~Penny~How could I be so irresponsible? I cursed under my breath, the chill of the late night air seeping through my coat. At two in the morning, after tossing and turning for hours, the realization suddenly struck me–where did the letter that Mr.Rolfe handed me go?It must have slipped out of my dress at some point. But where? I forgot all about it when I got off the carriage and settled in the cottage for dinner. It was snowing lightly now and the moon was out while I looked as suspicious as ever, tracing my way back to the garden and lawns I walked through earlier in the evening. Dawn was approaching soon. I glanced up at the second story window where Leo's room was. He must be fast asleep, maybe with Hannah curled in his arms. As I turned away, I thought I saw a flicker of movement.Was he awake? Could he see me out here in the cold? I had to hurry back to my room, hoping no one else stumbled upon the letter once the snow melted. The next morning, we set out to the ocean with
~Penny~I shook my head in refusal. "I hate you after what you did with Hannah. Your touch disgusts me.""My touch? You get wet just looking at me." He whispered, his breath warm against my ear. As he traced his fingers down my spine, I shuddered against him, hating how soaked he was making me. "I don't have to feel your pussy to know how wet you are for me."I took a deep breath, desperately shaking my head in a no, denying the truth in his words and the caressing strokes of his fingers against my lower back. My nipples hardened under my dress, yearning for him to fondle my breasts."You let that handsy fucker touch you. You forgot who still owns this pussy, didn't you?" His fingers reached my folds as he buried his face in the crook of my neck."It's not yours. I'm NOT yours. I hate you!"I scrambled against his hold, refusing to acknowledge how shaky and breathy my voice was. He wrapped his hand around my throat and pulled me closer, tugging me into a wild kiss while using his othe
Rain was pelting down so hard, I could barely see where I was going in the dark. The icy raindrops soaked through my lush hair, turning it into a tangled mess. Thunder roared so loud it made my heart pound louder. The wind whipped hard at my pale yellow gown, sending coarse shivers down my spine.Hugging myself to shield my body from cold, I stopped for a moment and strained my eyes to look at the dense woods. Bursts of blinding lightning illuminated the endless dark skies for just a second. I thought I caught a glimpse of something. Nestled among the trees, it looked like a quaint log cabin. Another flash of lightning, and there it was, a cozy looking wood cabin, flickers of orange glow emanating through its frosted windowpanes.Ah, a fireplace sounded so good right now. I scurried towards it in desperate hope, the damp earth sucking at my feet. After hesitating for a moment, I banged on the door.No answer.I knocked harder this time. Pressing my rain-smeared face to the glass, I
~Penny~The Stable Master's impatient voice echoed through the narrow hallway, shattering the fragile remnants of my sleep. "Penny!! You can't keep the Royals waiting. What is taking you so long?"It was barely dawn, and rain was lashing against the windowpanes. I was still reeling from the dream but there was no time to dwell on it. It was already time to prep the horses for the Prince's guard. I was one of the faceless stable hands in the vast Campbell stables, just like my brother, cousins, and uncle were. Like the stalls I cleaned, my life held a predictable monotony—hay, hooves, and the occasional fleeting memory of a life before it fell apart.My uncle was the Stable Master, a man as sour as the raw week-old milk. Blood meant nothing to him. He'd inherited us, my brother and I, after our parents' tragic train accident during a trip to America. He never missed a chance to remind us, orphans, beholden to his "kindness." Once he sold my parents' properties, life had been the drudge
~Penny~"Let me come back to the point, Penny. Jeez woman, you are so distracting." He made it sound as if I walked in here naked. "You will need to live in Mountbatten for a bit. Since you are originally from there, it will be much easier for you to blend in."Easier for what? A part of me ached for the familiar cobblestones of Mountbatten, a world away from this miserable life. But freedom wasn't an option. Not yet. My eighteenth birthday was only a week away. Perhaps I could defy my scowling uncle then and escape with my brother."Pay attention, Penny, will you? The Duke of Mountbatten, Leander Vance Bauer, will be officially coronated on his twenty-fifth birthday. It's only a couple of months from now. He has become a constant growing pain. To make things worse, his people love him too much. His political accession was done years ago but Mountbatten will formally and fully accept him on the day of his coronation."How did this have anything to do with me? I could barely remember
~Leo~The steam clung to me like a second skin as I stepped out of the bathroom, the luxury of a long, hot bath finally chasing away the past two months' relentless grind. As I walked from the parlor room to the closet, the smell of freshly baked bread and fried eggs infiltrated my senses.Where the hell was my coffee? I needed to fire my incompetent chambermaid right away. After checking the mail she left for me on the dresser, I ran my fingers through my damp hair a few times. Mr. Gilbert, my dresser and personal advisor, should be here soon. Tossing the towel aside, I reached for a crisp white shirt. An unwanted moan resonated through the bedroom. Sprawled across my four-poster bed was my sister's friend, with her lustful gaze brushing over my naked body with no modesty.What the fuck was she still doing here?I wanted her gone before I got out of the bathroom. She was a good fuck, but I was done with her."Get out!""Leo, you treat me like I am some poor filthy wench.""I don't s
