Page 6 of Saved By the Rakish Duke

“Oh, I’m sure you will, Your Grace.” She lowered her voice, “I just doubt that’sallyou’ll be doing.”

“With such conviction, evenIam inclined to believe you,” he folded his arms, “but you hardly know me.”

“We may have only just met, Your Grace.” Penelope let out a deep exhale. “But I am—unfortunately—all too familiar with your sort.”

As she said this, her eyes began to well up, but Penelope mustered the strength to fight the tears back.

His eyes widened in intrigue, making her immediately regret her words.

“Oh really?” He glanced at her hand. “Is that why a captivating lady as yourself still doesn't have a wedding band?”

Penelope clutched her left hand.

“Duncan!” his mother exclaimed.

But Penelope wasn’t backing down either. “That's a good question, Your Grace. But perhaps you would care to explain the wedding band missing from your own hand first.”

“I would, but it’s a boring story.” He shrugged, leaning forward once more. “A much more interesting one would be how you and I could amend each other’s lack of wedding bands-”

“No!” Penelope cut him off, mortified.

“Duncan, that’s enough!” the dowager duchess chastised. “I suggest you apologize to our guests and take your leavenow.”

“All right, Mother.” He held both hands up in defeat. “I shan’t tease her any longer.”

As he pushed himself up from the armchair, he flashed Penelope another smile. “I’m sorry to cut our lovely chat short, my fair lady. But maybe you would care to continue it tonight at Ashfordshire’s ball?”

“Mother and I won’t be attending, Your Grace.” She returned his smile—albeit sarcastically. “But I’m sure you’ll manage just fine without us.”

After he hadfinallyleft them, Penelope felt her shoulders relax, realizing for the first time just how tense he had made her.

“I really do apologize.” The dowager duchess rubbed her temples. “Please know that he doesn’t mean any of it, he’s a good man.”

Penelope did her best to conceal her skepticism at this remark. After all, of course, the rakish duke’s own mother would be the first to overlook his behavior.

Even so, Penelope felt sorry for her. At least now she understood why the dowager duchess was so averse to any gossip at all—her son was probably responsible for half of it.

“I understand, Your Grace,” Penelope sheepishly answered, “and I apologize for provoking him in the first place.”

“In truth, he would have found a way to tease you regardless,” her host sighed, “but at least he made one good point while he was here: perhaps you should come with me to the Duke of Ashfordshire’s ball tonight, I assume you also received an invitation, yes?”

“Er...” Penelope looked over at Mother hesitantly, “yes... we did get invited, Your Grace but Mother is still in full mourning, and it’s been quite the journey to London so-”

“I shan’t force you, my pet,” the dowager duchess assured her, “but even if your mother cannot come, I would be more than happy to chaperone you myself. You might find it refreshing!”

Or I might find a potential suitor.Penelope realized suddenly.

“On second thought, Your Grace, that sounds like a wonderful idea.”

CHAPTER3

Penelope discreetly straightened her skirt as she stuck close behind the Dowager Duchess of Blackmoore. She recognized most of the faces but wished she had done a better job remembering their names.

Thankfully, however, it appeared that her chaperone for tonight had impeccable memory, so all Penelope had to do was wait for her to say the other guest’s name or title before she also chimed in to the conversation.

As the dowager duchess reminisced with the Pembrokehams about how they had run into each other on a past trip to Saint Leys, Penelope felt a gentle tap on her shoulder.

“Rebecca?” she exclaimed upon turning around.