The Duke's Masked Wife 2: The Prince's Outcast Bride-Chapter 97: Time with friends (2)

Penelope sat with Julie and Ally inside a drawing room where she opened the gifts sent for her.

"Has anyone else sent gifts to you or wished you a lifetime of happiness? Aside from your family," said Ally.

"No. I’m sure the news of our wedding is only now getting around, and many will not be pleased by it. He has gone from the most eligible man to wed to a man claimed overnight," Penelope replied.

"I’m sure your true friends will write to you and visit you in time. No one would want to disturb you during these early days. So, how was your wedding night? Was it all that you imagined it to be?" Julie asked, causing Ally to spill her tea. "Oh, come on. We are not children."

Ally wiped at the spilt tea with a napkin before there was a stain. "Some of us are not married and wish to hold onto our innocence. I should have known this is what you would speak of."

"Would you not have joined us if you knew? I know that you have one of my mother’s books. I saw it when I visited my uncle," Julie revealed.

Ally blushed, embarrassed she had been caught. "T-That is a lie."

"You always stutter when you lie," Penelope pointed out. "It has always been easy to scare you."

"I cannot help it. My father says I take after my mother," Ally muttered.

"It is perfectly fine to speak of her wedding night. I shall be a spinster, and Ally is searching for a husband. It would be wrong of us not to tell Ally what she must prepare for," Julie said.

"I wish to be clueless until I am to know. Please leave me out of it," Ally said, protecting her ears from Julie. "I’m sure Penelope doesn’t want to speak as well."

"It is quite the opposite. I want to hear what Julie knows. I can have Matilda take you on a tour of my home if you do not want to hear," Penelope suggested.

Ally cleared her throat and said, "It would be wrong of me to leave your side."

Julie laughed. "You only need to admit that you wish to hear it. We are friends here, practically family. We will not tell anyone what you have overheard. Right, Penelope?"

"I will not. There is too much said about myself to add something else to it. I have always kept what is said amongst us. You don’t have anything to fear," Penelope promised.

"Well, then it is fine to speak about it," Ally replied, deciding to stay.

"Tell us. Was it wonderful?" Julie asked. "You don’t need to give us every detail."

"It was quite interesting. We have not," Penelope trailed off, not certain how to say it. "We are not fully connected, but he has done other things which felt good."

"What?" Ally asked, turning to Julie for an explanation.

"And now you turn to me. It is quite unusual. You two have waited so long to be together, so I presumed you would have had a long, fun night. He must be taking his time since it will be your first," Julie said, hoping this calmed Penelope’s worries. "There are still gentlemen around the town."

"It is his first as well," Penelope shared.

"Is it?" Julie replied, finding this to be unusual. "I thought I once heard of him and your brother being in close quarters with ladies. There are rumours that bold young ladies were trying to go to his bed."

"He has made mention of those young ladies to me, and he did say that I would be his first. It would be upsetting, but nothing I could do since he was surrounded by many ladies. I believe he had no reason to lie," Penelope said, believing what Tyrion told her. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com

"Oh, I didn’t mean to place doubt in your head. I only remember my grandmother claiming to have seen the prince and your brother. Not everyone goes there to sleep with women, so I am told. All secrets around the town end up told there," said Julie.

Julie enjoyed the visits with her grandmother since she heard many of the town’s gossip and secrets that no one knew of.

"You also mustn’t make mention of her brother," Ally said, thinking it was wrong to speak of what they didn’t know for certain.

"My grandmother doesn’t make up stories. She might have seen them both, but they could have been present for another reason. I heard the red light district serves the finest rums. They are strong enough to make you relax after one cup," Julie said, planning to get her hands on one.

"I have heard it as well. It is served where men go to gamble," Penelope said, remembering a few men ordering special rum.

"Should we speak of such things?" Ally asked.

"Not before our mothers," Penelope answered.

Julie laughed. "You are a married woman now, Penelope. You don’t need to worry about your mother."

"I don’t have to, but I always will. Sometimes, my mother can be just as scary as my father," Penelope said, only to be met by laughter.

"The duchess is as scary as the duke? I know you are jesting," Julie laughed, wiping a tear from her eye.

"I am telling you the truth. There have been plenty of times when my father feared upsetting my mother. She is the only one who can make him regret his actions. My mother does not get upset very often, but when she does, everyone behaves," Penelope said.

"It would be scary to see her get angry," Ally said, not wanting to witness such a sight. "My mother plans to visit the duchess, and I will join her."

"Is that all you want to see?" Julie asked, knowing very well that someone at the estate caught Ally’s attention. "If you keep this up, there might be wedding bells for you soon."

Penelope felt out of the loop. "Is there something I must know about the estate?"

"Is there?" Julie asked, waiting for Ally to finally reveal her feelings.

Who better to help Ally with her feelings for Elijah than his very own sister? Ally had a way of getting closer to Elijah than all the other ladies courting him.

"No, I simply enjoy your mother’s company, and I will have time to speak with Lily. Julie has misunderstood something," Ally said, mouthing for Julie to stop. "Perhaps it is time that you focus on your matters."

"Why should I when your lives are all very exciting?" Julie replied.

"You mustn’t leave me alone with her anymore," Ally pleaded with Penelope.