Page 13 of Snowed In with the Runaway Bride

“Yes?”

Penny swallowed. There were dangers on the road. It was possible these could be her last words to her twin. “I do love you, you know.”

“I know. I love you, too.”

Pippa flashed a smile at her and went into the dressing room with Sally.

Penny blew out the candle at her bedside and pulled the covers over her head, eyes wide in the darkness as her thoughts raced.

She must not fall asleep. Pippa would be so worried for her. She would only have a short time before dawn when she could slip from the house. Mother would rage when she discovered Penny was gone. She would need to make her way on foot to the village where the stagecoach would depart. Kendal would likely not even notice she was gone until it was brought to his attention. She could only hope the expected snow would hold off until she was well on her way.

What would Hugo think?

Penny took in a deep breath and let it out again. Then another, allowing her mind to calm.

For the first time since she was a child, she did not know what her future held. It was terrifying and exhilarating all at once.

She could scarcely wait to get started.

5

The next morning, Hugo strode down the stairs to Oliver’s library. He was already in his traveling clothes, his bag packed. All he needed to do was inform Oliver he was leaving.

He rapped sharply on the library door and opened it to find the room empty.

The footman stationed in the hallway coughed softly, and Hugo looked at him quizzically.

“His grace is not yet down, my lord.”

“Strange.” Oliver was usually an early riser. “I must speak to him as soon as possible. I shall wait for him here.”

The footman nodded as Hugo pushed the door open. The curtains had already been drawn back from the floor-to-ceiling windows, giving him a panoramic view of the storm clouds piling up. They were already quite dark, and snow drifted down in swirling eddies. Hugo frowned. It looked more and more likely he would end up snowbound somewhere along his route.

Even that was preferable to staying for the wedding.

The door opened and a housemaid peeked through. “Begging pardon, milord. James wanted me to let you know breakfast is being served.”

“That’s quite all right… Molly, is it?”

She bobbed a curtsey, her face a little flushed at being recognized. “Yes, milord.”

“I must speak to his grace at once, so I would prefer to stay here.”

“I could… I could bring you summat from the kitchen?”

Hugo thought of declining, but his rumbling stomach made the decision for him. “Thank you, Molly.”

She nodded and closed the door again. Hugo wandered over to the nearest bookshelf, trying to keep his frustration in check. Becoming agitated would not make Oliver appear any sooner if his brother had not even gone to breakfast yet. He picked up a novel and seated himself next to the fireplace after using the poker to bring the banked flames back to life. The action soothed his roiling feelings at least a little.

Molly returned after a remarkably short time with a plate of scones and a pot of tea, setting it on the small table next to him and curtseying on her way out, closing the door behind herself.

He had finished one scone and was preparing to pick up a second when the door opened and Oliver came in at last.

Hugo set down his book. “Ah, there you are. I need to speak to you immediately.”

Oliver crossed the room to sit heavily in the chair across from Hugo. His face was pale and puffy, dark rings circling his eyes. He looked as though he had gotten as little sleep as Hugo had. “If you insist, but I am waiting for Penelope. I must speak to her this morning.”

“Oh.” The last thing he wanted was to encounter Penny before he could take his leave. Seeing her might tempt him to stay.