~Penny~On the morning of my eighteenth birthday, I set out to Mountbatten with a heavy heart and a mind full of uncertainties and fears. The train chugged towards my hometown for about six hours now but I couldn't sleep a wink. An edgy, frantic energy filled my mind all week.Spying. The very word made my stomach churn. There were so many lies involved, so much at stake if I failed.Lawrence Campbell had mentioned that the nursemaid who failed him before was dead. He didn't care to elaborate if he killed her or the Duke had her executed. Every position of work at the Duke's castle involved stringent background checks, and yet, Lawrence somehow created some fake records for me to show that I lived in Mountbatten all my life. He even went to the extent of writing letters to the housekeeper and butler on my behalf, fabricating lies upon lies.His grand plan, it seemed, was for me to waltz right up to the Duke himself. But the best he could manage was a dressmaker position for the kitche
~Penny~I woke up in a panic the next morning and lunged for the window.What time was it?Fully expecting the sun to have already crested the mountains, I pulled the curtains apart to look outside.Heavens! What was this? A snowstorm! The gusty wind was sending flurries of rain and snow against the windowpanes.The first day of my mission. A quick bath later, I draped a scarf over my printed silk dress to cover the deeply scooped neckline. Dressing up to look attractive and alluring was a prime requirement to succeed in this 'Seducing the Duke' plan. The Campbell princes paid me a hefty amount of money for the trip and I burned through most of it buying pretty clothes and accessories. Whatever money was left after that, I lost it all somewhere on the train. "First snow of the season, so early this year," Aunt Molly said nonchalantly, pouring herself a steaming cup of tea as I grabbed my purse along with signed copies of my appointment and recommendation letters.No time for pleasant
~Penny~I shook my head in refusal. "I hate you after what you did with Hannah. Your touch disgusts me.""My touch? You get wet just looking at me." He whispered, his breath warm against my ear. As he traced his fingers down my spine, I shuddered against him, hating how soaked he was making me. "I don't have to feel your pussy to know how wet you are for me."I took a deep breath, desperately shaking my head in a no, denying the truth in his words and the caressing strokes of his fingers against my lower back. My nipples hardened under my dress, yearning for him to fondle my breasts."You let that handsy fucker touch you. You forgot who still owns this pussy, didn't you?" His fingers reached my folds as he buried his face in the crook of my neck."It's not yours. I'm NOT yours. I hate you!"I scrambled against his hold, refusing to acknowledge how shaky and breathy my voice was. He wrapped his hand around my throat and pulled me closer, tugging me into a wild kiss while using his othe
~Penny~How could I be so irresponsible? I cursed under my breath, the chill of the late night air seeping through my coat. At two in the morning, after tossing and turning for hours, the realization suddenly struck me–where did the letter that Mr.Rolfe handed me go?It must have slipped out of my dress at some point. But where? I forgot all about it when I got off the carriage and settled in the cottage for dinner. It was snowing lightly now and the moon was out while I looked as suspicious as ever, tracing my way back to the garden and lawns I walked through earlier in the evening. Dawn was approaching soon. I glanced up at the second story window where Leo's room was. He must be fast asleep, maybe with Hannah curled in his arms. As I turned away, I thought I saw a flicker of movement.Was he awake? Could he see me out here in the cold? I had to hurry back to my room, hoping no one else stumbled upon the letter once the snow melted. The next morning, we set out to the ocean with
~Penny~ As the ship touched land and everyone rushed to get offboard to the freezing Tundra, Mr. Rolfe walked to me with a stack of letters. The one on the top was in Lawrence's handwriting but with Ben's address. So Lawrence somehow knew we were going to stop at this town for a few days. “For me?” I asked, snatching it from Mr. Rolfe's hand before he attracted Leo's attention with his deep, ringing voice. For Ben's safety, it was best that Leo never knew about his existence. I was still upset with Leo and didn't want to talk to him. After that slap, he also avoided me. "How is this water not frozen?" Lucy exclaimed, covering her face with a scarf. "I wanted to say goodbye to Marie before she left but can barely see in this fog." "I know, it's crazy! Not even three in the afternoon and the sun is setting already." And I thought Mountbatten was cold. This place was surrounded by impressive snow-covered mountains just like Mountbatten, but that gorgeous pale wintry light was missi
