“He is courting me, yet that is how I feel about him as well. That I only knowofhim.”
Penelope’s face formed an adorable pout. “This isn’t an exciting development, then? I was hoping a man had finally turned your head.”
“More like barged into me while I was caught unaware.”
“But he is a duke.”
“Oh, trust me, that is the one thing I know for certain about him.”
“And a handsome one at that.”
“Yes, I am aware. But—”
“But what?”
“We aren’t in love. Not even a little bit. I feel like he met me, decided I would be a suitable wife, then proceeded on a course to make me thus without even asking what I thought about the whole situation.”
“Howdoyou feel about the situation?”
“Only that it is very rushed. And I am not used to being rushed. I always thought my situation would be like my sister’s, with all the time in the world to find a man who suitedmyliking. Suddenly that option has been ripped away from me, simply because he is a duke.”
Penelope tipped her head, as if weighing whether or not this was a justifiable concern. Mercy rubbed her temples. If even her good friend considered his title enough to recommend him, she was doomed. How would she ever get out of this situation?
“Are you quite certain you don’t like him?”
“I don’t dislike him. But I am quite certain we feel almost nothing for each other. It feels so arranged. So... unlike me. And so very like him.”
“And you feel lost?”
As soon as the words were out of Penelope’s mouth, tears threatened in Mercy’s eyes. Yes. She was lost. She had struggled to put a word to what was happening to her, but gone was the Mercy who made her own choices. Gone was the carefree woman who would happily wait as long as it took to find a man who made her feel adored. And gone was the daughter who had complete confidence in her parents’ desire to always do what would make Mercy most happy. She didn’t even have dance partners anymore. “Yes.” The word came out strangled. “I feel very lost.”
Penelope immediately grabbed both of her shoulders and enveloped her in her arms. “I’m sorry.” She rubbed Mercy’s back. “We cannot lose you. You are one of the very best people in the whole of creation. If you want to fight it, we will fight it.”
Mercy laughed. Fight? How did one fight against something that made everyone else in the world happy? Still, she was going to try. “I do have one idea, but it is, um... unusual.”
“There is always a way. I got my Yolty, didn’t I?”
“Yes, after a brief stint with Lord Bryant.” Mercy had never understood how Penelope had fallen under the charming baron’s spell.
Penelope jerked away from her. “Lord Bryant, of course, perhaps he could—” Then her face dropped, and her lips pursed together. “No, he is married now. And to Diana Barton, that lucky duck.”
Mercy didn’t know if Penelope was referring to Diana Barton or Lord Bryant when she made the comment, and she didn’t dare press the issue. Lord Yolten and Penelope were one of her favorite couples. They had the kind of relationship that, like her parents’ and sister’s, gave her hope. Mercy had assumed her friend’s brief time with Lord Bryant had been completely forgotten, but perhaps not.
“I don’t see how Lord Bryant could have helped me withanything.”
“Oh, no. He couldn’t. I just—well... it doesn’t matter now. We will think of something. Have you had any ideas of how you might extricate yourself from the situation? Could you simply tell him you aren’t interested?”
“I could. I’ve thought about it. However, it isn’t as though he has asked to marry me. And when I spoke to my parents about it, they rightly told me I hadn’t given him much of a chance yet. But—”
“You want something more,” Penelope finished. “And you should. I can’t imagine my life with anyone else but Yolty.” Penelope shuddered. “And if the duke isn’t that for you, he isn’t. You can’t force it.”
Couldn’t imagine her life without him. Exactly like her parents. “I have a good family and a dowry large enough to tempt anyone. There is no reason I should settle, simply because the man is a duke.”
Penelope smiled and then laughed. “We are quite the pair, you and I. What are we going to do?”
We. Such a small word, and yet suddenly her world was brighter. “I was thinking...”
Penelope leaned forward. “Yes?”
