Page 46 of The Duchess' Ultimatum
Penelope scowled. “Well… first of all… you make it seem that I… I was not trying to…” Evelina was grinning with triumph. “Oh, be quiet,” Penelope snapped.
Barbabra burst into hysterics and Evelina snatched her glass and indicated for a waiter to refill it. They were drinking lemonade, as Dorian had asked that his sister not drink alcohol today. But from the way she was laughing and how red her face was turning, you wouldn’t know it.
Penelope shook her head as if the comparison was not true, but she could not deny the similarities. Funny that she’d never realized it herself, now wondering if Barbara’s future might have in store anything like what had happened to Penelope.
I sure hope not. Barbara, for all her flaws, deserves better than what happened to me. And I will need to keep my eye on her this weekend, making sure that whoever does try and court her has only the best intentions.
A fine idea but with a clear obstacle that Penelope would need to surmount because no sooner did she decide on this, did she look past her sister and into the garden party, spying who she could only guess to be the first suitor that Barbara might have to deal with this weekend.
And worse than that, he wasn’t alone.
“Oh no…” she said to herself before she could help it.
“What?” Barbara caught the expression on her face, followed her gaze, and then grimaced. “Oh… wonderful.”
It was Dorian who had Penelope staring. He was walking through the garden, his sights set on her like an arrow fired from a bow. With him walked a young man in his early twenties, tall and gangly, red of hair, fidgeting terribly with his hands the whole while.
“Who is that he’s with?” Evelina asked.
Penelope did not know the answer, but she knew the intention. This entire weekend was designed for Barbara to find herself a suitor, and by the looks of things Dorian was doing as he promised. The first of many, she was sure, no time wasted because as he told her so often, his sister meant the world to him and he would do anything for her.
“Oh…” Barbara took Penelope by the hand. “I don’t… what if… what do I do?” She was shaking nervously.
“You don’t have to do anything,” Penelope assured her. “Be polite. Smile. I am sure your brother will do most of the talking.”
“Ah, I see,” Evelina said. “It starts.”
Seeing Dorian come for her and Penelope’s mind raced back to the one place she had been so desperate to keep it from all day – all weekend, she hoped, but that had last less than two hours. It was last evening, she was back standing before the duke, their lips were pressed together, her heart was soaring, her world and everything in it was falling perfectly into place… only to be torn from her like a limb getting hacked off.
She still could not believe what had happened.
For a few short and glorious seconds, Penelope dared to let herself believe that Dorian wanted more from this marriage than he had given her. And she was ready to give the same to him. No more confusion. No more denying what she knew to be true in her heart. The emptiness inside of her filling like it had not done in years and her life looked to finally be complete…
And just as quickly as it started, it ended. Dorian pulled away, said goodnight, and slammed the door in her face. And she was left standing there, alone and more confused than ever.
If I had wondered how he felt before that, now I know it for fact. He wants nothing to do with me. A feeling which is mutual.
“Evelina…” Penelope slowly pulled her hand from Barbara’s. “Perhaps we should go –”
“What?!” Barbara was on her. “Go? Where -- why? Please, Penelope, I need you…” She could not have looked more terrified.
“You don’t,” Penelope assured her softly. “Dorian will not leave your side, I am sure of it. Let him do the talking, smile and laugh when you think you must, and you will be fine.”
“But… but… but..”
Penelope felt awful for abandoning Barbara. But she couldn’t bear to face Dorian either. To pretend that everything was fine, to put on airs of happiness and civility for the sake of the party. He was the one that had forced this most awkward situation, so he was the one who should suffer its consequences.
“Evelina…” Penelope came to a decision. “Might you stay with her?”
Evelina frowned. “Me? Why don’t…” She saw the pleading look in Penelope’s eyes and then glanced past them, taking note of Dorian. “Right, yes. Of course.”
“Thank you.”
“Penelope…” Barbara winced.
“I’ll come find you after, I promise.” She took her hand and gave it a squeeze, then pulled it free again and slowly stepped away.
It was just then that Dorian and the young lord were approaching, so close that Penelope could almost smell him as she could last night. It was in her head, of course, but that just told of how resounding the effect of their moment had been.
