The Duke's Masked Wife 2: The Prince's Outcast Bride
Chapter 252: Return (3)

Chapter 252: Return (3)

"For me, it is a betrayal because your wife will be there. I don’t hate Cassidy, but my father has always kept us away from her. I believe there is a good reason," said Penelope.

"You are now able to do as you please. Get to know my wife without your father’s influence or what Priscilla has said," Edmund suggested.

"Grandmother doesn’t speak about your wife. It is mostly my father who wants to keep her away, and I will always respect what he wants. I do not mind having dinner if it is only you there," Penelope said, hopeful that it can be this way.

Penelope knew very little, but it was enough to understand why her father didn’t want Cassidy around.

Not only was Cassidy a known lover to Edmund while he was married to Priscilla, but she also tried to approach Edgar to act as his second mother.

"I will always be loyal to my grandmother, and I will not act like what you did was right," said Penelope.

"Penelope, this isn’t something you need to get involved in," Edmund replied

"You cannot keep saying that I am now old enough to make my own decisions, but then ask for me to stay out of family matters. I know what happened, and I will not ignore it, but I want to sit with you alone," said Penelope.

Penelope never once sat with Cassidy, and now wasn’t going to be the time that she started.

"Penelope, I cannot leave my wife out. She wants to finally meet you and wish you well," said Edmund.

"A letter will do, and haven’t you left your wife once before?" Penelope asked, knowing it was wrong, but it was the truth.

Edmund chuckled. "I see your father is rubbing off on you. Cassidy isn’t a bad woman. She has learned from the past and wants to properly introduce herself to the family. She has met with the other Collinses, and they have welcomed her."

"That isn’t a surprise. They wouldn’t like to go against you. Before you try to push for Cassidy to meet with us, shouldn’t you try to improve the relationship you have with my father?" Penelope asked, puzzled as to why Edmund didn’t try.

Edmund sighed.

If Edmund approached Edgar, it would only end in an argument and threats to end his life.

Edmund still remembered Edgar’s warning him to keep Cassidy away from the family. He had done so and even went as far as leaving Lockwood, but Edmund wanted to be closer to his family and the court.

"Your father and I will never be good again. I have returned to Lockwood to be closer to you and your siblings. I will arrange for dinner where it is only me," Edmund decided.

Truthfully, Edmund still planned to have Cassidy present so his grandchildren could finally meet her.

"Good," Penelope said, relaxed.

It was unfortunate that it had to be this way, but this was what Edmund chose. He chose Cassidy, and now he had her, but at a terrible price.

Penelope was curious if the separation between Priscilla and Edmund was handled better if it were all different now. Could Edmund and Priscilla be in the same room?

"If you miss Lockwood, then you should be here. I do advise you to stay out of my grandmother’s path. She doesn’t speak of you very often, so she might not hate you, but if you upset her, your time in Lockwood won’t be pleasant," said Penelope.

Penelope thought Edmund should think of Cassidy.

In Lockwood, Cassidy wasn’t going to be a match for Priscilla, even though Cassidy was now a Collins.

"I should speak to Lily," Edmund said, changing the topic. "I should speak to your mother as well," he said as he walked by Penelope.

Penelope turned and said, "You shouldn’t do that either."

Penelope worried that Edmund was going to underestimate how angry her father was and end up hurt.

Why would Edmund think it would be a wise idea to approach Alessandra?

Julie and Rue came to Penelope’s side now that Edmund was gone.

"Was that your grandfather?" Rue asked, seeing the similarity with the duke.

"It was. I fear there is going to be trouble in the future with his return to Lockwood. Why aren’t our grandparents all as wise as they claim to be? It is frustrating to have to direct them to do what is good," Penelope said, her gaze fixed on Edmund.

Penelope’s family had finally gotten over the recent drama, and there was still the mystery of the murders which needed to be solved.

Edmund’s arrival was bad timing.

"Do you not care for him?" Rue asked.

"I do care for him, but there is trouble with his wife. It is fine for him to be with the one he loves, but he cannot force her on others. Should we go on a trip to get away from our grandparents? We deserve a break," said Penelope.

"I will gladly join you," Julie answered.

"I love my grandparents, but I can join you as well," said Rue.

Rue wanted to be anywhere but Lockwood at the moment.

"So, Rue. Can you tell us how you would injure someone so badly with a fork that they would stop talking?" Penelope asked, moving on from Edmund.

"You must aim for their throat. It is a trick one of my guards taught me, but I was told never to do it. I wasn’t going to harm her. Scaring her was enough to satisfy me," said Rue.

For a group of women who liked to trouble others so much, Rue thought the ladies here should know how to fight. Either with the guns that are talked about quite often or with their hands, at least.

"If you want to scare all the ladies here, you only need to show them one of your pets. A spider is enough to clear the palace. I am starting to see why you love spiders so much," said Penelope.

"Would you like one?" Rue asked, excited that someone shared her interest.

"No," Penelope replied. "I will scare myself if I have a spider, and I don’t know what Tyrion would think of it. I do think of getting another pet, but I have not decided."

"You must get another," Rue encouraged Penelope.

"Then I will. I am no longer with my father to think of how much he would hate it. Surely, Tyrion would love for our home to be filled with pets. If he doesn’t, I should get rid of him to make more room for pets," Penelope said, partially as a joke.