To Capture a Duke's Heart (23 page)

For a moment Gabriel was entirely taken aback, for that was the last thing he’d expected her to say.  He was quick to collect himself, however, and simply replied, “Be that as it may, I am more than willing to bear the burden of the assumptions, for the scandal surrounding our marriage would have been increased tenfold if the truth were known.  A circumstance that neither of us would have benefited from, as I’m sure you would agree.” 

She smiled ruefully.  “Yes, of course.”

They both fell silent then, spinning and twirling gracefully amongst the other couples as they moved in a leisurely, counterclockwise rotation around the floor.

By the latter part of the evening, Penny’s feet had begun to ache within her yellow satin dancing slippers, for in addition to Gabriel she had danced with both Rafael and Michael, her father, Lord Gilchrist, Lord Wexley, Gabriel’s friend, Lord Reinford, who proved to be an utter delight, and a host of other gentlemen, some whose names and titles she struggled to recall from amidst the multitude she’d been bombarded with throughout the course of the night.  Thus, it was with an immense feeling of relief that she and Eleanor managed to escape the ballroom for a short while, taking to the outdoor terrace to escape the overwhelming crush inside.

“You see,” Eleanor said in a low voice as they strolled arm in arm beneath the moon-lit sky, the cool night air a most welcome change from the heat of the overcrowded ballroom, “I told you that you needn’t have fretted so.  And moreover, if tonight is any indication you, my dear friend, are not only a welcome addition to Society, but well on your way to becoming the next darling of the
ton
.” 

“Well I certainly wouldn’t go
that
far,” Penny replied with a self-effacing expression. “But yes, I fully admit that you were right, for not a single person gave me the cut direct,” she acknowledged good-humoredly.  Although she
had
received one particularly icy glower from Lady Cecelia Penworthy, the young lady rumored to have been the frontrunner amongst those endeavoring to become the next Duchess of Ainsworth.

“No, of course not.”  Eleanor waved her hand dismissively.  “But despite your welcome reception, surely the best part of the evening had to be when your father and stepmother greeted you upon your arrival, for I could scarcely resist clapping my hands as I watched Maryanne drop into her curtsey,” she confessed gleefully.

“Eleanor Cunningham, what a thing to say,” Penny declared, eyeing her friend in mock censure for a moment, before ultimately breaking into a smile of her own. “Honestly, we’re terrible,” she stated laughingly, just a few seconds later.  “But truly, it
was
a rather enjoyable sight to see, wasn’t it?”

Eleanor grinned.  “I haven’t the least uncertainty that your wretched stepmother is absolutely green with envy over your enormous success.”

“Poor dear,” Penny stated with a doleful shake of her head, “for green has always been her least favorite color,” she continued, eliciting an amused giggle from Eleanor.  “In any event, that’s enough talk about Maryanne, for I would much rather discuss something of far more importance.”

“Oh, and what might that be?”

“Why the second waltz of the evening, the one I saw you sharing with my charming, not to mention devilishly-handsome, brother-in-law, of course.”

Despite the faint lighting on the terrace, the sudden color that rushed to Eleanor’s cheeks was easily discernable.  “Oh that.”

“Yes,
that
,” Penny grinned then as she stated in a low murmur, “And I want details, lots of them.”

_____

In the days following the Caversham’s ball, the oblong, silver salver that sat upon the narrow, marble-topped table in the front hall of Ainsworth House bore a considerable and steadily increasing number of elegant, cream-colored envelopes bearing invitations to all manners of social affairs, attesting to the fact that despite the inevitable gossip that continued to surround their hasty nuptials, the Duke and Duchess of Ainsworth had endured the scandal virtually unscathed, their names adorning the pages of Society’s most-coveted guest lists.

As such, Penny’s days quickly became an endless secession of formal breakfasts
,
 
elaborate luncheons, receptions, dramatic matinees, musical concerts, garden parties and afternoon teas, which more often than not Gabriel declined to attend, or could not attend due to Parliament being in session and his seat within the House of Lords, whilst her evenings were occupied with dinner parties, recitals and various soirees to which her husband joined her on most occasions.  And while she hadn’t the slightest doubt that Gabriel abhorred the majority of such affairs, finding them utterly tedious and dreadfully boring, he attended them without complaint, determined it seemed to maintain their outward display of domestic tranquility, at least for the time being.

