Page 73 of Claimed By Her Forbidden Duke
“I am merely suggesting the means for you to explore while you have privacy. Uninterrupted hours, nobody to overhear you, staff dismissed—although I only keep a skeletal group. But they will not be here. Make the most of it, and if you find you like Lady Penelope’s company alone, then I will let you know when I make more house calls.”
Edmund’s mind was already racing with possibilities. In this lavish, fine place, where nobody knew either of them, far enough away from both of their townhouses… they could very well find their way around one another. No more hiding or hurried, hushed moments. Countless hours of isolation, alone with Penelope.
There were no nerves or worries.Finally.
ChapterSixteen
Anote arrived for Penelope the day after her afternoon with Daphne, written on thick, creamy paper that she recognized instantly.
It was the same card that had been attached to her dress. Once again, the footman had delivered it to her personally in her room during one of Finley’s outings with a potential business partner. Edmund could not know Finley’s schedule, and he seemed to be getting fortunate with his timing.
Penelope recognized the faint, ivory pattern on the card, and she broke the seal, finding Edmund’s elegant script.
Penelope,
Forgive the short notice, but I wish to invite you to Julian Gray’s house tonight—and no, not in a similar way to the night we met. Just you and me, alone. I would like to spend time with you that does not involve being chased off balconies. If it pleases you, I have put in place measures to ensure the utmost secrecy. We shall meet after midnight when Lord Langwaite is surely asleep. I have enquired about the driver who brought you to Julian’s house that night, and I will have you returned home long before dawn. However, not before I indulge in your company to the fullest extent.
The carriage will be waiting for you just around the corner from your townhouse, ready to take you to the back entrance of Julian’s house. I will be there. I do hope you will join me.
Fondly,
Edmund.
It struck her that the note was signed so differently from his first one, and that alone made her smile. That was until Edmund’s offer hit her jarringly. He wished for them to spend time alone together. Unchaperoned, unhurried. Private, secluded time in a house that was no stranger to pleasure.
Penelope flushed thinking about it.
The footman cleared his throat, startling her.
She looked at him. “Yes?” she asked.
“I do not wish to rush you, but I have to send back a response,” he told her. “While some arrangements will be in place regardless, there are others that require you to respond promptly.”
Penelope blinked. “Oh. Oh, I see.”
Terror climbed up her throat. What if she got caught? They had been caught twice before, but this was different. This was sneakingtosee Edmund, not sneaking away during another event where people would notice both of their absences. Finley would be asleep, none the wiser—and he was an impressively heavy sleeper.
Would he notice if she crept out to meet Edmund?
Would he know something was amiss the moment the door closed behind her?
Her hands trembled just thinking about it, too aware of the footman’s presence.
She opened her mouth to sayno, that she could hardly risk something so dangerous, only to pause. It was not Cecilia’s advice that came to her mind, though the woman was bold and encouraging enough. No, it was Mary’s. Penelope recalled her words.
“Defy expectations, Penelope, for it only means that you are making choices for yourself. That is the most powerful thing of all.”
Mary was right, and it was about time Penelope made a choice for herself. Not Finley, not even her friends, but herself.
And she’d found that the last several nights since their kiss on the balcony and then in the library, she had been a new type of restless. Her mind raced with every possibility of how the night might go, and she shivered, for she liked it.
“Yes.” Her agreement was barely a whisper as she looked up at the footman. He would not know the circumstances, but he would see her anxiety.Andhe would see her excitement. “Yes, I agree to the invitation.”
“Then I shall see to it that the response is sent out promptly,” the footman assured her, bowing out of the room. But before he was gone, he turned again. “And Lady Penelope? I am also sworn to secrecy regarding anything I see in this household between you and your note-sender.”
He gave her a warm smile, and it made her wonder, as it had with her lady’s maid, just how much of her brother’s control they saw and if they somehow supported her small rebellions.
She pushed the thoughts aside after he made his leave and looked around herself.
