Page 50 of Her Sinful Duke

As they continued talking about irrelevant things which, nonetheless, made her smile and be merry, she kept glancing at the door, waiting for James to appear, although she knew of his morning ritual. Somehow, she hoped that things had changed and that, as a result, some of his habits might change as well. She tried not to dwell on it for too long and instead, focused on her conversation with Grandfather. However, at that moment, the door opened and James appeared, much to everyone surprise. Even more surprisingly, he seemed moody on first glance.

“Good morning,” he told them both without looking at anyone in particular.

He then took a seat by Penelope’s side. She expected him to talk, to say something, but instead, he leaned to his right and grabbed the morning newspaper which he then proceeded to read in silence, as if he were alone in the entire dining hall.

“Uhm, James?” his grandfather was the first one to speak.

James lowered the newspaper only so far as for them to see his eyes which darted from his grandfather to Penelope then back at his grandfather.

“Yes?” James wondered.

“Perhaps you’d like to leave the newspaper for later,” Grandfather suggested. “I always believed that mealtimes were when family got together.”

“Yes, sorry, Grandfather,” James agreed, folding the newspaper and focusing on the two people around him.

“Lovely,” Grandfather beamed. “Now, I must say that it is surprising to see you at the breakfast table. You are usually exercising outside.”

“Yes, I am,” he murmured, obviously without any desire to explain.

His grandfather lifted an eyebrow. “Did something happen?”

James shrugged. “I just feel a bit tired, so I decided to have breakfast and then focus on some work afterwards.”

“Yes, rest is always a good idea,” Grandfather acknowledged wisely. “As is breakfast with the family. Would you like some toast?”

“Yes, please,” James nodded, accepting a basket of toast offered to him and picking out a slice. “Jam?”

“Here you go,” Penelope offered, wanting to ask him if they had any plans for the day, but something prevented her from doing so. Fortunately, that same something did not prevent Grandfather from doing the same thing.

“What about your plans for the day, James?” Grandfather inquired curiously. “I see that Penelope has yet another lovely gown on.”

Of course, Grandfather was hinting at another surprise, but it seemed that even James was surprised to see her dressed up which she in all honesty was. There was no reason for her to believe that the shower of lovely surprises on behalf of her husband would end. In fact, she never wanted it to end.

“Yes, Penelope is indeed lovely as she always is,” James agreed, as if he were commenting on the newest version of a carriage and not a woman made of flesh and blood and emotions. “However, I am afraid that I am far too busy today to be going anywhere. Unless she perhaps has made plans of her own.”

“I have not,” she was quick to clarify. “I… was under the impression that we would do something today... together… as we did the previous days.”

“I made no such plans for today, Penelope. I am sorry if that is a disappointment to you,” he said in a way he had not spoken to her before.

She wondered if she had somehow offended him. She tried to remember what they had been doing and all the things they were discussing, but nothing came to mind. They were having fun. They were enjoying each other’s company. Nothing happened which could have been seen as a cause of this sudden change in his behavior. Still, it was obvious that something had happened, only she had no idea what.

“I really have to focus on work,” James said gravely. Then, he got up and continued to speak. “In fact, I shall have start immediately and have my breakfast in my study instead. Please, Grandfather, have them send some toast and jam with a cup of tea to my study.”

“Yes, my boy,” his grandfather nodded.

Without a single word, Grandfather and Penelope watched James leave, closing the door behind himself. The moment they were left alone, they locked gazes.

“Did I say something?” Penelope wondered aloud, hoping that this wise old man might shed some light on this mystery.

“No, no, my dear,” he assured her kindly.

“I don’t understand,” she mused, still wondering what had happened to make him act that way.

“It is probably just some business affairs that need urgent handling. He must be anxious about them,” Grandfather tried to explain.

“Oh,” Penelope accepted, but she wasn’t reassured. Still, she appreciated the man’s effort. “Well, that leaves you and me, Grandfather.”

“And that is just the way I like it, my dear,” he laughed quietly. “Say, why don’t we both pick a book and read to each other on the veranda with a nice cup of fortified tea in our hands?”

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