The trip to Bexley was rather dull. Oliver had his nose buried in a book as usual and remained silent, only the nose of pages flipping came from him. Dimia wasn't much better. While she had agreed to help Penelope per the request of her brother, it clearly didn't mean that she viewed her any different. She avoided eye contact with Penelope and instead would quietly observe the passing trees while occasionally pulling out her pocket mirror to check her hair, as if worried a passing breeze had blown it out of control. 

As they drew closer to the city, however, Dimia finally focused her gaze onto Penelope. "So, exactly what happened between you and my brother?" she questioned with narrowed eyes. 

Penelope blinked, pulled from her daydreams, as the other noblewoman suddenly spoke up. Confused why the topic even came up, she raised an eyebrow at her. "Why are you asking about this now?" she questioned. 

"Because my brother isn't here to tell me and I'm curious as to why he was so insistent that we help you, his ex." Dimia huffed. "A few answers for all the help we're giving you is really the least we could ask for."

Penelope rolled her eyes at Dimia's words. She would prefer to keep such matters to herself, especially when the real answer involved Crow. However, the noblewoman was doing quite a bit for her so she supposed she deserved some type of answer. "Well the marriage wasn't my idea to start with first of all. Secondly, while I am fond of your brother, I do not love him so I didn't want to marry him. He accepted that and we were able to agree on a friendship instead."

Dimia snorted in disbelief. "So basically by brother wasn't good enough for you. Most people don't even marry someone they get along with and you had the gull to throw away someone that actually cares for you. Unbelievable."

Penelope bit back a sharp comment. She didn't just throw away the male knight. It had been a difficult decision at the time, mainly since back then she had thought she would be giving up everything she knew rather than just leaving a courtship. Gavin was a good man but he wasn't the one for her. And that worked vice versa too. He deserved to find someone who loved him fully, not someone who would simply settle for him as a second choice like she had nearly done once. "Believe what you want but that's not the case. Gavin knows that and that's why he's still helping me. Besides, you of all people should be happy he didn't settle for me."

"Trust me. I am." Dimia rolled her eyes. 

Penelope shot her an annoyed look and was about to say more when someone cleared their throat awkwardly. She turned her head to look over at Oliver. He shifted a bit uncomfortably, seeming bother by the tension between the two noblewomen. As they both look to him, he nodded his head to outside the wagon. "Looks like we're slowing down. We must have reached the inn." he said in a quiet voice. 

"Finally." Dimia huffed with relief. 

As the wagon lurched to a stop, Penelope eagerly climbed out, stretching her limbs for a moment before shifting her gaze onto the  inn. She felt a bit of excitement pulse through her at the thought of doing interviews. Once they made their decisions on musicians and food, they'd be one step closer to putting together this party.