Hello my darlings. I would like to thank Iluvthis (Guest) for the lovely review. I would also like to thank those of you who have followed and favoured since my last update.
So sorry about the long time this chapter took in coming, life got in the way. Anyway it is here now, I hope you like it.
Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural.
It had been a week since Penny had last seen Gabriel, and since then she had had to put up with intense scrutiny from the matriarchs of the ton. As soon as her dresses had arrived Anne had been as good as her word and had let it be known among her friends that she was in London and would be at home in the afternoons so that they could catch up. At first it had just been two ladies who had come. They were very polite to Penny, and even seemed to approve of her. Of course all their children were grown and married and as such could find no offence in the lady being presented to them as the future Duchess of Ravenscliff, not that anyone said those words. But with a few well-chosen phases Anne managed to get that across with ease. She also made it clear that the choice of Penny had been Gabriel's own, and not one she or her husband had made for him.
So that first afternoon was very pleasant. The second that followed was as well, though there were more ladies in attendance this time, wanting to see the bride the Marquess of Dare had finally decided to take.
It wasn't until the third afternoon that the more spiteful women arrived. The ones with daughters coming out onto the marriage mart this year, or whom had been presented the previous season. These were the ladies who had already picked out the Marquess as the top catch of the season and had been determined to infiltrate his family early through his mother. To find that there was already a young lady holding the position they wanted for their own daughters did not go down well. Therefore Penny's afternoons became a lot more taxing as she fielded questions on her skills, achievements, and what training she had to be a Duchess. It was starting to drive her mad. She hoped Gabriel didn't decide to marry any of the ladies related to these women. She could not see him standing their presence for long and the daughters were no better. They simpers and gushed, all the while making barbed comments about country gentry who had never been to London. If Penny was not so much of a lady she would have cut them to ribbons with her tongue. But she was so, instead of lowering herself to their level, she smiled and battered their words away as if they meant nothing to her. Laughing off their snide remarks as if they were a joke.
But it was becoming really rather hard to maintain her calm veneer. Therefore when the fifth afternoon came round and the door opened, she turned to it with barely concealed annoyance at having to meet yet another new member of the ton. Though that annoyance was soon very much unconcealed when she saw that it was not the butler opening it to introduce the new visitors, but rather Gabriel himself sauntering in as if he owned the place. He couldn't have arrived earlier than now to save her could he? No, he had to wait until she was very much at the end of her tether. Of course she quickly covered her glare with a smile for the man she was supposed to be in love with. Maybe he could get her out of spending any more time in her present oh so lovely company. If he could do that, she might just forgive him for neglecting her for the week and leaving her to the wolves of the ton.
Gabriel for his part had wanted to come much sooner than he had. But he knew he needed to let Penny stand on her two feet. If he did not then she would never mange it when she was introduced to society on mass at the beginning of the season. But after a week he decided he had left his future bride to be alone long enough, and it was a beautiful sunny day, with many hints of spring in the air. It was the perfect say to go out for a drive, and who better to accompany him than the woman he was planning to marry? Or at least that was how he would present it to his mother and ladies who were no doubt filling her drawing room. Oh yes, it was the perfect plan. It would show everyone there that he wanted to spend time with Penny, and get her out of the house for an hour or so. Win, win on both sides.
It was with this in mind that he handed his coat and hat to Brighton before moving towards the front drawing room where he could hear the sounds of many female voices. It was enough to send a chill racing down his spine. He did not know who was in there, but he knew he would prefer to do anything rather than walk through the door. But he had to. Because he was on a mission to rescue his fiancée. Therefore plastering a smile upon his face he quickly walked in, taking note of the number of eyes that turned to him as he did so, though he was only interested in one pair. Finally finding them, he could help his smile falling into more of an amused smirk as he saw how very green they were today, and the sparks they held within as Penny glared at him. If looks could kill, he was pretty sure he would be dead right about now.
Shaking himself out of the staring contest they seemed to have fallen into Gabriel turned to his mother with a bow.
"Mama, Lady Penelope. I hope you are both well this afternoon." He said, ignoring all others in favour of the only two women in the room that mattered to him. Or were supposed to matter at any rate.
"Gabriel, how nice of you to join us. Care for some tea?" His mother asked sweetly even if her eyes did twinkle with mischief as she said the words.
Gabriel shuddered. Just the idea of sitting down with all these women was enough to make him break out in a cold sweat. But he would not be cowed by his mother, especially not as he knew she only suggested it for her own amusement.
"Thank you, but no. I came to see if Pen would care to join me on a drive around the park. The weather is quiet pleasant today, and I am I sure she would appreciate some fresh air." Gabriel responded smiling not at his mother but the woman who was pretending to be his future wife.
Penny heard the words, and couldn't stop the narrowing of her eyes at his use of Pen in such a setting. Just as she also knew that he was more asking his mother's permission than if she would like to go. And she couldn't have that. She needed to make sure Gabriel knew she would be making up her own mind. Therefore standing she spoke clearly so everyone in the room could hear.
"Indeed I would, thank you… Gabe." She replied a challenging light in her eyes as she called him the shortened version of his name that was becoming her counter for his Pen.
"You are very welcome, my lady." Gabriel answered, with just enough subtle feeling on the word my, that no one in the room could be in any doubt that that was exactly who Penny was. His lady.
"I will just go and collect my outdoor clothes, if this plan is acceptable to you of course your grace." Penny replied finally turning to Anne to include her in the conversation as if it was an afterthought.
And Anne not being able to hide the amusement on her face at how these two behaved even when surrounded by the highest members of the ton, just smiled and waved her hand as she spoke.
"Of course it is my dear. Go, have fun."
"Then I'll meet you in the front hall, my lord." Penny said moving to the doorway where Gabriel was still standing, as if the idea of moving further in terrified him.
