Hello my darlings. I want to apologise for the long time it has taken me to get this chapter out. I have absolutely no excuse, but life. So really sorry.

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

Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural.


Penny refused to look left or right as they made their way remarkably easily through the crowd. She would not show how much she wanted to stare at the extravagance on display on not just the guests, but the room itself, which was lit up with hundreds of candles, and filled with more flowers than she could have possibly imagined at this time of year. The Hemsworth's must have emptied every hothouse in London to put on such a display. But still she would not look. She had an image to portray to those here, she was a reflection of Gabriel, and she would make sure none found her wanting. But she did find herself heaving a slight sigh of relief when they finally arrived at their destination and she felt the eyes of the ton turn from her, even if she knew they were only turning to those next to them to discuss her. At least now she was among friends, or as close as she was going to find in the shark invested waters of the London elite at any rate.

"Lady Penelope, as beautiful as always." Castiel said, bowing over her hand when they arrived, his eyes sparkling in humour at the show she and his brother had just put on, while his words added to it as they carried to those around them.

Penny rolled her eyes at him before smiling naturally as curtsied and spoke. "I have told you before Lord Haynes, call me Penny." She replied putting a subtle emphasis on the word lord, rather than using major. Here his nobility gave him a higher standing than his rank did after all.

"I hope that extends to all the family, my dear." Came a new voice from the side, making her turn to the stranger standing next to a lady in yellow. Tilting her head gently she could see a slight resemblance to Gabriel in his looks, but that wasn't what caused her to narrow her eyes. No that was the obvious flirtatious tone in which he spoke, not to mention the pretention he had to call her my dear without a proper introduction.

"It may, if I deem them worthy. But anything more familiar is most definitely restricted to my fiancée, lord…" she responded with a dismissive tone in her voice. Very much sounding as she would imagine Anne would if anyone presumed to address her so. She was not going to stand for that, be he Gabriel's family or not.

At her words the man blinked before roaring into loud laughter that caused those close by to turn and see what was so funny.

"Oh yes, you will do very well for my cousin. I am most thankful he met you first. Gabriel introduce me to your future bride, if you will." Balthazar finally replied. She hadn't even hesitated before giving him that put down. She was without doubt the perfect partner for the man he knew so well.

Gabriel for his part had listened to the interaction between the two. He had seen Dean tense when Balthazar had acted so familiar to Penny, but he did not step in. He knew the lady beside him had enough spine to handle his cousin without any thought or fuss, and if not, well he would have dealt with him accordingly. But he did not have to, because he had been right. She had done him proud with her words, and he couldn't stop the smirk that appeared on his lips as he did as Balthazar bid. "Penny, allow me to introduce the black sheep of the family, my cousin, Lord Balthazar Grey. Balthazar, my betrothed, Lady Penelope Coburn."

"Congratulations on your engagement, my lady. You future husband is a good man, and I am glad he has found someone with enough spirit to keep up with him. Lady Penelope." Balthazar replied with a prefect bow over her hand before taking a step back, nodding to his cousin before turning around to re-join the rest of the room. He had found out what he needed to know about his cousin's future wife for now, she was without a doubt everything he would need her to be.

Once Balthazar left Gabriel turned to the surprisingly silent lady who had been at his side. "Pen, this is my sister, Lady Charlie Brum, countess of Claymore. Charlie, Lady Penelope." He said in a gentler tone, a soft smile on his lips that he always had for his sister, even if she had been an annoying brat when she was younger, and still could be now if truth be told.

"Lady Claymore." Penny responded, curtsying to the right depth for a woman who was above her in station.

"Oh tsk, none of that. We are to be sisters, are we not? You must call me Charlie." Charlie responded grabbing her hands in her own and pulling her up to standing. She and Penelope were close in age at a guess. She was glad about that. She could not see her brother being happy with someone ten years or more his junior. And Penny had spirit, she liked that even more.

"Pleasure to meet you, Charlie. You must call me Penny." Penny answered smiling widely at the redhead in front of her. She was all energy and joy, like a breath of fresh air had been brought in the room. It was easy to see she was sister to Gabriel and Castiel, even if she was so very different to the two men, and not just in looks. She still had the same calculating look they got in their eyes when meeting someone for the first time, sizing them up to see just what kind of person they were. It was the same look as their father Penny realised then.

With that Charlie took a hold of Penny's arm, turning her to look out over the ton and filling her in on all the gossip she had been able to pick up in the time she had been in the room. Which was rather a lot, though Penny had a hard time following it. She did not know the names or the people Charlie was talking about, but she listened and she learnt. You never knew when any information would come in useful in this world.


It was not much later that the room was full to bursting, and the sound of strings being tuned cut through the noise. It was the sign of the first dance about to being. As soon as it was heard a man appeared a Charlie's side, who she introduced as her husband. The earl soon whisked her off to take their place in the set about to being. Penny was nervous then, without the constant chatter of the lady in yellow next to her, she realised she was alone with the four men behind her. She turned her eyes to Gabriel, expecting him to ask her to dance. They were engaged after all, would it not be proper for him to claim the first dance? But he did not. Instead he was looking over her shoulder with a raise of his eyebrow, surprise clearly written on his face. Following his line of sight she saw the duke himself make his way towards them.

