Chapter 37

James woke with a start in the middle of the night, the room bathed in the soft glow of moonlight streaming through the window. He turned to the side where Penelope lay soundly asleep, her breathing slow and steady. For a moment, he simply watched her, his heart swelling with a profound sense of love and tenderness.

The events of the past days flashed through his mind: the fear of losing her, the relief of finding her, and the overwhelming joy of holding her in his arms once again. He couldn't tear his eyes away from her serene face, the gentle rise and fall of her chest, and the way her hair spilled over the pillow in a dark cascade.

James leaned forward, his gaze fixed on Penelope. He thought of his father, a man who had been responsible for all the heartache in James' life. James vowed that he would never be like him. He would never allow the shadows of the past to taint his love for Penelope or his commitment to their future. He brushed a stray lock of hair from her forehead, his touch light and reverent.

He knew there would be challenges ahead, that life would test them in ways they couldn't yet imagine. But as he looked at her, he felt a fierce determination to shield her from harm, to be the anchor she could always rely on.

James pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, lingering there for a moment, savoring the closeness. Then, with a sigh of contentment, he lay down next to her again, settling in with a renewed sense of purpose. He watched over her as she slept, a silent guardian in the night, his heart filled with love and a steadfast resolve.

He was the first one to wake up the following morning. His gaze not leaving her side, he walked over to the armchair, wanting a better look at her. He waited until she started to stir. He watched her stretch languidly, her eyes fluttering open to meet his gaze. A smile spread across her face, filling James with joy and contentment.

"Good morning," he said softly, rising from the armchair and moving to sit beside her on the bed. He then took her hand in his, bringing it to his lips for a gentle kiss.

"Good morning," she replied, her voice still thick with sleep. She sat up, rubbing her eyes and looking at him curiously. "Why are you sitting over there?" 0.

James chuckled, his eyes twinkling with affection. "I couldn't help but watch over you."

Penelope's smile widened, and she leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder. They sat like that for a few moments, enjoying the tranquility of the early morning.

‘Penelope," James began, his tone taking on a more serious note. "We have special guests coming for dinner tonight."

She pulled back slightly, looking at him with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. "Special guests?"

"Your family," James said gently, watching her reaction closely. "I know it's not easy, but I believe it's important. We need to face them together."

Penelope's expression shifted to one of worry. "I don't know if I can, James. Not yet."

James took both her hands in his, his grip firm and reassuring. "I understand, Penelope. But I'll be right there with you. I… I love you more than anything, Penelope," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "I will do everything in my power to protect you, to keep you safe from the world and its cruelties. I promise you that."

"You… love me?" she asked incredulously, her mind a swirl of deep emotions for this man.

"Always and forever," he nodded.

She was overwhelmed by his words. "I love you, too, James," she whispered back, completely certain of every word she had just told him.

"You will never have to be afraid again, Penelope, I told you that I have a plan. Do you trust me?"

"With all my heart," she said, without any doubt or hesitation.

He smiled. "Then believe me when I say this is for the best. I will not let anything happen to you. I will protect you, always."

Penelope took a deep breath then nodded as a flicker of determination appeared in her eyes. "All right, James. I will do it. For us."

"Not just for us, but most importantly, for yourself, my dear," he reminded her. "Now, that we've got that out of the way, we have the rest of the morning to enjoy. In fact, I am looking forward to my breakfast."

He laid her down, spreading her legs. She chuckled. "James, what are you doing?"

"Tasting my delicious wife," he murmured against the softness of her skin.

His tongue stroked the inside of her thighs, trailing an invisible line. She gasped, lifting her hips towards his lips, giving herself up to him completely.

"Mmm," he purred into her sweet wetness. "You are perfection…"

Gently, he placed his mouth on her, sucking slowly, tantalizingly. Everything about her was so delicious, so mesmerizing. He relished the sounds of her moaning as he flicked her swollen bud with his tongue, teasing her. His tongue parted her folds, delving into her, deeper and deeper each time. The steady pulses became faster and faster. He couldn't get enough of her wet heat.

He added his thumb, gently pressing on that sweet spot, watching her hips swivel from the bed, her fingers sinking into his hair, clutching a handful of it.

"Oh, James…" she called out his name in ecstasy.

He lapped at her core with steady pressure, as her body tightened, the fingers gripping at his hair tighter than before. He buried his tongue deep into her, tasting her, drinking her essence. The moans that she made were the sounds of pure pleasure, unlike anything he had heard before.

When he lifted his gaze to meet hers, she looked like a wildling, her hair spilling onto the pillow in whips, her cheeks flushed, her eyes wide.

"I love you so much, Penelope," he couldn't resist saying.

"I love you, too, James," she replied, beaming at him.

"I think I want you for breakfast every morning," he said, making her chuckle.

"I'll see what we can do about that," she replied playfully.

* * *

The dining room was prepared with exquisite care, the long table set with fine china, gleaming silverware, and flickering candles casting a warm glow over the room. Penelope stood beside James, his hand resting protectively on the small of her back as they awaited the arrival of her family. Ciara sat by Penelope's other side, offering silent, but unconditional support.

