His Wild Duchess (Fate & Circumstance #2)

Chapter 12

CHAPTER 12

T he day after they returned to the townhouse after their failed excursion to see another cottage, Penelope received a formal invitation to a dinner party from her elder sister, Alicia. She was aghast the moment it arrived. Not only did it mean that other guests would be attending, but it also meant that Alicia expected to see a handsome married couple show up at her doorstep. All the Ton would expect that.

The carriage ride to Garvey Manor was quiet and tense. Not out of angst or anger, but rather out of a heaviness that felt like neither one of them could address. Penelope, surely, knew not where her heart was, only that she was slowly being torn between a future at a secluded cottage and a future with George. And whatever George felt, he wasn’t showing a hint of it.

“Found myself not pulling cat hairs from my suits today,” George mused idly.

Penelope gave him a smile. “Is it just me, or do you sound disappointed?”

“Disappointed?” George repeated, the corner of his lip twitching into a smirk. “You’re surely right. I quite enjoyed the effort of plucking each and every hair from my coats.”

“That’s what I thought.”

“Truly,” George said, his voice sincere, “Why does Butternut not sleep in my clothes? I thought you made a whole big deal about how I should be grateful that a previously feral cat adored me so much she’d nest in them.”

Penelope laughed. “I’m sure Butternut will be thrilled to find out that you miss her.”

“That isn’t what I -” George paused, narrowing his eyes at her. “There you go again with sounding like you can talk to them.” Shaking his head, he leaned back in the seat. “Darling, one day someone else will question your sanity, and there won’t be a thingI can do about it.”

Penelope grinned at the sound of his pet name for her. It had grown on her within the past few weeks. “Cats move around a lot,” she finally explained. “They aren’t known to only have one spot where they’ll always sleep. Have you looked anywhere else?”

“I think I’ve got more than enough things on my mind to even think about looking for her new hiding spots.”

Penelope watched him, her brow slowly rising. “Something tells me I don’t believe that.”

“Bah,” George huffed, waving a hand at her. “So what, I looked under my bed, in another drawer, and in my bookshelves. Doesn’t prove a thing.”

Penelope laughed, holding a hand to her mouth to try and hold it back. Their laughter filled the small compartment around them, and whatever tense nature that had held them back before slowly began to dissipate. Penelope watched him as the laughter faded, remembering her anxieties from when she had first opened the invitation from Alicia.

“George,” she said, “Might I be honest about something?”

“Of course.”

“This…party,” Penelope began, “Does it need to be like…the last?”

George blinked a few times. “Are you referring to Lady Tollock’s ball?”

She nodded reluctantly. “I understand that it’s a part of our deal,” she quickly said, “I really do. I just…I feel as though much will already be expected of me, on Alicia’s behalf. I am unsure of how easy it’ll be for me to play the part when she’s around.”

“There’s no need to worry.”

“Why?”

George shrugged. “Let’s just say that this one doesn’t count for the deal, alright?”

“Why wouldn’t it?”

He frowned at her. “I just did you a favor, and now you’re arguing with me about it?”

“Of course not,” she snapped, getting irritated with him. “Your goal is to open that stud farm, isn’t it? Mr. Fitzburgh can only do so much with his place in the racetrack. Finding more willing parties within society still should be your priority.”

“I’m sorry, Penelope, but are you now trying to fight against yourself ?”

Sighing, she threw her head back. “I can barely think straight,” she mumbled.

George scooted so that he sat directly across from her, leaning forward so that his elbows leaned against his knees. “Darling, take the night off. We’ll return to the deal and our sham marriage and everything in between tomorrow.” He reached his hand out as if to shake hers. “For the meantime, I think we should reintroduce ourselves, as newly acquainted friends, of course.”

She watched him with wide eyes. Every time she spoke to him, he did another thing to keep her on her toes. His relaxed posture and extended hand sent her nerves racing, the yearning to be as carefree as him incredibly tempting. And finally, since he so willingly offered, she found herself with no reason to argue.

“Penelope,” she said as she took his hand.

He grinned. “George.”

And the evening had only just begun.

