If the Duchess of Warwick were here, she would undoubtedly have given Penelope a rap on the wrist for telling Colonel Ash to refer to her by her given name.

Actually, the duchess would have likely dragged Penelope away by her ear and never let her out in society again, considering that she'd just exposed a hell of a lot more to Colonel Ash than simply her name.

Penelope's cheek's flamed but she maintained her grin nonetheless.

It was quite lucky that her mother was not here then, wasn't it?

Colonel Ash had an odd sort of look on his face—as if he wasn't sure if he would return her smile or simply flee the room altogether. But Penelope waited for him to say something, shifting on restless toes as she remained hidden behind the stowed pocket door which connected her chambers with his. And finally, he spoke.

"I cannot."

"Excuse me?"

"I cannot call you Penelope. It would be most..."

The man made a face as though he'd smelled something rather foul.

Penelope sighed, spinning around to look at the clock resting on the mantle nearby. Where the devil was Collete? If Colonel Ash was here, doubtless others would be arriving as well, and she should be downstairs to greet them.

She turned back to the man before her, assessing him as nerves flitted about inside her. Adelaide had said that the colonel would be here to assist her for the duration of the house party.

And she most definitely had something that she required assistance with.

However, Colonel Ash was still attempting to find the right word, staring at her with that same confounded expression. His brows were pulled together, his jaw tight. He looked utterly perplexed about the current situation.

Oh god, she hoped he was not too dense. That would hardly serve them any good given the coup planned for this summer regarding Lord Lawton.

Penelope squared her shoulders before she spoke, despite the fact that he could not see them. "I trust that you were not intending to say it would be improper, Colonel, because I do believe in maintaining a lens of practicality at all times in my home. And if we are to work together, then I should need you to push your qualms aside regarding the way in which you refer and interact with a woman of my nature."

"Work together?" he questioned, raising a brow.

"Yes, that is why you are here, is it not?"

"I am only here to be of service to the—"

His mouth opened, but Penelope held up a hand to cut him off, not desiring to become sidetracked. She was required downstairs—that was the matter of importance at this moment. And she needed help to get there.

"Currently, your service is needed in lacing my stays," she said bluntly before stepping out from behind the wall. Penelope caught the way Colonel Ash's eyes flashed, his jaw tightening further before she turned, presenting her back to him.

"My lady, I—"

Penelope, awash with nervous impatience, tried desperately not to give her foot a little stomp. "Please, Colonel. I do not know the location of my lady's maid, and I must see to my guests."

There was a shuffling behind her. A clearing of a throat. "I could assist with finding her," he offered.

Penelope could not resist rolling her eyes. It was not like he could see her face, after all.

"There is no time, Colonel. I promise it is quite simple."

A deep sigh sounded behind her, followed by a fair amount of grumbling that Penelope could not make out. But there were also footsteps, and she could feel the colonel's presence as he approached her. His breath upon the curve of her neck, tickling the hairs there. His surprisingly gentle touch as he brushed a curl up and over her shoulder.

Penelope felt a shiver working its way up her spine, but then it was shot back down as her bodice suddenly tightened with an alarming strength to it. A gasp slipped from her lips instead as she jerked back against the firm wall of chest behind her, and even Penelope, as unaffected as she typically was in the presence of a man, even one as virile as the colonel, felt a flush work through her.

"For the record," he said, and she nearly jolted again as she realized his closeness. She'd known he was there, but the voice of a man so close to one's ear, and so low, was alarming. If not in a pleasant way. "I do not intend to replace your ladies' maid while I am here."

"Of course not," Penelope snapped. Or tried to. But she sounded embarrassingly breathless. He kept thrusting the air right from her body. "That would be most improper."

Colonel Ash made a snorting noise.

"There you are, my lady."

This time when he spoke, his voice sounded further away. He must have stepped back.

Penelope blinked, smoothing her hands down the sides of her bodice to test its security.

"That was quite efficient, Colonel. One might think you have experience in such a task."

