Riley was overtaken with how beautiful the scenery was in Penelope’s duchy. Riley loved being near the water. It was calming. She needed that calm in her life. Penelope’s parents were the kind of parents Riley hadn’t expected. All the noble families she had met were dysfunctional and toxic. It was obviously clear that was the reason Penelope was so compassionate and gentle. She was too precious and good for their world.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7u8J1wb0j
“Riley!” Penelope cried out in excitement as Riley rounded the corner in search of the group. Penelope wrapped Riley in a tight hug, but released her fairly quickly looking embarrassed.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI13zYSS04m
“Penelope, it’s so lovely to see you. I missed you.” Riley replied with a wide grin. She really had missed Penelope being around.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgCIdl10pX
“I missed you too! I was so excited when father told me my best friend would be coming for a visit.” Penelope took a step back before looking between Drake and Riley. “And I heard you are getting married! Congratulations!”828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptkiZkKhHr
Drake nodded, a grin spreading across his features as he took Riley’s hand in his. “We are.” Wiggles yipped in excitement between the pair.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIboKCV9GZo
“It’s so nice to see you too.” Penelope said as she stooped down to pick the corgi up and nuzzle her face into the fur of his neck before readjusting the little top hat on his head. “And you look so handsome!”828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2nijdJV6G
“He really does.” Riley replied. Drake grumbled beside her and she nudged him with her elbow. She knew Drake wasn’t fond of putting anything on Wiggles, even less so since their encounter with Neville.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bRWYB872H
“Ah, there is the woman of the hour.” Riley felt Drake tense beside her as Neville approached the group. “I must say, your home is beautiful, though nothing compared to you.” Neville bowed low, taking Penelope’s hand in his before lightly brushing his lips across her knuckles.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpc3Zz4OzWj
“You are too kind. Thank you.” A faint blush came over Penelope’s face. Riley felt her stomach lurch. He had mentioned finding a wife on the Unity Tour and Riley would be damned if he succeeded.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2OUlEZyFg
Neville’s eyes moved back across Riley and Drake. “You both look well. This tour must be overwhelming.” A smirk played on Neville’s lips.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZE6jb5uHtz
“It’s never overwhelming to spend time with those who matter.” Riley smiled over at Penelope. She knew the game Neville was playing. It was a game he wasn’t going to win.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrU1B0XuWH
Drake was stoic beside Riley. He was keeping his mouth shut before something unpleasant came from it. Penelope seemed unaware of the tension. Her smile never faltered as she looked between everyone. It was easy to see she was just happy to have visitors. As long as Penelope was there, Riley was sure that Neville would stay mostly in line. He wouldn’t want to lose a potential wife.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡht8oR0JrEt
"Agreed.” Penelope replied with a bright smile. “I’m just happy you both are here.” She looked over at Drake. “How is your shoulder? What you did was so brave.”828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrX5vfwpVA
“It’s fine. It isn’t a big deal.” Drake shifted uncomfortably. Riley knew Drake wasn’t used to so much attention. It worried her some times that he might change his mind about marrying her. Part of her knew that was a ridiculous thought to have, but there was still that voice in the back of her mind spouting off every ‘what-if’ it could conjure.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lD6LamCbu
“I’m not sure I would use the word brave.” Neville began, though he was soon cut off by a staff member calling for Penelope.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwQtVhQWOK
“Please, excuse me. I want to make sure everything is perfect for my favorite people.” Penelope said looking at Drake and then Riley with a bright smile before setting Wiggles back down.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzuXsVWmXu
