For the first time since her last visit to his estate, his lips curved into a knowing smile. Her stomach knotted, yet she gathered the pieces of her thought into a conclusion: she accepted.
"I'll let you know of the necessary arrangements. And in the meantime, I'd advise your discretion on this case," he spoke afterwards. "If you don't mind, I'd take my leave now,"
Penelope simply curteyed, the movement heavier than intended. "Have a safe trip, my lord,"
He bowed in the same precision, allowing the sharp click of his boot to echo in the room as he retreated. The room suddenly felt quiet once again, carried by the weight of decision.
For a while, Penelope remained still, moving only when the distant sound of horses' hooves against the earth. She approached the window, hiding behind the curtain as she watched Lord Philip being escorted by his coachman into a finely crafted carriage, before it pulled away almost immediately from their mansion.