The latter part of her evenings, before her and Gabriel’s requisite attendance at one extravagant ball or another, often beginning sometime between ten o’clock and midnight lasting until two or three o’clock in the morning, were far more enjoyable in Penny’s opinion.  For it was during those times that they attended art exhibitions, museum retrospectives, philanthropic events and various theatrical and operatic performances.  

And though Gabriel was assuredly lamenting their near nightly excursions, especially as Michael and Rafael spent the majority of their evenings at one of their private gentlemen’s clubs, Penny was feeling quite the opposite; not because she particularly enjoyed the constant toing and froing or the inexorable, repeated discussions of such mundane topics as the weather or the endless recounting of similar, previously held affairs, but because it allowed her to spend time with Gabriel.  In fact, some of her most enjoyable hours were those spent within the confines of their enclosed carriage as they travelled to and from the various events.  For much to her secret delight, there seemed to be a slow but steady easing of tension between them as they developed a progressively more natural and congenial rapport. 

There
was
one significant drawback, however; and that was Penny’s deepening feelings for Gabriel.  For as much as she tried to caution herself against the imprudence of false hope, she found herself becoming more and more enamored with her husband with each passing day.  And on those rare occasions when he seemed to forget for a time his feelings of bitterness and resentment, smiling at her or laughing with her, his expression reflecting genuine emotion, she felt those same dizzying sensations she’d experienced during their initial encounters in Scotland.

_____

As it happened, it was just a few weeks later, during one of her rare evenings at home, that Penny gained a far better understanding of those
particular
sensations and
all
that they implied when she chanced to recall the thin, leather-bound book that had been wedged within the nightstand drawer.  And so, sitting in her night rail with her back propped against the bed pillows, she flipped open the cover of
The Liaison of Madame D’Aubry and the Ardent Footman
and began to read.

Some twenty minutes later, Penny let the book fall open onto her lap with a softly uttered, “Oh my.” Then, almost as if someone was watching her from within the dimly lit shadows of her bedchamber, she cast a quick, furtive glance around the room.  There was no one there, of course.  Nevertheless, she was quite certain that if someone
had
been there, they would have witnessed her cheeks, along with the entire rest of her body, flushing to a deep shade of crimson.  For much to her considerable surprise and discomfiture, it appeared that Madame D’Aubry and the ardent footman were embarking upon a far different type of
liaison
than anything she could have ever thought to imagine.

Without a doubt the proper thing to do at that moment would have been to snap the book closed and return it posthaste to the drawer where she’d found it.  She didn’t do that, however.  Instead, feeling unequivocally self-conscious, Penny allowed her gaze to drift slowly and unerringly downward to fall once again upon the open pages of the licentious tome, her emotions vacillating between timorous indignity and shameless curiosity.  After several long seconds, however, her curiosity got the better of her and she found herself slowly lifting the book from her lap.

Glancing at the mantle clock as she allowed the book’s back cover to fall closed Penny was surprised to see that nearly two hours had passed as she’d sat against the pillows, completely engrossed in the utterly scandalous and remarkably descriptive tale of Madame D’Aubry and her incongruous young lover.  Although, considering the wealth of information she’d just obtained, an entirely unexpected and remarkably detailed edification in regard to one’s carnal desires, as well as an entirely new and
startlingly graphic
understanding of the physical intimacies that occurred between a man and woman in the privacy of their bedchamber (or behind the closed door of the linen closet, within the interior of a darkened coach or any other secluded space, apparently), two hours didn’t seem like such a very long time at all.

