Page 55 of Saved By the Rakish Duke

As he jogged towards her, he noticed that she began hugging her arms. This hardly surprised him as now that they were no longer swimming in a sea of guests inside an overflowing ballroom.

“Here,” he called out to her, beginning to take his coat off, “I take it that your cloak is still in our coach, yes?”

“It’s all right.” She shook her head dismissively. “I take it we shan’t be out here for long, correct?”

He rolled his eyes, wrapping the coat around her shoulders anyway. “You know, at times like this I suspect that you oppose me simply out of habit rather than because there’s a good reason to.”

She shot him a defiant look, but her eyes softened—likely because the warmth from the coat finally hit her—and she mumbled a reluctant “Thank you” under her breath.

“There’s a bench inside the archway,” he explained offering her his arm. “The vines and wisteria will help conceal us from any eyes who might misunderstand.”

“I’m almost too afraid to ask how you’re so familiar with the layout of another family’s estate,” she half-joked, accepting his arm.

“Why would you need to ask?” he smirked. “You’re already well aware that I’m an observant person.”

The moonlight shone through the gaps in the wisteria as they strolled under the archway. Thanks to the full moon, it was still bright enough for them to see each other clearly even here—another big relief because otherwise Duncan would have needed to somehow procure a lantern for the sake of Lady Penelope’s fear of the dark.

“You really are a most bizarre gentleman, Your Grace,” she sighed next to him. “For upon hearing my complaints that I wanted to speed up the hunt, instead of helping me do so, your first recourse has been to lure meawayfrom the party and any potential suitors—thus slowing down our hunt for my future husband even further.”

“I have good reason to believe that this momentary setback will be worth your time, Lady Penelope,” Duncan assured her. “Besides, even the most dedicated hunters need to take breaks.”

When they arrived at the bench, Duncan gestured towards it, encouraging her to take a seat.

Without meaning to, his feet started pacing back and forth the moment he began speaking. “I understand our... quest has become increasingly frustrating for you, Lady Pen—understandably so. Thus, I believe there’s no better time than to reveal that you’re actually closer to your goal than you think.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well...” Duncan cleared his throat, “the truth is that your list of ‘practice gentlemen’ is actually... the five best prospects I could find for you.”

“But what about the other list you hid from me containing the three-”

“The three additional names? It was a blank sheet of paper,” he confessed. “I led you to believe that you were simply ‘practicing’ your techniques because I had hoped it would make this ordeal less nerve-racking for you.”

She stared at him speechlessly for a moment before finally shaking her head, “In truth, you were right,” she admitted. “In fact, you managed to put me so at ease with the idea of ‘practicing’ that I even attempted to do so earlier. But in that case, why did you stop me from pursuing Lords Direpeak and Newshore further?”

“That was my fault,” he sighed, dropping onto the bench next to her. “I should have gotten to know them better before letting them near you. I was hoping to find other—more suitable—candidates to replace them tonight, but to no avail. But if you focus on either Lord Wayshell or the Duke of Montg-”

“I don’t think that will be necessary, Your Grace,” she cut him off with a weak smile. “I... appreciate all of the thought and time you’ve given this endeavor, but maybe it would be better if I continued it alone from here.”

Duncan’s heart dropped in his chest. “Did I do something to upset you, Lady Pen? I do apologize that Direpeak and Newshore turned out to be wretches, but I know for sure that Wayshell and-”

“It’s not that at all, Your Grace,” Penelope sighed. “I’ve simply noticed that I have developed the bad habit of relying on you too much. Now that you have provided me with the necessary skills and methods to proceed on my own, it is time I took responsibility for-”

“Have I upset you in some way?” Duncan frowned, sliding closer to her on the bench.

She pulled his coat tighter around herself. “No,” she turned away from him, “you’ve been wonderful, Your Grace, and I’ve taken advantage of that kindness long enough.”

“Nonsense,” Duncan insisted, inching even closer. “We’re friends, aren’t we? Such sacrifices and lengths are expected.”

Did one of the other guests warn her about me yet again?he worried.

But then he remembered Steepwharf’s remarks regarding how Lady Penelope instinctively jumped to Duncan’s defense whenever given the chance—so that couldn’t possibly be the reason.

His eyes widened in concern. “Did someone hurt or threaten you? Just say the word and-”

“Your Grace…” she sighed, “I have already disclosed to you the reason for my decision, there is no need for you to keep guessing.”

But Duncan wasn’t convinced. The restrictedness of her voice and her unwillingness to look him in the eyes told him there was clearly more to what she was saying.

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