"I no longer envy that you are being courted by Tyrion. The women you will have targeting you will be a headache. Unfortunately, no one will ever be convinced you don't want to believe you don't want the prince," Lily said as she also didn't believe it.
"Would they believe it if I took one of my father's homes and never married? I can take one of the cats or two and live a nice, quiet life. Doesn't that sound lovely?" Penelope asked.
"Perhaps to an old maiden, but you are young. Give it a little time, and you will start to enjoy the season. For now, don't worry, mother," Lily said, smiling when they neared Alessandra.
Alessandra pinched Lily's cheek. "I know that you are trying to hide something. I am to sit with the other young ladies' mothers while you are to sit with your peers. Would you prefer that I sit with you?"
"No," Lily shook her head. "We must learn to handle these events by ourselves. It might not be long before we are married and must attend by ourselves. We will stay where you can see us, and we have Reed."
Alessandra planned to keep a close eye on her daughters. It was scary after the events of the ball, but she could not always remain at their side when they were learning to be on their own.
"Reed, at the first sight of danger, head to the carriage and leave. I shall find my way with my guard," Alessandra ordered Reed.
"Yes, Duchess," Reed replied.
Penelope watched as her mother joined the host again. "She needs this distraction more than anyone. I only want to find somewhere to sit until it is time to leave."
Penelope looked around for a spot where she could be in her mother's view but also out of the way from the crowd.
Lily grabbed Penelope's hand before she could go sit. "I know it is off to a terrible start, but I am not ready to sit. We can avoid Amelia and speak to the other ladies we like. For me," Lily pleaded.
Penelope sighed. "I am joining you since there is one guard to share."
Lily started to pull Penelope toward a group of their friends, but before they could make it, Penelope felt something wet thrown on her.
Penelope stopped and looked down at the side of her light blue dress, which was stained with what looked to be wine. She heard laughter and, upon looking up, she spotted a terrified maid who glanced in Amelia's direction.
Penelope was certain it was a setup to ruin her dress, but she didn't want to go after the maid put up to it nor did she want to address Amelia who would deny it.
In the end, the maid would take the blame and lose her work.
"She-"
"No," Penelope stopped Lily from going to Amelia. "It is not worth it. Most of it missed me. I just need some water and a cloth."
"I know where to go," Lily said, standing close to Penelope to hide stains.
Lily was willing to bet Amelia thought this was over, but it wasn't.
Penelope and Lily went in search of the powder room. They were followed closely by their guard Reed.
Since the host was a friend of their mother and they had visited many times in the past, they knew where to go on the second floor. It was quiet there with only the maids passing by.
Lily helped Penelope as best as she could to get rid of the stains.
"You won't be able to hide some stains. You should have worn the red dress you picked at first," Lily said, regretting she convinced Penelope not to.
"This is fine. Most of it is faded, and the rest of it is in a place where you would have to be looking quite hard to see that something is off. No more water," Penelope said, not wanting to be even more soaked.
"It was Amelia's doing. I am certain of it," said Lily.
"I know it is her doing. She has always been childish, and she uses her status for the wrong things. We should go back before we worry mother," Penelope said, realising they were gone too long.
"You are awfully calm. I would have soaked her in more than wine," Lily said, following Penelope out the door. "Why did you stop?" Lily asked after bumping into her sister.
Penelope's attention was on a balcony not far from where she stood as the young woman who had been sneaking glances at her sat on the edge of the balcony wall. "That is dangerous. Reed," Penelope ordered her guard to go.
"Is she crying?" Lily asked, puzzled by the young woman's appearance. "Who is she?"
"I do not know," Penelope replied, going closer to hear. "Was she taunted?" She wondered. Had they missed her when they entered the powder room?
It wasn't unusual for some of the ladies attending these events to taunt each other and there were many times these taunts weren't playful. They could be far more dangerous than throwing a drink on someone's dress.
"Get back!"
"Reed!" Penelope called, running after Reed to stop him.
With how shaken up the young woman got, Penelope guessed she was terrified of Reed. His tall frame and serious gaze would scare anyone.
Penelope panicked when she saw the young woman looking down at where she could fall. There was chatter and gasps heard, which meant the guest realised what was happening here.
"Lily, go find Lady Thea. She would know who she is and help," Penelope said softly.
Penelope then took small steps out onto the balcony. She touched Reed's arms to place him behind her. "She is scared of you. She is trembling."
Penelope assumed the young woman might have a fear of men.
Reed was suspicious of the young woman's behaviour. He had noticed someone following them inside, and she was bold enough to walk by him as he guarded the door earlier. The same young woman who wanted to fall from the wall had not been distraught when he last saw her.
"Don't," Reed warned Penelope. "We must go."
"If we go, then she might jump. I will never be able to live with that. Stay close to help me if she slips over," Penelope whispered.
Penelope continued to slowly approach where the young woman sat on the balcony edge. "My name is Penelope Collins."
"I know who you are," said Sarah, the young lady sitting on the edge. Tears coated her face as she continued to peer down at where she needed to fall.
Sarah gripped the wall since she didn't want to fall, but she had to. She wouldn't get another chance like this, and if she returned without fulfilling the plan, she was dead either way.
"I don't want a man close," Sarah said, shaken up by the sight of Reed. It brought back awful memories.
"He is my guard, and he won't come close," Penelope promised.
Penelope drew closer to Sarah little by little. "Please rethink this. I can help you," she said, reaching her hand out to Sarah.
Sarah's cries turned into uncontrollable sobs as she grabbed Penelope's hand. Each tear that fell was filled with regret for what she was about to do. She had expected that Penelope, being cold as the rumours said, would help her feel better about this, but Penelope was kind enough to try saving her.
That kindness stabbed Sarah in her heart.
"He put me up to this," Sarah whispered, saying a little to help Penelope. "He has something to settle with your family."
Penelope was confused by what Sarah spoke of. "What-"
"Don't hurt me. Let go of me, Penelope! Don't do this to me!" Sarah yelled as loudly as she could to create a scene in the minds of the guests below.
Penelope released Sarah's hand and stepped back, puzzled by the sudden reaction. She hadn't hurt Sarah.
Reed intervened by approaching Penelope to pull her away from the screaming woman.
Before Penelope could question Sarah, she witnessed Sarah lean back until she was no longer seated on the wall.
Penelope slipped out of Reed's hold and ran to the edge, hoping that by some miracle she could catch Sarah, but it was too late.
Sarah had already hit the ground below, startling the guests who were unfortunate to see her fall.
"She pushed her. Penelope Collins pushed her."