“Are you bored?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous. “Or perhaps you do not get enough attention? Is that why you feel as though you must meddle in the lives of others as some sort of... masked crusader? Answer me,Athena.”
Penelope's breath hitched, horrified to have been caught, but she lifted her chin defiantly. “Jane is looking for a love match. I overheard you saying that all you care about is a beneficial match. I could not allow my friend to be miserable just because of your lies.”
“Why did you decide to become Athena?” Cecil demanded to know, his eyes dark.
“Because I cannot allow women to waste their lives away just because rakes like you decided you need a match!” Penelope snapped, her own eyes flashing. “Women are not there to simply conform to whatever needs arise for any random man!”
Cecil felt fury rising within him, hot and bitter – but he forced himself to smile instead, cold and calculated.
“That is quite a passionate ideal, Lady Penelope,” he said softly. “I wonder if your brother would share the same sentiment when he learns of what you have been up to.”
The colour drained from Penelope's face. “You would not –”
“Would I not?” Cecil tilted his head. “It would be a simple matter to let Lionel know about his dear sister's secret activities. I am certain he would be most interested to hear about it.”
“I had known you were a despicable man, but I never imagined you would stoop as low as to threaten me.” Penelope stated, folding her arms stubbornly.
“I can hardly call it a threat, Lady Penelope. I am merely attempting to illuminate your conundrum. And by the look on your face, I can imagine that you finally understand my intentions.”
“You have no proof. You have nothing that can directly tie my involvement to Athena’s work. That paper wax is common and it does not serve as substancial –”
“Would you like to wager on that?” he grinned, looking far too pleased with the situation. “You sound sure of yourself – absolutely certain that it would be impossible for me to prove that you are who we confirmed you are, mere moments ago. If you truly believe that, why don’t you wager on it?”
Penelope found it hard to breathe. Try as she might, the air around her felt too heavy and thick, and her mind spun with the possibility of Cecil actually managing to expose her to her brother. And for the first time since she had assumed the identity of Athena, she felt fear stab her heart and eat away at the pride she had garnered with her deeds.
“Please,” she whispered as her defiance crumbled. “Please do not tell him. I cannot – I do not want to disappoint him. I am already too much of a disappointment.”
Her voice sounded raw even to her own ears, perhaps there was something vulnerable that made Cecil pause.
Slowly, he lifted one hand and traced his fingers along her jaw, tilting her face up toward his.
Penelope went still against the wall, her breath catching as she grew acutely aware of how close they were standing – of the way his dark eyes had fixed on her face, the dark curl of his hair spilling over his forehead in a way that made him look almost boyishly handsome. This close, she had no choice but to acknowledge the muscles that made up his tall frame, her eyes tracing his broad shoulders.
Cecil had always been handsome, in a charming sort of way, but Penelope refused to acknowledge it, knowing his face was how he got away with most of his crimes. She did not want to enable his wrongdoings. But now... as his dark blue eyes glanced around her face, she felt so immensely trapped.
Especially when his thumb traced the edge of her bottom lip, and her breath hitched at his touch.
“This is a much better look on you,” he murmured, his voice rough.
For a moment, they simply stared at each other. Then Cecil stepped back, letting his hand fall away.
“I will keep your secret,” he said, his tone turning businesslike once more. “On one condition. You will make up for the time you have wasted. You will help me find the right match, and then you will ensure that whatever opinions ‘Athena’ might have about me are left out of the matter entirely. If I detect her interference in anyway, I will go straight to Lionel.”
Penelope blinked, as though coming out of a trance. “What?”
“You heard me. You will help me find a wife. A suitable one.”
Penelope looked like she wanted to scream.
“I want nothing to do with you and your hunt for a wife. I refuse to be a part of your silly little game –”
“You do not seem to realize,” he chuckled darkly. “That you are in no position to refuse me. You cost me a match, and you interfered with my affairs. You will help me, or the wholetonwill quickly find out who is really Athena. I am sure it will come asa shock to Lionel first, no? Perhaps it is for the best to let him know as soon as possible, then.”
Cecil started towards the door, but then Penelope shouted, “No! Wait!”
The duke stopped in his tracks, waiting for her to go on. Penelope sighed, squeezing her hand into fists by her side before she said through gritted teeth.
“As long as no lady is tricked into an unhappy marriage. I will not stand for any form of deceit or trickery.”
