She took her time in the washroom, taking in a deep breath before releasing it. Penny should have known things would be awkward and it would have been if both Elliot and Sylvia hadn't accompanied her. Some of the folks in the drawing-room where the card game was going on, she could feel them looking at her as if she were an insect. Even though Lady Helen had not joined them today, it hadn't stopped Mrs. Raver in joining them for lunch and the game.
Her hands were on either side of the basin with her back facing the mirror.
After what happened last time, Penny didn't want to draw more attention to her which would not only cause her trouble but also cause trouble to Damien.
The maid had left the door who had helped her reach the powder room. Turning back around she looked at her own reflection. Leaning close to the mirror to check if her eyes were alright and there was no hint of her being part of the black witch family.
Just when she was about to step out, she heard two voices speak as they walked past the powder room,
"Did you hear that she is the same lady who used the bottle on Lady Helen?"
"How ill-mannered," another voice commented, "She might not be part of the elite family. You can only guess why people don't mingle around. Mixing dirt with water," Penny's head hit the door, a sigh escaping through her lips. She knew it wasn't something a lady would do but the vampiress deserved more than that.
Hearing the thud sound from outside, the maids who were talking amongst themselves stopped walking to go back to the powder room to ask,
"Is everything alright, Ms?" one of the maids asked, giving an ear forward when the door suddenly opened to reveal Penny who stepped outside the room. Seeing the same woman who they were speaking about come out in the light, the maid's eyes widened but they didn't utter a word more.
Penny gave them a bright smile, "I am fine," the two girls nodded their head and quickly scurried away from the corridor.
She stood outside the powder room, wondering to herself if she should join them before she started to walk in the opposite direction, away from the people so that she could relax. Mr. and Mrs. Artemis, they had been nice enough to invite her along with the others today, she felt slightly welcomed by the gesture but the atmosphere felt rather tense in the room. She didn't want herself to be dragged into the court council and claim the spotlight by letting them know she was a white witch.
Walking through the corridors where the mansion was decently big, she admired the little objects which were placed for show and the flowers which were put in freshly today. Walking past the dining room and taking a peek at it, she continued to walk when she came upon a series of portraits of the family members.
The portraits of the family members were usually interesting to watch the clothes they wore and the setting behind or around them which was usually made a little more extra than usual.
There was a decently young portrait of Mr. and Mrs. Artemis of themselves. The paint on it felt old and the sides of it a little torn which needed to be redone. She moved to another portrait, one after another when she found Mr. and Mrs. Artemis with their two children.
They were two boys, really young to be called as their parents, thought Penny to herself because the couple looked young. She moved to the next one which was when her brows furrowed together deeper than ever before.
She took a step closer, having a better look at the two young children but these weren't the two boys which she had looked at a few seconds ago. It was a young girl and a young boy. Both of them were smiling as they stood behind Mr. and Mrs. Artemis who were seated on a heavy couch.
The faces looked strangely familiar. Had she seen them before? But it wasn't possible, she said to herself as this portrait must have been created years ago. At least two decades ago and two decades ago she wasn't even born at that time. Penny pressed her lips together.
A maid who was passing by another corridor found one of the guests who had made their way past the other side of the mansion, watching the woman through the windows who quickly went there.
"Milady, you shouldn't be here," the maid of the Artemis informed her.
"Pardon me," Penny offered a small bow of apology before walking away from there, taking one more glance before joining back the other guests in the drawing-room. She didn't mention her little stroll but when the maid who had warned came to Mr. Artemis' side, whispering something in his ear, the man's eyes fell on Penelope. He gave the maid a nod and the maid left the room.
Now along with the other eyes in the room, she felt wary of the man of the house. Though she was watched and she was observed, Mr. Artemis never came to tell her anything and the day proceeded from playing card games to a meal before they relaxed back in the drawing-room.
Finally, everyone wished each other on how lovely the evening had passed by before going back to their houses in their respective carriage.
That evening, Mr. Artemis stood in front of the portrait of the pictures that had been hung on the wall years ago. Mrs. Artemis came searching for her husband to find him standing here in front of the portraits. She looked at her husband who appeared to wear a grim expression on his face right now. His eyes staring at a specific portrait on the wall with the two boys in there.
The woman placed a hand on her husband's arm, rubbing it gently.
"They died too young," the man responded back, his eyes vacant.