Page 13 of His Wild Duchess
“Your Grace,” one woman said, stepping out from the rest of the staff, “I am Mrs. Howard, the housekeeper. I have already sent word to Yeats for a lady’s maid, and she will arrive within the week.”
“How kind,” Penelope said, though the idea didn’t appeal to her at all.
The Duke stepped forward, his eyes stern and fixed on Penelope. “Leave us, please,” he told the staff over his shoulder.
One by one, the staff filed out of the foyer with their heads down. Penelope watched after them, her confidence slowly waning. Once the last trickled out, she turned, about to face the Duke.
He already walked towards her, arms folded neatly behind his back. She backed away slightly, almost backing her into a corner.“Despite the fact that you did not lie,” he began, his voice low, “I am very well aware that you have managed to trick me.”
Penelope gulped. “Well, your Grace, I -”
“This time,” he interrupted, one brow raising, “I will let you have the satisfaction of surprising me.”
She tilted her head. “This time?”
“You have scored a point, my wife, but don’t push it.”
Penelope snapped her gaze away, flustered beneath his pointed stare.
“I expect no more surprises from now on.”
She kept her eyes fixed on the animals.
“Are we understood?”
Penelope looked back at his steely stare. “Yes, your Grace.”
The Duke straightened out his coat as he stepped away, seemingly satisfied but obviously frustrated. “I need to attend to some things in my study,” he said. “Can I trust you to look for Mrs. Howard for anything you need?”
Penelope nodded silently.
“I expect to see you at dinner.”
“Alright, your Grace.”
The Duke glanced between the animals and her one more time before bowing his head and leaving the foyer. The dogs relaxed in the center of the room, beginning to wind down from all the excitement. Penelope slowly waded through them, crouching down at the center to rub their warm bellies.
Not too long after, shoes clicked through the halls as someone made their way up to her. “If you don’t mind me asking, your Grace,” Mrs. Howard began once she was within a good distance of the dogs, “but where did you plan on keeping all of your…animal companions?”
“Well, I had assumed they’d stay with me. In my room.”
Mrs. Howard raised a slender brow, her nostrils flaring. “Indeed,” she said. “If that is what you wish, we may see it done.”
“Do not worry, I can look after them myself.” Penelope smiled as the animals slowly crept around her. “I prefer it that way, honestly. They are my family, and I will see to it that their needs are well kept.”
Mrs. Howard frowned. “But you are the Duchess, now.”
“I do not see why that must change things.”
The housekeeper looked taken aback but didn’t pry any further. With a permanently raised and judgemental brow, Mrs. Howard extended a hand up the stairs. “Won’t you follow me, your Grace? I will show you through the townhouse and to your quarters.”
Penelope nodded, following close behind. All six dogs trotted alongside them, the cat remaining at a healthy distance. They never once strayed from Penelope’s heel. Pride filled her chest as they walked through the townhouse. With every new room they passed, some staff lingering within, they all eyed the animals suspiciously, fear laced in their eyes.
Every time, not a single dog showed a hint of violence. They remained loyal and obedient, not once turning away from Penelope. She let her fingers graze the tops of their heads, feeling comfort wash over her.
“And here, your Grace, would be your bedroom.”
Behind wooden doors was a decently sized bedroom with a secondary room attached to it. The secondary room held the oversized tub, as well as closet space and shoes. A wardrobe sat in the main bedroom beside a luxuriously large bed. A round rug was at the center of the room, surrounded by bookshelves and a quaint desk. Penelope’s spirits lifted. Despite the marriage and its consequences, this was a lovely room, and she had it all to herself.
