Page 8 of Claimed By Her Forbidden Duke
“Well, you do sound very capable, at least,” Benjamin said cheerfully, rocking back on his heels. “It is good to see the dukedom restored to its rightful owner.”
Edmund only glowered at his cousin, but the fair-haired man was not deterred.
“It must be nice,” Benjamin spoke. “To be so favored by the Crown that they put a lot of work into searching for you.”
“The Hawkes have influence,” Edmund told him drily. “That is all there is to it. And, in the end, I made it out myself.”
“Of course, of course.” Benjamin looked around, noting where they were. “Have you done a great deal of mingling since your return? I imagine some men wish to catch up with you.”
“I am sure I will.”
“I think it will be?—”
“Good night, Benjamin,” Edmund cut him off abruptly, his frustration snapping out with the hard dismissal.
He could not quell his irritation, not when his mind was already racing.
“Some men wish to catch up with…”
His cousin had a point, and Edmund recognized he was near the house of one such man who could help him with his search for information. A man who worked through the night, who knew what shadows lurked, and how to press a client for information in the midst of seduction.
His old acquaintance, Julian Gray.
“Cousin—”
“I can handle myself, Benjamin. Return home, and I will correspond with you at another time.” His voice was hard, clear that he wished to be left alone.
Benjamin looked ready to protest but instead only sighed, backing away. Still, at the end of the alley, he glanced back almost reluctantly, as if he truly didn’t believe nothing bad would happen to Edmund. Yet his trust in Edmund won out, and he did leave.
Finally alone again, and not followed this time, Edmund headed to his next lead—Julian Gray’s house.
* * *
The carriage hadn’t moved in quite some time. Then, the driver opened the door and peered at her.
“My Lady, are you all right? It has been fifteen minutes since we arrived, and you have not moved. I can drive you back to Lady Wetherby’s if you need.”
The offer snapped Penelope back into action as her eyes roved over the tall building outside the carriage.
In the dark, it looked more foreboding, not at all welcoming, or settling for her nerves, and she felt the anxiety in her stomach coil tighter and tighter like a knot.
Her breath came hard as she finally looked back at the driver. “No, that will not be necessary.”
She was already there—she may as well see it through. Perhaps Julian Gray would merely invite her for a drink and a talk. Then he would sense her nerves and know she was feeling quite overwhelmed.
Perhaps she could pretend.
But her friends… they were right. She needed something out of her stepbrother’s control, even if for a brief moment.
Focusing on that, she steeled herself long enough to step out of the carriage.
“Thank you,” she told the driver, smiling, but she knew it was tense. “Do wait for me down the road. I do not think I will be long.”
“Of course, My Lady.” He went to hop back into the driver’s seat but then paused. “Ah, I almost forgot. My instructions were to see Lady Penelope Clarkin returned immediately to Langwaite Manor once the evening had ended. Is that where you want to go?”
Penelope’s anxiety heightened as she nodded, thinking of how he clearly recited Cecilia’s order. “Yes.”
The driver gave her a sharp nod before he pulled the carriage away, and Penelope knew she was truly on her own from that moment onwards.
