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Lydia stifled a laugh from the other side of the room.

“Dare I say it, you and the duke will make beautiful babies,” Aunt Augusta went on.

“The duke only wants an heir and nothing more.”

“Oh, honey, he is but a man. Hewillwant more. More babies and more everything!”

“Aunt Augusta, things are not like that! And you should not say such things, not in front of Lydia!” Penny colored fiercely.

Penny and her little family assembled at the table for breakfast. They settled on a light conversation, the ball, to which Lydia was more than eager to talk about her experience.

“You danced with the baron twice. You make a handsome couple,” Penny said to Lydia, who was quick to draw her brows in a frown.

“Do you jest, sister?”

“I do not.”

“If the baron asks for my hand, we must reject him immediately!”

“Lydia! You–”

“He only sees me as a breeding mare. I might as well be a dog in his sight. All night, he spoke about children. He said he wants to have a dozen children and needs a young fair maiden strong enough to bear it. I am not strong enough to bear his little army, so we must refuse him.”

Aunt Augusta laughed and nodded. In their little bubble, they had not heard Randolph arrive until he cleared his throat, commanding their attention.

“His Grace, the Duke of Huxton is here for Miss Hislop,” he announced.

Penny wiped the crumbs of cake from her lips with a napkin and stood up.

“Let him in,” she told him and hurried to the drawing room to prepare for her guest, wondering what in the heavens brought him to her.

Time seemed to move slowly as she sat in the room, wondering why the duke had not arrived at the drawing-room yet. Before Penny could make the decision to go and find out what was keeping him, the door was pulled open, and she inhaled his fresh masculine scent before he stepped in. He was dressed in black breeches and a morning coat over a white silk shirt. He looked very powerful, his chest broad and muscular.

“Good day, Miss Hislop. You must forgive me for calling upon you this early, but the matter that brought me is of utmost importance,” Penny nodded and offered the duke a seat, but he refused. Instead, he stalked forward, stopping in front of her. This close distance seemed to be a habit for them.

“Stretch out your hand,” he ordered, and she did. He took her left hand in his, collected out a small velvet box from his coat, and opened it, revealing an emerald ring which he slipped into her slender finger.

“There. A ring for my betrothed.” There was a trace of humor in his voice.

Penny lifted her hand to her face, and a small gasp escaped at the beauty of the thing. It was the most alluring piece of jewelry she had ever seen.

“We will be married in three days,” he announced, stealing her attention from the accessory to his face. “Before you ask, I do not jest. Preparations are being made as we speak. I do not require a dowry from you either. All I need is your presence,” he paused and looked around. “And that of your family as well,” he finished.

“But the Season has only just started, and I need to monitor Lydia to–”

“Your sister will have her lady’s maid and your aunt. More respectable gentlemen will approach her when word gets out that her sister is married to a duke.” Penny bit her lower lip.

“Now, if you will excuse me. I will see you at the altar.”

Chapter6

“Tell me the truth, Penelope. Are you with child? Because it will demystify why you are getting married in such haste,” Aunt Augusta asked.

Penny shook her head, a firm no like she had been doing for the past three days. She was just as shocked as her aunt and sister when the duke–no, Rhysand– announced the news to her. She had been reluctant to ask why he wanted to get married so quickly and instead nodded at his request. It was not as though he left her much choice in the matter.

Rhysand.

He had suggested they addressed each other by their names and not titles as they were‘engagednow.’