Page 20 of Saved By the Rakish Duke

“And I thought you said we were simply examining people’scharacteristics?” she fired back.

He held up both hands innocently. “I’m only trying to refine your thought process. Who else?”

Penelope tapped her chin in thought. “Oh! See, someone like Lord Clayspeak would be nice. Obviously, he already has a wife, even so, he’s both kind and well-to-do, so a similar gentleman would be-”

“-would be too weak-minded,” the duke drily cut her off. “Who else?”

Penelope carefully pondered over her next choice, not very thrilled with how His Grace was so readily snubbing each one. But then she snapped her fingers. “The Earl of Bellfrost! Admittedly, he’s not here right now. But I’ve heard-”

“No,” snarled the duke.

“Why?” Penelope returned smugly. “Because you can’t find anything wrong with him to complain about?”

When the duke didn’t answer, she shot him a glance to prompt him but only found his jaw clenched as he looked straight ahead.

“No,” he repeated through gritted teeth. “And I think it's time we drew this exercise to a close, Lady Pen.” His expression softened. “You’ve given me much to think about.”

And he did indeed appear to think over it deeply because even when they ran into other acquaintances, even when they concluded the promenade, and even when they arrived home, he appeared to be lost in thought.

As she climbed the stairs, she stole one last glance at him as he handed Mr. Rowley his coat in the entryway.

A most interesting man indeed.

CHAPTER7

“Come in!”

Philip Oakley stuck his head through the doorway. “Fancy meeting you here.”

“Harlington,” Duncan acknowledged his friend with a nod, as dipped his quill in the inkpot, “as my note said, I can’t join you tonight, I’m busy.”

“That’s exactly why I’m here,” his friend answered, dropping himself into the chair opposite him. “How can I help?”

Duncan hastily gathered the papers together. “It’s nothing I can’t handle myself, Harls. I’m certain you and Fairhaven can survive a night without me.”

“What’s really going on, Blackmoore?” Philip crossed his arms. “Sure, there are the daily responsibilities we can’t avoid, but we always make sure to finish our significant work early in the week to-”

“What’s your point, Harlington?” Duncan mindlessly twirled the quill in his fingers.

Philip leaned forward. “My point is that I’ve known you twenty or so years now, and I know when you’re not yourself.”

Duncan mindlessly tapped his finger on the desk. “And are these just your observations, or does Fairhaven agree with you too?”

The marquess let out a snort. “I don’t think he’s even noticed that I have yet to arrive at the club.”

Duncan couldn't help but smile, stretching his arms above his head. “Don’t you sometimes wish we were more like him?”

“Don’t try to change the subject, old boy.” Philip pointed a finger at him before his eyes widened in sudden realization.

Both men dove for Duncan’s notes. One shove, grunt, and yelp later, Duncan secured his papers while Philip looked up at him from the floor.

“Blackmoore,pleasetell me you didn’t...” His friend looked up in dismay. Jumping to his feet, he leaned on the desk and whispered, “Did you get someone pregnant?”

“What?” Duncan bellowed, “Of course not, dimwit!”

His friend screwed up his face. “Then what on earth could possibly have you in this state?”

Duncan rubbed his temples.