To Capture a Duke's Heart

by Jennifer McNare

  Penny regarded him inquiringly. “Yes of course.”

  “Do you happen to recall the discussion Michael and I had the other morning when he joined us for breakfast, regarding the Concert of Europe in particular?”

  “I do,” she affirmed. “I believe you were discussing how the Concert was eroded by the political upheavals throughout Europe in 1848 and that it has since seen a steady unravelling.”

  “You were paying attention,” Gabriel remarked with an approving expression.

  “While I confess that foreign politics may not be amongst my favorite topics of discussion at the dining table,” she replied with a grin, “I do lend my ear from time to time.”

  “Indeed you do,” he replied with an answering smile. “And as it happens, it is the continued erosion of the Congress System and the ongoing shift in the balance of power that has occasioned a month-long conference amongst Europe’s leading forces to be held in Vienna in three weeks’ time.”

  Penny felt a sudden sense of unease as she waited for him to continue.

  “Great Britain will be represented of course; and as such, several members of Parliament have been asked to join the British delegation traveling to Austria, myself included.”

  “Oh. I see,” she replied as understanding dawned. “And you… have accepted?” she asked, fearing that she already knew the answer to her question.

  “I have,” Gabriel confirmed, his tone subdued now. “I’m afraid that I shall be leaving for Austria at the first of the month.”

  So soon. Penny felt her spirits plummet. “And you will be away for how long?”

  “Approximately five to six weeks, I would imagine.”

  “That long,” she murmured, struggling to hide her dismay. For considering the recent and rather extraordinary progression in their relationship, a month and a half seemed like just shy of forever.

  “Yes, I’m afraid so.”

  “And… I am to remain here in London whilst you’re gone?”

  “You can if you’d like. However, with the Season soon to wind down and the renovations recently completed at Ainsworth Park, I thought you might like to adjourn to the country for a time,” Gabriel replied.

  “Oh, yes of course. That certainly makes sense,” Penny agreed, her thoughts spinning. With the current session of Parliament set to adjourn for the upcoming sporting season, she knew that the members of the aristocracy would soon be traveling back to their country homes en masse in order that the gentlemen could devote their days to the leisure of grouse-hunting up north, followed by a return south for the subsequent pheasant, partridge and fox-hunting seasons, whilst the ladies would inevitably occupy themselves with a near constant succession of lavish house parties and weekend gatherings that would continue throughout the late autumn and early winter months. And truth be told, she had actually been quite looking forward to their inevitable departure to Ainsworth Park and the opportunity to escape the constant tumult of the city for a while. However, she certainly hadn’t anticipated doing so without Gabriel.

  “In fact,” Gabriel continued, “I was thinking that if you are not averse to missing the tail end of the Season, we could easily close the London house early, which would then allow me to see you comfortably settled in Berkshire before I have to depart for Vienna.”

  Penny nodded, maintaining a positive, agreeable expression.

  Leaning forward in his chair, Gabriel studied her face for a moment, eyeing her regretfully. “I’m sorry; I know this is all rather unexpected.”

  Penny shook her head. “You’ve no need to apologize, Gabriel,” she was quick to assure him. “For you are clearly taking on a tremendous responsibility and I commend you for it, truly I do.”

  “And you’re sure that you won’t mind missing the final weeks of the Season?”

  “No, of course not,” she replied truthfully, for she’d had more than her fill of balls, dinners, garden parties and the like. The only thing she would miss… was Gabriel. In point of fact, if she had been given the choice of an entire Season’s worth of activities or a single night with Gabriel, it wouldn’t have required even a second’s thought, as she would have gladly forfeited every last second of the London social whirl for that one, solitary night.

  “Alright then, we shall leave for Ainsworth Park within the fortnight.”

  “Agreed,” Penny replied.

