Page 15 of His Wild Duchess
The Duke laughed to himself. “One of her balls is coming up soon. As well as a few others that are almost as prominent.”
“What’s it to you?”
“Darling, it’s the entire reason we got married.”
Penelope bristled at the pet name. Even Antony, who rested quietly at her feet, perked up at it, head tilted in a curious way. She lowered her fork, a blush creeping across her face as she met his playful stare.
“Isn’t being married…enough?”
“How on earth could it possibly be enough?” the Duke exclaimed. “Sure, our nuptials were announced in the papers, heralded across the streets as another exciting betrothal for a Caney child. But what does that prove? How has my image changed in society, other than being attached to the… dubious… Caney family?”
Penelope stared at him with slightly parted lips. “You should know, your Grace, that I am not like the other women of the Ton.”
“Oh,” he whispered, “I’m well aware.”
“I do not do well around other people.”
“Well, I never said you had to be.”
Penelope blinked. “I don’t understand.”
“Be whatever it is you want to be, your Grace, as long as it makes me look more like an aristocratic gentleman.” The Duke leaned forward, resting his chin on his hands. “In the simplest of terms, all you need to do is look pretty and act like you’re in love.”
A surprised laugh burst out from between Penelope’s lips. She raised her hand, covering her mouth sheepishly as a blush burnt across her nose. It irked her to know how quickly her body reacted to what the Duke said. If she had it her way, he’d never be able to guess any of her thoughts, never use it to try and charm her.
“You overestimate my abilities, your Grace,” Penelope said. “I fear I can do neither of those things as well as you might wish.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Surely, you cannot deny your own appeal.”
Penelope’s lips parted, and the blush intensified. She turned away, her chin brushing her shoulder as she raised her palm, trying to mask the strawberry-colored blush that swallowed her face. Her eyes searched the room, looking for something that she could say, but nothing could coherently form in her brain. There was only the man across the table, who wielded a brashness so carelessly it racked her with nervous adrenaline.
“Can’t you play the part for an afternoon or two?” he asked, giving her a soft look.
Penelope blinked, forcing him out of her head. “I-I believe you are trying to manipulate me, your Grace, with charm and pretty words.”
The Duke scoffed. “I am hardly manipulating you; I am politely requesting that you live up to your end of the bargain.”
“This was never agreed upon!” Penelope snapped back at him, no longer willing to contain her irritation. “You have played with me long enough. When I shook your hand, I never once said that I would be your partner in your schemes. I agreed to wed you so that the marriage might soften your name to society. That is all!”
The Duke seemed equally fed up with the pleasantries and teasing arguments. His nostrils flared, eyebrows becoming rigid and angry. “You’re one to complain about things left unsaid! Wasn’t it you who failed to mention the amount of beasts you brought into my home?”
Penelope leaned back in her seat, crossing her arms across her chest as the mastiff at her feet began to rise to the occasion. “It isn’t my fault you neglected to ask.”
Smacking his open palm against the table, jingling all the cutlery and fine china, the Duke stared at his plate, his voice loud and sneering. “I thought there was no need,” he snapped before looking up at her. “Because nosanehuman would have six dogs!”
Rising from her seat, Penelope shook with irritation. “I do not take it kindly that you havetwicereferred to me as something unkempt and wild within our short time of knowing each other, your Grace.”
“I’m surprised it hasn’t been more!”
“How dare you?” Penelope snapped, pushing her chair back. “Have you no respect?”
“I’m sorry, darling, they forgot to teach that in the colonies.”
Penelope groaned, reaching up to drag an exasperated hand across her face. “So, before you were livid at the idea of Londoners not truly understanding the New World, and yet, you act exactly how we expect!”
The Duke coldly met her gaze. “Enlighten me. What exactly do you expect?”
“A rambunctious rake,” she spat. “A man without the capabilities of treating another person equally. Childish, immature, foolish -”
