Matchmaking (2)

Their other sister, Clara, joined them, sat, rested her head against Penelope's arm, and released a dejected sigh.

"I really can't stand attending another event like this." She complained to her two sisters. "I think I had enough hearing lies for tonight."

Penelope looked at her youngest sister and gave her a weak smile.

"I'm sure it would never be enough for our mother."

Clara was the most charming Penelope knew. Her younger sister couldn't hate anyone, nor did she know how to hold a grudge against others. She was the sweetest kid who would rather hurt herself than others.

"Where's Melody?" Priscilla asked, noticing the absence of their other sister.

"She's probably with Oscar right now. I don't understand why she was so smitten by him," Clara said, her voice tinged with a hint of concern.

Penelope said nothing. Who hadn't known that Oscar Milliani was a womanizer? He was known to break hearts left and right, with a charming smile often hiding his true intentions. Priscilla glanced at Penelope worriedly, silently hoping Melody hadn't fallen too hard for Oscar's facade.

The sound of footsteps interrupted their thoughts, and they turned to see Melody approaching with a content smile.

"Sorry, I'm late, sis," Melody said as she sat opposite her sisters. "Oscar and I were just taking a walk in the garden."

Clara frowned slightly, exchanging a knowing look with Priscilla. Penelope bit her lip, unsure of what to say. Before anyone could speak, the doors to the drawing room burst open, and their mother swept in, her eyes sharp and assessing.

"Ah, my lovely daughters," she said with a tight smile. "I trust you are all enjoying the ball?"

The Dimitriou sisters exchange glances, each understanding the underlying tension beneath their mother's pleasant facade. Priscilla cleared her throat and spoke up.

"We've done what you asked us to do, Mom." She answered. "Should we get going now?"

Penelope gave her sister a worried look. Usually, it would cause a heated argument between Priscilla and their mother.

Their mother's smile faltered briefly before she composed herself, her eyes flashing with a hint of irritation. She waved a hand dismissively and replied, "No, no, stay longer. The night is still young, and there are many esteemed guests yet to arrive. I want you all to make a good impression."

The sisters exchanged uneasy glances, the tension thickening in the air. Priscilla bit her lip, contemplating her next words carefully. She knew better than to argue with their mother in public, but she couldn't shake the unease in her stomach.

Penelope squeezed Priscilla's hand in silent support before turning her gaze back to their mother.

"Of course, Mother. We shall do our best to represent the Dimitriou family with grace and poise."

Their mother's smile returned, though it didn't quite reach her eyes.

"That's my girls. Now, off you go and mingle."

With a dismissive wave of her hand, she turned away, already engrossed in conversation with another guest.

As the sisters rose from their seats to obey their mother's wishes, Clara leaned in close to Penelope and whispered, "I have a bad feeling about tonight. Something isn't right."

Penelope nodded in agreement, her mind racing with worry for their younger sister, Melody, who was still enraptured by Oscar's charm. But for now, they had to play their part and cautiously navigate the treacherous waters of high society.

"Clara is right," Priscilla commented as they watched Melody make her way to greet the other guests. "Mother is too calm and happy. Do you think she has already found a suitable husband for one of us? Perhaps that mysterious, handsome man we saw earlier could be my future brother-in-law."

"Who are you talking about?" Clara asked curiously.

As businessmen and a few women surrounded the man, Priscilla inched closer to Clara and pointed subtly at him.

"That one. I saw him glancing at Penny's way earlier." She grinned.

"Oh, so you were talking about Raven Hendrix." Clara hummed in understanding.

"Eh? You know him, Clara?" Priscilla raised a brow.

"Everyone's talking about him earlier. He is the uncle of the Montgomery brothers. Raven's mother is the late Arabella Montgomery. I heard Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery are looking for a suitable wife for him as well," Clara explained, her eyes flitting over to where Raven stood tall and imposing in the center of the room.

"Some said he's a bit of a recluse. Others claimed he's a brooding artist who spends his days painting in his mansion," Clara continued, her eyes flickering towards Raven Hendrix with curiosity and intrigue. "He didn't need to work that much, considering the wealth he inherited from his deceased parents.

Penelope couldn't help but feel a flutter of nerves at the mention of Raven. She had noticed his intense gaze earlier and how he carried himself with an air of mystery. As she observed him from across the room, their eyes met briefly, sending a jolt of electricity down her spine.

Priscilla's interest was piqued, and she couldn't help but study him with newfound curiosity. Raven exuded an air of mystery and power, his sharp gaze scanning the room with calculating intensity. Penelope shifted uncomfortably under his scrutiny, feeling as though his piercing gaze could see right through her carefully constructed facade.

Priscilla nudged Penelope with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Well, well, it seems like you've caught Mr. Hendrix's attention, Penny. Maybe tonight won't be so dull after all."

"You are talking nonsense again, Ceecee. There are so many beautiful girls out there. Why would he settle for someone like me?" Penelope dismissed her sister's teasing.

Unlike the other women within the room, Penelope didn't possess the same boldness or allure that seemed to draw men like Raven Hendrix in. She was known for her quiet demeanor and grace, often fading into the background of social gatherings. But there was something in the way Raven's eyes lingered on her that made her heart race and her palms grow clammy.

He must have found her presence odd. Penelope thought. If the Montgomery family was looking for a suitable wife for him, Penelope had no doubt she wouldn't be on the list. She knew she didn't fit the bill of what they were looking for.