"Penny dear, please allow me the honour of the first dance?" Chuck asked with a gentle smile as he held out his hand to his future daughter. He knew exactly what he was doing, and he knew exactly what statement him dancing with her first would tell the ton. He was not just giving her his complete stamp of approval, an unspoken support to her and Gabriel's engagement. No, he was saying that not only did he approve, but that he was also glad. That he liked the lady his son had chosen. That he knew her well enough to enjoy her company for a dance.

Penny turned briefly to Gabriel who smiled and gave her a slight nod. He had not expected his father to behave this way, but he was glad he was. Glad that he liked Penny enough that he wanted to spend the time in her company. Even if the idea did cause a slight rock of guilt to settle in his stomach. Because when this was done, Penny would not be becoming Chuck's daughter as he believed she would be. And for the first time he hated the fact he had actually managed to deceive his father, something he had wished he had been able to do for years when he was younger. But now it had finally happened… it felt wrong. But he let none of that show on his face as he watched the two of them walk away. Though he never took his eyes off them, did not turn and re-join the conversation he had been having with Castiel and the Winchesters. No, instead he settled in to stance and position where he could watch every move on the dance floor. He did not want Penny out of his sight, and it didn't even cross his mind that this would be the perfect time to look over the other available ladies of the ton, because to him there was only one that counted right then. And that was the one in his father's arms.


Balthazar watched from a corner as the Duke of Ravenscliff lead the delectable Lady Penelope onto the dance floor, and he couldn't stop the surprise from showing on his face. That he had not anticipated, but he was pleased to see his uncle accepted the lady, who so far he had learnt was the daughter of the late Viscount Simmers. How Gabriel and she had met, he still had yet to learn, but he was hoping to find out something soon. With that in mind he slowly and quietly made his way to where the new Viscount Simmers was talking, far too loudly to be polite in his mind. He did not like this man.

His dislike soon turned into disgust as he heard the words spilling out of the vile man's mouth. The doubts he was casting on his own niece's Character were shameful. How dare he say such things? But he also knew it was not his place to address the man, so instead he made his way back round to where his cousins were standing.

"Castiel, we need to talk." He muttered quietly, all his usual jaded drawl gone from his voice, and instead replaced with a deadly serious tone.

"What is it Balthazar?" Castiel asked just as quietly turning towards him slightly, but also making sure he kept his eyes on all those around them. Always watching his surrounding as he shared intelligence in hostile territory.

"Viscount Simmers is here. He is saying that the reason Lady Penelope never had a coming out is because she was compromised and that her younger sister is in fact her daughter. He is insinuating that Gabriel is the child's father and that he has finally decided to make an honest woman of her, only because he became her guardian and forced his hand." Balthazar replied, not whispering as that would cause people to take notice, but still quietly enough that his words only reached Castiel and the two men standing with him. He saw the way Dean tensed at his words, a look of murder crossing his face. Oh yes, the major really was protective of the lady, and he still didn't know why.

Castiel stilled at Balthazar's words, his mind spinning and thinking, evaluating and re-evaluating all possible plans, and all the while he felt the tension coming from Dean. He knew he wanted to hunt the viscount down and wring his neck, but he also knew he could trust him to follow his lead. And right now, words would do far more than any action they could take.

"Penny's mother died giving birth to her sister, it is why she never had her coming out in London. Her brother Jimmy died saving my life. Gabriel and she met when he went to see her to offer his respects. This can be attested to by myself and both Major and Captain Winchester, who were also present. They met when we stayed at the estate of Baron Warburn with his mother and sister, all who will be journeying to London later this week. They can collaborate all I am saying." Castiel finally responded, giving Balthazar as much as he needed to be able to counteract the lies the viscount was telling. It was the best plan he could think of. His cousin would know just who to feed that information to so that it would become fact before the night was out.

"I will make sure this snippet of information gets to the right ears, Cassie. Have no fear." Balthazar replied smirking once more as he quickly slid away from his cousin. He had rumours to squash, and he knew just who to speak to to get it done.

"Lady Harvell, such a pleasure." He smiled sunnily as he approached the matriarch of a family who was almost as high in the instep as his own.

"What do you want Balthazar?" Lady Ellen Harvell asked with a put upon sigh, though there was a twinkle in her eyes. She actually rather liked the bad boy Balthazar Grey.

"Well I was just thinking about what a romantic tale my cousin's betrothal is." Balthazar replied, oh so innocently, loving how his words lit a gleam in Ellen's eyes. Oh yes, he had her.

"Oh? How so?"

And that was all Balthazar needed to relay the information Castiel had given him, though he did embellish it somewhat. But what did he expect? He needed to make it sound like the love story for the ages.

And that was how, by the end of the evening, everyone had heard the story of how the Marquess lost his heart to fiery Lady Penelope Coburn, and in doing so all words spoken by the new viscount were dismissed out of hand. It was a job very well done, even if Balthazar did have to say it himself.