Reed pulled Penelope away from the edge. It was long overdue for Penelope to leave where they stood. He knew very well why Penelope was so hellbent on saving the young woman.
Penelope walked with Reed to get away from the balcony.
Instead of focusing on the accusations that she had pushed someone, Penelope was thinking of who could have something against her family to do this. Who could put someone up to fall from a high place to get the attention of the Collins or to place them in a bad light?
"Penelope!" Alessandra called out to her daughter.
Alessandra approached Penelope with Lily and Lady Thea at her side.
"Where is she?" Thea asked, searching for the young woman Lily spoke of. "Did she!" Thea gasped, her right hand covering her mouth.
"She jumped," Penelope softly shared.
Thea walked by Penelope to see where the young lady fell. The gathering was over now that this had happened.
Lily noticed her sister's state. It was unfortunate that Penelope was the one closest to this since they had not long ago lost a dear friend who also could not be saved from her wish to end her life.
There was regret on both their sides that they had not noticed their late friend's sadness since it was well hidden.
"You did your best to help her," Lily said, hoping this would not greatly affect Penelope.
"It is not that which troubles me. I don't think we should be here anymore, mother. Someone put her up to do this, and if this is the length they would go to frame me, it isn't safe," Penelope said, snapping out of the shock.
"Caleb, inform Lady Thea of our departure. Reed, take the girls out toward the carriage and under no circumstances are you to let anyone approach them. I will join you in a moment," Alessandra said, turning to leave, but her hand was held. "Penelope, I will join you soon."
"I don't want you to make the same mistake I did," Penelope said, apologetic for falling into the trap so easily.
Alessandra touched Penelope's face. "That was not a mistake. You saw someone in need of help and tried to offer your hand. I would have done the same. For now, I want you to go with Reed to the carriage. I will be there soon."
Alessandra needed to think of the entire situation. She had to get her daughters to safety, but at the same time, she needed to see the face of the young woman who fell. Everything which occurred today needed to be passed on to Edgar.
Penelope let go of her mother's hand and followed the orders to head to the carriage.
Reed blocked anyone trying to approach the twins as he took them to the carriage and got them seated before he went back to guarding the door.
There was silence for a moment, but then Lily decided to speak.
"I hope this doesn't make you think of-"
"I do not. Faye was hurting while this person used a terrible situation to accuse me of something I didn't do. She yelled that I was hurting her, and the guests accused me of pushing her. I heard it," Penelope revealed.
"It is not in your heart to push anyone," Lily replied.
"They claim not to know how my heart is, so I am sure they enjoy gossiping now. What could someone have against our family for them to go this far? To put someone up to this?" Penelope wondered.
Penelope could only think of her cousin. He was the only one, as of late, to voice his dislike of the family and sounded like he was plotting something, but what power could he have to do this?
"I cannot think of anyone unless there is something mother and father have been hiding from us. Other than the old stories they told us, there is only what happened at the ball. What is happening?" Lily asked, worried their lives were about to be disturbed.
Penelope looked out of the carriage window, waiting for her mother's return.
It wasn't long before Penelope spotted her mother returning with Lady Thea.
Alessandra was helped into the carriage, and after the guards went to their seats, they took off for the Collins estate.
"Her name is Sarah, and she is alive, but she is hurt badly from the way she landed. She is crying out that Penelope got upset with her and later found her to push her. None of it makes sense, and, strangely, Lady Thea isn't familiar with this young woman," said Alessandra.
It was a setup in Alessandra's eyes, and the story being told made no sense, but as usual, the town ignored this and focused on having something to speak about.
"What did she say?" Alessandra asked.
"She spoke of a man putting her up to this and having something to settle with this family. Is there something more Lily and I should know about? It would be good to know if there is danger so I can be more guarded," Penelope said.
"I do not know what is happening," Alessandra honestly replied.
Life had been quiet for her family. There were a few groups who spoke about her as the duchess or the bad relationship she had with her half sister, but Alessandra was used to that.
What happened today reminded Alessandra of her youth, which was not pleasant. Something this terrible hadn't happened in a while.
"I will handle this matter by myself. This story will be twisted in more ways than you can imagine. I will let what you said be known. If the town guards come to our doors, we shall speak the truth. We will not speak to the town," said Alessandra.
Alessandra had her fair share of the town spinning the truth. It didn't matter what Penelope would say, as the town would hear what they wanted and spin the truth.
"I am sorry," Penelope apologised for the position she placed her mother in.
"Do not apologise. What was done here today wasn't your fault. We must find out what else this young lady knows about who put her up to this. I will not let this keep you from attending events of people we can trust, but you must be more vigilant," Alessandra advised the pair.
With the new dangers coming up, Alessandra needed all her children to be more aware of their surroundings to realise what was a trap. She had raised them well on how to survive in Lockwood, and now enemies were popping up to test what she taught them.
"We will be," Penelope and Lily both promised.
Penelope didn't want to make this mistake again, and it angered her that she fell for it all because she had been through this before with a friend.
Alessandra relaxed a bit now that they were well away from the situation, but she was still concerned. She overheard someone speaking of Penelope being cursed like her mother. Alessandra hoped her past was not creeping up on her daughter.