The Duke's Masked Wife 2: The Prince's Outcast Bride-Chapter 102: Mother knows best (1)

"Tyrion, I know that you have been going slow with our intimacy for my sake, but you do not have to," Penelope said, shifting her body as much as she could to look at him. "I become shy when we are in the middle of the act, but I do want to go further."

Tyrion was caught off guard by the sudden turn in their talk.

"Tomorrow night, I would like for us to have our wedding night. I want it to be to the end without you leaving to take care of whatever it is you must," said Penelope.

Penelope could not wait any longer. This was going to keep worrying her until they went through with it, and always was going to be a wall between them until they made love to each other.

"Why must it be tomorrow?" Tyrion asked, finding now to be the perfect time to start.

"Because there are things I want to learn, so I am not completely clueless. I should know what to do for you just as you do for me," Penelope replied.

Tyrion did not like the sound of this. "And how do you intend to not be clueless? What will you do?"

Unless she was going to find a governess, most young ladies turned to the red light district for help.

"You mustn’t tell anyone. Julie brought me some of her mother’s books, and inside those books are scenes where you cannot read the book around others. I just need some idea of what you would expect from me, and I might surprise you with my attire for the occasion," said Penelope.

"You don’t need to get dressed up. The best attire for a first night is to wear nothing, but I will look forward to what you will prepare for me," Tyrion said, agreeing to it.

Tyrion didn’t need anything fancy or to plan for the special night, but he was interested in seeing how far Penelope would go to prepare herself and to surprise him.

If Penelope took the lead preparing for their first time making love to each other, then Tyrion didn’t need to worry too much about her being afraid.

"If you are impatient and want to move it to tonight, I will be a supportive husband to help you," said Tyrion.

Penelope smiled. "Of course you would support it. You have done so much for me, Tyrion. Allow me to prepare for our first night. I will also allow you to bathe in peace."

Penelope held onto the sides of the tub to stand and get out. "Close your eyes."

"You will need more than a day if you still want me to close my eyes," Tyrion said, doing as she asked by closing his eyes.

Tyrion let Penelope run free without trying to keep her here with him, since a good night was waiting for him tomorrow.

Though Tyrion would be home with Penelope all day, he would give her the space she needed so her plans would not be ruined.

Tyrion opened his eyes when he heard the door close. He sighed, once again in an unfortunate predicament.

Tyrion grabbed his manhood, moving his hand along his length to give himself pleasure and release the built-up frustration he endured.

"This day must end soon," Tyrion said, awaiting the events of tomorrow.

***

The next day, the duchess arrived at Tabitha Castro’s residence after receiving an invitation that urgent matters needed to be discussed concerning Penelope and Tyrion.

This marked Alessandra’s first time being invited anywhere by Tabitha and she knew as she walked into the home that this talk had a good chance of not going well.

Still, Alessandra decided to meet with Tabitha to know if she needed to be cautious when it came to the former queen.

Alessandra was led to a drawing room where Tabitha was already seated and enjoying tea.

"Wait here," Alessandra instructed Caleb.

Alessandra travelled with Caleb and Reed since Edgar did not trust her meeting with Tabitha.

While Tabitha would not bring any harm to Alessandra, Edgar still wanted his most trusted guards around his wife.

"Duchess Collins," Tabitha greeted Alessandra. "You may have a seat anywhere you like."

Alessandra sat down opposite Tabitha so they would face each other. "It is a great honour to be invited to your home, Lady Tabitha."

"I have realised only recently that we have never sat to speak. You are always with the queen, yet we never had the chance to talk," said Tabitha.

Tabitha didn’t have any interest in becoming close to Hazel’s friends, but Alessandra was different. Duke Edgar was the closest ally Tobias had, so naturally, Tabitha kept up with his family. Little did she know that the two families would be tied once again.

"My family and I are not in Lockwood very often for us to talk, but I am pleased we have the chance to speak today," Alessandra replied.

Alessandra waited patiently for Tabitha to drop the act and to bring up the real reason she was called upon today.

For all the years that Alessandra had been married to Edgar, it was now that her daughter married the crown prince that the former queen showed interest in her.

Alessandra wished she could be naive enough to think it was two families getting to know each other, but she was used to the ways of the people in town to know it wasn’t so.

Tabitha took one more sip of her tea before setting the cup down. "I assume you know the reason I called you here to speak. Your daughter’s marriage to my grandson is causing quite a lot of chatter. I’m sure you have noticed it already."

"I have overheard a few things, but I am not one to listen to rumours. Many lies are being said about my family," said Alessandra.

"Lies or not, what is said can affect the Castros. This must be controlled soon before the Castro name is dragged into it," Tabitha said, expecting Alessandra to fix it.

Alessandra smiled. "What is said is to damage my Penelope’s reputation. I would love for it to end."

"Good. You must think of the Collins name," Tabitha replied, happy they were in the same train of thought.

"Name? I wish to protect my daughter. I had some hope that Lockwood would stop caring so much about names and status. Understand that what I care about first is my children. Nothing else is above them," said Alessandra.

"Surely the other Collins will not be pleased with the negative attention your daughter draws in. Something must be done about this soon to protect both Collins and Castro. It will need to be urgent so they can have a peaceful return to the palace," Tabitha said.

Alessandra frowned, puzzled by what Tabitha said.

Since when was it agreed that Penelope and Tyrion would return to the palace?