“We’ll see you in a bit then.” Riley leaned forward to hug Penelope before she cheerfully made her way towards the staff member. There was a faint look of confusion on Drake’s face. Penelope had been genuine in what she said and it was clear to them both.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnluiY2Vgyq
The careful smile Neville had fixed on his face now slipped from his features as Penelope disappeared down the hall. “She’s precious, isn’t she? Not the brightest, but has quite the pedigree. Then again, wives are meant to be seen and not heard.”828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzlsD2lecz
“I doubt she’ll be interested in you.” Riley replied, narrowing her eyes.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwpUeGw76O
“I see the commoner can’t even keep his lady in check. That’s sad. Letting a woman do all the talking… obviously I’m not the spineless one.” Neville kept his gaze fixed on Drake. He was baiting Drake. He was looking for a reaction. Riley squeezed Drake’s hand and Wiggles let out a low growl.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcu06N5KFIB
“And I see the born noble still hasn’t learned any manners or been able to trick some poor noble woman into marrying him. That’s sad.” Riley glanced up at Drake with her eyes wide. She had been prepared to speak but he had taken the lead. “I’ve never seen a Noble have to actually work to find a partner. How many times have you been a potential suitor? Pedigree not working for you anymore?”828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcYml9acno
Neville blinked a few times as he stared at Drake, his mouth agape. It only took a brief moment for Neville to compose himself again. His mouth pressed into a thin line. “I’m very particular, and I don’t need to justify anything to a lowly commoner.”828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9B1D7CodG
“So, no one wants you? I think Hana was right, it might be the blazer. It really does look godawful on you.” Riley said with a soft laugh.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFDcKLAt6M
Neville took a step forward, fists balled up at his sides. “This is none of your business.” He hissed through clenched teeth. “You can’t stop me.”828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdg3393zckH
Drake mirrored Neville, taking a step forward and putting himself slightly in front of Riley. Riley arched an eyebrow at Neville. “I can, and I will. I’m Penelope’s best friend. Her parents adore us. One bad word from me and you can kiss that opportunity good bye. If I were you, I wouldn’t waste my time.”828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJ6vF9sVoo
“And if I were you, I’d watch my back.” Neville growled before turning on his heel to leave.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuX9pGD88W2
Riley sighed and glanced back up at Drake. She swore she could feel his body tense momentarily though his expression remained impassive. “I need to head out for a bit."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMQ5aS4HVJ
Riley's eyebrows furrowed. "Is everything okay? Don't let Neville get to you. I can come with you if you want."
Drake shook his head and smiled briefly. “No, you go ahead and enjoy yourself. I just need a minute.” Drake paused to wrap his arms around Riley's waist, pulling her against him. "Stop worrying so much."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucD69K40F3
Before Riley could respond, he dipped his head down to capture her lips with his. His kiss was soft, his lips moving gently with hers. Her body pressed closer to his, her pulse quickening. Her thoughts were clouded over as his lips parted and he deepened the kiss. Drake's hands had slid down to softly squeeze her backside before tugging at her bottom lip with his teeth, breaking their heated kiss. Her mind was reeling, heart still pounding. She fought to keep a pout off of her face as she mourned the loss of his lips on hers.
"To be continued?' Riley replied breathlessly.
Drake smirked as he released her. "Definitely." He leaned forward to kiss her forehead before walking away.
Riley glanced down at her phone for a moment. Wiggles plopped down at Riley’s feet with his head cocked to the side as he watched Drake walk away with a finger to his ear mumbling. Wiggles pawed at the hem of Riley’s dress, bringing her attention away from the phone and back down to him. He whined softly. Riley picked up the corgi and kissed his nose. 828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmsqM9hxg5
"It looks like someone could use a walk."
Wiggles let out a happy bark as Riley set him back on the ground. Riley glanced back in the direction Drake had gone off to. Something felt off.
