Taming the Wild Duke

Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

D ear Penelope,

Thank you for replying so quickly, I wasn’t sure you would remember

me. But after reading your father’s obituary in the paper, I simply had

to try. Very sorry to hear about your mother’s condition as I still

consider her one of my dearest friends. Please know you are both

welcome to stay with me here at Blackmoore Manor for as long as you need.

Warmest regards,

Gertrude Warson

Penelope Sutton jumped from her chair in delight. A small part of her had been secretly hoping for this when she replied to the dowager duchess’ letter. And because of that, she and Mother were now saved just three weeks after Uncle Winston took over the estate—and their lives.

Leaping on this chance at once, she scribbled a quick reply and had it sent immediately.

She rushed to Mother’s bedroom to tell her the good news.

When she was let in, she found Mother staring contemplatively out of the window.

At least that’s one good thing to come out of that wretched man moving here, she thought to herself.

When Penelope warned Mother to be careful around Uncle Winston—in case he tried to make advances towards her too—the shock was strong enough to break Mother out of her self-inflicted bedrest.

Of course, Mother’s mood remained melancholic, but at least she was eating more these days. In fact, every so often, she even managed to drag herself downstairs to help Penelope endure the excruciating dinners that Uncle Winston insisted they take together.

“Mother, we’ve been invited to Blackmoore Manor by the Dowager Duchess of Blackmoore!” Penelope squealed, lowering her voice as she took Mother’s hands in her own. “We'll finally be able to breathe!”

Mother gently squeezed her hands. “That’s nice, darling,” she said with a limp smile.

“In addition, you’ll even get to see the dowager duchess, she’s ever so fond of you,” Penelope reminded her, furrowing her eyebrows. “Aren’t you... relieved, Mother?”

Mother let out a small exhale. “I am, darling. I’m just... so very tired.” She tucked a strand of Penelope’s hair behind her ear. “But tell Ruth to come here and we can start packing my things at once.”

Penelope threw her arms around Mother’s neck, unable to contain yet another squeal of delight. “I’ll send for her right away, Mother!”

With Mother convinced, there was only one obstacle—albeit the more formidable one—that remained in the way of their salvation: the very source of their suffering, Uncle Winston.

Speaking to the servants, Penelope ascertained that he was no more ill-tempered than usual today. But to be extra safe, she had a tray of his favorite sweets prepared and carried it with her to his study.

“Come in!”

“Lord Punton, I’m sorry for disturbing you, but I thought you might be hungry what with how hard you’ve been working today.” Penelope put on her warmest smile as she set the tray on the study desk.

As usual, he acknowledged her with little more than a grunt.

After he had scarfed down half of the sweets, she carefully began. “Seeing you working so hard on your correspondence has reminded me of an invitation that Mother and I received from my godmother—the Duchess of Blackmoore—just today, my lord.”

She extended the letter toward him. Barely glancing at it, he asked disinterestedly, “What does she want?”

“She has generously invited Mother and me to stay at Blackmoore Manor for some time so that she may assist Mother in her grief.” Penelope added, “Normally, I wouldn’t even bother you with such a matter, my lord. However, it did not seem wise to reject an offer from such a prominent family.”

Uncle Winston’s ears perked up at this.

“I suppose it would be best to ‘play nice’ as it were with the duchess,” he said as he stroked his beard contemplatively.

“Indeed, my lord.” Penelope’s palms began to sweat once more. “And it would be a wonderful opportunity to renew ties between our families so that they may be more receptive to any requests or favors we may need in the future.”

Penelope fought off the shudder that threatened to run up her spine as she disagreed with every word that left her lips. However, her twisted reasoning seemed to sway her uncle, whose eyes greedily lit up.

“In that case...” he licked his lips to get rid of the leftover sweet crumbs on them.

Penelope held her breath.

“...you and your mother may go visit them.”

She clenched her fists to avoid giving away her excitement.

“However!” he narrowed his eyes at her, “don’t you get any funny ideas or cause me any trouble. If I so much as smell a rumor about you, I shall drag you back here myself. Do you understand?”

“Yes, my lord.” Her heart pounded in her chest as she assured him, “And I won’t cause any trouble, my lord, I promise.”

“And stay away from any of those no-good, frolicking bachelors...” her uncle snarled, “not that they’d take an interest in you at all anyway, but regardless! Remember that you are to be my bride once I have gotten all of these affairs in order.”

Her eyes welled up, not because of his hurtful words, but because she could hardly contain her rage.

“Of course, my lord,” she choked out through gritted teeth, before taking her leave.

“Ah-ah!” he called after her, “didn’t you forget to thank someone for the grace he’s shown you?”

She sucked in a deep breath before turning around to face him once more.

“Thank you for allowing us to go, my lord,” she said with a shallow curtsy.

“That’s better,” he leered. “You just might be worthy of bearing my heirs after all.”

His ghastly remark echoed in her ears long after she had left him. But as she ran upstairs to begin packing, the words breathed life into a new resolve within her.

There’s no other way. I must find a husband before this trip is over.