Page 25 of The Duchess' Ultimatum
“Who is Mark.”
“My older brother, even older than Dorian. He too passed away, several years ago now – did you not know?”
“No…” Penelope shrunk back, feeling embarrassed for a reason she could not explain. “I had no idea.”
She didn’t know anything about Dorian’s family. Or his life, for that matter. A man who she had been married to for three years and he was a complete stranger. It should not have mattered, as she told herself so often that she did not wish to know him or care to do so. And yet…it feels wrong. This marriage, my life, I really am alone in this world.
They walked quickly from the grave, around the back of the garden, and were soon on their way to the back door. It was perhaps only thirty minutes altogether, but it was the best thirty minutes of Penelope’s life since arriving at the estate.
Indeed, as they approached the back entrance, she was laughing at a joke that Barbara made, one which had Barbara laughing just as hard. And it was because they were so distracted, that neither noticed how they were being watched…
“… truly! And not just spiders, but he is terrified of all bugs.”
“Oh, he is not,” Penelope laughed.
“Well… maybe not terrified,” she admitted. “But the last time a spider found its way into the house, he was locked in his study. He told me he was busy and did not want to waste time dealing with such things. But I knew the truth.”
“And what truth is that.”
“Obviously that he doesn’t like spiders!”
“Maybe he was just busy,” Penelope laughed.
“No, no. He is a big softie,” Barbara giggled. “Which is why he likes to pretend to be so mean. Makes him feel more tough than he is.”
“Barbara…” The duke’s voice cut through their hysterics like a hammer beating against a gong. “What is the meaning of this?”
The two women froze mid-step. Their eyes widened as one, laughter dying on their tongues, mouths dropping open to find Dorian standing at the end of the pathway. He had his arms folded across his chest, a single eyebrow raised in derision, and a look on his face that made it seem impossible that such a stern figure could be afraid of something as harmless as a butterfly.
“Dorian…” Barbara grimaced. “I was just… telling Penelope of –”
“I heard well enough what you were telling her.” He did not sound angry, but he did not sound particularly happy either. “My meaning is, what are you doing out here? I thought to find you in your room.”
“Just taking advantage of the day, Brother. It is rather lovely.”
“Even more so beyond the estate, I assure you.”
She scoffed. “Somehow, I doubt it.” She laughed softly then and shook her head, pulling her arm from Penelope’s and steppingforward. “Penelope, it was lovely to meet you. Please, feel free to come by my room anytime you wish.”
“I will…” Penelope could not look away from Dorian, who was eyeing the two of them with an unreadable expression. Both dark and curious in one. “And it was nice meeting you.”
Barbara giggled as she approached her brother. There, she touched him on the arm, said something that Penelope could not hear, and then wandered inside.
This had the unfortunate result of leaving Penelope alone with her husband.
“I did not know you had a sister,” Penelope said, swallowing the lump that had appeared in her throat.
“It is no great secret.”
“You might have mentioned her.”
He shrugged. “You did not ask.”
“Yes, well…” She clicked her tongue awkwardly, not at all sure what was going on. Or why the duke was looking at her like that. “I will just be going inside then…” She started along the path, her head down as she made to walk around him.
“You two seemed to be having a nice conversation,” he said just as she was about to pass him by.
“Excuse me?” she stopped and looked at him, surprised to see that he wore a slight smile.
