Page 3 of The Guardian Duke (Wayward Dukes’ Alliance #21)

“Thank you for the explanation, Claybrook, and I look forward to the list of dukes and heirs and hope that I never have need of it.” He set his empty glass on a table then exited the library. No doubt his cousins had returned to the ballroom by now and all he could hope was that there were no further disasters that drew negative attention.

“I do not see my cousins,” he said to Claybrook after looking over the crowd and to the area removed from others where they usually stood.

“The are just now returning.” Claybrook indicated to the stairs.

They seemed happy enough and Damaris was no longer upset, thank goodness.

He studied them further. Not just happy but smiling and laughing and then he saw her —Lady Penelope Johansen.

“Unless I separate my cousins from…I fear I may be calling on you for assistance after all.”

“Lady Penelope?” Claybrook asked with curiosity.

“Yes!” Henry ground out. “The last person they need in their life is an independent spinster who barely skirts the rules of Society.” He watched as they paused on the landing, his cousins listening aptly to what Lady Penelope was saying and his stomach tightened when he recalled the declaration he had overheard her say to her own sisters last year, not long after she had declared that she did not like him very much.

“I am a woman of independence! I intend to go forth and enjoy my own adventures and seek pleasures of life. I shall be my own counsel and enjoy freedom to do as I wish. A wife is not allowed such privilege and I will not be tied to house, home or a man.”

He would find such sentiment humorous if she weren’t so dangerous. She was admired by misses and feared by lords and Lady Penelope was now befriending his cousins. Who knew what damage could result and bring an end to his peaceful existence?

Judith turned then nodded in his direction. Lady Penelope’s smile brightened and he could only imagine what may be the cause of delight twinkling in her green eyes.

If she were any other woman, Lady Penelope would be easily dismissed for being a meddlesome miss. But she was not only the sister to a marquess, fully confident, but also possessed mischievous green eyes, a complement to her mahogany hair and the azure gown that hugged her breasts in the most delicious manner, her bodice cut just to the edge between respectable and scandalous. She walked a very careful line, one that he admired. Or, he had until she decided to befriend his cousins.

The six of them approached and Lady Penelope sank to a deep curtsey before him and Claybrook. “Your Graces,” she murmured before she righted herself.

“Lady Penelope,” he offered in a more formal tone.

“Your cousins are in need of my assistance,” she announced. “I assured them that you would not object.”

Yes! He did object but his cousins were looking at him so hopefully.

“I…um…”

Lady Penelope turned and addressed his cousins. “See, I told you he would voice no opposition.”

Blast!

Henry started to object but held back his words, and only because of the excitement that lit in the eyes of his cousins.

Had he failed them in preparing them for London?

Of course he had, but what did he know of such matters? Besides, he thought their being wallflowers and unassuming was what they preferred, given their upbringing.

It had also been easier for him to allow them to settle into such an existence among Society.

Regardless, he was certain that there was someone far better to guide their way than Lady Penelope. But who?

“I will call on you tomorrow, say eleven, and we will begin.”

“Begin what?” Chloe asked.

“I will come to know you better and we can decide what is needed so that you can enjoy a successful Season.” Lady Penelope then whipped around to address Henry. “I will see that they are celebrated, not set aside.”

The last was said with censure. She blamed him when none of this was his fault. He had not even known that he would have his cousins as guests until they showed up on his doorstep a month ago. How was he to have even prepared?

“Until tomorrow,” she said to his cousins then glided away as the sisters returned to the side of the room excitedly talking amongst themselves in whispers.

“What is your objection to Lady Penelope?” Claybrook asked.

“She is too independent for her own good and will likely see my sisters in trouble instead of…”

“Fading away as wallflowers tend to do?” Claybrook prompted.

“Well, I do not want that either,” he grumbled.

Blast!

With that, Henry turned on his heel and marched back to the library and poured himself another glass of brandy.

