For a brief moment, she felt a current go through her body.
Strange.Penelope wondered if he felt the same. But his expression gave nothing away. She found herself wanting to read his mind.
What even goes on in that head of his?She wondered, then blushed when she thought about his hands. They seemed quite bigger than her own, and how easily they could grab her hands.
She tried not to look at his hands for the remainder of the night.
But afterwards, the rest of the ceremony unfolded like a fever dream. She barely registered when her father handed her over toher husband-to-be , nor did she pay too much attention to what the priest said when he announced them as Man and Wife. Her gown felt heavy, and her hands had gotten clammy with sweat.
Until, at last, Alexander took her hand in his. She nearly pulled it back out of instinct, but his hold was steady.
“Planning to run away again?” he whispered, leaning in softly against her ear. She blushed wildly, and let herself be led down the aisle to where their carriage awaited them outside.
“I would not dare,” she bit back after a moment. Alexander passed her an amused glance, and she wondered how he was so calm about the whole thing. “I should remind you that I am quite grateful for it.”
It washiswedding day, as well.
“Then, lucky me that I found you,” he chuckled . “A wife who is grateful to be my side.”
“You did save me,” she reminded him. “And I might be troublesome, but I do not go against those that have helped me in a tough time.”
He seemed to like hearing that. Well, that or his expressions were unreadable. Because the next moment, the smile slipped from his face and he was looking around with a bored expression again.
Penelope looked around at the guests waiting to be seen off. She could sense their vague disappointment, that she had let them down by not providing enough of a show andactuallygoing through with the wedding this time.
At the chapel doors, as they paused to collect themselves, George approached them.
“Well,” he said, far too loudly, “now that the marriage is done, it doesn’t matter whether you run or not.”
Penelope froze, her hand tightening slightly on Alexander’s arm. The last thing she wanted was for her father to cause a scene like this, but she would be expecting too much from Lord Montrose.
“You need not worry about your daughter running away now, Lord Montrose,” Alexander answered on her behalf, surprising her.
Penelope turned her head slightly . She hadn’t expected him to say anything at all.
“If she ever does,” Alexander continued, “it will not be because she is ashamed. It will be because someone failed to protect her. I do not intend to fail her.”
George’s mouth parted, but even he knew better than to argue with a duke in public. Penelope blinked, startled by the heat creeping up her neck. It was not every day that her father was rendered speechless.
“You may consider your obligations fulfilled,” Alexander added. “There’s no further need for your input. I’ll see to her well-being now.”
Penelope could almost hear the snap of the final thread as her father’s expression hardened. But to her astonishment, he said nothing.
“Now, please. I believe there is a carriage waiting for my wife and I,” Alexander announced, leaving no room for further argument. “Shall we?”
“Y-yes,” Penelope nodded, taking his hand and following his lead.
She was not used to this. All her life, she had learned that to be heard, one must be loud. But Alexander had made his point known without raising his voice.
Perhaps I have something to learn from the duke, after all.She thought , though she would not dare say it out loud. She did not wish to fan the flames of his ego.
The couple was quiet during the carriage ride. Every now and then, Penelope would notice Alexander looking in her direction. But never once did he break the silence.
Penelope did not know what to say either. So, she simply waited till the carriage pulled through the grand wrought-iron gates of Monteclare Manor.
They had arrived.
An entire army of staff awaited them in the entrance hall. Penelope was surprised to see their numbers, but then reminded herself that it was a duke’s estate. Such was to be expected.