  “You know,” Gabriel said then, his expression thoughtful as he pulled his pocket watch from his jacket and glanced briefly at the time, “as I have no commitments for the remainder of the afternoon, and we won’t need to leave for the Beckworth affair until at least seven, we should probably find a means to occupy ourselves for the interim,” he continued, affecting a decidedly rakish grin. “Unless of course, you were planning to spend the rest of the afternoon… reading.”

  Penny’s eyes widened, for she understood exactly what he was suggesting. “And whatever would the servants think if we were to disappear into your bedchamber for the remainder of the day?” she asked in a hushed tone, feeling her cheeks grow suddenly warm.

  “Well…” he said in a charmingly roguish tone, “while I certainly can’t speak for the entire staff, I would imagine that the vast majority of those in our employ would consider me the most fortunate of husbands and you the most delightfully accommodating of wives.”

  _____

  As the horses turned onto the road leading to Ainsworth Park, just over two and a half hours since they’d quit the outskirts of London, Penny focused her gaze out the coach window as she eagerly awaited her first glimpse of Gabriel’s ancestral home. And when it came, just a few minutes later, it was even more spectacular than she had imagined it would be. Even from the distance she could see the dozens upon dozens of windows set into the massive, four-story, rectangular stone structure with each of their individual panes of glass brilliantly reflecting the bright afternoon sun, as well as the tall chimneys, turrets, baronial stepped gables and elegant pinnacles that dotted the roofline. And as they drew ever closer, bringing the elaborate stone carvings and ornate, sculptural adornments that further ornamented the breathtaking exterior slowly into view, her eyes widened in increasing awe. “Oh, Gabriel, it’s simply magnificent.”

  “Yes, it does have a certain grandeur about it, doesn’t it,” he replied with a light-hearted, unassuming smile. “Though prior to the renovations my father began, and that I continued, it exhibited far more of its two-hundred-years than it does today. For regrettably, both my grandfather and great-grandfather were lacking the funds to keep it up.”

  During her initial research into the Ashcroft family’s history, Penny had learned that the family’s long-standing wealth had been significantly depleted during the previous century; and that it had been Gabriel’s father, as well as Gabriel himself, who had seen it steadily restored and ultimately improved upon, markedly so in fact. “Well clearly you have brought about a brilliant culmination to the work your father began,” she professed, “for it is truly breathtaking.”

  And though he offered only a humble “Thank you,” in reply, Penny could see both the unmistakable pride and inordinate satisfaction reflected in his eyes.

  It was just a few seconds later, as they rounded the final bend in the road and the entirety of the house finally came into view, that Penny turned her enthusiastic gaze back to the window. However, as she did, her eyes went wide in astonishment once again; for much to her surprise it appeared that the estate’s entire staff had lined themselves along the graveled drive at the front of the house, their number totaling at least sixty as they stood in obvious rank from the tall, silver-haired butler standing at the head, to the adolescent stable boy positioned at its end. “Oh my,” she breathed, turning back to Gabriel.

  Seated across from her, Gabriel grinned as the driver slowed the horses and the coach wheels rolled to a gradual stop. “It would appear that the staff is eager to welcome their new duchess.”

  “Just a few more, Your Grace,” Meg informed her as she struggled
to fasten the last of the buttons that ran along the back of Penny’s apricot-colored dinner dress.

  Penny sucked in a deep breath, holding it as Meg worked to secure the final closures.

  Having traveled with Bertram, Gabriel’s valet, in another of the Ashcroft coaches, Meg had arrived at Ainsworth Park just shortly after her and Gabriel; and after meeting briefly with the housekeeper, Mrs. Hobbs, she had promptly set to the task of unloading Penny’s trunks. And whilst Meg had busied herself in Penny’s small suite of rooms, Gabriel had taken her on a leisurely tour of the estate. Of course with the size of Ainsworth Park, that had taken the entire remainder of the afternoon. Thus, it was now only a short while before the evening meal was to be served in the main floor dining room.

  “There, that’s got it.”

