"I suppose," he said, wishing he knew how much time had passed. He really ought to be getting back. He needed to approve the plans for the new homes before the end of the day, for the building was due to begin by the end of the week.
But he dismounted and helped her off her horse, trying not to notice how pleasant it was to hold her close to him, just for a moment. She would be leaving very shortly, and that was a good thing indeed. He didn’t want to be distracted, or tempted into doing something he would later regret.
She sat upon a moss-covered log, not seeming concerned over her dress – which was the one she had arrived in, washed and looking none the worse for wear for its adventure. From her pocket, she pulled out a bundle tied up with string, and unwrapped it. She held it to him first, offering him the biscuits, and he took one with a word of thanks.
"You can sit down, you know," she said with a smile on her lips.
He sat beside her, feeling it would be rude not to, but the log was small enough that he had to sit closer than he would have liked. Not because it was unpleasant to sit next to thelady with no name, but because it was rather too pleasant. He shouldn’t be noticing the warmth of her body beside his, or the smell of lavender he could detect, which he presumed came from the soap she had been using.
???
She could feel the tension rolling off him, sat so close, but she presumed it was because he was worried about wasting time out here with her, eating delicious fresh shortbread in the woods. She wanted to tell him that she spent as much time as she could wandering aimlessly, exploring and enjoying nature – but that would be admitting too much of a memory.
She also wasn’t sure it was the sort of trait men really liked in a woman. Would he just think she was frivolous, as he clearly did his sisters?
She knew, when she was one day wed, she would have a home to run and children to tend to. But up until that day arrived, she only had her needlework, her piano practice, and whatever social events her parents dragged her to.
That left her with plenty of spare time to enjoy the beautiful county she lived in. She knew the Duke had many more responsibilities than she did. But even so, she did not think it was healthy to spend every moment of one’s day focused on duty. Even when you were a duke.Especiallywhen you were a duke, and could easily pay enough staff to help you. Surely, as well as responsibility, such privilege bought freedom?
"Why do you prefer to stay here at Dunloch Castle, instead of venturing south for the Season?" she asked as they ate.
"There is always much to be done here," he replied instantly.
"Yes…but most estates require regular upkeep," she began. "Or so I understand," she hurriedly added. "And yet don’t most titled gentlemen manage to go to London for the Season, or at least to another of their estates for the hunting?"
"Not every titled gentleman is as dedicated to their estate as I am," he said irritably. "Besides, London is busy and noisy and generally unpleasant. I have no wish to gamble, or to attend balls, so what would be the point in going?"
"Well, if one does not enjoy the entertainments, the aim I believe is usually to find a spouse," Penelope countered. She herself did not enjoy London, but she went every year – partly because her parents insisted, and partly because it seemed everyone thought it was the only place where she would find a suitable husband.
But perhaps they were wrong…
"As you must not remember what London is like, you cannot understand," he said, brushing errant biscuit crumbs from his jacket. "But it is not a place I would choose to frequent. Perhaps, when it is time for me to take a wife, I will have to go to meet an appropriate woman – but I do nothing without good reason, as I believe you understand."
He stood abruptly, and it was clear that he was signalling the end of their little outing.
She didn’t like London herself, but she could not tell him that. And neither did now seem the right time to tell him that she thought sometimes, it was good to do things without having any reason at all.
"We must return," he said, offering his hand to help her onto the horse. "I have much to attend to, and tomorrow I shall call for the doctor, and that will be another day lost."
Feeling like a burden, Penelope took his hand and allowed him to help her onto the horse. She would have toremember who she was before he had time to call for the doctor, and it was not a conversation she was looking forward to.
???
Having wasted much of the afternoon in the woods, James was irritated when there was a knock on his study door, not long after they had returned. He needed to scrutinise the plans carefully, before he approved them – and to do that he needed some peace and quiet.
But apparently, some peace and quiet was not something he was going to get.
"I have some information to share, Your Grace," his man of business, Thomas, said upon entering his study.
James looked up from the plans before him. "Oh?"
Thomas closed the door and gingerly walked towards him. "It is of a rather delicate nature," he said, not meeting James’s eye.
"Just tell me, man. I haven’t got all day," James said, wishing his staff were not so cautious around him. Whatever it was, he was a man of the world – he doubted it would shock him greatly.
"It is regarding Mrs Simmons," Thomas said.
James frowned. "If it is regarding the blackmail and the topic of the blackmail, then no further discussion is needed. What happened is in the past, and I believe it is better for all concerned if we forget about it."
