This is not the time or place for such a conversation, but I will add one thing, if Daniel told me to invest in pigs, I would put every penny I owned into the scheme. He has never been wrong in an investment and has the wealth to prove it.”
“Was that before or after he stole estates?”
Penelope could stand this lack of appropriate behaviour no longer. “Gentleman, you may continue your discussion about business and your dislike of each other when the ladies have left the room, if it continues I may be forced to suffer a bout of hysterics!”
Fred grinned at her across the table, but offered his apologies to his dinner partner. Mr. Simpson squeezed her hand, while Mr. Peters looked extremely angry. His expression did not improve when he heard Daniel say to Penelope. “Well said Imp.”
The gentlemen entered the Drawing Room and Mr. Peters immediately crossed to Penelope. “Please let me offer my sincerest apologies Miss Hall, my behaviour was inexcusable.”
Penelope doubted his sincerity, she had seen a peevish, spiteful man this evening and she was not about to let his behaviour go unchallenged. “It was and I am surprised at it.”
“If you knew the whole I feel you would understand more,” Mr. Peters responded.
These words piqued Penelope’s curiosity. “I would be interested to find out exactly what could cause someone to breach all good manners.”
“I will tell you the whole, but now is not the time. Could you please allow me some time tomorrow to speak to you?”
“You could visit in the morning?” Penelope suggested.
“I need help with the flowers in the church, Mrs. Mather has gone to visit her sick sister and I am afraid my flower arranging ability is as poor as my manners tonight. I would appreciate it if you could meet me in the church and I can speak while we work,” Mr. Peters cajoled.
Penelope did not relish the thought of being alone with Mr. Peters, but she could not really refuse an appeal to help in church. Also her curiosity would be satisfied if Mr. Peters told her what had gone on between himself and Daniel, that was enough for her to consent with the scheme.
After the guests had left Penelope sat down with Margaret and William. Margaret was being told by William what had gone on between Mr. Peters and Daniel.
“It was very strange. I’ve always thought Peters to be a little too pompous for my liking, but never thought him to be bad mannered with it,” William said.
“Perhaps not such a good catch after all?” Penelope asked her sister archly.
“Oh I admit he cannot compare to your Earl,” Margaret said defensively, regretting promoting Mr. Peters quite as much as she had.
“The Earl spoke a lot of sense about investing my money when you ladies had withdrawn. It looks like he knows what he talks about. He said he will send through some more information that will support what he has told me this evening and he will let me know exactly which ventures he decides to invest in, in case I wish to join him. Mr. Wiseman said that he usually waits until the Earl has decided, invests in the same and then enjoys watching the profit coming in. He explained it’s easier that way, as little effort on his part, with as much return as possible,” William chuckled.
Penelope mulled over the evening. Daniel had obviously been upset by seeing Samuel Peters whereas Fred had been indifferent. She had never seen someone be openly disliked the way Samuel disliked Daniel and it made her wonder. Had Daniel reacted angrily to Samuel the way he had to her? The anger did not match with his usual character and that was what confused her the most. His advice to William had been generous to a fault, he was not obliged in any way to William, but now he was going out of his way to help her brother-in-law, someone who he had never met until a few weeks ago. She wished she could understand more.
Chapter 12
Penelope mentioned to Margaret that she was going to help out with the flowers in church,
“Was that before or after he stole estates?”
Penelope could stand this lack of appropriate behaviour no longer. “Gentleman, you may continue your discussion about business and your dislike of each other when the ladies have left the room, if it continues I may be forced to suffer a bout of hysterics!”
Fred grinned at her across the table, but offered his apologies to his dinner partner. Mr. Simpson squeezed her hand, while Mr. Peters looked extremely angry. His expression did not improve when he heard Daniel say to Penelope. “Well said Imp.”
The gentlemen entered the Drawing Room and Mr. Peters immediately crossed to Penelope. “Please let me offer my sincerest apologies Miss Hall, my behaviour was inexcusable.”
Penelope doubted his sincerity, she had seen a peevish, spiteful man this evening and she was not about to let his behaviour go unchallenged. “It was and I am surprised at it.”
“If you knew the whole I feel you would understand more,” Mr. Peters responded.
These words piqued Penelope’s curiosity. “I would be interested to find out exactly what could cause someone to breach all good manners.”
“I will tell you the whole, but now is not the time. Could you please allow me some time tomorrow to speak to you?”
“You could visit in the morning?” Penelope suggested.
“I need help with the flowers in the church, Mrs. Mather has gone to visit her sick sister and I am afraid my flower arranging ability is as poor as my manners tonight. I would appreciate it if you could meet me in the church and I can speak while we work,” Mr. Peters cajoled.
Penelope did not relish the thought of being alone with Mr. Peters, but she could not really refuse an appeal to help in church. Also her curiosity would be satisfied if Mr. Peters told her what had gone on between himself and Daniel, that was enough for her to consent with the scheme.
After the guests had left Penelope sat down with Margaret and William. Margaret was being told by William what had gone on between Mr. Peters and Daniel.
“It was very strange. I’ve always thought Peters to be a little too pompous for my liking, but never thought him to be bad mannered with it,” William said.
“Perhaps not such a good catch after all?” Penelope asked her sister archly.
“Oh I admit he cannot compare to your Earl,” Margaret said defensively, regretting promoting Mr. Peters quite as much as she had.
“The Earl spoke a lot of sense about investing my money when you ladies had withdrawn. It looks like he knows what he talks about. He said he will send through some more information that will support what he has told me this evening and he will let me know exactly which ventures he decides to invest in, in case I wish to join him. Mr. Wiseman said that he usually waits until the Earl has decided, invests in the same and then enjoys watching the profit coming in. He explained it’s easier that way, as little effort on his part, with as much return as possible,” William chuckled.
Penelope mulled over the evening. Daniel had obviously been upset by seeing Samuel Peters whereas Fred had been indifferent. She had never seen someone be openly disliked the way Samuel disliked Daniel and it made her wonder. Had Daniel reacted angrily to Samuel the way he had to her? The anger did not match with his usual character and that was what confused her the most. His advice to William had been generous to a fault, he was not obliged in any way to William, but now he was going out of his way to help her brother-in-law, someone who he had never met until a few weeks ago. She wished she could understand more.
Chapter 12
Penelope mentioned to Margaret that she was going to help out with the flowers in church,
Similar Books
