The Duke's Masked Wife 2: The Prince's Outcast Bride - Chapter 486

Chapter 486: Reunited (1)
Time soon went by quickly for the couple. Tyrion adjusted to the quiet surroundings and became well-acquainted with the men he was introduced to during his outings with Penelope.

Tyrion was fortunate to have his parents visit, and on some occasions, Tyrion and Penelope returned to Lockwood to be with Teo.

Now, with a few weeks gone, Penelope arranged for everyone to gather at her home for a ball. It would be the first official ball held by the Castros in their home.

Penelope was lost in a crowd of servants as she looked over every detail with Winston and Matilda, trying to ensure that nothing would go wrong tonight.

Penelope had the pleasure of welcoming the Callahans on their way back from the border as they made their way to the palace, so she wanted the night to go well.

“Breathe, Penelope. You’ve been planning for days. It will all go as you planned,” Tyrion said, approaching Penelope to kiss her forehead.

“Thank you, but you shouldn’t say this out loud. I fear you might jinx your words. It is the first time in a while that everyone will be together. It is not a mere sit-down with ladies or dinner, it is a ball. If it doesn’t go well, who would want to attend another?” Penelope asked.

“You carry the royal name. If the ball were not to go well, which it won’t, people would still come because they want to see royals. Keep yourself in a good mood. The guests will notice if you are panicking. Your family is here,” Tyrion said, thankful for their early arrival.

The arrival of the Collins family should calm Penelope.

Penelope sighed in relief when she saw her family enter.

“Elijah, it’s about time you leave the estate and come here. Were you hiding from me, or were you sitting around being in poor spirits?” Penelope asked as she greeted Elijah with her arms open wide, awaiting a hug.

Lily appeared to the right of Elijah and said, “It is the latter. Rue hasn’t arrived at the time she said she would, so he must be starting to think she no longer cares for him. I have been trying to assure him that we would hear news of her marriage if there was a wedding. Sir Rafael would have written to father.”

“I do not think they would exclude us from the wedding. I would have been open to travelling to the border to see the wedding. Wouldn’t you?” Penelope asked, moving on to hug Lily.

“I would. It is much closer to where I will be living shortly,” Lily replied.

Elijah regretted leaving the comfort of his home to be at his sisters’ side. “Why must the two of you be like this?”

Penelope and Lily both smiled. “We have lost time troubling you to make up for.”

“I am certain she will be here today. Her sister is officially the leader of the border, and Rue always spoke of wanting to be present for that moment. Let her enjoy her few weeks there, since she will be at your side more,” Penelope said whilst patting Elijah’s arm to comfort him.

“Rue and I write letters to each other. Why do all of you think that I am sitting around doing nothing other than longing for her? I have an estate that takes up plenty of his time,” Elijah said, tired of the fake assumptions.

“Writing letters to each other and having her here is different. We all know that you might try to steal a horse and ride to the border if she doesn’t show up tonight. I urge you not to let it be my horse. Now, you,” Penelope turned to Lily.

Elijah took this time to walk away before their attention could be placed back onto him.

Penelope lifted Lily’s hand to look at the ring she wore. “How are the preparations for the wedding? Kael will soon be back, won’t he?”

“He will be, and I will need to have it all sorted by then. Everything concerning the wedding is done thanks to mother, but it is the packing to leave that brings trouble. He says I don’t need to bring anything, but I must. Right?” Lily asked, thinking it wouldn’t be right to show up empty-handed.

“I would take the things I cherish. If he says you don’t need to bring anything, then he must have many gifts prepared for when you arrive. You must be relieved that his parents are coming to town so his mother can be involved in the planning,” said Penelope.

“I am. I didn’t think it would be fair for only my mother to be involved. I am going to have a family dinner before the wedding. These days, I am nervous about my face. If something happens before the wedding? Would you take my place?” Lily asked, reaching for Penelope’s hands.

Penelope placed Lily’s hands back at her side. “Kael must return soon since you are saying something silly. I cannot take your place, and I can think of many good reasons why. First, starting with my husband, who wouldn’t be pleased, and neither would I.”

“Don’t you think if we never tell them, they would never suspect it?”

“Tyrion has never assumed you are me, and I can think of one time Kael made that mistake. Everyone would know. You must calm yourself, Lily. Have a glass of whatever is closest to you and be calm,” Penelope said, close to giving Lily a pinch to help her think properly.

“We should have a glass together. Surely, you prepared the best for tonight,” Lily said, deciding to have fun.

“On second thought, you shouldn’t drink, and I cannot join you. Mother!” Penelope called Alessandra.

“Why, why, why?” Lily repeated as Penelope walked around her. “Tyrion!”

“Lily,” Tyrion returned the greeting.

“It will not happen, but if I were to switch places with Penelope at my wedding, should there be something wrong with my appearance, would you allow it?” Lily asked.

“Yes, I can help you turn the wedding into a funeral if that is what you are asking. No other man is going to kiss my wife. Does that help you?” Tyrion replied with a smile.

“It does,” Lily nodded. There couldn’t be a death at a wedding she spent too much time planning. “I am going to take better care of myself.”

“That would be best. If he loves you, he shouldn’t care how you look at the wedding.”

“It is not about simply looking good for him. I am nervous,” Lily confessed. “And there is no good explanation for why I am feeling this way.”

“You want it to go well since it will be a memory you hold onto for years. It will go well as long as you don’t come up with more foolish ideas,” Tyrion promised.