The Duke's Masked Wife 2: The Prince's Outcast Bride-Chapter 79: Taste (1)

Penelope composed herself and, rather than taking Tyrion’s offer for her to join him, Penelope went to find her nightgown to change into.

There was a long night ahead of them, and she knew Tyrion’s teasing would persist.

After getting changed by herself, Penelope took up a comb and sat down to finish preparing herself for bed. She did this as a distraction at first, but she could not get the sight of Tyrion standing so confidently before her out of her head.

"He is a tease," Penelope muttered.

Normally, his advances never got the best of her, and though it was not a contest, just mere affection between a married couple, she hated to think that he was getting the best of her.

Penelope found herself acting like the very ladies whose actions puzzled her in the past. She had not understood why they had such dramatic reactions to simple actions from their lovers.

Now, she understood them.

How was she to stay composed with the things Tyrion did?

Penelope stopped combing her hair when she heard the door close, and thanks to the reflection on the mirror she sat before, she saw Tyrion coming toward her. He wore long pants and a loose shirt, a maid must have prepared them whilst they drew his bath.

"You are back to being a gentleman," Penelope commented. She expected Tyrion to walk out just as he walked in.

"I can still get rid of my clothing if it will please you. I am a little disappointed you did not join me. There was plenty of water for us to share," said Tyrion.

Tyrion made his way over to where Penelope was seated. He took the comb from her hands and proceeded to help her.

Penelope tried to take the comb back. "It is for me or my maid to do."

"There is something wrong with the world when a man can not tend to his wife. They have so many rules for how a lady is to behave around her husband. Do they tell you nothing of what to expect from your husband?" Tyrion asked.

Since his sister wasn’t of age to wed, Tyrion had never heard what exactly was told to young ladies. He only knew as much as the other men did.

"You are to provide for me and future children. That is all. I’ve had a governess whom my parents released from my care. She told us that we were to listen to our future husbands. To endure, should he have a temper and not run our father, since I would be my husband’s property," said Penelope.

"I have heard many things from her and others. I’ve ignored some of it because it makes me feel like I would become my husband’s shadow. Simply there to give you many sons to carry your name. Luckily, the governess didn’t last long," Penelope said, turning around to face Tyrion.

Penelope continued to say, "She thought it was my mother who no longer employed her services, but in truth, it was my father. He doesn’t like what is told to ladies. It turned out that the governess strayed from what she was to teach us."

Penelope vaguely remembered overhearing the governess stating that she believed Penelope and Lily weren’t fully told what it meant to become someone’s wife.

"I have kept some of what was said by her and my other governess. You don’t need to worry about how I shall act as your wife," Penelope promised.

"I was never concerned about how you would act. I find you to be a perfect lady when you aren’t running out of your home to gamble," said Tyrion, speaking of the night he stumbled upon her.

Penelope missed those days. "Well, those days are certainly over. I cannot take the chance of someone recognising me, and then I create more problems for us. It does disappoint me since I enjoyed seeing those men lose."

"For a place which had no business for women, I won quite a lot," said Penelope.

"You may play against me," Tyrion said, setting the comb down on the table. "I like to play once in a while."

"That is not very fitting of a prince," Penelope replied, but she was open to playing against him.

"Says the woman who did it as the daughter of a duke," Tyrion retorted.

"You’ve caught me," Penelope said, giving up.

"Yes, I have," Tyrion said, going down to her level so they would be face to face. "I don’t need you to be a woman who endures or exists simply to give me sons. I want you to be the woman that I have always known you to be."

Tyrion had known Penelope long enough to know all her perfections and flaws. He accepted all of it and didn’t need her to change to fit what the town expected of her.

"I had no plans of changing what you fell in love with, but even I know that I must carry myself as a lady when we are not at home. I still have ties to my father’s name, but now I am a Castro. I don’t want to bring you any shame," said Penelope.

"Though," Penelope said, looking away from Tyrion. "You have started a marriage with a woman said to be cursed."

"If anyone is cursed, it is the town with a lack of sense. No part of you is cursed, but if you doubt me, I shall search every part of you to prove what I say is true. That is, if you will allow me," Tyrion said, his finger tugging on the sleeve of the dress she wore.

Penelope didn’t believe in any curses and only mentioned it to remind him of the current gossip about her, but she nodded, allowing him to do as he wanted.

"You’re an intelligent woman who knows how to use her words. It is time for you to speak and not let your words be caught in your throat. Tell me what it is you will allow me to do," Tyrion said, keeping still so her sleeve wouldn’t slip from his hold.

After Penelope didn’t answer, Tyrion dismissed his plans. He pushed the sleeve up, though it hadn’t slipped away and prepared to get up so they could go to bed.

He could still wait, and his attention was only to tease her tonight.

Tyrion had teased her plenty, and it was time to stop before she got overwhelmed by her thoughts.

"It’s time we go to bed to rest," Tyrion said, offering his hand to Penelope.

"Must you make me say it? After stirring up my feelings like this, must I tell you what to do?" Penelope asked in a soft tone, but thanks to the silence in the home, Tyrion heard it well.

"Yes," Tyrion answered. "I need to hear what you want."