"I will keep your advice in mind. I don’t intend to torture Tyrion with many nights here, but since you have some of my belongings still here, I thought it was only fair that something belonging to Tyrion be here as well," Penelope explained.
Penelope wanted Tyrion to feel at home when he visited the estate. Like they had made a place for him to feel that he was welcomed.
"I understand. I will have the room prepared to suit a married couple. I will make arrangements for it to start tomorrow," Alessandra replied.
"Mother, have you ever slept at Priscilla’s home?" Penelope asked, curious. It wasn’t something she ever noticed.
"I would do it, but convincing your father would not be an easy task. So, no, I have not stayed at her home, but I have made up for it with visits. In the past, Priscilla would have done anything to have Edgar in her home, but not now," Alessandra said, laughing at old memories.
Edgar pestered Priscilla too often, so Priscilla yearned for peace and couldn’t be with Edgar all day. Then there was David, who never got to relax when Edgar was near.
"Why wouldn’t she? Grandmother is always so happy to hear about father," Penelope said, surprised by this news.
"She is happy, but your father quickly spoiled it for her by teasing her husband. Your father has the strange talent of ruining someone’s day, so Priscilla saves her husband by keeping your father away," Alessandra said, trying not to laugh.
Tyrion pulled Penelope’s chair for her to sit.
"I expect that from my father. I must learn his talent to send away others I don’t care for. Unfortunately, it is more acceptable for a father to be blunt, while it would be considered rude for me," said Penelope.
"What would be rude?" Edgar asked as he walked into the room.
Isabelle walked beside Edgar and pointed at her ribbon for Alessandra to see. "Father tied it for me."
"He has done a swell job," Alessandra said.
"Penelope, I hope you don’t mind that mother has given me plenty of your old ribbons and other things you left behind," said Isabelle.
"I don’t mind it," Penelope replied, happy that they were being used. "I am deciding to change up my style so you can take all of it. Not the dresses," Penelope spoke before Isabelle asked. "I am yet to find a dressmaker, so I cannot give away dresses."
"I have been meaning to ask if you have received your money," Penelope said, curious if Erin had visited the family.
"Not yet," Edgar replied. He walked around the table to get to Alessandra on the other side. "But I will."
Penelope was surprised that her father didn’t act quickly to get the money. Was it because her father still cared for Erin, or was there something else?
Alessandra worried about how Edgar planned to get his money back. She was hoping that, since Erin knew Edgar so well, the money would have been sent back long ago. It was impossible that Erin couldn’t pay it back with how well the shop was doing these days.
Alessandra wanted to write to Erin, but she stopped herself. She wasn’t the one who needed to write, and it was upsetting that Erin didn’t make any effort to mend their friendship.
Hope for their friendship was hanging on by a thread, and the longer Erin took, the closer that thread came to snapping.
"Speaking of money, what do you intend to do to have more of it? Or, do you plan to rely on the palace to keep supporting you? Edgar asked, ready to hear from Tyrion.
Edgar had given Tyrion enough money and time to start making plans for the future.
Tyrion glanced at Penelope, who was thankfully busy speaking to Isabelle, but he knew she would be listening to his answer. Since Tyrion hadn’t spoken of his plans to Penelope as yet, it didn’t seem right to speak of it now.
"I have plans for the future, Duke Collins," Tyrion replied, but he knew this wouldn’t satisfy Edgar for long.
"Hmm. If you are lying, I will find out," Edgar said, losing interest.
Edgar’s interest in the little prince stopped once he got close to Alessandra.
"Must you speak of this now?" Alessandra whispered.
"I must, since it is important. I won’t ruin your dinner," Edgar promised.
"I believe you, but you should also limit your questions. Your gaze is quite scary," Alessandra said, using her hands to turn Edgar’s frown to a smile.
Alessandra laughed, amused by Edgar’s bored expression.
"I have played nicely all day. What will you give me in return for it?" Edgar spoke softly.
Alessandra glanced at where her children stood and where the others walked in together. "Why is it that you believe good behaviour must be rewarded at your age?" She asked.
Alessandra knew exactly what her sneaky husband wanted, and it was so cruel of him to ask now when the children were present. He was pressuring her into answering fast, and Edgar enjoyed every bit of it.
"I had to put up with hearing Tobias speak for many hours. It deserves a reward. You must speak fast," Edgar said, purposely drawing closer to Alessandra. He touched her back with her right hand. "We should send them all to Penelope’s home and make better use of this table."
Alessandra covered Edgar’s mouth with her hand. Her cheeks were flushed, and her gaze was fixed on her children. "Speak of this now, and there won’t be any kind of reward for you. You’ll find yourself staring at our door, which will be locked," she threatened him.
Alessandra didn’t pull her hand away when she felt Edgar lick her hand. That trick wasn’t going to work on her anymore.
Edgar wasn’t worried about the possibility of getting locked outside his room. Alessandra wouldn’t stay mad for long, and as the night went on, she would leave the room in search of him to pull him back to bed.
"I look forward to the end of dinner," Edgar said, his hand lingering on Alessandra’s waist before he moved to pull out her chair.
Alessandra took a deep breath, trying not to look flustered before her children, but seeing that they all had their backs turned to her, they knew.
"You should all make your way to your seats since dinner will soon be served. You may turn again," Alessandra said, glaring at her husband since he was the cause of this.
Edgar smiled, enjoying the change in the day. While the early hours of the day had been a bore, Edgar looked forward to what the night would bring.