Page 99 of Unmasked

The anger melted.

“Penelope. I’ve been trying to get ahold of you. We head to Rosemoor in the morning. There are a great number of people excited to meet their new Duchess. I know it’s a lot to face after…” My brow drew in. “Your loss.” I paused hearing a soft sound leave her. “I swear I didn’t know. About any of it. Penelope, I would have never allowed you to get hurt. The only reason I didn’t kill my physician until after I left was because he was the only one who could right his wrong. I stayed long enough to make sure you were okay, and then I left. I was worried about you.”

“Is that why you branded me?”

“… I was upset. When I got the call—I didn’t even know Vaughn was alive. I sure as hell didn’t know you were pregnant with his child. I felt… betrayed. Again. I overreacted. I’m sorry.”

Silence.

“You killed the physician? Who was he? Why did he poison me?”

“It took a while for him to admit the entire truth. He lied a lot at the beginning, and I’m afraid your guards suffered for it. Finally, he admitted that he was trying to help me. That he thought if you were sick, I’d be able to nurse you back to health and maybe you would fall in love with me. It was stupid. Reckless. It didn’t matter. I killed him after what he caused. What he did to you. How could I not?” I paused, softening but deepening my voice. “He hurt you. Did you not see my pain? My fear? I know you did. Vaughn told me you remembered. Penelope… I was sick over what happened to you. I was scared out of my mind. I’m sorry. Please. I know I can’t change any of it but allow me to try. Even if by something as small as righting your past. It’s the least I can do.”

More silence.

Longer.

“You said everyone’s expecting me?”

I smiled. “They are. And it’s very important that you make the right first impression. Rosemoor is⁠—”

“The second biggest breeding and training stable in the world, Your Majesty.

“Then you know how important this is.”

“I do, which is why it’s the only reason I’ll be ready at nine.” She paused. “Because if you⁠—”

“This is strictly business. I even promised Vaughn that I would have you home before dark.”

It sounded truthful. Convincing.

Little did either of them know it wasn’t going to be me holding Penelope there against her will. She’d decide to stay all by herself, and when she did, I’d conveniently be waiting for her in the shadows.

CHAPTER 31

Vaughn

What was trust when love was bait?

What was faith when devotion was doomed?

Penelope deserved better than the jealous, overprotective… captor I was.

Boyfriend?

It was a weak title for what she deserved. For what I wanted. But King Lawrence was right on the engagement, and I hated that he knew how The Order worked. I hated even more that he’d called me out over it.

I felt like Penelope and I were in a no-win situation.

Each day that we got closer to the ball was another day distracting us from the trials. She wasn’t ready to start training again yet, but I could see how itchy she was to begin again. We were both spinning in a web of everyone else’s creations but our own.

The only plus side to anything was that the tunneling for our home was almost done. There was that. But now she was leaving again… with him.

Had I prayed she’d tell him no? That she’d throw her title back in his face and tell him she didn’t need it?

It was selfish of me to want her to do that. It wasn’t as if she were telling me to abandon my own obligations. Hell, she was ready to die for mine. And yet, I hated losing her to hers… even if for a few hours.

I was greedy. A complete ass. I didn’t deserve her, and maybe King Lawrence was right about that too. Not that he outright said that, but he didn’t have to. I knew how to read between the lines. I also knew he was up to something. It was the reason I was once again watching my men follow her and King Lawrence’s vehicle. It was also why I’d gifted her the perfect, heart-shaped necklace for her to wear on her big day.