Page 9 of The Guardian Duke (Wayward Dukes’ Alliance #21)

“I am what?” he nearly yelled.

“You, the Duke of Eldridge, will be holding a ball to introduce your five cousins to the ton .” Lady Penelope grinned at him.

“I most certainly will not! Not in my home, nor anywhere.”

“Yes, you will.”

“Why? It serves no purpose. You just explained your purpose; therefore, any ballroom they decided to return to should be good enough.”

“Does that mean they are not on the marriage mart?” Penelope questioned. “I thought it was established that you did not want them under your roof for what remains of your life span.”

He wished she would quit reminding him of his age.

“Of course I want them happily wed, eventually, but what does that have to do with anything?” He should have just kissed her a few moments ago when he had the chance and then they would not be having this conversation.

Oh, he had wanted to press his lips against hers and pull her into his arms. The temptation was so strong that it was nearly impossible to fight. Instead, she was ordering him about again.

He should have just bloody kissed her.

“The best way to accomplish such is for the Duke of Eldridge to host a ball for the single purpose of standing beside them at the entry as guests arrive and introducing them since they were likely overlooked this past month because they were hidden behind palms and holding up walls with the other wallflowers.”

He hated that she was correct, but not so much as he hated the very idea of hosting a blasted ball.

“I will see them introduced at other balls. I will take them in hand, walk the room, and stop before every person and make introductions. I will even parade them through Hyde Park, stopping and introducing them to every worthy bachelor that I see.”

Lady Penelope lifted her gloved hand to her crimson lips and tried to hide her laugh.

It was not that ridiculous of an idea.

“Not only will that be incredibly tedious and time consuming, but it is also not the same as an introduction in your home—a decree that you would like to see them danced with and courted and that you are the person any gentleman must approach. You signal to the ton that you expect them to be welcomed.”

Oh, he understood and hated that Penelope was right. Except… “I do not know the first thing about how to plan a ball.” Hopefully his housekeeper did since there had been balls held in their mansion before his sister wed.

“I will see that it is done properly and train your cousins how to plan one as well. That way, it will be a skill they will have acquired before they wed.”

“Can one be planned in so short of time? And what of other balls and entertainments already scheduled. I receive invitations weeks before an event is to take place.”

“It will take some doing, but it is possible, especially for a duke. As to invitations—once one is received from you , those invited will set aside previous engagements. No one will want to miss the opportunity to attend a ball being hosted by the eligible bachelor, the Duke of Eldridge. I have no doubt it will be a crush.”

As much as Henry did not want to host a ball, given the determination in Lady Penelope’s green eyes, he knew that he had no choice because no matter how much he might argue the point, she would win in the end.

Blast!

He should have just kissed her and kept on kissing her until she forgot that he had five female cousins and then he would not be having a blasted ball.

* * *

Penelope had not truly expected Eldridge to agree to host a ball and was shocked that he capitulated so quickly. Maybe he understood the necessity or he feared that he would indeed have responsibility for his five cousins for the rest of his life.

Not that it mattered, because as soon as they were finished with the already scheduled plans for today, they would begin planning a ball.

“So, this is the home of the Duke of Eldridge,” Petrucio commented as he looked up at the four stories of the mansion. “I never thought I would cross this threshold.”

“If it was the father who still resided here, you would likely not be allowed on the street,” she chuckled.

“I have no doubt that as soon as I am inside, the former duke will rise from the grave to haunt the mansion.” He grinned. “It is good that I do not scare easily and I have performed Hamlet often.”

“Lady Penelope and Mr. Petrucio Valentine to see the sisters Simpson,” Penelope said to the butler after he answered the door.

“They are in the parlor.” He stood back so that they could enter and Penelope did not wait to be shown the way. The sisters knew to expect her. They just did not know the reason.

“Lady Penelope,” Jael cried, then grew sober when they noted Petrucio.

“May I introduce Mr. Petrucio Valentine.”

At her announcement all five sisters’ eyes widened and their mouths popped open.

“The actor?” Bernice asked.

“Yes.” Petrucio bowed. “It is a pleasure to meet you.”

