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The servants were given instructions to clean up and bring forth some ice cream. No questions were asked. Not that Penelope expected any questions. However, she knew that what they did was naughty, and it filled her with thrilling sensations beyond anything she had ever felt before.

He sat down at the table, staring at her with that same grin while the servants were setting up new plates. She knew what he meant about that heat. Not even a full bowl of chocolate flavored treat was enough to extinguish the fire that was still burning inside of her. In fact, she doubted anything had the power to do so.

* * *

The following morning, Penelope’s eyes fluttered open to the soft rays of morning sunlight filtering through the delicate lace curtains of her bed chamber. As she stirred from sleep, her mind conjured up memories of the previous evening and their little adventure in the dining hall. Before she allowed herself to become overwhelmed with desire again, she opened her eyes, and her sleepy gaze was drawn to the sight of a beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers sitting on her bedside table, their vibrant colors illuminated by the gentle light.

With a smile of delight, Penelope rose from her bed and made her way over to the bouquet, her heart swelling with warmth at the sight of the fragrant blooms. She reached out to gently caress the petals, breathing in their sweet, intoxicating scent with a sense of pure contentment. They had to be from James. It was a simple gesture but one that awakened so much tenderness inside of her.

Then, suddenly, a knock on the door brought her back to the present moment. Charlotte’s cheerful face peered from behind it the moment Penelope invited her in.

“Good morning, Your Grace,” Charlotte greeted, her voice soft and soothing as she moved about the room, tending to her mistress’ needs.

“Good morning, Lottie,” Penelope replied with a smile, turning to face her trusted maid. “Did you put these lovely flowers here on behalf of my husband?”

“Oh, no, no,” Charlotte shook her head. “I did no such thing.”

Penelope’s brow furrowed. “But then…”

“His Grace did it all on his own,” Charlotte revealed, much to Penelope’s delight. “I saw him from one of the hallway windows early this morning; he was picking flowers from the garden.”

“James was picking flowers?” Penelope gasped.

“A thoughtful gift from His Grace,” Charlotte observed as she approached the bouquet herself, her fingers brushing gently against the petals.

Penelope returned the smile. “What a lovely way to start my day.”

“Indeed,” Charlotte nodded, walking over to the large armoire and opening it. Her eyes searched through the assembly of gowns, one more beautiful than the next. “Madam, I believe today calls for something truly special.”

Penelope’s curiosity was immediately piqued. “Oh? And why is that, Lottie?” she inquired, amused by the hint of mystery in the air.

Charlotte smiled knowingly, her hands moving deftly as she selected a gown from the wardrobe. “His Grace mentioned a surprise for you, Your Grace,” she explained, her voice laden with excitement. “I thought it only fitting that you should be dressed in something… well, a little more special than every-day clothes.”

Charlotte proceeded to bring over the gown she had selected. It possessed a fitted bodice made of luxurious silk satin in a delicate shade of pale rose.

“It will gently accentuate your slim figure, Your Grace,” Charlotte pointed out.

Penelope smiled as she took in the sight of the beautiful gown. The neckline was modest, yet elegant, adorned with intricate lace trim. The sleeves were sheer, crafted from fine chiffon and gathered at the shoulders with delicate, pink ribbons. They tapered down to the wrists where they were finished with small lace cuffs, adding a touch of femininity to the entire ensemble.

The waistline was cinched with a wide sash made of matching silk, tied in a lavish bow at the back. The skirt would easily cascade down in graceful folds, made of layers upon layers of soft tulle. Penelope looked down to where the hemline gracefully brushed the ground, trailing behind as one walked, adorned with intricate embroidery, depicting delicate floral motifs in shades of pink and green, reminiscent of the blooming gardens of spring.

“I… I have never seen such a beautiful gown,” Penelope gasped. “That doesn’t belong to me.” She shook her head.

Charlotte laughed. “But madam, who else would it belong to?”

Penelope felt a surge of tenderness yet again, knowing whose doing it was. “Did James do this as well?”

“Of course,” Charlotte nodded. “His Grace prepared everything for your arrival. He was overseeing every single detail of the preparation, and he handpicked the gowns himself.”

“Goodness,” Penelope gasped, pressing her hand to her chest.

She couldn’t help but wonder why he would go through all that trouble. Not even her own family, who should love her more than anyone else in the entire world, had ever treated her in this manner. She wondered if this was what it felt like to be cherished, to be protected, and perhaps even, she dared to think, loved.

No, no, she quickly shook her head to herself. They barely knew each other. There was probably nothing deeper between them than mutual respect, and the duke was merely being gracious with his hosting. After all, he wanted her to give him an heir. Any man would do anything in their power to convince a woman to go to bed with him, especially if that certain man had such an important agenda.

Indeed, that made a whole lot of sense. However, Penelope still couldn’t help but feel appreciated. After all, what was so wrong with that?

“Would that one be all right, then?” Charlotte inquired politely, bringing Penelope back to the present moment.