Page 31

“ P enelope,” Isadora called out to her sister as she stepped back into the main area. She had a concerned looked on her face. “A word?”

Penelope looked at Alexander, who seemed to be walking in the other direction. And then walked over to Isadora.

“Yes, sister,” Penelope said with a smile.

“You seem to be in high spirits,” Isadora regarded her with suspicion.

“I cannot be happy?” Penelope laughed in response. “It is hardly a crime.”

“What happened between you and the duke?” she asked further. “The both of you were gone for a long time.”

Isadora’s worry reminded her of a time when she was not married, and Isadora would chase her around balls all over London. It was the same sort of concern on her face now, except that the context had changed incredibly since.

“We only had a bit of an argument,” Penelope finally admitted. “But it was nothing to worry about.”

“Nothing to worry about?” Isadora exclaimed. “Surely, you cannot be serious. Was it a bad argument?”

“This sort of thing is rather normal between the two of us,” Penelope shrugged. “It is our way of knowing that we can still get a reaction out of each other.”

Isadora winced. “That does not sound healthy in the slightest.”

“Perhaps not,” Penelope laughed. “But it is how things are. You should not worry. I am a married woman now, and I know how to handle my own affairs.”

“Very well then,” Isadora nodded, though she did not seem entirely convinced. “I suppose whatever it was had a happy ending because you are positively beaming.”

Penelope immediately thought back to the kiss. It had been… perfect. Maybe that was the reason why her spirits were so lifted.

“I suppose I am.”

“Penelope,” Isadora exclaimed. “Why are you being so coy about things?”

“I don’t mean to be,” Penelope giggled. “I suppose I am only now finding out that marriage is rather a wild ride.”

“That it is,” Isadora said introspectively. “Though, if I remember correctly, not too long ago you were adamant on convincing me that there were no feelings between the two of you.”

“I don’t know what I’m feeling,” Penelope admitted after a moment.

“You do,” Isadora replied gently. “You’re just afraid to name it.”

Penelope looked at her sister. It was annoying how perceptive she was. Once again, she had been on the mark. A sister's intuition, as she had called it always.

“I suppose… I might be.”

“Might be what?”

“Well, you know,” Penelope sighed. “Doing that thing that you said I was.”

“Falling for him?” Isadora echoed with a laugh so loud that some of the guests turned to look in their direction.

“Yes, well. That.”

Penelope thought the world would shift beneath her feet when she made a confession like this. Strangely, nothing of the sort happened.

The world was as it had always been, the only difference was that there were now butterflies inside Penelope’s stomach. She hid her face behind her hands.

“Oh, Penelope,” Isadora doted. “Look at you. I have never seen you like this before. You are being so shy.”

“Well, can you blame me?” Penelope huffed. “This is all new to me, and I do not know what to make of it. The only reference I have are the books I have read, and I have to say that they make it sound a lot more dramatic than it is.”

Isadora laughed again. She seemed to be enjoying herself thoroughly at the expense of her sister.

“Now, it feels as though you have grown up for real,” she muttered. “Finally fallen in love.”

“Do not say it like that. It makes me sound tragically late to the game.”

“Well,” Isadora said, tossing her curls over one shoulder, “you were always the one who said love was inconvenient and unnecessary.”

“It is inconvenient,” Penelope muttered.

“Funny how that does nothing to stop it from happening to you anyway. So hopelessly smitten.”

Penelope narrowed her eyes. “I wouldn’t go so far as hopelessly .”

“You looked like you were floating just now and that was after an argument,” Isadora teased.

“Oh hush,” Penelope swatted at her. “I am trying to make sense of things, not be mocked.”

“I’m not mocking,” Isadora said, pressing a hand to her heart, “I am celebrating. My sister has finally succumbed to the dangerous charms of her brooding husband. It’s quite the story.”

“It’s hardly a story ,” Penelope grumbled.

