What the Fates Decree: The Caversham Chronicles-The Titans of the Revolution by Sandy Raven Read Free Book Online Page B

on the bed,” Lady Isabel Halden whispered. “I can’t believe what we just heard.”
    “Same here” said Charlotte, as she gave Penelope an expectant gaze. “What on earth is going on?”
    “You’re asking me as if I know.” Penelope felt herself trembling. “My great aunt just said that my cousin is not engaged to marry anyone, much less Mr. Santiago. But I read the letter Lady Edgar sent to my mother. She is planning to announce the betrothal during this house party, and…”
    “Since they aren’t here there is no way of asking is there?” Charlotte said.
    “If there’s been a breakup Miss Olivia might not wish to talk about it,” Isabel offered. “It would be nice if we could discover what happened without appearing the worst sort of gossips.”
    “No,” Penny whispered, trying to regain what strength she thought she had before she arrived at castle Rathcavan a mere hour ago. One short conversation with Lady Adina had her belly tumbling like a circus performer inside her. “As much as I may have wished at one time that Mr. Santiago realized his folly, begged my forgiveness, and asked my father for my hand in marriage, the man has not contacted me in any way, for over a year.”
    “Well, the good thing is he likely won’t be a guest at this house party because of this new development.”
    Penny went to the window, and pulled back the curtain so as to look at her view. Rolling hills, lush and green, spread out before her far off into the distance. Glancing down, she saw her rooms were above a flagstone terrace with steps leading to a path that wound around the side of the house. She’d stayed in this room once before several years ago, before she’d come out, before she’d fallen in love with that feckless man who stole her heart. “We won’t know for certain what the truth is, or if there ever was an… understanding between them until my cousin and Lady Edgar return from shopping in the village, which could be any minute.”
    “You don’t sound as though you believe what was written in Lady Edgar’s letter,” Isabel said.
    “Do not be swayed by his sweet words again, Penny, if he does come here,” Charlotte warned. “Do not melt if you see his handsome face, and do not give in to his passionate Spanish nature. He would use your emotions against you.”
    “Yes, Penny,” Isabel said. “You have recovered and have become a stronger woman because of his cruel actions.”
    “Remember,” Charlotte said, “Mr. Santiago promised he would write, and he never did. Over a year without a single word, and these past months he’s been here in Britain. Why did he never come to you, or write to you?”
    In the distance Penelope watched a young lad, a groom likely, riding one horse in the front, center position, leading about eight other horses behind him up the narrow lane from a distant pasture. They looked well-behaved, following him with no halters or ropes on their heads. Likely he was bringing in horses for the guests that have already arrived, or were still en route to Rathcavan.
    She turned to face her friends, how could she explain without making her cousin seem truly horrid? “I have told you both before that my cousin Olivia is a bumble-head,” Penny whispered. “And that was being… kind. You will find she’s… an… exaggerator.”
    “She’s a liar?” Charlotte sounded surprised.
    “In a way… I suppose,” Penelope said, trying to find the correct way to describe her vacuous, self-absorbed cousin, without being cruel. “She wants desperately to be liked. And to that end, she will say and do almost anything to gain your amity, or affection. Her mother died when she was a small girl.”
    “I’m not going to feel sorry for the girl who tells her aunt Mr. Santiago wants to marry her when he said no such thing.” Charlotte would be the least of the three to be forgiving or accepting.
    “I am in no way giving Olivia a pass on her behavior, but as she isn’t here—and