The Duke's Masked Wife 2: The Prince's Outcast Bride-Chapter 148: Genuine friendships (1)

After her visit to see Priscilla, Penelope escorted Rue to the town market to have a look around.

Penelope was tired of staying at home, and it was time that Rue got the chance to look around whilst she was away from her father.

"Is your marriage truly so important that they must stare?" Rue asked, noticing the looks they received. "I am amazed by it each time."

"Again, it has been like this long before I married Tyrion. I have learned to ignore it. Rue, you don’t have to act like anyone here. You can be yourself," Penelope advised Rue.

Penelope knew well that Rue could protect herself from the women and men here. She was holding back.

"It is time that we start reporting the people who refer to you as a savage or barbarian. There are consequences for it, which could result in them being taken away by the town guards. Or, you can handle the matter yourself," Penelope suggested.

"I have been itching to do something about the ladies troubling us. From now on, I won’t hold back," said Rue.

"You shouldn’t. Now that you have danced with my brother, some will target you. Do as you wish. I would love for you to dance with him again to break their hearts once more," Penelope said, smiling at the thought of it.

"They will enjoy learning that Elijha only danced with me to make me feel better. I am grateful for it because I can tell my sisters that I danced at a ball again. Your brother is kind," Rue said.

Penelope frowned. "He is a good brother, but let us not overdo it. I don’t think it might be all about him helping you. I could be wrong, but he seemed smitten by your beauty. You turn heads wherever you go."

"I don’t think there was more to the dance for both of us. Elijah is my friend, just as Teo is my friend. My father has made it quite clear that no marriage will be formed between Teo and me. They are upsetting him," Rue revealed.

"It is hard to think of a time when I saw your father angry with anyone. I hope he gets rid of the court for speaking so terribly of his people. They all deserve to die," Penelope said.

"Oh!" Penelope smiled upon seeing a friend. "Julie! Lady Eleanor!"

Penelope guided Rue to where Julie stood with her mother.

"Lady Penelope," Eleanor curtsied. "Or should I say Princess Penelope?"

"I prefer Penelope since we are close. I do not feel like I have become a princess," Penelope answered.

"You look like one to me, and beside you is Princess Rue," Eleanor said, pleased to see Rue.

Eleanor was a long-time friend of the duchess. They were close to seeing each other as family.

"Mother, can I walk with Rue and Penelope if they allow it?" Julie asked.

"I have some business to tend to, so you may," Eleanor replied. "Don’t wander away from Penelope’s side, and please, don’t go near the red light district. Your father will not be happy. I will take a look at your dress."

"I won’t wander," Julie promised as her mother walked away.

"A dress? She has convinced you to attend a ball?" Penelope asked, surprised. Still, she looked forward to attending gatherings with Julie.

"No," Julie shook her head. "We are to meet with my grandmother, so my mother wants to give me a new dress. I am not looking forward to the talks about marriage with my grandmother. She already thinks little of me."

"Why would she? I have always heard that Lady Chambers adores you and Ally. Have I heard wrong?" Penelope wondered.

"It is partly wrong. She is more fond of Ally than she is of me. Perhaps it is because Ally is more ladylike and wishes to marry. She accepted my mother into the family, but she does not enjoy her ties to the red light district," Julie said, smiling though it bothered her.

Julie linked her arms with Penelope’s and Rue’s arms so they could walk closely. "I have already accepted that she is more fond of Ally. If only there were a way to get out of the sit-down, but I cannot abandon my mother. Are you here for dresses as well?"

"No more dresses. Please," Rue pleaded.

"I agree with you. No more of the shoes pinching our toes as well. Let us get far away from here. My mother is meeting with Erin now, and I don’t want to be around when she wants me to be measured," Julie said, looking for something fun to do.

The mention of Erin made Penelope look at the dress shop. Penelope was able to get a glimpse of Eleanor entering the shop.

"We should see what treats are around," Penelope said, sharing Julie’s need to get away.

Inside Erin’s dress shop, Eleanor entered and looked around.

It was from her husband that Eleanor learned of what occurred between Erin and Alessandra.

"Welcome!" Eleanor heard Erin’s voice.

"Oh," Erin said, her smile falling into a frown.

"You were making a dress for Julie. I’ve come to collect it and look at others she might be able to get. Am I not to be here?" Eleanor asked, noticing Erin’s hesitation.

"You can be here. I thought you wouldn’t come since my friendship with Alessandra is slipping away," said Erin.

"So I have heard. You and I are friends. That hasn’t ended because of your issues with Alessandra, but I cannot deny that I am disappointed with you. This is unlike you, so I have come to talk. Can we?" Eleanor asked.

Erin looked around. The shop was empty due to the time of day, and by some luck, Dale was not present.

"You may," Erin answered, walking to the door to lock it.

"I want to know if this is what you want or what your husband wants. You do remember that you owe Alessandra, right? When we all met Alessandra, she had the rumours of a curse to her name, but we all became friends. Are you truly concerned about your business?" Eleanor asked, suspecting there was more to be said.

Eleanor also had a flourishing business as an author, but she could not let it ruin a friendship she cherished.

It was hard to find friends who accepted you as you are and supported your dreams. Erin shouldn’t lose such a supportive circle.

"Dale thinks-"

"Dale? He is your husband, but why is he so involved in matters of your business? Does he not understand your friendship with Alessandra? Does he not know how you got your start and all this?" Eleanor pointed at the shop. "She has generously paid us well over the years."

"Have you forgotten?" Eleanor wondered.

"I have not. Dale is now in my business. It is his work as well," said Erin.

"This is your shop. You are the one doing all the hard work, not him. I don’t recall your father being involved in your mother’s work. Is there something I should know?" Eleanor inquired.

"Is Reed part of what you do with your books? Does he not help you?"

"He offers me money and reads something if I ask, but that is all. He has his work, and I have mine. What happened to Dale’s work?" Eleanor asked, finding it odd that he abandoned it to work here.

"He has stopped it to help me here. It wasn’t earning enough, so my mother wasn’t pleased. I thought it was best that he earn from here," Erin revealed.

The 𝘮ost uptodat𝑒 novels are pub𝙡ished on fre(e)webno(v)el.𝒸𝑜𝘮