Chapter 41

 

I spoke with the grand duke today. While I was nervous, the discussion went well and I told him what I knew. And proceeded to run away to my room, to take a bath.

A good soak seemed quite the thing to relax me after the grand duke’s summons.

I soaked in it for a while, until the water turned cold against my skin. I had just managed to put on a simple dress–one I could lace myself–when there was a knock at the door.

My hair was still damp, and I brushed it away from my face as I walked to the door.

I expected to see Nick or Kiki, but found myself face to face with Penn.

“Hello,” I said, shocked to see him, of all people, at my door.

“Do you have a moment? I wish to speak with you.”

“Of course.” I moved so he could enter. “Please come in.”

It was then I noticed the darkness in Penn’s eyes. I had no reason to fear him, I told myself, but I left my chamber open, nodding to the two guards outside.

Penn either did not notice or did not care what I was doing. He simply took a seat in one of the chairs in the sitting room.

“What can I do for you, Penn?” I asked, taking a seat across from him.

He glanced at me, then looked down at the floor, before finally setting his gaze back on me. “I…” He ran his hand over his face. “I wanted to apologize to you, Lady Katherina.”

I blinked, stunned not only by the use of my formal name, but by his words. “For what?”

He looked at the floor yet again, hands clenched on his knees. “I tend to let my mouth run off at times, and I fear I might have offended you on occasion.”

“Perhaps.” I raised my eyebrow at him. “On occasion.”

“Then I feel I should apologize. Make amends, as a proper nobleman should.”

“I see,” I said, shifting in my chair. “Then I gladly accept your apology.”

His gaze wandered around the room then he narrowed his brown eyes at me, a stare so intense, I wound up shivering.

“How do you do it?” he asked. “What do you do when everything you know has been upturned and will never be the same again?”

I blinked. “I, uh…I do not know, Penn.”

He stood and paced the room. “I never wanted this. I did not want this title, this obligation, this…this power.” He stopped and this time, when he looked at me, I could see the worry on his face. “I will have an entire province to care for once the hangings are complete, and I know my life is over.” He took a step toward me. “How do you do it? How do you change, Tressey?”

I did not even pause to consider my words, they just tumbled out. “One step at a time. You move forward, one step at a time, taking it in little by little, until finally, you have all of it.”

“And what if I cannot take it all?”

“Penn, I believe you can take on much more than you think possible.”

“How would you know?”

“Because I could, and I know nothing of the world. If I can do this, live through such an upheaval, then I know you can.”

He smiled, and it was warm and gentle. “Thank you, Tressey.”

“You are most welcome, Penn.”

He turned and, at the door, paused. “If Nick ever treats you unkindly, know you have a friend in me. I would be happy to remind him how to treat a woman.”

I smiled. “I appreciate that, thank you.”

He winked and walked out the door, his steps a little lighter.