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“A little overly so,” James told her. “It is for a lady to accept a compliment with grace, but it is for a gentleman to know where to draw the line of those compliments, and you, Felix, have crossed it. Penelope is my wife, and I will not stand a man flirting with her in my own home.”

“James, you don’t really mean?—”

“Leave.” James’ order was said in one single, hissed breath. “While your nose is still in one piece.”

“James, please…” Penelope pleaded, but Felix understood that there was no discussing anything with James.

“I am truly sorry if I have offended you, Your Grace,” Felix bowed deeply. “It was not my intention although I do admit, I have perhaps overdone things with the compliments.” He turned to James. “You are a fortunate man, Your Grace. Truly.”

With those words, he left the parlor, leaving Penelope and James alone. She locked eyes with him, her lips pouting, her nostrils flaring at him.

“James, how can you throw someone out of your house like that?”

* * *

James could barely think straight. He heard everything Felix had told her. His compliments should have ended after the first one. And the last one… it made him see red. It took all of his conscious effort not to plant Felix a facer and send him reeling out of the parlor window, right into the rose bushes. That would have taught him a good lesson.

He knew that his expression was dark with anger, but he couldn’t control himself. Without a word, he crossed the distance between them in a few swift strides, his eyes blazing with intensity as he pulled her into his arms.

“I will throw out anyone who flirts with you like that,” he growled, his voice low and filled with simmering fury.

He could see the sudden surge of apprehension at the fire in his eyes, but she still held his gaze steadily, her voice unwavering. “I… I would never have accepted anyone’s advances, James,” she insisted, her tone firm but gentle.

James’ grip tightened around her, his jaw clenched in frustration. “It’s not your fault, Penelope,” he said fiercely, his words filled with passion. “You’re innocent, and sweet. It is the world that is twisted and broken.”

He could see pain in those beautiful eyes, and that was when he knew that he would do anything to keep that pain at bay, to keep her safe and sound from all the hardships in the world.

“You belong to me, Penelope,” he whispered as he leaned his forehead against hers. “Now and forever. No one will take you away from me. No one.”

He yearned to kiss her, but not only that — he wanted to lift her into his arms and take her up to his bed chamber, refusing to leave it for days. His body yearned for her in ways he had never yearned for a woman before. She awakened all sorts of sensations and emotions inside of him, emotions he thought were forgotten a long time ago.

He gazed deeply into her eyes, and he knew that their bond was being forged without them even knowing. She was like a flame in the darkness, burning bright, leading him toward a future he never even thought would be possible for him. But here he was with her in his arms as she trembled like a frightened little bird.

He wanted to tell her so many things. That she was his was only the tip of the iceberg. He wanted to keep her in his arms forever, shelter her from all the storms of life. But a knock on the door interrupted them. Still, he refused to let her go. This washishouse, and he would holdhiswife in his arms if he wanted to.

“Yes?” he called out, not taking his eyes off of her. Much to his delight, she refused to look away as well.

The door opened, revealing Collingsworth. “I apologize, Your Grace, but you said to inform you when the morning mail arrived.”

“Yes, thank you, Collingsworth,” James said, and the wise old butler knew when he was not needed any longer.

He silently closed the door behind him as James still held Penelope’s gaze.

“Are we to stay like this for the rest of the day?” she teased, her hands pressed against his chest. He could imagine that his heart was beating like mad. And he didn’t care. He wanted her to know the effect she had on him.

“I wouldn’t mind it one bit,” he grinned mischievously.

“But who will read your morning mail?” she asked playfully, her lips smiling, revealing a row of pearly whites.

“Who cares?” he almost burst into a chuckle.

One more moment and neither of them could resist. They laughed at the same time, her laughter a melody he wanted to listen to for the rest of his life. Finally, when the onslaught of laughter subsided, he released her from his arms, albeit reluctantly.

“Oh, speaking of things I do not much care for, there is a ball we need to attend,” he informed her. He could immediately see that she liked the idea as much as he did, which was not a lot. “Lord and Lady Ravenscroft.”

“Oh, a ball,” she frowned. “I… I can’t remember the last time I attended one. Can’t we extend our apologies for not being able to attend?”

“You are reading my mind,” he chuckled. “But not this time. Lord and Lady Ravenscroft are Grandfather’s old friends. They would take offense if we didn’t appear as the Duke and Duchess of Huntington before the entire ton attheirball.”