Page 72 of Five Nights with a Rakish Duke
“Dorian, what good will that do? She asked me not to contact her again.”
“And that’s it? You are simply going to let that be your final words with her? Not even have a chance to tell her how you feel?”
“What would be the point?”
“Oh yes, only a lifetime of happiness hanging in the balance.”
“Dorian!” Asher said, taking the handkerchief down from his head, feeling the bleeding was now coming to a stop. “It is not that simple.”
“Isn’t it?” Dorian asked. “Vincent, what do you think?”
“Well…” Vincent paused as he set Asher straight in his seat once more. “I have never been so fortunate as to be in love. As I understand it, you only usually fall in love with one woman at a time.” His jest pulled smiles from both of them.
“Funnily enough, yes,” Dorian said with a firm nod.
“If I ever were so fortunate, I know the event is rare enough that I wouldn’t miss out the chance on telling the woman. Who knows when I’d be so lucky to find love again?”
Vincent’s words made Asher shift in his seat, aware that both of his friends were looking at him.
* * *
“What is it?” Penelope asked as she sipped from her tea in Veronica’s sitting room.
Her godmother was walking toward her across the room with an open letter clutched firmly in her hands.
“I do not recognize the handwriting,” Veronica said as she took the seat beside Penelope and opened the letter wider to read it.
Penelope had escaped the house early that morning. She knew it was time for her courtship with Adam to begin, but with the prospect of seeing him again that day after the awkward encounter the night before, she couldn’t do it. She had fled to Veronica’s house and spent most of the day there, hoping no note would arrive from Adam to ask where she had gone.
“Ah, it is from Lord Upperton.” Penelope flinched so much that she nearly dropped the teacup in her lap.
“A little unsettled to hear of one of the Duke of Kendall’s friends?” Veronica asked with a knowing smile.
“Something like that,” Penelope said, shifting in her seat as she placed the teacup down in its saucer on the table. “What does he say?”
“He has invited the two of us to an evening of cards.”
“When?”
“Tonight.”
“Tonight? That is short notice indeed!” Penelope cried in surprise, sitting forward in the chair. “We barely know the man.”
“He describes it as an intimate evening with a few friends. Oh, isn’t he a charmer? He has heard much of my skills at cards and would be glad of a worthy opponent. He has invited you as my companion.” Veronica gestured to Penelope with the letter. “Well, how kind. I would be delighted to go. Would you like to come with me, or will you be returning home to begin your courtship with Adam?”
Penelope said nothing for a minute. She lifted a hand and fidgeted with the emerald necklace around her throat. She had placed Adam’s locket on her neck when she had first awoken that morning then quickly replaced it with Asher’s gift.
“Penelope,” Veronica said, nudging her for an answer.
“I will come with you,” Penelope said with finality and reached for her teacup again.
“Hmm… you are not avoiding going home to the man who could be your future husband, are you?”
“No,” Penelope said with a lie, turning her eyes down to her teacup.
“It’s a wonder you got away with your tryst with the Duke for so long,” Veronica declared as she placed the letter down on the table.
“What makes you say that?” Penelope asked.
