A Penny's Worth of Affection novel Chapter 25

"There are matters that need my urgent attention, my lady," the Duke replied. "I apologize if my departure does not please you."

The Countess pursed her lips, assuming a stubborn countenance that Henry knew so well. "I won't have it, Newbridge. I insist you stay for dinner at least." She held up a hand when he made to disagree once more. "It is intolerably ill-mannered of you to leave when I have so nicely asked you to stay."

Phillip's mouth twisted in a wry grin; he had forgotten how stubborn the woman was. "Very well, till dinner then."

She bestowed a cheerful smile upon him and raised a white, wrinkled hand, each finger adorned with huge jewels, and patted his cheek, chuckling when he looked highly offended by the gesture. "You were always such a dear boy, Phillip. Such a shame you insist on building quite an evil reputation."

Lucy pressed a hand to her mouth in a futile effort to stifle the mirth that bubbled up as the Duke cast the Countess an irritated look. Phillip looked ready to offer up a scathing retort, but Henry stepped in smoothly.

"Now, mother, that is no way to address a duke." He laid an arm on his mother's shoulders, shaking his head in reprimand.

"I simply spoke the truth! And what do I care if he is a duke or not?" Bridget frowned up at her son. "I believe Phillip can speak for himself in any case, and he hasn't offered up any protests."

Phillip stared at the woman, wondering why he had gotten himself entangled in this, all for the sake of seeing a green-eyed shrew who did not quite know how to control her mouth, though that mouth tasted heavenly kissing him back, so soft, so sweet, and so innocently giving. He had lost control and had been mere seconds away from lowering her to the soft grass and making love to her if she had not wisely stopped the kiss. He had almost doubted his senses when he'd first seen her wearing that particularly lovely gown that accentuated her curves, the gentle swell of her perfect bosom and that waist-good God, from the moment he'd seen her tonight, he'd wanted to sweep her away and do pleasantly terrible things to her.

He turned slightly so he could stare at her without arousing suspicion; she was engrossed in conversation with her brother, that ill-mannered whelp. He would deal with the lad later, teach him a few lessons in keeping to one's boundaries, as a matter of fact.

A tap on his shoulder drew him from his thoughts. "I wish to have a word with you?" Henry murmured.

"I do not have to explain my actions to you," Phillip snarled. "I do not question yours." "Perhaps, but Miss Inglewood is soon to become my responsibility, and believe me, if you dare hurt her in any way, I swear to God I will ensure you regret it. Do the right thing, Duke. It is obvious you do not care for Miss Rosebury. Release her from the contract and be honourable for once in your damned life." With those words, Henry spun about and returned to the group, leaving Phillip seething in anger at being told what to do.

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A Shocking Surprise

Penny rose early the following morning. It was not quite dawn yet, and the moon still cast soft, silvery shadows that stole into her room from the open windows. She had slept poorly again, spending the night in restless dreams, pleasant at times, especially the ones related to the kiss she had shared with the Duke, almost always replaced by the most overwhelming guilt. Good heavens! What she had done was tantamount to covetousness, sharing an intimate moment with a man who was already promised to another. This was not her, this...this wanton woman who followed men into dark mazes and kissed them without thought to irreparably damaging her reputation and being regarded as a light skirt among respectable members of society.

She slipped out of bed, her hair flowing around her shoulders and lower back as she made her way to the privy, her bare feet doing nothing to break the deep silence that hung over the house. Everyone else would still be asleep. Lucy and Edward were notorious late risers, never getting out of bed until nine. Her mind was still troubled, and her eyes felt swollen from too little sleep for several days in a row. Unbidden, she wondered why he did not simply release Miss Rosebury from the engagement, then she hastily shoved the thought aside. What he did was none of her affairs, she reminded herself sternly, and she needed to stay as far away from the man as was humanly possible regardless of how his kisses made her long for something she could never have from him.