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Silence stretched between the two of them again, and he noticed Penelope growing restless as she began to pace around the narrow length of the room.

“Perhaps,” she murmured, “you could use some help around here. It would not be so bad. Your daughter seems like a handful.”

His jaw tightened almost involuntarily. Odette was not the easiest child to get along with, he knew that, of course.

He thought back to the scene from earlier: Penelope lecturing his daughter, even though it was cut short with his arrival. Most grown men didn’t know how to speak to Odette. But Penelope seemed to be entirely at ease with the whole process.

That thought lingered in his mind longer than it should have. But in the meantime , the silence between them had perhaps stretched far too long.

“You believe my daughter is a handful?” he asked dryly.

“I believe that there is some room for improvement when it comes to her behavior, yes,” Penelope nodded.

“And you believe that person is you?”

“I believe I am better equipped than most,” she said, undeterred. If she was bluffing, he could not yet tell.

“You mean to exchange the care of children for your keep ?”

“If that is what is required of me, then yes, I suppose that I can,” Penelope said. “I am quite adept at matters like this , especially when it comes to teaching useful skills and manners. That last one seems particularly useful at the moment.”

“You’re awfully confident for someone hiding in my establishment.”

“I’d say that’s evidence of good judgment.”

Alexander didn’t answer right away. He was still watching her.

“I only need a few days,” she said again, this time more gently. “Just long enough to contact Isadora. You needn’t concern yourself with me beyond that.”

He let out a breath through his nose. “And if your father comes looking for you?”

“Then he shall find himself in an argument he will not win.” She met his eyes squarely. “But I will not go back until I know I have another choice."

Once again, Alexander said nothing. But she seemed to mistake his silence for refusal.

Penelope let her shoulders sag as she slowly retreated towards the door. She did not know what else she could say at this moment. It felt like she had exhausted all avenues. The last thing she wished to do was appear desperate.

“I understand that I cannot get you to change your mind,” she said quietly. “I’ve caused enough trouble. I’ll find somewhere else.”

She turned to leave.

“Wait,” Alexander called out immediately.

“Have you changed your mind?” she asked, suddenly more hopeful than before. “That would be splendid, if you have. I promise not to be a bother in the slightest!”

Alexander raised his hand to stop her.

“Do you have a habit of putting words in other people’s mouth?” he asked her, raising an eyebrow.

She looked as though she had been offended at first, but then quickly smoothed out her expression into a neutral one.

“You must understand,” she started, “that I do not have the luxury of being patient, at the moment. I am sure that you would jump to conclusions, if it had been you in my place.”

Alexander smiled, this time feeling a touch amused. He had to give it to her; she had quite the spirit, one that was on display even when she was visibly restraining herself.

“Allow me to at least complete my train of thought before you draw any more conclusions,” Alexander said. She nodded, holding her breath.

“What I was saying,” he said, pausing for a moment, “is that I can allow you some shelter, but it would not come without conditions attached.”

A flicker of hesitation crossed her face. “And what might these conditions be?”

Alexander’s fingers twitched against his sides, before folding inwards into a tightened fist. “Well, there is only one.”

Penelope prodded him to continue, eyes fixed on him as though her future hinged on what he was about to say next.

“You marry me.”

The words left his mouth with a kind of casualness that usually is not found when uttering them. He was a composed man, yes, but he surprised himself even. Penelope looked as though she had heard him incorrectly, blinking rapidly.

“I am not sure if I understand,” she said after a moment.

“You heard me correctly,” he said. “If I am to host you and risk my reputation, that is too great for me to bear. But marrying me can be your solution out of this conundrum in which you find yourself.”

“I do not even know your name!” Penelope cried out, shaking her head.

It occurred to Alexander that he had not yet made a proper introduction.

“My apologies,” he said, straightening his back. “Allow me to rectify that. I am Alexander Walford. The Duke of Monteclare.”

Penelope fell into a stunned silence. She looked at him as though she was seeing him anew, but instead of the usual starry-eyed reception Alexander was so used to receiving, she looked rather disgruntled by the prospect.

“Of all the things to happen,” he heard her mutter under her breath, “somehow I inadvertently landed at the footsteps of a Duke.”

Her shock was amusing, to say the least.

“Is that a worrisome prospect for you?” he questioned. “I would have expected you to have a different reaction.”

“Oh,” she blushed, as though he had called her out . “No, it is not worrisome. But I am just wondering about the odds of such a thing happening.”

“The odds seem to be in your favor.”

“Are they?” she said, as though she was airing her inner thoughts out loud to him without censoring them in any way. It was an honesty that felt refreshing.

“Let me remind you, my lady, that your situation could be much worse. I am offering you a promising arrangement.”

“You do not even know me,” she stressed.

Alexander noted again that the woman was not like others.

His title had afforded him a wealth of privilege, and usually, the mention of his dukedom would be enough to usher in any sort of agreement that he wished to acquire.

But the woman seemed to be wholly concerned about why, despite her rather desperate circumstances.

“That does not matter.”

Penelope continued to shake her head. “And you… you have a daughter. Where is your wife?” her tone took an accusative turn.

“I would not be asking you to marry me had my wife been in my life still,” he replied without giving her any further context. “And I’m not looking for love, let that be clear.”

Penelope paused, waiting for him to continue.

“But what you said earlier,” he sighed, rubbing the side of his face. “About my daughter. I see promise there.”

“You wish to marry me for… your daughter?” Penelope asked, stunned.

“I don’t want a governess,” he added. “I want a wife who might take care of her.”

“I know that I told you that I might be able to teach your daughter some manners before,” she started, “but perhaps I misrepresented myself. Your Grace, I have no experience taking care of someone younger than myself. Therefore, I am not sure if I am the right fit for the woman you are looking for.”

“You are a woman, and that might be enough,” he said. Her eyes widened, and he decided to explain himself further.

“Odette needs a woman in her life. She’s growing wilder by the day, and I know I can’t guide her the way she needs. She won’t listen to tutors or governesses. But she might eventually listen to you.”

“You don’t even know me.”

“I know enough,” he said simply. “I’ve seen how you stood your ground with her. That is more than most.”

“Oh, but this is entirely absurd. I came here escaping one marriage, only to be offered another,” she said in disbelief, “What you are suggesting will be a marriage of convenience?”

“Yes,” he replied. “In every sense of the word. You will have your freedom. I will have peace of mind. We both get what we need.”

“You have only just met me, and here you are proposing marriage,” she said, meeting his gaze. “Is that not a preposterous notion?”

“And you were crazy enough to flee on the day of your wedding,” he replied, “ knowing the stain it would put on your reputation, and any future prospects. If anything, I am offering you a lifeline.”

“My father will not agree.”

“Lady Penelope,” Alexander said slowly, knowing that he had her exactly where he wanted. “Let me tell you something that you should never forget. Nobody denies a duke.”

Penelope’s expression didn’t change at first, but he noticed it—the faint shift in her eyes. She was thinking about it.

“Then don’t ask him.”

She turned to him with the faintest furrow in her brow, startled by his calm.

“You expect me to defy him?”

“I expect you to do what you already came here to do,” he said, matter-of-fact. “You ran, Lady Penelope. Whatever compelled you to do so—it was reason enough. You’ve already made the choice. I’m simply giving it a place to land.”

She opened her mouth, then hesitated. A rare moment of silence from her, and he found he didn’t mind it.

He knew that the seed had already been planted.