The Duke's Masked Wife 2: The Prince's Outcast Bride-Chapter 28: Plotting (1)

"I do not understand why we left just moments after arriving, and neither one of you will speak. I am of a good age to know when there is drama amongst our family. Did grandmother say something about mother or father?" Isabelle asked.

"She did not, and you didn’t need to leave with us. We wouldn’t have felt betrayed, and we would have sent the carriage right back," said Lily.

"I came with you, so I shall leave with you. It is what we always do and I will not change it now. Fine," Isabelle said, giving up. "Keep your secrets. I do not like that you are twins. You keep far too many secrets from me."

"You also have secrets between you and Lily, do you not?" Penelope asked.

"I do not," Isabelle replied.

"Then what happened to the shoes Erin sent with the new dress?" Penelope asked, speaking about the dressmaker.

Isabelle bit her tongue. She had forgotten about the shoes she had taken. Only Lily knew the truth.

"See. I also have secrets from you that I do not let Lily know of. It is how it goes," Penelope said, averting a big problem as Isabelle calmed down.

Penelope looked out the carriage window, her mind now going back to the royal letter. She could not help thinking of how strange it was that Tyrion did not send her a letter. How busy was he?

Penelope was certain that Tyrion spent his time slacking off in the palace.

"Is it the prince that holds a big place in your mind, dear sister?" Lily said, smiling whilst Penelope glared at her when she looked away from the scenery. "I cannot help it. Like everyone else, I am curious. If you do not want the prince, can I have him?"

Penelope frowned, annoyed that Lily would make such a joke. "Since when do you care for him?"

"I do not. I only wanted to see you upset, and it was worth it. If only you could see your face. Oh wait," Lily said, realising she could show Penelope.

Lily mirrored the expression Penelope made. "It was like that."

"You are childish. No!" Penelope yelled, reaching her hand to the right to protect Isabelle.

Penelope braced for impact as a carriage came their way.

The carriage shook and shifted to the left after it was hit by another carriage. They were lucky the carriage wasn’t hit hard enough to be tilted over and fall on its side, injuring anyone.

"Are you two alright?" Penelope asked, checking her sisters first.

Both Lily and Isabelle nodded their heads.

Penelope looked outside to see what had happened with the other carriage. How could someone be so careless as to let that happen?

Reed opened the carriage door to check that no one was hurt as the other guards went over to the other carriage with their weapons drawn.

Accident or not, it was a serious matter that the carriage collided with their carriage.

From what Reed saw, it was purposeful work.

"Do not move," Reed instructed the girls.

From where Penelope sat, she saw a man she did not recognise upon first glance step out of the carriage she had seen suddenly change course for their carriage.

It seemed that he was apologising.

"Something must have spooked my horses."

Reed took a good look at the carriage and then at the man he had never seen before. He didn’t like the smug look the young lad had.

"From where I sat, nothing spooked them," said Reed.

"Well, they have never acted like that before. I could only assume that they were spooked."

"Introduce yourself," Reed said, drawing closer to the stranger.

"Forgive me for being so rude. I am Cassius Monroe. I am a little new to Lockwood since I recently moved into an old family home left to me. I haven’t had time to introduce myself to anyone," Cassius said, offering his hand to Reed.

Reed stared at the hand stretched before him. If he went anywhere near Cassius’s hand, it would be to cut it off. "For your sake, I hope your horses were spooked and this wasn’t intentional."

Reed approached Cassius, his shoulder bumping against Cassius as he walked past him to inspect the carriage.

"It truly was an accident. I am waiting for my new carriage to get here, along with the rest of my things, so I borrowed this one. It had some trouble a few days ago, but this is the first time it has crashed. That looks to be the carriage of Duke Collins," Cassius said, noticing someone by the window.

Cassius smiled, taking off his hat to be polite to the young woman, who responded by looking away. That did nothing to rid him of any interest in her.

"I wish to meet Duke Collins, but not like this. I don’t have a death wish, so please believe me when I say that this was merely an accident. I am more than willing to pay for all the damages. Allow me to do it," said Cassius.

Reed found the stranger to be suspicious. Cassius’s clothes of fine quality did not match the old carriage he was using.

Unless he was a man who didn’t know how to properly spend his money, Cassius appeared to be a man who could afford better horses and a carriage.

This was no accident, but Reed thought it more important to get the young ladies back to the estate. If Cassius were to die, it could not be on such a busy road for it to be witnessed by others and more importantly, the duke’s daughters.

"Be more careful next time. You must choose your battles wisely," Reed said, going back to the carriage.

The longer they stayed here, the more they welcomed danger to fall upon them.

Cassius looked away from the young woman in the carriage to the man walking by him. "Oh, trust me. I always pick my battles carefully. I am fond of you. I hope we can meet again."

Reed ignored what was said by Cassius and prepared the carriage to take off, as well as the horses the guards rode on. He would remember Cassius’s name well since he intended to look into who Cassius was and what business he might have with Edgar.

Penelope looked out the window once more. She was relieved to see the talk ended peacefully since she wasn’t ready to witness any more death.

When the carriage started to move, Penelope got a better look at the man standing outside.

"I have seen him before," Penelope said out loud.

It was on the tip of her tongue where she saw him, but Penelope couldn’t think of it now.

Penelope did not enjoy the way he smiled as though he thought what occurred was funny.

"Another foolish man is here," said Penelope.