Page 40 of My Cruel Duke

“I will see to it then, that my footmen throw you out,” so he said but Rhysand did no such thing.

Chapter20

The Season and its events were in full swing by now. Wedding invitations were being sent out alongside invitations to balls and other events. One such event was a picnic at Hyde Park in town.

It was one of the most anticipated open-door events, as it was an opportunity for the members of each family to wear their most extravagant outfits, even though the dress code advised them to dress in casual attire. The Ton hated the word, and so they showed up each year, more luxurious than the last.

Penny and her family were looking forward to the event as well, but as she did not know where Rhysand stood with outdoor events, she took the invite and knocked in his study. After a few seconds of silence, he let her in.

“It seems you are never up to anything good when you lock yourself up in here,” Penny tried for a light joke, to which Rhysand smiled in response.

“To what do I owe this pleasure, Sunshine?” He sunk into his chair, taking her in. She was the very image of a perfect day. Her blue dress was the sky, and she was the warm sun with a smile that melted his heart.

She raised three perfectly folded pieces of paper and dropped them on his desk.

“There is a picnic at Hyde Park in two days. The invitations came earlier but I only noticed them when Eleanor sent a letter to me, asking if we will be in attendance. I have not written back to her yet because I want to know if you will be attending with us.”

Rhysand considered her words for a few seconds and shook his head. Her shoulders dropped. “Why not?”

“I am currently occupied with estate affairs, and I fear it does not allow for cakes and biscuits in a park with people I barely know and have little to no interest in knowing.”

“You speak of it like it is such a grave crime. I shall not lecture you on what this picnic entails. You are a duke, I am sure you know. Since you have made up your mind to not attend, then I shall write back to Eleanor about our attendance, sans you.” She got up and turned to leave.

“Wait!” She halted and turned to him. Rhysand got up and approached her slowly, stopping right before her. “Is that all?” He took her tiny hands in his large ones and pulled her even closer to him, chest to chest. She arched a brow. “You are leaving? Just like that?”

“You have made up your mind about it. I see no point in trying to convince you otherwise.” She blinked, her lips slightly parted.

“You wound me, Sunshine. You do not care if I am in attendance or not.”

“I want to attend with you. It is why I came here, knowing there was a higher chance you would refuse me. I held on to a glimmer of hope that you would accept my invitation, but you rejected me.”

Rhysand leaned in and placed his lips on her temple. “Now tell me, how could I refuse you a thing when you ask so sweetly?”

Penelope’s eyes widened at his words but her smile returned. “You shall attend, then?” Rhysand nodded. Penelope wrapped her arms around him to show her gratitude, and with a chaste peck on his lips, she went her way.

Penny did not know at what point her relationship with Rhysand had changed or what it had changed to, but she was grateful they were past their angry and hateful phase. She did not want to return to a time where Rhysand did not kiss her lips, or her forehead, a time where he did not smile at her and only grunted with a scowl whenever she spoke to him. They were making progress, little but little, and it was enough for her… for now.

* * *

On the day of the picnic, the streets buzzed more than they did on the first day of the Season. There were nearly a dozen new couples in town now who smiled to show their strength in their alliances with their expensive frocks and jewelry. The men arrived with their strongest horses, as it was customary for the men to indulge in a little horseback riding.

Penny had been nervous throughout the journey to the park for more reasons than one. Her lessons with Rhysand on how to act like a couple in love in public had ceased after the night of the ball, and she feared he had forgotten all that she told him. Or maybe he was not interested in putting on a show anymore.

A warm hand sat atop hers.

“You are fidgeting. Why?” She raised her eyes to meet Rhysand’s worried ones. “You made a big deal about attending this thing. Do you not feel like it anymore?”

Penny plastered a smile on her face and shook her head. “I do. It is nothing to worry yourself about,” she said the words and looked out of the small carriage window.

The real reason for her nervousness was the park itself. There was no time she went to the park that she did not feel a bit off about it. All she had to do was stay away from the lake and stay as close as she could to her friends and family; she would be all right. She repeated the words in her head until the carriage came to a complete stop.

All eyes stayed on them when they alighted the vehicle. Rhysand could not find it in him to care about the numerous people who watched them. His eyes were on the woman beside him. His wife.

She had been more than excited about the picnic. She picked out her dress on the day she asked him to attend, and would not stop gushing about how the picnic was just what she needed, and now they had arrived and she was in a foul mood.

“Are you certain you are well? Because if you are not, I shall have the footmen turn the carriage around and send us back home. Angleton is here, he will look after your aunt and sister.”

“No!” Penny shook her head. “I am certain. I just need a little time to adjust,”