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His grandfather nodded thoughtfully. “You are right to trust your instincts, my boy. Besides, I also don’t think that Penelope would do something like that, just disappear in the night.”

“Right?” James echoed.

“Yes,” Grandfather confirmed. “I’ve come to know her well, despite the fact that she had been here a short time. But some people are like that. They don’t hide who they are because they don’t have to. You see right through them because they are not trying to hide anything, and Penelope is one of those people. She came to us with an innocent soul and an open heart. She wouldn’t do this.”

“I know she wouldn’t,” James agreed. “But why would Vanessa tell me something that isn’t true?”

His grandfather thought about it for a moment. “You don’t know this young lady. I am not saying that she did anything. Perhaps she merely saw something and understood it differently. In any case, we must focus on finding Penelope and assuring that she is all right. Then, you can ask her if she truly said all those things.”

James’ grip tightened around his glass, his knuckles whitening with pressure. “But what can I do? I have no idea where she is or where to begin looking for her. From what I’ve seen, her family doesn’t seem concerned about her at all because she has done this before, run away and caused mischief. She was sent to a nunnery in an effort to rectify her ways, and now, they tell me that they were unsuccessful in rehabilitating her.”

His grandfather frowned. “And you believe that?”

“No,” James assured him. “I don’t think that Penelope needs any rectifying. But I’m surprised they are not concerned about her at all. How is that possible?”

“Maybe they know where she is?” his grandfather mused.

“Maybe,” James nodded. “But I’m afraid even if they do, they probably won’t tell me. They would have told me already if that were the case.”

“I see,” his grandfather replied, leaning forward, his eyes sharp and intent. “You might be right. So, first, we must remain calm and think clearly. Rash actions will do us no good. We need to gather information and find out exactly what happened tonight.”

James nodded, his resolve strengthening. “You’re right, Grandfather. Where should we start?”

His grandfather stood up, downing his glass and placing it back onto the table. “There is another sister, isn’t there?”

“Yes, the youngest,” James confirmed.

“Hasn’t she visited Penelope here?” Grandfather wondered.

“Yes, she has,” James confirmed once again, slowly understanding what his grandfather was aiming at. “She is the only one in her family Penelope is close with. Perhaps Adeline will know something.”

“Indeed,” his grandfather nodded. “She is the one you must speak to, not the sister who told you she witnessed what happened.”

“You are right, Grandfather,” James agreed, feeling an onslaught of hope that not all was lost. “Even if Penelope did say all those things, I do believe she would have said them to me personally. No matter what they say, she wouldn’t run away from me, not after everything that has happened between us.”

Grandfather smiled. “So, you’ve finally realized a thing or two?”

“Hopefully, not too late,” James replied.

“I’ve seen the way her eyes light up when you walk into the room,” his grandfather assured him. “Such love doesn’t disappear overnight. You must find her and speak with her. Then you will be certain of everything —of yourself, of her, of what you two have together.”

“Thank you, Grandfather,” James walked over and gave his grandfather a hug. “I don’t know what I would do without you.”

“Thrive, my boy.” His grandfather cupped James’ face with both hands. “You would thrive with or without me. Find what you need to be happy, as I know you will. Love has a way of guiding us through even the darkest of times. Trust in that, and always trust in yourself.”

James nodded.

Now, he had a plan.

CHAPTER32

You can do this, Penelope,she told herself while her entire body was trembling, both from the cold and the fear of getting caught.

In the dead of night, the nunnery lay shrouded in silence, the only sound being the distant hoot of an owl. Penelope, her heart pounding and her senses on high alert, crept through the dimly lit corridors, moving as quietly as she could. She had waited hours for this moment, for the other nuns to retire to their quarters, the hallways to be empty, and the convent to succumb to sleep.

Every step was measured, every creak of the ancient floorboards beneath her feet sending a jolt of fear through her.

She had to make it out. She had to find James and let him know what happened.