Page 5 of The Duchess' Ultimatum
He loves me. And no matter that I see it as the worst type of punishment, he sees it as salvation. His salvation, as well as my own.
Penelope wanted to deny him. She wanted to stand up, storm out, refuse his order because he knew as well as anyone that she had no desire to marry. And was it anyone else who asked this of her, she would not have hesitated for even a moment.
But this was her father, a man who she thought the world of and would do anything for. Her whole life, she had looked up to him, looked after him, done whatever he asked of her because she loved him as he did her. And for that reason alone, she knew what answer she would give.
The only answer she could give, as much as she hated it.
“As you say, Father.” She forced a smile and squeezed his hands. “If you wish for me to marry, I will.”
“There’s a good girl.” He could not have looked more relieved. “You make an old man happy.”
“I love you, Father.”
“As I love you. As your new husband will surely do.”
Somehow, Penelope doubted that very much. And she had no intention of loving him in return.
CHAPTER TWO
“Perhaps it is not too late?” Penelope said, her voice filled with panic that she didn’t bother trying to hide. “Tell me it’s not too late.”
“Penelope…” Evelina’s tone was soft, as was the look she gave her sister. “There is no need to –”
“Do not tell me there is no need to panic,” Penelope cut her off. “From where I am standing, panic is exactly what is needed. Albina…” She looked at her cousin, desperate to find an ally. “You know His Grace, best. What might happen if I was to, oh… not go through with this?”
“I would not recommend it,” Albina said.
Albina was only a few years older than Penelope, but the two had always been close. In some ways, they were even closer than Penelope was with her sisters, which allowed for Albina to speakfreely… often leading to her saying the wrong thing, even if she was too stubborn to admit that was what she was doing.
“Why? Will he be angry? Will he…” She winced. “Surely, he cannot be looking forward to this anymore than I am. I do not even know the man!”
“Breathe.” Evelina rested her hand on Penelope’s chest. “Deep breaths, Penelope. Now is not the time to –”
“I will panic if I wish!”
“Panic all you like, but do not be rash about it,” Evelina said instead. “This is happening, whether you want it to or not. Best that you accept it, come to terms with the fact, and not make a scene.”
“Wonderful advice!”
“His Grace is not as bad as they say.” Albina stepped into her, touching a hand softly on her shoulder. “Truly, my Joseph is good friends with His Grace, and I have met him enough to know that most of what is said is rumor. Exaggerated rumor at that.”
“But that it exists at all…” Penelope’s breathing was heavy, the room starting to sway around her. “There must be something to it. It would not come from nowhere.”
“If it helps, not much better is said of you.” Penelope’s other sister, Lady Alexandra, the Duchess of Murray; said as if shewas trying to help. Which she likely was, because of the Balfour siblings, she was always the most protective. But she was also practical, which often had her speaking harshly, even if it was not done on purpose. “For all we know His Grace is having the exact same reaction.”
“Alexandra!” Evelina snapped. “How is that helping?”
“My point is that not all rumors are to be believed,” Alexandra pointed out. “We know that you are not some spinster who would rather die alone than marry – who has spent her life scaring men away because she is a most wicked sort. Just as we know this marriage was not forced upon His Grace because nobody else would have you.”
“I thought you were trying to make me feel better!” Penelope cried.
“Perception is one thing, but truth is another,” Alexandra continued. “And that truth can only be realized once you meet your future husband and see for yourself what he is like. Which, I am sure, when you do, you will learn that he is not nearly what you think.” She nodded decisively and proudly.
“She is right,” Albina added quickly. “As I said, His Grace is not as they say. A bit of a recluse, yes. Mysterious… well, that too. And then there is his temper –”
“Albina!”
“But Joseph speaks highly of him. He even goes so far as to say that His Grace is one of the kindest, most caring men he knows. And it is not like my Joseph to lie about such things.”
