Page 101 of Unmasked

“This is going to be the longest, most uncomfortable drive in the world if you keep ignoring me.”

Penelope shifted enough to cause the necklace to move on her chest.

“Are you uncomfortable, Your Majesty?”

“I’m not guilty if that’s what you’re hinting at.”

“You said it, not me.”

“Penelope.” He paused. “Be honest with me. Do you think that I had you poisoned? Intentionally?”

Silence.

The camera shifted, and suddenly King Lawrence was in view. His blonde hair was styled back, and concern mixed with sadness drew in his handsome features. My fists clenched as she continued.

“I’m not sure. I don’t have evidence. Do I put it past you?” Anger laced her tone. “You tried to have Theodore killed. What is a little poison or the murder of a baby compared to that? It’s all the same.”

More, the king’s face grew with emotion.

“I swear I didn’t know about the baby. And the poison, it was because of me but not because I said I wanted it done. I feel sick about it, Penelope. I killed the physician. I don’t know what else you want me to do to prove that I didn’t mean for that to happen.”

“And Theodore?”

The king’s cheek ticked, and he turned more towards her.

“Possibly…”

“What do you mean, possibly?”

“You don’t understand how the Crown works. I could say anything, and people think I’m making orders or hinting for them to do my bidding. Sometimes my temper wins. I just—Dammit, Penelope. I’ve been trying for years to get you to see me. Not the Crown. Not the palace. Me. I thought we shared something when you came to see me all those years back. If you recall, I didn’t want you to leave at all after our first talk. Not that day. Not the second time we met. Yes, I had appointments, but I told you that you could stay. That I’d be done as soon as I could. But you left. Every time. You just left as if you couldn’t wait to get away from me. Then… your scandal. Another amazing meeting together only for you to turn around the same night and—” He stopped, turning to the window, flexing his jaw repeatedly. I felt myself mirroring him as I listened to his confession.

“Then, you disappeared. I’d been so close to calling on you again before that despite knowing you probably felt nothing for me. I’m the king. You were probably being cordial. But I couldn’t help myself. I thought maybe you weren’t ready before. It was obvious after I heard you were meeting with Lord Shorelam that you were finally searching out what I was. Marriage. But then you disappeared. I was sick when no one could find you. If I would have stopped being so angry or—You can’t imagine the regret I felt. It ate away at me. I had everyone searching for you. I had your picture posted everywhere. I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t think.

“But you surfaced. You escaped your captor and survived some horrifying captivity… only to still reject me after I’d done everything I could to try to find you. And then to find out you chose… someone else? Someone handsome and real? A man without obligations or life under a microscope?” His head shook as he turned back to face her. “I was jealous over Theodore. I was hurt. Maybe I said something that insinuated more. Maybe I even mentioned a contract in those heated moments. That does not mean I took one out.”

The room became quiet as we all waited for Penelope to say something. She didn’t. But King Lawrence did as he continued.

“I know how it looks, and I hate that you have that impression of me, but Penelope please, you have to believe me.”

“You want me to believe you?”

His gaze studied her, going back and forth between her eyes as he took her in.

“I do. More than anything.”

“Then you’ll make it up to Theodore and apologize to him for what someone may have taken out of context. That is the responsibility of a king. It’s to his people. To those who look up to him.” Penelope turned more towards him, and I felt my stomach drop as she reached to hold his hand. “I so badly want to believe what you’re saying.”

“You can. It’s the truth.” His hand tightened, pulling hers more in his direction as he drew it closer to his chest. “Penelope, I never wanted anyone to get hurt. Especially you or those close to you.” His other hand reached up, joining the one used to hold to hers. “I have to ask. At the beginning. Not when you got sick and we met, but when I asked you back. Why not stay to get to know me better? What did I do that pushed you away? Pushed you… to some stranger at a party? I thought we hit it off. I thought⁠—”

Penelope drew her hand back from his but stayed facing him.

“It had nothing to do with you. Nothing at all. Honestly, I never in a million years thought you’d choose me. I figured I was too young, too much of a risk with my parents. Maybe it’s the reason I sabotaged it. If I screwed it up, it wasn’t me being rejected because of my family’s situation. Does that make sense?”

King Lawrence nodded. His lids were narrowed as if he were desperate to read every emotion that flashed on her face.

“I had a lot of growing up to do. I guess I still do.”

A smile tugged at his mouth.