"I’m sorry I couldn’t have returned sooner, but the young lady I have been employed to tutor is here in Lockwood. I shall come to see you during the time that I have off. Have you been well?" Melody asked, taking a good look at Penelope.
It was frustrating to return to Lockwood and hear others speaking about a curse concerning Penelope.
Why hadn’t they learned from Alessandra’s time that curses did not exist?
Melody wished someone had written to her about the curse or the fact that her mother no longer saw her grandchildren from Alessandra anymore. There was much for Melody to catch up on and to mend.
"I have been well, Aunt Melody. I knew that you were busy, so I didn’t want to bother you," said Penelope.
Melody curtsied after realising she had not greeted the prince. "Pardon my rudeness, Prince Tyrion. I was so caught up in seeing my niece."
"You are excused," Tyrion said, his gaze fixed on Melanie.
Was everyone who could bother them around the town today?
"There is much I have to hear from you. Do you both have a moment for us all to sit and talk? I will treat you both," Melody offered.
Melody wanted to fix what was happening between her mother and Penelope. If Melody could get at least one niece to make up with Melanie, then she was certain that she could get the others to follow along.
Penelope smiled in response and turned to Tyrion. She wasn’t ready to sit with Melanie, which was why she hadn’t opened the letter sent to her.
Tyrion responded, "We have time. I need to get to know more about Penelope’s family."
Penelope followed Tyrion’s gaze and realised he had been looking at Melanie. ’Oh dear,’ she panicked.
"I know somewhere we can sit in private," Tyrion said, offering his hand to Penelope so they could walk together.
Melanie stared at the guards walking behind the couple. She hadn’t forgotten that Tyrion was a prince, but when Penelope was with family, was there truly a need for the guards to be so near?
"Melody," Melanie said in a hushed tone. She pulled her daughter close to speak. "I am only here to get the gift for Claire, and then we are to head home. I have to prepare dinner for your father and your brother’s family."
"Mother, it will only take a moment. This one talk might be all that is needed to fix what went wrong. You will never be able to get close to Alessandra if her children are at odds with you. You must talk," Melody urged her mother.
For how much longer was this family going to be ?
Hadn’t enough years passed for this matter to be resolved?
From her talks with Alessandra, Melody knew Alessandra once wanted to experience what Melody and her sister Claire experienced with Melanie, but there was something which needed to be properly addressed.
"I am old, Melody. I can’t spend the life I have left trying to please that woman-"
"That woman is your daughter. When you speak , it is no wonder that you have not gotten closer to her. Since you are getting older, you should try to have a better relationship with Alessandra. Don’t let this become a regret," Melody advised Melanie.
Melanie wasn’t worried about regret. She had tried enough and now wanted to focus on her other children.
"All my children being close to each other is enough for me. I have brought you into this world, so be grateful for that blessing. We must get Claire’s gift and go," said Melanie.
"No, mother. I am not going to get Claire’s gift. I am going to speak to Penelope since it has been so long since I last saw her. Then, I am going to see my sister and perhaps have dinner there instead of going to your home. You could fix this," Melody said, confident her mother could.
The issue was how stubborn Melanie was at times.
"Either you join me or I won’t go to dinner. It won’t matter either way since dinner never felt right after hearing I had a long-lost sister who couldn’t be with us. What will you do?" Melody asked, waiting for her mother.
Melody couldn’t stand there for much longer since Tyrion and Penelope had gone ahead.
"This will not go well," Melanie said, and decided to be with Melody. "I am doing this for you."
Melody’s smile fell since she wanted her mother to do this for Penelope and Alessandra. This was something which needed to be addressed later, but for now, Melody was happy her mother was coming along with her.
Melody and Melanie caught up with Tyrion and Penelope. Not long after, they were led to a private room in a tea shop.
Melanie had a feeling of déjà vu. She couldn’t tell why she had this feeling.
Melanie sat down beside Melody, and already, she regretted her decision.
Penelope kept her mind busy by pouring Tyrion a cup of tea and then one for herself.
This wasn’t unnoticed by Melanie, who found it odd that Penelope wouldn’t use the servants present to pour tea for the prince.
Melanie had her unfortunate time being married to a man with a title. They were all the same in her eyes.
Melanie once tried to wake Alessandra up to the truth about the duke, but Alessandra hadn’t listened. Now, Penelope found herself serving a man from the most powerful families in the kingdom.
When would they learn from Melanie’s mistake?
Melanie hoped that Penelope didn’t find herself a Desmond. Regardless of how their relationship was now, Melanie didn’t want Penelope to end up in a marriage like the one she had with Alessandra’s father, the late Desmond Barrett.
"Would you like me to pour tea for you, Aunt Melody?" Penelope asked.
It wouldn’t look good if she only poured for herself and Tyrion.
"Yes, thank you," Melody replied.
Melody hoped that after Penelope offered to pour for her, she would ask Melanie next. Something needed to be said quickly to break the tension which filled the small room.
After Melody’s tea was poured, Penelope looked at Melanie.
"Would you like tea, grandmother?" Penelope asked, trying to avoid conflict.
"I am not in the mood for tea," Melanie answered. "Do you always have this interest in pouring everyone’s tea?"
"You mean the kindness to offer?" Tyrion responded in place of Penelope. "She is kind."
"With all due respect, Prince Tyrion, I was speaking to my granddaughter. There are plenty of servants here, so she doesn’t need to pour anyone’s tea," said Melody.
"It is her family who sits here. She can pour if she wants to, or is it my tea you are upset she has poured?" Tyrion inquired.