Read The Roguish Miss Penn for Free Online Page B

expect you to ask to see his teeth at any moment.”
    Katherine blushed, for she suspected she had stared at Mr. Weekes far more than was seemly. “I am sorry, Cousin Sophia. I was thinking, you see.”
    “I rather suspected such, my girl.”
    At that point Julian Penn turned to his daughter, his face for once most congenial. “I am indebted to you, Katherine. How did you manage to arrange for my perusal of the Fairfax collection?”
    “Actually you owe part of the treat to Gabriel. Had he not been along, chances are that I would not have fallen into the pond, nor met Lord Ramsey and his sister, Mrs. Cheney, much less entered the house.” Katherine exchanged amused glances with her brother. Both well knew that Papa barely tolerated her pet. Katherine attributed Gabriel’s longevity to his ability to hide from the cook.
    “Harrumph,” grumbled Mr. Penn, not liking to concede anything good to the ill-tempered bird. “Explain a deal better, if you please.”
    “I went out to collect some wildflowers to press. My supply was quite low, and I wish to make a number of framed arrangements with the hope of selling them at the fair.” At Teddy’s frown, she defended her pursuit. “There are any number of young ladies who enjoy this pastime, and mine turn out exceedingly well, if I do say so.”
    “And?” prodded her patient father.
    “His lordship came out to see what I was doing. I had not thought him to be in residence, for I had heard nothing from Melly about it. Anyway, his dog jumped up on me and I fell into the pond. Naturally the gentleman wished to see me properly cared for, so he turned me over to his sister.”
    “You had tea?” he prompted.
    “After a bath and dry clothing.” At the raised eyebrows from both men, Katherine explained, “The pond weed had gone to seed, you see. It was all over me.” She ignored the snide little chuckle from Teddy’s direction.
    “And during the tea the subject of the library came up and they were certain your scholar father would wish to study it?” her father concluded.
    “Something like that,” Katherine murmured by way of a reply. She did not have the heart to tell him that she had been invited first, and he included as an afterthought. For one thing, she doubted either of the men would believe such a thing. A professor had an elevated opinion of himself. Besides, she had a fondness for Papa, and his little vanities were to be tolerated.
    “Well, now, you see, Mr. Weekes? A good daughter can be of assistance.” Mr. Penn gave Mr. Weekes a jocular look.
    “I doubt I shall have the felicity of knowing the same, what with the strictures against marriage for the university fellows,” Mr. Weekes replied. “Until the officials adopt changes in the rules, I shall have to continue my solitary way.” He might have added that he cared not to leave the comfortable life of a fellow, but he remained silent on that score.
    “You have ten undergraduates in your care, do you not? What a great responsibility to tend not only their minds but their manners and discipline as well,” Cousin Sophia said at this point, sounding most impressed.
    Teddy jumped into the conversation, guessing something of his sister’s thoughts and how little she could say. “Do you intend to be a fellow of the college for a long time, sir?” Teddy was mindful that a university fellow had a certain amount of influence. Although Teddy had nothing to do with them directly, he had heard that the fellows did a good deal of gossiping— like a bunch of old hens, in his opinion.
    “For the present I have no thought to alter my chosen path.” He glanced at Katherine, but no visible sign of heartfelt longing on his part appeared.
    Katherine wondered if she ought to intercede on his behalf with Lord Ramsey. But, then, Mr. Weekes could hardly tell his lordship that he was perishing for a living in some nearby church in order to enter the holy state of matrimony. If only his eyes hadn’t become so