When Penelope said that whatever he’d told her father must have worked, Crow frowned, not as quick to share in her optimism. It was true that John had told him where to find her room, but the older knight always seemed to bear at least a little displeasure towards him ever since he’d discovered that he and Penelope were together. Since her father already didn’t like him, he was probably inclined to believe the castle gossips who said he had chosen to sleep with another woman. The thought was frustrating, but he didn’t know how to change the other man’s mind—or if he even could—so there was nothing he could about it.

“Thanks,” the viceroy sighed when Penelope said she would talk to her father for him anyway. He was glad she would still do it even if she didn’t think she had to. Now that he was joining the world of nobility, he needed John to at least tolerate him if he wanted to be able to court her for marriage. If the protective knight thought he was merely toying with his daughter’s heart, there was no way he would ever give him his blessing. He had to get this mess straightened out for the sake of holding onto the future they wanted.

As the table fell quiet, Crow worked on finishing off the rest of his food. It didn’t take long, and he looked up again when Penelope told him the rest of her plan for the morning. “Alright,” he nodded, downing the last of his water and standing up. “I’ll go back to my room now then to get ready. I don’t imagine it’s going to take very long, so I’ll try not to keep you waiting.”

Stretching his legs a bit, he casted her an playful smile, “I’ll see you soon, love. Don’t miss me too much.”