“Thank you for your hospitality, Your Grace.”
Godric smiled slightly, nodding at her. “It is an honor to have had the pleasure of your company during this time. Feel free to come by whenever you wish.”
Penelope lowered her head. “You are too kind.”
As she raised her eyes, she met her brother’s stare and forced herself to look away.
After a few more minutes of fond farewells, Penelope and Lionel finally set off on their journey back home.
Lionel helped her into the carriage and made sure she was comfortably settled before he sat in the other seat that faced hers and informed the coachman that they were ready.
And finally, the journey began.
Penelope had known that her brother would not be pleased with her, and she was prepared to receive an earful the moment he laid his eyes on her.
But when he had come to her room to fetch her so they could leave, he had not said anything other than ask her if she was ready.
And now that they were in an enclosed space, with about two hours’ worth of traveling ahead of them, she expected that he would seize the opportunity. But he kept his gaze fixed on the window.
The silence was quickly becoming unbearable, and she did not know just how to break it.
Penelope considered focusing on something else, but the only other place her thoughts wished to stray was Cecil.
She still could not believe he had left before the household had awoken this morning. It seemed as though he had been running away from something, and Penelope could not help but assume she was the sole reason.
And that caused her even more pain because she might have come to terms with the fact that they could never be, but… she had hoped she would get to say goodbye at least.
But he had not cared at all, which only further restated just how little regard he held for her.
Penelope had not realized just how far her mind had wandered until a hand settled on her head, dragging her attention back to the present.
“We’ve arrived.”
Penelope peered out the window, surprised to see the familiar lawns of her home.
“Oh, I suppose we have,” she muttered, accepting her brother’s assistance out of the carriage.
The servants tended to their things, and Penelope and Lionel trailed after them, greeting the others who welcomed them back home. She expected that her brother would continue his silent treatment, but when they were in the foyer, he reached out to her, pointing down the hall that led to his study.
“Come with me for a moment.”
She nodded quietly, trailing behind him as he walked down the hallway he had pointed out, her heart beating louder and louder the closer they got.
This was another one of her worst nightmares – disappointing her brother. This was why she had tried to hide it so desperately. She did not know how he would react, feared he would be outraged that she had chosen to meddle in the affairs of others, and would misunderstand her intentions.
“Sit down, Penelope.” Lionel instructed curtly.
Penelope made her way to the settee, settling down in it delicately, hiding her shaking hands in the folds of her skirts.
Lionel sat down next to her; his expression drawn as he exhaled deeply.
“I am not upset with you, Penny. I only wish to understand why you did this. Why you made that choice and put yourself at risk to be scrutinized like that.”
She inhaled shakily, trying to calm herself, but her nerves were already quite frayed.
“I-I… I didn’t…”
“Why did you decide to become Athena, Penelope? What did you hope to achieve with that?”
