Penelope opened her eyes to the sight of Tyrion still fast asleep. She was puzzled by the decor of the room, but then it came back to her that she had stayed at her parents’ home.
Penelope rubbed her eyes with her hands, getting rid of the last bit of drowsiness she felt.
’It is morning,’ Penelope noticed thanks to the light peeking through the drapes.
They both needed to get up to get dressed to eat with the family, and then set out for their home. Penelope was worried that their home would not be in good order without her there, even though she trusted Winston.
Penelope moved slowly, trying not to wake Tyrion, but it wasn’t long before his hand around her waist moved, and she felt his lips on her forehead.
Penelope looked at Tyrion and asked, "How long have you been awake? The light in the room looks like the sun has long risen. You could have gotten dressed without me or woken me."
"Then I would have missed how you clung to me in your sleep," said Tyrion.
"I do not cling to you," Penelope replied.
Based on how Tyrion held her now, Penelope believed that he was the clingy one. Unfortunately, her hand placed on his chest said otherwise.
Penelope had to admit to it. "So what if I cling to you? My husband is quite lovely in my eyes. Would you prefer that I resist touching you?"
"Never, but I would like for you to touch me the same way when you are awake. You slept comfortably after what you did last night," said Tyrion.
Penelope smiled, apologetic. "I shall make it up to you when we return to our home, but as of right now, we must hurry before we are late. It is only for so long that my mother can stop the food from being served."
Penelope tried to get up, but Tyrion’s arm around her waist wouldn’t let her. His strength was something Penelope both loved and hated. She loved his strength when he held her, but hated when she couldn’t go free.
"You don’t need to rush," Tyrion said, keeping Penelope captive on the bed. "I couldn’t sleep during the night."
"I don’t understand why you didn’t. Surely you didn’t think that my father was lurking near the doors, or was the bed uncomfortable for you?" Penelope wondered.
"I was simply restless," Tyrion replied.
Penelope didn’t understand how Tyrion could be restless.
Penelope kissed Tyrion since it was all she could do for him, and pinched his hand so he would release her. "You shouldn’t be restless here. My parents’ estate is the safest place for us to be. You were sulking because the night didn’t go as you planned."
While the events of last night weren’t what Tyrion wanted, Penelope looked forward to leaving the estate without being teased by her siblings for overhearing something. Lily would do it.
Tyrion loosened his hold so Penelope could leave the bed.
Penelope left the bed as soon as she saw the opening. She stood up and looked back at Tyrion, who was watching her like a starving man.
Penelope wanted to pat herself on the back for being so strong to resist him last night. His messy appearance was one that she loved, and as he lay before her now, Penelope felt drawn to him.
"I mustn’t," Penelope said, shaking her head. "Nothing must happen here."
Tyrion watched as Penelope walked toward the door, most likely to find a maid. Whilst she was busy convincing herself that nothing would happen here in the Collinses’ estate, Tyrion was busy plotting what would occur on their next visit.
Penelope’s rule of nothing happening in her parents’ home wouldn’t stay the same for long.
For now, Tyrion respected it and got up to get dressed to leave.
Less than an hour later, Penelope met up with her family. She crossed paths with Elijah and her mother walking together.
"It is time that you both leave. Mother, have the maids prepare two plates, and then we’ll send them on their way," said Elijah.
"The sky would fall before I do that. You mustn’t act this way, Elijah. Penelope was once your little Penny," Alessandra said, bringing up the past.
Penelope smiled, remembering the nickname Elijah once had for her. "That is right. I was your Penny."
"What about me?" Lily asked as she approached the group. "What was I to you? I have forgotten."
"Your name is already short. What could I have possibly called you? Li?" Elijah asked, annoyed that his mother spoke of the past.
Elijah failed to convince his mother of how much the twins would bother him. Just when he was free of one of them, their mother had to speak of nicknames.
"It is a start," Lily replied. "There are options for Isabelle. Now, I don’t like my name. There is no other name for me."
"Oh, there is," Elijah said, having one he didn’t share out loud.
Lily squinted her eyes, trying to guess what it was. "I will tell father that you have a bad name for me. If you keep this up, I will ask for the carriage and surely, he will give it to me."
"No, he will not," Elijah replied.
Alessandra sighed. She looked at Penelope and found her amused by the conversation, while Tyrion wasn’t keeping up with what was said. Alessandra couldn’t fault him since her children argued over little things.
"Before you go, you must have something to eat. This is still your sister’s home, Elijah," Alessandra said, refusing his request. "I will not keep her away or send her off so fast."
"I thought when a young woman marries, the home she shares with her husband is her home. Don’t bend the rules to have Penelope see the estate as her home. I’ve finally gotten rid of one, mother. Don’t pull her back," said Elijah.
"I see what you mean," Penelope said to Lily. "I must visit more often to trouble him. He doesn’t know what he is speaking of, but I shall help him. I’ll be your little Penny."
Elijah frowned. He sought help from Tyrion, but to no surprise, Tyrion smiled like a fool.
Elijah shook his head. If this was what became of men who got married, then Elijah preferred to say a bachelor a little longer.
"I’m grateful you will not be our king," Elijah muttered and walked away to find a quiet place to be.
Penelope watched as Elijah walked off to hide, just like he would do in the past. "I would have considered becoming queen simply to torment him."
"It is not too late," Lily said.