Page 22 of The Guardian Duke (Wayward Dukes’ Alliance #21)

The cousins were waiting, seated on the stairs, when he returned home, their faces lit with anticipation.

“Is something wrong?” he asked, though he assumed they were waiting for him to announce that he was now betrothed.

“We waited supper for you,” Judith said as she came to her feet.

“That was not necessary.” Henry wasn’t even certain he was hungry.

“Come along and tell us what has happened.” Bernice linked her arm into his and practically dragged him to the dining room.

“You have helped us so much, Cousin Henry, now it is our turn to assist you.”

While he appreciated the effort, there was nothing his five cousins could do to make Lady Penelope marry him.

The conversation ceased as servants placed the meal before them, poured wine, then left them in peace.

“The first thing that we have done is that I sent letters of apology to cancel the last scheduled teas,” Judith advised. “I gave the excuse that the preparations for the ball were more than we had anticipated as we have never done so before and that we must dedicate all time to seeing that it is perfect.”

Henry arched a brow. Under normal circumstances, such a ruse would have been believed. “Why?”

“We assume that any guests after today will be here for more gossip about you and Lady Penelope and not so much befriending us.”

They had the right of it.

“They also do not suit you,” Jael announced to which her sisters glared at her.

Henry chuckled. “Were you by chance playing at matchmaking?” He would not let on that he already knew.

“Yes, except none of the women who called on us would suit,” Damaris offered with disappointment.

“Though, I have to wonder if that was not intentional,” Bernice said after a moment.

“Why would you say so?” he asked out of curiosity.

To which Bernice grinned. “Why would Lady Penelope invite anyone who might intrigue you when she wanted you for herself.”

If only that were true, but it wasn’t. Penelope had wanted his cousins to have friends before the ball and had not been part of their matchmaking…except, they did not know that.

Did he dare tell his cousins, or let them believe what Penelope had wanted them to?

“She was the one to suggest the tea each afternoon as a way to bring misses and ladies into the home for Cousin Henry to meet,” Jael reminded them.

“She also didn’t seem at all interested when we wondered if you would find interest in any of the guests,” Judith returned. “Her answer was always perhaps and would then discuss something else.”

That could have meant that she did not care.

“Maybe she wasn’t even aware of what she was doing? There are times people have made decisions or taken an action that they are not even aware of because it is hidden from them in their own mind,” Bernice suggested.

“How can a mind not know…how can we do something and not know why or even know that we are doing it?” Chloe asked in confusion.

“I do not know how it all works,” Bernice answered. “I just know that I have read about it and there is something inside that can cause us to do something when we do not realize we are doing it.”

Of all his cousins, this is what he expected from Bernice. The one who loved to read and fill her mind with knowledge.

“So, what you are saying is that when Lady Penelope was helping us decide which guests to invite that she did unintentionally not invite those who Cousin Henry might come to like?” Judith asked for clarification.

He found it difficult to believe any of this.

Except, why hadn’t she ever invited someone her age? They would have been more fitting as friends for the eldest sisters since Judith was a year older than Penelope and Bernice was a year younger. Instead, the women who had come to tea were nearer to Chloe’s age, five years younger than Penelope.

Were his cousins correct?

Had Penelope deliberately kept women who might be a match from his house? If so, had she been aware?

Did she really want him for herself?

Henry wanted it to be true, but if that were the case, she would not have been so quick to warn him not to propose.

* * *

Penelope suffered another restless night as she tried to reconcile her emotions where His Grace was concerned.

How did one even know they were in love?

She wanted to ask Rosalind, but was certain she would then mention the conversation to Noah and he would assume that she would soon wed.

Even if she were in love, she still would not marry His Grace because he only liked her, and Penelope would not marry for anything but love. She also wanted the promise that she would enjoy freedoms and not have to constantly ask permission of a husband.

With those thoughts and reminders, she was certain that any desire to be kissed by His Grace again could be set aside and warned herself of the dangers if she succumbed—she might be forced to marry without love.

She could be in his home and do what was necessary to prepare the sisters for the ball and see to the details without being distracted by His Grace.

Except, it would be far easier if she could go back to not liking him very much, but as that was not likely to happen, she took a deep breath and knocked on the door of his mansion. Once she entered, she found her way to the parlor where the sisters waited.

“What are we to do today?” Judith asked.

“Final preparations. The ball is tomorrow evening,” Penelope answered.

“What must be done?” Chloe asked.

“Let’s visit the ballroom so we can imagine how it will be.”

She followed the sisters down the corridor to the ballroom and watched as Jael went to the center of the dance floor and did a turn then pretended to waltz with an invisible partner.

“Do not forget that none of you should waltz until permission has been given.”

“I do not understand why we should wait,” Chloe complained.

Oh, how to explain. “Such a dance could signal a potential romantic relationship because of the close physical contact involved. A miss should not waltz with someone a guardian would not approve.” Except that rule did not always apply because she had waltzed with gentlemen with no intention of being courted.

“So, it is Cousin Henry who we must ask,” Damaris asked.