~Penny~We were about four hours away from our destination by sunrise. But where did the sun go? Even at nine in the morning, it was so frigid cold, and foggy. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say the ship sailed really close to the North Pole overnight. As I walked into the open deck area, the crew wore heavy wool coats, hats, and gloves. The steward seemed to have used a hammock by the wood-burning stove at night to keep warm.Alice was serving alcohol to everyone on board while Lucy and Marie were busy getting the breakfast ready. Leo was probably still in bed. I dared to snuggle up to him once he passed out last night, but he wasn't a deep sleeper apparently, since I woke up in my bed this morning."Good morning, My Lady," Lucy said, beckoning me to join them in the galley kitchen. "His Grace likes these added to his eggs." She passed some cold smoked herring and cheese to me without explaining much.I wasn't very helpful in the kitchen, but I was glad to be here as it was nice a
~Penny~"Get my bath ready," he ordered, stripping off his shirt without caring to look at me. I stepped into the bathroom quietly to do as he said. Once I got the sponges and soap ready, I stood awkwardly by the large vanity, rubbing my palms on my thighs. He walked in wearing nothing but a towel, sending a warm tremor of heat straight to my core."Fetch me some new towels and change my sheets." He glowered at me, shutting the bathroom door to my face. Someone was in a terrible mood, probably because his torture didn't work on me. I wondered what else he would do to make me talk tonight. It was so strange that I wanted him to push my sexual boundaries to the extreme, even when the thought scared me.I changed the sheets and cleaned the room, picking clothes off the floor. Did he get physical with Hannah today? The thought bothered me as I clutched his cream-colored shirt, looking for any lipstick marks or strands of rose gold hair.Pushing his shirt to my nose, I sucked in a deep br
~Penny~A deep sense of dread and anxiety took over me as I slowly turned around to face Mr. Rolfe. His scrutinizing gaze seemed to freeze my blood, making my mouth dry and my knees weak and shaky."Pardon me, My Lady, I think the purser was holding five letters addressed to His Grace. Did you by any chance happen to see the fifth one?""Um, letters? For me?" I asked, hiding my sweaty palms behind my back and slowly crumpling the thick paper. The blue envelope I had opened so carefully to glue it back later was still sitting on the wooden railing. I used my body to block it from him."Letters for His Grace, My Lady, did you---""Oh, there they are," I said, quickly throwing the crumpled letter into the water as he turned to look at the approaching guards. "Just when I was wondering if I would ever get a minute away from them to appreciate these gorgeous views, here they are..." I waved my arm at the rolling hills draped in snow, gusty winds howling across them.Feigning my disappointm
~Penny~ I slowly rose from the fog of sleep, every inch of my body feeling either sore or stiff. Bright rays of sunlight filtered through the cabin window. Jeez, what time was it? This wasn't Leo's cabin. He wore me out so badly that I passed out from exhaustion at some point and somehow ended up back in my tiny cabin, naked. As I rolled over with a groggy sigh, my body throbbed, all the way from my arms down to my calves. God, was it torture. There was something terribly wrong with me to have secretly enjoyed it so much. I could still feel the heat of his eyes on me, the way he watched me take it all in as he emptied himself between my lips, the sound of his quick breaths, the hard shudder of his body because of the things he made me do to him, fuck! My hand reached my clit instantly, gasping at how sensitive it was. My body needed a release, no matter how tender my pussy was. I rubbed on the sensitive bud, remembering how his fingers circled it lazily. Too bad he didn't let me
~Penny~Once we were out of Hannah's and everyone else's sight, he spun me around and yanked me off my feet, throwing me over his shoulder. I whimpered at the sudden move, my pulse racing even more as he stepped into his cabin and tossed me onto his bed. Jerking on the collar of his shirt after unbuttoning it, he lifted it over his head and flung it on the floor, revealing his broad shoulders and muscular arms."Spread your legs." His demanding voice got my blood pumping. My nipples turned hard when his gaze landed between my legs. Crawling onto the bed, he ran his hands over my shaking thighs, his fingers digging in. Pulling my panties to the side, he ran his thumb over my folds before pushing it into my pussy. My cheeks flushed at how wet I was for him."When I'm done with you," he said, his rough voice showing a hint of anger, "this tight pussy will be dripping with my cum. But I promise I won't let you come, no matter how much you beg or cry."I whimpered in protest. Not letting m
~Penny~The sight of Leo standing so close to his lady friend made me forget all about Lawrence. While everyone else was seated at several round tables, Leo was leaning against the railing with a drink in his hand, looking hot as ever in his black twill shirt. He was listening to Hannah, looking amused by whatever she was telling him.She touched him at every chance, eyes wide and sparkling with excitement, her hands dancing in the air animatedly. I couldn't really blame her. Which woman could keep her hands off that tousled hair and charismatic face? At every lurch of the ship, she threw herself at him playfully and he caught her with his free arm. A heavy weight pressed down on my chest, making it difficult for me to breathe.Until now I had hoped Leo was meeting her for the first time and would take some time getting to know her. Tears stung my eyes like tiny hot needles when I thought about the possibility that he was sleeping with her when he told me he was busy with town hall vi