Page 46 of His Wild Duchess
Matthew extended a hand to George. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”
“You as well,” George replied while shaking his hand. “I am delighted to have such fine company as family, now.”
Alicia’s smile grew. “You’re too kind!”
“My wife tells me you take a liking to horses,” Matthew said. “I used to ride in my youth. Is there some sort of particular work you do?”
George’s face lit at the prospects of talking about his industry with someone of his stature, who did not change the conversation every minute to talking about the New World. He swallowed, as if he tried to lower his enthusiasm to a respectable level before speaking. Penelope realized she had been smiling long after the fact, the glass loose in her hand.
“When I spent some time in the New World,” George began, “I had an affinity for a certain breed of horse. There were these magnificent stallions, wild and unseen by an Englishman on London’s soil. So, I brought one home with me.”
“And you plan to breed with it, I assume?”
“Precisely,” George replied. “Breed England’s horses with the impressive power behind the American stallion.” He leaned forward, obviously eager. “What do you think? Would you get on board, if you were interested?”
Matthew tilted his head in consideration. “You mean sponsor.”
“Well, sure, if you like to cut right to the chase.”
A smirk twitched up at the corner of Matthew’s lip. “I do, in fact.”
George faltered for a moment. Trying to keep up the good attitude, he smiled, raising his glass to his lips before taking a swig.
“It’s the most brilliant horse you’ve ever seen,” Penelope suddenly said, unsure of where it had come from.
“Penelope,” George began, under his breath.
Keeping her attention on Matthew , she continued. “With a coat as black as night,” she said. “When only in a small field, the stallion manages to reach speeds English riders couldn’t even dare to dream of. And imagine that: it was only in a small field. Can you picture it on the racetracks? I can just see it in the papers: ‘The Ebony Storm’, perhaps?”
Matthew slowly began to smirk. “Quite the spokeswoman you’ve got there.”
“I’ll have to bring her to every contract signing,” George joked, looking down at her fondly.
Penelope pulled away, her stomach flipping with nerves.
“Penny,” Alicia called out to her. “Why don’t you and I take a moment alone?”
Before she could say anything, Alicia reached for her, taking her by the arm and holding her arm around their own. Without another word, Alicia led her out of the parlor, and down anotherhall, where they approached quiet bedrooms lit up only by distant candles.
“I’m surprised, Penny.”
Penelope glanced over at her as they walked. “Of what?”
“I thought…well, Owen had made it seem like you walked into an unfriendly marriage.”
“I wouldn’t exactly call it unfriendly,” Penelope said, holding back her chuckle. “But it is something I learn more about every day.”
Alicia smiled. “You sound like you’ve really grown into yourself.”
“And I wasn’t grown before?”
“You and your teasing, Penny. I only meant that you sound like your own person. Free from whatever held you back at Egerton,” Alicia said. “And now, you can thrive in one of the best things in life.”
“What would that be?”
Alicia paused at the end of the hall, pushing open a door gently. Within, two small children slept soundly in identical beds, across the room from each other. They had Alicia’s long locks,and the Duke’s fair skin. Penelope fought the urge to slip inside, run her hands along their face so they’d wake up for a hug.
While Penelope had never pictured herself having her own children, she never turned down a day with her niece and nephew. They were entirely free and full of joy, spending each day in the way Penelope sought to live for the rest of her life.
