"Lady Laura, you describe this gathering as a safe place for married women, but not only have you sought to make me uncomfortable, but you are doing it to a Castro. You have become quite bold since I last saw you," Priscilla said, curious where the bravery came from. "Have you decided to plot against my family this season?"
"No, I wouldn’t dare. It isn’t as it seems," Laura said, her palms becoming sweatier.
If only Priscilla would stand up so they could speak in private, then Laura would be relieved of the stress she felt now. Priscilla wasn’t her enemy.
"Then, tell me what is the meaning of this. A woman who shared a bed with the man I was once married to, and a young lady who doesn’t realise how she has spoiled her name. How do you intend to explain this?" Priscilla asked, still waiting for answers from Laura. "Is this gathering not for married women?"
"A lot of the ladies take offence to events which are only open to married ladies. We all wish to marry, so it is awful to exclude us," said Faye.
"There are plenty of gatherings for all the women around the town. One event on this day shouldn’t spoil your day. If you were wise, you would have stayed home after hearing I would be attending," Penelope said.
Faye smiled. She didn’t come all this way just to go home.
"I apologise for the way I shared my feelings for the prince. Like all my peers, we have all been in love with him-"
"It is one thing to be in love with him, and another to speak of him welcoming other women into our marriage because you think he isn’t satisfied. You are going to tarnish your name if you keep this up, and your parents will not be able to save you," Penelope warned Faye.
Tyrion didn’t ask more about the love letter because he was rather occupied since they left the palace, but should Faye continued to speak, then she would find herself in hot water.
"At a gathering , it is best for the ladies to be honest with Penelope. I mean, you have heard what your grandmother spoke of. Even the great Priscilla faced her husband having a mistress. No one is too good to face their husband taking another woman," said Faye.
Priscilla decided to entertain herself with wine rather than tea. "You are bold to speak of this in a room full of wives. Did your mother not teach you better? Why isn’t there anyone here to stand by you?"
"And," Priscilla said, not done. "You missed the part that I didn’t marry Edmund because I loved him."
"Still, the men around the kingdom take mistresses, and the prince has the right to do it if he is not satisfied-"
"You keep repeating that like you are part of my marriage to know if he is satisfied or not," said Penelope.
"I know enough," Faye smiled, feeling triumphant. "There is no news of a baby from you. You must act fast. The other ladies won’t speak of it out loud now that you have arrived, but they were curious if you are pregnant yet."
"No, I am not, and it is not anyone’s concern. Tell me, what would rushing to have a baby do?" Penelope asked.
Penelope already knew the value these women gave to babies as children secured their spots, but Penelope wanted to hear Faye say it.
"Perhaps it would help the prince to see your worth," Faye answered. "I hear that he is quite unhappy after he left the palace to marry you."
"That is enough!" Laura exclaimed, puzzled by the way Faye acted.
Had Faye become drunk and forgotten who she was speaking to?
It was already bad enough for Faye that she spoke like a lady who wished to be a mistress.
"It is Lady Tabitha, isn’t it? It is," Penelope guessed from Faye’s reaction. "She is the one who filled your head with stories that my marriage isn’t going well. I am also certain she is the reason you were invited today, as well as Lady Cassidy."
Penelope wasn’t surprised Tabitha struck again. "How pitiful. Neither one of you could think for yourselves. You were both so eager to be in our presence that you made a fool of yourselves."
"I told you, didn’t I? The ladies in town won’t let you forget if you chase a married man. Do you truly believe Tabitha will save you? That my husband would take you by his side?" Penelope asked, curious if Faye was truly so gullible.
So lost in her dreams.
"You’re insignificant to us. A face that my husband fails to remember. A woman who lacks value and lacks the right to be present today. You’ll be remembered as the lady who openly chased a married man. Look at your future," Penelope said, looking at Cassidy.
Faye’s smile was yet to move. "She is married to Edmund Collins."
"Yet spends her time trying to place herself before his ex-wife. That doesn’t sound like a happy woman. She lives a miserable life, and getting married to my grandfather did nothing for her. I wouldn’t even say she is pitiful," Penelope said, put off by the sight of Cassidy.
"I am not like that woman. I come from a family with a good name. Lady Tabitha does support me, and it is for good reason. I can get along with you, Penelope. If it’s not me, it will be another woman," Faye said, trying to help Penelope.
Faye wanted nothing more than to become a royal. She was understanding and could turn a blind eye to what Tyrion would do.
Penelope chuckled. "You are not worth my getting riled up. You’ve already insulted yourself by thinking you should be with a married man. How foolish of you to think that he would give up the throne for me and then yearn for another woman." The source of this content ɪs 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹~𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮~𝚗𝚎𝚝
"It is possible," Faye argued.
"It is possible with some men," Penelope nodded her head in agreement. "But not my husband. I can confidently say that it will not be my husband."
"My marriage is not in shambles. Your ears were filled with lies from a woman who is not pleased that her grandson left the palace. I see now how dangerous it is for fools to sit around and gossip," said Penelope.
"You would refer to Lady Tabitha as a fool?" Faye questioned, surprised.
"Any woman, married or not, who thinks it is right to push a woman on a married man is a fool. Lady Tabitha’s status doesn’t make her any less of a fool when she acts ," Penelope said, standing her ground.