Page 63 of Her Sinful Duke

“How could I prefer her company when I don’t even know her?” he exclaimed incredulously. “Besides, I am here because of you and no one else. You are making it seem as if I wanted to come here as if I wanted to be in the company of people who fooled me, offering one daughter and then presenting another without even having the decency to let me know!”

Her eyes widened at him. Her heart broke upon hearing those words.

“You could have said no!” she shouted back at him. “No one forced you to do anything!”

“Well, it is hard to say no, when the wedding and everything was already planned and arranged,” he reminded her.

“I know what that means,” she hissed through clenched teeth. “You still feel like you were forced to marry me. You feel like you are stuck with me.”

He sighed, raking his fingers through his hair. “No, Penelope, I?—”

“You don’t have to say another word,” she cut him off.

Penelope turned around and stormed out of the corridor, rushing outside. She finally knew the truth. He regretted everything that had happened now that he had met Vanessa. Of course, he wanted to be married to her and not to Penelope. She was a fool to think that happiness was something she could claim for herself.

Allowing the tears to stream down her face, she ran until the end of the pathway, hiding between some carriages. She didn’t want to go into the garden because she knew someone might follow her there, and she didn’t want to see anyone right now. Sobbing quietly, she wrapped her arms around herself in an effort to calm down.

“Penelope?”

Penelope immediately recognized her sister’s voice. Why had Vanessa followed her?

“Spare me your gloating. You have done enough for one evening,” Penelope boldly stepped out of her hiding place. She didn’t want to allow Vanessa to be victorious. Not this time.

Vanessa’s expression was one of sisterly affection. “I… I took it too far, Penelope,” she spoke slowly, softly. But Penelope knew better than to trust her. Still, she listened. “I saw the duke and how happy you two are… just thinking that it could have been me made me mad. I’m sorry. Truly.”

Penelope frowned. Vanessa was not the kind of person to offer an apology so lightly. In fact, Penelope couldn’t recall a single instance of her sister apologizing to her. It was completely unheard of. However, she didn’t want Vanessa to know that she could see through her disguise.

“You and I both know that isn’t true, Vanessa,” Penelope said without any affection. Her tears had stopped flowing. There was no more pain. Only anger. “I know you well.”

Vanessa took a step closer to her. “You are my sister, Penelope, just like Adeline. We need to be close, all three of us.”

“That is all true, but the moment for that has passed,” Penelope nodded. She didn’t believe a word her sister was saying. “But… I don’t have the strength to discuss this anymore. I just need some time alone, please.”

“But everyone is worried about you,” Vanessa said. “Even the duke wished to come after you, but I told him that I am your sister. I know you better than he does, better than anyone else.”

Penelope frowned. That was not true. Vanessa hardly knew her at all, and she shared that sentiment. They had never been close. They were merely acquaintances who used to live under the same roof.

“So I sent him back inside with Mother and Father,” Vanessa announced somehow victoriously. “All I need to do now is deal with you.”

Her eyes flashed with malicious intent, and Penelope knew that something dreadful would happen.

“Trust me, it’s for your own good,” Vanessa said, her smile widening into something far more sinister.

With surprising strength, she grabbed Penelope by the arm and dragged her into the carriage behind her. Before Penelope could slip back out, Vanessa swiftly closed the door, locking it from outside. Penelope banged on the door, her voice rising in panic.

“Vanessa, let me out! What are you doing?”

Vanessa leaned close to the small window, her eyes cold. “I’m sorry, my dear sister, but this is necessary. You are always causing trouble, and it’s time you finally learned your place.”

Penelope’s eyes widened in horror as she noticed a man slip from the bushes, as if he had been waiting there for exactly such an incident. Then, she saw Vanessa slip a hefty pouch of coins to him.

“Taker her straight to St. Catherine’s Nunnery,” Vanessa instructed him. “Do not stop until you get there, do you understand?”

No, Penelope thought, a shiver scattering down her spine upon hearing her destination.

The man nodded, pocketing the money without a word. He glanced at Penelope who banged on the inside of the carriage, but she knew it was to no avail. No one from inside the house was able to hear her. Still, she had to try.

“Let me out!” she shouted again and again but without any success.

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