Page 30 of A Duke's Wicked Secret
“Of course, you can ask me anything, Theo; you never have to ask that,” Penelope replied.
“Well, you and I are both only children, and it made me wonder if when you have children, you also only want one or if you would prefer to have more than that?”
“Oh, that is an easy question. I most assuredly want more than one; God willing, I want to have at least four or five.”
“What makes you say so many, Penelope?”
“I have hated being an only child. Thankfully, I have had my close friend Georgina, who has been like a sister to me, but still, there were so many times I spent alone with no one to play with and share all the small little beautiful moments of life with, and had I but had a sibling, that would not have been the case.”
“I am so glad to hear that, Penelope. I felt the same growing up. I always wondered what it would have been like to have a sister. My parents wanted more but sadly were never blessed with another child after they had me.”
“I am sorry, Theo, my parents had a son before I was born, and then when they had me, they never had another. So may I ask you a question now?”
“Ask away, beautiful!” Theo replied.
“Do you prefer to spend most of your time alone? My parents will go the course of almost an entire day apart and hardly speak until returning to the dinner table, and I just wondered if this is normal for couples ...”
“Well, I am not sure what is ‘normal’ for couples. I can tell you it was not so with my parents; they spent most of their days together, and it was evident that they hated being apart and were always eager to be by the other’s side again when separated. I would also want my relationship with my wife to be like this.”
“So, would I. I want my husband and me to be best friends and look at everything as a team. Of course, we would have different roles and such, but we would do things from a place of being on the same side.”
“I love that. But we are coming to the place where we must part ways. I will watch you from the hill as I did before. Goodbye, my sweet Penelope,” Theo said.
“Once again, the time has gone by far too quickly. Goodbye, Theo. I will miss you!” Penelope said this and shared one final kiss with her handsome man before taking off down the hill towards her father’s estate.
As Theo watched her from the cover of the tree, he thought about how he hoped that one day returning her safely home would be to his estate that they would share.
***
Penelope stepped inside just before it began pouring, but she was already thoroughly wet and not just from the rain. Penelope loved how spontaneous Theo was and how he made her feel so wanted and desired.
Penelope went to her chambers, slipped out of her wet riding clothes, took a towel to dry her wet curls and body, and found something appropriate to wear down to the breakfast table. Breakfast was a quiet affair, with no one having much to say. Papa was busy reading his paper, and Mamma, not much of a morning person, said little other than to pass the milk.
On the way from the table, Georgina said that she wanted to hear about Penelope’s ride, and Penelope agreed to tell her. She did so but left out a few of the more risqué moments she did not feel her friend needed to know in explicit detail.
Georgina agreed that the plan to have Mr Davenport for dinner was an excellent idea, and she would go down now to the sitting room in the east wing to find Penelope’s mother and ask if he could be invited tomorrow night.
“I am going to stay here and take a small nap. I feel much tired from this morning’s ride. Just tell Mamma I have a headache if she asks where I am; will you please, Georgina,” stated Penelope.
Georgina smiled when Penelope said she was tired, and she said nothing other than a nod of understanding and quietly exited the room so Penelope could sleep. After Georgina was gone, Penelope took her journal out of her hiding place and opened it to a blank sheet.
April Twenty-sixth, 1811
Dear Journal,
Theo told me of his plan to start winning Papa’s approval so that he may court me, and I truly hope that it works. Today he asked me how many children I wish to have, and although he did not say it directly that he was thinking of the two of us and having children together, I feel certain that was his reason for asking me a question such as that.
Hmm, the thought of having children with Theo is a dream too wonderful to ask for. I think he would make such a wonderful papa. How I would love to see him holding our first child in his arms and smiling down on me with our tiny new-born babe asleep in his strong embrace.
If he is able to gain my father’s approval, I wonder if Theo would ask for my hand in marriage this season or if he would desire a long courtship?
Oh, I truly hope not! I want to be married to him already, and the thought of waiting until possibly next season would be too much to bear. Surely Theo would not wish this either. I wish I had the courage to ask him this outright, but I cannot bring myself to be the first of the two of us to speak of marriage.
I wonder what my parents will be like as grandparents. I hope that they enjoy it and are involved in my children’s lives for as long as they are living. It is strange to think that one day they will not be here, Lord, please let that day be many, many years from now!
I would love it if …
Before Penelope was able to finish this thought, she had drifted off to sleep with her quill still in hand. A little while later, she realised she had fallen asleep and stood from her desk, laid on her bed, and took a long nap.
