The Duke's Masked Wife 2: The Prince's Outcast Bride - Chapter 490

Chapter 490: Epilogue
Over a year later, Penelope kept her promise to her friends. Penelope invited the ladies to her home for a gathering so they could reunite and speak of what was new in their lives.

Rue and Julie were fortunate to be able to travel from Lockwood, and Lily was in town.

“Can I stay here tonight? I will leave once grandmother Priscilla arrives in the morning. Please let me stay,” Isabelle pleaded with her hands clasped.

“As long as you don’t cause any trouble, you can stay. The room you use should be vacant. I will have to inform Winston that you will be staying. I should find him now. Oh, there will be no staying awake all night,” Penelope warned Isabelle.

Penelope was in dire need of rest.

Isabelle nodded her head, but her fingers were crossed behind her back.

On her way to find the butler, Penelope stumbled upon Elijah, and right away, her heart sank.

“Elijah, for the love of me, I will never understand why you hold him as though he is not fragile,” Penelope said, concerned about the way her nephew was held. “Please be careful with his head.”

“You should see how Rue holds him. Leonard is safest with me,” Elijah said, adjusting how he held his son.

“Then I fear leaving him alone with the two of you. If our mother sees you holding him like that again, you’ll receive an earful from her. You can tell me honestly. You laid with Rue before you wed, and I am staring at the reason for the rushed wedding,” Penelope said, paying close attention to Elijah’s expression.

It was about time in Penelope’s eyes that Elijah admitted it.

“I don’t speak on your marriage-”

“You always speak about my marriage. You speak of Lily and mine. Speaking of our sister, you must avoid her. A pregnant Lily is one we should all avoid. We need to leave her with Kael at all times,” said Penelope.

“She should be most angry with you since you were the one to invite her from the comfort of her home to come here. I am free from her wrath,” Elijah said, leaving Penelope to fend for herself.

“She could have said no. She was the one to write that she was missing us. I shall stay clear of her, or when she comes near, I will use Leonard as a shield. I would like you to answer honestly. Why is it that the Count is here?” Penelope wondered.

Penelope heard from both Julie and Ally that the Count had been near simply for Julie, but more than a year had gone by, and there wasn’t a proposal. In the Chamber family, Ally was the only one to get married last season.

“You should tell me. You are the one who sent out the invitations,” Elijah replied.

“I did, but there wasn’t a count on any. He showed up right after the Chambers, and since he is Tyrion’s friend, he was allowed inside. If he is going to chase Julie so far and so long, why doesn’t he propose?”

“Because Julie is making him work hard for her hand. He’s enjoying it because he doesn’t have anything better to do. I heard she was worried about her background tarnishing him. I walked in on those two kissing, so she might give in soon,” Elijah said, not worried about the couple. “Where is your husband?”

“Where is your wife?” Penelope asked.

“She wanted to take a look at your horses. I am giving her a little break from tending to Leonard. When we leave here, it is unfortunate that we must go to the border. I enjoy seeing her family, but there is always a concoction for me to drink,” Elijah said, close to vomiting merely from the thought.

“Didn’t the first one you drink help you and Rue to conceive Leonard-”

“I didn’t need any help,” Elijah snapped.

“Well, tell that to your in-laws and not me. I hope you are prepared for what they will have you drink. While you are drinking it, do not think of sending any to Tyrion. It took days to get that smell out of my home. I am going to find my husband,” Penelope said, leaving Elijah’s side so he could sulk in peace.

Penelope walked inside her home, taking a moment away from entertaining her guest. Penelope took her time walking to the upstairs room where she knew Tyrion was seated.

Penelope knocked on the door, which was decorated with bows her mother had painted, and then she opened the door.

In the corner of the room, Tyrion sat near the window. He gazed down upon the guests in his home and was quiet not to disturb the peace in the room.

“We have guests to greet, Tyrion. You cannot stay in here all day and leave the task to me,” said Penelope.

“You are welcome to join me, but you would rather be with the guests. I had to open the window to let air inside. I think it closed on its own. I should fix it,” Tyrion said, examining the window to find the issue.

“Is that the truth or another excuse to stay here longer? Elijah might soon come to place Leonard here to rest. A maid will come to watch them sleep, so you should take this moment to have fun. She is sleeping,” Penelope said, leaning over the cradle to look at her daughter.

Penelope fixed the blanket, which was a gift from Priscilla, and moved the doll gifted by Hazel closer.

Penelope smiled as she gazed upon her daughter, Anya Castro.

“Your brother is trying to compete with us. I just know it. He just had to let our children be quite close in age. Thankfully, Anya is months older,” Tyrion said, feeling like he had won.

“I don’t mind it. She should have many cousins around her age to play with. I want her to have siblings so she could experience what we did, but not now,” Penelope said, before Tyrion could suggest it.

Tyrion came to stand beside Penelope to hold her hand.

“When the time comes for another, we should get what is sent to Elijah-”

“Absolutely not. All we need for the two of us to have a baby is to be alone,” said Tyrion.

“Perhaps. I hope she will grow to love the family she is in. She doesn’t have the faintest idea what awaits her. A child with Castro and Collins blood. How exciting,” Penelope said, looking forward to what would be next for her family.