"Harper, I am by no means trying to stop you from getting married. I know it is hard for you to believe me after how our talk just went, but I am being honest here. There is a discomfort I feel when he is around," said Penelope.
All of a sudden, Penelope cared?
Harper didn’t believe Penelope was trying to offer her good advice to stay away from Cassius.
It was obvious what was happening here, and Harper hated it.
’She already has the crown prince at her side. Does she want every good gentleman?’ Harper wondered.
Penelope was cruel, while Cassius had been kind to Harper. Harper was not going to believe a word Penelope said when Penelope was not long ago angry with her.
"I will do as I please. You say that we should all focus on marriage, but as soon as I have found a good suitor, you try to ruin it. Perhaps your heart is how you think Amelia’s is. I hope you can change," said Harper.
"Harper, I am being genuine now as I warn you. You and I are not friends, but as a lady, I find it my duty to at least warn you about how he has made me feel. I have done my part," Penelope said, giving up.
No matter what she said, Harper was not going to believe her. Penelope had done all that she could by warning Harper.
Penelope didn’t want to speak about Cassius anymore since she was afraid he might show up.
Lavinia grabbed the necklace she wore and twisted it out of nervousness. She couldn’t hear what the two ladies spoke of, but like the prince, she could not look away.
Lavinia wished she could inch a little closer so she would have some news to share, but the young lady who spoke with Penelope stormed out.
’What was that about?’ Lavinia wondered.
"Are you upset you have lost a customer?"
Lavinia jumped, startled by Tyrion’s voice. "No, I am not. That lady has been here for hours just looking at the materials. It couldn’t be that she didn’t find what she needed. My shop rivals the rainbow. Perhaps she couldn’t afford it."
Lavinia tapped her mouth, scolding herself for gossiping next to the prince. "I shall get what you picked and have it wrapped up."
Tyrion thought what the owner said was interesting.
Tyrion didn’t interrupt Penelope’s talk because he knew that she could handle herself against one woman, and she succeeded in doing so.
Penelope made her way to Tyrion’s side and said, "She is courting Cassius, or he is courting her. I tried to tell her about the feeling I get when he is near, but she wouldn’t listen."
"Your warning was enough. It is now in her hands to make the final judgement. Does she have trouble with money?" Tyrion asked, checking if there was a connection.
Penelope’s eyes widened, filled with surprise that Tyrion knew of Harper’s troubles.
"It has been said by other ladies that her father’s work isn’t doing so well these days. He once provided some supplies needed to build homes, but it is said he has been sending home the workers, and to make ends meet, he sells his supplies cheaply. I cannot be certain," Penelope said, since all she knew came from gossip.
Penelope had heard of it from eavesdropping on a conversation her father had when he was planning to build another home. Though she knew what Harper’s family faced, Penelope refrained from adding to the rumours.
"And he is courting her," Tyrion said, looking at the door, which was now closed.
Penelope picked up that there was more to her conversation with Harper. "Is there something wrong? Did you find something?"
"It is only an assumption. We’ve only arrived, but you’ve given your attention to someone else. Pay attention to me," Tyrion said, holding Penelope’s hand.
Penelope could visibly see the ladies around them swooning whilst she thought that Tyrion was too needy. His hand had an iron grip on her.
"I always give you my attention, but you want it on you at every second. There is much for me to see here, so I cannot look at you alone. Are you hurt?" Penelope asked, noticing Tyrion’s hand on his chest.
Penelope was about to help him, but she realised what he was doing.
It was a trick Penelope learned from her father to make her mother take pity on them.
"I am not falling for your trick, Tyrion. Why does it feel like you enjoy looking at material more than I do? Wait," Penelope said, freezing up when she noticed Lavinia returning. "Why is she coming with so many? Tyrion, I don’t need so much."
"I think you do," Tyrion replied, kissing Penelope’s forehead so she wouldn’t worry.
Tyrion didn’t know how many balls or social events Penelope needed to attend for the season, but after what he would buy today, Penelope would have many dresses prepared.
"But I don’t," Penelope started to be against it, but seeing Tyrion happy to spoil her, she gave up. "Very well," she sighed.
Penelope was once again left waiting for Tyrion to be done picking what he liked, and when it was finally over, Penelope was more than happy to go over to another shop.
"My shoes are starting to pinch because of how long we have been standing. Even when I went around the town with my mother, it had never been this long. Maybe it is best that I leave you at home for this-"
"Penelope? Penelope!"
Penelope looked away from Tyrion to see her aunt Melody standing with her grandmother Melanie.
Melody smiled, thrilled to have the chance to speak with Penelope, whilst Melanie was not pleased.
"Aunt Melody," Penelope returned the greeting.
Though she wasn’t pleased to see Melanie, Penelope was happy to see that her aunt was back in Lockwood.
Melanie didn’t bother with greetings, and while she was excluded from the conversation, she stared at the prince.
It upset Melanie that she was seemingly the last to know about Penelope’s wedding.