The carriage arrived at the palace safely, and only then did Tyrion loosen his hold on Penelope so he could help open the damaged door.
Penelope still held his shirt as he pushed the door open, but she let go once Tyrion turned around to look at her.
His hands palmed her face as he checked if she was well.
"I am fine," Penelope said.
They were both fortunate that they weren’t seated closer to the door when the two carriages collided.
"This was worse than the first time. I didn’t see it coming this time," Penelope whispered, the shock slowly leaving her.
What Penelope said reminded Tyrion of the time Cassius’s carriage hit her own.
Anything concerning Cassius didn’t feel like a coincidence.
If it was Cassius’s doing, Tyrion could only think of how Cassius had to be keeping watch of where they were to make this happen.
Rather than think of Cassius, Tyrion had to focus on Penelope.
Tyrion helped Penelope out of the carriage and led her up the palace steps before she could get a chance to see the damage done to the carriage.
"Where are we going?" Penelope asked.
Shouldn’t they find palace guards and inform them of what happened so they could go after the person behind this?
"To my chambers so you can settle yourself before meeting with my family," Tyrion answered.
Penelope looked back for Damien, but didn’t see him. It was only the other guard who travelled with them.
"Where is Damien? Is he injured?" Penelope asked, tugging on Tyrion’s hand to make him stop.
"Damien left to follow the other carriage. He will return to us in time. Damien can take care of himself, and once I have placed you where it is safe, I will send others to help him," Tyrion said, switching his plans by lifting Penelope.
Penelope couldn’t stop worrying about Damien going off alone. "Julie and her mother are in the palace with the queen. I can sit with them whilst you go to help Damien. I cannot shake the feeling that something awful will happen if you do not go to help him."
Tyrion looked around for a maid. Instead, he found a guard and said, "Take me to where the queen is with her guests."
Tyrion followed the guard.
Penelope was carried to where Hazel was, though she could walk. She thought of letting Tyrion put her down, but knew this might bring some comfort to him since she was in his arms.
It was only a crash, but it also could have been a bigger attack. What if there was an ambush waiting for them if they stopped the carriage?
Penelope was taken to the queen’s garden and set down only when the queen’s guards were in sight.
"Tyrion!" Hazel stood up right away when she noticed them. "Has something happened?"
"Our carriage was struck by someone on the way here, and they fled. I need to leave. Do not let her out of your sight," Tyrion said to his mother.
Penelope was safest with the queen’s guards.
"I will not," Hazel promised.
It was short and quick, but Tyrion kissed Penelope goodbye. It was all he could offer her now since he was in a hurry.
Penelope watched as Tyrion hurried off, taking along the very guard who guided them here.
When he was out of sight, she turned to face everyone seated at the table. Julie, Eleanor and Ally were present alongside Hazel.
"Forgive me for the way we have arrived," Penelope apologised.
Hazel walked over to Penelope and rubbed her arm. "It was an unfortunate way to arrive, but I am glad you are well. Did you get a glimpse of the person behind it? How could they hit someone and leave?"
"Fear of the punishment if they noticed it belonged to a royal," Julie answered. "Unless it was intentional."
"Are you well, Penelope?" Eleanor asked, noticing Penelope’s hand on her abdomen.
Penelope smiled, though she faced discomfort. "I am well. I was already facing the pain every woman endures, and it seems the medicine no longer helps me."
"Come with me," Hazel said, offering her hand to Penelope. "There is plenty of medicine here which should help you, and I will have a maid tend to you. Excuse us for a moment," she said to her guests.
Hazel walked with Penelope to see personally that Penelope would receive the best care.
At the table, the others worried not only for Penelope, but Tyrion’s safety as well.
"Shouldn’t the prince send someone else to go after the one behind this?" Ally asked, puzzled as to why a royal would go.
What was the purpose of having an army if the prince must chase someone down?
"Penelope was in the carriage and could have been gravely injured. That is why the prince wishes to go. He will punish whoever is responsible. Someone should inform the king," Julie said, thinking of the duke as well.
If this wasn’t intentional, Julie understood why the person would leave after realising whose carriage they struck. The wise choice would be to see that Tyrion and Penelope were well, but some would fear losing their lives and take the chance to run away.
"Excuse me for a moment," Eleanor said as she stood up. "I am not leaving you both. I see one of the king’s guards."
Eleanor thought it was best for someone to inform the king.
Julie kept a close eye on her mother, not wanting to lose sight of her because it was what her father said to do.
"Unfortunately, our time in the palace must end , but I am glad Peneloep is well. I hope you do not mind that, before coming here, I asked my mother if I could go to your home. I want to apologise for how I acted," Ally said, regretting their last talk.
After her talk with Lily, Ally saw why she was wrong to push to come to the palace.
"You sat here with me during the time I was to be alone with my mother and the queen. I would have gladly accepted your apology had you stayed at home," Julie replied, uninterested in an apology.
Julie knew she couldn’t be angry since she had asked the queen to let Ally join them, but she thought by now Ally would have understood why this day was so important to her and would stay home.
"As for you going home with us, I must politely decline. The queen has invited my mother and me to dinner as well as offering us a room for the night, since Penelope will be here. My father will join us when he is finished with his work," Julia shared
It came as a surprise to Julie that the queen wanted her to stay for dinner and the night, but she gladly accepted the offer.
Julie welcomed Ally to share the day with her, but she would have the queen to herself tonight.
"After the letter my mother received from our grandmother, I have decided to find a husband this season. I will also need these moments with the queen," Julie said, focusing on the plates before her instead of Ally, who had to be disappointed.