Punished by the Duke

~Penny~

"No, I don't believe you." I shook my head in response to my cousin. "Stop lying! You're jealous, Bethany."

"What do you think this is then?" She pushed a sealed envelope into my palm. The wax seal was already broken. "Read it yourself."

'The Campbell Kingdom has the pleasure of announcing the engagement of its Crown Prince, Lawrence Campbell, to Miss Lena Alcott, of Th-' The invitation slipped out of my trembling hands as I forgot to breathe.

"He- He told me he loved me-" Tears blurred my vision as I choked on a sob.

"He obviously lied to you. What were you even thinking? We groom their horses and clean mucky stalls, Penny. How could you be so delusional? Even the broke and grubby stable boys are super picky about who they want, and this is Lawrence Campbell, The Lawrence Campbell."

"I still can't believe this." I picked up the invitation to read it again. "They got engaged yesterday? There has to be an explanation."

"Why do you think he owes you any explanation? He can have any woman he-"

"Beth, stop, okay? Yes, he can have any woman he wants. But did he ever shower you with attention as he did to me?"

"Well, no..."

"Did he invite you to his bedroom to spend time with him? Why would he pick me over you or all those other women you are talking about?" 

"You are in denial, Penny. He does NOT love you or want you. He never did."

"I have to hear it from him. There's no point in arguing with you here. I can't imagi-" Another sob seized my lungs as I wiped my tears and ran past the tack wall. Rain was pelting down hard, the icy raindrops sending coarse shivers down my spine.  

"Penny, you can't just barge into the palace..." Gusty wind washed Bethany's words away as I climbed up the hill to the mansion house, the side of the palace where the Prince's bedroom was situated.

The guards hesitated before letting me in. I expected them to throw me out, considering the tangled mess of my hair and rain-soaked clothes. Lawrence's words echoed through my mind, 'these flame-kissed tresses, sky blue eyes... who can ever say no to this sweet face?'

Suddenly, I lost the courage to confront him. I balled my hands into fists so tight that my nails dug through the skin on my palms. Deep down, I knew Bethany was right. Seeing him with his soon-to-be bride would destroy me. 

Thunder crashed near the window as I tapped on the closed door to the drawing room. The faint melody of piano notes drifted through. Was I intruding on a close family gathering? After dithering a moment, I pushed the door open.

My muddy boots creaked against the polished floor, but the only two people in the room were oblivious to my intrusion. My heart pounded louder than the roaring thunder when my eyes fell on the Prince. He was leaning in behind a beautiful woman, his eyes closed as he pressed his lips to her hair. Her face beamed as she sat and continued playing the piano. His hand brushed against her blue, off-shoulder gown before his lips found the delicate curve of her collarbone. 

When she looked up at him and leaned in for a kiss, I wanted to throw up. A quiet gasp escaped me in surrender.

"You are so beautiful Lena, and your lips taste so sweet," he said to her under his breath, but I could hear his words crystal clear, because those were the same words he whispered to me not too long ago, saying how it was so hard for him to stop kissing me or touching me. 

His fiancée blushed and replied, "That was my first time kissing someone."

"Mine too," he said as if he was too embarrassed to admit that he had never kissed anyone before. What a smooth player! And just like that, she fell for those words, submitting to his caresses as he ran his hands all over her body.

How could I be so naive? I never saw this coming. I gave him my first kiss, my innocence. I let him defile me and offered myself to him every single time he said he needed to see me. He even swore to me that he loved me. But lies came so easily to him, of course.

As he continued whispering sweet nothings to his soon-to-be bride, I tried to swallow my sobs and quietly slip out of the room. A loud and jagged sob burst out of my chest as I turned the doorknob.    

"What the fuck are you doing here?" I flinched at the tone more than his harsh words. I was used to hearing nothing but words of love and praise from him. My shoulders shook from the effort to stay quiet as I pressed my lips together.

His brow was still raised, as if he was genuinely surprised to see me here. More like he never saw me before.

"You ruined me..." I mumbled so faintly that even I didn't hear my voice. If I raised my voice any higher or created a scene, he could get me killed. He was powerful and feared, even by his dad. No one ever described him as kind or gentle, but he was like a Prince out of a fairy tale when we spent time alone in his suite. Why did he have to be so sweet to me?  

"You are the stable girl, aren't you?" I heard Lena's warm voice as she walked toward us.

Lawrence turned to his fiancée in surprise. "What?"

"It's hard not to notice her, Enzo. She has such beautiful, fiery hair." She was feeling the tips of her own silky curls as she continued, "And a face that is hard to forget." Her words were meant to be a compliment, but I was too focused on the way she called Lawrence by his nickname, Enzo... he said only I could call him Enzo.

"You don't have to be nice to the common folk to impress me, Lena," Lawrence almost snapped at her. "She doesn't deserve your eye contact or your time. If you want to be with me, you must abide by certain rules. No interactions with stable hands and peasants, clear?"

Lena nodded and looked away toward the piano, maybe to avoid getting into an argument with him.

"Guards!" He yelled while nudging me out of the room.

"I can go, you don't have to push me out." I freed my arm from his grip, but he caught my elbow again and muttered, "We need to talk. I'll send for you soon." I looked up at his fiancée to see if she could hear us, but the guards showed up instantly.  

"Don't ever let these strays in." The door clicked shut after his words as thunder rumbled down the hallway.