When the carriage stopped at the front steps that led up to Garvey Manor, Penelope decided that, since they were only being themselves, she would remove the tight and stuffy gloves Clarissa insisted that she wore. The blue dress given to her was long and light, the layers so thin that it felt like she was dressed by the wind. Clarissa did her hair in an updo, most of it in a bun at the top of her head while certain curly strands were left down to frame her face. George dressed in a simple suit, already removing the coat before they had even gone up the steps.

As they entered, the sounds of a lively party pulled them in. Men and women of the Ton, recognizable Lords and Ladies, mingled around the parlor, all of them holding fluted glasses and some small plates.

“Relax, darling,” George said from her right as he handed his jacket off to a servant.

She sighed. “It’s hard in places like this for people like me.”

“Oh,” he drawled with an eyeroll, “Don’t insist on being so dreary. You know what,” he paused, snapping his fingers together. “I know exactly what can help.”

As a servant came by with a tray full of glasses, George reached, quickly and effortlessly snatching two off it. He passed one over to her. “Drink up.”

“ This is your solution?”

“Well, it’s either that, or -”

“Penelope!”

Turning, she laid her eyes on Alicia, whosebright green eyes lit the room the moment she came in. Still incredibly petite, Alicia looked as if she had barely aged in a day, even after a marriage and two children. Her white dress hugged her snugly, hair pulled into a delicate crown above her head.

“Alicia,” she called out, quickly taking a long drink, “Thank you for inviting us!”

“How could I not?” Alicia said, giving her a wide smile. “It was long overdue! Your Grace,” she said, turning her attention respectfully to George. “It’s my pleasure to finally make your acquaintance. I apologize for not doing so sooner. This past season at Garvey has been a busy one.”

“Busy enough for a party?” Penelope asked with a raised brow.

“Now, now, Penny,” Alicia said, reaching to wrap a slender arm around her waist, “Let’s not forget who the older sister is.” She gave George another innocently sweet smile. “Won’t you follow me, your Grace? My husband has been very eager to meet you.”

As Alicia forcibly dragged Penelope alongside her, leading them down a hall and into another parlour, Penelope stole a glance over her shoulder at George. He sipped at his wine leisurely, a permanent smirk etched onto his lips. When he caught her looking at him, he flashed her a wink, the smirk widening to show pearly teeth.

Penelope snapped her gaze away, unable to hide her embarrassment. Drinking more from her glass, she almost stumbled when Alicia pulled her arm away to embrace her own husband. Before Penelope could fall, George appeared at her right, replacing where Alicia once stood. He snaked his arm around her waist, keeping her upright and close to his hip.

Penelope glanced at him, her gaze trailing down to their contact. “What are you doing?” she whispered at him, keeping the glass over her lips. “I thought we weren’t pretending.”

George gave her a sideways glance and remained silent for a moment, one eyebrow slowly lifting.

The air was stolen from Penelope’s throat as he watched her. What did that imply? she thought to herself. T hat he wasn’t pretending, or he was lying about pretending? Her chest rose and fell quickly before he leaned down closer to her ear.

“According to your sister and her very important husband,” George whispered, “We are very much married.”

Penelope breathed a sigh, unsure if it was relief or disappointment that she felt. Lowering her glass, she looked back over as Alicia and her husband, Matthew, the Duke of Garvey, approached.

“This is George Houston, the Duke of Yeats,” Alicia introduced, one arm tucked around her husband’s. Turning her attention to George, she said, “Your Grace, this is my husband, Matthew, the Duke of Garvey.”

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 another hall, 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.

“Alicia,” Penelope whispered, leaning out of the door’s threshold despite the aching that began in her chest, “I do not see children in our future anytime soon.”

“No need to fret,” Alicia replied. “You have plenty of time.”

“Well, I don’t -”

Alicia gently shut the door. “We don’t need to have deep talks like that now, Penny. I’m only glad you’re here.” She wrapped her arm around her waist, steering her back in the way they came. “I hope you’ll enjoy the party. Won’t you stay overnight?”

“I’m afraid not,” Penelope said.

“Right,” Alicia drawled, “I don’t remember seeing any of your hounds trailing in behind you.” She gave her a wide smile. “How is Ali, the spaniel? I do miss her.”