Penelope could feel the tension in her body and the way her fingers fidgeted with the fabric of her gown, but she also sensed her resolve. The sound of the front door opening and voices carrying down the hallway announced the arrival of their guests. James gave her a reassuring squeeze, and they moved toward the entrance to greet her family.

First to enter was Vanessa, her face a mask of feigned happiness. "Penelope! It's so wonderful to see you back!" she exclaimed, rushing forward to embrace her sister. Penelope stiffened slightly but returned the hug, her expression controlled.

"Thank you, Vanessa," Penelope replied, her voice steady. "It is good to see you as well."

Next entered her parents followed by Adeline. Penelope greeted each of them in turn, her manners impeccable despite the roiling emotions she felt inside.

"Mother, Father," Penelope greeted, offering her hand to each. Then, she turned to Adeline and embraced her. "Dear Adeline, it is lovely to see you." She paused for a moment, introducing Ciara. "I would like you all to meet a very dear friend of mine, Ciara Everton. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for her."

"Penelope, my dear," her mother said ignoring the introduction completely, a forced smile on her lips. "We were so worried. What happened?"

"Why don't we all sit down?" James took over for which Penelope was grateful. "We have the entire evening to talk and… divulge things we know."

They all moved into the dining room, the atmosphere thick with unspoken tension. Vanessa tried to cling to James' side, but he stepped away from her, helping his wife to her seat. Then, he took a seat next to Penelope, offering her subtle but constant support. Vanessa predictably positioned herself directly across from them, her eyes flickering between James and Penelope with a calculating gleam.

Throughout the meal, Vanessa continued her charade, making a show of her delight at Penelope's return. "Penelope, you must tell us all about your time away," she gushed. "We were so worried about you."

Penelope met Vanessa's gaze steadily, her voice calm. "There isn't much to tell. I'm just grateful to be back home with James."

"Of course," Vanessa smiled almost tenderly, but Penelope knew better than to trust anything she said.

The conversation slowly moved to other matters, and Penelope felt more and more apprehensive. Her parents, particularly her father, seemed to hang onto Vanessa's every word, often interjecting with comments about how lovely and accomplished she was.

"Vanessa has always been such a comfort to us," he remarked, casting a meaningful glance at Penelope.

Penelope felt a surge of irritation but maintained her composure, determined to stay strong. Under the table, James placed a hand over hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze. She responded with a slight nod, her eyes reflecting both gratitude and determination.

As the dinner progressed, Penelope's restraint and grace were evident to everyone present. She greeted each comment with poise, never once allowing Vanessa's thinly veiled barbs to unsettle her. Penelope felt a swell of pride and admiration for herself, bolstered by James' unwavering support.

"So, are we going to find out where you were, finally?" her father suddenly announced, obviously unable to remain patient any longer.

Penelope swallowed heavily. She felt James' hand in hers, squeezing her again then she heard him take over.

"I am so very glad you asked, Lord Montgomery," James said, smiling amusedly. "Because there is one among you who knows exactly what happened to Penelope."

The earl and his wife frowned, exchanging a meaningful glance between each other. Penelope, in turn, looked at Adeline. James had told her that she was the one who helped him. Without her, Penelope would still be stuck in that godforsaken place, alone and away from everyone who might be able to help her. She couldn't believe that Adeline, just like Ciara, risked everything to help her.

"What do you mean?" the earl inquired, still with that same frown adorning his crumpled forehead.

"Exactly what I said," James repeated with the same calm and composed voice. "And I am giving that person one chance to come clean. Just one."

Penelope looked at Vanessa, but Vanessa had that same look of surprise and shock as the rest of their family. Penelope couldn't believe that someone could be so cold and calculating with her own family, her own flesh and blood. Although she knew better, Penelope held onto a small flicker of hope that upon seeing her back, Vanessa might regret her actions and repent. But now, Penelope could see that no such thing was possible. Vanessa felt no remorse. All she knew was selfishness. And that made Penelope feel sorry for her.

Seconds felt like hours, and everyone present exchanged glances with everyone else. Penelope waited, and so did James. Finally, the earl broke the silence.

"Well, is someone going to speak up or not?" he demanded impatiently.

James nodded. "Fine. I suppose it will have to be me. Because I will not allow my wife to go through that again, and alone." James stood up, clearing his throat before speaking. "My wife was kidnapped, thrown into a carriage in the cover of the night and taken to a place that was supposed to keep her locked up for the rest of her life. Fortunately, she had a guardian angel, someone who risked everything to tell me where she was, so I could go there and bring her back."

He paused, allowing the words to sink in. Penelope couldn't tear her gaze away from Vanessa. She still couldn't believe that someone could harbor so much malice inside of her.

"Who would do such a thing?" the earl asked.

James glanced at him incredulously. "If you were any sort of a father, earl, you would know immediately."

The earl suddenly got up, his cheeks flaring red from the insult he had just received. "How dare you insinuate that I?—"

"I dare because it is the truth," James spoke over him. "You were so busy focusing on one daughter that you forgot you have one more… in fact, two more. And the one you bestowed all your affection on is a cold-hearted monster."

The earl's eyes widened in shock. "What are you talking about?"

James lingered for a moment then he revealed the truth, much to everyone's shock. "Your daughter, Vanessa, is responsible for Penelope's disappearance."