Penelope greeted the host and then found a seat out of the way from the other groups. Lily sat down beside her, looking for their friends.
"Their gazes are starting to become too much. I can't tell if they are looking at us or mother. I hope none of them would be so foolish as to bring up the woman from the ball. Mother has nothing to do with it," said Lily.
"You should avoid their gazes. The more you look, the more their chatter will continue. We should have Uncle Caleb block them," Penelope said, glancing at the guard standing close to her mother.
"He is not your uncle," Reed, Caleb's twin, said.
"I think of you as my uncle since you are always near. Should I tell Aunt Eleanor you are the reason I won't call her aunt anymore?" Penelope asked, referring to Reed's wife.
"You'll have her throw the same books she writes at me. You know she has a temper sometimes," said Reed.
"I recall you saying that you fell in love with the banter you had with her. We can help to keep that banter alive," Lily said, knowing how to get Eleanor riled up. "Is there something we don't know about? Why are they watching us so intently? Did Elijah find a wife and not tell us?"
"You are always stared at. It won't be long before you get your answer," Reed replied, keeping careful watch of the guests.
Reed's right hand rested on his weapon as a group of young women approached.
"Lily! Penelope! It is my lucky day to see you attending a gathering," Amelia said, claiming a seat beside Lily. "I didn't get the chance to speak to you at the ball. It has been so long since we last talked."
Penelope didn't see a need for them to speak since they were not friends, and the fake chatter to socialise was draining. It was all the same talk about men, dresses or other young ladies who weren't seen as fortunate.
Penelope stayed quiet to let Lily deal with this one.
From the corner of her eye, Penelope noticed someone staring at her intently. She looked back at the young woman, who averted her gaze when their eyes met.
'Who is she again?' Penelope wondered.
Many of the young women present came from other towns so they could spend the season in Lockwood, and since Penelope had recently returned with her family, she was not yet introduced to everyone.
Penelope thought nothing of it since it wasn't the first time someone tried to hide that they were staring. Instead of engaging with the others, she kept an eye on her mother, who still spoke to the host.
Penelope smiled when her mother looked her way. 'I shouldn't make her worry,' she thought.
Penelope turned her attention back to the group, who were now complimenting the necklace Lily wore.
Amelia looked at Penelope, who once again acted like she was well above everyone here. "Penelope, there is talk that you had the prince's attention. Is the prince going to pick you?"
"That is a question you must ask the prince. I am Penelope Collins, not Tyrion Castro. I cannot speak for him," Penelope replied.
Amelia kept her anger at bay. "Still, has the prince done anything that would lead you to believe he wishes to marry you?"
"Be straight with it. Say that you want to know if you can continue to court him, and you can. It has not been announced that the prince has selected a wife. I'm sure you will all get the chance with him at the next ball he attends," said Penelope.
"Well, it is hard to have a chance with him when you are near. Perhaps you don't notice how much of his time you take up. I was watching the prince last night, so I noticed you came from the same direction as him with your father," Amelia revealed.
Amelia hated to think there could have been a proposal made. She would not allow Penelope to ruin this for her, and then need to be set up with one of the men visiting her father.
"Your issue lies with the prince, does it not?" Lily asked, annoyed with the conversation. "If you were in my sister's position, you would be flaunting how you have his attention."
"I must remind you of the prince's birthday ball when you had a moment to dance with him and kept appearing at his side. What is the difference? Many were courting him then, so they would have better chances now," said Lily.
"We are all only curious if your sister has the same interest in the prince. It is best we know so we can turn our attention to another gentleman," Amelia said, the other women agreeing with her.
"I don't have any interest in the prince right now, but if you need me out of the way so the prince will notice you, I suggest you move on now," Penelope advised the young woman.
"We could do that, or you could simply pass the prince on to someone else-"
"Why would I do that?" Penelope interjected. "Why must I burden myself by sending him into the arms of one of you? I don't have a rope around the prince to keep him from you, and I will not be constantly moving around to please you."
"Of course you would not do that," Amelia said, looking at the other young ladies. "Some have said that you are not too friendly. I have tried to speak on your behalf, but it is hard to defend you."
"I'm sure it is hard when you are the one leading the gossip," Penelope responded.
Penelope knew very well that Amelia disliked her more than anyone else present because Amelia was obsessed with the prince. She had very few interactions with Amelia, but the few that she did have involved Amelia speaking about Tyrion.
Amelia placed her hand on her chest, offended by Penelope's words. "I have been speaking kindly of you, and each one of the ladies standing here can vouch for that. I excuse your behaviour as you are not being social. It is something you inherited from your mother."
"Oh," Amelia gasped. "I shouldn't speak about your mother. I quite enjoy being able to walk."
"You must be better if you want to get me riled up. I understand why the prince has little to no interest in you. Take your jealousy elsewhere," Penelope said as she stood up. "Arguing with you bores me. It is like speaking to my younger sister when she can't have her way."
"If he will have you, you can have the prince," Penelope offered. "I don't want him, so enough with your jealousy."
Amelia scoffed. "I am not jealous. If you haven't heard, I am the most sought-after woman of the season. Though I am here, my father receives gifts from men who want my hand. I do not need you to offer me the prince."
"Very well. Then I don't need to avoid him if he comes near, just so you can have a chance to speak with him. I wish I could say it was lovely speaking to you, but this was quite painful. It is tiring for our conversations to be about men who are not around. Lily," Penelope said, helping her sister up.
"Our mother, who doesn't socialise, but was able to find a Duke who continues to love her, is waiting for us. Excuse us," Penelope said, walking by Amelie with Lily at her side.