Page 17 of Claimed By Her Forbidden Duke
Finley’s order rang out, and Penelope stiffened.
This is it. This is when he reveals he knows I was at Julian Gray’s house.
Slowly, he approached her, and the back of her neck prickled.
“When do you expect this afternoon to end?” he asked Daphne.
“I am sure no longer than a handful of hours.”
“I see. And Lady Wetherby shall be there?”
“Indeed,” Daphne confirmed. “Along with myself and Lady Bathurst.”
Penelope saw Finley’s lip curl out of the corner of her eye, and she held her breath. But he nodded, eventually.
“Very well,” he said. “I shall be in the carriage to pick you up four hours from now.”
“Brother—”
“We have to discuss the preparations for Lord and Lady Townsend’s ball. I shall tell you which gentlemen will be there, so you know to steer clear. I will use my time today to collect an extensive list.”
Penelope almost argued that such lengths were not necessary, but she only nodded, wanting to keep her brother sweet so he did not back out of his agreement.
“I look forward to it.”
He only nodded, and Daphne was quick to tug her out of the library.
* * *
“Honestly, you cannot even read now without him lurking over your shoulder,” Daphne sighed, stirring a sugar cube into her tea as she sat in her parlor with Penelope.
“It is not uncommon for siblings to read together,” Penelope said defensively.
She felt guilty for speaking badly of Finley so often recently, especially when he had taken care enough to ask for her favorite breakfast treats.
“Do you bathe together, too?” The voice came from the doorway, and Penelope was hardly surprised to see Cecilia’s eyebrow raised, her jaw tight.
“Do not be so vulgar!” she cried, grinning when Cecilia and Mary entered, both of their expressions alight with curiosity.
She knew it was only a matter of seconds before they questioned her about the events of the night before.
“Well, it is a good question, considering that he never leaves you alone,” Mary agreed. “I understand that he is your guardian and that he looked after you when your mother married his father, but he truly does push it. Dominique could not wait to have me out of his house after our parents passed away.”
“Yes, but that was so Dominique could spend his fortune on gambling and ladies of the night rather than new dresses,” Daphne teased.
Mary only batted her away, serving herself tea.
“Speaking of nighttime activities,” Cecilia said, taking up her own cup of tea, overtaking the conversation and steering it back to the very reason the four of them had gathered like gossiping old matrons. “We must address Penelope’s newfound lack of virtue.” She eyed Penelope as she sipped pointedly. “How was your gift?”
“Yes.” Mary giggled. “How was it, indeed? Was he everything ladies whisper him to be? Was he dashing? Attentive? Handsome?”
“Well-endowed?” Cecilia purred.
“Caring?” Daphne asked.
“He was… nothing,” Penelope answered, getting confused faces in return. “I did not go into his house.”
“What?” Cecilia frowned. “But my driver said you were gone for a while. I was rather excited.”
