Page 7 of The Guardian Duke (Wayward Dukes’ Alliance #21)
That waltz was nothing like he had ever danced previously—not even the evening before when his partner had been Lady Penelope. Today he had become lost in the music and her green eyes. Everyone else in the room faded away as they turned from one end of the room to the other. Her responses to his gentle pressure were met without resistance and she allowed him complete control and matched him in the tempo set by the music. He couldn’t help but wonder if she would respond in the same manner in a more intimate situation—allowing him the control to bring pleasure for both—to guide her through the heights of passion and crests of release to the gentle drift back to completion.
No wonder the vicar had warned against such dances! Henry had thought it foolish but now realized how sensual and arousing it could be with the right partner.
Bloody hell!
Lady Penelope was not for him.
When it came time to wed—which should be sooner than he liked—he wanted a sweet wife. A biddable wife. A wife who would not think of arguing with him and accept what he thought best. A wife who was not prone to interfering in the lives of others. Lady Penelope was none of those things.
After requesting tea be served in the parlor, he returned to the drawing room to watch his cousins. The females were now more relaxed and there was less discomfort on the faces of his male cousins.
At least his demonstration of the waltz had helped them, even if it left Henry somewhat disturbed.
It should be put from his mind! It was simply a waltz and for the benefit of his cousins. Once this lesson was complete and they had enjoyed tea, he would likely only encounter Lady Penelope in ballrooms on occasion because he could not imagine that his cousins would need anything further from her.
“That is much better,” Lady Penelope clapped when the tune came to an end. “Shall we conclude for the day.”
“Yes!” Chadburn loudly proclaimed.
“It was not so bad, was it cousin?” Bernice asked.
“My toes will recover, I am sure,” he teased back.
“Tea is to be delivered in the parlor. I am certain you are all quite parched,” Henry announced.
“None for me,” Jude said. “I am not the man of leisure that you are.”
“Nor I,” Vance added. “We must be off to deter criminals.”
He chuckled as the two practically ran from the mansion. They likely feared he might ask them to participate in another activity to help their female cousins acclimate to Society.
“Whereas, I have nothing but time.” Chadburn offered his arm to Lady Penelope to escort her from the drawing room. There was triumph, humor and challenge in his eyes.
While Henry hated that Chadburn was her escort, he reminded himself that it meant nothing and if Lady Penelope wanted to be courted by his cousin, if that turned out to be the case, he would wish them well.
Except, even as the thought crossed his mind, Henry knew that he was lying to himself.
Henry followed the others and by the time he entered the parlor, everyone was seated and Judith was pouring tea. On one settee was Bernice, Damaris and Chloe. On the other was Jael, Lady Penelope and Chadburn, leaving Judith in one of the chairs and the other one open for him.
Did Chadburn really need to sit so close to Lady Penelope? Had he truly formed an attachment to her?
When had that occurred? He’d not seen them together previously. Had it simply come about today?
Should he warn his cousin that Lady Penelope was of an independent mind and might drive him to Bedlam or should he allow Chadburn to discover her character on his own?
“Will you be in attendance at the Sanderson ball this evening?” Chadburn asked Lady Penelope.
“I do not believe so,” she responded before taking a sip of her tea.
“What of you, Henry? Will you be there with our cousins?”
“I had thought to attend,” he answered.
“You shall go alone,” Lady Penelope ordered, which took Henry aback.
“Was not the point of new gowns and fripperies and dancing lessons so that my cousins would make a favorable impression on Society?”
“Yes, but it is only the beginning. In fact, they will not attend any ball or be a guest at any other outing for a sennight.”
His eyes widened as the Simpson sisters gasped.
Bloody hell! Was she going to continually be in his life, ordering him about for another bloody week? He would not have it.
“Why not?”
“They are not yet prepared.” With that she smiled, challenge in her green eyes and then sipped her tea.
* * *
If she would have laid the whole of the plan out to Eldridge, no doubt he would have rejected it as being unnecessary. But, being a male, and a duke, he could not begin to understand what was necessary for a miss or lady to achieve the right notice and be seen in the perfect light so that they are not rejected or worse, relegated to the wallflowers, which was why Penelope had rescued them to begin with.
