The Duke's Masked Wife 2: The Prince's Outcast Bride-Chapter 151: Returning gifts (1)

"It is quite the mystery. There are many people around the town from whom her family could have gotten money, and most of them might have some conflict with your father. You should tell him about this," said Julie.

"I am quite certain my father already knows. He has better ways of discovering what is important, and Tyrion is with him today. I promised my mother I would not get involved," Penelope said, but she was finding it hard to do.

"We can help. It is not like we will go searching around the town for anyone. We are simply trying to find clues to direct your father and husband to them. It would be wonderful if we could solve it," Julie said, thinking of how it would be a wonderful story.

"We have Rue with us, you know how to use a gun, and my father has given me a few lessons on how to protect myself. We will be fine," said Julie.

"You must be careful with what you say. Damien is my guard, but I know he is more loyal to Tyrion," Penelope said, looking over her shoulder at her guards.

Damien was watching the ladies and listening closely to every word they spoke.

Damien already concluded that Penelppe surrounded herself with a troublesome group. It was a strange group, yet it made sense.

Julie looked back at Damien. "You are not to repeat what you heard your lady say."

"I am to report any trouble she finds along her path, even if she is the one to cause it," Damien replied.

"Well, we will need to replace him," Julie concluded. "We need someone who will not report to Tyrion. My father and uncle would report back to the duke."

"I don’t need to change my guard since I won’t be placing myself in trouble. I will leave it to Tyrion or my father to solve. I love an adventure, but not one with a murderer involved," said Penelope.

"Those are the best," Rue said.

"Rue, I am curious. Since your sister will lead the border, what will you do in time?" Penelope asked.

"I will be in her circle and lead the army if I want to. We are all trained to protect ourselves. It would have been wonderful if I could have been a knight like my father, but it will not happen. I am yet to figure out what I want," Rue replied.

"I am right here with you, since I do not know what I want. I am not ready to become anyone’s wife. Luckily, my parents do not push for it, but my grandmother is traditional and wants it to happen soon. Perhaps I should run away," Julie considered.

Rue thought it was a wonderful idea. "You can come with me to the border. I will take care of you."

"Are you proposing to me?" Julie joked, careful not to let it be overheard.

"Do you wish for me to?" Rue replied, noticing Julie’s blush. "Does that occur here?"

"No," Penelope shook her head. "Not unless you want the people here to yell about how you have sinned. They will shame any couple who does it publicly. Why is everyone around the town?" She muttered. freёweɓnovel_com

Cassius smiled as he approached Penelope and her companions.

Cassius had been longing for the moment he would see Penelope again. It was upsetting when he learned of her marriage.

"Lady Penelope," Cassius greeted Penelope. He took off his hat so she could see his face. "You have changed from Miss Collins to Castro before I had a chance to court you. Was my gift not sufficient for you to consider me a lover?"

Penelope placed her hands at her side to avoid Cassius’s attempts to hold them for a kiss. She did not need such a greeting from him.

"I did not need to receive a grand gift to decide who would be my husband. I chose with love. You are lucky that such a trick might work on other ladies around the town," said Penelope. "Go court them."

"It is not other ladies I have my heart set on," Cassius replied. "You have captured my attention from the start."

Cassius paid close attention to the guards standing behind Penelope. They were not fond of him, and they shouldn’t be.

If Cassisu were ever presented with the chance to steal Penelope away from Tyrion, he would do it and keep her out of sight. Penelope acted too fast by getting married to Tyrion. She missed the chance to be with a man who knew how to deal with her.

"And I have declined your hand each time you stepped before me. I am a married woman who doesn’t care about what could have happened. Set your interest elsewhere," Penelope advised Cassius.

Penelope continued on her walk, only for Cassius to follow her.

"I noticed you did not send back my carriage to me. You don’t want my hand, yet you would keep my carriage? I didn’t think a woman of your upbringing would need to hold onto a carriage. Should I send you another?" Cassius asked.

Was Tyrion unable to provide for her?

"I do not need your carriage. It would have been quite easy for me to return had I known where you lived. The carriage is long gone. Since it was a gift, I had every right to do what I wanted-"

"Your jealous husband got rid of it, didn’t he?" Cassius asked, expecting such behaviour from Tyrion. "I didn’t know he was so threatened by me. I didn’t have many conversations with him, so I am surprised. I would have liked it back."

"It was a gift. You cannot ask for it back," Penelope replied.

This was why Penelope did not want to keep any extravagant gifts sent to her. Most of the time, the sender wouldn’t do without them.

Penelope didn’t get the feeling that Cassius was a man without money, but he was being petty to ask about the carriage and wanting it back.

"If you would like to speak about it, approach my husband instead of me. If you are afraid to speak with him, then you don’t have any business speaking to me. I do not like the way you show up before me," Penelope said, finding Cassius to be suspicious.

Where did Cassius come from? Why was he finding his way before her?

Penelope noted to ask if anyone had found out where Cassius resided.

With all that was happening around the town, Penelope didn’t trust many of the people she knew, so she was even more wary of a stranger.

"I was not stalking you if that is what you were thinking. I am here with my brother. He wanted a day out around the town, so I joined him. I don’t think you have been introduced. Quinn!" Cassius called out to his brother.

Penelope didn’t want to speak with Cassius’s brother, but she looked to see the face of the brother she would avoid in the future.

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