Hello my darlings. I would like to thank those of you who have followed and favoured since my last update.

So here is the next chapter, I hope you like it.

Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural.


The dinner had gone smoothly for all concerned, with Gabriel and Penny sparing with looks and words which went above the younger girl's heads, but made the Duke and Duchess smile to themselves. They had not seen their eldest son so animated and engaged for a very long time. Gone was the jaded Marquess who had been surfacing as of late, to be replaced with the Gabriel they both knew and loved. And they knew how was responsible. Lady Penelope really was a breath of fresh air and she was the perfect foil for their son.

Castiel on the other hand watched on and wondered if either of them realised the show they put on when they relaxed like this. When they weren't trying, they could fool anyone into believing they were very much in love. Castiel just wondered if and when they would realise that maybe it wasn't so much of an act as they both believed it to be. He could see them together for the rest of their lives, Penny really was the prefect woman for Gabriel. He hadn't realised how true that had been when he had first suggested this ruse. He just hoped his brother figured things out before the end of the season. Before he decided to find himself some other lady to be his wife. Because his brother's prefect bride was already at his side, wearing his ring.

When the meal ended the younger girls were sent upstairs to ready themselves for bed, and the Duke decided that there was little point in the men staying in the dining room to enjoy their port. It was not an official dinner after all, just family. This was a suggestion that was agreed with readily by Gabriel and Castiel. Though their reasoning had more to do with the fact they did not want to be questioned by their father once more. So the evening ended with the family in the front room.

"Tell me Penny. Do you play the pianoforte?" The Duchess asked in a quiet moment during the conversation. She wanted to gage the quality of her future daughter-in-law's upbringing, and needed to know what her skills were so that she could promote them when it was time to introduce her to the ton.

"I do. My mother taught me." Penny responded with a smile, before she continued. She understood what it was Anne wished to know, and she was happy to show her skills, even if they were not as great as she would imagine the duchess' own were. "Would you like me to play something?"

"That would be lovely. Gabriel why do you not go and show her where the music is kept, then you can turn the pages." Anne replied smiling, through the twinkle in her eye told them all that in truth her plan was to give the young couple a chance at some socially acceptable private time together.

"What a good idea mama." Gabriel agreed readily. He had had a relaxed enjoyable evening, and listening to Penny play, finding out at little more about her from what music she choose, it would be the perfect ending to it.

With that the couple moved to the other side of the room so Penny could find something she was comfortable playing for a Duke and Duchess in their own home.

"Tell me Castiel, why are Penny's sisters with her?" Chuck asked once the lady in question was out of hearing. He hoped to get more information from his younger son than he no doubt would from his elder brother. He knew Gabriel, and he knew he had taken on responsibly for all the Coburn ladies without question. As such he knew if he asked him, he would not get a straight answer.

Castiel sat back and looked at the port in his glass as he thought over what to say. He did not want to make his father any more curious than he already was by Gabriel's sudden engagement, but he also knew he needed to know some of the truth before the season started and the new Viscount Simmons came up to town.

"The Viscountcy went to Lady Penelope's uncle after her father's death. He was not particularly keen on the idea of having any female dependants. When Gabriel heard this, he suggested to Penny that she bring her sisters with her." Again not a lie. It may not have been the whole truth, but he had not lied.

"I see. And how did they meet?" Chuck asked reading between the lines of what Castiel had said, to the truth that the new Viscount would not take the daughters of his brother. It made him decide that he did not like him, and he would make sure that that was understood by the ton this season. With every title came the responsibility to those who depended on you. You did not forsake that responsibility for anything. It was something he felt very strongly about.

"Her brother died saving my life. Gabriel wanted to meet his family to see if there was anything he could do to repay the debt our family owed his." Castiel replied, not looking his father in the eye now, instead staring off into space, remembering jimmy's face as he laughed, and remembering it frozen in determination in death.

