Penelope Read Online Free Page B

Miss Fairweather, and please come and sit down.
We have a great deal to discuss,” the dowager said.
    Penelope
wrenched her other eye open and allowed herself to be led to her
place on the chair.
    “I am so
sorry,” Lady Radclyff said the moment Penelope sat.
    Penelope
winced, having no idea what she could say in such a situation.
    The dowager
took her hand once more. “My son is a little …” The dowager paused
searching for words.
    “Churlish?”
Penelope supplied without thinking.
    “Proud and—”
the dowager started to say.
    “Domineering?”
Penelope interrupted again, trying desperately to keep her mouth
shut. It didn’t do to insult the duke, especially to his
mother.
    “Wilful,” the
dowager retorted.
    “Rude?”
Penelope gasped out.
    “Responsible,”
Lady Radclyff joined in.
    “Patronising,
hateful and a crusty fellow,” Penelope shot back.
    The dowager’s
mouth twitched as she answered, “Hardworking, disciplined and
kind.”
    “Kind?”
Penelope asked doubtfully.
    “Yes, kind. Now
if you are done with the word games, may I please explain?” the
dowager asked.
    At Penelope’s
sheepish nod, the dowager’s eyes glazed over and she said
reminiscently, “Charles was a wonderful child, a little mischievous
and always laughing…”
    Both Penelope
and Lady Radclyff snorted in disbelief.
    The dowager
ignored them and continued, “His father died when he was seventeen
and ever since then he has been responsible for a large duchy. He
is a good duke and provides well for his tenants. Unfortunately,
his numerous duties cause him to have little patience with anything
out of the ordinary. His life runs like clockwork with everything
having a designated time. You must forgive him if he is a little
bad tempered …”
    “A little bad tempered?” Lady Radclyff smirked.
    “I admit he
forgets his manners at times,” the dowager continued loudly, “and a
mother can go on lauding his virtues. What I am trying to say, my
dear, is that I apologise on his behalf.”
    “You don’t have
to,” Penelope replied weakly.
    In spite of the
dowager’s words, she could not forgive the duke. He may be
responsible for the livelihood of hundreds, if not thousands, but
that didn’t give him the right to be an ill-mannered brute.
    He was, she
decided, thoroughly spoilt.
    “As for you and
Lady Bathsheba, you will stay until the season is over. He may be
the duke, but I am his mother. You are here as my guest and on my
invitation. Please say you will stay.”
    Penelope looked
at the dowager in dismay. She noticed the dowager had the same dark
blue eyes as her son. They were not as bright or intense, nor were
they harsh in expression. They were faded with age and gentle. Her
features were sweet and delicate, and in spite of the grey in her
hair, it was easy to see that the dowager had once been a very
beautiful woman.
    The duke must
have inherited his harsh face and manners from his father, she
concluded.
    As for staying
on, she was torn. True, she could not go back…Yet this was, after
all, the duke’s house, whatever his mother may say. To stay after
being so rudely dismissed was against her pride.
    “The duke?” she
asked finally.
    “We have a way
of convincing him. It is infallible, and we only use it when
circumstances are dire,” the dowager said smiling.
    “If he agrees,
will you stay?” Lady Radclyff asked, anxiously.
    “Will he
apologise?” Penelope asked, still undecided.
    “Err … he never
apologises, but he will ask you to stay. Please take that as his
apology, I beg you,” Lady Radclyff said, pressing her hand.
    “How will you
manage it?” Penelope asked, buying time.
    The dowager
smiled and looked at Lady Radclyff meaningfully. Penelope, in turn,
looked at Lady Radclyff in confusion.
    “Anne here is
our secret weapon.”
    Penelope stared
at Lady Radclyff.
    Anne Radclyff,
the duke’s sister, had inherited neither her mother’s sweet and
gentle disposition nor her good looks. Her eyes were