Page 9 of An Offer By the Beastly Duke

“I will be right back,” she promised them, and followed Charles to an empty corner of the garden.

The laughter and chatter of the party faded, but Penelope could keep her friends in her sight. They would intervene if Charles became too much.

“All right,” she exhaled, “what is it you wish to discuss?”

Charles fixed her with a satisfied smile. “Well, I wanted to share some news with you. I am staying nearby while I do some estate renovations, and from what I recall, Romwich Hall is not so far away from where I will be residing.”

Penelope’s chest tightened. “Oh? Oh, well I hope you enjoy the village⁠—”

“I shall cut to the chase,” he interrupted sharply. “With this proximity comes the want to see my nephew. I am the one keeping the estate for him, after all, so he ought to look up to me. He lacks a male role model, and I can provide that. Heavens knows my brother did not.”

Penelope’s heart sank. If Charles truly was moving to the area, there would be very little ways of stopping him from seeing Nicholas. “I… I am certain we can arrange something at some point, but right now, he is focused on his tutoring and I do not wish to interrupt his focus.”

“And I can help him with his studies,” Charles immediately quipped. “Do you not think it is about time he looked up to me? He needs someone to show him how things are done. Surely you see that?”

Nicholas needed no such thing. She was perfectly capable of raising him herself. He didn’t need Charles, didn’t need a man who thought nothing of manipulating others for his own gain, and his reputation circulated society often enough.

“As I said, I am sure he will meet with you in time,” Penelope said as evenly as she could manage, though her hand clenched into a fist at her side. “But I don’t want him pressured into a relationship based on obligation.”

Charles’s smile didn’t falter, but there was something colder in his eyes now. He leaned closer, his breath too warm against her skin.

“Do not be foolish, Penelope. It is not about obligation. It is about doing what’s best for him. And perhaps, if you gave me the time of day, you would understand that.”

Penelope stepped back, her skin prickling with discomfort. “We are doing fine on our own.” Her voice was steady, though the words tasted like acid in her mouth. “I am grateful that I have you to handle the affairs of the estate, but we do not need to pretend as though we are truly family. Nicholas is perfectly wonderful without anybody else coming into his life.”

“Surely he asks about his father?”

“Not as much as he once did,” she countered. “Nicholas is growing up to be a polite, wise boy without the need for any influence.”

However, Charles wasn’t listening to her. She could see just how much her words weren’t reaching him. Charles stepped closer, placing his hand on her arm as though claiming some sort of ownership.

“Let me help you, Penelope. You’ve had a rough go of things, and I am willing to be a support, as I always have been. You are a beautiful woman, still, and much too young to be widowed. The marriage mart will not take you back, and it is a shame, truly, for it is losing a true jewel.”

His other hand raised, as if to stroke it down her cheek, but Penelope leaned away from him, her heart thudding painfully in her chest.

“I do not need your help,” she said firmly, though she could hear the tremor in her voice.

Charles’s smile didn’t falter, but his eyes darkened with something else now, an edge of menace. “You will,” he whispered. “You will see, for what other option do you have except to live the rest of your years lonely and unwed?”

Before Penelope could respond, or let his words get to her, Violet and Amelia came up on either side of her, already tugging her away.

“I believe you have had your several moments with my niece,” Amelia said brightly. “We do not wish for her to lose out on all the fun of the party.”

“Indeed.” Charles’ eyes didn’t leave Penelope, though. “Do enjoy your afternoon, ladies.”

With one last lingering look, Charles strode away and returned to his group. Penelope unclenched her jaw, sighing in relief.

“Come,” Violet encouraged, tugging her forward to the garden fountain. “Let us put distance between that awful man and have a joyful afternoon. Who knows? You might even catch the eye of a lord.”

But Penelope couldn’t stop thinking of Charles’ words: the marriage mart wouldn’t accept her, and nobody would want a widow who was twenty-and-six, whether she was still pretty or not.

One thing was for certain: she knew Charles would not let this go, and she had to continue doing all she could to keep Nicholas away from him. Her son disliked Charles enough as it was, and Penelope knew that would not change anytime soon.

She would not put her little boy through further discomfort and distress.

Once they sat down on the seats near the fountain, just far away enough not to have any spray hit them, Amelia nudged Penelope.

“Do you wish to talk about it, darling?” she asked gently, placing a hand over Penelope’s.