The next day, Penelope opened her door to her father waiting for her. She smiled, hoping to win him over just as she had done in the past, but this time, it did not work.
Edgar stood unaffected by her smile. "That only worked when you were smaller, and the trouble you found yourself in was something I could laugh at. You're not a small child anymore."
"I am very sorry for leaving without telling anyone and without taking a guard. I have learned my lesson, and I will not do it again," Penelope promised.
"You returned on a royal carriage with the prince," Edgar said, revealing he spoke to the guards.
"Tyrion happened to be there in the nick of time to give me a ride home. That is all," Penelope said, not wanting her father to get the wrong idea. "I was wrong. You should punish me as you see fit, and I will accept it."
"I am to believe the prince was magically in the same place as you last night? I don't believe in magic," Edgar replied.
Edgar believed in Tyrion doing whatever was needed to get close to Penelope.
"I would not lie to you, father. I was also surprised he came just in time to help me. Oh no," Penelope bit her tongue. "I wasn't to let you know there was trouble. It was small, and Tyrion took care of it. I am sorry," she apologised once more.
"Never again. It was dangerous of you to go without a guard. Especially right after what happened at the ball. You can be adventurous, but you must also pay attention to the danger and know when to stay where it is safe. Can you promise me that?" Edgar asked, giving her a second chance.
Penelope nodded her head. "I can. Am I forgiven now, or will I be punished?"
"Since you are safe at home, I will let you off this one time, but I won't let you off so easy next time. Don't let there be a next time," Edgar said, calming down.
It was a careless decision to sneak off, but he trusted Penelope not to make it again.
Penelope held onto her father's arms and inspected his clothing. "Are you coming along with us to the gathering? It is not like you."
"I would jump from the tallest part of the estate before I join you there. You'll be surrounded by fools," Edgar said, annoyed just by the thought of it.
"I agree. That is why you should take me with you," said Penelope, preferring to be anywhere than at the gathering.
"I am going to the palace, so you cannot come. Lily is looking forward to today, so be at your sister's side. If anyone bothers you, have the guards deal with them or send for me. I will handle the matter personally," Edgar said.
"The dungeon needs more guests," Penelope joked, covering her mouth with her hand when she spotted her mother.
Alessandra was never fond of hearing the children speak of dungeons, weapons, or murder.
Seeing her mother's squinted eyes, Penelope knew well that her mother suspected something was off.
Penelope let go of her father's hand and headed the other way.
It was always best to let her father deal with the few times her mother would get upset.
Hours later, Penelope was dressed alongside her sister and mother to head to a social gathering they were invited to.
Penelope dreaded the gathering since it would all be about who was courting who. It must be since she didn't have someone to obsess over like her peers that these gatherings did not feel fun.
On the other hand, Lily looked forward to it.
"Why are you smiling, mother?" Lily asked, noticing her mother's stare.
"You are as different as night and day," Alessandra answered. "You have been smiling since we got into the carriage while Penelope has been frowning."
"It is because she knows she will be questioned about the prince. Everyone has their eyes on the prince, so they wouldn't have missed him staring at Penelope," Lily said, enjoying the sound of Penelope's groan.
"It is not what they think," Penelope said.
"Anyone with eyes knows the prince is interested in you, and if they deny it, it is simply because they are jealous. You must be careful today since they will try to attack you. It doesn't matter whether you want the prince or not," said Lily.
Lily hooked her arm with Penelope's. "I'll be right there with you. They are no match for the twins."
"You don't need to be right there with me since I will not be fighting anyone over Tyrion. They can have him," Penelope said, hoping someone could steal his interest. "Mother, I saw our cousin at the ball. I was unfortunate to have him bump into me."
"Warren? Since when do we refer to him as our cousin? He is still going around blaming mother for what happened to his mother. She must have told him the story wrong," said Lily.
"Looking back, I believe he purposely bumped into me. What he is saying won't affect you, right?" Penelope asked.
"He can say what he wants, but the truth of what happened during my time living with his mother was found by the court. There are records of it. Don't worry about me," Alessandra said, wanting the girls to enjoy themselves.
Penelope couldn't stop worrying about her mother.
Penelope heard the stories of what happened to her mother to leave her wearing a mask when she was younger. The Barretts, her mother's family, had neglected Alessandra, allowing for Warren's mother to mistreat her.
Justice was served in the end after Edgar helped Alessandra and the truth came out, but Lockwood dismissed that now.
The town, which once hated the Barretts, pitied Kate, who had lost her mother, was held captive by her murderous husband, seemingly lost her mind and couldn't walk. They compared Alessandra, who had everything as the duchess, to Kate, who lost everything and seemingly turned humble.
Penelope hated how the town found issue with her mother not mingling with everyone when they were the ones who spoke of her being cursed.
"We are here," Alessandra said, relieved there was a distraction. "We must look for Lady Thea right away."
When the carriage stopped, Caleb and his twin Reed, who was tasked with watching the trio, opened the door and helped the women out.
Penelope was no stranger to the stares since her last name always brought attention to her, but it seemed to have gotten worse today.
How did anyone know she had been with Tyrion at the ball when she had snuck out to the garden before he arrived and returned inside with her father?
Or was there something else she wasn't aware of?
Penelope followed her mother's footsteps to find the host who was a long time friend of her mother. Later, she would find a quiet corner to be out of the way from the nosey guests she could already overhear showering each other with questions about the men they danced with.
"It seems all eyes are on you," Lily whispered.
"And you. They are also quite interested in who you will marry. Should we tell them the man you want is out of town?" Penelope replied.
Lily pinched Penelope's hand. "You will do no such thing."
Penelope laughed, focusing on her sister instead of the other ladies who eyed her.