The Duke's Masked Wife 2: The Prince's Outcast Bride-Chapter 34: Accepting an offer (3)

"The crown prince shouldn’t be a scoundrel. You should be the best gentleman among your peers to set an example. A good example is needed," said Penelope.

"I am always a gentleman," Tyrion replied. "It just so happens to be that it is when I am not near you. Admit it, you enjoy that I am like this."

"I do not," Penelope answered, not enjoying the smoothness of his voice. He was trying to hypnotise her into saying things she didn’t feel.

Penelope was not going to fall for it.

"Then, why can’t you look at me? Look at me, Penelope," said Tyrion.

Tyrion was so close to touching her face to have her look at him instead of other places that did not matter, but he was mindful of how it would impact her.

Keeping his hands at his side was a great task.

Penelope looked at Tyrion to show that she was unaffected by his gaze and his words. "See, I do not fall for it."

"I do not believe you," Tyrion said, his lips curved into a smile. "Are you well?"

"I am fine. I know that all of you are concerned, and believe me, I am grateful, but I am growing tired of having to answer this. Trust me, I am fine," Penelope said, hopefully for the last time.

"I did want to see you in person, but I was busy in the palace. The court is doing all it can to take up my time. I would have come to see you if not for that," Tyrion said, hoping she would not be angry anymore.

"I thought you would not come because you were scared of my father. Oh," Penelope bit her lip.

"So, you were waiting for me. Now it wounds me that I kept you waiting. The duke possibly getting angry with my presence wouldn’t be enough to keep me from seeing that you are well. I would have come, but my duties are growing," said Tyrion.

"I understand, and I wasn’t waiting for you. I see no reason why the crown prince would need to leave the palace to visit me," Penelope said, her little bit of anger over Tyrion not writing to her was now gone. freёweɓnovel.com

"It is expected when I want you," Tyrion said, glancing to his right at Elijah.

Elijah was engaged in some conversation with Lily about a carriage.

"There are certain things you are to expect from me, and I won’t let you down. Even though you are still in denial of your feelings for me. I do not mind it since I will enjoy looking back on how hard you tried to fight your feelings," Tyrion said, enjoying the way she glared at him.

Penelope reminded him of a little kitten. A little dangerous kitten who knew how to shoot a gun.

He had to be careful with his approach since she would not hesitate to hurt him.

"I have already advised you to move on since I do not want to be queen. Why do you still court me?" Penelope wondered.

How was he so certain that they would be together?

"The court is a big part of the reason your father hates the palace. I need to start by getting rid of those men and then riding the palace of so many rules. I never want to make you stop being Penelope. You are adventurous, and I don’t want to see that part ruined," Tyriog said.

Penelope didn’t know how to respond.

Surely everyone would expect her to change her ways and be the perfect lady if she were to become queen, yet the future king was here speaking of letting her be as she was.

"Tyrion-"

"We meet again," Cassius said, approaching the group. "I thought I should apologise now that we are face to face and a guard doesn’t stand between us. Or so I thought," he changed as Elijah came forward.

"You must be Elijah Collins," Cassius said, extending his hand out for Elijah to shake.

Elijah looked down at the hand outstretched to him. Normally, he would have shaken it, but he didn’t like something about the fellow before him. "And you are?" Elijah asked.

Cassius smiled and placed his hand back at his side. He wasn’t offended that Elijah did not shake his hand. "I am Cassius Monroe. I am new to Lockwood, so it is nice to have someone close to my age to speak to. I am with my brother, but I lost sight of him."

"He’s the one whose carriage collided with us," Penelope shared.

Elijah immediately disliked Cassius now that he knew this, and Tyrion wished to know more about what Penelope spoke of.

"When was it that he hit your carriage, and why did he do it?" Tyrion inquired, his questions directed to Cassius.

Cassius sensed that the two men were not happy with him, so he stepped back. "It is a funny story."

"Enlighten me. I am a lover of jokes," Tyrion said, going closer to Cassius. He wasn’t close enough for anyone around them to be alarmed.

Cassius let out a nervous chuckle. He glanced at Penelope, who was the reason he came over to speak. "My horse was spooked by something and collided with your sister’s carriage. I was truly sorry about it and wanted to pay for the damages. I still want to."

"That won’t be needed," Elijah rejected the offer. "The carriage is already fixed and your apology accepted so there is no need for you to approach us again."

"I am off to a terrible start because of that accident. If that didn’t happen, you would adore me. Trust me," Cassius said, but the two men before him weren’t amused. "I would like to start over so we won’t be at odds. It would make it difficult for me to get closer to you."

Tyrion turned slightly, following Cassius’s gaze to Penelope.

Penelope was puzzled. "Me?"

"Yes, you. I was hoping to ask you to join me for the next dance. Will you?" Cassius asked, offering his hand to Penelope.