“You’re going to have to tell me everything,” Isadora could not contain her excitement. “Tell me how it feels when he looks at you with the love that I know he has for you as well.”

“He does not look at me like that,” Penelope said far too quickly.

“You are doubting my intuition again,” Isadora raised a brow. “He absolutely does.”

“You poor, oblivious creature,” Isadora went on as Penelope stayed silent.

“You are being a bad host,” Penelope said in her defense. “By making me blush like this.”

“And you are in love,” Isadora sing-songed. “I do believe I win.”

Penelope groaned, but allowed herself to be dragged back toward the crowd. Her secret felt a little less daunting now that it had been spoken aloud. Or perhaps it wasn’t so secret anymore. Certainly not with Alexander somewhere in the room, still very much aware of her.

Did he feel the same way towards her? That was the thought that was going to keep her awake at night, she knew it. But for a moment, she let herself feel the joy of being in love.

It was her first time, after all.

Alexander found Oliver by the drinks table. His shoulders were slightly hunched as he sipped on his drink.

A rare sight to see him brooding.

Alexander approached him, clearing his throat. “Oliver.”

“Oh, now you wish to speak to me,” Oliver replied in a sarcastic tone. “What do I owe the pleasure?”

“I was… less than civil earlier,” Alexander admitted after a moment.

Oliver didn’t turn right away. He took a slow sip of his drink.

“An apology made too late, but I suppose I’ll accept it.”

Alexander gave a huff of a laugh. “I am glad you see things the same that I do. But really, I told you that you should not speak to the Duchess in my absence. So you cannot blame me if the whole thing caught me off guard.”

Oliver rolled his eyes. “Pray tell when you said that to me?”

“Well, if I did not say it then it should have been implied,” Alexander pressed his lips together. “You have no business speaking to her.”

“I am not interested in stealing her from you, lad,” Oliver mocked. “Though, I suspect that if I was, I would be speaking to her in secret, not where anyone could spot me.”

“Oliver,” Alexander warned. This was not something he even wished to joke about.

“Fine, fine,” Oliver replied, “I shall not speak to your Duchess in your absence. Are you happy now?”

“Very,” Alexander grabbed a drink of his own.

“Besides, I should thank you. That little outburst earned me a win,” Oliver grinned, ear to ear.

“A win?” Alexander raised a brow.

“The bet,” Oliver said, as though it were obvious. “The one I made with you earlier, remember? That she’d notice.”

Alexander blinked, his brow furrowing slightly before realization dawned.

“My hand,” he said.

Oliver nodded, clearly pleased with himself. “She mentioned it tonight. Asked if I was there when it happened.”

“She did?” Alexander muttered.

“She did,” Oliver repeated, his smile smug now. “Which means I was right. She noticed and she’s paying attention.”

Alexander didn’t respond at once. He looked out into the distance, fingers flexing slightly at his side as if the injury still lingered, though it had long since healed.

“I’d forgotten all about that,” he said eventually.

“Well, you shouldn’t have,” Oliver replied. “Especially now. Cheers to being right.”

He lifted his glass.

Alexander shook his head, but the corner of his mouth twitched all the same. And for once, he didn’t mind losing.

So she did care enough to notice, and that was a good thing. She was his.

“It is quite a sight to see you jealous, I will say, however,” Oliver chuckled. “Though I am the wrong person to direct your jealousy towards.”

“Right,” Alexander rolled his eyes. “It was not jealousy. I just do not like it when people speak to my wife.”

“Denial does not look good on you,” Oliver shrugged. “But if you are so persistent then so be it. I shall ask you again in a few weeks.”

“Don’t make another ridiculous bet,” Alexander rolled his eyes.

“Oh, I won’t. This one is a guaranteed win for me,” he laughed. Alexander did not bother asking him for more information.

For now, he was fine with the way things were. Even though they had gotten entirely too complicated after the kiss.

But she had taken it in good spirits, and if he was to presume, she seemed to have even enjoyed herself.

That was going to have to be enough for now.