Feeling as if she’d just received a lifetime’s worth of knowledge, on
one
particular subject anyhow, Penny swung her legs over the side of the mattress and rose quickly to tuck the book, cover side down, into the drawer, making sure to slide it all the way to the back before pushing the drawer closed.  Then, extinguishing the lamp, she climbed back into bed, pulling the crisp linen sheets up to her chin. Good Heavens, she thought, struggling to process all that she’d just learned; who would have thought that the intimate relations between a man and a woman could be so… so… shockingly…
intimate
, or that they could induce such intense feelings of pleasure.  It was almost too astonishing to be believed. 

Of course lying there in the darkness, her mind continuing to spin, her thoughts invariably turned to Gabriel; and when they did, she found herself envisioning the most wanton of scenarios.  And though she was loath to admit it, she couldn’t help but secretly hope that someday, and in the not too distant future, she might experience some of those
shocking intimacies
for herself.

As their days in London turned slowly to weeks and the weeks turned slowly to months, Gabriel was finding it increasingly difficult to maintain his animosity toward Penelope, as well as the invisible barrier he’d purposefully erected between them.  In fact, he had to give her credit, for there were times when it was all he could do to remember that his beguiling young wife was the same, scheming opportunist who had so deviously planted herself in his bed just a few short months ago; especially as he had yet to witness even a hint of the duplicitous nature she’d revealed on that ill-fated morning in Scotland. 

Of course it didn’t help matters that virtually everyone around him seemed to adore her from nearly the moment they first met her.  Hell, the entirety of his staff, from his exacting butler to the lowest ranking scullery maid, both admired and respected her and hastened to do her slightest bidding. Michael and Rafael were clearly softening towards her and not only had she been welcomed into Society with open arms, the new Duchess of Ainsworth was now regarded as an undisputed favorite amongst the highly disparaging members of the
haute
ton
. 

To make matters worse, it was also becoming harder and harder for him to look upon his wife without feeling that same, hot rush of desire that had raced through his veins upon their initial meeting. And while he’d tried to attribute it to the fact that he hadn’t bedded a woman in months, he knew deep down that he was merely deceiving himself, for truth be told he didn’t
want
another woman in his bed; he wanted his damnably alluring duchess.  He
wanted
Penelope, and he hated himself for it. 

Even now, as they sat at the dining table partaking in something as mundane as the afternoon meal, a meal they most often shared alone now that Michael and Rafael had moved into their new bachelor residence just a few short blocks away, he couldn’t seem to keep his gaze from straying the length of the table to settle upon the exquisite details of her face and then drifting ever so slowly along the line of her throat to linger then, upon the lush swell of her bosom. 
Damn it!
he silently cursed,
forcing his eyes up with an aggravated sigh.
 

To distract himself from his lustful musings, he took a drink from his water glass and then asked with deliberate nonchalance, “Have you anything of particular interest planned for the remainder of your day?”

Penelope looked up from her
Soupe à la Reine,
setting her spoon aside as she met his gaze.  “Actually yes,” she replied.  “I shall be taking Charlie to visit the London Zoo later this afternoon.”

“Did you and your father not take him to see the exhibits just a few weeks ago?” 
Charlie
, the gregarious, toe-headed charmer he’d been introduced to on a prior afternoon several weeks past, and the loving devotion Penelope exhibited toward the boy, was yet another example of the seemingly odd contradictions he’d noted during the past months. 

She smiled good-naturedly.  “We did.  However, Charlie was so captivated by the animals, and the reptile exhibit in particular,” she added with a sudden grimace, “that he has been pleading for us to make another visit.”

“That’s certainly understandable,” Gabriel remarked with an amused expression, “for what young lad wouldn’t be fascinated by the exotic creatures one can rarely see outside the pages of a book, especially those that slink and slither.” 

“True,” she agreed with a slight laugh.  “And now that the zoo has finally been made open to the public it will doubtless allow a countless number of children, as well as adults, to finally see for themselves the vast number of species that they might never have occasioned to view otherwise, reptiles included.”

“As it happens, my father was fascinated with the study of animals, both exotic and domestic, and was a founding member of the Zoological Society of London.  In fact, prior to his death, he was one of the staunchest supporters for the zoo’s collection not only to be studied for the purpose of scientific study, but that the animals should be made available for public viewing as well.”

