Page 24 of Her Sinful Duke

As Adeline took a bite of the tender scone, the burst of juicy blueberries mingling with the buttery richness of the pastry, she closed her eyes in blissful contentment. “Some things never change,” she mused, a hint of laughter in her voice.

Penelope chuckled softly, her heart swelling with affection. “It’s the little things in life, isn’t it?”

With each bite of blueberry scone and each sip of fragrant tea, Penelope and Adeline reveled in the warmth of their rekindled relationship and the timeless bond that united them. As they continued to share stories and laughter, Penelope felt reassured that she might have lost her sister before, but she managed to find her again, and this time, she would never let go.

That evening, during dinner, James’ grandfather seemed in a particularly good mood. Then again, so did Penelope.

“Why didn’t your sister stay for dinner, my dear?” he asked her, just as he was enjoying a nightcap.

“Oh, she needed to return home,” Penelope replied politely. She wondered if her father would be upset with Adeline for coming to visit her. She still couldn’t understand his point of view. Then again, she never could. He was a selfish man, one who was solely focused on bettering his own connections and his own life although he tried to disguise it by claiming that everything he did, he did for the family. The older she got, the more she realized that was not the truth.

“I do hope that next time, she might come and stay with us for a while,” James’ grandfather said cheerfully. “It is so wonderful to have a house filled with such lovely young ladies and their chirpy chatter!”

Penelope chuckled at the phrase. It was so sweet. She also hoped that next time, her sister might stay longer. She was filled with joy at the prospect of reclaiming her and having her by her side. She never thought such a thing would be possible. Vanessa had never been her sister. Not in the true meaning of the word. They had never been close. They had never shared secrets. Penelope wondered if there was ever a time when she and Vanessa played as little girls. If such a time existed, she did not remember it. So, it was easy not to miss what one never had in the first place.

James was silent during this conversation, but Penelope noticed that he paid attention to every word that was being exchanged. He eyed her from across the table, swirling the amber-looking liquid in his glass and occasionally taking a sip. His curls fell over his forehead in rakish abandon, and she yearned to walk over to him and gently push them away from his face, so she could stare in those deep, unfathomable eyes forever.

“… show you,” his grandfather suddenly said, and much to her embarrassment, Penelope realized that she wasn’t listening. She had got lost in her thoughts about James. A part of her wondered if he could see that — if either of them could see that.

“Would you like that?” James inquired playfully, almost as if he knew that she had no idea what they were discussing.

“Show me?” she echoed, clearing her throat. “Why… of course. I would like to be… shown… that.”

James’s brow furrowed at her awkward statement then he grinned. “You like it then?”

He’d caught her. That much was obvious. But pride refused to allow her to concede. She would pretend for as long as she could.

“I do, yes,” she nodded importantly. “I’ve always found it quite interesting.”

“You have?” his grandfather seemed shocked and amazed at the same time. “Why, that is splendid! You can do it together then!”

Do what together?She wondered silently, scolding herself that she should have simply admitted that she wasn’t paying attention. But then, James might know why. He might be able to read it in her eyes from the expression on her face, and she couldn’t allow that.

“We could,” she nodded. “But maybe James prefers to do it on his own. You know, to focus more easily.”

She had no idea what on earth they were discussing. It was becoming ridiculous. She could see it from the way James was smirking and enjoying seeing her squirm. Now, she couldn’t allow him to see that he was winning.

“I could actually use the help,” James said, leaning back into his chair. “Now?”

Now?Her mind turned into a blank.

“Now?” she said aloud. “Isn’t it too late? I mean, we’ve just had dinner, and we should go to bed… soon.”

“Nonsense!” his grandfather exclaimed. “The oil lamps will provide more than enough light. You ought to show her, James.”

“Well, it seems there can be no objections, here.” James got up, emptying his glass and placing it back onto the table. He walked over to Penelope, offering her his arm. “Shall we?”

CHAPTER13

“You know, I admire your stubbornness,” James said as they walked through the dimly lit corridors of their home. “But you can admit now that you have no idea where I am taking you or what it is we are about to do.”

He could see the gentle jerk of her head as she looked away from him in an effort to hide her confusion. He really meant what he said. Hedidadmire her stubbornness. She obviously got lost in her own thoughts for a moment but continued the conversation bravely, falling deeper and deeper with each confirmation until it was too late to get out of it.

“I don’t know what makes you say that,” she retorted simply and sweetly, her voice almost a chirp in the darkness. He almost burst into a boisterous chuckle, but he managed to resist the temptation to do so.

“All right then,” he teased her. “What is it you are supposed to help me with?”

“I don’t have anything to prove to you,” she said, turning to him. That stubbornness burned in her beautiful eyes, daring him back.

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