Drake had been gone most of the morning, so had Maxwell. Madeleine was being particularly irritating. Riley assumed it had more to do with her own concerns with Drake and what Neville had said earlier. Mara had taken to staying much closer than she usually was. Riley briefly wondered if what Neville had said was the cause of so much attention, or if a new threat had come up.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZAPeHFRiN
“Something is going on.”828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKFPXsLoC5
“Yes, a dinner tonight in the King’s honor, Your Grace.” Mara replied, hands clasped behind her back as they walked along the boardwalk. Riley had needed some fresh air. The only way to accomplish that was on Mara’s terms, unfortunately.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5PR3SJC6s
“You know what I mean.” Riley looked over at Mara with her eyes narrowed. “Everyone is getting way too quiet.”828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqz9lCO9Jd
Mara didn’t speak. She continued to walk at a leisure pace beside Riley, her eyes scanning every inch of the area. Riley sighed. This conversation wasn’t going to lead anywhere. She knew Bastien had trained Mara, and that Mara was good at her job. If she wasn’t she was sure someone else would have been assigned to her.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonuOMqR7rU
As they approached a large yacht, a familiar face came into view. Liam smiled at Riley. She had been avoiding him whenever possible. They still hadn’t spoken about the engagement, about how she had rejected his proposal and only days later was engaged to his best friend. There was some guilt weighing Riley down. Liam had obviously thought she would say yes, that there was something else there. That made her question if she had done anything to lead him to believe that.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiufBgvnQfw
“Fancy seeing you here, Duchess Riley.” Liam said as he approached the pair with a smile. “Taking in the scenery?”828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMIdTnNziZ
“I am. It’s beautiful here.” Riley offered him a small smile.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ148P8sMaFI
“It’s even more beautiful out on the water.” He nodded towards the yacht. “I was thinking about having a late lunch on board. You are welcome to join me, I could give you a few pointers for tonight’s dinner.”828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOmM7vE5D5
“I… uh…”828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTOEFMBUTi
“For old time’s sake?” He continued, his smile faltering ever so slightly.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlR7ryJUwT2
Riley’s chest ached with the guilt she had been pushing down since the proposal. She didn’t want to face it all, but he had yet to bring it up. She hoped that maybe he never would, that maybe this lunch would be purely business.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9q94GfXdxK
“I’ve got some time, I think.” Riley looked to Mara, hoping that maybe there were other plans that Riley had to tend to.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXVjpX3axA
“You are free until dinner from what I heard last.” Mara nodded. “I can accompany you. I’ll stay out of your way.”828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsasxPv0Ha
Riley nodded thankfully and turned her attention back to Liam. “Sounds good.”828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLBtQcbkN7
Everything was already set up on the yacht. Riley wondered if this had been Liam’s plan all along, or if he always had such a spread like that when he was on his own. As Riley settled into her seat, Liam spoke to a staff member, and the yacht moved from the dock out onto the water.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsaUfaSUs3l
“Thanks for joining me. It feels like I barely see you these days.” Liam said as he took his own seat across from her.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgz9rSzfVQ8
“We’ve both been busy, that’s for sure.” Riley replied with a fixed smile. Her heart was already pounding in her chest. He wasn’t wasting time. Maybe this lunch had been more personal than business related. If it was, then she hadn’t come prepared.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlaSNESfuK
“Having a new duchy, the Unity Tour, and wedding planning must be exhausting.” Liam paused as he took a bite of his food.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQ6nemcOBG
“The Unity Tour is priority right now.”828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZTLv1GVVT
“Isn’t your wedding less than a month away?” Liam looked over Riley carefully.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6TwgzOFLrj
“It is. We’ll make plans as we go. Hana already offered making the dress and Penelope has already mentioned helping with other plans.”828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGun2ciYgih
“Drake isn’t helping?” Liam arched an eyebrow at her. “It’s his wedding too. I thought his schedule would open up.”828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUBoi6JiEg
Riley bristled at his comment. “What is that supposed to mean?”828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtpM3ZE2Lp
“Nothing.” Liam shrugged. “I was just curious is all.”828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRaNQeIKuX
“Curiosity killed the cat…” Riley replied as she shifted back in her seat away from her food.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjajaElLgu
“But satisfaction brought it back.” He countered, setting his fork down to reach for his glass of wine.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmH86L24UZk
“I thought we were here to talk about tonight’s dinner. I’m sorry things didn’t go as planned, but there are bigger things to worry about.”828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXQzcHFd7r
