Page 45 of Claimed By Her Forbidden Duke
“Youcould,” Cecilia insisted.
But Penelope was already moving towards the exit, her body overwhelmed by both the Duke’s presence, the pressure, and her shattered nerves from Finley entering her bedroom earlier.
She was ready to wrap up her outing.
Cecilia took a long look at her, finally relenting. “Very well.”
Once they were in Cecilia’s carriage, Penelope practically counted down the seconds in her head until?—
“I overheard you speaking with His Grace while I changed.”
Penelope bit back a sigh. “I was being polite.”
“I could not hear your words specifically, but a man only speaks in such a tone when he is either angry and trying to remain composed, or his intentions are far darker and he does not wish to sully a lady’s name, even if he wants to with his hands and tongue.”
“Cecilia!” Penelope admonished, nervous laughter rising to her lips. “You are utterly shameless.”
Her friend scoffed. “Shame is the root of the ton, and if we all thought a little more freely, then it would be a far greater society, no?”
“It would be lawless,” Penelope countered.
“It would free beautiful women such as yourself from being labeled as spinsters,” Cecilia insisted. “My darling Penelope, you are a vivacious lady, and while the ton may deem you past your prime, you most certainly are not. We are the same age, and I can assure youIam still in my prime. Simply ask Reginald.”
“I will definitely not.”
“It is not only me who thinks such things,” Cecilia continued, her tone teasing. “I saw how His Grace looked at you. A man who, indeed, wishes to sully you. Not only with his tongue, I imagine.”
Heavens.
Penelope fanned herself as Cecilia cackled.
“You ought to know better than to push us together in the dressmaker’s,” Penelope scolded, trying to drag her thoughts away from just how the Duke might use parts of his body to sully her. How he may have shown her the very things he’d offered outside of the escort’s house.
“You know that Finley would?—”
“Oh, I am tired of that man,” Cecilia groaned. “Finley is a self-centered, arrogant fool who would not know the best for his sister even if it walloped him over the head. One day, I hope a suitor yearning for you will give back as good as Finley gives. I hope he fights for you, dear Pen, for you deserve somebody to speak up in your favor. Namely, a suitor as handsome as the Duke of Blackstone.”
“He is…” Penelope paused. “He is fine-looking enough. Let us not forget the rumors about him.”
“No, let us not forget,” Cecilia agreed. “For it only makes the man more tempting.”
Penelope laughed under her breath, dismissing her friend’s teasing. But perhaps there was truth to Cecilia’s claim.
The Duke of Blackstone did seem enticingly out of reach, swathed in dark rumors and stories, and that only made her more interested.
Yet, as the carriage returned her to Langwaite Manor, she forced all temptation out of her mind, for she could not afford one slip-up around her brother.
* * *
Once dinner was called, Penelope was in her room, trying to decide what to wear for the opera that she and Finley were due to attend in several days.
A knock on the door caught her attention.
“Enter,” she called, knowing that Finley rarely knocked without already announcing himself or striding in.
“Lady Penelope, I have a package for you.”
She turned to find a footman holding a wrapped package in his hands. Her heart rate spiked as she rushed towards him.
