Chapter 286: Warning (1)
Edgar’s carriage stopped before a small home he wasn’t too familiar with. Never, since Luke got married, had Edgar ever taken it upon himself to visit Luke’s home.
Now that Edgar saw how Luke’s home looked, he understood why Luke was so desperate to attach himself to Alessandra.
Edgar exited first and had second thoughts about entering. He didn’t do well in small homes.
Tyrion looked at Elijah and asked, "Why are you scowling?"
"The uncle who isn’t blood related to my mother wants the mines to be out of her control and into my grandmother’s. Do you want me to smile?" Elijah asked.
"No, I want you not to make it obvious that we’ve come here to shake him up a little. To everyone on the outside, this should appear nothing less than a family gathering. You should work on not making your thoughts evident by your expression," Tyrion advised Elijah.
"It is not against the law to scowl. Stop trying to tell me what to do. I know you are trying to make yourself look good before my father," said Elijah.
"I don’t have to try," Tyrion replied.
"No matter what Penelope says, you’re still the bastard who married his daughter too early."
"I already know this, Elijah. Does it upset you that I get his attention so often? I thought you only acted this way toward the duchess," Tyrion said teasingly.
"Being Penelope’s husband isn’t going to stop me from hitting you, and it will be hard enough to make you rest until it is time for you to go home," Elijah said, his knuckles itching to connect with Tyrion’s face.
Tyrion chuckled. He wasn’t worried since he trusted Penelope to get revenge for him.
Edgar knocked on the door and waited.
To Edgar’s surprise, it wasn’t Luke who answered the door, but Claire.
Claire wasn’t part of Edgar’s plans, but he was more than happy to spoil her day as well.
Claire’s smile slowly fell into a frown. She wasn’t expecting Edgar to come here, and she doubted Luke expected him.
Claire looked back at where she came from. This was awful timing since she was here to speak to Luke about the mines.
"I-I. D-Duke Edgar," Claire stuttered.
"I would rather you not speak if you are going to stammer every word. It would save you the trouble of having to come up with a lie. Where is your brother?" Edgar asked, peering over Claire. "Do not lie that he is not here."
Claire cleared her throat. She hadn’t done anything wrong.
"My brother is here. Forgive me, Your Grace. I was only surprised to see you here. And with the prince," Claire said, her smile returning.
All Claire’s worries went away once she saw Tyrion. She finally had the pleasure of standing before a royal.
Penelope’s marriage did bring new opportunities, as Luke said.
"Oh, look at me being so rude to guests. You must come in," Claire said, stepping to the right to make way for the men.
Claire curtsied as Edgar and Elijah walked by. She showed more grace when Tyrion walked by. It was a misfortune that her daughter was not present to have the pleasure of meeting the prince. It would be a good tale to share when her season started.
Tyrion stopped before Claire and said, "We haven’t had the pleasure of being introduced."
"No, we have not, Your Grace. Though we are now family, it is the first time you are in my presence. I had hoped to be introduced to you in a proper setting," said Claire.
"Did you? The time when the town claimed my wife to be cursed would have been a swell time for you to visit and be introduced to me. She needed company then, but you must have been busy with whatever it is you do," said Tyrion.
Claire stared at Tyrion, uncertain how she was to respond.
How was she to visit Penelope during that time?
There was so much said, and so many people staying away from Penelope. Penelope’s family name couldn’t save her from gossip, so how would Claire manage it?
Tyrion enjoyed the look on Claire’s face as she raked her mind for an excuse for why she didn’t visit Penelope.
"No need to dwell on the past. Perhaps it was fate for us to meet like this. We might be keeping the others waiting," Tyrion said, since Elijah and Edgar were now out of sight.
Claire snapped out of her thoughts and remembered who she stood before. "Oh, yes. I seemed to have dozed off there a little."
"Do I bore you?" Tyrion asked, humoured.
Claire panicked. "No. How could the prince ever bore me? I was thinking of my niece and the best time to see her now."
"I see. How unfortunate that we are too busy for you these days. If you would excuse me, I must meet with the others," Tyrion said, walking in the direction the others went.
"For me? Perhaps I have misheard your words, Prince Tyrion. That sounded like I am not welcome to the home you share with Penelope," Claire said, hoping it wasn’t so.
"It is as you heard, but I shall make it clearer for you. Just as you stayed away when my wife needed a familiar face, continue to stay away. You were worried about your reputation, were you not? Though I don’t see what there was for you to protect," said Tyrion.
"You don’t see what there is for me to protect?" Claire repeated in disbelief.
"Yes, that is what I see. So, it is that you have trouble hearing. Oh dear," Tyrion said, showing concern for Claire’s hearing.
"I can hear quite well, Prince Tyrion. It happens to be that I don’t understand why you don’t think I have a reputation to protect. Every lady in this town has one to protect, no matter who they are," Claire argued.
Claire found herself in a better position than most ladies around town, so she had to be careful of what she did.
"I am also the sister of the duchess who has close ties to the royal family. Should I not carry myself with grace so that I don’t bring shame to my sister’s name? My husband is also a doctor, so I cannot present myself in a manner which would affect his work," said Claire.
Tyrion loved how defensive Claire became. It only took so little to rile her up.
"For your husband’s work, I understand, but no one thinks about the duchess’s siblings. Quite frankly, many have forgotten that you exist. Will you leave your life hanging onto your sister’s status?" Tyrion asked, though he already had the answer.