Page 8 of Saved By the Rakish Duke

“Of course not!” Penelope smiled, reiterating, “I just need to get Mother and me as far away fromhimas possible.”

“In that case, what about the Viscount Gloushire?” Her friend’s face lit up. “He’s kind, and patient, I think you’d get along splendidly.”

Penelope swallowed, “I trust your intuition, Rebecca.”

“Fantastic!” squealed her companion. “Wait right here and I’ll go find him!”

As her friend separated from her, Penelope’s leg started bouncing up and down of its own accord. She placed a hand on her knee in a futile attempt to stop it.

It’s just an introduction.Penelope silently chastised her leg.There's absolutely no need to be so nervous.However, despite knowing this, she couldn’t seem to get her leg or her heartbeat under control.

It had been years since she had last spoken to a gentleman as a potential suitor. And now Rebecca has suddenly decided to set this on her out of the blue.

Small talk, warm smiles, and other pleasantries.Penelope assured herself,That’s it. There’s nothing to be so worried about now. It’ll be all right.But the longer she waited, the greater her nerves grew. Unable to bear it for a second longer, she rose from her chair and marched herself out of the ballroom.

No doubt, she must have drawn some attention from the other guests as she did so, but she didn’t care. She simply allowed her restless feet to carry her.

Eventually, she found herself standing in the manor’s garden, the night breeze soothing her cheeks. At twenty-and-five years old, Penelope had already made peace with her standing as a spinster.

So having to suddenly dive back into the search for a husband was proving more formidable of a challenge than she had initially realized.

She paced around the garden, a part of her wondering whether the chirping crickets around her understood her plight.

But she quickly realized that the crickets weren’t the only thing she could hear. Besides them and the faint music coming from within the house, she could hear... giggling?

She followed the sound. But just as she rounded the corner, she was forced to immediately step back.

Did they see me?

The unceasing giggling and hushed voices told her no.

Carefully, she peeked around the corner.

“I saidgood night, Lady Jane,” the exasperated Duke of Blackmoore snarled.

Presently, he stood with his back flat against the house’s east face as the woman he called Lady Jane blocked his path.

“So impatient, Your Grace.” She placed a hand on his chest. “You’re fortunate I’m not so easily offended.”

“Please take all the offense possible if it’ll finally get you out of my way,” he drily returned.

Penelope felt the urge to rub her eyes in case she wasn’t seeing clearly. Was the notorious rake before her actuallyrejectingan opportunity for depravity?

This Jane is practically offering herself up on a silver platter, so why wouldn't he-

Her eyes widened in realization.

She looked over her shoulder to be doubly sure that no one else had arrived yet. Despite the fact that she was standing up, once again, her leg began to bounce nervously.

Come on, Your Grace, save yourself. Don’t make me do this.

But when she returned her attention to them, Lady Jane was attempting to lay her head on the duke’s chest, who in turn was frantically attempting to pry her off of him—a task that was especially challenging as he was apparently trying to do so without hurting her too much.

Penelope groaned to herself.

Looks like I shall have to step in after all.

With a deep breath, she rounded the corner and feigned surprise. “Oh! I’m very sorry to interrupt, but by any chance have any of you noticed my snuffbox? I believe I dropped it somewhere here earlier.”