Chapter 392: Bad timing (1)
On the Collins estate, Penelope walked with her siblings to find their mother to sit with her.
Penelope walked arms linked with each sister. Lily to her right and Isabelle to her left.
"With all that happened this season, I think I would rather wait until the next season to find a husband. This might be the season of strange men and events," said Lily.
"I married this season and it has turned out well for me," Penelope said in an effort to give Lily hope.
"Your marriage caused quite a stir with many believing that you were with child long before you married, and you missed out on having a grand wedding. What use is it to have a wealthy father and husband, to not have a grand wedding?" Lily asked, disappointed on Penelope’s behalf.
Isabelle nodded, agreeing with Lily.
"Is it not the two people that matter, not how grand the wedding is?"
"Of course, that matters, but it is not wrong for us to yearn for a grand wedding. We have attended so many weddings and placed ourselves in the shoes of the bride. We must have our turn, but I don’t think my turn will come soon," said Lily.
Lily couldn’t find it in her heart to be away from her mother, especially after recent events.
"I am fortunate to have a family that sees my worth and doesn’t force me to marry. Truly, I think it is our father who does not want us to settle for the men in town. I think I will wait and spend more time with mother," Lily decided.
"I do believe it is not the events of the season that pushed you to this conclusion, but rather someone you were expecting to show up did not. Why don’t you speak to Rue about who will be coming from the border?" Penelope asked, seeing through Lily’s troubles.
Penelope long knew who Lily had her eyes on, but didn’t speak of it since she wanted to give Lily the chance to speak of it.
"Do not," Lily warned Penelope. "She cannot help speaking."
Isabelle pouted. "I won’t speak of it."
"You have placed yourself in quite the predicament to fall in love with a man from the border," Penelope said, ignoring Lily’s wishes.
Lily pinched Penelope. "I have not fallen in love, and what feelings I had are no longer present. It would not suit me to marry anyone from the border. It is too far, and I am searching for a husband elsewhere."
"If you say so, I will pretend to believe it," Penelope said teasingly.
"I prefer the days when you were too busy with your marriage to visit us. I no longer miss your presence," Lily said, stepping away from Penelope. "The only way you can make up for this is to give me a niece."
"I’m afraid you will need to stay angry with me. Now is not the time to have a child. I knew that Cassius was strange, but I did not suspect he or his brother would be so dangerous. We have been in his presence," said Penelope.
Penelope thought of the incident with the carriage and then the times after that she was in Cassius’s presence.
"I find myself quite fortunate that I married Tyrion so fast, or I would have needed to bear with Cassius’s courting a little longer. Now it makes sense why he tried to place himself so close," Penelope said, touching her forehead.
"It is unfortunate for you that trouble is attracted to you. Knowing the prince held interest in you, Cassius could have courted me, but he kept his eyes on you. I am thankful for it, whilst feeling awful for you," Lily said, linking arms with Penelope once again.
"Will mother be well? She would always be at our side when something tragic happens," Isabelle said, puzzled by her mother’s disappearance.
"It is our turn to be at her side," said Penelope.
The trio stopped before their parents’ chamber and opened the door to find their mother sitting on the bed, lost in thought.
"Mother!" Isabelle called first.
Alessandra looked to the door, a small smile decorating her face. "Forgive me. I meant to return to you."
"It is fine. I know that Penelope and Isabelle can be quite the burden, so you need a moment to yourself. We are not angry," Lily said, being the first one to go to her mother.
Alessandra chuckled. "You must be careful since your sisters are plotting."
"Indeed, we are. Whilst I face trouble for leaving the estate in secret, Lily was the one to be in trouble for many other things. It is you who burdens her," Penelope argued.
"I was not the one who made her worry after I ran off with the prince," Lily retorted.
"It is not a contest of who burdens me most. Your father has written to me. He and Elijah are well," Alessandra said, placing the letter she received back into the envelope.
"That is good news. In the note to Tyrion, it was mentioned that Quinn is the son of a man named William Lancaster. Lily and I know who he is because of your old case, but there wasn’t much written about him aside from why he spoke with the baron."
"Would you share what troubles you? You don’t need to if it is too much," Penelope said, not wanting to push her mother.
"I am well. It is your father, Elijah, and Tyrion’s safe return that I have come to pray for in private. William is the man whom my father promised me to before your father proposed to me. His name no longer angers me because I have moved on," Alessandra said.
What bothered Alessandra was reading Edgar’s letter and learning that William had a son who was near her daughters. It was even more troubling that this son seemed to be obsessed with her family.
"I have tried my best to move on from my past, but there is always something to arise. I worry not for myself but for each of you. I worry about my past continuing to creep up on you," said Alessandra.
Penelope and her sisters sat beside Alessandra.
"If it will make you feel better, we don’t harbour any bad feelings toward you for those tied to your past coming before us. Like you worry about us, we worry about you," Penelope said, taking hold of her mother’s hands.
"While we enjoy our time in Lockwood and seeing the estate, perhaps it is time for us to go back home. To our true home where you raised us. I can find myself a good husband there," Lily said, ready to leave.
"Tyrion and I already had plans to leave. We are all in need of a break from Lockwood. Would you join us, mother?" Penelope asked, hopeful her mother would say yes.
"Once your father and brother have finished their duties here, we should go," Alessandra agreed.