Read Online The Duke's Quandary by Callie Hutton - Free Book Online Page A

space. She’d been granted a reprieve.
    Until Drake headed toward her once more with another gentleman. She turned and attempted to flee, but her foot caught the edge of a table, and she stumbled. Arms flailing, she landed into an older gentleman, who jumped back in surprise, grabbing her by the arms. They teetered, but then the man gained his feet and both he and Penelope straightened.
    “Miss Clayton,” Drake hurried to her side, “are you all right?”
    Embarrassed once again, she shook off his concern. “I’m fine.” She smoothed her skirts, attempting a smile.
    Drake eyed her cautiously. After clearing his throat, he said, “Miss Penelope Clayton, may I introduce to you Matthew, Lord Leighton.”
    “Miss Clayton.” Leighton bowed at Penelope’s curtsy. “It is my pleasure, I am sure. Manchester tells me you are visiting with his family for the Season.”
    “Yes, that’s right. It is nice to make your acquaintance, my lord.”
    “And are you enjoying yourself?”
    “Of course.” She hoped the blatant lie wasn’t obvious to Drake, whose family had been so kind to her. She glanced at her host from under lowered eyelashes to see his brows raised, and a smirk on his lips. She apparently hadn’t fooled him.
    “Lady Mary tells me you are interested in botany.”
    Penelope brightened. “Yes. I am, my lord. My father was a renowned botanist, and had many of his scientific papers published in both America and England.”
    “Indeed?” he mumbled.
    “Yes. Shortly before his death he worked with the wonderful West African scientist, Michel Adanson, who devised his very own classification system, then put forth a rough theory of the mutability of species—”
    “Miss Clayton,” Drake interrupted, glancing back and forth between her and Lord Leighton, whose eyes had glazed over. “Perhaps you could use a cup of lemonade?”
    Leighton bowed. “I would be delighted to fetch a glass for you.” The man turned on his heel and hurried away so quickly, Penelope wondered if he would, indeed, even return.
    Drake took her by the elbow, and moved her away from the small group of people standing near them. “My dear, a ballroom is not the proper place to conduct a scientific exchange.”
    The cursed tears rose to her eyes at Drake’s rebuke. Blinking rapidly, she took a deep breath and plastered a smile on her face. “I’m sorry.”
    …
    All his irritation at Penelope’s faux pas dissolved as Drake took in her crushed stance. She obviously fought tears, and her stiff fingers were slowly shredding the dance card dangling from her wrist.
    He cursed himself for his thoughtlessness in causing her distress. In fact, he fought the urge to hustle her out the French doors where they could be alone, in order to comfort her. What the devil was it about this woman that she could so provoke him one minute, and then have him wanting to wrap his arms around her the next?
    “I’m sorry, Penelope. I should not have chastised you. Please accept my apology.”
    “It is quite all right. You are correct. I’m afraid I have not spent much time in social situations.” She glanced up at him, attempting a slight smile. “I really do not belong here, you know.”
    His thoughts muddled as he picked up the floral scent that wafted from her. He studied her luminous deep green eyes and thick eyelashes that added to the beauty of her face. Her coppery brown curls were already attempting to break free of their topknot. For the first time he noticed the sprinkling of freckles along the bridge of her slightly turned up nose. He was sure Penelope’s forays into the outdoors to study her plants kept her from having the milky white skin of her English counterparts. Awareness raced through him, and a strange tingling began in his nether parts, that he quickly smothered. “Nonsense. You are merely learning your way.”
    She nodded at Leighton as he handed her the glass of lemonade, bowed, and took his leave.
    …
    After the ball, Drake