“Yes, and no,” Penelope answered. “It is very important that His Grace grant the permission but even before him, those in Society bow to the patronesses of Amack’s. Hopefully vouchers will be received for each of you within only a few days after the ball. Once they have given permission, it is His Grace who will approve your partners.”

“What if we do not receive one?” Bernice worried.

Penelope could not imagine that they would be rejected, especially since their guardian was the Duke of Eldridge.”

“You will,” Penelope promised and was also confident in making such.

“Oh, I am so excited for tomorrow night,” Chloe expressed while Damaris worried her bottom lip.

“Have your ballgowns been delivered?” Penelope asked.

“Yes, and they fit perfectly,” Bernice answered. “We tried them on immediately, of course.”

She nodded.

“And, we have ladies’ maids. Three of them,” Chloe said excitedly. “We met them yesterday. I am so happy that we will have help to arrange our hair. We still have not managed to make it look as nice as Petrucio did.”

She had not been aware that the servants had been hired, but was thankful that they had been, thus Penelope would not worry that the five would not be turned out perfectly.

“It truly is unfair that we must wait for permission,” Bernice mumbled. “As if we cannot make decisions in our own best interest.”

“I am in full agreement,” Penelope said.

“Because of the waltz?” Jael asked innocently.

“No because a woman must gain permission for everything.”

“Is that the reason you rejected Cousin Henry’s offer of marriage?” Judith asked.

“First, he has not asked me and second what do you know?”

She was then told of the gossip during the tea she had not attended and by the time the sisters were finished, Penelope wanted to disappear.

“Maybe I should not attend the ball.” It was worse than she imagined it would be and her presence would be a distraction since the night was for the Simpson sisters.

“You must!” Damaris cried. “We cannot have the ball without you.”

They would be fine, of that she was certain, especially since His Grace was more attentive, but the five were so alarmed at the very idea of her not being there, that she simply offered, “I will give it further consideration.”

“Let us return to the topic of Cousin Henry,” Chloe announced. “Why did you reject him?”

“As I stated, he did not ask but spoke with my brother, who will not force me to wed.”

“Why are you against marriage—to anyone?” Judith asked. “Is it simply the lack of freedom as you claim?”

“Well, yes. A husband or guardian has all the control over the woman.”

“Everything, Lady Penelope?”

How long had His Grace been standing behind her and how much had he heard.

Penelope had hoped to avoid His Grace during this visit because she still had not come to terms with the fear that she might be in love with Eldridge. She needed more time to determine exactly what her emotions were and could not do so if she was with him.

As there was little she could do now, Penelope took a deep breath and turned.

Why did he have to be so handsome? Why was she drawn to him?

Why did her pulse race when she looked into his eyes, her blood heating as she recalled his kiss.

It wasn’t love. It was desire!

“Tell me, what would change in your life if we wed?”

An excellent question. “I would need permission to leave, purchase items, you would decide if I had any allowance for purchases. You could even decide what I could purchase.”

“Much like your brother does now.”

“Yes, but Noah gives me more latitude than a husband would.” Noah allowed her to make the purchases she needed without interference, and paid little mind to her comings and goings so long as she was not ruined…

Henry stared at her. “Do you really think that I would be such a tyrant?”

“It does not matter what I believe because I would become your property.”

“That does not mean we would not have respect between us.”

“You would let me leave the house when I wanted.”

“I would need you to tell me where you are going.”

“That is exactly the control I want no part of.”

“What is wrong with me wanting to know where you go?”

“I do not want to have to ask permission for anything I do.”

“Nor would you need to…unless…well…you wanted to holiday on the Continent.”

“You just said that I should tell you where I am going,” she argued.

“The same as I would tell you if I am off to Parliament or White’s or riding, or whatever my plans happen to be. I only ask that you do the same.”

She wouldn’t need to ask permission but Penelope would still need to tell him.

Was this a trick somehow?

“Why?”

“So, if something were to happen, either one of us would know where look. Or begin to look.”

She frowned. “Do things often happen to you?”

“No.” he blew out a heavy sigh. “But, if you recall, just last year Felding’s sister-in-law was attacked by a woman with a knife in the middle of the day. We never know who may be about set to do harm.”

“I suppose you are correct.” Then she narrowed her eyes. “Are you certain your reasons are not because you would want to control me.”

“I am fairly certain that if I even attempted to tell you what you could and could not do, it would not go well for me. And why would I? You would be angry, thus would make me miserable. I would rather you were happy.”

“Being a spinster is what makes me happy.”

“Does it truly?”

It had, until she had spent more time with His Grace.

“It does not matter because despite your conversation with my brother, I have received no proposal.”

“If that were to come?” he asked quietly.

Penelope swallowed against the lump in her throat. She had not expected such a question and was not certain she could not answer. She wanted to say that it would be rejected, but her heart warmed at the very idea.

Except, she had promised herself that she would not marry without love and even if she had fallen in love with Eldridge, any proposal he made would be out of duty and she could not be in a marriage where the love was one sided.

“I told you yesterday that your solution should not be a proposal. I do not expect to receive one, therefore I do not need to answer your question.” With that, she turned on her heel and marched from the house with no intention of returning until the ball.