Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Rae, I'm still all red!"

Penelope's face was currently wearing a deep shade of blush. It just started by the time that she was about to get ready. It must be the nerves.

"Miss, you have to calm down," Rae spoke urgently. "You're completely flushed." Nothing seems to work to lessen the redness as she keeps applying more white powder, especially on Penelope’s nose.

She's getting worried herself since she still has to style Penelope's hair and dress her. "Maybe if you think about Mr. Bridgerton, it'll help you calm down?" She suggested.

Penelope sighed and gave Rae a look that says she's given up. "He's the reason why I'm all flushed. He's all I think about." She said the last part quietly as she looked out the window, looking over Bridgerton House—and remembered another house that she recently visited with her fiancée.

---

Penelope was sitting up on the bed, the sheet clutched tightly to her chest. She could hear the conversation between Colin and his valet.

She wondered what he thought of her and the current situation. Then she heard him say, "May I bring you and Ms. Featherington refreshments while waiting for her maid to arrive?"

Penelope thought it was so thoughtful that she couldn't help answering for both her and Colin. Dunwoody obviously didn't expect her to be the one to respond, as it took him a beat for him to answer—and she was impressed with his professional response.

She giggled as Colin came back to the room. He resembled a little boy, with his hair tousled and his clothing in disarray by hastily putting it on earlier. And now also wearing the biggest smile on his face.

Colin started to remove his clothing again in haste.

"Colin, what are you doing?"

"What do you mean?" He already had everything removed and let himself in under the covers.

Penelope just gave him a smirk and a raised brow in question.

"But you said we could do it again after five minutes?" he pouted. "It took five minutes to get dressed and speak to my valet. It probably took even longer." He maneuvered her to the center of the bed as he was speaking.

"Are...are you still sore?" He asked worriedly. "Because if you are, we can stop. I don't want you hurt or uncomfortable. We don't have to if you don't want to do it again." He nuzzled her neck as he put his weight on top of her. "We can do it another time...on my bed." He looked back up and hovered his face close to hers, waiting for her answer.

Penelope could already feel him hard on her thighs. Her hand held his face. "There is no question of wanting to make love to you as many times as I want." He grinned at her confession. "I'm just not sure if it's appropriate to do it as often as we've done it in a day... especially if the sun is still up. I... I also can't say how many times we did it. Won't the servants talk?" She bit her lip.

Six. But who's counting? Colin thought. And he knew some of the servants already heard them, judging by the giggles he faintly heard outside the room. He wasn't going to tell Pen that as he knew she'd get embarrassed. Colin, on the other hand, felt a surge of excitement and arousal in being heard fucking a very loud Penelope.

He caressed her baby-soft cheek. "It's actually none of their business, Pen. Even if they do hear us, they are expected to be discreet and respectful still to their employers." He started massaging her breasts again and leaving hickeys on hidden places. He has also started rubbing the tip of his hardness on her wet slit.

"And to address your other concern, there is no number to reach on how many times a couple can do it in a day...or night." Penelope squeaked in surprise as he flipped them with her on top. "Take your pleasure, Pen."

She looks so voluptuous and erotic on top of him. Penelope has no comparison with the women at the brothels. How could she, when she is all-woman personified? And she was his. All for himself. He licked his lips in hunger for more flesh.

He palmed the swell of her belly, wondering if there is already a child conceived. He grinned. In the number of times they made love, there wouldn't be any doubt. He would have made sure he'd fucked a baby inside her.

"What are you grinning about?" Penelope asked as she caressed his body with her hands. Everything about him was hard. From his chest to his abdomen. She couldn't help but explore up from his hard shoulders to his big arms and large hands. Hands that are currently on her hips and touching her belly.

He smiled up at her. "I was just thinking if you're already with child." A smile also bloomed on her face. "Do you wish for it?" She glided her hands up and down and skimmed his torso with her nails, which earned her a moan from him as he closed his eyes at the feel of her hands against his body.

"I do. Very much. But I would be selfish as well to want to have more time with you after we marry—to travel and spend more time with you alone. But if we were to have a child early in our marriage, I would be over the moon as well. And you?"

"I feel the same way. To travel with you to the places you've been. And if we do have a child as early in our marriage, I would still be as equally happy, if not more, if I could have a little Colin running around." She giggled.

"Or a little Pen. A complete replica of her mother."

Penelope smiled deviously as she moved her hips back and grasped his length behind her. "We should continue then, husband." She rose a little bit and sank on him slowly and deliberately as she closed her eyes and let her jaw drop at the pleasure of the new position.

"Pen." He gripped her hips tighter. "Warn a man next time." He chuckled as he guided her movements to grind on him. He watched as she rolled her head back and surprised him as she trailed her hands up to her breasts and squeezed them while moaning and grinding on him. She looked down on him with hooded eyes and bit her lip.

"That's it, Pen. Touch yourself." The huskiness of his voice made her grind on him harder and pushed her to pinch and roll her nipples with her fingers. "Yes. It's so good." 

