Tyrion reunited with Penelope, and as expected, the ladies directed their questions to him.
Penelope didn’t want Tyrion to suffer from being thrown so many questions, so she quickly mentioned they needed to return to their home and was allowed by Hazel to leave early.
"That was close," Penelope said, relieved to have gotten away. "You came just in time. They were offering me advice, but some of what they spoke of is what I would only speak of with my mother."
"You could have told them to know their place," said Tyrion.
"We are not all rude. They were trying to be helpful, though they started speaking of children. Hearing how they spoke of children made me feel sad for all the ladies around the town. Making babies and tending to her husband is all we ever hear," Penelope said.
Penelope rested her head on Tyrion’s arm and said, "I am lucky that you share my interest in wanting to travel, and I have news for you. I am going to utilise part of our home as a shooting range. I must keep practising my aim."
This got Tyrion’s attention.
"Is there someone you wish to shoot?" Tyrion asked.
"Have you done something that makes you ask this? I have always practised my aim with my father and brother. With the town becoming so dangerous that even sitting with ladies is dangerous, I want to protect myself," Penelope explained.
It had been too long since Penelope practised shooting a gun. She worried that her aim might be a little off.
"I will have the guards arrange it for you," said Tyrion.
"Wonderful. I shall write to Priscilla to ask that her husband send me new guns," Penelope said, on the verge of skipping towards the palace doors.
Tyrion’s brows were raised as confusion settled in. "Your father makes guns," he said.
"Yes, but if I get a gun from my father, my mother will know of it in time. I love my mother, but she doesn’t understand my love for knowing how to use a gun. My father would always take us out behind the estate to practice," Penelope shared.
"And the duchess knew nothing of it?"
"She wasn’t home at the time, but I doubt my father kept it a secret from her for long. He always gives in and tells her the truth. It is not wrong, but it has caused us to not use guns for a long time," Penelope said, missing the old days.
Penelope lifted her head from Tyrion’s arm when she saw a familiar face. "Is that not Mark from the court?"
"It is," Tyrion replied, narrowing his eyes at Mark.
"Prince and Princess Castro," Mark greeted the couple. "What a surprise it is to see you in the palace."
"It has been my home for many years," Tyrion said, missing why it was a surprise.
"Yes, but I heard you might not return to it. You are just the pair I want to see. I already approached the duke and duchess to ask about the whereabouts of your cousin, Warren Kennedy. Have you seen him?" Mark asked, hopeful this talk would give him answers.
"Why would I see someone I am not familiar with? Since you do not know, my family is not close to the Kennedys. You should go ask his friends if they have seen them," Penelope suggested.
"I have spoken to everyone who knows him, but none can give me a location for him. His mother is distraught over his disappearance. Anything you know can help us," said Mark.
Mark hoped that Penelope was like her mother, to care for Warren. The slightest clue would help him.
"I have already said that I do not know where he is, and when I do not speak to my cousin, why would my husband? I wish you well with the search, but I must get to my home. I miss our home only after being away for a day," Penelope said, ready to move on.
Mark looked at Tyrion, who smiled most likely because he didn’t need to speak.
"I heard that you have had small run-ins with your cousin at balls, and none of those times have been pleasant. That is what onlookers had to say, but I would rather hear it from you," Mark said, giving Penelope the chance to speak.
"It is as you have heard that the times my cousin came to stand before me, it was not pleasant. I don’t want to meet with the Kennedys anymore, and I have every right to feel this way. For how long will you block my path?" Penelope asked, tired of Mark’s presence.
Penelope started to dislike Mark. It didn’t matter that he was so helpful to her mother in the past.
"I won’t be here much longer, Princess. I only wanted to ask if you knew where Warren was. I understand why you would harbour hate for the Kennedys, but Warren is innocent. It is his mother who acted against your mother. Do not punish him for it," Mark said.
"I am not punishing him in place of anyone. It would be foolish of anyone to punish a child for the actions of their parents. I do not know where Warren is, and I do not appreciate you questioning me . Get out of our way," Penelope ordered Mark.
Mark was surprised by the tone of Penelope’s voice. Rather than her mother, Penelope seemed to inherit her father’s spirit.
Mark stepped to the side to make way for the young couple. "Forgive me," he said.
"I hope that you didn’t go to my mother this way, and so we understand each other, I don’t hate the Kennedys. I have always been curious about my cousin, but he approaches me with hate as though I did something to him. I no longer have an interest in him," said Penelope.
Had Warren not acted as he did, then there was a small chance Penelope would have befriended him, but his heart was filled with too much hate. His anger was misdirected at the duchess.
"I hope your search for Warren goes well and he is returned to his mother, but I ask that you do not approach me or my husband again since I don’t know where he is. If you would please excuse us," Penelope said, walking off before Mark could add anything more.
Mark didn’t have any further questions.
"That one is surprising, and the prince smiles like a fool," Mark noticed, shaking his head at the couple.
Mark had to take Penelope’s word as the truth. Poking her any further wouldn’t give him any answers. He was still stuck on where Warren was now, despite his debt being paid off.