The Duke's Masked Wife 2: The Prince's Outcast Bride

"Money might be what leads him to his death. I assumed you warned the family, so whatever his daughters do beyond this point will not be your fault. I wouldn't be surprised if she thinks she could save him. The season bores me," said Edgar.

Each season was filled with people who didn't know how to use their heads.

It was unfortunate for Edgar that even though his season had long passed, he was still pulled into the current season.

Edgar didn't want his daughters to grow up too fast, but at the same time, he wanted to stop taking part in the seasons.

"You only have to bear with it a little while longer. Fortunately for you, Elijah and Lily's time is quickly going by, so Isabelle's time will be here soon. That will be the end unless you and the duchess have a late child," said Tyrion.

"Perhaps I went too far," Tyrion said after Edgar didn't respond. "It might be the wine."

"You haven't taken a sip yet. It isn't the wine, but rather the fact that you are a fool. Just like your father," said Edgar.

"It might be true that I am like my father, but I think you are a fool. As much as my father troubles you, you go to his side when he sends for you. He sneaks onto your land, and you don't order the guards to send him away. You love us so dearly," Tyrion said teasingly.

Edgar stood up from his chair, no longer in the mood to drink. He walked away, leaving Tyrion to amuse himself.

Tyrion chuckled, satisfied with himself for bothering Edgar. Now, he had the last of the wine to himself.

Tyrion didn't linger around long as he stood and picked up the almost empty bottle of wine. He walked toward the room which once belonged to Penelope to spend the night there.

Tyrion entered the room, and though he first planned to drink, he laid upon the bed, his hand covering his face, and soon drifted off to sleep.

It was no more than two hours later that Tyrion was awoken by movement on the bed and reached to grab the intruder.

Penelope grasped, startled by his sudden movement. "It is me," she said, trying to back away from Tyrion.

Tyrion loosened his hold of Penelope and sat up. "I'm sorry," he apologised.

Penelope touched her chest, calming herself. "I apologise as well for not announcing my arrival, but I thought you were in a deep sleep and didn't want to wake you. You were drinking," she noticed the bottle.

"I didn't get to take a sip of it. I got it from your father," Tyrion said, lying back down on the bed.

"I worried you were too bold to take it from his cellar and be so bold as to display it. When we drank wine outside of dinner, it was always a secret, especially if it was one of my father's bottles. You shouldn't let it go to waste," Penelope said, wanting it for herself.

"You can have it if you join me," Tyrion said, patting beside him.

Penelope occupied the space beside him. "It will soon be time for the others to wake. Had I known you had arrived long ago, I would have come to be with you. You are not hurt, are you?"

Tyrion found himself in what he considered to be a good position as Penelope started to lift his shirt.

"Did you not hear me?" Penelope asked, her fingers working fast to remove his shirt.

"I am waiting for you to pull the shirt over my head. I am not certain if I am injured or not," Tyrion said, patiently waiting for Penelope to continue.

"This is a serious matter, yet you want to be playful. I should injure you so we both know that you are injured. You must still think of your shoulder," said Penelope.

Tyrion held Penelope and helped her to straddle his waist. "Have I not shown you that my shoulder is well? If I have not, then we have a good time for me to prove it."

"I believe that it is well, but I also know that one mistake can cost more than you know. You promised me that you would be careful, and I hope you keep that promise," Penelope said, slowly moving off his abdomen so she wouldn't hurt him.

"It is not the first time I have been-"

"Shot?" Penelope finished. "Tell me the last time you were shot."

Tyrion's hand settled on her waist. "I wasn't going to say shot. I would be quite worried if this were my second time being shot. I meant to say I have been injured worse in the past and survived."

"That doesn't make it any better for me. Do you think because you have been so fortunate to walk away from other things, that you can be careless now? If you make me a widow so early in my youth, I will shoot you," Penelope warned Tyrion.

Tyrion raked his fingers through Penelope's hair, not phased by her threat. "Day by day, I see that you are more like your father. I am being careful because I want to live, and I don't want to cause you any heartache."

"Since you are home resting and so are the others, it must mean you reached a dead end today. Do not lose hope. I am confident a clue will come to one of you. You only need to look out for it," said Penelope.

Penelope didn't know all that was revealed about Quinn, other than that he had killed his brother, and he confessed to being the murderer. She would love to help solve the case, but knew it was too dangerous for her, so she remained on the sidelines to cheer the others on.

"I hope he is not lying and has taken your focus off the true killer."

"I don't think that is the case here, but I will keep it in mind. Did you sleep well?" Tyrion asked, not wanting to speak of Quinn any more.

"I did," Penelope answered. "I was reminded of my younger days, when I crept into my parents' bed during a storm. While I quite enjoyed lying with my mother, I did miss your presence in bed. This must end soon, so you will not be away from me."

"I will work tirelessly to be back in your arms. The sun is not yet fully risen," Tyrion pointed out.

"I see that. Just this once, I will give in to your wishes," Penelope said, pushing Tyrion's shirt up to pull it over his head.