Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
“Will His Grace be joining me for supper?” Penelope asked the butler, one Mr. Reginald.
“I am not sure, Your Grace,” Reginald said.
She considered. “Well… might you check? I do not wish to start without him.”
“Forgive me, Your Grace, but I am to understand that His Grace is busy at the moment. As is often the case, he will tell us in advance if he is to dine or not. In instances such as this one, we are to assume that he will not.”
“Busy with what?”
Reginald considered the question, and Penelope noticed a shadow pass behind his eyes. A lie forming, it looked like to her, the desire to not tell her the truth without appearing as if that is what he was doing.
“I cannot say,” Reginald answered eventually. “His Grace is a private man.”
Penelope scrunched her face with annoyance but chose not to press the issue. She was new to this house and did not want to accuse the staff of lying to her. Somehow, she got the sense that in the coming weeks they would be her only source of companionship.
“As you say,” she sighed. “If that is the case, I will dine alone.”
“Wonderful, Your Grace. I will inform the kitchen.” Reginald bowed once and hurried from the dining room.
Penelope was thus left alone, a state that she was used to. And one that she had come to expect.
To be fair to me, I also wondered if things might be different this time.
In truth, and as strange as it was to admit, she had been excited for supper this evening.
Where her conversation with the duke earlier was a little awkward, she hoped that with the matter of their arraignment dealt with, tonight might be a chance for them to get to know one another better.
If for no other reason than they needed to if this was going to work.
Now, she knew that any preconceived notions she had about the duke were laughable and that he was doing as he had done for the past three years. Ignoring her as if she did not exist.
That would not last. He needed her help, and they would have to spend some time together eventually. But how could they possibly work together as they needed if they couldn’t even be in the same room? And how could they…
A warmth spread through Penelope’s body as her mind turned to where it had been all afternoon.
That of the child she wished to have, and what she would need to do with her husband if she was to get it.
It was silly, and Penelope could not believe she had not considered it sooner.
But if she was to have a child with the duke, they would need …
well. She knew what they would need to do. Possibly several times. And that…
It does not repel me as it should. Why not?
She tried to push that thought from her mind. She tried not to imagine what it might be like. He was handsome. He was strong and powerful. And there was something about him, the hidden side that he refused to show, that enticed her…
No! A shake of the head and she refused to go down that path. For now, it was this party which mattered and that was what she must focus on. Assuming the duke ever spoke to her again!
“Your Grace…” Reginald appeared suddenly beside her. “Might I read you through what the kitchen has planned for this evening?”
Penelope looked to the doorway as if expecting her husband to walk through. He did not, of course, and her body slumped in its seat. Part frustration, part despair… “I suppose so,” she muttered bitterly.
The following morning went much the same. Penelope, arriving at breakfast, wondering if Dorian would be there. Unsurprised to see that he was not. Annoyed when she asked the butler attending her where he was, only to be dismissed.
“I believe he is busy, Your Grace,” the butler answered. She looked at him pointedly, waiting for further explanation. None was forthcoming.
Once finished with breakfast, Penelope did the only thing that she could think to do.
She explored the manor, for it would be her home over the following weeks, and she might as well get herself acquainted.
Not that this was particularly interesting, as it was a house like any other.
Not quite as big as the manor she lived in, but just as empty feeling.
Most strangely, it was when she approached the eastern wing that Reginald appeared again. He came striding down the hallway, moving quickly and with a look of worry on his face.
“Your Grace!” he called to her. “If I might have a word!”
“Good morning, Reginald,” she said with a warm smile. “I am in such a good mood that you can have two words.”
He frowned at the joke. “Thank you, Your Grace. Very kind.”
She waited for him to continue. He looked at her blankly and expectantly. “You wished to speak of something?” she asked eventually.
“Yes, Your Grace. It is not a grave trouble, and I hate to bring this to your attention at such short notice. But His Grace has requested that you stay out of the eastern wing while you are staying here.”
“He… he did?”
“He did, Your Grace. His Grace is a man who appreciates his privacy, and he was quite adamant that I tell you so.”
“So…” She looked past the butler, down the hallway. “His Grace is down there now? What is he doing?”
“Again, Your Grace, His Grace is a man who appreciates his privacy. All he asks is that you not enter the eastern wing while you are staying here.”
