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She ignored the whispers, no doubt, people were wishing for her downfall. Instead, she kept her gaze focused on the front of the aisle.

That was when their eyes met. For two people who were about to be husband and wife in just a few short moments, none of them looked particularly happy to be there. He extended his hand for her to take.

For a brief moment, she felt a current go through her body.

Strange. Penelope wondered if he felt the same. But his expression gave nothing away. She found herself wanting to read his mind.

What even goes on in that head of his? She wondered, then blushed when she thought about his hands. They seemed quite bigger than her own, and how easily they could grab her hands.

She tried not to look at his hands for the remainder of the night.

But afterwards, the rest of the ceremony unfolded like a fever dream.

She barely registered when her father handed her over to her husband-to-be , nor did she pay too much attention to what the priest said when he announced them as Man and Wife.

Her gown felt heavy, and her hands had gotten clammy with sweat.

Until, at last, Alexander took her hand in his. She nearly pulled it back out of instinct, but his hold was steady.

“Planning to run away again?” he whispered, leaning in softly against her ear. She blushed wildly, and let herself be led down the aisle to where their carriage awaited them outside.

“I would not dare,” she bit back after a moment. Alexander passed her an amused glance, and she wondered how he was so calm about the whole thing. “I should remind you that I am quite grateful for it.”

It was his wedding day, as well.

“Then, lucky me that I found you,” he chuckled . “A wife who is grateful to be my side.”

“You did save me,” she reminded him. “And I might be troublesome, but I do not go against those that have helped me in a tough time.”

He seemed to like hearing that. Well, that or his expressions were unreadable. Because the next moment, the smile slipped from his face and he was looking around with a bored expression again.

Penelope looked around at the guests waiting to be seen off. She could sense their vague disappointment, that she had let them down by not providing enough of a show and actually going through with the wedding this time.

At the chapel doors, as they paused to collect themselves, George approached them.

“Well,” he said, far too loudly, “now that the marriage is done, it doesn’t matter whether you run or not.”

Penelope froze, her hand tightening slightly on Alexander’s arm. The last thing she wanted was for her father to cause a scene like this, but she would be expecting too much from Lord Montrose.

“You need not worry about your daughter running away now, Lord Montrose,” Alexander answered on her behalf, surprising her.

Penelope turned her head slightly . She hadn’t expected him to say anything at all.

“If she ever does,” Alexander continued, “it will not be because she is ashamed. It will be because someone failed to protect her. I do not intend to fail her.”

George’s mouth parted, but even he knew better than to argue with a duke in public. Penelope blinked, startled by the heat creeping up her neck. It was not every day that her father was rendered speechless.

“You may consider your obligations fulfilled,” Alexander added. “There’s no further need for your input. I’ll see to her well-being now.”

Penelope could almost hear the snap of the final thread as her father’s expression hardened. But to her astonishment, he said nothing.

“Now, please. I believe there is a carriage waiting for my wife and I,” Alexander announced, leaving no room for further argument. “Shall we?”

“Y-yes,” Penelope nodded, taking his hand and following his lead.

She was not used to this. All her life, she had learned that to be heard, one must be loud. But Alexander had made his point known without raising his voice.

Perhaps I have something to learn from the duke, after all. She thought , though she would not dare say it out loud. She did not wish to fan the flames of his ego.

The couple was quiet during the carriage ride. Every now and then, Penelope would notice Alexander looking in her direction. But never once did he break the silence.

Penelope did not know what to say either. So, she simply waited till the carriage pulled through the grand wrought-iron gates of Monteclare Manor.

They had arrived.

An entire army of staff awaited them in the entrance hall. Penelope was surprised to see their numbers, but then reminded herself that it was a duke’s estate. Such was to be expected.

“Welcome home, Your Grace,” one of the staff members said. Instinctively, Penelope turned to the duke before realizing that it was her they were referring to.

She had a title now, though it would take her time to get used to it.

“Right, of course,” she cleared her throat, “well, thank you for welcoming me.”

“You shall be shown to your quarters by one of the maids,” Alexander spoke up. “At any moment, someone will be there to assist you around the house. There is no shortage of staff here.”

Penelope nodded, looking around. Everything from the furnishings to the size was much grander than she had back home.

The staff had all but dispersed now, except one young maid who stood at the bottom of the stairs. Presumably, she was waiting to show Penelope to her quarters.

