Page 32 of Five Nights with a Rakish Duke
“We should get back to the game.” Whatever had been on her mind, she seemed to think the better of it and walked back to the table, sitting hurriedly. He followed her and picked up the cards.
“Another game?”
Chapter Eleven
“Who talks of books at tea parties?” Margaret said with a whine from Penelope’s side. Penelope broke off halfway through what she was saying, turning away from the rather entertaining conversation she had been having with Veronica to look to her cousin.
“What is wrong with books?” Penelope asked.
“They are not attractive,” Margaret said plainly as though her words were obvious. “If you are to marry, and we are to get you out of the house, then you need to start talking of something that will interest a man for goodness’ sake.”
Penelope was about to argue with Margaret, even with Veronica’s hand on her arm trying to keep her quiet, when the words died in her throat. They were at a garden tea party with multiple circular tables surrounded by people in chairs drinking tea and eating small cakes, and there were late arrivals to the party.
Penelope felt her mouth go dry as the Duke of Kendall arrived, flanked by two of his friends, Lord Upperton and a man she did not recognize. She could all too easily remember what he had said the other night at his house about showing her pleasure. The mere thought of it made her hand around her teacup tremble, so that the china shook within the saucer, ringing.
“Careful, dear,” Veronica said, before leaning toward her and lowering her voice to a whisper. “And close your mouth; you’re staring at him like a trout!” Penelope snapped her mouth shut and looked down at the teacup.
Beside her, Veronica tried to engage other guests at the table in conversation, leaving Margaret the chance to lean to Penelope and whisper quietly.
“You’ll break the china. What will they think of us then?” Margaret asked in reprimand.
“I shook the cup. It will be quite all right,” Penelope said, trying her best to ignore her cousin as her attention was still fixed on the Duke of Kendall. He had entered with his friends and spoken to the host before walking over to a different table to greet a few more guests.
Margaret leaned forward and took the cup further away from Penelope as though checking that no cracks had occurred before placing the cup back down in the saucer.
“Good God, it’s fine, Margaret. You do not need to worry. I am not so incapable of being proper amongst others,” Penelope said, sighing, knowing full well what Margaret thought of her. As a lady who was always so concerned with what was proper, she fussed with her own hair before comparing it to Penelope’s, evidently silently thinking that Penelope’s should be more firmly gathered at the back of her head as the wayward curls were loose around her ears.
Penelope turned to narrow her gaze at Margaret but found her cousin’s expression had changed entirely to one of smiling at someone standing behind her.
“Your Grace, may I introduce Lady Margaret, sister to Lord Larson?” Lord Upperton’s voice made Penelope snap her gaze around to find not only Lord Upperton standing behind her, but the Duke of Kendall too.
Margaret hurried to her feet and curtsied, dutifully smiling demurely. Penelope felt the Duke’s gaze resting on her, just for a moment, before he snapped it back to Margaret, and he bowed.
“Lady Margaret, this is the Duke of Kendall.”
“My Lady, it is a pleasure to meet you,” he said softly.
“The pleasure is mine, Your Grace,” Margaret replied, stepping a little away from the table toward him.
Penelope was shocked by the sheer strength of the lurch in her stomach as the Duke and Margaret looked at one another. More than anything, she wished to be standing in Margaret’s shoes talking to him rather than standing farther away.
What is this? Is it… envy?The realization made her snap her gaze back around again and busy herself with eating a small cake, desperate to stop the feeling.
He is not mine. We are merely spending a few nights together, one of which is gone already.
“My friend tells me you are a keen piano player?” the Duke said with charm to Margaret.
“Yes, Your Grace. I am fortunate to have been complimented many times on my skills. You should come to the house some time to hear my play.”Please say no…Penelope found herself sending the silent prayer to heavens, but it went unanswered.
“I would be delighted to,” the Duke said smoothly. Penelope finished the last of her cake and slumped her shoulders a little. “Lady Margaret, could you introduce me to your companion?”
Penelope felt a dig in her shoulder that was clearly delivered by Margaret. “Ah, Lady Penelope, your brother introduced us the other day,” he said with easy charm, reaching out for her hand.
“That he did,” she said, trying to adopt a cold and reserved tone, yet it failed when he reached for her hand, lifting it to his lips to kiss the back. He held her gaze as he kissed her, making her blush, then he used his other hand to tap the side of his mouth with a small smile in a silent gesture. She lifted a finger to her lips to find some cake crumbs lingering there and wiped them away hurriedly.
“You’ll have to forgive my cousin, Your Grace,” Margaret said, practically elbowing Penelope away with embarrassment. “She has been busy enjoying our hostess’ cakes.” Penelope was sad to feel the Duke’s hand leave hers and to be dismissed so readily by her cousin.
“As we should all be,” the Duke said, returning his eyes to Penelope.
