The Duke's Masked Wife 2: The Prince's Outcast Bride-Chapter 192: Warm embrace (5)

Late in the hours of the night, Penelope rested her head on Tyrion’s chest. She stared at the window, which was not pulled to hide the sky.

The cackling noise of the fire filled the room.

Penelope moved her finger in a circular motion on Tyrion’s chest.

"You should get some rest," said Tyrion.

"I’m not tired yet," Penelope replied. "How was your visit to the palace?"

"It was like other days. I spoke with all my family, and while I was there, news of another body was announced. This time, it is a man," Tyrion revealed.

"A man? I thought you were looking into young ladies with financial issues? Now you must look into men? This man," Penelope said, her heart filled with worry. "He wasn’t dressed to look like my father, was he?"

It was already concerning enough that the women were dressed to be like the duchess, so Penelope didn’t want it to be added that her father was involved.

"I do not know. I will learn more about it as the days go on. No one is safe right now," Tyrion said, once again thinking of increasing Penelope’s guards. "You need another guard."

"That is already taken care of. Julie’s brother, Brendon, will come to us soon. He has trained under his father, and I once thought he would work for my father, but he has chosen to come here. Perhaps to be away from his father," said Penelope.

Tyrion knew of Brendon, but he didn’t know how skilled he was at protecting Penelope.

"Did anything else happen in the palace? How was your talk with your mother?" Penelope asked.

"It went well. My mother has a surprising side to her. My father spoke of sending my grandmother out of town, but I don’t believe she will go. She’ll fight this until she takes her last breath," Tyrion said, expecting to hear of his grandmother still in town in a few days.

"Don’t sit with her again. You won’t get through to her. My mother never did, and though I know you sometimes have a good effect on people, you won’t succeed with her. Do it for me and not sit with her so I don’t worry," said Tyrion.

"I won’t. I have already left it to Priscilla to speak with Tabitha. Julie informed me that talk about my curse is being replaced with talk about the murders. It is unfortunate that because of her husband, Erin is now targeted," Penelope shared.

Tyrion looked at Penelope. "What do you mean?"

Penelope rolled to lie on her stomach. "Dale’s brother Kyle was once friends with Simon. I don’t think they were aware of what he did, but the town suspects him, and Dale knows who is behind the new deaths. Erin will lose a lot of customers because of this."

"Good," Tyrion replied, not caring what became of Erin.

"Tyrion."

"I won’t care for anyone who turns their backs on you. I won’t pity what she faces now. They didn’t care when it was you in that position," Tyrion reminded Penelope. "She no longer makes the dresses for my sister and mother."

Tyrion cared greatly about loyalty.

"She is not a bad woman," Penelope said, but she understood why Tyrion felt as he did.

"That may be true, but it doesn’t change that she turned her back on you in your time of need. I won’t get in the way of you rekindling your relationship with her, but I will never trust her. There are plenty of dressmakers in town waiting for their chance," Tyrion said, seeing no reason to wait for Erin.

"I can escort you tomorrow to find someone new to make your dresses," Tyrion offered.

In Tyrion’s eyes, Penelope didn’t need to rely on the dressmaker her family had used for years. She could find her own or perhaps plenty.

"I will spoil you tomorrow," Tyrion decided.

Penelope didn’t need a new dress at the moment since her mother had plenty made before the season started, but she wouldn’t turn down the chance to go into town with Tyrion.

"That is wonderful timing. I was thinking of painting again. Besides looking after our home, I don’t have anything to do when there are no guests. Once I have the supplies, I can invite my mother and sisters over to paint," Penelope planned.

"I hear your mother is talented at painting, but I recall you once showing me paintings that you made. I couldn’t make out what you painted," Tyrion joked.

Penelope poked Tyrion’s side. "That is not true. I might not be as good as my mother, but I am good. I’ll have enough time to become better. I need something to do with my time when I am here alone. Perhaps I should think of a way to make money."

"Don’t worry about money, Penelope. I will take care of the two of us. I’ve already looked into what would be most profitable for me to put my money into-"

"It is our money," Penelope corrected Tyrion.

"I won’t touch what your father has given you. Do what you want with it, and I won’t mind. I will use what I have to take care of us both. I’ll pay the servants and the knights," Tyrion said, since he planned to do it from the start.

"I do not like the idea of you doing everything alone when I can also provide. I know men are expected to provide, but I have enough to help, and I want to. You must let me. I won’t take no for an answer," said Penelope.

Penelope was given plenty of money from her father. It was so much that she didn’t know what she was going to do with most of it. They should enjoy it while they are still alive and then work together to decide on how money will continue to flow into their home.

"Your father has given me money as well and plenty of ideas for how to make more. It is kind of you to make the offer, but I will take care of you. It is not that I don’t want your help, but I would like to do my duty as your husband. You should sleep," Tyrion said, putting the matter to rest for now.

Penelope didn’t respond, but she already thought of ways to take the burden off of Tyrion.

Visit freewe𝑏nove(l).𝐜𝐨𝗺 for the 𝑏est n𝘰vel reading experience