Page 8 of Her Sinful Duke

Penelope nodded. “I do; every word of it. I will always be just a short carriage ride away, and you will always be welcome to come and visit.”

“Oh, I am so happy to hear that!” Adeline exclaimed, jumping into Penelope’s arms and wrapping her own around her sister’s willowy frame.

They remained like that for a long time until Adeline released her sister from her tender grip. “I must admit, I thought that Vanessa running away would be the worst thing that has ever happened to this family, but instead… it has brought you back to us.”

Penelope wanted to say that she doubted her parents were as ecstatic about it as she was, but she did not want to ruin the special moment she was sharing with her sister.

“I am also glad to be back,” Penelope admitted with a shy smile, and that much was true.

She had no idea where this new path would lead her, but she had to admit that a part of her was curious to find out.

* * *

“It was the wrong girl!?” Edward Sullivan, the Marquess of Dunlop, James’ grandfather exclaimed so loudly that the cup almost fell out of his hand. As always, it was tea, fortified with some hard liquor.

To prevent the shaking of the fingers,his grandfather would say.

James always thought of his grandfather as a character out of some novel, likeRobinson Crusoe,with a personality as colorful as the tales he spun. At six and seventy years of age, the man still carried himself with the regal air befitting his noble lineage, yet his demeanor was often softened by the jovial glow of a man who had reached the end of his life. In fact, James knew that his grandfather’s life ended the night when he lost his daughter and his granddaughter, and the only reason he was still alive was James himself.

With a penchant for the finer things in life, the man indulged in the pleasures of good wine and spirits and was often found with a glass in hand during social gatherings. His laughter echoed through the halls of his ancestral estate, which was located in the most northern parts of the country, contagious and uninhibited as he regaled guests with tales of his adventures and misadventures alike.

Despite his age, there was a mischievous twinkle in his eye that hinted at a lifetime of mischief and escapades. When the spirits flowed freely, so too did the secrets and gossip, whispered in hushed tones between sips of brandy or whiskey. No scandal or rumor was safe from his probing inquiries, and he took great delight in unraveling the mysteries of high society.

“Yes,” James nodded at his grandfather as the two sat comfortably in his study, discussing the events of the previous hour. “I agreed to marry her, nonetheless.”

His grandfather raised an eyebrow. “Is she pretty?”

“Yes, but you know that doesn’t matter,” James tried to brush it off, knowing that his grandfather would immediately notice what an effect she had on him the moment he laid his eyes on her.

Her visage still lingered before the eye of his mind, her innocent smile as well as her fierce boldness. Still, he did not like that they all kept him in the dark regarding everything.

“How could it not matter, my dear boy?” his grandfather chuckled. “You don’t hear a lady first. You see her first.”

“I both heard her and saw her,” James clarified. “Not in that order, actually.”

He did see her first. That was when he hoped that she was the one although, upon second glance, he noticed that her sister was too young to get married yet. His heart leaped upon the realization that the heavenly creature brought before him was to become his wife. However, learning that she was not Vanessa but rather Penelope infuriated him. It was not the name. Not even the girl herself. It was the fact that they had kept it a secret from him all that time and decided to reveal the arrangement a day before the wedding when everything was already prepared, and it would have been impossible to find another bride.

However, having seen Penelope, he did not want another bride. He wantedher.But he did not want them to think that he would just accept being played like that. Most certainly not.

“Well, in whatever order you noticed her, it seems that you liked what you saw and heard,” his grandfather teased him good-humoredly, raising his cup to his lips and taking a small, measured sip before proceeding to click the tip of his tongue against the roof of his mouth in a satisfied manner.

“You know I am in no position to choose a bride based on what I like,” he reminded his grandfather of something they both knew.

“I know, my boy,” his grandfather spoke more solemnly now, leaning back in his chair. “What happened… it was not your fault… but it has shaped your path ever since. It pains me to see all the hardship you had to endure. You did not deserve any of it.”

“You mean what the ton says about me?” James frowned. “I do not care a fig, and you know it. What I do care about is doing my duty, grandfather, and that is continuing our bloodline for you, for my mother and sister. As for him…” James’ teeth gritted angrily. “He can rot in hell; that’s what he deserves.”

“Well, let’s not talk of rotting and hell.” His grandfather got up, placing down the cup. James did not need to see it to know that it was empty. He walked over to James, patting him on the shoulder. “After all, we have a wedding to celebrate tomorrow. I, for one, am ecstatic to meet the young lady. I am sure she will be a fine addition to our household.”

James managed a smile. “I only hope that you are right, grandfather.”

CHAPTER5

“Bah!” she exclaimed loudly, a single sound of rebellion that Penelope allowed herself, throwing the veil onto the ground before her.

She never thought she would be where she was standing. Not in a million years. Nor that she would be wearing what she was wearing, a wedding gown that didn’t suit her.

Just as she bent down to pick it up, she heard a knock on the door.

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