"How did he plan to do that?" Chuck asked suddenly going on alert, wondering if the reason for his son's sudden engagement was because he felt he needed to repay Lady Penelope for her brother's sacrifice. If so, he would find a way to extract him from it. He would not let Gabriel martyr himself for the family honour. He would find a way to repay Lady Penelope himself rather than let his son do that. He was the Duke after all.

"He would give her anything she wished. But when they met, the sparks flew. You can see the outcome." Castiel responded skirting around that which he couldn't say, hoping his father would accept his words along with how Penny and Gabriel interacted with each other. He needed his father to accept this engagement, because he knew Gabriel would not appreciate the Duke trying to end it before its time. But one look at his father and he knew he needed to say more.

"Penny would never accept Gabriel's hand in marriage purely for the comfort his situation can afford, I promise you that." He said in such a certain voice it made Chuck raise his eyebrow. There was something there, something he didn't know, but now was not the time to find out what it was. Castiel had spoken nothing but the truth to him, and he could see for himself that his son was smitten with the lady. He did not know her well enough to know the true extent of her feelings for Gabriel, but throughout the evening he had seen how her eyes would spark as they talked, and how she would look at him when she thought no one would see, a softness in her gaze. There was definitely feelings of attraction there, on both sides. It was good enough for him. For now.

Anne had listened to the conversation between her youngest son and his father and while watching her eldest and the woman he planned to marry. It made some of the reactions she had seen in the lady earlier make sense, how she had seemed uncomfortable about the idea of wearing any of the family jewellery for dinner, and how her eyes had widened when she had informed her that she had gained her and her sisters an appointment with the best modiste in town for tomorrow. No doubt Penny was not used to the kind of luxury that came with being who they were. But she would learn, Anne would teach her. That was her role as her future mother-in-law after all. To teach Lady Penelope how to become a Duchess.

The conversation was ended by the sound of music coming from the other end of the room, and the three adults there turned as one to watch the lady play for them.

The tune was a simple country one, Penny feeling that she was not up for playing anything more complex right then. It was happy and mellow, and filled the room with warmth as her fingers danced the familiar pattern. In fact she was so lost in the tune she forgot all about the people watching her, and the man standing at her side. She believed herself back in her home, back when her mother had been alive and she was playing once more for her.

Gabriel stood and watched entranced by the peaceful look on Penny's face. She looked younger somehow, as if she had put aside all that was on her shoulders and just enjoyed the song that she played. It was beautiful and the perfect choice for the evening. She was beautiful. The way she swayed slightly as if she was dancing where she sat. He couldn't wait to get her into a ballroom so he could see her dancing for real. He could imagine she would be the perfect dance partner, light on her feet and willing to follow his lead without thought through the intricate steps, yet no doubt her eyes would still sparkle with fire, and maybe they would sparkle with something else as well. The same something he could see in them now. It was obvious to him she loved to pay music. Did she also love to listen to it, to dance to it?

He would have to make sure he took her to the opera and a few concerts while they were in town. He could see her enjoying such outings. Getting immersed with what was happening on the stage. Oh yes, he could see it already, the joy in her face as she watched true professionals sing and play. He was so lost in thoughts of how she would be that he almost forgot to turn the page for her, not that she seemed to need the music. She had her eyes closed now as she played and became one with the piece. He had never seen anyone play like she did, even his sister who was truly proficient on the instrument, never played like his Penny did.

When the music came to an end silence followed as everyone there was pulled away from wherever it was the music had taken each of them. It was a stunned sort of silence, followed by smiles and applause for such a great entertainment.

"You play very well." Gabriel said quietly when he saw the Penny had her eyes open once more, though it seemed she still was oblivious to the other in the room.

"I love that piece, it was the first my mother taught me." Penny replied with a soft smile as she let her fingers fall from the keys. This was a beautiful instrument. She had never played on such a one, it had been a privilege she would treasure.

"You did it, and her justice this evening. Thank you." Gabriel responded moving to take her hand and raise it to his lips as he stared into those eyes which were a soft brown and filled with love. He forgot those watching as he stared into them and his hold on Penny's hand tightened, because he felt deep in his soul that he never wanted to let her go.

This could very well be a problem.