The Duke's Masked Wife 2: The Prince's Outcast Bride - Chapter 480

Chapter 480: Peaceful gathering (3)
“We were curious who was fixing up this old home, only to find out it is you and the prince. I’m happy you have come back. I know Lockwood is grand, but you are more suited for here, and it means that we get to see you more often,” said Sutton, a childhood friend of the Collins sisters.

“Are you going to do the garden? You have plenty of room to have a wide variety of flowers.”

“I am going to place many flowers, but I think it is best to wait. We have so many workers working all over, going through the garden makes it easier for them to take materials to the knight’s quarters,” Penelope explained.

“Knights, you say,” June said, lifting her cup to cover her mouth.

Penelope smiled as she shook her head. “Yes, there are a lot of knights here as well as guards from my father. They should be on the training grounds with my husband at this moment.”

“Yet you place us here where we cannot see them. Penelope, please think of us who are not married. The only men in uniforms we see are the town guards, and most of them are either old or boring. Give us something new to look at,” Sutton pleaded.

“The guards aren’t there for you to look at,” said Penelope.

“But I would be more inclined to listen if they were far more dashing. We see the same men each year. The knights would be a treat for our eyes since we are normally to keep our distance from men. Would you give us a little peep later?” Sutton asked whilst clasping her hands to plead.

Lily decided to help the ladies. “Come on, sister. Surely you don’t want to miss the chance to see your husband on the training grounds.”

“I get to see him training quite often, so I don’t yearn to see it. I might indulge you all a little since you are asking. You must be quiet when we go, or my husband might punish the knights if they become distracted,” said Penelope.

June pouted. “Are we not to thank them for their work?”

Sutton snickered. “I think we should.”

Penelope leaned to her right to cover Isabelle’s ears. “You must remember that there is a child present.”

Isabelle looked up from the pastries she had been eating. “I am not a child. My friends speak of the boys they like.”

“You speak of boys while we speak of men. One day, you will understand the difference. I’m a little afraid to see you grow up. You will always be my sweet little sister in my eyes,” Lily said, pinching Isabelle’s cheek.

Isabelle swatted Lily’s hand away. “I am not a child. How can you love me, but no longer be around me often these days?”

“We live together, Isabelle. How do I not spend time with you? I already explained that I will have moments away from you because it is still my season. I could have left you behind today, but I brought you along, did I not?” Lily asked.

“Penelope invited me!” Isabelle argued.

“Penelope inviting you and me bringing you along are two different matters. Enjoy your pastries,” Lily said, picking one up to place by Isabelle’s mouth.

“I hear a man is courting you. Is it Kael?” Sutton asked.

“It is. He came back just in time before I would forget about him. He is staying in town, so you will see him soon. He cannot stay long since he must go back to help his father, but he wants to return after,” Lily shared.

“You must be hoping to get engaged and married before he leaves,” said Sutton.

“I said it would be soon, but he spoke of having a home prepared as though he just knew that I would say yes to his proposal.”

“Lily, we all knew that you would say yes to his proposal,” Penelope said, causing the other ladies to laugh.

“You are not one to speak, Penelope. Must we go down the past about how you would never marry Tyrion? We are all predictable. Back to what you said,” Lily said, turning back to Sutton. “I still think it would be too fast for us to be engaged and married before he leaves. I want to let my mother experience the joys of preparing for a wedding.”

Lily didn’t care for a big wedding and would consider doing as Penelope did, but she thought of her mother. Lily knew for certain that her mother would support what she wanted, but she remembered how excited her mother was to speak of weddings.

“If she doesn’t get to witness my wedding, she will have to wait for Isabelle’s. It will be my gift to her before I leave her care. It will also be a moment for family and friends to be together. I am thinking too far ahead when he hasn’t proposed,” Lily said, letting go of her plans for a moment.

“Kael knows that you are a well-sought-after woman, and he could have lost you since he was late the first time. I do not believe he would leave without knowing your hand is his. I look forward to your new beginnings,” Penelope said, raising her teacup as a toast.

The other ladies followed suit.

“If you have a wedding, then that means there will be many men from the border present. I look forward to that more than seeing the knights train. If I am not engaged by then, I shall enjoy myself,” said Sutton.

“Were there not two men fighting for your hand when we left?” Penelope asked, remembering the small brawl.

“They were, but I grew bored with them focusing more on each other than me. I have more balls to attend. Since I will be stuck with the person I marry for the rest of my life, I want to be wise in my choice. I have heard too many bad tales of wives having regrets,” Sutton said, not wanting to be in that position.

“Well, if I notice you are going toward a man who doesn’t deserve you, I will tap you on your shoulder and wake you up. I know that you would do the same for me. The rest of us who are not married will find men who are suited for us, and a year from now, we shall sit here with our lives different,” June proposed.

“I agree,” Sutton said, looking forward to that day. “A year from now, you must host a gathering, Penelope.”

“I will make a note of it and plan it,” Penelope promised.