The Duke's Masked Wife 2: The Prince's Outcast Bride-Chapter 132: Spark (3)

Rue turned around to leave without responding to Elijah. He was confusing her now, and before anyone noticed her spider, Rue wanted to return to the Collinses’ side.

Elijah was left standing alone for a moment, confused by Rue running away. What did he say wrong?

Rue had grown be a beautiful young woman, and Elijah thought there was no harm in pointing it out. He would never lie to her, so Rue should know that if anyone tried to tell her otherwise, she shouldn’t believe him.

Unfortunately, Elijah wasn’t alone for long as a young lady approached him to ask to join him for the next dance. He meant to return to Selina to ask her for a dance, but now, all Elijah wanted was a drink.

"I require a break, but I will remember the offer," Elijah said, walking away from the young woman.

Instead of going to his family’s side, Elijah decided to go to where the men gathered to have a drink and take a break from the young women trying to crowd around them with their mothers at their side.

Rue returned to Penelope’s side safely.

"Did you enjoy the dance with my brother? You looked wonderful," Penelope complimented Rue. "Rue?"

"Yes?" Rue looked up at Penelope. "I did not hear you. I’m sorry for not listening."

"Is your mind still on the dance? I said that you did well. My brother might have broken a few hearts by having you be his first dance, but I liked it. You are more deserving of his time," Penelope said, turning her attention back to Lily.

Penelope enjoyed seeing Lily whisked away to the floor to dance. She was happy that, despite what was said, Lily was still being courted.

’I did not ruin her chance,’ Penelope thought.

Rue did not understand what Penelope meant by the first dance.

"Is the first dance special?" Rue asked. What did it mean?

"Well, all the young women present are vying to marry the wealthiest bachelor around the town. They like to show off and send their peers a clear message that they have a better chance of marrying. They think the first dance is special because there is a greater chance you will be considered for a bride," Penelope explained.

Penelope regretted her words since Rue looked so horrified. She touched Rue’s arms to calm her. "If anyone thinks you would marry my brother, it will soon pass. He will have many first dances at other balls."

Rue sighed in relief. "I do not want the ladies to misunderstand."

"Duchess Alessandra Collins."

Penelope looked away from Rue to see a familiar face.

Selina curtsied along with her mother. She could not wait a moment longer for some other woman to approach Alessandra. Selina wanted her peers to take notice of her relationship with the duchess.

Surely, the duchess was rooting for her.

Selina turned to Penelope and Tyrion to greet them as well.

"Lady Penelope and Prince Tyrion. I offer you my best wishes on your marriage. May your love continue for a thousand years and blossom into a bundle of happiness soon," said Selina.

"Thank you," Penelope replied, her guards up.

Penelope could count on one hand how many interactions she had with Selina, and each one of them always involved her brother.

Selina wore the same smile that all the other young ladies did when they approached Penelope to get closer to Elijah.

"Duchess, you look magnificent today. I have been meaning to thank you for the advice you gave me the last time we spoke," Selina said, giving all her attention to Alessandra.

Selina knew she triumphed over her peers by having Alessandra interested in her. It was upsetting that Elijah danced with the young woman standing beside Rue, but Selina knew hope wasn’t lost for her.

When someone imagined the future duchess, it was only right that they thought of Selina to fill that spot. What could someone who was raised outside of town know about becoming a noblewoman?

"It is good to hear that it helped you," Alessandra replied.

Alessandra was also aware of Selina’s interest in Elijah, and she heard the chatter that Elijah would settle for Selina, but Alessandra wasn’t entertaining it.

Alessandra left it to Elijah to pick who his future bride would be and had no plans of meddling. She wanted all her children to fall in love without any meddling since marriage was a serious matter.

Alessandra only planned to step in if there was something she noticed, but her children did not.

Selina smiled. "Lady Penelope, may I stand close to have a word with you? It has been so long since we last spoke. I see that Lily has taken to the floor with a suitor."

"You may stand near," Penelope allowed it.

Selina parted from her mother, who decided to take the chance to speak with Alessandra.

Selina offered her hand to Rue for a greeting. "We have not been introduced. I am Selina Featherstone. And you are?"

"I am Rue Callahan," Rue introduced herself. "It is nice to meet you."

Selina pulled her hand back. She noticed how fast Rue was to pull away. "I noticed that you danced with Elijah Collins. That is wonderful for you."

"Is it because of the first dance?" Rue asked.

Selina nodded. "It is."

Penelope sighed. "You don’t need to worry since Rue doesn’t pine for my brother as you do."

Seline blushed, surprised Penelope would speak so boldly. "I- You misunderstand."

"You have come to learn if she holds some interest in my brother. You should have waited a little longer before you came to find out," Penelope said.

Certainly, Selina couldn’t have thought that her intentions were not apparent.

"Rue will not ruin your plans. At least, I do not think so. Please don’t see her as your enemy," Penelope said, knowing well how jealousy could make the ladies act. "My brother did not return to us, so he must be searching for a young lady to dance with. Perhaps he is searching for you."

Selina frowned, regretting that she had not looked for Elijah first. Where had he wandered off to?

Selina first looked at the dance floor, where couples were. She grew worried that she might find Elijah dancing with someone else but to her relief, she didn’t see him.

"Your brother is not dancing. He must have run off like he does at times. Truthfully, I have come for something else. I am worried about you," Selina said, holding Penelope’s hand. "You must be careful with the ladies around the town. They are saying so many ill things about you."

"Oh, trust me when I say that I am being very careful now," Penelope said, amused by the act Selina started.

Penelope was curious if Elijah was truly courting Selina. If he was, how couldn’t he notice the act Selina was putting on?

It was a common act used by many of the ladies in town, so there wasn’t any harm in it, but Penelope didn’t like anyone hiding their true personality.

"They speak such lies about you carrying a child-"

"Who did?" Tyrion interjected.

Tyrion didn’t mean to pry, but since he was standing so close to Penelope, he couldn’t help overhearing what was said.

"A few ladies, I do not know the names of," Selina replied.

"But you will know their faces. I look forward to speaking with your father so you may help point out these ladies to me. I would like to keep them away from my wife," said Tyrion.

Selina noticed Alessandra’s interest in the conversation, so she smiled and replied, "Of course, Prince Tyrion. I would do anything to help you and Lady Penelope. I hope that we will become good friends in the future. All of us," she turned to Rue.