  Exhaling, Penny turned to Meg with a frown. “I don’t understand,” she said with a puzzled shake of her head. “This gown fit perfectly when I wore it just a few weeks past.” Now however, not only was it a bit snug around the waist, but the bodice felt tighter as well.

  Meg eyed her hesitantly, looking as if she wanted to say something, but wasn’t entirely sure that she should.

  “What is it, Meg?”

  “Well… it does seem that you may have put on a pound or two these past weeks. And as you haven’t had your courses in months, well… I was just thinking… that is…. could it be possible that you’re expecting, Your Grace?” she stammered awkwardly.

  “Expecting?” Penny regarded Meg in surprise. A baby? No surely not, for while Meg certainly couldn’t know it, she and Gabriel had only just consummated their marriage a mere month ago. Besides, even if she had conceived during that time, which was possible she reasoned, experiencing a tiny little thrill at the thought, she would hardly be putting on weight so soon.

  “Hmm. It is possible, I suppose,” she replied, more for Meg’s benefit than anything else. “Although, considering my past irregularities, I am inclined to think that I may have simply developed too great a fondness for Cook’s chocolate croissants,” she continued light-heartedly.

  Meg nodded consideringly. “Perhaps that’s it,” she mused, “for if you were anything like my three older sisters you’d likely be heaving the contents of your stomach into a basin each morning.”

  No, she certainly hadn’t been doing that. “In any event,” Penny replied, affecting a dramatic sigh as she ran her hands over her satin-covered waistline, “I think I shall be forgoing dessert for the next few evenings.”

  As it turned out, it had been far more difficult to forgo the scrumptious-looking dessert than Penny had imagined, especially as she sat there now, all but salivating as she watched Gabriel enjoy his second serving of the rum-glazed French chocolate cake.

  “If you’d like,” he said, between bites, continuing their conversation “we can take the horses out tomorrow, perhaps ride down to the lake. That way you can begin to familiarize yourself with the property.”

  Tearing her eyes from Gabriel’s dessert plate, Penny met his gaze with an eager smile. “Yes, I’d love to.” As they’d brought both Apollo and Gabriel’s mount, Necho, from London, she’d been looking forward to the opportunity to ride out and explore her new surroundings.

  “The park and surrounding woodland encompasses approximately twenty-thousand acres, so there’s quite a bit to see,” Gabriel informed her.

  “My goodness, twenty-thousand acres?” Her father’s estate, which was considered quite large by conventional standards, was less than half that size.

  Gabriel nodded. “My great-grandfather sold nearly a third of the original property shortly after he inherited, but fortunately my father was able to purchase nearly all of the land back in the years before he died.”

  “I would like to have met your father,” Penny remarked. “He sounds like such a remarkable man.”

  “He was,” Gabriel replied, his expression slightly wistful. “And while much of his time was focused upon rebuilding the family fortune, in addition to the pursuit of his own, individual interests, he was a good father as well.”

  “I’m sure that he was,” Penny replied with a gentle smile. “For it is clearly reflected in both you and your brothers.”

  He returned her smile. “I’d like to think so.”

  “Of course I can only assume that much of you and your brothers’ delightful natures can be attributed to your mother as well,” she stated in a lighthearted tone.

  “Indeed. And ‘tis an estimation our mother would agree with wholeheartedly, I’m sure,” Gabriel affirmed with a light chuckle.

  “Do you think that I might have the opportunity to make her acquaintance in the foreseeable future?”

  “She mentioned in her last letter that she would like to spend Christmas here at Ainsworth Park, so yes, I would imagine so.”

  “I’m sure it must be difficult for her to be so far away from you and your brothers.”

  “It is, and for us as well, though knowing how happy she is with Edgar makes it far more bearable.”

  “Have you ever been to America?” she asked, wondering why she’d never thought to ask the question before.

  “I have actually,” he surprised her by saying. “It was years ago, however, before I inherited the title.”

