Penelope felt the weight of his gaze and met it without hesitation. It was as though he could already read through her disguise and tell that it was all planned.
Finally, "Ah," he said without breaking his gaze from her. "Perhaps I misunderstood."
Penelope gave a tight smile. "Indeed."
"Mm," he said, his attention returning to Francesca. "Then I am glad to hear Miss Anderson is recovering. And you're perfectly fine as well,"
Francesca smiled warmly.
"I am perfectly well," Penelope said, the frost in her voice going unnoticed.
Anthony's mouth curved faintly, his eyes returning to her. "I am pleased to hear it."
However, there was nothing pleasing about the way he said it.
Penelope could not decide whether she wanted to throw her teacup at him or admire the remarkable ease with which he lied.
Francesca, entirely unaware of the tension between them, looked down at the bracelet. "I was rather upset when I discovered it was missing."
