Penelope moved to walk back towards the clearing, shuddering slightly at her father's words. The knight couldn't imagine being tossed into yet another arrange marriage. In all honesty, she had gotten lucky with Gavin, even if she hadn't loved him like she loved Crow. He had been kind and trustworthy, someone who had developed into a close friend. There was no telling what the next man would be like, especially if her father was more focused on simply marrying her off as soon as possible so she couldn't be with Crow. 

Negative emotions swirled inside of her as she thought about the situation she was currently in. She wrapped her arms around herself casting glance of longing towards Crow, wishing she could go over to him. The knight strongly desired to speak with him and merely reassure both him, as well as herself, that they'd figure out this new—and rather upsetting—situation. However, she didn't want to chance how her father would react to her attempting to get close to him again, especially while he was still fuming from finding them together. So, instead, the knight lowered her gaze to the ground and silently picked up her bag before moving to trail after John as he began to lead them onward towards Wellspring. 

After a small bit of walking, she noticed her father continued to stick close to her, as well as often eyed to see where Crow was. Penelope bit her lip as she thought about his intentions to marry her off. It was going to be much more difficult to get out of it now that he knew about her relationship with Crow. Marriage was quite unpleasant to think about when it wasn't to the man she loved. Still desperate to change his mind and having yet to think of any other solution, the knight decided to give talking to her father another go, hoping that he had settled enough to hear her out. 

"Gavin thinks he's a good man, you know... It's one of the reasons why he was willing to cover for us." Penelope muttered as she looked over at her father. 

"He's a fool for falling for such tricks then." John replied without looking at her. 

"Father, he took a sword for me. Do you really think that was a trick? He nearly died." Penelope argued. "What could he possibly gain from risking his life for me?"

"Who knows." John snorted. He paused then shook his head. "Perhaps he cares for you but that doesn't change the fact of him ruining your life, Penelope."

Penelope hesitated before going on in a quieter voice, "Just like yours was ruined by my mother?" A small spark of challenge as well as anger entered her gaze as she studied her father. The knight had been hoping that out of anyone, her own father would be able to understand that social status mattered practically nothing when you loved someone. However, instead she was starting to feel a bit hurt as he acted just like any other disapproving noble would. It was beginning to make her question if her theory of him loving her mother had ever been remotely right. Perhaps he regretted her just as much as any other member of her family. 

The thought stung more than she expected. The pain fueled her frustration and she glared at her father. "Is that why you won't tell me anything about her? Do you resent her that much?"

John grew tense again and avoided looking at her. "Drop it. I'm not discussing this." he muttered. 

"No. Answer me." Penelope pushed, narrowing her gaze at him. "If you so badly think I'm doing something I'm going to regret, then prove it. Tell me you wished you never met her." She then gestured to herself. "Tell me about your biggest mistake."

John clenched his jaw and suddenly turned on her. "My biggest mistake is ever letting you be a knight." he growled. "You'll be stripped of that too if you keep trying to compare the past to the present, do you understand me?" Fury burned in his gaze but with it there was a small hint of sorrow.  Penelope noticed it but had no idea what to make of it. It could have been sorrowful regret or perhaps lingering pain over a lost love. Regardless, he hadn't given her any information that she was hoping for and instead, she was putting her job at risk as well now. Unwilling to try and test him any further, she merely gave a nod and lapsed into a defeated silence, staring at the ground as she continued walking.