Page 31 of His Wild Duchess
CHAPTER 9
Penelope remained alone for most of the day after their spontaneous trip to the cottage. Everything raced within her head, the moments that led up to that point and everything that would come after. Every second she dared to let her mind linger, George’s face from their extrusion came back to her, in the moments where he watched her with such raw intensity. It all haunted her as if he were nothing but a ghost.
She found solace within her animals, and the quiet company of her lady’s maid, Clarissa. Though she never once quite felt like a Duchess, or even just a Lady, Clarissa was the only aspect of that title that she didn’t mind. It wasn’t like she served her constantly, but she was a steady presence that was more soothing than she might’ve realized. Clarissa didn’t have to be talking or doing anything. All she did was watch the animals, pet a few and lay alongside them on the floor, and Penelope felt quite satisfied lying alongside her.
The next day, the only thing Penelope wanted was to feel the sun on her skin like she had before. London had such beauty to offer,when she wasn’t stuck in the townhouse bedroom, listening to the sounds of the dogs breathing and house staff moving to and fro outside her door. After Clarissa had come and gone for her normal morning responsibilities, Penelope gathered the pack, guiding them to follow her as calmly as possible out the bedroom.
“Your Grace,” Clarissa asked, suddenly rounding the corner. She had a basket full of embroidery in her hands. “I thought we could do some embroidery for when Yeats Manor finishes getting refurbished.”
“That sounds quite…” Penelope let her words trail, unsure if she’d even be able to stomach telling the girl a lie. “Engaging,” she managed. “But I thought the dogs could do with some time outside.”
“They went yesterday, didn’t they?”
“You know,” Penelope began, not bothering to hide her amusement, “They need to go out quite regularly.”
“Do they really?”
Penelope sighed. “How about you set those down and come with me?”
“Oh, I-I couldn’t possibly do that. I have chores, and -”
“And here I was under the assumption that you weremylady’s maid,” Penelope drawled, raising a brow at her. “Or was I wrong?”
“Of course not!” Clarissa said. With a sudden eagerness, she set the basket down at a nearby table. “Let us take them out!”
Penelope grinned, eagerly taking the company.
Together, they made their way through the townhouse and out the back door, into the small area of land that surrounded it. The dogs ran out into the field immediately, playing and chasing each other around the lot. Clarissa jogged after them, a bright smile on her face as the wind carried her arround. Penelope stretched out her arms, breathing in deeply before letting herself fall backwards, landing firmly against the grass on her back.
“What’re you doing?” Clarissa called out, her figure appearing like a dark silhouette over her. “Your Grace -”
“Try it, Clarissa!”
“Oh, your Grace, you know I really shouldn’t do that.”
Penelope raised a hand to block out the sun. “But is it bad if I’m telling you to do it?” She raised a brow, beckoning Clarissa to lay in the grass beside her. “Iamthe Duchess, after all.”
Clarissa was only hesitant for a moment more. As though she had been waiting all her life for someone to ask her to lieon the grass, Clarissa eagerly knelt beside her and dropped to the ground. Immediately, she breathed a deep sigh, her eyes fluttering shut. The clouds parted all around them, the sun cascading its full stare over them.
Penelope smiled, listening to the sound of singing birds and yipping dogs. The blades of grass tickled her skin, swiping against her fingertips. She scooted, getting cozy within the warm ground, moments away from letting herself drift into a light sleep, when someone cascaded over her.
“Mrs. Howard!” Clarissa called out, shooting up from the ground like a mountain. “Forgive me, Mrs. Howard, I was only -”
Penelope leaned up on her elbows. “I asked her to accompany me, Mrs. Howard,” she said, squinting her eyes on the housekeeper's pinched and sour face. “It is a wonderful day. Won’t you join us?”
“You might find me much harder to convince, your Grace.”
“Want to give it a try?”
The housekeeper’s face remained unchanged: stoic and cold. Her gaze snapped over to Clarissa. “Why don’t you stay out here and watch the animals, Clarissa, so that Her Grace may attend to business with me.”
“Of course, Mrs. Howard,” Clarissa replied, walking a little ways to keep track of the dogs.
Penelope remained on the ground. “What things did I just get signed up for, Mrs. Howard?”
“Do you remember signing a marriage contract, your Grace?”
“Well, yes, but -”
