Chapter 295: Attack (2)
Penelope waved goodbye to her family from inside the carriage and then turned her attention to Tyrion. He stared at her like he had something he wished to say, but he was holding it in.
"I am not planning to place myself in danger. My father is always like that, assuming we would sneak off to do something silly. Do you not trust me?" Penelope asked.
"I trust you, but I also know what you and Lily can do when you two are together. It is either that you are planning to harass your brother, or you intend to sneak out. Which is it?" Tyrion inquired, knowing he guessed right from her expression.
"You first. Will you tell me what you did with my father and brother?" Penelope said, hoping he wouldn’t share. Then Penelope wouldn’t have to share her plans with Lily.
"We went to see the priest who wed us and then to see your uncle. Now, tell me what plans you made with Lily," Tyrion said, continuing to pry.
Penelope stared at Tyrion in disbelief. She thought he would have held onto it.
"We are planning to have fun, but we haven’t decided how, therefore I am not placing myself in trouble. You do not trust me if you must push so much for an answer," Penelope pointed out.
"Again, I can trust you and know that trouble follows you. Whatever it is you plan in secret with Lily, take a guard with you. That man is still around the town," said Tyrion.
"We have been fortunate that I haven’t crossed paths with Cassius for some time now. Perhaps he has moved on. I am a married woman," Penelope said, thinking of Harper.
Was Harper still speaking with Cassius despite the warning?
Tyrion smiled since Penelope was so innocent as to think that meant something.
"I have already informed you of how it doesn’t matter to some men if a lady is married. To seek something off-limits is a game to others," Tyrion said, having seen it firsthand.
"Have you ever wanted someone off-limits?" Penelope asked, though she knew the answer.
"I am staring at her right now. Come to me," Tyrion said, offering his hand to help Penelope stand. "I have been away from you too long."
"It has only been a few hours," Penelope replied, staying on her side.
"It felt like a day. I missed you, Penelope. Will you not soothe my heart that yearns for you?" Tyrion asked, his hand still waiting for her touch.
"It isn’t fair that you are quite the charmer," Penelope said, placing her hand on his as she stood up.
Penelope intended to sit beside Tyrion, but he had other plans and placed her on his lap.
"You!" Penelope exclaimed. She should have seen it coming.
Tyrion snaked his arms around her waist to keep her seated. "Isn’t it more comfortable here?"
"I believe it is more dangerous. What if the carriage goes over a rock and I slip?" Penelope asked.
Tyrion leaned forward to kiss Penelope’s neck. "So, you are asking that I hold you tighter."
"No," Penelope replied, but already Tyrion’s grip on her was stronger. "It has only been an hour. How would you feel if we were to be away from each other for a day?"
"Why would we be away from each other for a day?"
"I do not know. Perhaps the case will become so complicated that you will need to take time away from home to solve it. What if to find a clue, you would need to go out of Lockwood?" Penelope wondered.
"I would send someone else. I am only helping with this case because it concerns your family. The court and town guards are the ones meant to be searching," Tyrion answered.
"There are ladies in town who trouble Rue. Should Rue feel insulted and relay this back to her father or mother, or would the palace send someone to calm her mother? Would it ever be you?" Penelope asked, hoping it wouldn’t be so.
"I am not going anywhere, Penelope. It seems that it is you who fears me being away from you. Rue’s father is here, and her mother is welcomed to town. I wouldn’t need to leave, and wherever I go, you will come along," Tyrion promised.
Though it was scary for most, Penelope liked the sound of going to see the border. There was plenty of land around the kingdom that Penelope wanted to see.
"As fun as it sounds, I would not like for you to be the one to resolve a war. You must stay here at all times. Tyrion, your hand," Penelope said, grabbing his hand before it went any further. "You cannot. Now is not a good time."
"I was only rubbing your leg. I thought it might be sore from running after your sisters all day," Tyrion responded.
"Why would my thigh be what you need to rub? You are lucky that I love you to let it pass," Penelope said, deciding to indulge herself with a kiss.
Penelope did miss him.
"Tyrion," Penelope said, her fingers raking through his hair to make it messy. "About the case-"
"Hold on!" A call from Damien came from outside.
Tyrion held Penelope with his right hand and grabbed the door with his left so they wouldn’t slip off their seats.
The carriage rocked after being hit by something.
Tyrion got a glimpse of a carriage that collided with his, slamming against the doors to destroy it.
The carriage which struck them kept moving, and behind it, shots from a gun were heard.
Tyrion didn’t let go of Penelope. Her head was buried in his chest, and her hands were covering her ears.
Their carriage rocked a little more until the coachman was able to regain control. The carriage slowed down, but didn’t stop, and neither did the sound of someone firing a gun.
Tyrion slipped off the seat, with Penelope in his arms, to sit on the floor since it would be safer there with someone firing a gun.
"You will be safe," Tyrion assured Penelope.
The carriage picked up its pace since it was too risky to stop and go after the other carriage when Penelope was present. They needed to get to the palace quickly.
Penelope’s right hand slipped from her ear after losing her balance because of how fast the carriage started to move, and it was right on time to hear the sound of a horse galloping.
This was the second time her carriage had been struck by another, and this time around, it was scarier since she didn’t see the other carriage coming.
Penelope was still too startled to look up to see what was happening outside. Her hand clung to Tyrion’s shirt, hoping that they would get away from here safely.