Hello my darlings. I would like to thank rainystv and NerdySpaceBean for the lovely reviews. I would also like to thank those of you who have followed and favoured since my last update. I love you guys.
So here is the next chapter, I hope you like it.
Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural.
Penelope was sitting in the back pallor, staring out of the window as she watched her sisters play while she once again trying to work out a way to save her family from what was to come. But still she had nothing. There was no solution that she could see, if only… but the time for dreams was past. It was time to think realistically about what was to happen. If she married Lord Rother surely she could keep her sisters safe somehow? It would be better than them finding themselves thrown unceremoniously onto the streets to stave surely? Her thoughts were interrupted by the butler appearing in the room.
"Major Haynes to see you my lady." He said bowing as he got her attention.
At his words Penelope stood quickly. It was if her prayers had been answered, she wasn't sure she wanted to marry a stranger, but if the situation presented was an acceptable one that would save her family, then she knew she would do it. Without thought. This was not a time for her pride to win after all. This was a time for action. To do what she must to save her sisters.
"Tell him I will be there presently." She responded moving to look in the mirror above the fireplace to make sure her hair was acceptable. She could never make herself into some kind of beauty, but she knew she was more than passably pretty. Having tucked in the wayward strands that always seemed to manage to find their way out of any style she wore, she moved with ease to the front drawing room where she received all visitors.
She had not expected to find the major alone in the room, and upon entry she saw that that was indeed the case. There was another man present who turned to her with smiling eyes. Eyes that held no shadows, but they held a power she did not understand. They were very similar to the majors own. He was an attractive man she thought academically. He had golden hair which seemed to frame his face, and though he was not very tall, he was taller than her. Yes he was definitely better to look at than Lord Rother. Or course she knew that looks were not what really counted when considering marriage, but it was a good start.
"Major Haynes." She curtsied to the gentleman she knew, hoping he would introduce his companion and explain why he was here. Though what she truly wanted to know was whether he the latest of the men major Haynes wanted her to marry.
"Lady Penelope, may I present my brother, Gabriel Haynes, Marquess of Dare and heir to the Duke of Ravenscliff. Gabriel, Lady Penelope Coburn." Castiel said in an even tone even as he watched with hawk like eyes as the two people saw each other for the first time.
"My lord." Penelope said dipping into a curtesy deeper than the one she had given the major. She had had no idea he was connected to a dukedom, and was rather shocked to find a Marquess in her front drawing room. There was no way she could even think to marry this man, he was so far above her as to be laughterable, and surely the Major knew that.
"My lady." Gabriel replied giving a perfect bow while smiling gently at her as if he was trying to put her at ease. Why were they here?
"Please sit, I will call for tea." She said gesturing to the chairs in the room. She knew her role of hostess well, and she would observe the polite niceties of society, especially with a Marquess in her home.
"No need-" Castiel started to say, wanting to talk to the lady without being disturbed by the servants coming in.
"That would be lovely. Castiel, remember your manners." Gabriel cut in smiling charmingly at the lady in front of him. He could see why his brother had refused to describe her to him. He doubted any words would have done her justice. For while she wore a plain dress, she carried herself with a confident air of one who knew not just her station but also herself. Someone who was comfortable in their own skin. She would need that if he introduced her into society. Just as he knew that that quality alone would endear her to all the old bats who would try to find fault with his future duchess. And then there were her features, her chestnut brown hair which while in a simple style, it shone with red highlights in the weak sunlight filtering into the room. But it was the lady's eyes that really caught Gabriel's interest. They seemed to be constantly changing colour from brown to green and back again. Oh yes, in the looks department she would do very well as his fiancée.
At his brothers words Castiel rolled his eyes, though a small smile appeared on his face as he watched Gabriel study lady Penelope discretely. He could see in his eyes and in the slightly relaxing of his features that his brother had decided she would do very nicely for the plan they had concocted. Good, all they needed to do now was to get the lady to agree as well.
