“You are a woman, and that might be enough,” he said. Her eyes widened, and he decided to explain himself further.
“Odette needs a woman in her life. She’s growing wilder by the day, and I know I can’t guide her the way she needs. She won’t listen to tutors or governesses. But she might eventually listen to you.”
“You don’t even know me.”
“I know enough,” he said simply. “I’ve seen how you stood your ground with her. That is more than most.”
“Oh, but this is entirely absurd. I came here escaping one marriage, only to be offered another,” she said in disbelief, “What you are suggesting will be a marriage of convenience?”
“Yes,” he replied. “In every sense of the word. You will have your freedom. I will have peace of mind. We both get what we need.”
“You have only just met me, and here you are proposing marriage,” she said, meeting his gaze. “Is that not a preposterous notion?”
“And you were crazy enough to flee on the day of your wedding,” he replied, “ knowing the stain it would put on your reputation, and any future prospects. If anything, I am offering you a lifeline.”
“My father will not agree.”
“Lady Penelope,” Alexander said slowly, knowing that he had her exactly where he wanted. “Let me tell you something that you should never forget. Nobody denies a duke.”
Penelope’s expression didn’t change at first, but he noticed it—the faint shift in her eyes. She was thinking about it.
“Then don’t ask him.”
She turned to him with the faintest furrow in her brow, startled by his calm.
“You expect me to defy him?”
“I expect you to do what you already came here to do,” he said, matter-of-fact. “You ran, Lady Penelope. Whatever compelled you to do so—it was reason enough. You’ve already made the choice. I’m simply giving it a place to land.”
She opened her mouth, then hesitated. A rare moment of silence from her, and he found he didn’t mind it.
He knew that the seed had already been planted.
CHAPTER 3
“Nobody denies a duke,” Penelope muttered to herself, grumpily. She sat alone in the drawing room of her estate, having been dropped there by Alexander.
Her father was nowhere to be seen. He had scarcely spoken to her since she returned that night. Only to yell at her for tarnishing his reputation.
Of course, Alexander had been correct in his statement. Her father did not deny a duke, and he agreed to the wedding. But he had made no secret that he was unhappy about the decision.
Penelope tried her hardest to remain calm, but her nerves were all over the place. Her life had changed so rapidly within the span of only a few days.
Alexander had not wasted any time and had arranged for an expedited marriage license. Within a week of meeting him forthe first time, she was to marry him today. It was a small ceremony with barely any invited guests and no fanfare.
“My darling, relax your shoulders,” Isadora’s voice was calming . She walked to her sister. “I cannot tell if you are planning to bolt out the door again.”
Penelope shot her a look. “Mind you, the thought has crossed my mind.”
Isadora had been incredibly understanding about the whole thing. Instead of blaming her, she had tried to make her feel better. Penelope was more than grateful.
“Then nip that rogue thought in the bud,” Isadora laughed. “I do not think you will manage to get yourself out of trouble twice in a row.”
“Have I managed to get myself out of trouble, though?” Penelope questioned. “I have agreed to marriage with a man whom I know next to nothing about, only to escape marriage from an even worse man.”
“It is too soon to say,” Isadora sighed, understanding the desperate situation her sister had found herself in. “But he is a duke, and at least your future will be secure.”
Penelope shook her head. She had never wanted to marry only for the sake of securing a future.