The five of them brightened, almost giddy with happiness.

“It is a pleasure to meet you.” Judith took his arm and led him to a chair. “You must tell us everything about you and your family.”

Penelope frowned. Why would they want to know about his family…unless…they knew!

Still, in case the sisters were simply in awe of an actor, Penelope would say nothing about the relationship that remained a secret to many.

“I will ring for tea,” Damaris announced as Judith leaned close to Petrucio and said something but Penelope could not hear her words.

“It is a secret,” he returned and glanced back to Penelope. “But she knows. Her brother is married to the eldest of my sisters.”

Judith pulled back in surprise.

“His Grace is aware, but outside of family, Society is ignorant of the relation,” Petrucio added.

How had the sisters come by the information that the Valentines, by way of their mother, were cousins in the same manner as the Grell cousins? Two generations back, the Marquess of Wingate, Richard Grell, had fathered four children. One had gone on to father the Grell brothers who had waltzed with the sisters just yesterday. His youngest daughter, however, had married far beneath her and produced five sons. When her husband died, she became a mistress and had given birth to five more, illegitimate, children. Upon her death, all ten of the children were taken in and raised by a vicar and had become known as Valentines. The relationship between the Valentines and Grells was kept a secret. As for the former Marquess Wingate, his sister, Anora Grell had married the Duke of Eldridge, who went on to have two sons, one being the father of the current Duke of Eldridge and the other, the father of the Simpson sisters.

However, given how judgmental and sanctimonious the father of the Simpson sisters had been, Penelope was surprised he even acknowledged that there were Valentines, let alone mentioned them to his daughters.

“We shall not say a word.” Bernice made an “X” across her heart. “But we are so pleased to meet you and hope that we might have the chance to become acquainted with your siblings.”

“You are not at all like your father or uncle, are you?” Petrucio laughed.

“We did not know our uncle, the former duke, but we try not to carry the same prejudices as our father,” Judith answered.

“May I ask, how do you even know?” Penelope questioned. “I was certain that your father would have never mentioned your relatives, especially since he would not even allow you to associate with the Grell brothers?”

Judith’s cheeks began to turn pink. “The name was unfamiliar to us until after father died. We found letters and other documents, and in truth, became very intrigued by the family.”

Ah, so her assumption had been correct in that their father had shielded them from the Valentines, and likely because he believed himself to be on moral high ground.

“So, cousin, why have you called on us today?” Chloe asked after Petrucio had told them about his siblings, their professions, who was married, and the most important details. Penelope simply sipped tea, observed and enjoyed. Had the sisters reacted in a manner that would have been expected of them by their father, this would not have gone nearly as well.

“Are we going to get acting lessons?” Jael asked with excitement.

“Did Penelope not tell you?” he laughed. “I am here to cut your hair.”

“He is what?” Damaris cried.

“Do you object to him doing so?” Penelope asked slowly.

“No, we do not,” Judith was quick to assure her. “But nobody has ever done so.”

Though the girls managed to style their hair in a somewhat attractive manner, in a neat chignon behind their head, she simply assumed that it had been some time since it had been trimmed. She had no idea that it had never been cut.

“Father would not allow even the slightest trim,” Bernice explained.

Penelope nearly groaned. “Is it a sin to cut hair?”

“ But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering .” Jael recited. “First Corinthians eleven fifteen.”

“The Bible does not specify any length of hair,” Petrucio stated. “I promise that my sisters, who were also raised by a vicar, regularly trimmed their hair.”

Excitement lit in their eyes as they began unpinning their hair and it was only then that Penelope realized that it fell beyond their backside and was also in poor condition. No wonder they never styled their hair in a fashionable manner. They simply had too much.

“If you are an actor, Petrucio, how are you qualified to cut hair?” Judith asked.

Petrucio quickly explained his plans and began arranging items so that he could begin.

“My hope is to have a shop but I will also visit ladies and gentlemen in their home if they do not want to come to me.”

“That sounds very exciting,” Damaris offered. “I wish women had as many options to do something interesting as men.”

“A complaint I heard often from my sisters.” He laughed as he set a chair in front of a mirror. “Shall we begin?”