Penny stared at the men around her. There was a subtext to this conversation that she didn’t understand but she was going to. Before the evening ended, in fact.
What was this the beginning of?
And when had Logan been declared her voice?
She’d wished for help, that was true. But she’d also learned to stand on her own two feet. She’d only wanted a crutch, not to have her legs removed. She felt very much like a pawn in this room, and she didn’t like it. Not one bit.
“I’d prefer to discuss this now, actually.” She smiled, realizing she might be overstepping. She drew in a deep breath, calming her racing heart. “I hope you’ll forgive me, Your Grace. I won’t be able to properly relax until—”
The Duke of Darlington waved his hand. “I understand completely.”
Logan gave her a sharp look. “Penny,” he whispered but not quietly enough.
Several sets of brows rose at the use of her given name. She ignored Logan and the brows. He’d protected her, that much was true, but one day he’d leave her life. Now that the kiss was over, and she’d had a moment to catch her breath, she realized there had been no promises. He was still an earl and she was…an orphan.
And just as clearly, she realized, she’d wanted him to be part of her future. To help her in her life’s work. Which was absurd. He was an earl and a man with duties and obligations all his own.
He was not going to leave his world behind to join hers.
She’d allowed the fairy tale to slip over her like a veil. But it was time to clear her vision.
Straightening her spine, she said, “I have one older girl, though she has become an assistant to me of sorts.” Clarissa was her everything. “And then I have three girls under the age of ten.” She cleared her throat. “Natalie, we like to call her Natty, was born without a birth record and sold to an innkeeper’s wife who had her cleaning their inn—”
Logan made a choking noise and she stopped looking at him. His jaw was locked, and his face had turned to granite.
“My goal,” she continued, “is to provide a home for girls specifically. But ideally I’d like to set up a brother facility that housed boys.”
The men around her nodded.
“Goldthwaite.” Darlington sat forward. “What did you contribute?”
Logan shifted, his muscles tensing against her. “Six thousand pounds.”
“I’ll give the same amount.” Devonhall gave a careless wave of his hand.
Penny’s breath caught in her throat. That was unbelievable. Both the ease with which these men parted with life-changing sums and her sudden change in fortune.
“As will I,” another man murmured. She believed he was the Baron of Blackwater. She glanced over at the man to see his brown eyes glittering with…animosity. She drew back a bit, once again glad Logan was next to her.
“Well, gentlemen, it seems we’ve set the buy-in contribution.” Darlington slapped his knee as he spoke.
Buy-in? For what? She tilted her head to the side, confused. But now was not the time to ask, she knew that. Whatever else was happening, her life and the life of her children was about to change.
Then the duchess turned to her husband. “And what will we give?”
He smiled at his wife. “We’ll match the total contribution.”
Penny nearly fell off the settee. Logan’s hand steadied her elbow. “Your Grace?”
Logan straightened as he let go again. “That is very generous.”
Darlington shrugged. “It’s my share of the club’s proceeds from the last few months. It means little to me.”
The club?
Penny shook her head. She couldn’t puzzle it out now. Because a fortune was about to land in her lap. Money beyond her wildest imaginings. Enough to make all her plans come true.
She should be happy, and she was…