Page 96 of Saved By the Rakish Duke

“Yes...” he admitted, leaning away from her touch as he explained, “Well, to be clear, the truth is that I have certainly been...” he cleared his throat, “...around.”

Penelope blushed at his frank confession, suddenly quite aware of the hand that rested on the small of her back.

“However,” he continued, “despite what the rest of thetonthinks, such trysts were only with women who already had nothing to lose. I wouldneverruin a woman who was... er, well, you know.”

Penelope nodded in understanding. “See? Then it turns out you’re notthatmuch worse than Lord Gloushire after all, Your Grace. So why shouldn’t we-”

“No.” His chest heaved as he answered. “My reputation—despite being exaggerated in its notoriety—is enough to all but exile me from proper society. After a decade of half-truths, accusations, misunderstandings, and the like, there are people out there who will always seek to make me miserable—along with anyone who dares to get close. I could never—will never—do that to you.”

Anticipating her objection, he tilted her chin upwards so he could silence Penelope with another—much shorter—kiss.

When their lips parted a second time, he urged her, “Marry Gloushire, he’s not the type to attract unwanted attention and I shall find peace knowing that you’ll be out of harm’s way by his side rather than mine.”

“But what aboutmypeace?” Penelope objected. “Do you expect me to live the rest of my life missing you every day?”

“The rest of your life? No, Lady Pen.” A chaste kiss landed on her temple, “For up to a year—perhaps even two if I should be so lucky.”

His hands lightly brushed against her sides, giving her goosebumps. “But the more time you spend with Gloushire, the more preoccupied you become in your duties as a mother and as a viscountess, the farther your mind shall drift away from me.”

The duke’s right hand tucked a lock behind her ear. “Until finally, you shall forget all about the poor soul who almost held you back from the life you deserved.”

“No,” was all that Penelope could bring herself to utter, inhaling a deep breath before she could add, “I couldneverforget you.”

“That’s just how it feels right now, but I assure you that-”

Penelope pried herself free of his arms, her eyes burning in defiance. “Who are you to tell me so? Do you think that just because you are more experienced in matters of the heart that you know mine so intimately? How can you predict how I shall feel in a few years when you apparently couldn’t tell how hopelessly I have been pining for you all this time?”

She didn’t give him a chance to answer.

“Your predictions are based on your experience with your past trysts, but do you think it fair to compare the way I have loved you tothoseaffairs?”

“No, of course not, that’s not at all what I-”

“And then when I poured my heart out to you, offered you my unwavering love and support for the rest of our lives...” Penelope’s hands began to tremble, “you had the gall to presume they are fickle enough to fade away quickly once I’m married to Lord Gloushire.”

“Lady Pen, please-”

“Admit it, Your Grace,” she spat out, her tone having turned completely bitter now, “you aren’t doing this for my best interests, but for your own.”

“Formyown interest?” scoffed the duke. “Did you not hear anything I said about the lengths I had to go through just to-”

“You’re better for me than Gloushire in every respect.” Penelope interrupted, too angry now to care about courtesy, “We get along better, you know and understand me better, youarebetter,” Her breathing hastened, “but you're still afraid of love—afraid of the risk of pain that comes with it—so you’d rather push me into the arms of another man rather than take a chance.”

Penelope reached for the lamp that she had used to light her way here from her room, relighting it once more using one of the nearby candles.

“You would rather listen to your fear than to me.” Penelope’s voice cracked despite her best efforts, “Then fine! I shall marry him instead and leave you in peace.” A sob escaped her lips. “Youselfishbastard!”

As she stormed out of the kitchen, Penelope could hardly see her own feet given the darkness of the house combined with the tears in her eyes. But she didn’t care, all she wanted to do was put as much distance between her and that wretched duke.

CHAPTER33

Just three more days,Penelope told her reflection.In just three more days, you shall be married and away from here.

Since the painful quarrel that fateful night in the kitchen, the walls of Blackmoore Manor felt much too suffocating. Thankfully, as the wedding neared, everyone’s schedules grew more frantic, which meant fewer opportunities for shared meals around the dinner table, traded instead for quick bites in one’s own quarters or wherever else one might find herself around the house when mealtime struck.

This made it significantly easier for Penelope and the duke to carry on avoiding each other.

Gentle knocks on the door pulled Penelope’s attention away from the mirror.

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