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from thewindow. The same thought came to Penelope at the same time, and Jennifer’s face lit up.
    “Do you really think …” Jennifer asked shyly, watching her sister closely, “that a man like that would ever be interested in someone like me?”
    “Good heavens, yes!” Penelope exclaimed, coming to stand behind Jennifer. She put her arms around her sister. “Dear, he would be blind not to be taken in by your charm! Are you going to try to entice him, then?”
    Jennifer blushed, but a small smile crept over her face. “He is handsome. And I think it’s nice that he’s so concerned for his mother. Many young men aren’t nearly so gallant these days.”
    “Jennifer Appleton!” Aunt Eve exclaimed, rising to her feet in astonishment. “You cannot seriously be thinking of encouraging that man’s attentions!”
    Jennifer looked at her aunt, then at Penelope and Winifred, who appeared solemn, then back to her aunt. She sighed and shook her head in the negative.
    “No, of course not! How could you think such a thing?”
    “I daresay not!” Aunt Eve huffed, fluffing out her shawl in an uncanny imitation of the parrot. “Gabriel Forester is no gentleman, that much is for certain!”
    Jennifer nodded, appearing properly chastised. She and Penelope bid their aunt good night, then slowly climbed the stairs. As soon as they were out of earshot, Penelope closed the door and turned to her sister with a huge grin.
    “Well? Are you going to do it?”
    “Why not?” Jennifer grinned back, her mischievous face brightening at the thought. “After all, he is good-looking, and rich as can be. I am attracted to him, too, much as I blush to admit it. It makes perfect sense. And as you say, if Gabriel, well, comes to care for me, he is less likely to press charges.”
    “Jenny! It’s such a wonderful idea! We’ll have to be careful—I sense he could be a formidable enemy. But he is still a man for all that.”
    “So you’ll help me?”
    “Of course! It will be great fun. Darling, I’ve been dying to do this for years. I’ll fix your hair, we’ll get you some rouge … just a touch, don’t make that face. We’ll get you a few pretty gowns. Gabriel won’t be able to help himself!”
    Jennifer wasn’t so certain, but found herself excited by the prospect. She withdrew one of Aunt Eve’s etiquette books from the desk, then flipped it open to the section about courtship. “First, we need a plan. We know nothing about him, other than that he’s Mary’s son.”
    “We need to know where he goes, what he likes, who he sees,” Penelope agreed. Her brows flew up in inspiration and she dove into the stack of invitations in the crystal bowl before her. “I have it!” She waved a cream-colored envelope decorated with cabbage roses. “It’s an invitation to call at the Billings’!”
    “The Billings!” Jennifer’s nose wrinkled. “Why, they are the most boring girls I’ve ever known!”
    “Yes, but they know everyone. And they remember us from when we were children, before Mama and Papa died. I hear they always have the best gossip. One session with them, and we’ll know everything we wish about your Mr. Forester.” She rubbed her hands together at the thought. “By the time we’re through, Gabriel Forester will be nothing more than a love-struck swain. The man doesn’t stand a chance.”

C HAPTER 3

    The following afternoon, Penelope stood outside the Billings’ town house with Jennifer, who was impatiently tugging at her too-small gloves. Penelope dutifully rang the bell, and when a servant answered, placed her violet-sprigged card on the tray. They were ushered into a hallway while they waited to see if the Misses Billing were “at home.”
    Jennifer fidgeted, and Penelope rolled her eyes at her sister. This meeting was the first step to securing their place in society, a goal that was extremely important to her. She reached up and tucked a few burned curls under Jennifer’s bonnet, smiling as