There was a throaty chuckle, and when she turned around again, Penelope saw a glittering in the man's eyes. As though there was something he wished to say to that but was refraining for her benefit.

But Penelope was not particularly a fan of those who did not speak their mind freely. She judged others without reservation on what fell from their lips, as it so often danced along lines which she did not care for.

So she thought she might prod her new acquaintance to loosen his tongue. Penelope needed to know what she was working with. Or rather, who.

She cocked her head to the side, looking at Colonel Ash pointedly. "Perhaps you should replace Collete, then?"

The light in his eyes vanished. They fell, lowering down over Penelope's gown before tracing her body back up. A frown slipped into place on his face. "I do not believe that to be wise, Lady Hutton," he finally replied.

No, likely not, Penelope reckoned.

She was intrigued by this man, however. He was a challenge to read, and Penelope rather enjoyed challenges. A hardness flexed in his expression, one that was not often seen in members of the ton, and she wished to know how it came to be.

Actually, all of him seemed very...hard. His steely grey eyes, his sharp nose, the flat line of his lips, although they were unusually full for a man such as himself. That tan, taut skin. Not to mention, the man positively towered over Penelope, at least a full head taller than herself. His sun-streaked hair fell unfashionably around his face, and he raked a hand through it.

"I thought you were to make haste, my lady?" he said, shifting on his feet as though her stare was making him uncomfortable.

Penelope jumped. "Oh, yes. Yes, indeed."

Bustling away from the Colonel without another word, Penelope retreated back into her own chambers, checking her appearance in the floor-length mirror before slipping into the hallway.

Only to bump back into Colonel Ash. Quite literally.

"My pardons, Lady Hutton," he said as he turned around, his expression remaining unmoving.

"Are—" Penelope had to pause to regain a breath which had slipped from her upon running into his backside. "Are you returning to the foyer as well?"

He raised a brow. "I have been instructed by Her Majesty to keep a keen eye on you, my lady."

Penelope pushed past him with a slight huff. "I am not a child, Colonel."

He sounded amused as he trailed her through the corridor. "I am well aware, Lady Hutton."

"Penelope," she corrected without turning around.

There was a pause followed by a low chuckle. And then an even lower voice, which nearly made her trip on the hem of her skirts.

"Penelope."

Oh, heavens. Why did he have to say it like that? So positively dangerous and dark, like her name was a weapon which he'd just unsheathed. She sensed he did not wish to be here, but she did not expect to be referred to as though she was an adversary in one of his doubtless many battles.

Penelope cleared her voice. "As you are aware that I am not a child, Colonel Ash, you do not need to trail me."

Colonel Ash cleared his voice as well. Only it was so loud and so apparent that Penelope wondered if he was mocking her. "It is only that I have been told that at times you behave as such," he said.

Mocking her indeed. 

She twisted abruptly, and this time it was nearly him who collided with her. "Who—?" And then it came to her. Of course. "Leo," she muttered, turning back around.

And then, as if summoned, the lord in question appeared. Standing at the bottom of the stairs was the blonde head of Leo Pearce, Lord Farrington. He stared up at her as though he'd known she was on his way.

"Hello, dear," he called. "I was just wondering if I should send for a search party to look for you. But then I remembered that you are already in quite capable hands."

Leo winked, and Penelope huffed. Especially when she realized that the wink was not for her but for the man behind her.

Undeterred by her scowl, Leo beamed. "Let us greet your guests, shall we?"

Penelope took a deep breath. She flicked a hand down over her skirts before grabbing the railing. She was about to take a step when an arm appeared on her other side. An arm that was attached to a rather tall, rather domineering man. Penelope blinked at it.

"I do not know of all the manners used by the ton, my lady," he said lowly. "But I know of some. And I do have it in my capacity to use them on occasion."

Blinking again, Penelope gazed up at him to find a touch of sincerity there.

"Let me escort you," he muttered beneath his breath.

So Penelope brought her hand to rest upon his.

But it did not take her long to realize that perhaps she might have been steadier without him.