Page 2 of Saved By the Rakish Duke

Penelope straightened up. “Yes, Uncle. Mother isn’t feeling too well, so she sends her apologies for not being able to welcome you just yet. But we both hope you’ll find the house to your liking.”

“Quite!” He lumbered towards her, causing Penelope to take a step back in surprise.

“My, you’re even prettier up close, little sweet,” he grinned.

Penelope’s stomach churned as her palms suddenly began to sweat.

“Er, you must be starving after your travels, Uncle Winston.” She stepped backward and gestured toward the dining room. “If you would please have a seat, luncheon will be served shor-”

She gasped as he suddenly lifted his cane to her chin.

“That’ll be quite enough of that ‘Uncle’ business, sweet thing,” he snarled, “Iam now the Earl of Punton, and you will address me as such. Do you understand?”

Penelope blinked at him, remaining frozen in her spot. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the staff similarly paralyzed.

“Y-Yes, Lord Punton,” she finally managed to choke out.

Even after he had lowered his cane and brushed past her into the dining room, Penelope found herself unable to move her feet at all for several moments.

But when she thought about how such a vile man could inherit her father’s title, her anger spurred her feet forward.

She clasped her hands together to stop them from trembling.

It’s just luncheon,she repeatedly reminded herself as she took her place at the opposite end of the dining table. But as the agonizing meal dragged on, she realized that no amount of goodwill or tongue-biting would enable her to endure this.

As she nodded politely at whatever it was that Uncle Winston was rambling about now, she swore to get her mother as far away from here as possible.

CHAPTER1

Dear 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.

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