Page 55 of My Cruel Duke

A horrible headache split Penny’s head in two as she struggled to understand what she had just seen. She had never noticed that ring on her father’s finger in her recent memories.

Penny ran her palm over her face and, with a deep breath, marched up to her father's bedroom. Her father had taken all that her mother had out of their shared bedroom when she died; surely the ring could not be in the room if she checked, could it?

She stood before the bedroom door and released a shaky breath before pushing the door open and letting herself in. The staff had done an excellent job of cleaning the room while maintaining the way it was when her father was taken away. Her father hated it when his things were shifted, which was a good thing in this situation, for it meant she did not need to ruminate around the room to find what she was looking for.

Penny went straight to his large mahogany dresser and pulled the first drawer, where she knew he kept his jewelry open. Her stomach clenched tight, and her eyes widened at the sight of the jewelry staring back at her. There, the signet ring sat under other rings that he frequently wore out.

Panic like she had never known before welled in her throat, and she slapped a hand over her mouth. She choked back a cry, frightened, electrified at her latest findings.

What does this mean?She asked herself. Why did her father have her mother’s ring? Why had he been wearing that ring for the family portrait? Did the ring genuinely belong to her mother?

Penny took open-mouthed breaths to calm her erratic beating heart, but it seemed nothing she did could calm her heart. Tears pooled in her eyes, and her breakfast threatened to return to her mouth, but she doubted it was because of her recent findings, as she had been subjected to morning sickness for three days now.

Penny blinked back her tears, dusted imaginary dust off her pastel pink dress, squared her shoulders, and headed out of the room to meet Randolph standing beside the door, waiting for her.

“Were you in search of something, Your Grace?”

Penny plastered a smile on her face and shook her head.

“Not at all. I came to inspect the place,” she told him. “D-Did anyone come by in our absence?”

The older man considered her for a few seconds.

“You mean your brother, Your Grace?” She nodded, and he shook his head.

“He has not, but if he does, I shall make sure to let him know where to find you,” he bowed.

“Thank you, Randolph.” She stretched her lips in a flat smile, and with that, she headed back to Thornbury Hall more confused and disorientated than she had left.

It had been months, and Patrick had not returned to London. It was as though he planned never to return,which was for the best, Penny thought, for if he returned, she feared she might follow through with ending his life herself. What sort of brother was he that he did not think to write to herself and Lydia? Did he even care about them, if they were alive or dead? It seemed he did not.

“My dear, did you find your mama’s diary?” Aunt Augusta met her at the heavy black doors of Thornbury Hall. Penny shook her head.

Before leaving the house, she had lied to Aunt Augusta that she wanted to return to their family house to pick up her mother’s jewelry, which she had kept aside for Lydia. Her aunt had asked her to bring her mother’s diary from the library.

“It must have escaped my mind.” Penny placed her hand on her forehead, “I have been feeling a little under the weather lately, and in my rush to return home to rest, I forgot to check for it.”

Aunt Augusta’s face turned concerned. “Dearest, if you are unwell, you must see a doctor immediately. There is an influx of new diseases around town, I hear. Have you told your husband?”

Penny shook her head.

“Oh, Darling.” Aunt Augusta placed her hand on Penny’s forehead with a sigh, then led her to the drawing-room, where she found Rhysand reading a newspaper.

“There you are, Sunshine.” He dropped the newspaper on the couch beside him and stood up. She licked her lips and went to him while Aunt Augusta retired to the drawing room to give the couple some privacy. It seemed that was all she and Lydia had been doing for the past week.

“Where have you been? I searched the entire estate for you, but I was told you went out.” Rhysand wrapped his arms around her waist.

“I went out to get some fresh air.”

Rhysand tilted his head. “The air around here is not fresh?”

A lazy smile appeared on Penny’s lips. “You are home early.” She flattened her palms on his chest. He nodded.

“How could I not return early? You have forgotten I did not want to leave?” He leaned forward and pressed his lips on her forehead. “I have a surprise for you.”

He intertwined their fingers.

“Whatever it is, I am sure I will love it,” she smiled.