Page 77 of Saved By the Rakish Duke

At this remark, Lord Gloushire dropped everything he had been holding to dash towards the water’s edge. In the meantime, Penelope shot His Grace a tired look.

“What?” he asked innocently, “I’m only trying to help.”

Penelope looked towards the river to find Lord Gloushire and Mother holding the children back while the former rolled up a sleeve to check the current.

Even from this distance, she could see his shoulders relax with relief before he made some final remarks to the children, no doubt warning them to be careful and avoid going too far.

Once he returned, he, Penelope, and His Grace continued to spread out the blankets and brought out the food.

“Thank you, dear,” breathed the Dowager Duchess as His Grace helped lower her onto the cushion he had brought for her. “Will you be swimming as well?” she joked, nodding towards the children splashing each other in the river.

His Grace pretended to check his pockets and then the basket nearest to him. “How unfortunate! I seem to have forgotten my swimming costume,” he grinned, eliciting light laughter from Penelope and Her Grace.

“A pity,” mused Lord Gloushire. “It would have been a wonderful opportunity to spend time with your intellectual equals.”

“Lord Gloushire...” Penelope elbowed his side, “with childish jabs like that I have half a mind to declareyouas Lucy and Reggie’s intellectual equals.”

“It’s all in good humor, my love,” answered the viscount, pressing an apologetic kiss to her hand. “Besides, the Duke of Blackmoore doesn’t mind my joke, isn’t that right, Your Grace?”

“Not at all,” the duke answered, his expression stiff. “My uproarious laughter should be more than enough proof as it- Ouch.” He yelped as the dowager duchess pinched his arm.

“What has gotten into you two today?” tutted the older woman.

Penelope grimaced at the question, knowing that it was her idea to attempt brokering a truce between the men. But in her defense, each one had separately promised her that he would put in his best effort to achieve peace.

“Are you absolutely sure that you want to let him tag along, dear?” Lord Gloushire had asked when Penelope had informed him that His Grace was well enough to join them after all. “In truth, I only invited him out of courtesy to his mother, who I know is very dear to you.”

“They’re both dear to me,” Penelope had explained. “As my godmother, the dowager duchess has done so much for us this year, but His Grace has also been a wonderful friend. Not to mention, this Season has been quite taxing on him as well. So, it would mean ever so much if you would let him-”

“Very well,” acquiesced the viscount. “How could I deny those pretty eyes anything? But he better not ruin my surprise.”

“Surprise?” she had gasped. “For me?”

“Don’t you dare try to pry it out of me.” He wagged a finger at her. “Especially not when this weekend is so close already.”

“Is there no way I can convince you?” she pouted, playfully batting her eyelashes at him. “Even for just a hint?”

The viscount raised a hand to shield his eyes. “Begone, you doe-eyed enchantress! I refuse to gaze into the depths of your hazel eyes any longer.”

Penelope let out a chuckle. “All right. I promise I won’t force you to reveal what it is as long as you promise me something in return.”

Her suitor peeked at her through his fingers. “And what would that be, my beloved?”

“That you’ll be nice to His Grace during our excursion.” She folded her arms. “I don’t know why you two are so hostile towards each other in the first place, but like you, I want to have as pleasant of a picnic as possible.”

The viscount had groaned, before dropping his hand to squeeze hers. “For you, my dearest, I promise I shall do my best.”

Penelope had then received a similar promise from His Grace once she conveyed that Lord Gloushire was looking forward to having him join the excursion.

“Friends aren’t supposed to lie to each other,” the duke had tutted. “So tell me what you’re leveraging against Gloushire in order to convince him to let me join?”

Penelope had rolled her eyes. “All right, I may have rephrased his words slightly,” she admitted, “but the fact remains that he himself said that you should be there.”

His Grace let out a scoff of disbelief, “You know, I only accepted the invitation because I had full confidence he’d make up some feeble excuse at the last minute to turn me down.”

“I still don’t understand why you both dislike each other so strongly!” Penelope sighed exasperatedly. “What could you two possibly have disagreed about? Was it something pertaining to business?”

But instead of receiving a direct answer, His Grace merely flashed her an amused look. “I’ll join you all, but only to assist Mother.”

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