Loving a Fearless Duchess: A Historical Regency Romance Book(49)

The air was clean and smelled of the sea, and a gentle breeze circulated keeping the air fresh. The sun shone brightly without a cloud in sight.

The carriage pulled up to a villa directly facing the ocean with a beach between them. Tall green plants grew around high openings in the villa that Penelope guessed could only be windows.

The colour of the water was nothing like she had ever seen. In England, the water matched the sky. A dark gray soup that stirred whitecaps but did not improve in temperature or colour.

In Catania, the ocean was calm. More like a gentle lake than an ocean. The colour started as a light aquamarine blue that slowly brightened to a turquoise colour popular with hats in London summers. A bright blue as far as the eye could see followed. It too matched the sky.

The guide turned to Penelope, riveted on the sea.

“Put your bare feet in the water, Duchess. The water is warm, not the ice water you are used to in England.”

Penelope smiled at him and nodded.

“Come, I’ll show you around.”

After touring the villa with Sergio, Penelope put a hand on Nash’s upper arm. “Now I understand why you love it here so much.”

He grinned. “It’s paradise. Once we’ve settled in, I’ll take you to the beach, and we’ll put our feet in the water. Sergio’s right. The water temperature will surprise you, in a good way.”

Penelope gave a dazzling smile, as beautiful as the ocean in Catania. Every day, she didn’t think she could love Nash more, and every day, she was proven wrong.

Sergio was talking, “And the stars at night are brighter and more plentiful. You will love the quiet breeze, the soft rustle of fronds, the curtains billowing. You won’t want to leave.”

“I’m already convinced. It’s beautiful.”

Nash smiled. “I knew you’d like it. It’s my favourite place in the world.”

***

“So soon?”

Nash gave a short laugh. “You are the one who wanted a six-week honeymoon.”

The trunks were ready to go, and a carriage waited in front of the villa.

Nash took Penelope’s hand. “Do I have to drag you out?” he said, tugging her forward.

She sighed. “No.” She looked at the floor then suddenly gazed up into his eyes. “Can we come back?”

Nash laughed again. “Yes. Maybe on our first wedding anniversary.”

Penelope pouted. “Or our six-month anniversary.”

Nash shook his head. “Pace yourself. The boat ride from Rome to Dover is not fun. The honeymoon is over.”

Penelope growled. “Don’t remind me.”

Edward picked them up at Dover, having received the travel information sent to him from Rome just before he and Penelope boarded the boat.

He hugged Penelope. “Did someone die?”

She sighed. “Yes. My honeymoon.”

Nash rolled his eyes. “Penelope changed her mind about how long she wanted to be on her honeymoon. It turns out six weeks was not long enough.”

Edward laughed. “Oh, well. Let’s get going.”

They entered the townhouse to greetings from the staff, pleased to have them returned. Penelope smiled. How nice. She knew she and Nash would be happy here.

Penelope could tell Nash was itching to get to his correspondence and ledgers. He glanced at his study more than once.

He took her by the elbow and walked her to the bottom step of the staircase.

“Go rest, Penelope. I’ll send a footman to your mother and brother inviting them to dine with us this evening.”

Penelope nodded. She was exhausted. The trip from Rome to Dover was as bad as Nash had warned. Every bone in her body ached with a dull, persistent throb. She slowly climbed the stairs.

***

Cecilia gave Penelope a fierce hug. “I feel as if you’ve been gone for a year. Finally, you’re home.”

Penelope laughed and drew back from her mother. “I feel as if I’ve been gone two weeks. Nash took my hand and dragged me out of the villa in Catania.”

Cecilia sat on the settee and patted the space next to her. “Come hear all the news and the plans for your wedding.”

Her wedding. A week away. Penelope still had mixed feelings about the wedding. They were already married. What was she doing having a large, lavish wedding?

But when she recovered all those years ago, and she saw the scar she had to live with, there was universal agreement that Penelope would become a spinster. Everyone had been proven wrong, and she wanted to show them how wrong they had been.

“– and you have one more fitting for your dress. What do you think?”

Penelope hadn’t heard what her mother said, but it didn’t matter. She knew her mother did a great job fulfilling Penelope’s wishes.

“That sounds wonderful, Mother,” she gushed.

The smile on Cecilia’s face was enough. Penelope knew she had done well.

“Is your dress ready, or will you have your final fitting with me?”

Cecilia smiled again. “It’s home. I’ll show it to you when you visit next. I’m pleased.”

Nash and Edward stood in the corner of the parlour talking at a barely audible volume.

“He has been quiet. We haven’t heard a thing. If it weren’t for sightings at White’s, I’m not sure I’d even know he was in town. And Avery has been keeping a low profile. He still meets with his cronies regularly, but he’s more concerned about his image than anything else.