NOVEL NEXT Chapter 399: Requests (1)
When the sun finally rose, the estate came alive with servants fast on their feet to serve the Collins and their guest.
Penelope sat by a window, waiting for Tyrion to be done getting dressed. She peered at her father's guards, getting ready to depart to continue the search. It was a troubling time, and even after they found Quinn's victims, it would take time to get back to normal.
Tyrion exited the bathing chamber and gazed at Penelope, where she sat. "What troubles you? Do you want to venture outside? You may stroll around your father's land."
Penelope turned away from the guards to look at Tyrion. "That isn't what is on my mind. I can take a stroll with my mother and sisters at any time. I was watching the guards prepare to leave and wished them well. We don't know if all will return."
"They should all return if they follow the duke's orders and remain vigilant. Now isn't the time for any of us to be distracted. I wish I could stay with you a little longer, but I must join them. I am helping the search for Harper's father, Robert Fenwick," Tyrion shared.
Penelope frowned. "What does he have to do with this?"
"It slipped my mind to inform you this morning. Harper's father is missing. It seems Cassius led the Fenwicks to believe he would marry Harper. Did you know she was going to get married?" Tyrion asked.
"No. How could I have possibly known when we aren't close? I heard Lily mention that Harper was hosting a gathering. I didn't want to think of the rumours I heard, but it was said the Fenwicks had no money for a gathering," Penelope said, puzzled by all that she heard.
Were the Fenwicks facing difficulty or not?
"Many could be starving, yet their interest lies only in putting on an act for the town. I suspect they wanted to announce her engagement to the town at the gathering. I find it strange that he approached them with the prospect of marriage. She will not listen to my warnings," said Tyrion.
Penelope wasn't surprised to hear this. "Harper has always been a wallflower. She has been tolerated because of her past friendship with Selina. I am not close to Selina to seek an audience with her to ask questions, but she is in love with Elijah."
"I know he would not like to do it because it might confuse Rue, but it might be helpful. I have not been around the ladies as of late to know if they are still close, but maybe Selina could provide you with answers," Penelope suggested.
"I will go to her instead of using your brother. We would be lucky if Harper spoke with Selina. I urge you not to go looking for clues. Quinn is rather invested in this family, and he has a great interest in you," Tyrion said, annoyed by this fact.
"How do you know this? It was always Cassius lingering around for a moment. I did not see his brother nearby. Was there something you found, or did he mention me?" Penelope said, her hands starting to feel uncomfortably warm.
Tyrion contemplated hiding the matter of portraits from Penelope. He didn't see them to know how awful they were, but the descriptions were quite bad.
"I'd rather you hear it from me than anyone else. There were portraits found of you and your sisters in Quinn's home. I heard there were some of Elijah, but that is another matter. Quinn is infatuated with your family because of what your father did. You must be careful," Tyrion said, approaching Penelope to offer some comfort.
"Why is it always me? I don't want my sisters to be dragged into it, but why can't there be a break? Our moment of peace was quickly disturbed. It is all agreed that when this is solved, we will not stay to end the season," said Penelope.
"I will follow what you desire. I must go now," Tyrion said, watching the large clock in the room. "I try for the next time we see each other not to be early in the morning. Stay safe," he said, leaning forward to kiss Penelope on her cheek.
"You must stay safe," Penelope said, since Tyrion was walking right into the face of danger. "I will walk you out. I wish to say goodbye to my father and Elijah if they are leaving now."
Penelope stood up and held Tyrion's hand. "I wish I could be a fly on the wall in Quinn's home to know what he is doing. Does he think he has won because he was released, or is he panicking?
***
Away from the estate, Quinn sat alone at a table while two palace guards stood nearby to keep an eye on him. There were others all around his home, so he was never truly alone.
Quinn ate in silence, plotting his next move. He was back in the comfort of his home, but it wasn't the home he wanted to be in.
Quinn was ready to be in his father's former home, but he wasn't sent there. He suspected this was the king's way of punishing him, but Quinn wasn't upset. He wasn't going to stay guarded for too long.
'I should have let him live a little longer,' Quinn thought, gazing at where Cassius would once sit.
What Quinn needed most now was a loyal servant, but he had killed the one person he could trust most.
Quinn needed Cassius around to help with a few tasks. He also needed a distraction to get the guards' attention away from him, but he had no one around. Anyone useful was outside of his home.
Quinn ate slowly on purpose to toy with the guards. It couldn't be that he was the only one annoyed. The guards needed to feel the same way.
After a long breakfast, Quinn stood up and as he moved, so did the guards.
"You've already taken all the knives from the table and restricted my movement around my home. I am harmless, so there's no need to be so close to me. Allow me to breathe without one of you being so close to inhale that air," Quinn said, seeking distance.
Unfortunately for Quinn, he wasn't in a position to get what he wanted.
The guards stayed in position. They received strict orders from the king to stay close to Quinn. One second with their eyes away from him or too much distance might allow Quinn to flee.
"They think something is wrong with me, but the king is fulfilling your desires by having you watch me as I soak in my bath. Are you not ashamed?" Quinn asked, deciding to make the guards uncomfortable.