Page 21 of The Guardian Duke (Wayward Dukes’ Alliance #21)

The problem was, he did not have another option. The one he arrived with, if she was going to reject him, was what Claybrook had suggested. The same possibility had occurred to Penelope and she had already dismissed it.

Now what was he supposed to do? And why was she so against marriage without even discussing the option? It was rather disconcerting and hurtful, if he were to be honest.

“A courtship,” he announced, surprising even himself.

“Courtship,” Penelope repeated.

“Yes.” Henry drew himself up. “Why dismiss a potential future without thoroughly exploring the possibility?”

“To what purpose?”

Did he not just explain the very reason for proposing such? “It would give us the opportunity to explore if we might be a match before simply rejecting the idea.”

“A courtship insinuates a betrothal, which leads to marriage.”

“Not in all cases.”

Penelope rose from her seat and glared at him. “Do you truly want to find out if we would suit, or is it because you are honorable and think it is the right thing to do, or is it because you hate rejection?”

“I think it is worth consideration. I rather like you Lady Penelope, even if you do not like me very much.”

“Yes, I have claimed that,” she said quietly as she looked away.

He would ask her if her opinion had changed but feared her answer.

“Then there are my cousins. They need you. You have pointed out my failings, daily, and there is a ball in a few days.”

Penelope drew in a breath, her shoulders rising and falling. She still did not like him very much and Henry was quite certain that he was an irritation to her, but he would persist.

“What of their reputations?” she asked.

“That should not be a concern,” he returned, though he understood.

“Though dukes can get away with nearly anything, your cousins’ association with me could harm them when they did nothing wrong. What if those friendships you tried to establish ended because of my indiscretion? What if the gentlemen who attempt to dance with them are the very type of rake and rogue who you warned against because they assume the sisters are under my influence.”

He did not think their situation so dire. “I am certain that how my cousins are viewed will not change.”

“You know as well as I do that it is usually not the case,” she said.

Blast! Maybe she was correct, but he was willing to take the risk. They needed her.

“But they are unknown, former wallflowers, who have been taken under your wing. They need and trust you. At least remain long enough to see them presented at the ball, and to make certain that all comes together and then we can decide our future.”

“That is your version of a courtship, me doing what I have been doing?” she snorted.

“Well, yes, as I doubt you would welcome me calling on you.”

He had not meant for his tone to be so bitter, but Henry did not like being rejected, especially by a woman he so very much desired.

“Very well,” she finally said. “I will continue to assist your cousins. I will see that the ball is a success, but that is all. If you want it to be known that this is a courtship, I have no objection just so that you also explain that I am undecided and do not think that my life should be ruined by something so simple as a kiss.”

“But it wasn’t so simple,” he said quietly.

“Which is why we are in our current predicament.”

“Then you will call on my cousins tomorrow.”

“Tell them that I will be there at eleven to go over the details for the ball.” She then turned on her heel and marched up the stairs without a by your leave and as angry as he should be, or hurt, Henry finally grinned.

She would return to his home and he had two days to win her over.

* * *

Penelope couldn’t believe that she had agreed to Eldridge’s terms.

She did not want to abandon the Simpson sisters but feared how being in his home would affect her.

Even today he had left her unsettled.

Last night it had been the kiss that had led to a restless night that had her wondering if it were possible to experience more passion and desire without consequences. She had even considered asking Eldridge.

What if he kissed her again? Would she be able to resist temptation?

He liked her. Perhaps that is what had surprised her most of all. Penelope was fairly certain that she was tolerated at best.

Yet, she hadn’t admitted that she liked him as well.

Oh, it was more than like and that is what scared her.

Eldridge was handsome and kind and truly cared about what was best for his cousins. He would see them happy.

Her heart warmed when near him, it was almost as if she came alive. What she experienced when with Eldridge was nothing like she had ever felt with anyone else, and it had been the same from the first time she had ever seen him. An awareness. A pull to be near him, which she fought because she assumed she was no different than any other sighing debutant.

Penelope had looked for reasons to dislike him, without even knowing him because she couldn’t understand the attraction for someone she had never even met.

But even the reason that she finally found for dislike was shattered.

For the first time since she had found out that she was likely ruined, Penelope chuckled. Eldridge had kissed Rosalind three and a half years ago and was rewarded with a slap across his face.

Penelope didn’t just merely like him, it was an infatuation, or…

No, she couldn’t be in love, could she?

Is that what had been building inside from the moment she became aware of him?

No. She was not in love with His Grace, the Duke of Eldridge.

She couldn’t be.