Penny saw the major roll his eyes even as a good natured smile appeared on his face. She had never seen him like that, relaxed almost. It was nice to see such a healthy relationship between the siblings. People's relationship with the family was always a defining point on the underlying character in her mind. With a smile of her own she turned back to the Marquess who was standing by a chair, waiting her to seat herself before he did so. Ever the proper gentleman it seemed. He had been raised well then. She was glad of that, though she could think of no reason that he was here with Major Haynes… unless, maybe they had found her some kind of employment within the ton? It was not likely they would propose the Marquess marry her. She may be the daughter of a Viscount, but she had no dowry, nor any striking looks that would lead to such an event and she had no experience with the haunt ton for that to happen. If it did she knew that she would have to refuse, even if it did mean losing her only chance of escaping the inevitable.
Once they were all seated comfortably and the tea had been ordered Gabriel led the conversation about inconsequential things, remarking on the weather and other such meaningless topics. It gave him a chance to study Lady Penelope's responses, and he found them all very pleasing. She would have no difficulty fitting into society on the conversational front either.
"Well my lords, what can I do for you today?" Penelope asked once the tea had arrived and been poured and distributed. She was very aware that that the Major at least had been waiting until they were not going to be interrupted before they moved onto the reason for this visit. But it was the Marquess rather than his brother who answered her.
"What I have come to ask of you my lady, I'm afraid will take more than a day to complete." Gabriel replied with a twinkle in his eyes when he saw the confusion written in hers. He liked the way they seemed to cloud over with it. There was no artifice here, he could read her every thought in her mesmerising eyes. It made a refreshing change to the people he normally associated with. Yes, he would enjoy a session with her on his arm.
"And what is it you wish to ask my lord?" Penny asked once more trying to determine what it was that had brought these two men to her home.
"It is time I married-" Gabriel started to say only for lady Penelope to hold up her hand silencing before turning to his brother with the raise of one eyebrow. He chuckled at that. He had not had a woman stop his words for a long time. Mostly they hung of everything he had to say. The joys of being a young single heir to a dukedom. He also found the look she was giving his brother highly entertaining, she would take no quarter this lady. Good. She would challenge him, and Gabriel did always love a challenge.
"Please tell me this is not what it seems to be." She said to the Major, a certain amount of censure in her voice at that idea that he would persuade his brother to propose marriage to her as well. I mean really? Her and a Marquess, was he addled?
"It's not." Castiel replied with a small chuckle of his own that he hid behind his tea cup. He knew what she thought, just as he also knew that if he had managed to get Gabriel to ask her to marry him for real, she would have said no. That was the sort of woman he come to realise she was.
"As I was saying. Its time I married, but I do not want to be hounded by all the eligible ladies of the ton, not to mention their mothers. So Castiel and I have come up with a plan. One that I hope will help the both of us out of our current predicaments." Gabriel said when it became obvious that Castiel would say no more. This plan involved him and Lady Penelope, as such he and his brother had both agreed it would be best if he presented to her.
At the Marquess' words Penny's eyes swung back to him. How could anything connected to the heir of a dukedom's marriage in any way help her?
"And what is this plan my lord?" She asked cautiously wondering what it was he wanted from her.
"The best way for me to find the right bride, is to have a fiancée on my arm." Gabriel responded simply taking a sip of his tea as if this was a normal, everyday conversation.
"But surely, if you are engaged, you will have already found her." Penny replied dryly. She still could not see what her role in all this would be.
Gabriel took a deep breath before he replied quietly "Not if the lady in question has no plans to marry Me." as he put down his cup so he could stare in the lady's eyes, hoping to persuade her to join him in this scheme. He knew it was outrageous, but he also knew that if they worked together, he and Lady Penelope could make it work.
"So you are looking for a lady to fake an attachment to you?" Penny asked in a controlled voice as she to put down her cup. She couldn't believe what she was hearing, it was unthinkable that any one would think to pull the wool over the tons eyes in such a way. But… was it also a possible way out for her and her sisters? A way that didn't involve her marrying, well, anyone?