“I had no idea,” Penny said in surprise.  “But how truly wonderful that your father was the type of man who believed that not only should the scientific community benefit from the collection, but that the public should be allowed to benefit from it as well.”

“Despite being born with the proverbial silver spoon in his mouth,” Gabriel stated, “my father was surprisingly sympathetic to the needs of those less fortunate.”

“It’s an admirable quality, and clearly one that you possess as well.”

He shrugged offhandedly, somewhat discomfited by the sincerity of her expression.  “I do what I can to aid those in need, as do my brothers.”

“You know,” she said after a slight hesitation, “that actually brings to mind something that I have been giving a considerable amount of thought to recently.”

“Oh?”

“Yes, I’ve been thinking that perhaps I could take a more active role in some of your charitable foundations,” she replied, “if you’re amenable to my involvement, of course.”

Once again she surprised him.  But was her interest genuine or was it feigned?  “If you are truly interested, then I am certainly not opposed to the idea.”

“I am.  Thank you,” she responded with an appreciative smile.

Gabriel tipped his head in acknowledgement.  “I shall arrange for you to meet with several of the foundation heads in the upcoming weeks then.”

Penelope nodded and then after a moment retrieved her soupspoon and returned her attention to the soup bowl in front of her.

And while he did the same, turning his attention back to his own food, it wasn’t long before the remainder of his meal sat untouched as he stared pensively into his water glass.

_____

Later that same evening, as Penny exited the dressing room and reentered her bedchamber, she noted a large, black-velvet case resting on the top of her vanity table, a jewelry case by the look of it, and one that she was quite certain hadn’t been there earlier.  “Meg, what’s this?” she asked, moving toward the table as she tightened the sash of her dressing gown.

“One of the footmen delivered it while you were in the bath,” Meg replied, her eyes alight with undisguised anticipation.

There was a small envelope propped against the bottom corner, Penny noted, as she stopped before the vanity.  Reaching for it, she lifted the flap and withdrew the small, white card from inside.  There was no salutation, nor was there a signature, just a single sentence written in her husband’s hand.  Reading the words, her heart gave a little flutter.
“I was informed that you will be wearing green this evening and thought that this might compliment your ensemble.”

Penny turned to Meg questioningly, “Did His Grace inquire as to what I would be wearing this evening?”

Meg nodded in the affirmative, the young maid barely able to contain her obvious excitement.  “He did, Your Grace.  Earlier this afternoon.” 

“I see.”  Penny knew that Gabriel had gone out approximately an hour after their luncheon, having witnessed his instruction to Thompkins to have the carriage brought ‘round as she’d passed along the upper landing.  Had he purchased whatever was inside the case during that outing, she wondered? 

Turning back to the vanity, Penny set the note aside and then slowly lifted the case’s heavy velvet lid, her breath catching in her throat as she beheld the contents within.  It was a necklace, the center stone an enormous emerald, the oval shaped gem at least two inches high and completely surrounded by smaller, marquis-shaped diamonds, while the remainder of the circular strand was comprised of a series of additional, slightly smaller gems set into identical settings with each set of stones separated by a large, flower-shaped cluster of diamonds edged in gold. It was spectacular and easily one of the most beautifully-crafted pieces of jewelry she had ever set eyes upon.  “Oh my,” she gasped, her hand going to her throat in astonishment as she gaped at the stunning necklace.

So mesmerized was she by the glittering jewels, she hadn’t even noticed that Meg had slowly inched up behind her until the maid let out a similar gasp as her wide brown eyes took in the glittering display of jewels.  “Oh, Your Grace,” she breathed softly, “it’s… incredible.”

“Yes,” Penny agreed, swallowing hard, “it most certainly is, isn’t it?”

“You
will
wear it tonight, won’t you, Your Grace?” Meg inquired, glancing toward her with a hopeful expression.

She and Gabriel were attending a private soiree that evening, hosted by Philip Danbury’s parents, the Marquess and Marchioness of Farleigh.  “Yes, I… yes of course,” she replied, still a bit dazed by the extraordinary gift. 

