your dying day and yet within two days, you believed an unsubstantiated rumour and rejected me publicly. I could not live in fear of that. I would become someone I am not and don’t want to be in order to try and avoid upsetting you. Margaret is perhaps right when she says that a love that develops through friendship could be stronger in the long-term than a grand passion.”
Daniel’s instinct picked up on what was being said. “Was this about a particular person in mind, or just in general terms?”
“Does it matter? Our engagement, for what it was, was unofficial and probably the shortest engagement in history. I am doing nothing wrong and am hurting no-one by meeting new people,” Penelope responded. The only person’s heart she was breaking in rejecting Daniel was her own.
“I see,” Daniel responded tightly. His pride was stung and his heart felt like lead. He could not stand the thought of someone else paying court to his love, but he had no-one to blame but himself. “I would wish you happy. Has there been a formal announcement made?”
“No, nothing has been formalised,” Penelope said. She was completely confused. She could not try again with Daniel, it was too risky, but she could also never marry Mr. Peters. Even though she was not willing to take the risk on a second chance with Daniel, she would never be able to settle for second best and after being with Daniel any other man would be just that.
The party rearranged itself, but for both Penelope and Daniel the day had lost its appeal. They both responded automatically to pleasantries, but neither sought the other out during the meal or the ride home. Both Fred and Margaret could clearly see that their hopes of a happy outcome were to be disappointed and each had to sooth e a broken heart on their return.
*
Daniel had wanted to leave Warwickshire as soon as he realised Penelope was being courted by another man. The thought of seeing her with someone else made him so angry, he thought his actions would see him at the gallows. Fred on the other hand was determined not to give up the situation as lost just yet.
“She told you she cared about you, she talked about a grand passion,” Fred reasoned as they breakfasted. “I am convinced that if her heart was engaged to another she would never have said such a thing. She would be totally committed to someone she loved.”
“That’s all well and good, but she told me she does not want to try and repair the damage,” Daniel replied, trying to be patient and failing.
“She is wary of you, which is understandable. She needs time, you will have to woo her,” Fred replied, looking pleased at his theory.
“Woo her? How do I woo someone who is being courted by another?” Daniel said exasperated.
“She has said there has not been a formal announcement, so there is still time. You shall have to take a leaf out of my book old chap. Learn from the expert, learn from the expert.”
“I’m doomed,” Daniel groaned, to the grinning face of his friend.
Chapter 11
Over the next week Daniel did take the advice of his friend and went out of his way to flirt, tease and entertain Penelope. It was not a hardship on his part, any time with Penelope was time well spent. He was also buoyed by the fact that he could not see any favouritism shown by Penelope towards any other man. He would have been less confident if he had known Mr. Peters was out of the area for a few days.
Penelope found Daniel’s attentions torture in some ways. She longed for his company, but at the same time refused to let herself believe the man she saw before her. He was the Daniel of their acquaintance, but she had initially met an angry man and he had reappeared in the Ballroom. She honestly did not know which his true character was.
A dinner party was held at the Simpson household, it was Margaret’s attempt to play matchmaker. She had come to realise very quickly that her advice to her sister was wrong, Daniel was the perfect
Daniel’s instinct picked up on what was being said. “Was this about a particular person in mind, or just in general terms?”
“Does it matter? Our engagement, for what it was, was unofficial and probably the shortest engagement in history. I am doing nothing wrong and am hurting no-one by meeting new people,” Penelope responded. The only person’s heart she was breaking in rejecting Daniel was her own.
“I see,” Daniel responded tightly. His pride was stung and his heart felt like lead. He could not stand the thought of someone else paying court to his love, but he had no-one to blame but himself. “I would wish you happy. Has there been a formal announcement made?”
“No, nothing has been formalised,” Penelope said. She was completely confused. She could not try again with Daniel, it was too risky, but she could also never marry Mr. Peters. Even though she was not willing to take the risk on a second chance with Daniel, she would never be able to settle for second best and after being with Daniel any other man would be just that.
The party rearranged itself, but for both Penelope and Daniel the day had lost its appeal. They both responded automatically to pleasantries, but neither sought the other out during the meal or the ride home. Both Fred and Margaret could clearly see that their hopes of a happy outcome were to be disappointed and each had to sooth e a broken heart on their return.
*
Daniel had wanted to leave Warwickshire as soon as he realised Penelope was being courted by another man. The thought of seeing her with someone else made him so angry, he thought his actions would see him at the gallows. Fred on the other hand was determined not to give up the situation as lost just yet.
“She told you she cared about you, she talked about a grand passion,” Fred reasoned as they breakfasted. “I am convinced that if her heart was engaged to another she would never have said such a thing. She would be totally committed to someone she loved.”
“That’s all well and good, but she told me she does not want to try and repair the damage,” Daniel replied, trying to be patient and failing.
“She is wary of you, which is understandable. She needs time, you will have to woo her,” Fred replied, looking pleased at his theory.
“Woo her? How do I woo someone who is being courted by another?” Daniel said exasperated.
“She has said there has not been a formal announcement, so there is still time. You shall have to take a leaf out of my book old chap. Learn from the expert, learn from the expert.”
“I’m doomed,” Daniel groaned, to the grinning face of his friend.
Chapter 11
Over the next week Daniel did take the advice of his friend and went out of his way to flirt, tease and entertain Penelope. It was not a hardship on his part, any time with Penelope was time well spent. He was also buoyed by the fact that he could not see any favouritism shown by Penelope towards any other man. He would have been less confident if he had known Mr. Peters was out of the area for a few days.
Penelope found Daniel’s attentions torture in some ways. She longed for his company, but at the same time refused to let herself believe the man she saw before her. He was the Daniel of their acquaintance, but she had initially met an angry man and he had reappeared in the Ballroom. She honestly did not know which his true character was.
A dinner party was held at the Simpson household, it was Margaret’s attempt to play matchmaker. She had come to realise very quickly that her advice to her sister was wrong, Daniel was the perfect
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