~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 drudgery of the Campbell stables ever since.
My father, a gifted jockey entrusted with prized racehorses at Mountbatten, was a constant reminder of everything my uncle wasn't. Ah, how I missed living up in the north. Life was so good when my parents were alive.
Now, a heated argument filtered through the thin walls of the East Wing as I put my rich copper red curls into a tight knot and tucked it under a worn-out hat.
"The Prince? You must have the wrong Penelope," I heard him scoff. "This niece of mine is a nobody. What could he possibly want with her?"
My breath caught in my throat.
The Prince. Lawrence Campbell. The Crown Prince of this kingdom.
The very name sent a tremor through me, a mix of longing and loathing. We were together for almost six months, or at least that's what I thought. I was loyal to him and loved him. But I was his dirty little secret. He called me a Penniless Penny and dumped me last week. I never heard from him after that but still felt loyal to him, so loyal that I suffered from intense guilt for letting some other man make love to me in my dream.
I pinched my cheeks and reached for the eyeliner. Lipstick would be too much and might look desperate since I was wearing plain stable girl clothes. I hated myself for wanting to look good for the Prince. And yet, I reached for the hand mirror lying on my bed and checked my face once more. My sapphire blue eyes looked so dull today against the coarse brown linen I was wearing.
"Penny! Penny! Where the hell are you Penelope?" My uncle's voice boomed through the dingy hallway as he made long strides toward the room I shared with his daughters.
Blowing the candles off, I quickly put on my boots and shut the door behind me so that his screaming did not awaken his daughters. Standing beside him was Miss Henderson, who always brought news of the Prince's clandestine desires.
Ignoring my uncle's scrutinizing glare, I walked out of the servant quarters with her. The walk to the Prince's chamber was a blur. I felt a tug in my stomach the moment we climbed the stairs and entered Lawrence Campbell's suite. Inside, the prince lounged by the fire, his golden mane meticulously styled despite the agitation etched on his face. Beside him, his brother Lucian mirrored the tension.
"Ah, Penny..." His glare rested firmly on me. He dismissed Miss Henderson as I did a quick curtsy before him. Hot tears pricked at my eyes, but I choked them back, focusing on the plush rug beneath my trembling feet.
Walking over from the other end of the room, he hooked his finger beneath my chin, forcing me to meet his eyes. Those probing green eyes have been cold and uncaring since he dumped me.
"My penniless Penny, tsk tsk tsk... I have an exciting task for you. Wipe off those pointless tears first." He grazed his finger underneath my breast but quickly moved it away, not wanting his brother to find out about us.
I let out a frustrated whimper and stepped away from him. Bitter emotions rolled in my chest in response to his once familiar touch. He was unbothered by my reaction.
"I was telling Lucian just now that you won't disappoint us, especially when you have a lot at stake. I'll pay you a big chunk of money for this."
My eyes went wide with confusion.
"Ah, these sexy fuck me eyes..." he groaned, his voice barely a whisper. "I might send my brother away and bend you over this desk if you don't stop staring at me like that. I still think about you when fucking my fiancée."
A fiancée? If I thought he broke my heart when he dumped me, he shattered it into a million pieces by being so casual about getting engaged. Why did he have to get engaged without any pomp or propaganda though?
~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 sucked in a deep breath and slowly turned the door handle. Another silent prayer escaped my lips. So far so good. Stepping inside, I fought the urge to gawk at the breathtaking mountain vista that sprawled through the expansive windows. Luxurious furniture whispered of wealth and privilege, but my mission demanded focus.I approached the ornately framed mirror, its gleaming surface reflecting a nervous intruder. Mail, neatly stacked on the dresser, awaited my inspection. None of them were opened yet. I retrieved a pen and a scrap of paper from my purse and scribbled down the names of the people they were from.Where did he put the opened letters? These were not what I was looking for. I walked over to the wastebasket to take a peek. Empty...Just as I whirled around, my eyes widened and fear ran through my veins as my body collided with the Duke's. The look on his face made every hair on my body stand on end. Despite my clammy palms and sinking stomach, I couldn't help notic
~Penny~The clock was ticking. After that embarrassing exit from the Duke's suite, I didn't find the courage to go anywhere near him again. I was still bruised, breathless, and utterly shaken from the experience. Three days have passed since then while I covered zero ground.Crisp autumn air nipped at the base of my neck as I huddled in Aunt Molly's garden, trying to soak in the last few warm rays as the sun raced to hide behind the mountains. My heart rate spiked up as the mail carrier whistled at the gate."Oh, these are for me! Pardon me." I almost stepped on Aunt Molly's foot while trying to grab the two letters addressed to me. They had Ben's name but in Lawrence Campbell's familiar scrawl. I dreaded opening them, fully knowing the threats and disappointment they would brim with."But Penny," Aunt Molly began, "Why on earth are you here if Ben needs you this terribly? He's too dependent for a young man to be writing to his sister so much, don't you think? Does he need money?"Aun
~Penny~"Looks like Trevor's early." The Duke got off the bed while she caught his arm in a panic."Trevor? You mean your cousin Trevor?" Fear seemed to seize her. "I can't be caught like this! He is the top suitor for me. My mother will have my head!" She jumped off the bed and started hunting for her clothes.I felt more panic than she did. What if she wanted to hide in this same closet until Trevor was gone? God, please stop her. I tried to move to the farthest corner, almost knocking over one of his shoes. Barely managing to catch it before it crashed to the floor, I held onto it mindlessly while straining to hear their conversation. "Your cousin is too clueless to figure that I am interested in him." She explained, frantically smoothening the wrinkles of her silk gown. "Every time he sees me, he just tries to send me away."The Duke, clad only in a pair of breeches, arched an eyebrow. He seemed to be unfazed by her beauty."Like the last time, for instance," she continued explai
One week later~Leo~"Mm, this is some strong coffee", my sister mumbled as she slumped back into the chair, taking another long gulp of her hot coffee. I knew Mabel was trying to avoid the topic. She hated it when I stuck my nose into her business. But keeping her away from bad people and any sort of potential harm was totally my business."He should be here anytime now," she spouted when she saw me checking my watch."Isn't this a nice breakfast spot?" She rambled on. "With winter sneaking up on us so quickly, look at those fireplaces in the corner... oh so cozy, I love it!" Taking a deep breath, I shook my head. I wasn't happy with whatever she was proposing to do. She always had to choose the most unconventional or unintuitive options to complicate her life. With the kind of money she had, she could spend the next eighty years lazing around in a bathtub filled with fizzy champagne. But no, why would she just accept the good, easy life? She was fixated on starting some risky ventu
~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