"Penelope, dear."

Leo hedged closer as Penelope watched the line of gentlemen gather their gear. He spoke in a warning tone, and it had a soft mimicking quality that caused her to straighten her spine. She glared at him out of the corner of her eye.

One blonde strand of hair hung in front of his amused blue gaze.

"Leo, darling," she replied stiffly.

Inching even closer, he hissed in her ear. "What, precisely, were you thinking by arranging this little gathering?"

"I am entertaining, my lord. I would have thought that obvious."

"Entertaining," Colonel Ash repeated, snorting on the other side of her. "Yes, quite. I swear it is as though I am watching a very poorly plotted play."

"Excuse me?"

Penelope whipped her head around to glare at the colonel. His jaw was set in a hard line, and his eyes were busy sweeping across the lawn. Too busy to return her pointed look.

He was often too busy, Penelope had learned. Colonel Ash had barely glanced her way ever since that moment in the tub when Penelope had all but propositioned him. She flushed just thinking about it, wishing she had maintained a bit more decency. But the man had watched her hungrily that entire afternoon, and Penelope simply just did not believe in beating around a pointless bush.

"It is very poorly plotted," he said dryly. "The suspense will be over before the second act has even begun, and I do not reckon there will be a happy ending."

"Yes," Leo agreed, nodding. Penelope felt his chin graze his shoulder, and she wished her faux-older brother would give her space. "That is what happens when you show the enemy where all the weapons are housed on the estate and then hand one over to him."

She rolled her eyes. "You are both being ridiculous."

"Are we?" Colonel Ash drawled, his eyes scanning the gentlemen. And their guns, which Penelope had, in fact, provided so they could enjoy an afternoon of target practice. As she maintained, it was entertainment. For men. Is this not what they liked to do? She was certain if her husband were here, he would have done something quite similar. She should not wish for her male attendees to bore themselves just because there was not a man of the house present.

"Yes," Penelope snapped. "You are. Being ridiculous." She lowered her voice. "If Lord Lawton is truly in the business of smuggling, do you honestly think he did not already come prepared with weapons of his own? This way, we can assess his competence with the damn things."

Leo made a slight humming noise as he considered what she'd said. "I suppose you have a point, Pen."

She sniffed. "Thank you."

"There is still no reason why you must be here," Colonel Ash muttered, seeming annoyed that Leo had agreed with her.

"I am the hostess." Honestly, Penelope did not think it was that much of a concept to be able to grasp.

"You are also accident-prone."

Leo snorted at that. "Realized that, did you?"

Colonel Ash finally ripped his attention away from the lords on the lawn, who were very nearly finished with prepping their guns for the afternoon affair. He leaned forward, looking over Penelope at Leo, who she had learned he was not particularly fond of. Although, Penelope would be surprised if Colonel Ash was particularly fond of anyone.

"She nearly drown—"

Penelope cut him off with whack to the chest, which he took in stride, leaning back again with an annoying smile on his face.

"She nearly what?" Leo gasped.

When Colonel Ash merely shook his head, Leo turned to her.

"Did he just say you nearly drowned?"

"He is exaggerating, of course."

"Did you ever see a physician?" the colonel cut in, and his tone had shifted. Stern and low, it was spoken only to her. Not to Leo.

She turned toward him. "I did not."

"Lady Hutton—"

"I am fine, Colonel."

"I do not wish for you to suffer from a lung infection, Penelope," he said, surprising her with the use of her first name. She did not even need to remind him today.

Penelope liked the way he said it. It was so gravely, so masculine. It was nothing like what she heard in the ton. No one spoke like he did, and she was utterly fascinated by it.

"I appreciate your concern, however—"

"Do not be mistaken," he cut in, reverting to his crisp, dry drawl. "I would not wish it on anyone. It is a brutal affliction."

She paused, taking in his flat expression. He had returned to his previous state, which involved looking anywhere but at Penelope.

"Have you suffered?" she asked, curious.

"No," he said simply. And then quieter, he added, "But I have watched it in others."

"What the heavens are you two mumbling about over there?" Leo cut in, attempting to lean around Penelope to gain entry into their conversation.

He was a bloody meddler and always would be.

"Leo, perhaps it is time for you to go find your wife," Penelope suggested, hoping to get him off her back. It was bad enough that Colonel Ash was constantly lurking behind her. She did not need Leo to do so as well.

"Scarlett is resting," he said. "Her asthma is not taking well to the humid conditions today."

"Perhaps you should go check on her then."

"Trust me, I have tried," he said with a sigh. "She does not want me to miss out on the festivities because of her. It is an ongoing struggle in which I try to convince her that I could care less."

Colonel Ash shifted on his feet next to Penelope, and she wondered if his attitude toward Leo was changing. Lord Farrington really was the most caring man, even if he was a bit insufferable at times. Penelope had never met anyone so in love with his wife. And Scarlett was so very deserving of that love.

"Besides," Leo continued, "we need to ensure that you do not hurt yourself out here, Pen."

The colonel shifted again. "Do not worry, Lord Farrington. I do believe I have that handled."

Penelope rolled her eyes. At both of them. Leo was chuckling beside her, and Penelope could tell by Colonel Ash's tone that he'd taken obvious offense to what Leo had implied: that his protection detail was not sufficient.

Men.

But before Penelope could get another word out, Lord Lawton himself began strolling toward the three of them, his gun swinging haphazardly at his side.

Admittedly, he was not a man who looked as though he would be a traitor to the English crown. He was classically handsome, with a straight nose and thin but smiling lips. Dark, wavy hair and blue eyes. Classically handsome, but a little flat about the personality, if Penelope had to say so herself. Although it was evident he was about to make an effort, considering the sparkling interest in his gaze as he approached.

"Lady Hutton, are you to join us?" he asked, stopping just a few feet from the trio.

She mustered up a bright smile. "Why, yes. I did plan on it, my lord."

He beamed. "Excellent."

"Indeed. My father always believed that if a lady is to live in the country, then she should be prepared to deal with the country."

Lord Lawton seemed surprised to hear that, raising a brow.

"So the duke taught you well, then?"

She nodded. "He did. However, it has been some years. Lord Hutton did not necessarily share the same philosophy," Penelope said wryly.

"I see."

Cocking her head to the side, Penelope flashed her very best simpering smile. "Perhaps you could provide some guidance for me today, Lord Lawton?"

"Penelope," Colonel Ash muttered, a barely audible warning through gritted teeth.

Her smile did not falter, though. What did he honestly think would happen in broad daylight amongst a group of peers? She merely aimed to use the experience to draw closer to their target. Sensical, was it not?

"I would be delighted," Lord Lawton said, holding out an arm to her. "Absolutely delighted."

Penelope took the offered arm, smiling up at his handsome face as he drew her away.

However, as she strode out onto the lawn, Penelope felt a heated glare on her back. And she was quite certain she knew who it belonged to.