  Penny’s eyes instantly lit up, for she’d held a long-standing fascination with the American culture. And once Gabriel had finished his cake and they’d moved to the nearby drawing room, he seemed more than happy to drink his after dinner coffee and assuage her curiosity about the infamous Wild West as she peppered him with one enthusiastic question after another.

  In the ensuing week, Penny and Gabriel spent the majority of their days out riding, exploring the grounds, visiting the local villages and further occupying themselves with a host of other activities both in and outside of the house. Each and every night, however, was spent in the midst of Gabriel’s bed, the two of them wrapped in each other’s arms, glutting themselves on the carnal pleasures that would be denied them upon his leave-taking and throughout the long weeks ahead.

  For Penny the time was both wonderful and bittersweet, for while it was becoming increasingly apparent that Gabriel’s feelings toward her were changing for the better each and every day, the heartening realization made his looming departure and the mindfulness of their upcoming separation all the more difficult to bear. And despite her efforts to maintain a brave face, on more than one occasion it seemed nearly all that she could do not to burst into tears, throw her arms around him and beg him not to go.

  It was on the morning of his departure, as Penny lay dozing at his side with her head nestled in the crook of his shoulder and her hand resting lightly upon his chest, that Gabriel awoke early and lay silently pondering the events of the past month and the drastic, entirely unanticipated change that had occurred in his relationship with Penelope. Considering that it had been a mere four months since he’d been all but forced into marriage, at the time deriding himself as every kind of fool whilst cursing her for the perfidious deceit she’d enacted upon him, he’d never imagined that they would be lying there now within the midst of his tangled bedsheets, both of them spent and utterly satiated after yet another exceedingly enjoyable and profoundly gratifying, passion-filled night. Perhaps even more surprising, however, was the fact that even now, with nearly four weeks having passed since they’d shared that first, extraordinary night together, he couldn’t seem to get enough of her, despite having repeatedly kept her awake into the wee hours of the morning in the futile, though decidedly pleasurable, attempt to slake his fierce, unremitting desire.

  Of course that wasn’t the only change that had caught him unawares, for he’d never anticipated the ever-increasing affability that existed between them now, or the steadily emerging and entirely discomfiting feelings of genuine affection that he was developing for Penelope. And it was that in particular, that progressively deepening affection that had him in a near constant state of turmoil, for while allowing her into his bed was one thing, allo
wing her into his heart was another matter entirely. Yet despite the warning bells that rang determinedly within his head, their silent peals urging caution and reminding him that he had been made to look a fool once before, he was beginning to fear that it might already be too late.

  “What time is it?” Penny murmured sleepily, distracting him from his musings as she slowly began to stir.

  “It’s early, go back to sleep,” he whispered, gently tightening his arm, pulling her more closely against the warmth of his side.

  She snuggled into him. “I’m not tired,” she professed in a drowsy tone.

  Gabriel’s mouth curved into a smile at the obvious untruth, for considering that he’d allowed her scarce little sleep throughout the long night, she was doubtless exhausted. “It’s barely daybreak and I won’t be leaving for several more hours,” he assured her, even as he felt the sudden and entirely selfish stirring of his cock. “Get some more rest.”

  “I can rest later,” she replied in a delightfully stubborn tone, her hand already drifting downward from his chest as her fingers moved slowly and unerringly toward his rapidly swelling manhood.

  Gabriel chuckled softly, making no move to stay her hand. “Yes, I suppose you can at that.”

  _____

  Despite paying strict attention to her diet and riding nearly every day, in the three weeks following Gabriel’s departure Penny had slowly but steadily continued to gain weight, enough so that Meg had been forced to loosen her corset strings, as well as letting out the bodices in a number of her gowns. And the week after that, when she’d felt the first odd little flutter within her stomach, she’d come to the startling realization that she was in fact expecting a baby. But despite filling her with joy, the realization had been disconcerting as well, for even with her woefully limited knowledge on the subject of fetal development, she’d been fairly certain that at only two months along she should not have been developing a noticeable protrusion in her abdomen, nor should she have been able to discern her baby’s faint movements.