"I'll be counting the minutes." Gabriel replied taking her hand before she could move away and bowing over it so he could place a gentle kiss upon her fingers.
Once Gabriel had let her go, Penny quickly exited the room without another word. She was hoping the slight blush that she knew tinged her cheeks at Gabriel deliberately flirtatious behaviour had not been seen by anyone in the room, but she knew better than to hope Gabriel himself had not observed it. She knew she would not be that fortunate. Darn the man, why did he have to behave so outrageously and cause her to the do the same? She had been the perfect lady up until Gabriel's arrival and him calling her Pen. Of course as she made her way up the stairs to her room she realised that was exactly why he had done. He gave her a way to show the ladies in the room who she really was, and however much she knew she should be, she couldn't be annoyed at him for doing that.
After Penny had left Gabriel wanted nothing more than to make a hasty retreat from the prying eyes still focused solely on him. But there was one more thing he needed to do.
"Mama, my guests have confirmed that they will be arriving in five days. I thought you would like to know." He said in a voice which carried through the room which was still remarkable quiet considering how many people were in it. But that was good, it would make sure his message got across to all those there.
"Of course. You and Castiel must bring them over for dinner when they arrive. I am very much looking forward to meeting Major Dean Winchester and Captain Samuel Winchester." Anne replied instantly know exactly who it was Gabriel was referring too. She approved of his way of letting the ton know they would be staying with him at his request. She had not yet figured out how to bring the subject up in polite conversation so far. Now Gabriel had saved her the job.
"As I am sure they are looking forward to meeting you, but I do not know what time they are arriving. So maybe dinner would be better for the next evening?" Gabriel suggested. He had a feeling that if the moment they arrived the Winchesters were informed they were dinning with a Duke and Duchess they might just run away again. Dean he knew would be uncomfortable around his parents, or at least he would until he got to know them. At least he hoped that was true.
"Perfect." Anne agreed readily, no doubt the Major and Captain would need time to settle in and then they would probably prefer a night at Whites reconnecting with their friends.
"Then I will take my leave. Mama, Ladies." Gabriel bowed, finally showing acknowledgement to the others in the room. He then made a swift exit, heading to the entrance hall to await Penny.
When her eldest son had left the room Anne turned back to the group of ladies sitting around her. They consisted of some of her closest friends, and it was one of these that spoke before anyone else could do so.
"I must say Anne. I am impressed with Lady Penelope. She has a fire in her, that I feel she will need… in her future." The Duchess of Riverdean said subtlety referring to the impending announcement they were all waiting to see in the paper.
"Yes, she is the only lady I have ever met who is Gabriel's match with wit and words. I am sure she will do very well, in her future." Anne nodded smiling a conspiratorial smile to the lady who had been her friend ever since they had their coming out so many years ago, both managing to snare a Duke in the process.
"Agreed. Now tell me of these guests." The Duchess said changing the subject away quickly away from Gabriel and his unofficial fiancée. She wanted to know who it was that Gabriel had invited to stay in his home, and why he had done so.
That was all the opening Anne needed before she proceeded to sing the Winchesters praises as war heroes and more importantly in her mind, friends of Castiel.
Penny didn't take long to quickly change out of her gown into one that was warmer. She knew there was still a slight chill in the air from winter, and the dress she had been wearing in the drawing room, while pretty, would not be much help outside. Choosing one in a deep spring green colour she then made quick work on fixing her hair so that her bonnet would sit properly and grabbing her pelisse she moved out the door heading down the hallway to the stairs and the prospect of being able to go outside. It seemed so long since she hadn't been shut up in a stuffy room filled with people, she could wait to be in the fresh air once again.
Gabriel had already collected his coat and hat from Brighton and was waiting as patiently as he could for Penny to come down the stairs. He knew she would take a while, women always did. But that didn't stop him wanting to be out of the house as soon as possible. He dreaded being caught by some of the ladies who had been in the room with his mother leaving. No, he really did not want to see them.
At the sound of feet walking down the stairs he turned and his jaw almost dropped. Because while he had noticed Penny's dress earlier, he had been more interested in sparing with her than to study it in great length, he remembered it was a pale pink colour, and that was about it. But watching her now, walking down the stairs in dress of vivid green that made her eyes sparkle with life, he found it hard for him to swallow past the lump in his throat the vision in front of him had made appear. She looked beautiful, but it was not a classic beauty, more… as he had always imagined wood nymphs to look when he had heard stories about them. She walked as if she was gliding on the air rather than her feet. The only wish he had was that she was not yet wearing her bonnet. Because he would bet his fortune that if she had not, the red highlights in her hair would be shining through in all their glory. All thoughts that this was not a real engagement flew from his head and he spoke without considering his words.
"You look beautiful, Penny."
And Penny hearing the sincerity in his words was shocked. He truly meant that. It wasn't something he had said for effect, or for anyone else to hear… no he had said it because he believed it to be true. With that realisation a beaming smile crossed her face. It was the first time anyone had ever told her she was beautiful, and it warmed her heart in a way she didn't understand, nor try to. Not right then.
"Thank you, Gabriel." She replied placing her hand on his arm to show her gratitude at his honest words.
Without saying anything else Gabriel took that hand and placed it in the crook of his elbow, so he could escort her outside to his crucible that was ready to take them on their drive.
And as they walked out of the door neither of them noticed the Duke standing in the shadows a gentle smile on his face at the interaction he had just witnessed. What he had seen had confirmed more than anything else could that those two really did feel deeply for each other. He was glad, he wanted Gabriel to be happy, and it seemed he had found the woman who would help him be so. Nodding to himself Chuck turned back to his office to return to the papers he had been going through, his mind relaxing now he knew Gabriel's engagement was in truth the love match he claimed it to be.
