to him. “Did the two of you really spike the punch?”
Thirkell tugged at his collar, an abject look of guilt on his face.
“Why?”
“Because we were bored,” Percy said easily, walking up. “Now I’m unemployed I have to think of some way to amuse myself. Time was you would have thought it a great joke too.”
“Mr. Garrett, I think I’m foxed,” Penelope said. “I’ve never been foxed before. I think I like it.”
Percy blinked. “Er. Sorry, Nev.”
“And my mother, Percy? For God’s sake, we’re not fifteen anymore.” Maybe he had been right about the pair of them all along.
“Please don’t be cross, Nev.” Penelope tugged at his waistcoat pocket.
He couldn’t help smiling at her. Her answering smile was blinding and uncomplicated and he wanted to kiss her. “I’m not cross at you, sweet.”
They had been standing in a knot for long enough to draw attention. Sir Jasper walked up. “Is everything all right?”
Nev didn’t have time to hold a grudge against Sir Jasper at the moment. “Someone spiked the punch. You should probably make an announcement before all the dowagers are three sheets to the wind.”
Sir Jasper looked rather amused. “Oh, dear. I suppose I’d better. I do apologize. I hope Lady Bedlow has not been too affected.” His gaze slid to Penelope, who still had a hand in Nev’s pocket.
“Yes, I’m drunk,” she told him. “Perhaps you’d like to tell me how vulgar I am. Ah, how this must remind me of my childhood at the brewery!”
There was a stunned silence, during which Nev realized that if he didn’t get Penelope out of there right away, she would never, ever forgive him.
He turned to Sir Jasper and was shocked by the intense dislike on their neighbor’s face as he looked at Penelope.