Page 33 of Five Nights with a Rakish Duke
“Lady Margaret, the Duke and I were just about to take a stroll around the garden; perhaps you would join us?” Lord Upperton asked.
“I would be delighted to,” she stepped forward, completely blocking Penelope off as she took the Duke’s proffered arm. Penelope watched the three of them walking away, feeling the full force of the insult. They could have asked her to accompany them, but they didn’t. The only comfort she was offered was when the Duke glanced over his shoulder at her from across the lawn and winked. Yet, that wink gave no comfort to her envy.
What is wrong with me?She turned around, about to sit back down at the table, when she collided with something.
“Oh! Adam,” she said in surprised as her cousin dropped one of the cakes on the floor, scattering the crumbs over her dress. “I’m so sorry.”
“Think nothing of it, cousin,” he said, helping to brush the crumbs off her arms. “Are you all right? You look quite upset about something.”
“No, it is nothing,” she said quickly though her eyes drew across the garden against her will. She peered over guests’ heads and between the rose bushes on the far side that were shaped into arches, seeking out the Duke. When she saw him laughing at something Margaret had said, her stomach clenched all the more.
“Ah, I see,” Adam said, following her gaze. “My sister has been making a nuisance of herself again, is that it?” he asked. Happy for him to make such a wrong summary on this occasion, she nodded. “Come, let me cheer you up.”
* * *
“Dorian, that is enough,” Asher said as they disentangled themselves from Lady Margaret, leaving her with some other guests. “I think you’re taking this role to introduce me to eligible ladies with too much seriousness.”
“Of course, I am. I’m your friend, I’m trying to help you,” Dorian said.
“Then you can leave me alone to talk to who I want to for now. You have done your duty for today,” Asher said with feeling, looking across the garden to seek out Lady Penelope. She was deep in conversation with Lord Larson, smiling.
I’d prefer her to be smiling with me.
“Well, I never…” Dorian’s words made Asher snap his gaze back to his friend, seeing that he had followed his gaze. “The lady you described. It’s Lady Penelope, isn’t it? The daughter of the late Earl of Larson?”
“Yes,” Asher said in a low voice. “Now, keep that to yourself and don’t tell a soul.”
“I promise,” Dorian held his hands up in innocence as Asher stepped away. “Why are you going to speak to her now? It is hardly nighttime yet.”
“What?” Asher asked, hesitating.
“Your rule is fivenights, my friend. You said nothing about spending days with ladies.” Dorian’s words were coupled with raised eyebrows, but Asher chose to ignore the meaning.
“What is the harm in that?” he asked shrugging before walking away. He crossed quickly toward Lady Penelope, reaching her side just as her cousin, the Earl of Larson, passed her a small hoop. They were continuing their game at the side of the lawn with some of the younger of the guests at the tea party. As he approached, Asher could see Lady Penelope was pretending not to notice, but she did because she glanced his way once before returning her attention to the hoop.
She tossed the hoop toward the sticks as the others did and won a point by landing it perfectly on the stick, much to the joy of some of the younger people and her cousin.
“Well done, Lady Penelope,” Asher said, stepping up to her side. He took the opportunity to speak to her as Lord Larson walked off to collect the hoops for the others. “You seem to have a skill for the game.”
“Your Grace, I thought you were speaking with Lady Margaret?” Lady Penelope asked, stepping away from the game.
“I was,” he said, before lowering his voice so only she could hear as they continued walking away from the game, “but I would rather speak with you instead.” She smiled a little though she kept her eyes downward.
“A drink, My Lady?” he said formally, pointing toward one of the tables where tea was still set up. She nodded and followed him. “There is no need to be stiff with me in public, you know.”
“That is a little difficult,” she said, half laughing. “After what you said the other night…” She trailed off and looked around herself as he poured tea for the two of them.
“Well, we can boththinkof that night and what I said as much as we like,” he said, watching as she blushed all the more, “but I do not want you to be afraid of talking to me.”
“Then what would you have us talk about?” she asked. “What I like to talk about I am reliably informed bores men.”
“Who says that?” he asked, furrowing his brow.
“Lady Margaret.” Lady Penelope’s words made Asher nearly laugh, for he had found Lady Margaret’s conversation dull indeed.
“Perhaps she and I differ on what makes good conversation,” he said as he passed Penelope the teacup, letting their fingers brush together slyly. The touch was warm, a stolen moment in the public event. “What do you like to talk of?”
“I was talking earlier of the play,Much Ado About Nothing.I am reading it at the moment and have rather strong opinions on the piece.”
