Page 17

“You seem to be in better spirits now,” he commented. “Is it because you met your dear sister, or have you finally decided to take my advice?”

“I am only doing what is expected of me,” Penelope replied. “And if that means that I smile and be pleasant, then so be it.”

“A noble effort,” he said. “Perhaps a dance will help you commit to the role.”

Penelope shot him a tired look. “Somehow, I did not take you to be the dancing sort. Color me surprised.”

Alexander laughed loudly again at that.

“And what other strange notions do you hold about me?” he challenged.

“None that I can admit out loud in public like this,” Penelope said, though he could tell that she was bluffing only to keep the banter going. He realized that he liked her much better when she was like this, not brooding or upset.

“Well then, let me make one thing clear to you,” he said. “It would be criminal for me to not dance with my wife, on our first public appearance together.”

“You know, I much prefer it when you are not in a bad mood,” the musicians began to play the first song of the night, “Which you have been for the entirety for the evening.”

“Have I?” Penelope didn’t look at him right away.

“Don’t play coy,” he said, a touch amused. “You didn’t say a single pleasant thing in the carriage. And it was only when you met Isadora that your mood seemed to improve, in the least.”

“Can you blame me for being happy to see my sister?”

“You’re deflecting.”

She let out a long breath and turned slightly toward him.

“Maybe I was just having a day. It happens, even to Duchesses.”

Alexander was not convinced. He moved closer to her, so that she could hear him properly.

“I do not think so. Rather, I believe that something occurred that bothered you greatly, and spoiled your mood . But instead of saying it, you decided to act out like this.”

“And you surmised this all on your own?”

Alexander only smiled.

“Well then,” she continued. “You are not incorrect. There is something that has been bothering me. Or gnawing at me, more like.”

“You may tell me,” Alexander insisted. “And now is as good of a time as ever.”

“You are insistent.”

“Only because I am curious,” he said, “and because I do not see the point in spoiling an otherwise nice evening with something that may be easily resolved. So, I would advise you to tell me.”

Alexander was not sure what her response might be. She had a contemplative expression on her face, and her hesitation told him that it might go either way.

“It’s about Odette,” she said finally.

That caught his attention. His shoulders tightened just slightly as he waited for her to go on. Penelope looked at the space over his shoulder as they turned.

“I want to take her out,” she said. “Just for walks, to the park. She is hardly a toddler, and can be expected to look after herself, as long as she is under my supervision.”

“I am not sure if I understand you,” Alexander replied, knitting his eyebrows together. “You did take her out, just the other day into the town. What else do you need?”

It was a serious question. When it came to Odette, and specifically the matter of her safety, he was not one to take any chances.

“I don’t like that Odette can’t breathe without approval from your guard dogs.”

Her words were blunt, but Alexander knew better than to be surprised by that now. Clearly, the matter had ruffled her feathers enough for her to be speaking so harshly.

“She’s going to debut in only a few years, she’ll be a lady of the ton ,” she continued, “Surely she should be able to go for a stroll without it turning into a production.”

“That’s what this has been about?” Alexander picked at her brain a bit more. He found himself growing irritated by her complaints, but tried not to show it. “You resent the fact that she has protection with her?”

“I’m not saying she shouldn’t have protection. I know that being the daughter of a duke must come with its own risks,” she countered. “But two enormous Scottish guard dogs of men following us everywhere? I don’t think that achieves anything.”

“I think Fergus and Lewis would be rather flattered if you called them that to their face,” Alexander commented.

“They growl when they smile,” she said flatly. “And I just find the whole thing entirely unnecessary. She deserves to feel like a normal girl sometimes.”

They twirled in a slow arc. He didn’t interrupt her again, deciding that as annoyed as he felt, he would give her a chance to explain herself more.

“She’s a wonderfully bright girl,” Penelope said. “ She doesn’t say it, but I can tell she wants more freedom. She wants to feel like she belongs with other girls her age. And I want to help her get there. But I can’t do that if every outing has to be cleared and scheduled in advance.”

Alexander finally looked down at her, properly.

“I do not doubt your intent, which is pure. And if anything, I am happy that you seem to care about her well-being like this.”

“But?” she prompted, already hearing it in his tone.

“But Odette is not just a girl. She’s my daughter. And I’m not just a man who happens to have a title. There are people in this world who might try to exploit the fact that she is my daughter, and try to harm her to get through to me.”

“But how do you…”

Alexander did not let her finish her statement.

“She will never have the freedom other girls do,” Alexander said quietly. “It might not be the most convenient thing, but that’s the cost of the life I’ve built. Her safety comes first.”

Penelope looked up at him, frustrated.

“You talk about protection like it’s a lifelong sentence. You can’t honestly believe she’ll never be allowed to breathe without two guards watching her every move.”

“You need not be so dramatic,” Alexander told her. “Besides, she has never expressed a problem with it. You are making it sound worse than it is.”

“I am stating it exactly like it is. You should’ve seen the way the other people stared. She didn’t say it, but I know it embarrassed her.”

“I don’t care what other people think,” Alexander said sharply. “I care about whether she makes it home safe.”

They turned again, the dance forcing their bodies into graceful motion even as the conversation turned rigid.

“You can’t keep her untouched by the world, Alexander,” Penelope pressed.

“You want her to be a lady. You’ve told me so yourself. You want her to debut, to thrive in society. But how do you expect her to do that when you won’t even let her walk through a park?”

Alexander’s jaw tightened.

“That is your responsibility,” he said. “I made that clear at the start of our marriage.”

“What are you trying to say here?”

“You’re the one meant to prepare her for all that,” Alexander continued. “That is your domain, not mine.”

