Chapter 279: Letting go (4)
Alessandra waited for Melody to gather herself before they walked out of the room to meet with the others again.
"We cannot keep Isabelle away for too long, or she will pout. We will have to say that we were planning something in secret for her season," said Alessandra.
"I have been planning to be with her since you must be so busy with Lily now. Has Lily found a gentleman she would consider marrying, or will she be like Elijah to go through many seasons?" Melody asked.
"I do not know if Lily has anyone in mind. If she does, she will share it with Penelope first," Alessandra replied.
"Mother," Penelope called as she walked up to her aunt and mother. "We would love to have a picnic outside since the weather is so wonderful. Would you and Aunt Melody join us?"
"We would make the food," Lily offered.
Edgar didn’t like the sound of this. "You wish to poison your mother and aunt?"
"No!" Penelope and Lily answered.
"We have made food before," Lily reminded her father.
"I know. I have been the unfortunate one to taste it over the years. Leave it to the cooks to prepare the food for today. Last time you cooked, I had biscuits I could use as rocks," said Edgar.
Edgar had too many close calls for his kitchen being destroyed to let the twins back there again.
"You can cook in your own home. Cook for Tyrion," Edgar suggested.
"I would accept my wife cooking for me, Duke Collins. How thoughtful of you to suggest to my wife," Tyrion said, now interested in seeing Penelope cook.
"I do not mind if you wish to prepare something for me. Your father is leaving home shortly, so he will not need to worry about the taste. Are you leaving now?" Alessandra asked, turning to Edgar.
"Yes. Tyrion, Elijah and I will leave now so you will have the estate all to yourself," said Edgar.
Penelope looked at Tyrion. Since when did he make plans with her father?
"This is the first I am hearing of the men having somewhere to go," said Penelope.
Where could her father want to take her brother and husband?
"Are you going to hunt? If you are, can I come along? It has been so long since I used my gun," Penelope said, losing interest in the picnic.
Alessandra turned to Edgar, needing an explanation. "Penelope has a gun?" She asked.
"So that I remain in your good graces, I was not the one who gave my wife a gun," Tyrion said, standing beside Alessandra.
Edgar reconsidered letting Tyrion join him to see Peter. Instead, he would love to pick out a good spot to bury Tyrion.
"It is time that we leave," Edgar announced. "Have fun," he said, kissing Alessandra on her cheek before he parted from her.
"Have fun with Peter," Alessandra said, still worried for the unsuspecting priest.
Tyrion was surprised to hear Alessandra speak of Peter since Edgar had asked him to keep it a secret from the women.
Tyrion looked down at Penelope to his right. She pouted, wanting to come along with him.
Tyrion planted a short kiss on her lips, having to say no to her once more.
"I shall take you hunting another day," Tyrion promised.
"You must," Penelope said, dropping the matter for now. "You must be careful with how you tease my father. I will not be there to protect you should you push the limits."
"Weren’t you the one who said your father adores me?" Tyrion asked.
"He adores you, but that doesn’t mean that you should test his patience. Luckily for you, Elijah will be there with you, and he annoys my father plenty," Penelope said, a little less worried.
"I heard that," Elijah said as he walked by the pair.
"Well, it is the truth," Penelope replied. "Have fun."
Edgar was the first one to walk away since he couldn’t take much more of the sight of Penelope sending off Tyrion like he was a little boy going to play with others for the first time.
Penelope remained with the women, watching as all the men left.
"I would hate to be the person they are going to see," Lily said, knowing they were going to terrorise someone. "I wanted to meet the man named Peter as well."
"He almost fainted when I realised who I was, and I was standing next to the kingdom’s crown prince at the time. Mother, did my father truly scare the priest that badly or was he overreacting?" Penelope asked.
Penelope couldn’t think of her father being so awful to a priest.
"Your father and the priest have a unique friendship. All we can do is hope for Peter to be well. You two must get Isabelle and start preparing the food," Alessandra reminded the twins of their plans.
"Right," Lily said, grabbing Penelope’s hand to whisk her away.
"I will have a maid inform the cook to prepare something for us in secret. We will need it," Alessandra whispered to Melody.
Far away from the estate, Peter walked with a basket filled with fruits he had grown, which he wanted to take to the church to share out.
Peter looked to the sky. "Not too many clouds today," he noticed.
So far, the day had been well with many of the families who lived nearby also sharing out some of what they had grown. When others woke up feeling so generous, it was only fair in Peter’s eyes for him to keep it going.
Peter stopped when he noticed a group of young boys playing a game. At first glance, it looked to be a harmless game, but Peter knew they were playing for money.
’They are bold,’ Peter thought.
They were out in the open where the town guards could see them.
’In my day- No,’ Peter shook his head, not wanting to reminisce on his old days.
Peter started to walk off until he noticed something.
’He’s going to lose, ’ Peter thought.
Peter could think of five ways he would win the game that the young men played.
"No, I mustn’t think of such things," Peter said, moving on before he did something he shouldn’t.
Peter was a new man who left playing such games behind. Many years ago, he would have been the one setting up games and making it impossible for anyone to win them.
This old lifestyle almost cost Peter his hand, and he was haunted by death for many years.
"I need to pray," Peter said.
He was too close to going back to his old ways.
Peter felt better when the church came into view. This was his safe place.