Free The Kidnapped Bride by Amanda Scott Page B

tale. If Sarah’s behavior shocked her, there was no sign of it. She merely sat quietly, hands folded restfully in her lap, making no comment whatsoever until Sarah had quite finished speaking.
    Miss Emily Penistone had been an answer to a prayer when Lady Hartley hired her to take charge of ten-year-old Sarah. With her mouse-brown hair swept severely back and confined at the nape of her neck, thus throwing rather harsh features into unnecessary prominence, and a keen sensitivity that allowed her to give the proper responses in a rather prim voice to shrewd questions about her notions of child-raising, she had played the part of strict governess to a nicety.
    Quickly dubbed Penny by her charge, the quiet-spoken young woman had dutifully drummed learning and manners into Sarah, since that was the purpose for which she had been engaged, but the same sensitivity that had enabled her to give the desired responses to Lady Hartley also enabled her to guide her charge without stifling natural high spirits and to provide friendship and love as well as academic instruction. While Lord Hartley spent his days and most of his evenings occupied with important matters at one or another of his clubs and Lady Hartley kept busy with her extensive social obligations, Penny was Sarah’s own and brought order and peace into her life.
    It was gentle Miss Penistone who saw to it that Sarah had dancing lessons when she was old enough for them and who notified Sarah’s aunt and uncle when the time had come to let down her dresses and put up her hair. Indeed, she did such a fine job that it was rarely necessary for Lord or Lady Hartley to take any notice whatever of Sarah until it was time to present her to Society. At that time, Lady Hartley promptly dismissed Miss Penistone, since a governess was no longer required, and replaced her with Lizzie, who was much less expensive and a very accomplished lady’s maid besides. But Lizzie had never become her young mistress’s confidante, and Sarah had missed Penny’s gentle guidance upon more than one occasion.
    Even now, as she made her careful explanations, Sarah was conscious of the calming influence of Penny’s presence. She felt perfectly safe again and more confident of her ability to handle the difficulties of her position. When she had concluded her tale, she gazed expectantly at the serene lady in the opposite chair, scarcely knowing what she expected her to say.
    “Dear me,” Miss Penistone mused sadly, “what a pity it is that your aunt dismissed me when she did, because this could all have been avoided so easily. I quite see, love, that you need me now as much as you ever did.”
    “Oh, yes,” Sarah agreed, “though in all fairness, Penny, I am not certain that even you could have stopped me being so silly.” Miss Penistone’s placid smile was her only response, but it was clear that she had no doubt that wiser counsel would have prevailed. At any rate, Sarah knew better than to pursue the topic. Instead, she demanded to know if Penny meant to stay.
    “Why, yes,” Miss Penistone replied, “if you want me and, in the circumstances, if his lordship will permit it.”
    “Well, I certainly want you,” Sarah declared, “and in the circumstances, as you say, Darcy will simply have to agree to it. I shall not allow him to do otherwise.”
    She promptly installed Penny in the room next to her own, and within a matter of a few days, that lady had made herself quite at home. Luckily for the success of their plan, Darcy returned from London in high spirits. There had been no problem about transferring the funds to his name. Mr. Smithers had been most cordial, even to the point of relaying Sir Malcolm’s hope for the speedy arrival of a lusty son to inherit the fortune and many others to secure the line. Darcy laughed rather self-consciously when he told Sarah about it over dinner. Miss Penistone had dined earlier in her own chamber, having insisted that it would be wisest for Sarah to