"Is there sothing wrong, Matilda? You’ve been in deep thought since our trip ho. Is there sothing that troubles you?" Penelope asked, noticing Matilda’s expression in the mirror.
"No, milady," Matilda replied.
Matilda continued to brush Penelope’s hair and think of what to dress Penelope in for dinner.
"Matilda, you have been at my side for many years. I know when there is sothing that troubles you. I cannot think of the last ti you were so distracted. Please tell ," Penelope said, shifting her position so she could look at Matilda. "You can always speak to ."
"Forgive , Milady," Matilda replied, her gaze on the floor. "I am still thinking of what occurred today. It is not my place. I apologise for being so distracted."
"I see. You will need to be more specific since there is much which occurred today. Was it my talk with Harper, my grandmother, or perhaps, not finding a dressmaker?"
"All of it," Matilda replied. "You are the wife of a prince, yet those won speak to you so casually and with so much hate. I was also disappointed to see you so emotional when you stepped out of that room with your grandmother. It makes angry, but again, it is not my place."
"Well, you have been in my grandmother’s presence during the tis I visited her, so it is expected you would be disappointed. I am disappointed as well. There is much that I have overheard which I don’t know how I will tell my mother," said Penelope.
Penelope had stayed a little longer, so she heard parts of the conversation lody had with lanie. It was awful, and now it weighed on Penelope’s mind whether she should bring it up to her mother or let the matter be forgotten.
"As for Harper, I am not surprised nor angry by the way she spoke. Her outburst seed to have provided sothing useful for my husband. She acts as she does to fit in with other ladies. The tables shall soon turn," Penelope said.
"If I may," Matilda requested.
"Speak," Penelope allowed it.
"How will they turn?" Matilda asked.
"I will be making a proper return to social events, and it shall be grand. I once didn’t hold any interest in these events, but tis have changed. I am now Penelope Castro, and there are certain circles I must sit in," Penelope said, knowing she could not avoid the ton.
Penelope planned to fight fire with fire.
"I have heard too many tis that I have abused my father’s na. Now they view as weak because I prefer the comfort of my ho. I will not allow Alia and her followers to treat and others with so much disdain," Penelope said, tired of Alia going unpunished.
"My mother was once an ally to those ousted from prominent circles. She still is. I wish to follow in my mother’s footsteps to help those who find themselves unable to fit in because of ladies like Alia. I will create a comfort space," Penelope decided.
Penelope knew so ladies chose not to be like Harper. Since these ladies did not want to be Alia’s followers, the other ladies avoided them so they too wouldn’t beco Alia’s enemies. Many other ladies acted as Alia did and created outcasts around the town.
"So, do you intend to be friends with Harper? Is this to free her from Alia’s side?" Matilda asked, hoping it wasn’t so.
"Oh, heaven’s no. I will never be friends with Harper. I only pity that she is smitten with Cassius. I won’t befriend all the ladies Alia has turned away, but I will help those whose hearts are good and need help," Penelope explained.
Penelope continued, "I think it is ti that I abuse the power I hold a little. I am already accused of it, so why not gain sothing from it or help others? So of the ladies around the town need to be silenced, and I can do it."
Penelope had carefully watched how Priscilla commanded a gathering and silenced a powerful woman like Tabitha. She had the perfect lady to teach her how to tackle her peers.
"I noticed that no one seed to be afraid to stare at your face," Matilda said, thrilled such foolish talk was going away. "The rumours about a curse are going away."
"I noticed it as well. Still, I am certain it will be thrown in my face at so point since they will have nothing to speak of. Did you hear anything from the maids about ladies whose houses have fallen due to debt?" Penelope asked.
"I have been stirring the conversations on this topic and tried to listen intently, but I have failed you. Many of the maids are scared of , so they whisper when I am around. I shall do better," Matilda promised.
"No," Penelope shook her head. "This might be a sign that I am not to have you caught up in this. I promised Tyrion I wouldn’t dig into this, but I cannot help it if I overhear it at gatherings."
Matilda set the brush down and started to braid Penelope’s hair.
"There are many gatherings I want to attend, and luckily, I have a few dresses left from what my mother prepared for the season. They will do until I find a dressmaker. I wish for my style to change as well," Penelope decided.
The dresses Alessandra prepared were for young ladies who were not yet married. Penelope wanted to wear dresses that showed her growth to a lady who was now married.
Penelope’s smile fell as she thought about her mother.
"I miss my family," Penelope shared. "I enjoy my days that I have here with Tyrion, but I cannot escape wanting to see my family. When will it pass?"
"Perhaps you should visit the Collins estate," Matilda suggested.
"I should. Julie, Ally, and I still have our plans for everyone to gather there. I must act upon it soon. You shall be able to see all your old friends," Penelope said, her mood turning better.
"I shall," Matilda smiled.
"My husband is taking quite a long ti. When you are done, find out if he is still by the knight’s quarters. Oddly, he wanted to see the progress made as soon as we returned ho. He hides sothing," Penelope said, suspicious.
Was it Cassius?
Penelope wouldn’t be surprised to hear that Tyrion was holding soone captive.
"I don’t want to know," Penelope said, losing interest in what Tyrion hid. "I have much to focus on."
A knock on the door was heard, and after finishing the last of Penelope’s braid, Matilda went to the door to speak to whoever disturbed them.
Penelope waited for Matilda to return.
"Dinner will soon be served. The prince is on his way back, so water will be poured for his bath," said Matilda.
"Thank you. Pick out sothing comfortable for my husband. I will help to dress him," Penelope decided.
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