“The little lady is not wrong,” he admitted, still chuckling. “It’s been ages since we’ve met anyone new. We forget we’re not exactly easy on the eyes.”
“We don’t mean to frighten you,” Lewis added helpfully. “Though, I suspect it will take you some time getting used to us.”
“I’ve known them since I was a baby,” Odette chimed in. “You’ll find that they’re quite friendly, once you learn to look past their outward appearance.”
“Right,” Penelope straightened her back, “well, we better get going then.”
Penelope began to walk outside with Odette and Apollo by her side. Fergus and Lewis trailed them, like a shadow. As they walked, Penelope noticed the odd glances thrown her way by passersby. They are e qually frightened, she thought to herself, and felt oddly assured that she was not the only one with that reaction.
“Apollo is happy to walk,” Odette chimed. “He gets quite bored of the gardens at times.”
Penelope looked back at the guards, and then to Odette. “Do you step out of the estate much?”
“I wish,” the young girl sighed. “Father does not like it if I go out, and whenever I do, he insists that I’m accompanied by those two,” she threw a glance back at the guards.
“But that day when we met for the first time,” Penelope said, biting down on her lip. “You were at the Gentleman’s Club.”
Considering how protective Alexander was, it was a wonder he had let her roam so freely in his establishment.
“Ah, well Father lets me visit sometimes,” Odette shrugged. “Especially when there is not much for me to do at home. But it does not happen nearly as much as I would like to. He says that it’s too dangerous for me to go out often.”
Odette rolled her eyes as she said the words, but Penelope could sense the latent disappointment in her voice.
“Well,” she said in an assuring tone, “Now that I am here, I will try to keep you occupied as much as I can. You’ll enjoy yourself today, I can tell already.”
The bell above the shop door chimed softly as Penelope and Odette stepped inside one of the shops. Penelope looked behind her shoulder, watching as Fergus and Lewis lingered outside the entrance.
“Do not worry about them,” Odette grinned, “They will stay outside until we are done.”
“I’m not worried,” Penelope clarified. “It is just… I suppose it is just a bit odd that they have to wait for us like us.”
Odette snorted out a laugh. “You will get used to it.”
Penelope shot one last glance at the two gentlemen outside, before fully stepping into the shop. Immediately, she was met with rows upon rows of every fabric that one could think of. Odette looked around the shop, her own eyes widening in amazement.
“This place is…” she sighed, bringing a hand to settle at the base of her chest.
“Incredible, isn’t it?” Penelope smiled. It was a beautiful sight to witness – a young girl coming into a proper dress shop. “Surely, you must have been to a dress shop before?”
Odette bit down on her lip, still looking around. “Nothing like this before. This shop is bigger than all the other ones I have been to before, which have not been that many to begin with.”
Penelope bit back a laugh and tried to imagine Alexander taking Odette shopping for a dress. It was no surprise to her that he would not know where to take Odette.
“It’s one of the oldest dress makers in town,” Penelope explained. “My sister and I would come here, and I would spend hours looking at all the different designs.”
Before Odette could respond, the heavy velvet curtain at the back of the shop was pulled aside, and a woman swept in. Her gaze landed on the pair, and a look of realization washed her features.
“Ah, Lady Penelope,” she said, delighted. “Or shall I rather say,Your Gracenow. It is so good to see you again, and congratulations on the wedding. It really has been the talk of the town.”
“Madame Bellamy. It’s good to see you again,” Penelope said, making no acknowledgement of the fact that thetonhad been gossiping about her. It was best to ignore these things, she thought to herself.
Madame Bellamy advanced with a slight curtsy, and did not press for more information.
“You’ve brought someone with you, I see.” Her eyes flicked to Odette with open curiosity. “And who is this charming creature?”
“This,” Penelope said proudly, resting a hand on Odette’s shoulder, “is Lady Odette. The Duke’s daughter.”
“Ah,” Madame Bellamy’s lips curved upwards into a cat-like smile. “I must say, she is quite a lovely young lady.”
