Penelope arched a brow and stared at Sharp with a knowing expression in answer to his question. Once again, neither of them bothered to explain anything to Stella.
Exasperated, Stella glanced into Penelope's mind, she was still firm on her resolve to never look into Sharp's mind. But she pulled herself out of the other woman's mind, feeling like a blade had just gone through her heart. She had just seen what Sharp's bedroom looked like from the inside. It was filled to the brim with Helen's presence, just like Sharp's heart. There were multiple paintings, along with a lot a gifts and even some of her personal belongings.
Penelope cast a barely susceptible glance in Stella's direction upon feeling her entering and then leaving her mind. Her reaction was incentive enough for Stella to give no reaction on what she has just learned and assume her confused expression once again.
"How long has it been since you visited Den? Your room would be completely covered in dust. We don't want Stella to have a dismal impression of the Sharps' hospitality." She said, coming up with an excuse on the spot.
Sharp crossed his arms, clearly not buying it. "I'll ask the servants to clean it. They might not be very fast, but it should take them a minute to get it ready." he said and Stella rolled her eyes. Leave it to Sharp to undermine the inhumane speed of vampires.
Penelope, still unwilling to back down, countered with, "Okay, then what about the windows. Did you forget the huge ass floor to ceiling windows, which are very flimsy, if I may add. And can be easily sneaked into." "And your room is just next door to aunt and uncle's, I don't like it at all." she added in a barely audible whisper, seeing that Den was still unwilling to back down.
He finally saw some sense in her words and said with a sigh, "Then what do you propose? Would June's room work?" Penelope shook her head and said, so low that Stella more read her lips and heard her, "My room would be the best. It is the smallest, and has small windows and no balcony." "That works." Sharp muttered as he grasped Stella's hand once again and led her back towards the stairs.
"Great! I'll ask the maids to clean it up." Penelope said, already bounding down the stairs. She turned towards Stella and her face softened before she said, "Go check out the room Stella. You can explore the rest of the castle with Sharp while the maids clean." "Meet me in my room in five minutes. He should be there by then." she added to Sharp before disappearing down the stairs, taking no pains to elaborate on who 'he' was.
Sharp did not take Stella to Penelope's room, claiming that it was unsafe to do so and they wandered around aimlessly for a few minutes before ending up in front of a brightly painted door. "What's this?" Stella asked, surprised to see such a cheerfully painted door in this otherwise horror movie themed castle.
Stella heard Sharp sigh from beside her and assumed she had once again asked the wrong question as was her habit.