She huffed, her anger growing. “He does remember why I am here, yes? The reason which he agreed to. How am I to help him arrange this party if he will not speak to me?”
“I cannot answer that, Your Grace.” Reginald’s smile was kind and forgiving. “But I will speak with His Grace, if you wish it. Perhaps he will be able to inform me of when –”
“Do not bother,” she sighed. “If he wants to speak to me, he can.”
With nothing else for it, Penelope turned and stormed away.
She tried to convince herself that she was not angry.
I do not want to give Dorian the satisfaction!
But she was slowly reminded of those first few weeks after he had left her, how alone she had felt, how sad and desperate she was for some sense of purpose.
Oh sure, she had managed to find it in her social life, meeting with friends, endeavoring not to have her life ended because her husband had left her.
But this felt different. She was in a home that was not her own. Trapped, it felt like, forced to stay here because she had made a promise and would see it through. Or would do… assuming Dorian stopped avoiding her!
The rest of that first day went much the same. She walked the halls alone. She ate alone. She read alone. And every time she heard footsteps, she would look up, hope reaching her… and then crashing to find it was just a member of the staff.
The following day was the same. And the one after that. Dorian was here, she knew that to be true, but he was set on avoiding her such that she was forced to concede that he did not want her help at all.
He wants me to leave. To give up. To abandon our arraignment so that he does not have to go through with it. That is all this can be!
It was as she ate breakfast on the fourth morning that this thought settled on her, and was it three years ago, Penelope might have succumbed to misery and done as her husband wished. Packed up. Gone home. Resigned herself to a life lived alone. But this wasn’t three years ago.
Dorian might not have wanted her help, but that did not mean he wasn’t going to get it. She had come here for a reason, and she was not going to leave without a fight!
“Reginald!” she called out. He was standing across the room, waiting on her, as he often did. She wondered if that was at Dorian’s request, a spy to make sure she wasn’t doing anything he did not approve of.
“Yes, Your Grace,” he said as he hurried toward her.
“I would like to speak with the kitchen staff once I have finished eating.”
“Oh.” He blinked. “Is something the matter? Whatever it is, I can –”
“No, no,” she cut him off with laughter. “I am to assume that they will be the ones providing food for the party. Dorian has not confirmed, but I assume too it will be a full weekend affair? This far out from the city, and it will have to be.”
Reginald frowned. “I… he has not said –”
“Let’s assume it is.” She nodded her head once, feeling a fire now burning within her. “Which means that we will need to arrange several meals across the weekend, and snacks for the day. Best that we start to brainstorm.”
“Ah…” He licked his lips. “As you say, Your Grace.”
“I would also appreciate a list of His Grace’s closest friends, family members, and anyone else he is known to be in contact with. Surely, you can provide such a list?” She raised an eyebrow at him that warranted no argument.
“I… I can have one written up, Your Grace.”
“Perfect, for a guest list will be needed, so we might as we start with everyone and go from there. As well as that…” A smile reached her lips. “When was the last time His Grace had this home refurbished.”
Reginald leaned back. “Ah… I am not –”
“It is my thinking that the ballroom might need to be remodeled. Even this room…” She looked about the breakfast room and curled her lips as if in distaste.
“New carpet, I think. And new curtains. It will not do to host a party in a home that looks on the verge of falling apart. So, if you do not mind, I will require the contacts used the last time His Grace had curtains and carpet replaced, floors waxed, walls painted. I have a feeling we will be needing them again.”
Reginald looked to be sweating. “I… shall I ask His Grace if –”
“No need,” she cut him off with a smile. “He asked for my help, and I intend to give it. Now, if you do not mind…” She cocked her eyebrow at him again. “I wish to start as soon as I finish eating.”
“Of course, Your Grace.” The butler bowed deeply and hurried from the room,
And Penelope held her smile, the first one she had worn in days.
In truth, this was for the best, she decided, as three years of living alone and she had become accustomed to doing things as they needed doing without asking for help. Such was the life of an independent woman whose husband abandoned her.
And if His Grace did not like it? Well, he can tell me so himself. That was a thought which saw her smile grow. On the one hand, she was either going to arrange this party on her own or the duke was going to be forced to come and speak to her finally.
Whatever the result, it was a step in the right direction which meant one step closer to her finally getting what she was owed.