Page 48 of His Wild Duchess
George, it seemed, was in the same boat as her as they climbed up to the carriage. He almost fell into it, only letting out a surprised laugh as he fixed himself. Penelope followed suit, and ended up in the seat beside him, rather than across. The close proximity was unexpected as the carriage began to rock its way forward, taking them back to London in the late hours of the evening.
“What is it,” George suddenly began near the end of their drive, “You think that those dogs do when you aren’t there?”
“What any dog does, I suppose.”
“And that would be…?”
Penelope chuckled. “Dog things.”
“You don’t even know!”
“I’m sure they sleep,” she said with another giggle. “They play around with their toys. Much like you or me.”
George eyed her. “Sure, we all play with our toys.”
Their laughter filled the cart once more. Penelope grew lightheaded as they approached the townhouse, the elation the alcohol gave leaving her foggy-brained and dizzy. She climbed out the carriage with the help of George’s sturdy hand. She held onto it long after they left the carriage, not even realizing they were still intertwined when one of the servants opened the front door for them.
As the front door shut behind them, Penelope stood beside George within the foyer, unsure of whether she could let go of his hand. In the distance, down one of the hallways, she heard the pattering of animals.
“Are you glad we went?” George asked, his voice quiet.
Penelope looked up at him through her lashes. “Seeing Alicia was wonderful,” she replied.
“But,” he said, “Are you glad we went?”
“It was…nice to see you so carefree. I didn’t think you enjoyed talking about the time you spent in the New World, until I saw you with that group.”
“Oh, well, I love everything about my time in America,” he said. “It always depended on who I talked to. Most…most treated me with disdain at the mere idea of it. There, they were eager to listen. I was glad to tell it.”
“You were relaxed,” Penelope said. “I had thought it wasn’t possible after me moving in here.”
George laughed. “The dogs are the most relaxing part of our deal, whatever could you mean by that?”
“Don’t tease,” Penelope mused, reaching out to prod at his arm. “You were untroubled and easygoing at the party. I was glad to have finally seen it.”
George watched her intently, his gaze growing serious. “Was that what you felt when you rode Vaun?”
She sighed, closing her eyes with her head angled upwards, as if she could feel the wind rushing on her face once more. “It felt as if I was flying,” she mumbled. “There was no earthly thing tying me down to the ground. I was as free as an untamed stallion.”
“That,” he breathed, “Is something I will never forget seeing.”
“What?”
“You on that stallion,” he quietly said. “Otherworldly.”
Penelope looked away, a blush overtaking her face alongside the heat of the alcohol she had already consumed. “Don’t tease me, George.”
“Darling, I wouldn’t dare tease about this.”
She breathed heavily, emotion rising to her chest.”
“Won’t you look at me?”
Penelope slowly raised her face to him, lips slightly parted with wide, unwavering eyes. She had no idea what would happen next, where he would touch her or what he would say. She was on the edge with anticipation, eager to hear his next words.
“You looked incredible on that horse.”
“George -”
