Page 98 of Saved By the Rakish Duke

“Be careful you two!” Penelope gasped, holding both hands up in an attempt to stop them. “We can't have you slipping and hurting yourselves just before the wedding!”

Lucy was the first to listen, stopping her chase of her brother at once. “Sorry, Mother,” she murmured, clasping her hands together over the front of her skirt, “we got carried away.”

Once the younger child realized that no one was chasing him, he let out a huff and then began trudging towards his sister.

“It’s all right, Lucy...” Penelope cooed, hurrying to her side, “Did you just call me, ‘Mother’?” she smiled.

“Yes,” blinked the girl, “I do hope that’s all right? Father said we didn’t have to wait until tomorrow to start cal-”

“It’s more than all right.” Penelope brushed a curly lock away with her hand. “But like I said,pleasefind a less risky means to spend your time.”

The children offered polite promises before they scurried away hand-in-hand, presumably towards the garden, with a maid trailing behind them.

Just one more day.Penelope steadied herself with a deep breath.Just one more day until I become a mother.

* * *

Duncan stretched his arms high above his head, temporarily relieving the ache that burned into his lower back. He couldn’t remember the last time he had sat down this long uninterrupted. As a reward for finally getting through the looming stack of papers to his right, Duncan rose from his chair and began to stalk around his office.

Save for Rowley bringing him his meals, Duncan had hardly spoken to a soul today. All the ladies of the house had gone to Gloushire’s for the final preparations, leaving the house to sit quiet and devoid of any commotion for the first time since the wedding planning had begun.

He wondered how Lady Penelope was handling the tension and stress. Duncan imagined her absent-mindedly chewing her lip to soothe her nerves—a dangerous habit for a woman as stunning as her.

He slammed a fist on the table, rebuking himself for allowing his thoughts to drift towards her yet again. It was a battle that Duncan had spent the better part of the day fighting while he attempted to get some work done.

The winds initially appeared to be in his favor, but alas, the warmth of the afternoon sun reminded him of her reddish-brown locks and how her eyes appeared almost golden in the heavenly lighting. And thus, the winds and tides of battle shifted against Duncan, and he found himself getting lost in the thought of her more and more as the day dragged on.

Every passing minute made it painfully clear that Duncan could never bring himself to attend the wedding tomorrow. His eyes briefly scanned the room for an excuse—momentarily considering pretending to be ill.

However, he quickly realized that perhaps he need not bother with a ruse at all—especially after Lady Penelope looked at him with such deep hurt and betrayal in her eyes that fateful night in the kitchen.

He didn’t need to explain himself to her, and even if he tried, she would be too busy and too indignant to hear him out.

“You selfish bastard.”Her fatal words rang in his ears.

A hand flew up to massage his temples while the other supported his weight against the nearest wall.

Perhaps I could afford to be selfish one more time,he thought to himself.Yes, and then never again. I shall never be selfish with hereveragain,he vowed to himself.

Striding back to his desk, Duncan took out a fresh leaf of paper. But his bravado deserted him the moment he picked up the quill and his hand hovered indecisively just above the page.

Naturally, Lady Penelope and her mother would go straight to Willowdale Manor immediately after the ceremony, rendering today their final day here at Blackmoore. When would he next get to speak to her after he intentionally skipped her wedding tomorrow?

Once again, he found his mind torn. His selfishness urged him to write down everything he wished he had said, to make excuses, to drag out his goodbye until it was several pages long.

As if she would even bother to read all of it.He bitterly laughed to himself.She hates you now, remember?

He winced at the thought. What sort of wretch was he that he had managed to earn the wrath of even a creature as gentle and kind as Lady Penelope?

So, Duncan kept his note short.

In no more than three sentences, Duncan apologized for his absence, wished her well, and thanked her for her friendship. His eyes lingered over the bottom of the page where he had signed: “Yours, Blackmoore” and cursed his script for being slightly shakier than usual and prayed that she wouldn’t notice.

Duncan slipped the note into his pocket with the intention of discreetly asking Rowley to take it to her room first thing in the morning.

But when he yanked his office door open, Duncan found Lady Penelope standing before him, her dangerous hazel eyes peering up at him once more.

And suddenly Duncan wished he hadn’t just used up his final chance at being selfish.

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