Bernard's POV
The woman sitting across from me during dinner bore little resemblance to the Penelope who had been acting strangely since the Gallians landed in London. What unfolded over the course of our meal with the Faraday Estate delegation left me completely bewildered.
Gordon Faraday, the family patriarch, had arrived with his son Philip and their export consultant Liam. The version of Penelope who greeted them was polished beyond recognition, composed in a way that both impressed and infuriated me.
For hours, she commanded the entire conversation. She didn't just participate, she dominated with a confidence that made Sebastian's insistence on bringing her to London crystal clear.
Gordon inquired about Puregrape's expansion into Aethelgard, and she responded with authentic enthusiasm about organic wine production that held all three men captive.
