CHAPTER 183: DOWNFALL (2)

"Erin isn’t the only one who faces trouble these days. It appears that despite how much Amelia and her mother plot, she fails to get the crown prince’s attention. It is all wonderful," Julie said, enjoying her recent news.

Julie hoped to see Amelia soon to hear the excuse she would come up with as to why she was never seen with the crown prince.

"I knew that she didn’t have a chance with Teo. She had her eyes set on Tyrion for so long. Luckily, there is still a long season ahead of her to find a husband elsewhere," Penelope said, kindly wishing for Amelia to find a husband.

Penelope was relieved that Amelia couldn’t become queen. Life in town would have been miserable if that had happened.

"No matter how hard she tries, Amelia will not end up as a royal if she continues to be your enemy. Maybe she can find her there if she marries a man from the court. She will not rest until she ends up in the palace," Julie said, curious about the lengths Amelia would go to be in the palace.

"Life in the palace is not all that she imagines, but she will not listen to me. She will need to learn the hard way," Penelope replied.

Penelope was certain Amelia would do all that she could to end up in the palace, only to realise it was not somewhere she could be happy.

"Happiness doesn’t matter to someone like Amelia. Status is all that matters. I hear that she has men of many ages going to her door to court her. She would not show her face if she ended up with a man twice her age. I hate her, but I don’t want that for her," Julie said,

Penelope liked hearing what Julie knew, but she had very little interest in hearing about Amelia. Her home was where she could be free of the drama around the town.

"It is good to sit and talk, but what we should do is something fun," Penelope suggested.

"Should we address the bite mark on your neck?" Julia asked, avoiding Penelope’s eyes afterwards. "I noticed it from the time I sat down, but I thought it would be impolite to start our conversation with it. I am pleased to know you are enjoying your marriage quite well."

Penelope covered the mark with her hand.

She wanted to bite Tyrion back since it was his doing, but biting Tyrion was what made her end up with this mark.

"It is not what you think," Penelope responded, but it couldn’t mean anything other than what Julie thought.

"It is not? I was hoping that it was. There’s no need to be shy with me since I know what goes on between a man and a woman behind closed doors. You may speak to me," Julie said, trying to pull her chair forward.

Penelope moved her hand to cover her face. "Your mother will think that I am ruining you."

"Penelope, I have heard what occurs in brothels. If I am ruined, it was long before you," Julie replied.

"Why is this exciting for you?" Penelope asked, missing the excitement.

"Well, they praise marriage and the love of a husband to be so wonderful. I want to know if it is all that you have imagined it to be and so much more. Right down to what occurs at night. I won’t share it," Julie promised, holding out her finger like they used to do for promises.

"Just tell me," Julia whispered. "Is marriage worth it?"

Penelope cleared her throat. She hoped Damien could not hear them. "For me, accepting Tyrion’s hand was worth it. I do not know how it would be for you. I can only advise you to marry a man you love."

Julie sighed. "Finding a man who can last an hour without boring me is the issue. Life would be so much better if we could control them like a doll."

Penelope chuckled. "If anyone will make it happen, I trust that it is you. What goes on behind closed doors with Tyrion and me is quite well. I will not let what I was taught go to waste by giving you more details. A lady must have her secrets."

"You’ve become a bore, Penelope. I thought you were the fun one. Soon you will be leaving me to have fun with the wives. You mustn’t change. What will I do without you?" Julie asked, pouting.

"I will not change, but there are still Lily, Ally, and Rue. You will survive," Penelope said, patting Julie’s hand in a comforting manner.

"I most certainly will not. Can you at least tell me if you have made use of your gifts? Do you only remember them now?" Julie gasped.

"I did not think of them," Penelope said, only now remembering what Julie brought the last time she was here. "I have good use for them."

"Wonderful!" Julie clapped her hands. "Let me see how you look in them."

"Julie!"

"Wouldn’t you like my opinion? We both have the same bodies, Penelope. I will not stare. I will sit and wait for your maid to finish dressing you, then tell you what I honestly think. Are you this shy before him?" Julie asked, though she knew the answer.

"You are," Julie answered before Penelope attempted to. "This cannot go on forever. You are a married woman, for heaven’s sake. It is time that you do something to knock the wind out of him."

Penelope shook her head. "You truly are a bad influence."

"I am the reminder of how much fun we used to have. Now come on," Julie said, clapping her hands. "Hurry to get undressed. Is that what he says to you?"

"You," Penelope said, lost for words. "I hope your future husband can keep up with your energetic nature and your requests. Only this once will I do this."

"I will be kind enough to show you what I would wear to seduce my husband if I were to ever marry," Julie said as she stood up.

Julie approached Penelope to hold her hand. "I am the friend when you need to be distracted. When we are finished, we should sit near where the knights are running around training."

"I am married," Penelope reminded Julie.

"It is only wrong to look if you like what you see too much. You are a lady, Penelope. You are not staring at the men outside. As the lady of this mansion, you are watching over their training to see that they are doing well," Julie said.

"I wouldn’t believe that if I said it to myself. I will be kind enough to give you a tour near where the knights gather," Penelope offered.

"See, this is why we are friends. For your thoughtfulness, I will bring you more news, I hear around the town."