Page 67 of The Duchess' Ultimatum
Sadly, a corner is exactly what I find myself in. No way out, save with my tail between my legs…
To deny Lord Kenbrook would be to offer up his wife on a silver platter. Even if Dorian and Penelope somehow made their marriage work, a rumor such as this would still stain her reputation. Worse if they tried and failed, forcing her to return home alone, living the rest of her life with the reputation of a spinster. Shunned from society for reasons that were not her fault.
How much easier things were before he cared about Penelope and her well-being…
But Dorian’s sister, could he really force her to marry a man she did not wish for? Could he do that for her, just to save Penelope’s reputation? Who did he care for me, his sister or his wife?
“I will…” He grimaced, jaw clenched so his teeth were hurting him. “I will speak with Barbara again. See if I can’t convince her to change her mind.”
Lord Kenbrook beamed. “That is all I ask. And who knows, perhaps in a few months' time they will be wed and you and I…”He reached out and gave Dorian’s arm a friendly pat. “We’ll be brothers-in-law. Won’t that be something?”
“Oh, it will be something.”
“I am so glad we had this talk,” Lord Kenbrook said. “And please, give my best to your wife.” And then, a final toothy smile, and he turned and hurried back down the hallway.
Dorian stayed where he was for some time, the walls closing in around him, the ceiling collapsing so it might bury him where he stood. There was no easy answer here, forced to pick between the sister he loved and the wife he cared for. One of them was going to be hurt and he had to choose which one.
Whatever the choice, it was sure to break him apart. And then he truly would be alone.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Every time that someone walked into the ballroom, Penelope looked up, a smile spreading across her face, hope entering her heart because she was certain that it would be Dorian. And every time that it was somebody other than him, her smile dropped and the hope she felt withered ever so slightly.
He has just slept in. That is all. Any moment now and he is sure to walk in, see me sitting here, smile and wave, and join me. No need to panic…
She wasn’t panicking, and that needed to be said. After how well last evening had gone, for the first time Penelope knew that she had absolutely no reason to feel such a thing as that. Finally, she and Dorian had talked about their future, and where he had not told her just yet what he wanted… the kiss that she still felt on her lips was proof enough.
Today he would come to her. Today, he would tell her that he wanted to try and make this marriage work. Today, everything would change.
Maybe it would lead to nothing. Maybe a week in or two or three and they would realize that they were never meant to be together. But at least they would know, and the rest of their lives would not be spent wondering.
And if that wasn’t a reason to feel hope, then Penelope didn’t know what was.
However, as the minutes stretched on and as the ballroom filled and as the duke was nowhere to be seen, that hope was all which sustained her because deep down she sensed that something was wrong.
“Is this seat taken, Your Grace?”
Penelope started when she heard the voice, one she did not recognize. She turned to see who had spoken, and was forced to keep the sneer from her lips and the scowl from her eyes.
“Oh, I was…” Penelope turned back to the entrance, confirming that Dorian was nowhere be to found. “I suppose not,” she then offered with a depressed sigh.
“Thank you.” It was Henrietta Wood, the young red-headed beauty who had spent the last two days following Dorian around like a puppy might its master. “It has gotten so busy these lastfew minutes and I feared I might miss out.” She laughed gaily and sat down beside Penelope. “And I am famished.”
Penelope offered her a smile but said nothing. She did not wish to be rude, but she certainly did not wish to speak to the young woman either.
Another look over the ballroom, and Penelope tried to focus instead on how well this weekend was going. The final full day and by the looks of it, everyone who attended was glad to have done so. There were well over a dozen guests in the ballroom, seated along the two tables set through the center, eating and chatting and guessing what events were in store for them.
In particular, Penelope focused on the happy couples, those husbands and wives who appeared perfectly at ease with their partner. Had their marriages started the same as her own? Proof that a little bit of work and time spent could produce something worth fighting for?
“I want you to know too, Your Grace, that your secret is safe with me.”
Penelope frowned when she heard the comment, forced to turn around where she found Henritta looking at her. Those big green eyes fluttered innocently. “Excuse me?”
“Your secret,” she repeated simply. “It is safe with me. My father had wondered if it might be worth telling people, but he has since come to realize that nothing might be gained fromspreading gossip. How a husband and wife choose to spend their time is nobody’s business but their own.”
Penelope blinked. “What… I am afraid I have no idea what you are talking about.”
“Oh.” Her eyes widened. “I… I am sorry, I thought you must have…” She laughed softly and shook her head. “Silly me, getting ahead of myself. I was referring to the argument that you and His Grace had two nights ago, after the ball.”