"Yes. Though of course for me it would be real, it would be up to the lady in question to end our engagement, if she did not, then she would become my wife. My honour would allow no other outcome." Gabriel stated, wanting to make sure Lady Penelope knew just what the agreement would entail if she accepted it. If she did this, pretended to be his betrothed, he would treat her as if it was real. Because for him it would be, even while he looked over the prospects of the ton. But he would be able to do that with enough discretion no one would ever know truth nor would it damage Lady Penelope's reputation in any way.
"And what would the lady get out of such an agreement?" Penny asked not even believing the words that came out of her mouth. But the thought, the idea that there was another way, it was so tempting to consider it, and it only made sense to hear the whole proposal so she could make an informed decision.
"Well firstly she would need to come to London for the season and be introduced to the ton. As such I would move her and any dependants to my familial home as soon as possible, where my mother would arrange for a new wardrobe for all, one befitting a future duchess and her family. Then when the season is over and I have found my bride, the lady would be gifted a house befitting her station wherever she choose, as well as a handsome income and dowries for her and any siblings." Gabriel replied simply, explaining on the suggestions Castiel had made in his study. He knew that a roof alone would not be enough for a family of four ladies. He wanted them all to have a chance at happiness and to not have to worry about money or their situation. He was wealthy enough to give them that easily without any real depletion in his own income.
At his words Penny swallowed the gasp which wanted to escape her throat. Such an offer, was more than she could ever have hoped for. It was more than she could rightly ask for, but she knew it was also an offer she could not turn down. A chance for her and her sisters to be free of their uncle and machinations. A chance for them to live the life they deserves, a chance for her sisters to grow up happy without concerns. A chance for them to marry for nothing more than love. But… wait, before she agreed to this crazy scheme, there had to be a catch somewhere. Going over the Marquess' words she found it, or at least she thought she had.
"That is a very generous offer, but what if you do not find yourself a bribe during the season?" She asked wondering how long she would be held to this arrangement if she accepted.
"The agreement would still stand. At the end of the season she would break the engagement and move to her new home." Gabriel replied honestly. He would not need Lady Penelope's assistance for any longer. If he could not find a suitable bride in one season, then he deserved to hunted until he was caught.
At his words silence reined in the room as the three occupants all went back to drinking their tea, giving Penny time to think over all that had been said. She had wishing for some miracle to come and save her and her siblings, and here it was, if she was willing to take it. If she was willing to hoodwink the ton. But it wasn't like she would going back into their circles once this was done. She could do it, and the Marquess had been right, it really would solve all her problems.
"Am I to assume you have come here to ask me to be your fake fiancée?" Penny finally said making up her mind that this was definitely the lesser of the evils presented as her future.
"Yes." Gabriel responded simply, if she was asking that question, then he could hope she was seriously considering accepting his proposal, such as it was.
"But you do not know me, how do you know I will do as we agree and end the engagement?" Penny asked tiling her head at the gentleman in front of her. He was putting a lot of faith in a woman he had just met.
"I know enough. My brother had assured me of your character, and as I said at the being, if you do not end the engagement then we will be married at the end of the season." Gabriel replied, and looking into his eyes Penny could see the subtle threat they held with his words. The supressed power he would weld if he had need. He would marry her if she gave him no choice, but he would not be an easy husband if she trapped him into it. It was a look that showed her another side of the man in front of her. A side which showed that despite his charm and gentlemanly manner, Gabriel Haynes, the Marquess of dare, was not a man you would willing cross. But she could deal with that, especially as she had no plans to go back on the arrangement they made here and now.
"Then I accept my lord." Penny said in a definite tone as she gave her and her sisters fates into the hands of this man, even if it was only for a season.
"Call me Gabriel." Gabriel replied before moving quickly to kneel in front of the woman who had just agreed to pretend to be his betrothed. The woman who could become his wife. "Penelope, will you marry me?" he asked pulling a pretty, simple diamond ring from his pocket. It was the plainest of the many family betrothal rings, but looking at the woman in front of him he knew it would suit her well, even if he had chosen it as the one he would be least likely to ever give to his real bride.
"No, but I will be your fiancée." Penny replied with a crooked smile which Gabriel returned full force as he placed the ring upon her finger. It was only then, staring into his sparkling green eyes so close to hers did Penny wonder just what she had agreed to, and just what it would cost her in the end.
