Chapter 12

"Adeline, I am so glad you are here!"

Penelope embraced her sister warmly as the two met in the parlor. She couldn't even imagine what sense of peace and comfort Adeline's presence would bring.

"Me, too, Penelope," Adeline gushed, her voice a soothing melody that filled the room with warmth. She looked around in awe. "Oh, what a beautiful parlor. I just love those delicate lace curtains! There is such an atmosphere of quiet elegance."

"Thank you," Penelope replied. "This place is truly beautiful, I have to admit."

"You are so fortunate," Adeline sighed.

Penelope wondered if that was truly the case. However, she didn't want to delve more deeply into any philosophical topics. She simply wished to be with her sister and listen to everything she had to tell her.

"How is everyone at home?" Penelope inquired as she walked to a rope in the corner and rang it.

"Oh, they are all right," Adeline said somewhat gravely.

A moment later, a knock on the door interrupted them, and Adeline waited until Penelope gave a servant girl instruction to bring them some tea and scones. She wondered if scones with blueberry jam were still her sister's favorite. Penelope remembered that Adeline loved them as a child, but people changed, and so did their tastes.

When they were left alone once again, Adeline continued, "Father was actually reluctant to allow me to come and see you." She looked down at her lap, cracking her fingers nervously.

Penelope raised an eyebrow. "Reluctant? But… why?"

Adeline hesitated for a moment. "He said that I might be a distraction for you."

"A distraction?" Penelope echoed, not understanding. "Why on earth would he say something like that?"

Adeline shrugged helplessly. "He said that you are a married woman now, and you should be focused on your new duties as a wife to a duke and not wasting time with women talk."

"He said all that?" Penelope was incredulous.

"He did," Adeline acknowledged. "But I said that I would be coming to see you whether he allowed it or not. You are my sister, and I could never be a distraction to you… right?"

Penelope had never felt more proud of someone. "You told him exactly what he needed to hear, Adeline. Of course, you could never be a distraction to me. What nonsense. We are sisters. We should be closer than anyone in the world."

"Yes, that is what I think as well," Adeline nodded. "It's just that… Vanessa isn't like you."

Penelope had to chuckle to that. "Thank heavens that is so."

Adeline had to chuckle as well. "I always got the feeling that she was more like Mother and Father. They have the same outlook on life, the same… values, I suppose."

"And you?" Penelope asked, but she could already sense the answer to that question.

"I always felt… somehow out of place," Adeline admitted. "When you were at home, I was too young to understand much of what was going on. Then, you left, and I didn't see you in five long years. They felt like forever."

"I know." Penelope smiled tenderly. "I thought about you all often."

That much was true. Only, she didn't think of her parents in terms of missing them. No. On the contrary, she always wondered what she had done to deserve becoming an outcast from her own home. Or perhaps, she was asking a question that was never really a question. She never became an outcast in her own home, for the simple reason that she had always been one. However, she didn't want to burden Adeline with any of that. Not now that they were slowly finding their way back to each other.

"Speaking of Vanessa," she inquired, "have they heard from her?"

"No, not yet," Adeline shook her head. "We don't know anything about her."

Penelope wondered where Vanessa could be. "I'm sure she is all right," she mused. "She is probably safe with a friend and is just waiting for the right moment to return."

"Father will be furious," Adeline pointed out.

Penelope shrugged. "Maybe not as much any longer. I married the duke. From what I understood, Father didn't care which one of us married him as long as one of us did."

"Penelope, I… I am sorry that you had to do this," Adeline said softly, taking Penelope's hand into her own. "I can't imagine what it must feel like to marry a complete stranger."

Penelope was taken aback by her sister's apology. Although Adeline had nothing to apologize for, she still did so. Sometimes, inaction was enough reason for someone to feel bad, and that was obviously what Adeline was feeling. Penelope smiled, squeezing her sister's hand back reassuringly.

"There is no need to apologize for anything, my dear Adeline," she replied with confidence. "I know it might sound strange, but I actually like it here. It's much better than back at the nunnery," she chuckled at the last part.

"Really?" Adeline asked incredulously.

"Yes," Penelope affirmed with a smile. "I have the loveliest lady's maid you could ever hope for. I live in a beautiful home, of which I have become the mistress. I have a husband who understands and respects me. And his grandfather made me laugh so much yesterday that I could barely breathe." She paused for a moment, allowing all the impressions to settle then she continued with conviction. "I feel at peace here."

She didn't want to mention anything about her feelings for her husband which had obviously been growing. Her attraction for him was undeniable, and if he continued talking to her and kissing her, she knew that she would succumb to his charms easily. Already, she was on the verge of doing so, but she was afraid.

"At peace?" Adeline echoed, bringing Penelope back to the present moment.

"Yes," Penelope confirmed, just as the servant girl knocked on the door, bringing in a tray of tea and scones. "Thank you, Millicent. Just put them there, please."

