All Chapters of Punished by the Duke: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

~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

~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~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~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

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