“Yes, we are here for that, but don’t you think this is a conversation worth having? You are marrying my best friend. He isn’t all that savvy when it comes to court and nobles. You are going to be the one that has to pick up that slack.”828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgX7XpKQcz8
“Is that what this is about?” Riley narrowed her eyes, blood pulsing in her ears. She roughly shoved herself away from the table to head up to the yacht’s deck. 828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2Z3QgGDRZ
Liam sighed, following her up. “You need to wake up, Riley. He’s a good man. He obviously loves you, but is he really going to be able to handle all of this?”828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iEn3UTwpD
Riley spun around to face Liam. “I’m not the only one he’s doing this for. He’s tired of being looked down on. He loves his country and wants to make it better for everyone. You have stood idly by while he has been ridiculed and treated like dirt.” Liam opened his mouth to speak. Riley held a finger up.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsOHRPZIWH
“I’m not finished. His family has sacrificed a lot for you and your family. His father died protecting your family, his mother ran off being unable to cope with that. He left to go off to college and make his life his own. He tried to make a different life for himself only for your brother to beg him to come back to take care of you. He selflessly came back to support you. Are you really going to begrudge him this or doubt his abilities?”828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWu4nwAJGm
“I didn’t ask him or his family to do all of that! And what do you expect me to do about other nobles? I can only control my own actions. I don’t begrudge him you. Am I happy that he went behind my back and took the only woman I saw a future with? No, I’m not. That doesn’t mean I’m not happy for him. He’s giving up a lot for you as well.” Liam crossed his arms over his chest.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYfkwutB7m
“He didn’t go behind your back. What do you want me to tell you, Liam? What do you want out of this?” Riley’s voice became louder, her hands perched on her hips.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RkZGz9VMh
“Tell me how damn long this was going on. Tell me how long you were with him before I made an idiot of myself proposing.” Liam narrowed his eyes at Riley. The air was thick with tension. It was almost suffocating.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQfezpY2PE
Riley shifted backwards as if his words had hit her square in the chest. The air was drawn out of her lungs. She hadn’t been expecting these questions, though a new rage started building in her chest simultaneously.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkO7dNmS5l1
“Nothing happened until right before you took Madeleine as your fiancée. I tried to tell you I wasn’t interested in the crown and you wouldn’t listen. You were too busy to sit down and ask how I was feeling. Your feelings and wants were all that mattered. Then when you chose Madeleine it seemed like you were expecting me to be okay with that. I showed up at your damn bachelor party with Drake as my ‘date’. If I turned down one of your invitations I was out with Drake. How did you not see any of that? Don’t put this blame on me.”828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1FQhMYqso
“I knew you were with him, but I didn’t think he would break protocol to…” Liam trailed off, rubbing the back of his neck. “What’s done is done.”828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPQoonHBwj
“Break protocol? What in the world is that supposed to mean?” Riley’s voice dropped. Her eyes met with Liam’s. He had cut himself off mid-sentence. That wasn’t normal.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTBc84fbXW
“We’re heading back to shore.” Mara’s voice broke through the tension. “Lady Penelope is expecting you, Your Grace.”828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ATWAx9Mjy
Riley’s eyes moved from Mara to Liam and back again. The timing was too perfect. The interruption was odd. Mara didn’t typically insert herself in any conversations, regardless of what direction they took. The yacht was already moving close to the shore. When had they turned around? How long had they been arguing?828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLy7lOcvcQr
“Fine.” Riley took a deep breath before turning away from Liam and looking at the weather-beaten board walk ahead. Her eyes skimmed along it before falling on Drake and Bastien. Drake’s arms were crossed as he glared at Bastien. She could see their lips moving. Bastien shook his head in exasperation before shifting to lean against a railing to steady himself.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGluOomXX7Q
“You aren’t telling me something.” Riley sighed still facing away from Liam.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhorsjZGQL
“Leave it alone, Riley. Please?”828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSU2IcfrmK
She shook her head, waiting for the yacht to be secured before climbing off it and back ashore.
Author’s Note: Hey babes! Let’s celebrate that I have actually put out a chapter once a week as promised the past… two weeks. Hahahaha! Life is always a bit chaotic. The kids are on Spring Break which absolutely kills my writing time. Hopefully you all enjoy this week’s issue! I have more solid plans for this story now that will more than likely veer off the current story PB is writing, but that certainly won’t be a bad thing! As always, thanks for all the love and support you guys give me! Seeing your comments and messages helps me get through some rough days. You guys are the best <3
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