The Duke's Masked Wife 2: The Prince's Outcast Bride-Chapter 33: Accepting an offer (2)

Penelope watched as the queen moved on to speak with her mother and siblings, while the king remained with only Tyrion.

"I see that you are well, Penelope. Don’t let the gossip get to you. I have spoken to the court, and they have come to the decision that you are innocent. That will be passed onto the town guards and announced by the end of the day," said Tyrion.

"This isn’t over," Edgar said.

Edgar had far too many issues with the men in court for them to let the matter with Penelope rest. The court hated that Edgar stepped in when they failed to do their duties, and the credit was given to him instead of the court.

They also disliked that Edgar backed Tobias, so when there was a plot to harm the king, Edgar would be the first one to the palace with his army to aid Tobias.

He had done it before, and he would do it again.

"I did find it a little suspicious they moved on so fast, but there is no denying that you weren’t close enough to have pushed her. There were witnesses we could trust who said that you were standing with your guard," Tobias informed Penelope.

"Unfortunately," Tobias continued. "There are some who say otherwise. I would stay away from those ladies since they are out to ruin your name."

"I will," Penelope replied.

Penelope already had a good guess of who claimed that she had pushed Sarah. Amelia would be a good person to start with.

Penelope was relieved that she would not be called a murderer in the eyes of the palace court, but she was certain it would take some time for the rumours to end.

Penelope accidentally met eyes with Tyrion, who might have been watching her from the moment he arrived.

What could he possibly want to say to her now when he hadn’t written to her all this time?

"Edgar, I think the children want to speak," Tobias said, stepping to the right so Penelope would get a better view of Tyrion.

"I think not," Edgar replied, keeping his hold on Penelope.

"Oh, come on. You can’t-"

"You have a son and I have a daughter. People will speak if she is left unattended with the prince. Over twenty years later, and you are still the fool who does not think," Edgar said, annoyed by Tobias.

"I do think. Over twenty years and you are still grumpy. This is why many people don’t like you. You are too grumpy, and I sometimes consider ending our friendship," Tobias said, but he didn’t mean it.

Edgar smiled, which was a rare occurrence for Tobias. "Then end it. I urge you to do it."

"Of course not. Until Rafael arrives, I can only trust you. I have much to speak about that we shouldn’t worry the children with so allow Elijah to accompany his sister. This is something you will not want to miss," Tobias said.

"You may go and send Elijah, father. He has the same dangerous glare to send away men. I will not move from here," Penelope promised.

Edgar wasn’t concerned about Penelope. He was more concerned about the prince waiting to speak with her. Still, Edgar called Elijah over to stand with Penelope, which ended with Lily also joining them.

"Lose sight of your sisters, and I will take back that home you have started to decorate," Edgar warned Elijah.

"And if I take good care of them, can I have your carriage? No?" Elijah replied, stepping away from his father. "I will watch them."

Edgar left with the king to speak on an important matter, but he stood close to keep watch of his children and wife.

"I think if you keep that up, father might hit you for the first time. I am almost tempted to ask father for the carriage," Lily said, liking the sound of having her own carriage.

’You wouldn’t," Elijah said, but he knew that out of his three sisters, Lily would be the one to try getting the carriage.

"Now, I really want it," Lily smiled.

Tyrion ignored the chatter of the two siblings and focused on Penelope, who did everything she could to avoid his gaze.

"Have you been well?" Tyrion asked.

"I have been well, Prince Tyrion," Penelope replied.

Tyrion knew right away that Penelope was upset with him. "I tried to send a letter to you by your brother, but he didn’t want to be a messenger pigeon in his words."

Lily gasped, glaring at Elijah.

"I am not a bird," Elijah said.

"No, you are a fool," Lily muttered.

If it were her, Lily would have delivered the letter without a second thought. Was she the only one hoping that Penelope would come to her senses and be with Tyrion, or Tyrion would do something charming to convince Penelope?

Penelope also looked at Elijah. He failed to mention this to her. "Perhaps it is good that you didn’t send it by my brother. He would have taken a look at what you read."

"I would not," Elijah said, uninterested in what the two fools before him would write.

Elijah would never open a letter meant for Penelope sent by Tyrion since he didn’t want to see the sweet things Tyrion would write to her.

"I am curious, Penelope. What did you think that I would have written that your brother shouldn’t see?" Tyrion spoke softly in hopes the eavesdropping siblings wouldn’t hear him.

It was frustrating that he couldn’t have a moment alone with Penelope to say what he wanted without her siblings being a part of the conversation.

Then there was the crowd which enjoyed seeing him standing beside Penelope, since it would be something to talk about to those who were not present.

"I simply don’t want my brother to read anything sent for me, but I would also hope that you are a gentleman to not send me anything indecent," Penelope said.

Judging by the subtle, almost knowing curve of Tyrion’s lips, Penelope knew Reed was right when he said Tyrion was not a gentleman, but rather a scoundrel.