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A shadow appeared in the doorway, and a moment later, James walked in. He glanced at his grandfather then at Penelope. “It seems I am interrupting something.”

“As a matter of fact, you are,” his grandfather said gravely, then a moment later, he chuckled. “You may go away and return in… let’s say fifteen minutes. Does that sound all right to you, my dear?” The last question was aimed at Penelope, who also couldn’t resist chuckling.

“Let’s make it half an hour, Grandfather,” she replied playfully, much to everyone’s amusement.

“Well, in that case—” James pretended to be slightly offended, turning around and heading back out the door, when Penelope called out to him.

“No, no, come back,” she said through the chuckles.

“Only if I’m not interrupting,” James teased.

“Do come back, you silly lad,” his grandfather chastised with good humor, “and do tell us all about this surprise. I am also dying to know what it is.”

James’ eyes widened in shock. He glanced at his grandfather then at Penelope. “What surprise? I don’t know what surprise you are talking about.”

Once again, Penelope and Grandfather locked gazes, and they burst into an even more boisterous chuckle.

“Well, Charlotte said I needed to dress nicely,” Penelope explained, once the onslaught of laughter had subsided, “because there is a surprise for me today.”

James mused, playfully patting his chin with his index finger. “Let me think… a surprise, a surprise… No. I don’t recall anything of that sort.”

“Well,thatis rather disappointing, I must say,” Grandfather said, getting up with a loud screech of the chair. “And as you can see, Penelope is far too lovely not to be surprised today. If you won’t take her somewhere, then I will!”

Demonstratively, he walked over to Penelope and offered her his hand. “Where do you fancy going, my dear? I shall take you to the end of the world if you wish me to!”

Penelope smiled, exchanging a coy glance with James. “Thank you, Grandfather. I accept your?—”

“No, no, no,” James interrupted. “If anyone is taking Penelope anywhere, it is me, Grandfather.”

“So, there is a surprise?” his grandfather exclaimed victoriously.

“Yes,” James nodded. “Which all of you have ruined, thank you very much.”

He said it with such mock indignation that they all burst into laughter at the same time.

“Do sit down, lad,” Grandfather suggested. “And let’s have breakfast. But when you return later, I want to hear all about this mysterious surprise.”

“Of course,” James grinned, taking a seat next to Penelope, whose heart was dancing even more now than it did that morning.

* * *

“So, you really won’t tell me where you are taking me?” Penelope asked once they were settled in the carriage which gently rocked them down the cobbled streets of the city.

“No,” James said simply, grinning.

“Well, that’s not nice,” she pouted playfully.

“That’s why it’s called a surprise, Penelope,” he chuckled. “Which, once again, was almost ruined as everyone else had informed you of it before me.”

“But I still don’t know what it is,” she reminded him. “So, nothing is ruined.”

“I suppose you are right,” he replied with that same smile. “And in all that morning commotion, I didn’t even tell you something very important.”

Her eyes widened at his words, a slight redness flushing her cheeks. “What is that?”

“You look absolutely breathtaking,” he murmured softly, his voice filled with admiration.

He remembered how he was momentarily speechless at the sight of her in the dining hall. His eyes widened in awe as he took in her ethereal beauty, his breath catching in his throat at the sight of her radiant presence. Even now, he couldn’t help but steal glances at her, his eyes lingering on her like a painter captivated by his muse. He marveled at the way the color of the gown accentuated her porcelain complexion and at the way her eyes sparkled with a light that illuminated everything around them.