The Midnight Rake Part 20

Several weeks pa.s.sed and life became simple again. Phineas reclaimed long mornings spent fishing and it seemed the best course of action. The townhouse bustled with activity. With a wedding to arrange, his mother entertained a steady stream of visitors, as well as musicians, florists and decorators. While the event would occur at Betcham Estate, Maman thought it prudent to interview the most talented candidates while in London. Fortunately, Chef Pierre agreed to travel to the countryside and prepare the wedding meal.

Phin mused that while his mother remained a force among the ton and would manage every minute detail before returning to their country home, the longer she stayed at the townhouse the longer he'd have to endure Mon Ami, the squawking parrot's vocal aggravation a continual note of disharmony in his newly calmed existence. Although Maman did promise she would work with haste, making no secret the sooner he and Penelope were wed, the sooner she could hope for grandchildren.

His future viscountess appeared at ease with his mother's grandiose planning and while at times Phin became overwhelmed in a house full of females, the notion of becoming a husband appealed beyond his wild imaginings. It would be a relief when his father arrived home in a fortnight and provided another male opinion within the household. Apparently Phineas had much to learn about weddings and the intricate workings of the female mind.

In the end, everything found a way of mollification. Ridley was gone, launched on a ship headed for the continent and the Dilgano cameo returned to Lady Livingston. Penelope never knew of its monetary worth before the misfortunate theft and as a reaffirmed believer in romance now that her heart's every wish had come true, she wanted Dorothy to keep the piece. In turn, he'd surprised Penny with a cameo commissioned and carved in the likeness of her late mother, created from the small miniature he'd found on her bed coverlet.

The Bretton family withdrew from Penelope and Aubry altogether. The social pages heralded Elizabeth had already set her cap at another gentleman of the ton. Surely her cousin was not as heartbroken as she would have Penelope believe.

And Julia could not be happier at acquiring two sisters with the impending wedding. Her own thoughts of romance remained bittersweet, but she would not allow the emotions to cloud her joy for her brother. He'd escorted her to Winton's estate where Julia made her opinion known in regards to his duplicitous behavior. Albeit a difficult meeting, Julia found strength in the aftermath knowing her future remained brighter for having voiced her contempt aloud.

Phineas held no doubt Julia would someday find happiness with an honorable man. The cynical att.i.tude he once used to guard his heart no longer existed now that he so loved Penelope.

It was an ordinary afternoon when he escorted Penelope for a stroll through Richmond Park. Carrying a picnic hamper and flannel, he insisted they walk further into the meadow, away from the pathway and other meandering couples. They approached the little footbridge where he once attempted to steal a kiss and declare his heart and he smiled now at the remembrance, anxious to reach their destination. He kept Penny's hand nestled in his and turned to face her as he twirled her once, then began to walk backward extending his arms as they approached the corner near the wooden bridge.

"Do you remember the last time we were here, my sweet? You gazed at the horizon enchanted by a hot air balloon lifting into the skies?" He hoped he maintained a tone of cheerfulness even though the antic.i.p.ation of her reaction was almost too much to bear.

"Yes." He watched as her eyes slid to the treetops, but there was nothing there to see in the clear afternoon sky.

He stopped and placed the picnic hamper to the side of the promenade, pausing only to gently tip her face to his and place a reverent kiss upon her pretty pink lips.

"Do you remember when I asked you to marry me? I promised you a life without bounds, all the joy the heavens could offer, and my promise to protect you and forever keep you safe."

"Yes..."

She answered tentatively, while he did his best to distract her with more clever kisses.

Clasping her hands, he led her the final distance to the footbridge. Her sudden gasp and surprised expression everything he could have hoped for.

"Truly?" She took a small step off the path, closer to the huge white balloon hovering silently over the gra.s.s. "Are we really going up?"

A note of timorous uncertainty laced her question, but he merely smiled as he took hold of her hand and escorted her to the waiting balloon.

"Will the basket hold us? You did leave the lunch hamper on the gra.s.s, did you not?"

Her questions continued to delight him as he introduced her to the aeronaut and a.s.sisted her through the long corded ropes and into the basket. He wrapped the flannel around her shoulders and tucked the extra cloth in as if a shawl, allowing free use of her arms.

"In case you feel a little chilled up amongst the clouds." He leaned in to whisper the words against her ear and did not miss her sweet shiver.

"Oh my, are we really doing this? Will you hold my hand the entire time, please?" She reached forward with gloved fingers and captured his in a tight squeeze.

"I shall never let you go." He could not stop himself from dropping a quick kiss to the tip of her nose. "You have my word."

Then he promptly removed her gloves so he could do as he promised. The sunlight glinted off the betrothal ring he'd slipped upon her finger only days before. The band of gold featured a captivating green moonstone encircled with clear cut diamonds, and while he sought to match the twinkling hue of Penelope's eyes, he realized soon after visiting the jewelers, the task was impossible. Even in direct sunlight, her eyes glistened more beautifully than any gemstone created in heaven or earth. He laced his fingers with hers and clasped her hands, binding her to him and wishing he could bring her closer.

The balloon lifted and as they rose into the air, the aeronaut busy at work modulating the ascent, he could not break the hold of their eyes or the enchantment of their embrace.

They'd only ascended a short distance when she went up on tippy-toe and pressed a soft slow kiss to his left cheek. "Thank you, for causing every one of my dreams to come true."

"You've no need to thank me, Penelope Rosebery, soon to be Penelope Betcham. You are the dream come true."

Her face touched with the truest of smiles and his heart thudded a heavy beat. Then she cuddled even closer, her nose almost brushed his chin as she whispered up to him.

"I love you."

He wrapped his arm around her to anchor her against the wall of his chest.

"I love us." He brought her clasped fingers to his lips for a lingering kiss. "And I always will." His voice held a note of quiet seriousness that spoke directly from his heart, but there was no way to sustain the sentimental moment as the basket swayed and they eyed each other in surprise, the balloon ascending higher.

Their laughter intermingled with the sunshine and no two more joyful people could ever be found, not in London, or in the skies, or the heavens beyond.

CARINA.

ISBN: 9781474024600.

Also by Anabelle Bryant.

To Love a Wicked Scoundrel.

Duke of Darkness.