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“You cannot afford it because you are capable of it or because you are afraid of it?”

“I am not!”

“So you say, but you sound like her smile alone drives you crazy.”It does.

Shite.

“Enough about what I am capable of and what I am not, you claim you have business to discuss with me.”

Philip smiled and nodded. “Indeed, I do.”

For the next hour or so, Rhysand and Philip spoke about business affairs, but Philip subtly spoke about his relationship with the duchess which surprisingly did not annoy Rhys, but he never showed it. And then it was time for Philip to leave.

“I must say, I am quite disappointed that I did not get to make an acquaintance with the duchess.”

Rhysand stifled his irritation. If he had not been impressed by Philip’s business proposal, he would have thrown him out of his house at that statement. There would be no point, though, since he was already leaving.

At the large double doors, a carriage stopped outside the lawn, and two women alighted the vehicle.

“Good day, Your Grace.” Lydia and her aunt curtsied at the duke, and then she lifted her eyes, and Philip had never seen such magnificent beauty before. With her lips slightly parted, she stared at him as did he for what felt like hours but was a mere second.

“Where are your manners, Lydia?”

“Good day, My Lord,” she offered her hand to him, and he took it eagerly. She smelled of cinnamon. Sweet and innocent, just like her eyes. Where had such beauty been hiding?

“Tis a good day indeed,” Philip blurted

“And you should get going now,” Rhysand cleared his throat, and with a crimson face, Lydia ran inside.

“The lady is not the duchess, is she?”

Rhysand scoffed and shook his head.

“If she was, I would have pulled out your eyes for staring at her like that.”

Philip laughed. “So, you do care about her.”

“She is the duchess’s sister.” Rhys ignored Philip’s preposterous statement. Perhaps if all went well, a match between the two would be secured soon.

Chapter10

“Ihave returned!” A male voice had alerted Penny and her little family, who were having tea in the drawing room.

“Where are the newlyweds?” The male voice boomed and Penny ran to the corridor to see an old man with a case in his hand. He looked to be around her father’s age.

“And who might you be, sir?” Aunt Augusta asked from behind Penny.

“Harold Patterson, my fair lady. Who might you be?” Penny noticed his words were slurry.

“Patterson? You are a relative of His Grace?” Penny asked and he nodded.

“I am the only relative of His Grace. You are the wife,” he inched closer and took Penny’s hand placed a kiss on the back of it.

“Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Your Grace,” the man said and smiled.

“Now where is that damned nephew of mine?” He asked.

“I am afraid I would not be able to answer that…” Penny sighed.