4. Vaughn
Vaughn
A dangerous one…
Penelope’s words were my lifeline. The fear in her eyes had been brief, but it kept me going all hours of the day and night.
Men scrambled to get me information, desperate for my approval.
I may have not been The Unavowed yet, but it was only a matter of time before I stepped into my place at The Order.
Trusted Masters and guards dug through the shadows of society to figure out what John could be connected to the Taylor family. Where it hadn’t taken me long to find out on my own, the answers to her fear were what was in question. Within days, the truth came, and with it, my rage.
“You’re certain Lord Allford has a secret marriage agreement with Mr. Taylor for his daughter, Penelope?”
The blond guard nodded. “My cousin works for Mr. Taylor’s company, Sire.
John Smith is the only John closely connected to the family.
Lord Allford is Allen’s best friend. His wife has cancer.
There’s talk she won’t make it much longer.
My cousin says he overheard Mr. Taylor on the phone the other day.
He was inquiring on a country home closer to the Allford estate.
Something about his wife wanting to be closer to their daughter once she marries.
From what I’ve heard, her father is quite desperate for that title, and he’s doing whatever he can to obtain it, even forcing his daughter into the marriage. ”
“Forcing?”
“There’s talk. My cousin said there was a dinner party. Ms. Penelope’s lip was cut down the middle. It was a bit swollen. The lipstick couldn’t hide it. Mr. Taylor is known to have a temper, and from what I hear, his daughter isn’t too keen on His Lordship.”
“I hear that as well. Tell me what you know of Lord Allford.”
The guard shifted on his feet, clearly uncomfortable at my deepening tone.
“Early fifties. Smug bastard. He acts as if the crown sits on his own head. Lots of talk about him. He likes the young ones.”
“Young? How young?”
“I don’t know an exact age, but I hear early teen. The younger the better. There’s been allegations. He pays them off. The last wasn’t so quick to take the money though. Word spread but died for the most part.”
“Died.” I nodded. “Thank you. Go to The Reeve. Tell him I sent you.”
“Thank you. Thank you, Sire.”
Sire. Not Unavowed, not yet… Sire.
“Will you give her a funeral to attend?”
I turned, watching Redmond sip his wine as he stood by the fireplace. We were in his study inside The Order.
It was technically mine. My space. My legacy.
Books lined the shelves, and I headed to the small globe beside the large oak desk, spinning it as I let my finger brush along the surface.
“Your silence tells me you will.”
I added pressure, taking in the location of my finger as it came to a stop in the middle of the ocean.
“She gave me a name. Why should I not give her a gift?”
“So, you’ve decided? Is it Taylor, then?”
“This is not a decision one makes lightly.” Redmond took a long drink as I lifted my hand to cross my arms over my chest. “What kind of man would I be if I didn’t at least try to woo my Intended? She wanted a funeral; I’ll give her one. It’s a gift. Am I not generous?”
“Oh, yes.” He smiled. “You most definitely are. But you’ll expect something in return.”
“Naturally.”
“And what’s that?”
“Time.”
Redmond’s brow creased.
“I’m not sure I understand.”
“You will soon enough. First, we start planning something for Lord Allford. As much as I’d love to kill him now, it’s not the time.”
“I agree. I’ll look into options.”
“Good. I have to go.” I went to turn, stopping to take in the High Master sitting in for me until I was ready.
Redmond was older but sharp and fit. Where he was calm, he was ruthless.
I didn’t overlook that as he watched me.
“I will be moving locations again. I think it’ll be my last move until I take my place.
The time is close. Maybe a year. Maybe less. ”
“We’ll be ready for you when the time comes.”
I nodded, stepping back and turning for the door.
The walk to the exit that led to my penthouse would be a last as well. At least for a while. I did need to move. I never stayed in one place for too long. It wasn’t safe. I’d learned that from my family’s history. Even though I hoped most thought me dead, I was still the hunted—the threat.
As I passed the guards and headed up the stairs, I brought out my phone.
It was still early. As I entered the parking garage, I didn’t head for the elevator.
I turned, making my way to my car when I shouldn’t.
I had research to do. I had plans to make.
And I’d work on them after—after I saw her. After I learned more.
Secondhand stories only went so far. I lived for facts.
For ones I could see. Hear. Feel. Who was Penelope?
What sort of life did she truly live outside of the rumors?
What all had made her into the woman she was now?
I had so much to learn, and although I could research until my fingers were bloody, this wasn’t something to investigate.
Chemistry was key. Love was a liability, but I did need loyalty.
I had to feel that from Penelope. I had to know she was the right choice.
Our future wouldn’t be easy, especially hers, but it could be worth it if I chose correctly. There was no room for mistakes.
Starting my car, I headed out of the garage and into the city.
The Taylors didn’t live far. I managed to park a few townhomes away from theirs, checking my watch as I kept my stare on the second-story window just left of the front door.
When I picked up my phone and hit Penelope’s number, I could feel my fingers tighten around my cell. With every ring, my pulse hit harder.
“Hello?” A pause. “Hello?” Another pause. “Are we doing this again? I told you yesterday, you’ve got the wrong number.”
I kept quiet, knowing she had no idea who was calling. She wouldn’t have even seen a number as mine was private. It didn’t stop her from continuing, which spoke volumes to me.
