“Only about your own life,” Isadora grinned. “I wish to know everything that is new. We have not gotten the chance to speak properly ever since the ceremony.”
Penelope nodded. It would be nice to be away from listening ears for a bit. Isadora led her to the far end of the room. Once there, she didn’t waste time.
“You’re smitten.”
“Sorry…” Penelope blinked. “What?”
“Oh, come now,” Isadora whispered, her eyes sparkling with glee. “I saw the way you were looking at him when the two of you came in.”
“You had your sights set on me?”
“Of course,” Isadora laughed. “I have been curious to know how things are going between the two of you for long.”
“And you somehow came to the conclusion that I am smitten only by looking at us from afar?”
“Well, that,” Isadora grinned. “And just how you speak of him. It is a rather obvious thing, honestly. For the both of you.”
Penelope’s cheeks flooded with color, and she did not know what to make of her sister’s little observation. Surely, she was making up a fantasy in her head.
“You are quite imaginative,” Penelope said softly. “Really. I am in awe of the stories you have fathomed all on your own.”
Isadora hit her playfully on the shoulder, “ You are downplaying it, which is what I would expect you to do.”
Penelope crossed her arms. “Don’t be ridiculous now.”
“Never doubt a sister’s intuition,” Isadora grinned widely. “I can tell, even when you do not see it for yourself.”
“You seem to have great confidence in your abilities,” Penelope exclaimed.
“Oh, I have never been wrong about these things,” Isadora nodded.
“I don’t know what it is,” Penelope confessed at last, biting down on her lip. “At first, he would only infuriate me a great deal. In fact, he contradicts everything I think I know about affection. He’s different from how we are.”
“That is not a bad thing,” Isadora mused. “It would be rather boring if the two of you were exactly the same.”
“Yes, but often it means that we do not see things the same way,” Penelope admitted. “But I will say that he makes an effort to listen more now.”
Isadora was beaming now.
“How wonderful,” she said, almost as if she was on the verge of tearing up. “That really is a lovely thing. He looks at you like he cares about what you say.”
“Stop it,” Penelope laughed. “You cannot tell that surely.”
“I’m only saying what the whole room is whispering.”
“They are not.”
“They are,” Isadora said cheerfully. “People are rather quite eager to comment on your marriage. I was told by someone that they are quite pleasantly surprised to see Alexander talk so much when he is with you. He is known for being someone who is not a fan of speaking until he has to.”
“Well…” Penelope did not quite know what to make of that information.
“That is a good sign. It means that he returns the feelings you have for him.”
Penelope felt a warmth creeping up her neck. “I’m not falling for him.”
“Oh, you are well past that point now,” Isadora said smugly. “You just haven’t noticed yet.”
Before Penelope could reply, a man approached them.
