The next day, Penelope set out for town with Tyrion at her side. She smiled happily, though it wasn’t a big occasion. She enjoyed the times she got to spend a day with Tyrion, and it was even better when they left their home.
When the carriage stopped, Tyrion got out and offered his hand to Penelope to help her out. He looked around, keeping an eye on the people who passed him.
Danger could be close by, with neither one of them knowing.
"Thank you," Penelope said, keeping hold of Tyrion’s hand. She fixed her dress and then looked around for where she wanted to go first.
They were gathering a bit of attention since before their marriage, Tyrion was not seen around the town so often. If he were present, there were palace guards to hide him from the townspeople.
Matilda opened a parasol and aimed it to cover both Penelope and Tyrion. She tiptoed, but she could not reach Tyrion’s height. She was startled by Damien taking the parasol from her hands and offering it to another knight to hold.
"Consider it an apology for what I said," said Damien.
Matilda looked at the guard holding the parasol in place of her. "You are not the one shielding her from the sun, so I cannot accept your apology. Besides, there wasn’t anything for you to apologise for. You spoke just as I expected you to."
With the guard shielding Penelope from the sun, Matilda decided to help Penelope decide where to go first.
"Milady, perhaps we should start by looking at the material to get an idea of what colour dresses you want. Then we can get the shoes and all that you need. I have heard the maids speak of new shops in town," said Matilda.
"I think Tyrion is going to regret coming along with us. It will be boring for him," Penelope said.
Penelope couldn’t think of many men who would last long at their wives’ side while they shopped. Even her father had moments of slipping away unless there was a dress to catch his eye.
"You may leave my side at any point in time to have fun where the men gather," Penelope told Tyrion.
Whatever time he spent with her today would be enough.
"I am not leaving your side. I am curious about what goes on in picking a dress," Tyrion replied.
Tyrion also expected to have a certain fellow to magically find his way to Penelope’s side. That he wouldn’t allow.
While Tyrion was here, he planned to follow the directions Griffin gave to him to locate the business that Cassius had.
"I warned you. We should go there first," Penelope said, pointing to a shop she once frequented with her mother. "We can find good material there. We should find some for you so we can match."
The idea of matching reminded him of when his mother would dress him and his siblings alike.
"Don’t pout," Penelope said, pulling Tyrion along.
Seeing Penelope’s excitement, Tyrion went along with it, but just for this one day.
Tyrion opened the door of a shop and held it open for Penelope. He underestimated how many different patterns or colours ladies had to choose from. He had always only seen the result.
"Welcome! Oh my!" A gasp was heard.
Penelope looked at Lavinia, the owner of the shop. She had seen Lavinia many times for the owner not to be surprised by her presence, so she assumed it had something to do with Tyrion.
Lavinia curtsied. "It is an honour to be in the presence of royals. Thank you for coming to this humble merchant’s shop."
"Is it always ?" Tyrion asked Penelope.
The greeting was a bit dramatic with the repeated curtsies. She reminded Tyrion of a bird, but he couldn’t place which one.
"We have come for materials for dresses," Tyrion said, trying to end the greeting.
"And to make suits for my husband to wear," Penelope added.
Penelope heard Tyrion mutter something under his breath. She was stunned that he didn’t want to match with her. She had always loved matching with her sisters and, on rare occasions, Elijah.
"Oh!" Lavinia clapped her hands. "You came at the right time, Princess Penelope."
"Just Lady Penelope will do," said Penelope.
"As you wish. I have new materials which arrived last night. I buy only from the best. You may feel it," Lavinia said, closing a red material for Penelope to inspect. "This one is made of silk, while the one beside it is cotton. I have a large variety."
Penelope touched the soft cloth. "It does feel to be of fine quality, and it is beautiful. It will make a lovely dress. I need material for dresses to wear during the season. Ones that will match my complexion. I don’t mind colourful ones, but I would like some lighter colours."
"Of course, of course," Lavinia said, looking around for what might suit Penelope. "I also have the royal colours if you wish to see them."
Penelope hesitated. Could she wear what the royals did?
By marriage, she was considered a princess, but Penelope didn’t feel like a royal. She knew that most didn’t view her as one.
Before she could ask Tyrion, he responded on her behalf.
"Let me see what you have," Tyrion said, going to Lavinia’s side to see.
Lavinia stopped breathing for a moment. Never did she have a royal standing in her shop.
"If you fall, I won’t catch you. You have customers who have come to buy plenty. Breathe, or I shall take my wife elsewhere," said Tyrion.
Lavinia fanned her face. She had to snap out of this so she could keep the Castros as her customers. It would do well for her if she had to keep delivering to Penelope’s home or her dressmakers.
"Forgive me. The yellow and purple pieces are over here. I have one which looks like gold shimmering in the sun," Lavinia said, leading the way for Tyrion.
Penelope was left with Matilda and Damien. She couldn’t believe that it was Tyrion who became occupied while she was the one left standing and in need of something to do.
"Matilda, what is happening here?" Penelope asked.
"It seems the prince has taken charge of finding what will suit you best. There is a rose pink material I think would be lovely on you, Milady," Matilda said, seeing plenty she wanted Penelope to buy.
"Then, I should have a look. Perhaps we can find something for you as well," Penelope offered.
Since Matilda would attend some events with her, Penelope thought it was best to let Matilda dress to match her lady a few times.
"You are kind, Princess Penelope."
Penelope didn’t make it far before she was standing before Harper.