Page 33 of Her Sinful Duke

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As Penelope stood alone in a quiet corner of the ballroom, her gaze wandering idly across the bustling dance floor, she was approached by a small group of ladies, their elegant gowns swishing softly with each step. She was counting the minutes until James’ return, and he already seemed to have been gone an eternity.

One lady, her voice tinged with a hint of envy, spoke up first. “My dear Lady Chapman, we apologize for approaching you in this impolite manner, but we couldn’t help but do so.”

Penelope smiled a little awkwardly. “That is quite all right.”

“See?” the first one told the lady standing next to her. “I told you she would understand our curiosity.”

Curiosity?The truth was that Penelope didn’t understand. However, she decided to remain polite for as long as the situation allowed it. She remembered James’ words.You don’t have to speak to anyone if you don’t want to.That knowledge gave her confidence and reassurance that she needed as she stood in the center of this flock of ladies, all of whom eyed her from head to toe.

“Oh, but we haven’t even introduced ourselves, how rude,” the lady spoke. “I am Lady Elizabeth Livingstone. The lady behind me is Miss Christina Duncan, that over there is Lady Georgina Hughes, and finally, this is Lady Stephanie Andrews.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you all, ladies,” Penelope nodded, not even trying to remember their names. And, to be quite honest, she was still wondering what made them approach her so suddenly, almost like a pack of predators approaching unsuspecting prey. That was why she reminded herself to be cautious.

“No, no, no, the pleasure is all ours, I assure you,” Lady Elizabeth spoke in a honey voice that Penelope didn’t particularly care for. It appeared as if she was pushing herself to sound more feminine than she actually was. “And how is your dear husband, the duke, faring this evening?” she inquired, her voice laced with thinly veiled curiosity.

Penelope felt a flicker of unease fluttering within her, but she maintained her poise as she replied, “James is enjoying himself, thank you for asking.”

The ladies exchanged knowing glances, their expressions betraying a mixture of jealousy and intrigue. “You are indeed fortunate to have captured the heart of such a distinguished gentleman,” Lady Elizabeth remarked, her voice tinged with bitterness.

Penelope offered a faint smile in return, her discomfort growing with each passing moment. “I am indeed grateful for my husband, whom I’ve come to know well,” she said diplomatically, hoping to diffuse the tension that hung in the air.

“Ah, but how well?” Lady Elizabeth murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, but she knew that Penelope could hear her clearly.

“What do you mean?” Penelope inquired.

“Well…” Lady Elizabeth exchanged a few knowing glances with the ladies around her, then she continued. “I heard… I mean, we all heard that there were some rather… unsavory rumors surrounding the duke’s family.”

Lady Georgina nodded in agreement immediately, her expression solemn. “Yes, it is quite tragic, really. The circumstances surrounding their deaths were rather suspicious, don’t you think?”

“I don’t really have an opinion on rumors,” Penelope replied in a determined manner.

“Oh, but these are not just rumors,” Lady Elizabeth shook her head. “The duke’s family died while he was away, and he came back to find them all dead, and he was the only one who survived. How on Earth does one explain that?”

Penelope’s heart sank as she listened to the conversation unfolding before her. Despite her best efforts to remain composed, she couldn’t help but feel a surge of indignation rising within her. How dare they speak ill of James and his family in such a manner?

“I explain that as being fortunate to be alive, not being the one responsible for something so dreadful,” Penelope spoke, summoning all her courage, squaring her shoulders and addressing the ladies directly. “I must ask that you refrain from spreading baseless rumors about my husband and his family. It is not fair to tarnish anyone’s memory in this manner.”

Lady Elizabeth’s eyes widened in shock and disbelief, her expression a mixture of surprise and irritation at Penelope’s boldness. “My dear, we were only speaking in jest,” she replied dismissively though the edge of her tone betrayed a hint of discomfort.

But Penelope refused to be swayed. “Regardless, it is not a subject to be taken lightly,” she insisted, her voice unwavering. “I would appreciate it if you would show my husband and his family the respect they deserve.”

Caught off guard by Penelope’s unwavering resolve, the ladies exchanged uneasy glances, their earlier gossip now hanging heavy in the air like a guilty secret they dared not acknowledge.

“Well… as I said, we did not mean any harm,” Lady Elizabeth mumbled her hesitant apology before quickly retreating, their murmured excuses trailing behind them as they hurried away, leaving Penelope standing alone in the corner, her heart still racing with the adrenaline of her confrontation.

Despite the warmth of the flickering candles and the gentle strains of music that filled the air, Penelope couldn’t shake the feeling of uncertainty that gripped her heart. What if there were secrets about her husband that she had yet to uncover? What if the whispers and insinuations were more than just idle gossip?

She replayed the conversation with the ladies in her mind, searching for any clue that might shed light on the mysteries surrounding James’ past. Why hadn’t he mentioned any of that before? She knew that his grandfather had raised him, but she didn’t know of the tragedy that had befallen his family.

She couldn’t shake the feeling of foreboding that hung over her like a dark cloud. The laughter and chatter of the guests seemed to fade into the distance as she was consumed by her own thoughts, her heart heavy with the weight of uncertainty. She wanted to know about all this, but she dared not ask him directly. Even worse, she didn’t want him to find out what the ton thought of him.

No. She would protect him from all of this, and hopefully, she would get to the bottom of the truth one way or another.

CHAPTER17

The carriage ride back home made James think. It also made him very confused. He was under the impression that things between him and Penelope were going well. More than well, in fact. But when he came to get her, she flinched upon being touched by him. He couldn’t believe it.

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