Page 104 of Unmasked

“I’m fine. I’m not in danger. Vaughn takes exceptional care of me.”

“Define exceptional?”

I went to tell him to stop. That it wasn’t his concern, but I couldn’t find the words as I took in the large manor in the distance. It was just as it appeared in the painting in my father’s office. Pride swelled in my chest, and tears burned my eyes. Had I thought this day would never come?

“Rosemoor,” I whispered.

King Lawrence’s head turned, and I saw his own pride as he faced me. For seconds he didn’t speak.

“Seeing you like this makes up for the pain of losing her. Rosemoor has always been my favorite.” He lifted my hand, and I watched as he brought it to his lips. “Making you happy, makes me happy. Welcome home, Penelope.”

I could barely keep my attention on him as I took in the honeyed limestone mansion with dark green shutters. In the background were paddocks and horses grazing. With the lush deep green countryside and towering trees, I couldn’t stop the emotion that came with the years of getting lost in that family portrait. How many daydreams of what-ifs? How many times had my father pointed at it while hammering his anger home within my mind? And now I was here, and Rosemoor was mine. It didn’t seem real. It was a dream. It was breathtaking and left me with a painful awe that contradicted reality.

“Oh, darling, shh.” King Lawrence leaned forward, wiping the tear that escaped. “No need to cry.”

“I never thought I’d see this day.”

“But you have, and it’s only the beginning.” His fingers lingered on my cheek, pulling back as he seemed to catch himself. “You deserve so much, and I’m going to make sure you get it. Maybe you don’t choose me. Maybe you don’t choose Vaughn. One thing you will choose from here on out is yourself. I will make sure of that. You are not obligated to marry anyone.” His hand hesitantly lifted back to me. I leaned back but didn’t jerk away as he came forward anyway to cup the side of my face. “You’ve been told your entire life who to be, who to marry, and what you should and should not do. I think it’s time you become the duchess you were meant to, and to hell with the rest. I want you as my queen. But first… I want to see you thrive on your own. You deserve that peace.”

We turned onto the long drive, and I couldn’t stop the racing of my heart. His words stirred something. They called to a part of me that had been buried long ago under family obligations. Buried… under my love for my captor.

Who was I?

Who could I be?

… Who did I want to be?”

There was never a Penelope, Duchess of Rosemoor. But there was now. What did that mean?

“It’s so beautiful.”

“Yes it is.”

Even though he spoke the words, King Lawrence’s eyes never left me. I didn’t focus on him as I put distance between us and kept my attention on the circle driveway we approached. The large fountain was surrounded by benches and short hedges, and the closer we got, the more I noticed the staff waiting ahead. I closed my eyes, stepping into the role of Duchess. I was made to do this. To be someone.

King Lawrence could try to play me, guilt me, feed me a buffet of lies. The truth remained the same. My future was up to me, and no one was forcing me into a life I didn’t want. Not the king… Not The Judic or new Magister. Not even Vaughn.

It was time I step out of the box and evaluate not only my future, but all the moving parts around it. Without a plan I was vulnerable. With one, I was unstoppable.

The only question was, which life did I choose? Was there a way to merge more than one? It seemed impossible given the location, but where there was a will, there was a way. And I’d find it, even if I had to do the unspeakable to make it happen.

CHAPTER 33

King Lawrence

There was this thing about honor and duty. About expectation and entrapment. I didn’t have to force Penelope to do anything. She could hate me, detest me, and I could still keep her away from Vaughn by burying her in obligations.

Which was exactly my plan as I took in the two dozen members of staff that were waiting for us as we came to a stop.

Our doors opened, and Penelope came around to my side. Instead of introducing her to one at a time, I gestured, calling them forward.

“I would like to introduce to you all, The Duchess of Rosemoor. This is Penelope Taylor.”

“Your Majesty, Duchess.”

The echoing greeting had Penelope smiling. She looked eager and slightly overwhelmed as I gestured for them all to follow as we headed to the stables.

“Let us go ahead and start. I know the morning has been delayed for our arrival, and we can’t risk any postponements.”