This Season had been quite pleasant, even with five misses to watch after.

That was until Lady Penelope decided to meddle.

* * *

The Season had so far been remarkably dull, but now Penelope had a purpose. Not that she enjoyed interfering in the lives of others, but sometimes it was necessary and the Simpson sisters needed her.

Though they did have a second cousin, Lady Eve Grell, who was of a similar age of four and twenty and could offer assistance, but she had not done so.

Lady Eve was also a friend but Penelope had not seen Eve this Spring and now became concerned for her. However, like Penelope, Lady Eve was an independent woman who liked to hide from Society and the judgmental eyes of the ton and had likely found other activities to enjoy outside of the ballroom. However, if it became necessary, she would seek the assistance of Lady Eve.

With those thoughts, she approached the Mayfair home of the Duke of Eldridge, took a deep breath and knocked. Once it was answered, she was efficiently ushered into a stark parlor. All the upholstery was dark blue, as were the window coverings, and the floors were gleaming white marble. There was little warmth in the room. Cold and hard, much like one would expect of a no-nonsense duke.

Had the décor been chosen by the previous duke or the current one?

Also within the parlor were the five Simpson sisters. Two were seated on one settee and two more on the one across from it. Between them was a table with a chair at each end. Judith sat in one and Penelope assumed the other was for her.

“Lady Penelope!” Jael called excitedly. “Please, join us for tea.”

She did as requested and a moment later two footmen entered and placed a tea service as well as an array of delicacies in the center of the table, even though it was early in the day for such a tea. Judith sat forward to serve while her sisters sat quietly, smiling.

It was rather uncomfortable, but Penelope was also confident that they would quickly become more relaxed with each other. However, before she could do so, she needed to learn all that she could of what knowledge they possessed and what was lacking so that she could fill that void.

“Tell me about your education,” she said after accepting a cup of tea.

“Education?” Bernice asked. “A miss needs only to know how to keep a house, sew, cook, keep a garden, be a good daughter and then wife, and the only book that she should spend any time reading is the Bible.”

If there had not been bitterness in her tone, Penelope would have believed those were Bernice’s beliefs.

“He kept you ignorant?”

“He tried.” Bernice smiled into her teacup.

There was some nerve to them after all.

“We would take turns reading aloud from books we were able to borrow from the lending library when Father was away from the house and quickly hide it in my sewing basket when he returned home.”

“Were there no servants?” Penelope asked.

“Yes, but they had promised our mother to support us in anything we seek and to help however possible,” Judith explained. “Mother loved us dearly but said that our lives would have been far easier had we been boys because then we could escape home.”

“What did you do for entertainment in…” Penelope did not even know where they were from.

“We lived outside of Navenby,” Jael answered.

“What was the village like?”

“It is a market town like any other, I suppose,” Chloe answered. “As far as socializing with anyone, that was only allowed following church on Sundays with those we met outside before Father took us home.”

“We were allowed to be part of the Sick Society, which was founded seven years ago, to read the Bible to the frail and elderly,” Bernice offered.

“It was the Christian thing to do,” Damaris added with obedient servitude. A tone she likely used with her father.

“What of assemblies, shopping or any other entertainments?”

“They were not allowed,” Damaris answered. “Especially dancing and Father was quite infuriated when the waltz was accepted and spent a month of sermons on the topic. Shopping was only allowed for necessities and we were not to dawdle but return directly home.”

Except, they had managed to visit the lending library, which their father would have sternly objected to.

These poor girls were exposed to nothing, outside of sneaking books to read, prior to arriving in London little over a month ago, which made Penelope determined more than ever that she was going to see that they enjoyed London to the fullest.

“I shall make a list of activities that I think you will enjoy and return tomorrow,” Penelope said as she set her teacup aside. Now was not the time to rush out, but a plan needed to be formed so that they experienced every aspect of Society. Well, the parts that would not see them ruined, of course.