Page 22 of A Duke's Wicked Secret
“Mamma, I am feeling quite exhausted. Would it be all right if I go ahead and retire for the evening?”
“Of course, my dear. The hour is growing quite late. Sleep well, darling.” Penelope leaned down, kissed her mother on her cheek, and went up to her chambers.
“I am all right, Bessie. I will get myself ready for bed tonight; thank you, though,” Penelope said when her handmaiden walked in to assist her. Bessie nodded and replied, “Good night, mistress.” With that, Bessie curtsied and left the room.
But getting ready for bed was the last thing on Penelope’s mind. She locked her chamber door so no one could come in for the rest of the night. All the lords’ and ladies’ talk about the duke had angered her greatly, and she was determined to tell Theo what she had heard about Mr Lancaster and Henry.
Penelope changed from her evening gown into clothes for riding, carefully climbed out of her window onto the tree, and down to the ground. Then she made her way down to the stables and found Phoenix in her stall.
“Hello, girl; are you awake still?” Phoenix turned around in her stall to face Penelope and neighed quietly at her as if to say:
‘What are you doing here so late?’
“I know it’s not our usual riding time, but I need you tonight. Come on, let’s go,” whispered Penelope as she opened the stall door. Penelope left all the tack in the stables and mounted Phoenix bareback without a bridle to avoid being in the stables any longer than necessary.
Once they were a far enough distance from her family’s estate not to be heard, Penelope coaxed Phoenix to a gallop and took off towards the duke’s estate.
It was a clear moonlight night out, and when Penelope arrived at his estate, she realised she had not considered how she would find Theo without being seen by anyone else. She dared not knock at his front door and risk being seen by the servants.
For a moment, Penelope was at a loss as to what she should do next, but then she spotted Theo walking out on the balcony overlooking his gardens. Thrilled to see him, Penelope quietly approached the gardens, tied Phoenix to a nearby tree, and ventured into the gardens. As she neared where Theo was standing, she called out to him.
Chapter 9
Theo heard her calling and looked to see where she was as Penelope stepped into the moonlight like a garden fairy.
“Penelope, what on earth are you doing here? It worries me to think of you riding out in the dark like this! You could get hurt,” exclaimed Theo, though from the huge smile and look of delight, it was evident that he was extremely pleased to see her.
“I know, but I could not bear being away from you another moment. My heart has been aching for you all day since we parted this morning. My parents were holding a dinner party, and the entire evening I kept thinking about how I just wanted to be with you, Theo.”
“I know I should be vexed that you would do something so reckless and risky, but I cannot even pretend I am not completely thrilled to see you right now. You have held my thoughts captive all day long. Come in and get yourself warm by the hearth before you catch a chill,” said Theo as he led her inside with his arm wrapped around her back.
“Theo, I want to tell you about what I heard some of the lords and ladies saying tonight about Mr Lancaster and Mr Carlton.”
“Tell me, my love, but take a glass of sherry here. I am sure you must be parched from your ride in the cool night air.”
“Thank you, my throat is a bit dry …” said Penelope as she gratefully accepted the small crystal glass and took a sip of the amber coloured liquid before continuing, “I was terribly bored at the party and was paying little attention to what was being said until someone mentioned Mr Lancaster.”
“What were they saying?”
“Well, most of it was filled with the typical gossip, but then a lord mentioned how he had seen the two men discussing you and looking for a way to see that you get what they feel is coming to you …”
At this statement, Penelope’s voice faltered, and Theo saw a tear escape her beautiful sapphire eye. “Oh, Theo, I am worried. Henry is not the boy I was friends with as a child. I do not know what he is capable of.”
“Sshh, Penelope, sshh, it will be all right, I am sure of it. Thank you for telling me this, though,” Theo answered in an attempt to calm her fears as he wiped away the tear from her rosy cheek.
“I just could not bear it if they did anything to you because of me. He was so convinced that I would accept his proposal, and now that he has been rejected, I am afraid of his retaliation.”
“I know, I will be fine, and I will see what can be done about this issue. For now, though, you just need to calm down, sweet Penelope,” Theo stated with a comforting authority. Penelope sat down her glass, walked over to where Theo sat, and made herself comfortable in his lap with his arms around her.
Mere moments later, they were lost in each other’s eyes and began kissing passionately. His touch ignited Penelope’s entire body, and she longed to know what it was like to be with this man she had fallen for so deeply.I know I should not be here, much less considering giving myself to Theo, but I know in my heart he is the right man for me to venture down this scary but amazing road with!
“We should stop while I still can, Penelope,” said Theo as he fought to pull his lips from hers.
“I do not want to stop, Theo. I want you to show me what it is like to be loved fully as I give myself to you completely.”
“Penelope, are you sure about this?” asked Theo.
“I am. I want you to be the man to take my maidenhood. I want you, Theo; I have thought long and hard about this, and I am absolutely certain,” Penelope replied with conviction and longing in her eyes.
