Page 86 of His Wild Duchess
“Yes,” she whispered. “Now, I talk to dogs and dogs alone.”
She began to wonder if the independent and solitary life she imagined for herself was bred from something else. Perhaps she held all of her mother’s deepest, wildest desires, ones that she could never follow through herself. Or maybe it was her grandmother’s, or her mother before that. How was it that one person managed to flip her entire orientation of the world and what she wanted out of it?
The first few days at the cottage were slow and grueling. Penelope worked to unpack her things, but grew tired of it within minutes of starting. She’d run outside with the dogs, eventually falling to the earth and staring up at the cloudless sky. Too many thoughts and memories ran amok in her mind for her to stick to anything. The pack, obviously in tune with her emotions, began to droop themselves, acting as though they missed George as much as she did. The mastiff, Antony, took it the hardest. Butternut was cozied up in some dark corner of the cottage, too upset to even consider venturing out.
Antony waited beside the front door when they were inside. And when outside, he paced beside the porch, his large head looking up and down the dirt path.
One morning, Penelope had plans to begin her garden, believing that the labor would manage to bring her mind out of the deep trenches of her heart. She had gathered all her supplies outside the back door, and found herself just standing there, staring down at it. Not a lick of energy was left within her, despite it only being the late morning. The dogs were out in the field already, and she caught a glimpse of Vaun grazing around the stable. She was moments away from slinking back inside when Antony let out a whine.
Raising her head, Penelope watched the large dog at the edge of the property. He was facing the road that she had come from those few days ago, the route back towards London. Penelope began to round the cottage, ready to call the beast to get out the way of whatever was about to pass by them. But then, there was only the sound of hooves hitting the path, and the sound was oddly familiar. Penelope shook her head. Obviously,in her wallows, she had already begun to imagine things, the loneliness of solitary life already eating away at her. Penelope was moments away from calling out to Antony when a horse rounded the corner, coming to a stop in front of the cottage.
Antony barked wildly, and the rest of the pack sped forward from the field.
George, dressed in his simple nightwear, a long dark coat falling down his shoulders, jumped down from Fiona, giving her a gentle pat. The pack rushed towards him, yipping and howling with excitement as they greeted him. George laughed, the sound sending butterflies through her stomach. Slowly, she inched forward. Was this truth, or only her imagination?
“What,” she whispered, turning to clear her throat. “Why are you here, George?”
George inhaled sharply. “It’s Fiona.”
“What is the matter with her?” she asked, taking another step closer, her heart immediately hammering at the idea of something being wrong. She glanced over his shoulder, eyes scanning Fiona but not seeing anything inherently wrong. “Is she -”
“Something you wouldn’t even imagine,” he murmured, the slightest of smiles spreading across his lips. “Apparently your mare intends to present you with a new mount.”
Penelope’s eyes went wide. “That can’t be,” she whispered. “That…can’t be!” She was suddenly rushing forward, reaching for the steed with outstretched arms. Fiona met her in the middle, throwing her head in the air excitedly before nuzzling her face within Penelope’s hair. She ran her hands along the steed’s stomach, feeling the grooves of her muscles beneath her light coat. “Fiona,” she murmured, pressing her ear against her. “Pregnant?” She looked over her shoulder towards George, who watched her intently. “But…how?”
“There was only one stallion around, darling.”
Right on cue, Vaun came trotting down the hill, curving around the cottage’s side. He threw his snout back, letting out a musical neigh before rushing to Fiona’s side.
“Good and gracious Lord,” Penelope breathed, unable to stop the excitement from overtaking her. She shouted, jumping in the air and clapping her hands together. The animals, feeding off her energy, howled and barked, running rampantly around them in glee. As she jumped around, Penelope’s gaze landed on George, who watched her with a small smile. “I-I am so sorry, George,” she whispered, taking a few steps towards him. “I pray we haven’t ruined your plans for Vaun.”
George let out a laugh, much to her surprise. “Nothing can stop love, darling, and I,” he paused, the humor leaving him within an instant, “I wouldn’t dare to stand in its way.”
As the excitement from before began to trickle out of her, Penelope felt frozen on the spot, staring at the man she leftbehind with a heavy heart. All the truths she had held inside for the past few weeks threatened to burst out of her the longer she stared. As if he felt the same, they both stepped closer to each other simultaneously, both beginning their sentences at the same time.
George laughed, reaching out towards her. “Please,” he said, “Let me.”
She swallowed with wide eyes. Perhaps he had wished to tell her how much he had appreciated their time together, but would want for nothing more than that. She took in a deep breath, trying to prepare herself for the harsh truth that was surely coming her way. Before he had even dared to say a word, tears had already begun to gather in her eyes..
“Penelope,” he breathed. He shut his eyes, a faint smile on his lips. “Penelope,” he said again, much more firmly. “The moment you left, I felt as though you had taken the sun with you. With each passing day, I have watched the sun rise, and have yet to feel its heat. The light from my life…the light I hadn’t realized you had brought, left the very moment you came here.”
George took small steps closer to her. “This marriage was never supposed to be anything other than fulfilling an old contract,” he continued. “And yet, you have taught me what it means to fall in love, and I don’t think I’ll ever be able to repay you. But…but call me a selfish man, because I haven’t had enough.”
“George,” she whispered, the rest of the words caught in her throat.
“I haven’t had enough of you, darling,” he cooed. “I haven’t had enough of these beasts, of the cat, of our bickering. I haven’t had enough of any of it, Penelope, and I dare say I might never be satisfied.” He crept closer, only standing a foot away. “Tell me you do not feel the same, and I will leave you be in the independence you desire and deserve. Tell me you feel the same, and I won’t ever let you out of my sight. Not for one moment more.”
George grinned. “I love you, darling. I love you more than the horizon loves the sun. God,” he inhaled, a smile beaming across his face, “Tell me to shout it and I will.” He raised a brow playfully, taking in a large breath before his voice boomed across the countryside, “I love-”
Penelope launched herself across the small space between them, wrapping her arms around George’s neck. Before he could say another word, Penelope captured his lips in a passionate kiss as his arms found their way around her waist, hoisting her up in the air. The sounds of animals howling and barking filled the air as George spun her around.
When she pulled away from his lips, tears streamed relentlessly down her face. The relief that filled within her was unlike anything she had ever felt before. All the days she had spent in the townhouse alongside George suddenly seemed worthwhile, knowing that he had truly loved her all along. All the aching and hoping, the shared glances and unreadable expressions, all led to that one moment, and that moment alone.
Enraptured in her happiness, Penelope wept without restraint.
“Darling Penelope,” he murmured, capturing her face with one hand, “Why do you cry?”
“George,” she whispered, overwhelmed joy, “I love you, too.”
