CHAPTER 264: DISAPPOINTMENT (2)

Penelope rested her head on Tyrion’s shoulder and toyed with his fingers as the carriage took them home.

"Edmund is in the palace, and it appears he intends to stay in Lockwood, which means his wife is here. I have never met her, and neither have my siblings. His return is going to come with drama," said Penelope.

Penelope knew at some point that Cassidy was going to pop up before her.

Penelope was the easiest to approach since she no longer lived on the estate.

"I knew that he was back," Tyrion revealed. "I didn’t think it was something important to share."

"On the outside looking in, it never looks like my family has trouble with Edmund, but we do. I love my grandfather, but it has always been that we are to stay away from his wife. Is it wrong that I am so loyal to Priscilla?" Penelope asked, trusting Tyrion’s opinion.

"No. She is the one who has always been at your side. You can love your grandfather and not want to be around his wife. I know very little of it, but isn’t there more to why your father dislikes Cassidy?" Tyrio inquired.

"There is. When my father doesn’t trust someone and keeps them away, I like to stay away. My father always has good reason and notices what I do not," Penelope said, finding this to be enough to stay away from Cassidy.

"Yet you came to me," Tyrion noticed.

"My father never hated you. You only annoyed him. Some day, if we were to have a daughter, then you would understand it. My father has never liked to see anyone courting us. He adores you now," Penelope said, though her father wouldn’t say adore.

"I have to take your word for it," Tyrion replied.

"I mean it. He has offered us a home, many of his followers, and money. He wouldn’t have done it if he didn’t like you. He might have taken you away, so we couldn’t get married. You will see it with Lily’s husband that he starts cold," Penelope promised.

Penelope looked out the carriage window at the lands and said, "I don’t ever want to control who you meet with, but be careful with my grandfather. He will help with the court, but don’t let him convince you to bring Cassidy to our home."

"Penelope, I am not easy to fool," said Tyrion.

Penelope begged to differ. "I have fooled you plenty in our younger days."

"You were the girl I loved. I allowed you to do silly things just so you would be near," Tyrion clarified.

"Oh, you were a fool in love," Penelope laughed.

Tyrion stayed silent as Penelope enjoyed herself. He gave only Penelope a pass to laugh at how he behaved.

Penelope covered her mouth with her hand, apologetic for laughing. "Forgive me. I find it to be sweet and silly at the same time. If I weren’t your friend, I wouldn’t believe you were this kind of person."

Tyrion moved Penelope’s hand from covering her mouth since he wanted to hear her laugh.

"Laugh all you want," Tyrion said, enjoying every bit of it. "I’ll remember it later."

"You may remember it, but I fear you won’t be able to do anything about it. My stomach has been restless, which means it might be nearing my time to bleed," Penelope said, apologetic for speaking of such things with her husband. "I am sorry for sharing it."

"Why? I have seen all of you and partly tasted most of you-"

"Tyrion!" Penelope gasped. Why did he feel the need to mention what he did?

"Why can’t I hear about you having to bleed? We share the same bed. Did you plan to hide it from me?" Tyrion wondered.

Was it meant to be so secretive?

"No. Truly, I hope there wouldn’t be a mess made," Penelope softly spoke.

Now that the time was nearing, Penelope thought of how awkward it would be should she ruin their bed. She couldn’t control what her body did while she slept.

Tyrion touched Penelope’s chin and guided her so she would look at him.

"You don’t need to hide such things from me. I will not judge you for what a woman faces. Besides, after the many parts of men that I have seen severed, you bleeding would be the last thing to bother me," said Tyrion.

Penelope frowned.

Tyrion was going so well.

"How wonderful of you to comfort your wife with talk of what you have seen when you killed others," Penelope said.

Tyrion twirled strands of Penelope’s hair around his finger and said, "No need to thank me. Don’t you feel better now?"

Penelope nodded her head and answered, "I do."

"What is it that I can do to bring you some comfort?" Tyrion asked, wanting to aid Penelope. It was something he needed to get used to.

"Oh, you will not help. Like always, I will turn to Matilda for help. Why do you look so surprised?" Penelope asked, puzzled by Tyrion’s expression.

Matilda was always there to help Penelope, and it would never change.

Penelope didn’t like the expression Tyrion wore now, like he was plotting.

"I see. After all that we have done, you don’t see us as so close for me to help you. I will have to change that," Tyrion decided.

"W-What? No! There are some things a lady wants to keep between herself and her maid. This is not something my husband needs to help with, and we should not be speaking of this!" Penelope argued, her cheeks flushed.

"You look pretty when you get like this. It is foolish for a husband and wife to not be able to speak of this, but I shall save you the trouble and move on. I heard more about the case of the dead woman today. Would you like to hear?" Tyrion asked, thinking of their deal.

Penelope’s eyes lit up. She was excited to hear what else was found, so she could help solve it in secret.

"Yes, I would. Wait! No!" Penelope exclaimed.

It had slipped her mind momentarily, but Penelope was quick to remember the deal she made with Tyrion.

Penelope glared at Tyrion for being so sneaky. "I will not fail. None of your tricks will ever work on me, so don’t ever get so excited."

Tyrion was disappointed. "What a shame. We’re already in the carriage. I know that you are curious, Penelope. If you ask now, I can have the coachman take us on a longer ride."

Penelope looked away from Tyrion. She wasn’t going to lose, even though she did want to know about the case. "I am going to ignore you until we are out of this carriage."

Tyrion smiled.

He was conflicted since he didn’t want Penelope involved in the case, but he wanted her to lose.