“Am I meant to go to my quarters straight away?” she turned to Alexander.

“Yes,” he said, but more like a question. “What else did you have in mind?”

“Well,” she cleared her throat. “I was hoping to meet your daughter before that.”

“Immediately?” Alexander seemed surprised at her request, even though in her mind, it had been a perfectly normal thing to ask.

“Well, I believe in doing things sooner rather than later,” Penelope asserted. “And I am sure she must know that I am due to arrive, so it would be nice.”

Alexander regarded her with a look, and then shook his head firmly.

“No. It is not the right time,” he said.

“Not the right time?” Penelope asked. “And why is that? I was under the impression that the very reason you married me was to look after your daughter. So I cannot fathom why this is not the right time.”

Alexander had a look of annoyance cross his face.

“I would advise you to have more patience, especially when it comes to matters as important as this,” he said. “I have not yet told you the rules yet.”

“There are rules?”

There was no word that Penelope despised more than this one. She had thought that she had escaped the stringent rules of her father's household, only to be told a fresh set was waiting for her.

No, this was not quite right. Anyone who knew her even slightly knew that she had great trouble following rules.

“Are you ready to hear them?” Alexander said to her, watching her closely for any sort of reaction.

“Will you tell them to me now?”

“Only because you have expressed a great desire to not waste any time,” Alexander said, just as sarcastically.

“Well, then.”

“Rule one: you must never disturb me unless it concerns my daughter.”

“You mean the daughter who I cannot meet?”

“Rule two,” he continued, as though she hadn’t spoken, “you are not to leave the house without informing me. I expect to know where you are, always.”

“Always?”

“I did not stutter.”

“And what if I told you that I am not used to telling people about my whereabouts.”

“Then you better get used to it,” Alexander tilted his head slightly, unimpressed. “You’ll find the rule practical, given your tendency to run.”

Her mouth parted in offense, but he didn’t stop.

“Rule three…” He met her gaze evenly. “You are to never fall in love with me.”

Penelope stared back at him, her mouth agape. Then, a strange feeling engulfed her, and she broke out into a laugh.

“That is one rule you can rest easy about, Your Grace,” she said. “I do not think that I will be falling in love with you, any time soon.”

Alexander stared at her, his expression darkening into something she did not quite recognize. She wondered if she had gone too far or offended him. In reality, she was only being honest, as she often had the habit of being. Even when it landed her in trouble.

For a moment, he did not say anything. But she watched him as he took a step closer to her.

“Is that the case?” he asked, in a softer voice now. “And what makes you so confident?”

Penelope tried her hardest not to grow distracted by just how close he had stepped towards her.

“Well, for one thing, this is not a marriage born out of love. So the chances of it blossoming are already low,” she explained . “Besides, you have made it quite clear to me already that you are not interested in any kind of love match with me. So that resolves the problem altogether.”

Alexander only closed the distance between them further in response. So much, in fact, that she ran out of space and her back came into contact with the wall behind her.

“The problem?” he asked, his gaze scanning her face. “It would be a problem, you think, should you fall in love with me?”

Suddenly, Penelope’s throat was parched, and she could hardly focus on the conversation .

“Yes,” she said. “That is how you have phrased it. If it is serious enough to be made into a rule, then one can assume that it would be a problem. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Penelope was embarrassed by just how weak her own voice was sounding, but his proximity seemed to have an effect on her.

“I am just surprised at your confidence,” he said, and then dragged a finger across the side of her jaw. She froze in response. His touch seemed to have made her entirely incapable of thinking.

“You should not be,” she said, clearing her throat. Her cheeks were burning, and she was certain that he had taken note of it. It would be impossible for him not to notice, considering how close he was.

“You have spirit,” he said, still not taking a step back. “I will give you that.”

“I will try not to bother you with it,” she replied, as though it was something to apologize for. At least, that was what she had been told for most of her life.

“Bother me?” he repeated, seeming rather amused now. “No, I do not think it bothers me. If anything, it is new.”

His response confused her. Was he being appreciative of her, or was this meant to be some sort of covert taunt that she had not yet deciphered?

She opened her mouth to speak, but the duke had already stepped back from her.

“I would advise you to get some rest,” he said, already walking away. “You will be shown your quarters. Good night.”