Damien couldn’t help himself from not looking at Penny who was trying to tone down the blush on her cheeks which had crept up on her cheeks and she looked absolutely lovely in his eyes.
Though there were things that were weighing in her mind she appeared to be in a much better mood.
Her mother was somewhere here but for someone who could feign her own death, it meant the black witch was too experienced and had only hidden it in front of her husband and her daughter. With the little ratio of white witches turning to a black witch after they had tapped into the forbidden magic, it was possible that her mother had gone to the dark side after her husband’s death. For someone who didn’t agree with her family and her sister to have a family of her own, he could only conclude that was the issue.
“Let’s go out somewhere this week.”
Penny who had been concentrating on the trees, leaned back to turn and see Damien, “Where?” she asked.
“To that favorite theater of yours where you once used to work. We can have some fresh air away from the mansion and the church,” he proposed the idea back.
“Are you taking me out?” her jade green eyes searched in his red ones.
“I very much am. I have some places to take you, a day out with just us.”
“I would like that,” she responded back.
“Sweet.”
One would have thought that the pureblooded vampires only went to the higher status of theaters and not some cheaper attic ones where the spaces were crumpled. Damien truly was one of a kind, thought Penny to herself.
The only good thing that had come out of all this mess and pain and betrayal was him. Damien Quinn.
It wasn’t that he didn’t stop annoying her. The man still infuriated her to no end, driving every living soul mad but there was a certain ring to it. She wondered when her feelings had started to sway, the breeze that once was moving in the opposite direction now was moving along with her.
“Thinking about me?” she heard Damien ask her.
“I have other things to do than think about you all the time,” there was a smile in her voice which was caught by him.
“Mhmm, the lies you say are so sweet which tells how embarrassed you are,” with one hand that supported the side of his head where he rested the edge of his elbow on the open window, his face turned to look at her.
“If you know already why do you ask,” she muttered under her breath.
“Because it is enthralling to hear it from your delicate lips,” he flirtatious gesture had taken her mind off.
Penny’s lips twisted, stopping the smile that was trying to break from her lips, “Have you heard that phrase that goes on to say to never say something too much,” but instead of she claiming her victory with words Damien asked,
“Oh, was that what it was all about? Don’t worry, Penelope. No matter how many times you repeat your words, I would never be bored of them,” both Damien and Penelope smiled at each other.
When the next day arrived, Damien gifted her with another dress. The dress was peachy-cream in color with an off-shoulder that displayed her collar bones. With floral patterns that started from her neck to her sleeves and distributed to the entire dress until it touched the ground. Fitted tight around her waist where a maid had come to help her with the corset as the laces were pulled tightly.
Unlike all this time where Damien was the one who had made her hair every time, this time she did it by herself. Keeping it simple without going over the top. She was thankful for the dress, it was a beautiful dress which would have cost a good number of gold coins.
Just as she was getting ready with the maid who stood behind her, waiting on her if she ever needed any help, there was a knock on the door. Damien had already left the room early leaving her to get ready.
Hearing the knock on the door, she turned to find it was Lady Maggie.
“May I come in?” asked the Lady, her red eyes looking at Penelope, “You can leave. I can assist from here,” said the lady to the maid, waving her off for the maid to leave the room.
Since the time Grace had been punished, Penny didn’t know why she felt as if there was this unspoken friction between her and Damien’s elder sister. She didn’t know if she was overthinking but there was something unnerving in the air around them.
Lady Maggie smiled looking at her, “You look lovely, Penelope. I heard from my overbearing brother that he was taking you out. I wanted to make sure he wasn’t taking you in the potato sack. I bought something for you,” she said bringing the blue box she had been holding in her hand.
“I don’t think that is necessary,” Penny refused already having an idea of what was in the box by looking at the size of it. When Lady Maggie opened the box to show a sparkling necklace which was made of diamonds.
“Please. It would go well with the dress you’re wearing. Let me help you,” Lady Maggie insisted, placing her hand on Penelope’s back, “This belonged to my mother. I don’t know what she would say about Damien and your relationship, that you share but with the bond which Damien has placed, I think in time she would have come around and welcomed you. You will be my sister-in-law, I would like you to have it,” saying this, Lady Maggie put the necklace around Penny’s neck.
Penny’s eyes widened. She couldn’t have anything this expensive. She was already worried that she was going to lose it.
“I didn’t get to say this earlier because of how things had turned. My intentions weren’t to hurt you, Penelope. I hope you understand where I come from because both are my siblings,” her words came out to be apologetic, “Welcome to the family.”
Penny mustered a smile, “Thank you.”
“My brother is waiting for you. Have a good time,” she wished her before exiting the room.
