Page 37 of Her Sinful Duke

That was exactly what James had been afraid of. Penelope was unlike anyone he had ever met. He was now convinced that fate brought them together. Otherwise, he would have been married to her sister as was supposed to have taken place.

“I will speak with her when the time is right,” he said resolutely, hoping that the truth would set him free. However, he would not open up yet. He couldn’t. He would simply ask her to trust him if she still could.

* * *

As Penelope stepped into the dining hall, her breath caught in her throat at the sight that greeted her, a table set for a romantic dinner for two, bathed in the soft glow of candlelight.

“What is all this?” she asked.

The polished wooden table was adorned with an exquisite linen tablecloth, its pristine surface reflecting the flickering light. Delicate porcelain plates gleamed, and at the center of the table was a lavish floral centerpiece, a breathtaking display of vibrant blooms that perfumed the air with their sweet fragrance.

“I didn’t know which ones you liked the most,” she heard him say. Strangely enough, he sounded a little confused. He had obviously noticed her gazing at the flowers. “I picked roses, lilies, and jasmine.”

“You… picked these flowers?” she asked incredulously.

“I did,” he said then admitted. “But your lady’s maid helped.”

“Charlotte,” Penelope replied back. “She is so sweet.”

“Yes, very helpful,” he nodded, walking over to her and pulling out a chair so she could take a seat. “Please.”

She sat down immediately, noticing that he had gone to great lengths to arrange this. She was washed over by sudden tenderness for him although the memory of what she had learned still lingered in her mind, clouding her judgment. “Grandfather will be joining us?”

“No, he uhm… asked to have his dinner in his room,” he clarified.

“And miss telling his stories?” she asked playfully. “I somehow doubt that.”

“Well, he understands why I did this.”

“And why did you do this?” she asked, although she had a pretty good idea.

“You heard some things about me,” he noted, taking a seat opposite her.

She swallowed heavily. “I did.”

“And now, you are… confused,” he tried to clarify.

“A little, yes,” she admitted. She had been afraid of this conversation, but seeing that he was as awkward about it as she was made her feel at ease. It made her feel hopeful that they would somehow manage to find common ground, despite everything.

“I promise to tell you everything when we are both ready for that,” he assured her. “But I want you to believe me when I tell you that I am not the man they think I am. What you see before you… this man… that is who I am.”

She suddenly felt that rush of heat at seeing him like this. She wanted him to know that she appreciated all of this, all of what he had done for her, and she would wait for him to feel comfortable enough to share his deepest secrets with her.

“So, James,” she began with a mischievous twinkle in her eye, wanting to make them both feel more at ease, “do you always go to such lengths to impress a lady?”

James chuckled. She was relieved to see that things were slowly returning to the way they were before between them. “Only for the most extraordinary of ladies,” he replied with a charming smile, the one she could not resist.

Penelope raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk dancing across her lips. “Ah, so you are saying that I am extraordinary?” she quipped, her tone playful and inviting.

James feigned a look of exaggerated astonishment, his hand pressed to his chest in mock indignation. “Of course, my dear,” he replied with a dramatic flourish. “I do believe you are slightly clumsy, but that only adds to your charm.”

“Clumsy?” Now, it was her turn to feign being shocked. “You’re the one to talk. I’ve seen you stumble over your own feet more times than I can count.”

James feigned a look of wounded pride. “I’ll have you know that I am the epitome of grace and poise,” he declared. “It is not my fault the ground simply can’t handle my sheer magnificence.”

They laughed at the same time, their laughter echoing through the dining hall. Once again, she felt that sense of ease and comfort, and she completely forgot about what happened at the ball. It didn’t matter any longer. She trusted him.

“Actually, I do believe you are quite extraordinary even while being clumsy. Why else would I go to such great lengths?”

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