“What am I meant to do when I cannot even take her out without your permission?” Penelope said, still frustrated. “Am I meant to teach her how to dance in the drawing room while Fergus and Lewis loom by the door?”

“You’re asking for too much freedom.”

“I’m asking for common sense.”

They turned again, slower this time. It appeared that they had reached a moot point.

“If anyone knows how torturous it is to have your every move watched, it is me. And so I understand her frustrations, more so than you might. It is a difficult way to live, and I wouldn’t wish that on her.”

Alexander could hear the sincerity in her voice. It caused him to soften, even if slightly.

“I don’t trust the world,” Alexander said simply. “And I do not care for your advice on what to do when it comes to my daughter’s safety.”

“Is that why you set that ridiculous first rule?” Penelope narrowed her eyes.

Never disturb him unless it concerns Odette.

“So that was serious?” Penelope blinked. “You really meant that I shouldn’t bother you unless it’s about her?”

“Of course I did.”

“Why?” she asked, “Why isolate yourself like that? You married me. I’m in your home, but you’ve built these strange rules to keep me at arm's length.”

“I didn’t marry you to change my life,” he said finally.

Scarcely anyone in Alexander’s life was bold enough to question him like this. And so it was not something that he was used to in the slightest. It peeved him, and he could tell that Penelope was aware of that. But she continued anyway .

“I am not asking you to change your life,” she said. “But you must make certain allowances, now that I am a part of it as well. I think that is a fair demand, coming from the woman that you have chosen to marry. Did you expect nothing to change once you took the vow?”

Alexander did not know what to say to that. He had expected change, sure. But not to this degree, and not at this level of persistence.

“You need to be reasonable,” he said.

“I believe I am being reasonable enough,” she quipped back. “I beseech you to see things from my perspective as well, and then perhaps you will change your mind.”

“You are not letting this matter go,” he said, tightening his jaw.

“I do not see the utility in letting something go unresolved,” she replied. “Yes, it might be a difficult conversation to have. But it is one that is sourly needed.”

Their dance came to an end. Neither of them bowed or curtsied. They simply stood there a moment longer, staring at each other .

“After you,” he said to her, leading her out of the dance floor.

It was then that he realized that their little squabble had an audience, for the guests were eyeing them.

He should have known better than to have a conversation so heated in public, for this sort of reception was to be expected.

The ton loved a good show and spared no moment in gathering as an audience.

“Been at the altar twice before, can you believe it? I would drown myself from the embarrassment alone.”

“It is hard to believe, really. Why would a Duke give her a second glance?”

“I heard it’s out of pity. That, or madness.”

The voices were hushed, but not enough. Alexander heard them clearly. Penelope stiffened beside him.

“We should go,” she muttered to him, flushed. Alexander could tell that she wanted nothing more than to be away from all the whispers.

Alexander, however, had stopped walking.

He turned toward the overdressed ladies whose whispers had gone suddenly silent.

“Is there something that you would like to share, ladies?” Alexander said, confronting them directly. It was the best way to stop their chatter, from his experience, and he was not one to shy away from confrontation when needed.

The women were immediately surprised.

“N-no, Your Grace. Of course not.”

“Ah,” he stepped forward just a fraction, enough to make the group shrink back instinctively. “I imagine you’ve heard whispers about me as well. You should believe most of them.”

A gasp escaped one of the ladies’ lips, while another quickly began to fan herself. Cowards, he thought to himself.

“And you should remember it, too,” he continued. “Because when someone insults what belongs to me, I do not take it lightly. And I am really not one to forgive.”

The ladies looked terrified, and he cast one last satisfied glance in their direction before he turned back to Penelope.

“Let us go, Penelope,” he said finally. “It is no use to linger here a moment longer.”

Penelope could only obey, slipping her hand around his extended arm.

But as they walked away, she could not resist stealing a glance back at the crowd of ladies that they had left behind, who now seemed to be talking furiously amongst themselves.

Penelope waited until they were not in hearing distance to speak again.

“Your Grace, you did not need to step in like that,” she said, “they are now going to talk even more.”

“Once again, you and I see things differently,” he replied calmly. “I saw it as an opportunity to teach them a much-needed lesson. They will now be thinking twice before running their mouth so freely.”

Penelope rubbed the side of her face, still reeling from what had happened.

“Yes, but I can never imagine going up to a group that is talking against you like this. In fact, I think it is better to let them talk. You learn to ignore it after a while.”

“That’s not a skill you should have to develop.”

“It won’t stop them,” There was a tired resignation in her voice.

“Then teach them that there’s a price,” Alexander replied, holding her gaze. “People like that only stop when they’re reminded of who they’re speaking about.”

Penelope took in his words, and then his expression. Which was fierce. There was not even a hint of fear on his face. In fact, it was quite the opposite. He looked intimidating.

“I am not sure I will ever get used to you being so intimidating,” she commented. “It can be rather scary, you know.”

“It does not apply to you. I do not wish for you to be scared of me.”

“But everyone else?”

“If they know any better, then they ought to be.”

“That’s meant to be comforting?”

“I would hope.”

She could not help the smile that began to form on her face. A protective man, she had to admit that it was a nice feeling having him by her side. A natural instinct, perhaps.

“You know, I am beginning to understand something quite important,” she said.

“And what might that be?”

“Well, I think that Odette is not the only person you are protective over. I think you have grown to be protective over me as well.”

Alexander did not deny it, but he could not ignore how it made him feel.

“It would be better for us to leave now,” Alexander replied. “This is as much of the ton that I am willing to tolerate for a single night.”

“That is one thing that we agree on.”