Chapter 315: Visit (2)
Once outside, Penelope stopped by the carriage door to speak with Damien. She heard that he was well, but she had to hear it from him.
"Thank you, Damien. It is good to see that you are well. You can take the day off if you wish. Visit your family if you must," Penelope suggested.
"I wasn’t injured yesterday. I was late reaching the culprit, but thank you for showing concern, Milady. I will do better to protect you both," Damien promised.
Penelope smiled, knowing that Damien had to be feeling like he failed when he didn’t.
"Damien, how would you know that someone would be so crazy to make their carriage collide with our carriage? You don’t bear any fault, and I think you protected us well. I made it to the palace, didn’t I?" Penelope asked, trying to cheer him up.
"You did," Damien answered.
"Then you did your job well, and if anyone says otherwise, they are a fool. Don’t ponder on this any longer. It will only lead you to have bad thoughts. Now," Penelope said, accepting Tyrion’s hand to help her into the carriage. "Let us go home. Matilda must be worried sick."
Damien held the door for Penelope as she entered. It didn’t show, but he was grateful for what Penelope said since he had been going over in his head how he could have done better.
Damien closed the door once the couple were inside and ordered the guards to move.
Inside, Penelope rested her head on Tyrion’s arm.
"Is it normal for the palace to have you feeling so drained?" Penelope inquired.
"It is. Perhaps it was your banter with Mark that tired you. I was surprised by what you said to him," Tyrion said, still amused.
Tyrion was certain Mark anticipated different answers from Penelope.
"I do not like hearing that he went to my parents, and then he approached us. I know it is hard to believe, but I don’t sit and hate the Kennedys. I do get upset when I think about what my aunt did, but when my mother has moved on, how can I hold onto hate?" Penelope asked, tired of others assuming wrong.
Penelope was always the only one of her siblings who was curious about Warren. She had never spoken to Warren when they were growing up, but she wanted to. It was strange to have a cousin in town and not speak to them.
"Had Warren been nice, I would have been open to getting to know him. I would have been careful because of his mother, but I would have gotten to know him. I hope Mark doesn’t show up before us again," Penelope said, annoyed by the talk.
"You are not conflicted?" Tyrion asked.
"No," Penelope shook her head. "I stopped you from harming Warren when he approached me at the ball, and that opened another chance for him to approach my family. He should be dealt with so we aren’t bothered a second time. Next time with anyone else, I won’t stop you."
Penelope realised it, even with her matters concerning some ladies around the town, that she could not give anyone a second chance.
"Letting people like Warren go free gives them the chance to trouble us again. So, no, I am not conflicted. I think we have made the right choice, but, sadly, his mother is worried. His decisions should have been better," Penelope said, closing her eyes after.
Warren could only blame himself for where he ended up.
The family he wanted could have been there had he not thought Alessandra owed him something or misplaced his anger.
"Is he alive?" Penelope asked, curious about Warren’s state.
"He is alive for now, but without sight. I might have taken his punishment too far, but my anger got the best of me. Regardless of how much his mother weeps, I will not return him to his mother. He will rot there," Tyrion said, his mind not yet changed.
Releasing Warren would only reveal what he had done.
"If the town guards or court question you, answer. Avoiding their questions will bring suspicion. Your responses can be short and twisted with the truth, like you did with Mark," Tyrion advised Penelope.
"If Mark stands before me again, I will not answer him. He has already asked me questions, and I have answered. There is nothing more to be said," Penelope decided.
"Besides," Penelope continued. "Why would he approach me when these matters are normally spoken of with the husband? I am not a widow."
"Oh, now you wish to play roles?" Tyrion asked, humoured.
"I am not playing anything. This has spoiled my mood, and you must do something to make it better," said Penelope.
Tyrion chuckled and asked, "How is it on me to make you happy when I had nothing to do with Mark speaking to us?"
"You are my husband. You must make me happy, and I suggest you think of something fast," Penelope said, her mood dampening with each passing second.
"It seems I should have placed Mark in the dungeon because of what he has left me with. Luckily, I have a surprise for you. Something you have always wanted."
Penelope sat up and looked at Tyrion. "The guards will train near our window?" She jokingly asked.
"I am only joking, Tyrion. That is no longer a dream of mine," Penelope said, looking forward to avoiding his gaze.
"A dream? There seems to be much for us to learn about each other. I never heard of these dreams, and it seems I might be making them come true with all the knights running around our home. I will order them to train in their armour," Tyrion said, enjoying the look of horror on Penelope’s face.
"Why must you do that? I was joking again about the dream. The maids deserve to be flustered when they look at the knights. Don’t take that sight away from them," Penelope pleaded.
"You are thinking of the maids?" Tyrion replied, finding Penelope’s response to be cute. "You know that will not work on me. When I have the knights train in their armour, they will have you to thank for it," Tyrion said, enjoying the look of regret from Penelope.
"Rest now," Tyrion said, pulling Penelope close to kiss her cheek. "You had been restless at night and up early in the day. Close your eyes until we return."
Penelope pinched Tyrion’s hand. How was she to sleep when he was going to punish the knights because of her joke?
"You must forget everything I said and do not have them wear their armour. You are the only one I gaze at when you are not looking. Oh!’ Penelope gasped, covering her mouth.
"Don’t cover your sweet mouth now," Tyrion said, wanting to hear more.