Clapping her hands together, Meg looked to where Penny’s freshly-pressed gown was laid out across the foot of the bed.  “Oh, you in that gown,” she exclaimed, “and wearing that necklace, surely you shall set everyone who sees you agog.”

Penny glanced toward the bed, her eyes falling upon the gorgeous evening gown, one she hadn’t worn before, the sumptuous fabric a rich, emerald-green Italian Doupioni silk, the vibrant hue, her aunt had insisted, the perfect complement to her fair skin and fiery, auburn locks.  Making the gown even more striking, however, were the seven beautiful and intricately-detailed red and gold Chinese Pheasants scattered amongst a profusion of delicate, intertwined twigs and berries that circled the lower portion of the skirt.  And as luck would have it, with the gown’s square-cut neckline and narrow, off-the-shoulder sleeves, the stunning necklace would be displayed to perfection.

Standing there, she couldn’t help wondering about Gabriel and the reason he’d presented her with such an extravagant gift.  It certainly wasn’t due to necessity, as he knew that she had little need of jewelry, despite what had transpired upon their first outing to the theatre, for she had worn several of her mother’s jewels since then, the majority of the pieces more than suitable to grace the ears, neck, and wrists of a duchess and ‘
woman who bore his name’
in particular. So why then?  And why tonight?  Was it possible that he was softening towards her as she’d secretly hoped?  Could her father have been right all along, that given time Gabriel
would
come to know her for the person she really was, and that the umbrage and animosity that had slowly given way to the somewhat guarded amity they now shared would lead to something even more?  Was there a chance that they could be husband and wife in more than name only, and that those wicked and scandalous dreams that now haunted her sleep at night might one day become a reality?

Goodness, but just thinking about the latter made her entire body grow warm and her heart begin to beat just a little bit faster. Would there come a day when he wanted her like that, she wondered, a day when he would come to her bed and they would enjoy those intimate pleasures she now longed for?

“Your Grace?”

Penny blinked, turning away from the bed.  “I’m sorry Meg, did you say something?”

“I merely asked if you would like a cup of tea or perhaps one of Cook’s chocolate croissants before you begin your evening preparations.”

“Oh, thank you, but no,” she replied with an absent shake of her head, her thought’s focused more upon the sudden notion forming within her head as she abruptly returned her gaze to the foot of the bed.  “Meg, how adept are you with needle and thread?” she asked after a moment, eyeing the emerald gown consideringly. 

“Embroidery, Your Grace, or basic stitchery?”

“Actually,” she began, casting a quick glance toward the mantle clock before turning back to Meg, “I was enquiring more as to your proficiency with… garment alterations,” she clarified, motioning to the dress.

“Oh.  Well I certainly don’t possess the skills of an accomplished dressmaker,” Meg informed her.  “But my grandmother was an experienced seamstress and she taught me, as well as all of my sisters, to sew our own clothing when we were just girls.  So, as long as the alterations aren’t too drastic,” she continued with a curious expression, “I’m sure I can manage.”

“Oh, Meg,” Penny proclaimed with a fervent, heartfelt smile, “you truly are a Godsend.”

Descending the stairs to the front hall, Gabriel pulled the gold watch from the front pocket of his evening jacket and absently checked the time.  “Has the coach been readied?” he inquired of his butler.

“Yes, Your Grace,” Thompkins replied.  “It’s been brought ‘round and is presently waiting out front.”

“Excellent.”

“Would you care for a glass of brandy while you await the Duchess’ arrival, Your Grace?”

He was about to respond in the affirmative when he noticed Thompkins glance over his shoulder, his eyes abruptly shifting toward the top of the stairs. Turning to follow the butler’s gaze, Gabriel immediately noted what, or rather
who
, had caught the man’s eye.  It was Penelope, slowing making her way down the marble staircase in a striking, emerald-green gown, the necklace he’d purchased from Alexi Gagarin just a few hours earlier, sparkling and glittering upon her neck as the brilliant gems caught and reflected the light from the chandelier overhead.