Page 23 of Her Sinful Duke

“He said all that?” Penelope was incredulous.

“He did,” Adeline acknowledged. “But I said that I would be coming to see you whether he allowed it or not. You are my sister, and I could never be a distraction to you… right?”

Penelope had never felt more proud of someone. “You told him exactly what he needed to hear, Adeline. Of course, you could never be a distraction to me. What nonsense. We are sisters. We should be closer than anyone in the world.”

“Yes, that is what I think as well,” Adeline nodded. “It’s just that… Vanessa isn’t like you.”

Penelope had to chuckle to that. “Thank heavens that is so.”

Adeline had to chuckle as well. “I always got the feeling that she was more like Mother and Father. They have the same outlook on life, the same… values, I suppose.”

“And you?” Penelope asked, but she could already sense the answer to that question.

“I always felt… somehow out of place,” Adeline admitted. “When you were at home, I was too young to understand much of what was going on. Then, you left, and I didn’t see you in five long years. They felt like forever.”

“I know.” Penelope smiled tenderly. “I thought about you all often.”

That much was true. Only, she didn’t think of her parents in terms of missing them. No. On the contrary, she always wondered what she had done to deserve becoming an outcast from her own home. Or perhaps, she was asking a question that was never really a question. She never became an outcast in her own home, for the simple reason that she had always been one. However, she didn’t want to burden Adeline with any of that. Not now that they were slowly finding their way back to each other.

“Speaking of Vanessa,” she inquired, “have they heard from her?”

“No, not yet,” Adeline shook her head. “We don’t know anything about her.”

Penelope wondered where Vanessa could be. “I’m sure she is all right,” she mused. “She is probably safe with a friend and is just waiting for the right moment to return.”

“Father will be furious,” Adeline pointed out.

Penelope shrugged. “Maybe not as much any longer. I married the duke. From what I understood, Father didn’t care which one of us married him as long as one of us did.”

“Penelope, I… I am sorry that you had to do this,” Adeline said softly, taking Penelope’s hand into her own. “I can’t imagine what it must feel like to marry a complete stranger.”

Penelope was taken aback by her sister’s apology. Although Adeline had nothing to apologize for, she still did so. Sometimes, inaction was enough reason for someone to feel bad, and that was obviously what Adeline was feeling. Penelope smiled, squeezing her sister’s hand back reassuringly.

“There is no need to apologize for anything, my dear Adeline,” she replied with confidence. “I know it might sound strange, but I actually like it here. It’s much better than back at the nunnery,” she chuckled at the last part.

“Really?” Adeline asked incredulously.

“Yes,” Penelope affirmed with a smile. “I have the loveliest lady’s maid you could ever hope for. I live in a beautiful home, of which I have become the mistress. I have a husband who understands and respects me. And his grandfather made me laugh so much yesterday that I could barely breathe.” She paused for a moment, allowing all the impressions to settle then she continued with conviction. “I feel at peace here.”

She didn’t want to mention anything about her feelings for her husband which had obviously been growing. Her attraction for him was undeniable, and if he continued talking to her and kissing her, she knew that she would succumb to his charms easily. Already, she was on the verge of doing so, but she was afraid.

“At peace?” Adeline echoed, bringing Penelope back to the present moment.

“Yes,” Penelope confirmed, just as the servant girl knocked on the door, bringing in a tray of tea and scones. “Thank you, Millicent. Just put them there, please.”

Penelope and Adeline watched as the servant girl carefully placed the tray on the ornate table between the sisters, arranging the porcelain cups and saucers with meticulous care. The tantalizing aroma of freshly brewed tea filled the room, mingling with the scent of warm scones that accompanied the elegant spread. Each scone was adorned with a dollop of clotted cream and another dollop of homemade blueberry jam, a delightful treat to complement the soothing ritual of teatime and their time together.

“Thank you, Millicent; that is all,” Penelope offered a gracious nod of thanks as the servant girl excused herself and close the door behind her.

They settled in to enjoy the tea and scones, and Adeline’s eyes lit up with delight as she reached for a blueberry scone, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

“Blueberry scones have always been my favorite,” she remarked with a twinkle in her eye, her voice filled with fondness for the delectable treat.

Penelope’s own smile widened at Adeline’s confession, a wave of nostalgia washing over her. “I remember,” she said softly, her voice filled with warmth. “You always used to say that they were the perfect accompaniment to a cup of tea.”

“You… remember?” Adeline beamed.

“Of course,” Penelope nodded softly.

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