The Duke's Masked Wife 2: The Prince's Outcast Bride-Chapter 107: Visitors from the palace (3)

"Why did you think I wouldn’t notice you are no longer in bed? You hold me captive in your arms, so I was bound to notice when I could move freely. You do not need to tell me if you don’t want to," said Penelope.

Penelope knew the carriage gifted to her by Cassius was burnt.

Though Penelope had not left home since she married Tyrion, Matilda had errands outside of the home, and she noticed the ruined carriage.

"I wanted to keep it from you for a little while. I am expanding the training ground so that it will have a dungeon. I didn’t see it as something you would like to know about," said Tyrion.

"It is not. I will have very little interest in it as I had with my father’s, but I do like knowing what your plans for our home are. Should anyone let it slip to me, I don’t want it to appear like you were being secretive. Promise me that you won’t keep anything from me," Penelope said, wanting to hear it now.

"Even the things you think I would have no interest in," Penelope said, sticking out her pinky to him.

Tyrion looked at her finger, thinking the method was childish. It was something he wouldn’t do with his siblings, yet he made the deal with Penelope.

"Speak of this and you will be running laps around our land," Tyrion warned Damien.

"I wouldn’t dare speak of it," Damien replied.

"Men," Penelope said, shaking her head. "Winston," Penelope greeted the butler. "You are in a hurry again. Are there guests?"

"Yes, Milady. Guests from the palace have arrived. There is a guest sent by the king and one by Lady Tabitha Castro. I am waiting for your orders," Winston said, keeping the gates closed.

"Who is it that has come from my grandmother? Just a messenger?" Tyrion asked, letting go of Penelope’s hand to go first.

"She appears to be a maid sent here for work," Winston answered.

Winston hoped the young couple would be wise to send the maid away. He had already talked with the servants present and was finally getting everything in good order.

"Allow her inside so I can hear what she has to say. Tyrion, you should speak to those who have come from the palace. The sooner we deal with this, the sooner we can get back to our walk," Penelope said, curious what the maid would say.

"Winston, take me to the guest from Lady Tabitha," Penelope instructed Winston.

Tyrion held Penelope’s hand before she left him and said, "You must be careful. My grandmother wouldn’t send just anyone to find work here. This maid has to be one of her people, and whatever is said will be repeated."

Penelope smiled. "I know what your grandmother’s intentions are. You must trust me when I say that I don’t want to fall into any more traps, so I am ready for what is to come."

Tyrion trusted Penelope, so he let go of her hand. "I will join you shortly," he promised.

Penelope followed Winston to wait for the maid. During her walk, Matilda caught up to Penelope.

Winston seated Penelope in the drawing room and left to bring the maid inside.

"Milady, is it good to meet with this visitor?" Matilda asked.

Matild did not like the maids previously sent from the palace and was happy that they were made to leave.

"I am certain that it will not go well. Lady Tabitha will not be happy until Tyrion is back in the palace. I am confident that after the last incident, which made me the topic of gossip, she must think I am careless, and I was," Penelope admitted.

Penelope continued to say, "But I do believe she is someone who thinks that I cannot learn from my mistake and do better. I hate that I am judging her before I get to know her, but the maid will let me know if my assumptions are right."

"I must be better to tackle the plots to tarnish my name, and as my maid, I want you to succeed alongside me. Be my extra eyes to point out what I have missed. I will need your help now more than ever," said Penelope.

"I will gladly aid you, Milady," Matilda replied, accepting the responsibility.

Matilda knew the town had greatly misjudged her lady and was speaking lies due to jealousy. She looked forward to when Penelope would prove everyone wrong.

Winston escorted the maid to the drawing room and left her to get water to serve.

"Lady Castro," Ines, the maid sent from the palace, greeted Penelope with a curtsy.

When Ines stood up straight, she looked around for the crown prince since she had been instructed to speak to only Tyrion.

"You may sit," Penelope said, gesturing to the chair before her.

"Thank you for the kind offer, but it seems I have been misplaced. I was instructed to speak with only Prince Tyrion-’

"Forgive me for interrupting you, but my husband is busy, so you will have to settle for me," Penelope said, ending the silly game which had barely started. "What is your name?"

"I am Ines, Lady Castro. I was sent by the crown prince’s grandmother to have a word with him. I can wait for him to be free to speak," said Ines.

"That won’t be possible. I can speak to you on behalf of my husband. Seeing that you hold a bag in your hands, it means you seek to stay here, and I will handle matters concerning the servants. You may sit or leave," Penelope presented options.

Ines proceeded to sit so she wouldn’t be thrown out as soon as she arrived. Since Penelope was the daughter of a nobleman, Ines expected some attitude, but she didn’t think it would start like this.

"I have been sent by Lady Tabitha to find work here. She has written a letter as well to back up everything I have said. I am to hand it to Crown Prince Tyrion," Ines said, revealing the letter to Penelope.

Matilda left her place behind Penelope to get the letter so Penelope wouldn’t have to stand, but Ines pulled the letter back so Matilda couldn’t get it.

"It is only for the prince. I hope you may understand that I have orders I cannot ignore," Ines said, hoping Penelope wouldn’t make this difficult.

"I know it puts you in a terrible position to disobey orders. You may set the letter down since it will be handed to my husband when he is free. As for you working here, that will not happen," Penelope said, ending Ines’s hope early.

"Unfortunately, it is up to the prince to send me off. I am a maid of the Castros," Ines said, patiently waiting for the prince.

Tyrion had seen her before, so he should remember that she worked for his grandmother. Ines had special orders which she wouldn’t fail because of Penelope.