Tyrion went over to Penelope and led her out of the room so they could speak in private.
"Are you well?" Tyrion asked, giving Penelope a quick look over.
Penelope kept her eyes on the floor. "You should be asking if my mother is well."
Tyrion planned to ask about the duchess, but his first concern was Penelope.
"I must know how you are first," Tyrion replied.
"I am fine," Penelope said, but soon laughed since it was the same response as her mother. "No, I am not fine. I told her what we overheard when we met with my aunt and grandmother. It seems now wasn’t the best time. I should have known."
"No time would have been the best time. It wasn’t a simple topic to share with your mother. It has been bothering you since you overheard it," said Tyrion.
"It has," Penelope agreed.
Penelope stepped forward to rest her head on Tyrion’s chest. "Still, I feel awful for having to tell her. She must know about it, but it was awful to share. The worst part is that my mother knew of all of this. She knew Melanie only thought of my aunts as her daughters."
"There are so many things continuing to pile onto my mother’s shoulders, yet she walks around with a smile. If I hadn’t heard it myself, I wouldn’t believe she had so many terrible people around her. Do you think I have ruined the day?" Penelope asked, looking up at Tyrion.
"No," Tyrion replied, lifting Penelope’s right hand to kiss the back of it. "Your mother will understand why you told her. I am happy that it isn’t on your mind any longer. You should talk once more before you worry too much."
Tyrion doubted the duchess was upset with Penelope. He was willing to bet that Alessandra was more upset with her mother.
Tyrion was also upset with Melanie after what she said and took back the second chance he had offered to her. Melanie wasn’t deserving of it.
"All will be well," Tyrion promised Penelope. "Your mother will understand that you had to tell her. Do you want to stay out here a little longer before going back to the others?"
"I do. I am not ready to tell my siblings what I know. My mother has kept it from us, so she wouldn’t want them to know. What if Melanie were to say this to Isabelle?" Penelope wondered.
Isabelle would not have taken it well.
Penelope raked her fingers through her hair.
If not now, Penelope believed it would have all been revealed by Melanie later on to help paint herself in a better light.
Penelope turned ever so slightly when she heard a door open and was relieved to see her parents.
"Oh, look at you," Alessandra said, walking over to Penelope to palm her face. "I didn’t mean to worry you. I only needed a moment alone to grasp all that was said. I apologise for worrying you."
"No," Penelope shook her head. "You can react as you see fit. I am sorry for bringing it up now."
"No, it would have stayed on your mind for a long time. I am glad you have told me because there are some changes to be made. I won’t speak of those changes now, but know all is well. And thank you," Alessandra said to Tyrion.
In her absence, Alessandra appreciated that Tyrion acted so fast to be at Penelope’s side.
Alessandra used her finger to wipe under Penelope’s eye. "For the remainder of the day, we shall only have tears because we have laughed too much."
Penelope nodded her head, agreeing with her mother’s plans. "We have not planned for it, and I have not mentioned doing it today with Tyrion, but could we stay here tonight and return to our home in the morning?"
"We?" Edgar asked, his arms folded. "You are welcome."
"Father," Penelope smiled. "You cannot have me and exclude my husband. It cannot happen."
"It can happen quite easily. Do you want to see?" Edgar asked, ready to show Penelope a trick.
Penelope held Tyrion’s hand. "We are one, so if he cannot sleep here, then I shall not stay."
Edgar wasn’t impressed. "Very well. There will be somewhere for him to rest his head."
"Not the stables," Alessandra said, stopping Edgar’s plans. "Nor the garden. He will share a room with Penelope. They are married, Edgar."
"Unfortunately," Edgar muttered.
This talk reminded Edgar of his plans to visit the priest Peter and drag him back to Lockwood. He was not yet down with terrorising Peter’s life since he had not fully made Peter regret trying to scam him.
Penelope held onto her mother’s hand. "I will need someone to inform our butler Winston that we will not be returning and for my old room to be prepared."
"I am curious how it looks," Tyrion said on purpose to get under Edgar’s skin. "I had been trying to get a good look over the years."
Edgar walked away so he wouldn’t strangle the little prince.
Alessandra worried about Tyrion. "You must be careful since none of his guns are put away. Edgar only cares for his jokes, and his jokes might entail pointing a gun at you. Do not push your limit."
If Tyrion went too far, Alessandra was not certain if she could save him.
"I am not afraid, Duchess. It is a joy of mine to bother your husband," said Tyrion.
"There are many who enjoyed doing this, and now I don’t see them around anymore. You’re a smart man to know why I don’t see them around. Being Penelope’s husband might not be enough to save you. No, it isn’t," Alessandra said, certain.
"I understand, Duchess. Thank you for the warning," Tyrion said.
"You’re still going to bother him," Penelope said, shaking her head. "Maybe it wasn’t a good idea for us to stay the night here. Mother, is Melody coming today?"
"I sent an invitation, but I didn’t get a response. She must not be taking what she heard well. I will speak with Melody and the others. You are a woman now, but these are matters that I must take care of," said Alessandra.
"I understand. I don’t want to be more involved because I don’t want to hear anything else. I won’t speak of this to the others, and neither will Tyrion. You have my word," Penelope promised.
Whilst Penelope would have already told her siblings what she overheard, this was something her mother didn’t want anyone to know, so it would end with only Penelope knowing.
Penelope hoped that from now until death, Melanie could keep her secrets to herself.
"Thank you," Alessandra replied.