Nor did any words fall out from her lips. All she could focus on was the way he was too close to her.
“Is that a bad thing?” she managed to squeak out after a moment. Heaven knows it took everything she had.
“I have not decided yet,” he muttered, still not taking his hand off her. “Perhaps we will find out.”
“It’s better to be optimistic,” she said, a slight shiver to her voice.
“Is it, really?” he demanded. “Experience has told me otherwise.”
“You have never experienced me before,” Penelope did not know where the boldness in her words came from, only that it felt like the natural thing to say. Alexander’s eyes flitted over to her lips, and for a maddening moment, she wondered if he was thinking of kissing her, too.
Stop.She blushed profusely at the thought alone. What business did she have thinking these things? There was no room for intimacy in their arrangement.
And yet, her heart was still beating wildly in her chest, refusing to slow down for even a moment.
“What are you thinking, Duchess?” Alexander demanded, noticing the way that she had started to blush.
Penelope gulped loudly, and then jolted away from him.
“Nothing,” she said quickly, folding her arms out in front of her, almost chaining them to herself for she was worried that she would be the one to reach out next. “I just… it is rather late, isn’t it?”
An amused smile formed on his lips. “You just noticed?”
“I was too busy tending to your wounds,” she said, standing up now. “Forgive me if I lost track of time.”
“Forgiven,” he smirked. “Besides, as far as company goes, yours is not the worst.”
“That might just be the highest compliment you have paid me thus far,” she said, shaking her head. But heat returned to her cheeks, betraying her.
“Then I should hope that you cherish it well,” he said. “Shall I walk you to your chambers?”
“I can find my own way there,” she said, and started to walk towards the door.
This little interaction had solidified in her mind that it was dangerous being alone with him. Her mind took a direction of its own, and she entertained all manners of stray thoughts that she would not dare think otherwise.
No, she had to ensure that they would not meet alone again together.
“Tomorrow,” she blurted out just as she reached the door. “Tomorrow, I shall go with Odette for horse riding. You are welcome to join us, and I encourage you to do so.”
Even though she did not turn around to face him, she could almost hear the smirk in his voice.
“I shall try.”
“Goodnight, Your Grace.”
She did not wait for a response, and hurried down the hallway. It was only when she reached the privacy of her own chambers that she let herself relax, sliding down the door.
“What are you getting yourself into?” she said, not able to wipe the smile that had formed on her face.
CHAPTER 16
“Good morning, Your Grace,” Penelope greeted lightly in the grounds the next morning. “I see that you decided to accept my invitation.”
“Invitation is putting it politely,” Alexander inclined his head in greeting. “I was under the impression that the excursion is mandatory.”
“I am glad that you take my invitations so seriously,” Penelope teased. “But jest aside, it is a lovely day out today and it would do you good to get some activity as well.”
“Where is Odette?” Alexander asked, looking around. The estate grounds were vast, stretching as far as the eye could see.