“You are welcome to come see her, you know,” Penelope said, giving her sister a sideways glance. No matter what anybody dared to say about her owning so many dogs, there never failed to always be an animal for somebody. Alicia had an affinity for the spaniel Ali, and they spent most days alongside each other before Alicia began her own family.

Alicia shrugged. “There’s too much on my hands for it.”

“You see,” Penelope said, stopping in her tracks. “ That’s what I don’t understand. If the married life is perfect for you, why don’t you have time for the things you want to do?”

“Don’t be naive, Penny. And who told you that married life is perfect?”

She frowned. “I thought that’s what everyone thought.”

“Of course it isn’t!” Alicia said with a laugh. “It is infuriating as much as it is beautiful. And you know what? I quite like all the things that are on my hands at the moment. Just because I’m busy doesn’t mean it’s inherently bad.” She reached, giving her arms a squeeze. “I am the happiest I ever have been, Penny. I only hope you can be too.”

Alicia reached, opening the door that led back into the parlour. Penelope waded in after her, feeling sort of stunted by her sister’s mind-boggling words. While people liked to say that it was advice well needed, something that should help Penelope think straight, she was only left more confused, unsure of where it was she needed to turn.

As they reentered the parlor, Penelope’s eyes landed on George. He still stood with Matthew , but this time, there were multiple Lords surrounding him, a few of them with curious Ladies on their arms. George was in the middle of a story, his glass replaced with another full one. All the faces of his audience watched him intently, even the stoic Matthew that Penelope had remembered as a hard looking man, had a smile permanently on his face. As Alicia came up beside him, reaching for physical contact, she saw his smile grow even more.

Her heart ached some more, though she was afraid to pinpoint its origin.

Approaching the group, George reached the tail end of the story. Everyone was clapping and laughing, throwing in their two cents before the topic quickly changed. George turned, his gaze landing on her. Immediately, much like Matthew, he lit up, a smile stretching from ear to ear.

Penelope grinned back at him. “Care for a walk through the Manor?”

Slipping his arm around her own, he said, “I believe it is called a promenade .”

“Look at you,” Penelope teased as they left the parlor, “Using your fancy English terms.”

“Is it believable enough?”

“Well, it wouldn’t be a promenade, would it? We only take a turn about the room.” Penelope laughed. “You know, I find it quite odd that Englishmen would take you for an American.”

“And why is that?”

“Well, aren’t Americans supposed to be devilishly rugged and handsome?”

George froze, earning a few unpleasant looks from passers-bythat bumped into his shoulder. “You’ve really hurt me, Penny,” he said, placing a dramatic hard over his chest. “Truly.”

“Are you going to call me that now?”

“What, Penny?” he repeated, a smirk crawling across his face. “Do you not like it?”

“It makes me think of being a child.”

George laughed. “Well, I wouldn’t want that, darling. I’ll stick to Penelope.”

A blush burnt across her face as they carried on throughout the party. Food and drinks were served throughout the night, and Penelope lost track of the time almost the moment they stepped inside Garvey Manor. George’s arm never once left her side, always having a firm grip and keeping her tight against him. The contact kept her distracted all evening, her mind always fuzzy and taking an extra second to think about what she wanted to say.

By the time came for them to begin their carriage ride back to the townhouse, Penelope grew wistful in a way, imagining how they’d go back to their pretending the moment they reentered London. That being said, the wistful feeling left as quickly as it came. Penelope had more glasses of that wine than she ever had before, and it filled her stomach alongside the small amount of food she ate.

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 -”

He stepped closer to her, closing the space in between them. Suddenly, she was very aware of the fact that he still held her hand, that his warm breath fanned over her face like a summer day. Her eyes fluttered shut as he began to lower his head to her, getting closer and closer to her parted lips.

“Woof!”

From the staircase, Antony the mastiff came pouncing down the stairs, bounding after Butternut, who released a high-pitched yowl before slipping through a cracked door.

“Antony!” Penelope shouted, pointing a finger at him. “Butternut is your friend! ”

Looking up George, she gave him a small smile, hoping to forestall his anger. With his hand still wrapped around hers, he gave her a wide grin back, tightening his hold on her hand.

“C’mon,” he whispered. “Before Butternut needs to find a new house to nest in!”

With a relieved smile, Penelope eagerly ran beside George as they chased after the mastiff.