Page 22 of Trusting Her Duke

Spring sunshine warmed Ravensworth Hall’s library, catching dust motes that danced above the familiar desk where Penelope sat reviewing estate correspondence. More than one year of marriage had changed much about the room - her writing desk now stood as a permanent fixture beside Alexander’s larger one, their papers mingling much as their lives had merged.

She paused in her work, one hand drifting unconsciously to rest on the gentle swell of her stomach - still barely noticeable beneath her morning dress, but a constant joy nonetheless. Alexander had been impossibly protective since their discovery two months ago, though he tried to hide it beneath his usual proper manner.

“Your Grace?” Mrs Thackeray appeared in the doorway, her practical face wreathed in smiles. “His Grace asks if you’ll join him in the south meadow. Something about the new drainage system needing your opinion.”

Penelope couldn’t help laughing.

“Does it really need my opinion, or is he simply checking on me again?”

“Perhaps both, Your Grace.” The housekeeper’s fond tone suggested she thoroughly approved of her master’s protective tendencies. “Though I believe there truly is some question about water rights that needs settling.”

“Of course there is.” Penelope rose carefully, accepting the light shawl Mrs Thackeray held out. “Heaven forbid we discuss anything without proper documentation.”

She found Alexander exactly where she’d expected - standing in the meadow that had hosted the Harvest Festival, now green with spring promise. He turned at her approach, and the love in his eyes still made her heart race, even after more than a year of marriage.

“Checking on me again?” she asked as she reached him, laughing at his attempt to look innocent.

“Not at all.” He drew her into his arms, one hand settling protectively over their child. “I genuinely need your opinion on these water rights. Though I won’t deny the pleasure of seeing you in the spring sunshine.”

“Mmm.” She settled against him, enjoying the familiar scent of his cologne and coffee. “And this has nothing to do with my riding out to visit tenants yesterday?”

“You mean your completely unnecessary excursion when Featherstone could have easily handled the matter?” But his tone held more amusement than censure. “I wouldn’t dream of questioning my Duchess’s methods.”

“Wise man.” She tilted her head back to smile up at him. “You’ve learned so much this past year and more.”

“I’ve had an excellent teacher.” His hand moved gently over her stomach. “Though I hope our child inherits your intuitive approach to estate management rather than my rigid one.”

“Perhaps a balance of both?” She covered his hand with hers. “Like your mother wrote about. Duty and heart working together.”

“Speaking of duty...” He gestured to where Lord Albert approached across the meadow, carrying what appeared to be estate papers. “I really did need your opinion on these water rights. The Court of Chancery requires proper documentation for any adjustments to traditional usage.”

“Of course it does.” She couldn’t help laughing. “Heaven forbid we make any improvements without thoroughly documenting everything.”

“Would you have me any other way?”

His eyes held both love and amusement.

“No,” she said softly, seriously. “I would have you exactly as you are. My perfectly proper Duke who learned to balance duty with love.”

Lord Albert reached them, grinning at their obvious contentment.

“Still discussing estate management during private moments? Some things never change.”

“Some things shouldn’t change,” Alexander replied, though he kept his arm around Penelope. “Though I like to think we’ve found a better balance between duty and... other considerations.”

“Other considerations?” Lord Albert’s grin widened as he glanced at Penelope’s gentle curve. “Is that what we’re calling it now?”

“We’re calling it the future of both estates,” Penelope said firmly, though she couldn’t help smiling. “Though I suspect this child will learn about proper documentation before learning to walk.”

“Along with proper protocols for everything,” Lord Albert agreed cheerfully. “Though with you as its mother, it might also learn to ride through storms for good causes.”

“Not for several years at least,” Alexander said quickly, his hand tightening slightly at her waist.

Penelope exchanged an amused look with Lord Albert. Her husband’s protective instincts, always strong, had become almost overwhelming since learning of her condition. Though she had to admit, his attention to detail served them well in preparing for their child’s arrival.

“The water rights?” she prompted gently, before Lord Albert could tease them further.

“Ah, yes.” Alexander produced a map from the papers Lord Albert carried. “The new drainage system works perfectly, but we need to adjust some traditional boundaries to accommodate it. I thought perhaps...”

As he explained the technical details, Penelope felt the rightness of it all settle into her bones. This was what she’d dreamed of during those early days of their charitable work - two estates working in true partnership, tradition and progress supporting each other, duty and love perfectly balanced.

The spring breeze carried the scent of new growth, of possibility. In the distance, Penelope could see tenant farmers working their fields - families from both estates cooperating naturally now, the old divisions forgotten in the success of their joint management.

“You’re not listening to a word about drainage, are you?”

Alexander’s voice held tender amusement.

“I’m thinking about legacy,” she admitted, turning to face him. “About everything we’ve built together this past year and more. Everything we’re building for the future.”

His hand moved gently over their child again.

“A future with proper documentation for everything?”

“And improper rides through storms when necessary,” she agreed, laughing at his mock groan. “Though perhaps I’ll wait until after our child arrives for any more dramatic rescues.”

“Thank God for small mercies.”

But his eyes held nothing but love as he bent to kiss her.

Lord Albert cleared his throat pointedly.

“Shall I come back later with these water rights documents?”

“No,” Alexander straightened, though he kept one arm around Penelope. “We should finish this properly. Though perhaps we could continue the discussion over luncheon? Mrs Thackeray mentioned something about your particular cravings...”

“Now who’s checking on me?” But Penelope couldn’t help smiling at his careful attention. “Though I wouldn’t say no to more of her apple tarts.”

As they walked back into the Hall together, Penelope caught sight of their reflection in a window - the Duke and Duchess of Ravensworth, perfectly matched in their balance of duty and love. Just as Alexander’s mother had predicted, just as her father had hoped.

The future stretched before them full of promise, like the spring-green meadows of their joined estates. Whatever storms might come, they would weather them together, protecting what mattered most - their lands, their people, their love.

And if their child inherited both Alexander’s attention to proper documentation and her tendency to ride out in any weather for good causes... well, that would be a perfect balance indeed.

The End

I hope that you enjoyed ‘Trusting Her Duke’!