Page 12 of A Duke's Wicked Secret
“That honestly does not surprise me, and I would say you are most certainly correct,” said Alexander.
“Exactly, he probably wanted to leave before he ran into me since he has obviously been avoiding me as of late!” barked a man Penelope did not recognise as he presumptuously inserted himself into their conversation.
“I do not believe that is the case at all, Mr Lancaster, but I will be sure to pass along your concerns with the duke, and he will certainly address you in due time,” said Alexander respectfully but also making it clear that he stood behind his friend.
“Ah, please forgive me. I do not believe we have officially been introduced, Ms Ainsworth. Alexander, do the honours,” stated the man, as though he were the master of the house.
“This is Ms Penelope Ainsworth and her good friend Ms Georgina Stuart. Ladies, this is Mr Rupert Lancaster, who has just recently returned from years in France,” stated Alexander.
“Ms Ainsworth, it is my absolute pleasure to make your acquaintance, but honestly, I am shocked to find that you would allow an insane man into your honoured estate.”
“He is not insane!” said Penelope and Alexander in unison. At this, Alexander gave Penelope a pleasantly surprised look that she would defend Theo after such a short time of knowing him.
“Well, Mr Davenport, I will just have to agree to disagree with you … but, Ms Ainsworth, as for you, a young lady such as yourself cannot be expected to know such things. You are still so young and naïve,” remarked Mr Lancaster.
“Or perhaps I am blessed with the gift to see people for how they truly are. The duke is very kind and always polite. He is completely sane,” retorted Penelope. She said this with the expected decorum and subtly made her point clear.
***
“Alexander, this evening is quite warm. Why don’t we go to the pond to see if we can catch some fish? We have not had a free evening to do so where the weather has been corporative,” suggested Theo, who had been in an extremely pleasant mood all day since the musicale.
“I think that sounds like a superb idea! I think we have not been able to fish since last October.” They both were eager to get to their favourite fishing spot on the pond. It was the same spot they had been sneaking off to since they were small boys, and Theo was hiding from their tutor’s dull lessons. After they had settled in and set their lines, Alexander began to tell Theo what he had missed after he left the musicale.
“I wish you had not rushed off so soon at the musicale today,” stated Alexander.
“I apologise. I just needed to leave when I did. What makes you say this, though? When last I saw you, it appeared that you were completely content watching Ms Georgina.”
At this, Alexander’s face reddened. “She truly is the most captivating creature I have ever beheld, Theo. I just wish she would make her feelings more clear. I cannot tell if she is just being polite towards my attention, or if she returns my affections for her,” said an anguished Alexander.
“I understand, Alexander. I think it would be best for you to pursue her boldly, and you will know for sure if she feels as you do. But if you want my opinion on the matter, I will say that she most assuredly favours you.” Alexander snapped his head up at this last piece of information, seemingly taken aback to learn that Theo thought this.
“Why do you say that, Theo? Do you know something? If so, you must enlighten me. I beg of you!”
“I do not know anything for sure. I simply say this because of the evidence my very own eyes provided. She lights up like a lantern every time you are around her. Furthermore, Ms Ainsworth is determined to set up the two of you,” answered Theo.
“How so?”
“She came here personally to ensure you and I attended the musicale, and she made statements today that led me to believe this.”
“You have no idea how much this delights me to learn that Ms Georgina could possibly care for me as well! Oh, speaking of Ms Ainsworth, I almost forgot to tell you what happened today.”
This led the two men to speak at length about the encounter with Mr Lancaster, how Penelope had defended Theo, and that Theo had not found any truth to Rupert’s claims of his being left out of business he had rights to per an agreement with Theo’s father. Then they both fell quiet, as each of the men was lost in his own thoughts about the events of the day.
As the night drew to a close, Theo retired to his chambers and finally laid his head to rest on his goose feather pillow, and he found his mind once again focused on Penelope.
All day long, she had been in the back of his mind, and he had to force himself to push her out of his head so that he could accomplish the tasks at hand. Now that he was finally free to let his mind wander wherever it wished, Penelope was at the forefront of his thoughts.
“God, how I wish I could have tasted her lips today!” Theo said out loud. Would she have returned his kiss, or would she have pulled away from him? Her eyes had told him that she wanted to feel his warm kiss as dearly as he did, but still ... Could it really be possible, or was it all just imagined in his head?
What would it feel like to pull her small waist into his broad body so that his manhood could have her pressed against him?
“Alright, enough of this! Where is that wash basin? I need to cool down and sleep,” said Theo to himself. With that, he washed his face and neck and forced himself to clear his mind and sleep.
There, Theo had thought to find himself free of tempestuous feelings, but instead, Penelope was at the centre of his dreams. In the morning, he awoke to his heart pumping … and a sticky mess covering the spot in his sheets where he had been lying face down.
***
The birds sang and alerted Penelope to the coming of dawn. Once she had washed her face and slipped on her riding clothes, she wondered if she would run into the duke that morning. Secretly Penelope hoped that she would see him and finally have time with him when no one else was around.
