Page 27 of His Wild Duchess
“I didn’t, actually.”
“Really?”
Penelope scooted closer to Pat instinctively, letting the younger foxhound lay across the side of the carriage and rest her head onto her lap. Penelope ran her hands through her short fur as she spoke. “Most people didn’t know it, but my father was quite the lover of animals.”
“Well, you had to get it from somewhere.”
“My mother would love to disagree with you,” she said with a laugh. “He enjoyed hunting, and hiking. When the days were hard, he normally spent time out there to clear his head. Sometimes, for hours on end.”
The Duke listened quietly, his hand running over Priory’s head absentmindedly.
“One evening, he came back inside for dinner, and went upstairs to wash up. Everyone else was already waiting for him,” she explained, “and no one quite noticed till much later that there were two sets of muddy pawprints following up the stairs behind him.”
He chuckled. “Sounds familiar to me.”
“When he arrived for dinner,” Penelope said, “He introduced two new members of the family.”
“So, they belonged to him?”
“They were one of the last marks he made upon this world.”
The Duke sighed, his eyes holding onto her. “Perhaps the dogs would enjoy time out in the country.”
“I believe they would, your Grace.”
“We are alone, you know.”
Penelope glanced at the dogs. “Don’t hurt their feelings.”
“We are the only English speaking beings in this vicinity,” he stated, giving her an annoyed look. “Why do you feel the need to use such proper titles?”
She frowned. “It is what I was taught. I wouldn’t say I feel theneedfor it.”
“Then don’t use them.”
Penelope watched him curiously. “Why does it bother you so much?”
He huffed. “I never said it bothered me.”
“Oh,” she drawled, “Now you act as if your pride is wounded. It’s a simple question, your Grace.”
Leaning forward, the Duke snapped his fingers at her. “Said it again! How about this,” he leaned back in his seat after disturbing Priory’s deep sleep, “Call me by my name, and I’ll answer your question.”
Penelope tilted her head. “Fine. I’m rather curious, now.”
“You first.”
Her eyebrows raised. “Me first what?”
“I’ll only answer if you say it.”
“That’s rather childish of you, you know.”
The Duke grinned. “Don’t act like you don’t enjoy it, darling.”
Penelope yanked her head away, staring down at the way Pat breathed against her legs. Trying to ignore the heat that swarmed to her face, she replied, “Doesn’t change the fact of the matter.”
He leaned forward again, one brow raised expectantly.
