Page 51 of Saved By the Rakish Duke

She nudged his side. “For your information, I paint landscapes, Your Grace.”

“Then paint me into one of them,” he teased. “People are always the most interesting elements of a painting.”

Penelope pretended to sniff her glass, “Just how much sugar did they put in this?” she joked.

“Thanks to our intermission, you’ve clearly regained some of your fire, Lady Pen.” He returned his glass to the tray. “Shall we put that energy to productive use?”

With only some hesitance, Penelope returned her glass as well and followed him to the center of the room.

“You expressed concerns that this is overwhelming.” Her instructor resumed their lesson. “But you don’t have to worry about controllingeverytiny movementallthe time because certain details are more likely to stand out to your suitor depending on the activity.”

“Er.... All right, Your Grace. Though I feel as though this remark contradicts your earlier statements.”

The duke tapped his chin as he thought of an alternate way to put it. “How about this, let's say we’re dancing at the ball...” He gestured for her to step closer.

She obliged, albeit somewhat nervously.

“...so, as we dance,” he continued, holding her hand and waist in position, “you’ll be observing your suitor’s behavior, of course. But can you clearly see everything when we're positioned like this?”

“Of course not.” She shook her head. “The first rule of dancing is to never look down at one’s feet, so for now, I can’t really observe hisentirebody, just the top half.”

“That's right.” The duke nodded, beginning their dance despite the lack of music. “And the same is true vice versa. As we sway and step, your suitor will also be limited to focusing on your face and the top half ofyourbody. Meaning-”

“Meaning that I only have to be extra vigilant about what my upper body is doing—both intentionally and unintentionally!” she interjected, finally getting the point. “Even so, that still sounds like a lot of work.”

“The more you practice, the easier it’ll become,” he promised, suddenly deciding to twirl her around. “But if I were to simplify it even further, I’d say you could be more careful with your eyes.”

“My eyes?” she frowned, returning her hand to his shoulder after her twirl. “What’s wrong with them?”

“It’s not that there’s something wrong per se,” he laughed at her concern. “I've simply noticed that yours are far more expressive than those of any other lady I’ve met. As a result, I’d advise you to be more-”

He froze so suddenly that he almost tripped Penelope up. She looked over her shoulder in search of the cause and was horrified to find both the dowager duchess and Mother standing by the door.

She practically leaped out of His Grace’s arms, abashedly tucking her hands behind her back.

“Excited for the upcoming Duke and Duchess of Sunbourne’s ball, are we?” grinned Her Grace.

“As usual, it’s been predicted to be one of the biggest events of the Season,” the duke answered. “I suggested to Lady Penelope that it would be prudent to be as best prepared as possible and she agreed, hence our little rehearsal.”

“How prudent indeed, darling,” the dowager duchess replied with a knowing smile. “Please don’t let us hinder you. I shall have Rowley retrieve chairs for the two of us and we could watch you pra-”

“Oh, that won’t be necessary, Mother.” His Grace hastily cut her off. “We were practically already done anyway, right, Lady Pen?”

“Yes, Your Grace,” Penelope answered, a little unsure whether she should be addressing the duke or his mother. Regardless, she found it necessary to keep her eyes trained straight ahead lest she accidentally meet her own mother’s gaze.

“In that case, are you two ready to take tea?” Her Grace suggested.

Penelope heaved a sigh of relief at this subject change while His Grace accepted the offer on both his and her behalf.

As they left the ballroom, she locked eyes with him one last time. With a wink, the duke pretended to wipe sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand.

Penelope grinned, raising her hand to copy and return his gesture.

Being friends with someone so persuasive certainly has its strengths.

CHAPTER17

“Graystone!” Penelope exclaimed in delight. “Goodness, I suppose they weren’t exaggerating when they said the entiretonwould be here.”

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