Thank you so much for the comments, I really appreciate them. They definitely aid and encourage the writing process. Well, here's the next installment. Happy reading!
***
Jason was in an irritable mood the next morning. He'd tossed and turned all night, sexually frustrated and disturbed by Penelope's words of undying love to that man, Dunsforth.
When he arrived down at breakfast, he gave everyone who looked up a curt nod before taking his place at the head of the table. Having little appetite, he settled only for a cup of coffee before scanning the newspaper. He didn't bother to contribute to any of the conversations going on at the table, though he noticed Alex Coulter, the Earl of Whittenhall exchanged a searing look with Emma.
Jason frowned slightly over the top of his paper, but his attention was drawn away when he heard Penelope's soft laugh nearing. He looked up in time to see her walk in with Dunsforth. Jason hated to see her bright smile fade when she locked eyes with him. He forced his eyes back to the paper, telling himself that last night was over with. They both should be able to move on. They were after all, adults. Dunsforth had taken a seat far away from Penelope, which suited Jason just fine. He put his paper down and saw only half a slice of toast and a small bunch of grapes on Penelope's plate. "Is that all you're going to be eating?" He asked in a low voice, concerned that what happened last night would affect her health.
She lifted one dark eyebrow. "I'm not very hungry this morning, my lord." When he looked at her closely, he saw the slight shadows under her eyes and knew that she hadn't had a pleasant night either. He silently cursed himself.
"I want to speak to you privately tonight, Penelope." He shook his head. "No. Don't argue with me. I'll see you tonight."
Penelope opened her mouth to say something, but then on second thought, closed it. She glanced up at Dunsforth, who was in conversation with Miss Reinhart and Lord Avery. She ached to be with Julian. It was him she should be engaged to, not Jason. Jason, who as indifferent to emotions like love and warmth. She stared down at her plate. Even now she couldn't figure out how he could unhinge her cool and make her feel so vulnerable and less sure of herself. By god, he even made her doubt her own feelings for Julian!
She blinked and then her eyes shot up when his hand covered hers. It was an almost tender gesture. Almost. For some reason she couldn't think of him ever being tender toward anyone. When she met his eyes, there was something indecipherable and dark in his eyes.
"I say, if the two of you continue looking at each other like that, you'll make the rest of the women faint."
Viscount Macey's words broke their trance and both she and Jason looked up to find they had an audience. The women were far from danger of fainting. They all watched with dreamy expressions on their faces, as if they'd glimpsed Jason and Penelope sharing a private moment. Penny tried to pull her hand away, but Jason held it firmly.
"We'll be sorry to lose another bachelor to the shackles of marriage." George Granville said jovially and several people around the table chuckled. Brandon Steel, being the only married one in the party said, "It's not so bad, old man. Don't listen to all the stories. It's rather nice."
"It's fortunate I do not view marriage as being restrictive. Especially not when my lovely bride is one I've known since childhood. There's something reassuring in knowing we have a long history together." Jason said, causing the men to mumble their comments.
Penny knew he was doing it for the benefit of their audience. Resisting didn't help when he lifted her hand up to his lips.
"You are so lucky, Miss Kingsley." Miss Reinhart announced.
Lucky indeed, Penny thought.
***
"Can I see you tonight?"
Penelope hesitated and then shook her head. "You better not. Jason mentioned that we had something private to discuss..."
Julian said nothing for a moment. He was sitting beside her on the sofa as they conversed quietly. "You've softened toward him."
His comment made her pause. "What?"
"I understand. You're getting to know him...and he is a Marquess and will be a duke in the future."
"I don't see how this means anything. You know I care nothing about titles."
"You're no longer indifferent to him."
Penny stared at Julian, unable to lie to him. Jason did interest her, yet she couldn't understand why.
"We grew up with one another, Julian. Our fathers are good friends."
"He's touched you already, hasn't he?" Julian asked, and she could hear the pain in his voice.
"Yes." She looked away.
"I'm surprised he hasn't thrown me out yet. Does he know?"
"I had to tell him." She said.
"But still you could have kept it from him. He needn't know we've been...intimate."
"He intends to keep a mistress. I wanted to have it out in the open that I will have a lover of my own."
This discussion was becoming tiring. She was beginning to hate that she needed to explain everything she did - to Jason and to Julian.
Penny found herself folding her hands tightly on her lap to keep from fidgeting.
"I don't wish to talk about this anymore." She said finally. "It'll all work out in the end."
***
It was late into the night when Jason approached Penelope's door. He knocked softly before entering. He found her sitting at the dressing table, brushing her hair out.
"You could have had us meet in your study."
He didn't bother to comment and instead said, "Dunsforth has thanked me for my hospitality and intends to leave."
Her hand froze and she stared at him through the mirror. Then, abruptly, she stood up and started for the door.
"I swear, Jason, if you have said anything or threatened him -- he's a good man. One negative word from you could ruin him."
Jason caught her by the shoulders, preventing her from leaving. "He is leaving by his own choice."
Sadness filled her. Even if she couldn't be with Julian physically, having him near had been a comfort, just to be able to talk to him. She tried once again to get to the door, but he held her firmly.
"He wouldn't."
"He leaves at dawn."
She glared at him through her wet eyes, though no tears fell. "Promise me you don't intend to harm his career. He's worked hard all his life, he deserves his good fortune. Promise me."
Jason frowned. "I promise." She jerked away and turned.
"Is this what you came to tell me?"
"I came here so we could come to some sort of agreement. I understand how this must be for you -- "
"How could you? You've never loved anyone. How could you possibly know what it feels like to love someone and have them taken away from you?"
Jason steeled himself from the warring emotions inside of him. "You're duty is to me, not Dunsforth. I am going to be your husband and frankly, I have had enough of your petulance."
"My petulance?" She turned to stare at him angrily. "I seem to recall your bouts of fury, my lord. Oh! Arguing with you is useless. You must be happy now. Julian will be gone in the morning."
He came up to her, his voice suddenly losing all its anger. "Yes, but will he be gone from your heart?"
"Why would you even care? This is an arranged marriage."
She saw how Jason's jaw tensed as he stared at her. Conflicting emotions flashed in his dark blue eyes.
"I came here tonight to give you this."
He handed her an envelope, slightly bent and worn at the corners. Confused, she stared at it.
"I forgot I even had it until recently. I want you to read it."
"Why, does it contain a curse you've learned from your travels?"
He ignored her comment and bent down to kiss her on her lips. The gentleness of his kiss surprised her, and it only made her want to cry more.
"Just read it." And then he left the room.
***
Emma moved slowly over Alex, her hands resting on his hard chest. She sighed in contentment as she arched herself, bringing him deeper inside of her. She smiled down at him, loving the way he watched her so intensely. He urged her forward, catching her mouth in a slow, sensual kiss. His hands came to rest on her hips, bringing her down harder on him. With her hands now on either side of his head, she followed his example and rode him until they both moaned in climax.
She went lax on top of him and he was content to have her there, close to him.
It was their third night together and he had yet to pose the question. At the moment, it was too much for his mind. Though he did know that he had to set her up as his mistress soon. It was getting harder and harder to pull out when he climaxed. As his mistress, she would know the ways of preventing pregnancy. Emma rolled onto her side to face him, stretching lazily in a way that reminded him of a cat.
She was striking as she lay there, her black hair spread everywhere on the pillow, her violet-blue eyes darkened by desire.
