Page 76 of Saved By the Rakish Duke

“Not nearly as fortunate as I,” he answered, a lazy smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “But as we said, it's all just... wishful thinking.”

“Not necessarily,” Penelope urged. “You’re young enough to get married if you wanted to. It's not like you would be short on willing prospects to-”

“No,” he resumed absent-mindedly running his hand through his hair again. “Too much risk of pain—for either of us. It’s... easier this way.”

His handsome features suddenly scrunched together into a sneeze. “Curses!” he exclaimed. “This cold is utterly insufferable!”

Seeing her chance, Penelope closed the volume on her lap and slipped it onto his bedside table, so she could get up.

“I really should be letting you get some rest, Your Grace.” She straightened her skirt.

“Very well.” He nodded, before rising from his place on the edge of the bed along with her. “Thank you for your reading, Lady Pen, and for listening to the ramblings of an ill gentleman.”

“Do your best to recover as quickly as you can.” She smiled. “Lord Gloushire has recommended a picnic in Old Grove and has even invited the dowager duchess. It would be nice if you were well enough to join us by then.”

“I shall gladly pass up the opportunity,” he said through pursed lips.

“Come now, Your Grace.” She landed a light punch on his arm. “I need to get you two on as civil grounds as possible soon, otherwise how am I going to convince him to invite you to the wedding—ifhe proposes, that is?”

“You would want me there?” He cocked up an eyebrow in surprise.

“For certain!” Penelope smiled. “After all your help with my quest for a husband, it should only be fair that you get at least a slice of cake for all your efforts.”

His Grace exhaled slightly through his nose at this remark, “I shall do my best, Lady Pen. I take it that we’re friends again, then?”

Penelope hesitated for just a moment. There was no doubt that he still had such a dangerous effect on her. The wise and prudent step would be to continue avoiding him unless absolutely necessary—as today had been.

But this one afternoon with him made her feel more alive than the countless excursions with and morning calls from Lord Gloushire over the last few months.

His presence was like an intoxicating fragrance, and she wanted—no,needed—to breathe him in as much as she could, even if it was only at arm’s length.

“Of course, Your Grace.” She offered him a weak smile. “Friends.”

CHAPTER25

“This seems like an all right spot, doesn’t it, dearest?”

“It’s perfect,” Penelope answered the viscount, who at once reached into one of their several baskets to retrieve their picnic blankets.

“Father, may we please swim now?” Lucy asked, pointing to the river just a few yards away from them.

“We haven’t even properly set up yet, Lucy,” he grunted, flapping the first picnic blanket open.

“Please!” whined the two children.

He looked into their pleading eyes and then at Penelope to wordlessly ask her thoughts. With a chuckle, Penelope set down her basket. “I’d be happy to help you get changed into your swimming-”

“I’ll do it, darling,” Mother cooed from behind her. “That way you young ones can focus on setting up our spot.”

Penelope planted a kiss on the older woman’s forehead. “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Mother.” Penelope was unable to contain her joy that Mother had agreed to join them at all instead of hiding away in her room.

“What a splendid choice of a spot!” exclaimed the dowager duchess, leaning on His Grace’s arm. Her knees had been giving her a harder time than usual today, so she had encouraged the rest of the party to walk ahead.

“Have you used this spot before?” asked the duke, eyes on the ground as he aided his mother.

“No, Your Grace,” answered the viscount, his tone civil but dry. “But I doubt we’ll be seeing any bears here in Old Grove, so we’re perfectly safe.”

“It’s not that.” The younger man shot him a glare. “I meant have you checked the strength of the current in this part of the river before you send your young, delicate children to giddily splash around in it?”

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