"Not everyone can deny conventions, sister," Penny replied quietly, taking a deep breath of her own to soothe the unease that the unexpected conflict had brought. "And no, of course he hasn't. We're merely friends, that's all. Is that truly so bothersome?" It seemed to her that Gen might want to see her married, too, now that she herself had found happiness in marriage. While she had been somewhat lonely in her sister's absence, it hadn't made her feel desperate to marry, certainly not desperate enough to marry hastily and without consideration to its implications.
Penny felt a relief flood over her as Gen asked her a simpler sort of question, the sort of question that wouldn't make her blush or squirm under her gaze. "Well, I hadn't properly considered it, truth be told," she confessed. "I was so excited to see you that all other thoughts fled from my head." It reminded her that when they lived together they hadn't truly done much other than be together on occasion, usually once their differing days had concluded or when their paths happened to cross. It seemed so strange to have to contrive circumstances!