Penelope and Adeline watched as the servant girl carefully placed the tray on the ornate table between the sisters, arranging the porcelain cups and saucers with meticulous care. The tantalizing aroma of freshly brewed tea filled the room, mingling with the scent of warm scones that accompanied the elegant spread. Each scone was adorned with a dollop of clotted cream and another dollop of homemade blueberry jam, a delightful treat to complement the soothing ritual of teatime and their time together.

"Thank you, Millicent; that is all," Penelope offered a gracious nod of thanks as the servant girl excused herself and close the door behind her.

They settled in to enjoy the tea and scones, and Adeline's eyes lit up with delight as she reached for a blueberry scone, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

"Blueberry scones have always been my favorite," she remarked with a twinkle in her eye, her voice filled with fondness for the delectable treat.

Penelope's own smile widened at Adeline's confession, a wave of nostalgia washing over her. "I remember," she said softly, her voice filled with warmth. "You always used to say that they were the perfect accompaniment to a cup of tea."

"You… remember?" Adeline beamed.

"Of course," Penelope nodded softly.

As Adeline took a bite of the tender scone, the burst of juicy blueberries mingling with the buttery richness of the pastry, she closed her eyes in blissful contentment. "Some things never change," she mused, a hint of laughter in her voice.

Penelope chuckled softly, her heart swelling with affection. "It's the little things in life, isn't it?"

With each bite of blueberry scone and each sip of fragrant tea, Penelope and Adeline reveled in the warmth of their rekindled relationship and the timeless bond that united them. As they continued to share stories and laughter, Penelope felt reassured that she might have lost her sister before, but she managed to find her again, and this time, she would never let go.

That evening, during dinner, James' grandfather seemed in a particularly good mood. Then again, so did Penelope.

"Why didn't your sister stay for dinner, my dear?" he asked her, just as he was enjoying a nightcap.

"Oh, she needed to return home," Penelope replied politely. She wondered if her father would be upset with Adeline for coming to visit her. She still couldn't understand his point of view. Then again, she never could. He was a selfish man, one who was solely focused on bettering his own connections and his own life although he tried to disguise it by claiming that everything he did, he did for the family. The older she got, the more she realized that was not the truth.

"I do hope that next time, she might come and stay with us for a while," James' grandfather said cheerfully. "It is so wonderful to have a house filled with such lovely young ladies and their chirpy chatter!"

Penelope chuckled at the phrase. It was so sweet. She also hoped that next time, her sister might stay longer. She was filled with joy at the prospect of reclaiming her and having her by her side. She never thought such a thing would be possible. Vanessa had never been her sister. Not in the true meaning of the word. They had never been close. They had never shared secrets. Penelope wondered if there was ever a time when she and Vanessa played as little girls. If such a time existed, she did not remember it. So, it was easy not to miss what one never had in the first place.

James was silent during this conversation, but Penelope noticed that he paid attention to every word that was being exchanged. He eyed her from across the table, swirling the amber-looking liquid in his glass and occasionally taking a sip. His curls fell over his forehead in rakish abandon, and she yearned to walk over to him and gently push them away from his face, so she could stare in those deep, unfathomable eyes forever.

"… show you," his grandfather suddenly said, and much to her embarrassment, Penelope realized that she wasn't listening. She had got lost in her thoughts about James. A part of her wondered if he could see that — if either of them could see that.

"Would you like that?" James inquired playfully, almost as if he knew that she had no idea what they were discussing.

"Show me?" she echoed, clearing her throat. "Why… of course. I would like to be… shown… that."

James's brow furrowed at her awkward statement then he grinned. "You like it then?"

He'd caught her. That much was obvious. But pride refused to allow her to concede. She would pretend for as long as she could.

"I do, yes," she nodded importantly. "I've always found it quite interesting."

"You have?" his grandfather seemed shocked and amazed at the same time. "Why, that is splendid! You can do it together then!"

Do what together? She wondered silently, scolding herself that she should have simply admitted that she wasn't paying attention. But then, James might know why. He might be able to read it in her eyes from the expression on her face, and she couldn't allow that.

"We could," she nodded. "But maybe James prefers to do it on his own. You know, to focus more easily."

She had no idea what on earth they were discussing. It was becoming ridiculous. She could see it from the way James was smirking and enjoying seeing her squirm. Now, she couldn't allow him to see that he was winning.

"I could actually use the help," James said, leaning back into his chair. "Now?"

Now? Her mind turned into a blank.

"Now?" she said aloud. "Isn't it too late? I mean, we've just had dinner, and we should go to bed… soon."

"Nonsense!" his grandfather exclaimed. "The oil lamps will provide more than enough light. You ought to show her, James."

"Well, it seems there can be no objections, here." James got up, emptying his glass and placing it back onto the table. He walked over to Penelope, offering her his arm. "Shall we?"