Thankfully, he asked nothing further and the tea continued with pleasant conversation, of which she took little part as the cousins became reacquainted and shared news of their families. Apparently, the Simpson sisters had been shielded from there male cousins, even though they were relations, because the Grell brothers lived in London, remained bachelors, two of them worked with criminals and thus were exposed to immorality. Even though they were employed by Bow Street and the Thames River Police, the vicar had not wanted his daughters to be associated with their sin. As for Chadburn, the vicar had seen him as a wastrel and rake without redemption.
Chadburn had laughed when Chloe shared her father’s opinion.
“Well, I always thought of him to be a sanctimonious arse.”
Penelope had thought they would be shocked or appalled by such but they giggled and whispered agreement then asked His Grace to forgive them for not showing more respect for their departed father.
“There is nothing to forgive when the truth is spoken,” Eldridge assured them.
Given all that she had learned, Penelope was quite happy that she had never encountered the vicar. No doubt he would have judged her for not having married and accused her of having a sinful nature for her independence.
There was also affection between the cousins, even though they had not shared much time together in the past and Penelope was glad to see the sisters comfortable with both Chadburn and His Grace.
Maybe this was exactly what they needed—exposure and conversation with males who were not like their father but would treat them with courtesy and respect.
“Well, I must be going,” Chadburn said as he stood. “Thank you for the tea and conversation. Now that I know you are in Town, I will visit again,” he said to the Simpson sisters. “Good day, Henry.” He then turned Penelope. “Until we meet again.”
“Good day,” she returned and wondered what he was about. First, he had escorted her into the parlor, then sat next to her, and then his address before he left.
She and Chadburn had known one another for these past five years, and his younger sister, Lady Eve, was a dear friend. He had never shown an interest in her before so why did he behave differently today?
Very odd indeed, and something she might ponder later.
As for now, she had matters to attend to and with those thoughts, she put her cup and saucer on the table and stood.
“I shall be going as well.”
“I need you to remain, Lady Penelope,” His Grace returned. “There are matters we must discuss.”
She should have known he would want to question her further.
“We will see you out, Chadburn,” Judith called before she and her sisters stood and ushered him out of the parlor leaving Penelope very much alone with His Grace.
“What would you like to discuss?” she asked pleasantly.
“What further plans to you have for my cousins? I thought you would be done after today.”
He likely wanted her from his house and out of his life, but his cousins were not ready for her to depart. “For one, I will be returning here tomorrow morning with Mr. Petrucio Valentine.”
She held her breath and waited for his response.
“The actor!” Eldridge nearly yelled. “Why would you bring an actor into my home and expose him to my innocent cousins.”
Penelope pulled back and blinked at him. “What do you have against actors?” she demanded. “What do you have against Petrucio?” She narrowed her eyes. “Are you more like your father and the vicar than you present?”
Eldridge blew out a sigh. “It is not the Valentines that I object to. I can assure you. It is just the fact that he is an actor and Society views that profession as being of a lower moral character so I see no benefit of my cousins being exposed to him.”
Enraged, Penelope drew herself up to her full height. “I will have you know that Mr. Petrucio Valentine is far more than an actor for you to disparage. He can offer something that your cousins need, and if you have not forgotten, he is the brother of my sister-in-law, who just happens to be the Marchioness of Felding!” Blast, now she was yelling at him. That was not well done of her, but His Grace had just insulted a man he did not even know simply because of his chosen profession.
“I know exactly who he is and his relation not only to your sister-in-law but myself,” Eldridge yelled back.
This took her aback because she had never been certain if he had been aware of the relationship, even though his sister had been. One usually does not acknowledge the bastards in the family. “He was also raised by a vicar and might understand the concerns of your cousins far better than either of us.”
“You want him here to offer counsel?” Eldridge asked in a quieter, confused tone.
“No. I have asked him to cut their hair.” With that, she turned and marched toward the door before she wheeled around and stomped back. “We will arrive at ten. If you no longer want my assistance, send word, but I do this for your cousins and if you ask me to stop assisting them now, you may as well return to Society, allow them to spend Season after Season holding up a wall as they turn into spinsters and remain your wards for the rest of your life.” Penelope drew in a deep breath. “Is that truly what you want?”
He simply stared at her, his mouth open and likely uncertain what to say.
“I did not think so.” She gave a quick, definitive nod before she turned on her heel and marched to the entry. “Expect me at ten!”