“If you’re not going to talk, I will. I’ll talk so much I’ll bore you half to death. You’ll regret ever calling me.” Silence. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
A smile wanted to come, but my concern kept my face tight. Redmond’s words came rushing back.
“I’m reading a book. It’s quite fascinating.
It’s about an explorer. Her name is Poppy Marlow.
She travels the world in search of adventures.
Last night, she traveled all the way to New York just to find the best pizza.
I guess there’s a debate between New York, Chicago, and Detroit, but I’m going to have to take Poppy’s word for it as I’ve never been to any of those places.
” She paused. “Have you been?” A laugh echoed through the receiver after a few seconds.
“I bet you have. I’m going to pretend you’re an explorer, too. ”
I did smile then, but it turned into a scowl just as fast.
“I wonder where Poppy will go tonight. The book is The Thirty Adventures of Poppy Marlow. Last night was the tenth, and it was about food. A few days back, she was climbing mountains for the best view. I bet she does something daring next. She seems a bit spontaneous to me. I’m not even sure she put enough planning into her adventures.
I mean, on day three she almost didn’t even get a hotel.
There was a festival in the city she knew nothing about.
Does that not sound like she was unprepared? ”
A sigh echoed through, and I found myself resting my head against my window as I stared up to where I knew her room was. She sounded so young. So… carefree and yet… starved for conversation. Sad…
“Daring. Yes. If anyone would be daring it would be Poppy Marlow. She’s—”
“Go to your window.”
A small gasp sounded followed by silence. I was sure she’d hang up, but lace fluttered, pulling back to display big eyes as they searched the area.
“Do you see me?”
“I do.”
“…Who are you?”
I didn’t speak. I stayed silent, soaking in every second that blue eyes scanned the surroundings.
Intrigue. Fear. Both flickered, coming and going.
When I didn’t continue, lace was pulled over completely.
Penelope sat on what I knew was a window seat, staring into the gray sky instead of the quiet neighborhood below.
“I like books. Do you like to read? You don’t have to answer that.
It doesn’t matter. Reading is my life. It’s my window, like this, here.
Someday, I won’t need one. I mean, I’ll always read, but I’ll explore like Poppy.
I’ll go to different countries, trying new foods.
I’ll hike and climb the tallest mountains.
And I’m going to dance like no one is watching.
I’ll sing and—” She stopped, growing silent for so long, had she not still had the phone to her ear, I would have thought she hung up.
“It’s a lie. All of it. I’m being forced to marry.
Did you know that? Of course you didn’t.
” Hesitation. “I shouldn’t say such things.
I’m lucky to find such a good match. Lucky, can you believe that?
As if I have no worth.” The last was so quiet I barely heard.
“I do, you know. I am worthy. I am… worth something. More than him. More than anyone. I am worthy.”
“Are you trying to convince me or yourself?”
Full lips pouted even more, and her eyes lowered straight to the ground in front of her house.
“Both?”
“You are worthy, Penelope.”
A sniffle sounded, and she wiped away a tear.
“Have you ever wanted to run away or disappear?”
“No.”
“Oh.” Expressions played out and her mouth twisted. Again, she wiped a tear. “I should go. My mother will be coming for me soon. I have a date tonight… with him.” She paused. “Do we know each other?”
“No.”
“Then how did you get my number?”
“Does it matter?”
“No. Will you call again, like yesterday?”
I paused, narrowing my eyes as I studied her. “Do you want me to?”
A long pause. “Maybe.”
“I don’t take well to uncertainty.”
“Oh.” Her head turned back and forth as she looked both ways down the street. “Then, yes.”
“On one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“You will sit in your window so I can see you, just as you are now. I will not speak. You will, and you will tell me of your life from the beginning.”
“My life? But it’s boring. There’s nothing to tell. I can sum it up in five minutes right now.”
I lifted my head. “Tell me.”
At my tone, Penelope’s head lifted as well. Worry crossed her face, and she looked back and forth down the road again. Her eyes moved to the townhomes across the street, and I could tell she was scanning the windows.
“I was born here. I lived a very unimpressive, very sheltered childhood. I had tutors. I speak three languages. Not impressive, I know. I tried playing the piano, but my father said I had no rhythm and clumsy fingers. I tried—”
“Does he hurt you?”
Penelope’s mouth dropped open for only a moment before she snapped it closed.
“Who said that?” At my silence she continued.
“That’s not an appropriate question to ask.
I don’t know why you’d ask that. Did someone tell you he hurt me?
I mean, surely—Why would you ask that?” Another sniffle.
More wiping tears. A minute passed before time drug out even longer.
Her shoulders sagged and her head went back to the window.
“I usually deserve it. Just like with the piano. I just couldn’t do it.
I think he only meant to—I mean, maybe I jerked my hand back too fast and the finger snapped because—I can never do anything right. I just— I h-have to go.”
The phone went dead and darkness took over as my lids dropped closed. Harder my pulse hit.
After all my research, I could see the young Penelope.
The quiet, shy, frightened little girl trying so hard with her lessons.
Her round blue eyes would be so big in true terror, and where I usually thrived in people’s pain, I got no satisfaction at the thought of hers.
Quite the opposite. I wanted to show her father death was more inviting than agony.
He’d come to understand that pain came in different degrees, and I was not merciful.