Page 67 of My Cruel Duke
Penny was not surprised to see Patrick already waiting at home for them.
“I promise you, sister, that this time I shall really kill Rhysand!” Penny heard words, but she could not make sense of anything that was being said.
“I am happy that Philip knows my situation, so he will not be opposed to carrying on with the marriage,” was the only thing she could bring herself to say.
“Penny…” Lydia dragged.
What could she say? She had been ruined twice in the same year. No maiden in London could take her place.
First, it had been her father being imprisoned, and now it was her husband. Perhaps she should cease referring to him as that. He had warmed the bed of another, leaving her all alone and pregnant. He was not her husband. He was merely the father of her unborn child.
That night, her family had done another rotation, and when they were not looking, Penny took off her wedding ring and tossed it aside.
She did not want to live life like a widow. It seemed, this time, she had no choice.
Chapter32
“The weather is magnificent today,” Penny paused and glanced at her family, all gathered in the drawing room, “Is it not?”
Lydia was the first to smile, nodding, “It sure is, sister.”
“The weather is not a worthy topic of importance,” Patrick cleared his throat.
“Patrick…” Aunt Augusta snapped, but Patrick ignored her.
“I spoke to Aunty and Lydia earlier. I have decided to travel to Scotland and demand your pound of flesh from that despicable man.”
“Patrick!” Aunt Augusta yelled. Lydia swallowed beside her. I sighed.
“He is a liar, Aunty, and he made a fool out of our family multiple times. I cannot let this go.”
“He is a duke!” Aunt Augusta defended.
“A duke who lacks manners and tells lies like it is his second nature is no duke,” Patrick retorted.
Patrick had been outraged this morning, and Penny noticed when she finally found the strength to get up from bed. Apparently, he had just received a letter from the constable in response to the letter he sent days ago, inquiring when their father would be released. The letter revealed that the appeal for their father’s release had been canceled, and Patrick had difficulty processing the information.
Penny recalled Rhysand telling her he had processed the papers for her father’s release from prison all those weeks ago, and now she feared he lied to her. Lydia was more broken-hearted, but she did not show it. She had brought the matter of their father’s release to Patrick when she asked how much longer it would take before he was released so she could set a wedding date. She did not want to get married without her father present to escort her down the aisle, and Patrick had promised to confirm the details.
“There is no way he canceled the appeal for your father’s release, he paid his debts!” Aunt Augusta defended again, and Penny shook her head. Penny also felt it in her heart that Rhysand did not cancel the appeal, but he had gone back on his word and broken her heart; how could she trust him?
“There is no other explanation for this!” Patrick spread his arms in frustration.
“I am sure there is a way to find out who canceled the appeal,” Aunt Augusta pursed her lips.
Penny had tried her best not to think about her father, and the recent problems with Rhysand had been the perfect distraction. It had been more than she hoped for, but with the bit of time Penelope allowed herself to think about her father, she came to the conclusion that he did not try to drown her. She did not have any evidence that he did it. Moreover, the ring might have belonged to her father, who gave it to her mother. Penny could not rely on the memory she unlocked from her fall into the lake, and she wondered if another fall into the lake would help her retrieve the missing pieces.
I cannot do that.She rubbed her belly. She had one more person to think about before falling into a lake, and she still was not very good at swimming. Rhysand had promised to teach her how to swim, but he left after three lessons, and Penny only knew how to kick her legs to stay afloat.
“Then what happens, dear aunty, when it is revealed that he did it?” Patrick smiled at the defeat in Aunt Augusta’s eyes, which, to his dismay, turned into something wicked.
“What happens when you travel to Scotland and not find him, or perhaps you disappear again?” Aunt Augusta challenged with a slight smile and innocent eyes. Lydia stifled her snicker, but Patrick sent her a scowl regardless.
“I am merely trying to find a solution,” Patrick grunted, and Aunt Augusta nodded.
“Killing the duke will not solve anything,” she added.
“Killing him will end the rumors about Penny’s dignity,” Patrick shrugged, and Penny arched a brow at his audacity to speak of her ruin and murder so lightly.