Page 7 of Saved By the Rakish Duke

“Penny!” her friend squealed in return, pulling her in for a tight hug.

Excusing herself from the group, Penelope accompanied Rebecca to an empty table—still making sure to stay near to the dowager duchess.

“How are your girls?” Penelope smiled, gently stroking Rebecca’s hand. “In your last letter, you mentioned getting them a new governess.”

“Yes, they absolutely love her now.” Rebecca chuckled. “I meant to write you to ask if you were coming tonight, but seeing the state that Lady Punton was in during the funeral, I presumed it would be rather unlikely.”

“You still know me so well.” Penelope chuckled. “I really had no intentions of attending, but Her Grace suggested it would be a good idea. Besides...”

“Besides?”

Penelope hesitantly chewed her lip. While it was true that she and Rebecca had known each other since they were children, it was still quite embarrassing to reveal her plan.

But as she gazed into Rebecca’s kind eyes, Penelope realized that being able to speak to someone about the plan would offer her some respite.

“I’m... here to look for some prospects,” she admitted, looking down at their hands.

“What?” Rebecca gasped, “but you swore you’dneverget married!”

“I don’t have a choice,” Penelope grimaced, going on to explain her and Mother’s suffering at the hands of Uncle Winston.

“Pen, why didn’t you mention this in your letters?” her friend asked, mortified. “There’s no way you’re staying with that wretched creature any longer. Both of my parents-in-law are presently staying with us so it will be a bit cramped, but I can speak to William about putting you and Lady Punton up at our countryside manor at least-”

“Thank you, Rebecca,” Penelope smiled, “but there’s no need, the Dowager Duchess of Blackmoore graciously offered to let us stay with her for the rest of the Season right here in London. Besides, I don’t even want to think of what my uncle would do if he found out that we were staying somewhere other than where he had allowed us to.”

Rebecca’s expression changed yet again. This time she was the one chewing her lip hesitantly.

“What?”

Rebecca looked around to see that no one was within earshot, “I know your parents have always been close to the Blackmoores, but if I were in your shoes, I wouldn’t reveal this new accommodation arrangement so freely, Pen.”

Her friend leaned close, “For you see, we were never introduced to him when we were children, but the present Duke of Blackmoore is-”

“A no-good rakish bastard?” Penelope raised an eyebrow. “Indeed, I had thepleasureof discovering that for myself earlier today.”

Rebecca’s eyes grew even wider. “You mean... he’s presently staying at Blackmoore Manor as well? But I’ve always heard he has a separate townhouse—you know, for his... exploits.”

Penelope shuddered upon hearing this. “The dowager duchess mentioned that it’s currently being renovated. So, he’s staying at Blackmoore in the meantime.”

“Then you must be extremely careful, Pen,” Rebecca urged her. “He’s a ruiner of reputations with no limits to his depravity.”

“Goodness,” Penelope shook her head, “and with such an angelic face too.”

“It’s his most effective weapon.” Her friend nodded seriously, “besides his powers of smooth talking.”

“Don’t worry,” Penelope assured her, “men of his sort hardly spend any time at home anyway, which means my other problem is far more pressing.”

“Indeed...” her friend sighed, “if I wasn’t so busy with my in-laws and the children, I would be helping you in your search every day, Pen. But I’m afraid my domestic responsibilities are just so-”

Penelope squeezed her hand. “It’s all right, Rebecca. You have more than enough on your plate as it is. I shall find a way to take care of it.” She nodded toward the other guests in the room. “But if you still want to help, perhaps you could direct me to some good prospects while we’re here.” Rebecca raised a mischievous eyebrow as she scanned the other guests in the room, “Admittedly, I’ve been out of the loop since my last pregnancy but- Ah! I know for a fact that the Earl of Willowdale is available! A very kind gentleman, I believe he’s about twenty-and-seven, with strong connections in the navy.”

Penelope followed Rebecca’s line of gaze, which led to a smiling gentleman on the other side of the room, who was engaged in a lively conversation with the Viscount of Ivybridge.

“Handsome too, yes?” Rebecca giggled. “The dowager duchess and I can introduce you two.”

Penelope’s heartbeat quickened. “Oh, but with prospects like that, he’d certainly be interested in fresher debutantes. Isn’t there anyone with a little less competition? I just need to get engaged and married as quickly as possible.”

Rebecca lightly tapped her chin. “In that case... you won’t mind someone who’s... say, a widower, for example?”

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