chairs.
“Do you need to learn your letters too?” Natty asked as she handed him one of the journals they worked in.
“No, I’m fairly good at them already,” he answered with a smile. “I came here to ask you girls for permission.”
“Permission for what?” Ethel asked, straightening. She cocked her head to one side, looking rather grown up.
“Permission to ask for Penny’s hand in marriage.”
The room was silent for a moment and then Natty jumped up letting out a cry of joy.
Fran followed suit and the two of them danced about.
But Ethel didn’t move.
“What’s wrong, Ethel?” Clarissa asked as she reached out to stroke the child’s hair.
“Nothing.” Ethel tapped her chin. “I am just wondering what would happen to us if Penny marries the earl.”
Logan grinned, relieved. “That is an easy question. You’ll stay here with us.”
“All of us?” Clarissa asked quietly. “Even me?”
Logan looked at Clarissa’s bowed head. “If you choose to do so. Yes. It will be your choice if you decide to run one of the orphanages or launch into society.”
“Society?” she shrieked, her hands coming to her lips. But when she dropped her fingers, her features were drawn into thoughtful lines. “I could never. But I’d like to work at one of the orphanages. I wish to help people.”
His brow creased. Clarissa was a beauty and now had an earl as a guardian. She ought to consider his offer, but that was a conversation for another day. “So do you all agree to my proposing to Penny?”
“What’s proposing?” Natty asked, scratching her chin.
“Asking someone to marry you, silly.” Fran’s hands coming to her hips. “And I vote yes.”
“Oh, me too,” Natty answered. “I like it here.”
“I like you here too.” Logan pointed to their journals. “I’ve got an idea, but I’ll need your help. Why don’t you girls have a seat again?”
Penny walked down the hall, wondering where everyone had disappeared to. The house had been quiet for hours.
She’d spent the afternoon in a study that Logan had set up for her to use. She’d met with the seller of the Mayfair house and a barrister. The day had been productive but exhausting, and what she wished for now was a nice hug from any member of her family, but none seemed available.
Finally, she found all of them in the nursery.
Logan, Clarissa, and the three girls sat around the table chatting with open journals in front of them.
“What’s this?” she called, stepping into the room.
The little girls jumped up, Fran holding up her hands. “Don’t come any closer!”
“What?” Penny’s eyes flicked first to Logan then to Clarissa, but both wore matching grins.
“Penny,” Logan rumbled. “We’ve a surprise for you but we’d appreciate it if you’d cover your eyes for a moment?”
Her brows lifted but then she gave a quick nod and dutifully lifted her hands to her face.
Furious whispers filled the silence, but Penny only caught the occasional word.
“Over here.”
“No, you there.”
“Turn the book around. It’s upside down, silly.”
Her smile was becoming a face-splitting grin.
Finally, Logan called out. “All right. Open your eyes.”
They stood in a line, each holding out a journal.
Ethel was first, and she carefully opened hers, large block letters filling the page.
* * *
PENNY, WILL YOU
* * *
Fran was next.
* * *
MARRY LOGAN
* * *
There was an arrow pointing to Logan who was next. His gaze was achingly soft as he flipped his book open. Tears filled her eyes, but she swiped them away. How could she read with a mist covering them?
* * *
SO THAT WE
* * *
Natty was next.
* * *
CAN BECOME A
* * *
Last in the line was Clarissa. Her friend’s hand trembled as she opened the last book.
* * *
FAMILY
* * *
Penny stood motionless, her arms wrapping about her waist as the tears she’d been attempting to hold back broke free.
Emotion clogged her throat. She opened her mouth to speak, but then closed it again.
“Well,” Natty huffed. “What’s your answer? We worked on these letters all afternoon.”
Logan reached out to the girl, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Penny,” he rumbled. “Will you accept our offer?”
“Yes,” she managed to just push out the single word.
Books fell to the floor as they all raced forward, a jumble of hugging arms.
This was it.
She’d finally found her man. The one who had put her back together. The one that had made her life better.
The man with a heart of gold.
Epilogue
The morning of their wedding dawned grey as more snow fell from the sky. No one cared a whit for the weather, however, as