She looked so fuckable grinding on him, her hips moving forwards and back with that squelching sound he loves to hear. Her small fingers pinching and pulling her nipples. Her eyes closed in rapture with her mouth open. Her open mouth is letting out the most arousing, lewd, high-pitched moans he's ever heard.

"Yes, that's it," he said breathless. "Let them hear you fucking my cock, Pen."

---

It was after that round that they decided to call it an uneven number and stop at that. And true to his promise, she had trouble walking when she finally left the bed so that Rae could help her freshen up and get dressed. But it became just a funny walk as they went back to Featherington House. It was a good thing no one noticed since she stayed in her room for the remainder of the day.

Penelope shook her head at the memory, amused. But as she looked up at Rae, her maid had her arms crossed, looking stern. "Miss, you're still flushed. I won't be able to do anything if you're still red."

Penelope looked chastened. "I'm sorry, Rae. I'll try to calm down." It was then that Portia entered her room. "Penelope, are you still not ready? We'll be late." Her mother looked worried.

"I'm fine, Mama."

Portia looked at her youngest in earnest. "Well, you do look flushed, my dear." Her daughter sighed. Rae intervened, lest Portia get other ideas on the state of her Miss. "I'm trying to calm her down, my lady. We still have time, though."

"Hmmm. Could you fetch me that chair, Rae?" Her mother pointed at the corner. Rae brought it immediately and placed it in front of Penelope, where Portia sat. Now mother and daughter are facing each other. Penelope was a bit lost. Did her mother wish to speak to her about something?

"I wanted to apologize," her mother started. Penelope was surprised. This was not what she was expecting. "Mama?"

Her mother held up a hand. "Please. I'd like to get this off my chest." She sighed.

"I would like to apologize for my behavior and scheming in entrapping Mr. Bridgerton to your cousin Marina during your first season. I was aware of your feelings for Mr. Bridgerton to an extent, but I only found out how deep your affections ran when I found out about you exchanging letters with him last season."

She looked down at her lap. "The scheme to entrap him was born out of the need to protect this family by securing Marina in a marriage and her children passed off as the groom's legitimate children. I did not heed your warnings and concerns. I was too focused on protecting the family from shame. But I also didn't know that I hurt you as well by pushing Mr. Bridgerton to another woman. I'm sorry."

Penelope just stared at her mother. She suddenly got up, went around the desk, and hugged her mother. It was Portia who was surprised now. She didn't expect her daughter to react like this.

Portia looked up to her daughter. "Can you forgive your mother?" Penelope nodded. "Of course I forgive you. You apologizing was not something I expected, but it is not unwelcome. I really appreciate your apology."

"And it's true. I've had feelings for Colin ever since my bonnet hit him in the face." She chuckled. "It really hurt to see him with Marina. But I'm glad everything turned out this way. I never thought that he would fall for me. Sometimes I feel like it's too good to be true and that I would wake up from a dream and realize that none of this is real."

Portia held her daughter's hands tightly. "Of course, all of this is real, Penelope. If you've seen just the way he looks and acts around you—he never did the same for Marina. He loves you. Ardently. I may not be familiar with love matches, but Marina could never compare to you. You are his love match. But have you told him of your affections even before? I think he should know."

"You think so?"

Portia nodded. "I know so. It will give him an idea on how to treasure you more deeply. He's lucky to have you, as you are to him."

"Thank you, Mama. It means a lot coming from you." Mother and daughter smiled at each other.

"Well, I think I was able to accomplish another task today."

"What task?"

"Your face is finally clear from that flush from earlier." Penelope looked at the mirror, and indeed her face has cleared up. She looked at her mother with utter disbelief and gave a nervous laugh. "Thank you, Mama. You're brilliant!"

Portia shrugged a shoulder with a conspiratorial smile on her face. "I do my best. You just needed the distraction to finally calm down." Then she turned to Rae and clapped her hands in urgency. "Now, let's move in haste. We can't have the bride-to-be late for her engagement ball!"

---

As the Featherington brood entered the foyer, they immediately appreciated the opulence of the place. The Viscountess definitely did not spare any expense on her first organized event. Elliot noticed rich colors that complemented the bride and groom. Speaking of the groom, he sees Colin approaching with determined steps to his mother as he reaches for her hand to kiss it.

Elliot relinquished his hold on his mother as Colin unconsciously pulled Penelope closer to his side as if she was already a Bridgerton. He intertwined their fingers instead of placing her arm on his. Colin swept his eyes at the Featheringtons with an unmistakable smile of gratitude.

"Thank you for gracing us with your presence. We're delighted you all could be here to celebrate our engagement...for the second time." He gestured further in the foyer. "Please mingle. You are more than welcome to the food and refreshments. My sister Kate spared no expense for this ball." His father looked so proud; he might burst.

"I'll be more than happy to try those refreshments you speak of." Portia made a beeline for the drinks, while her pregnant daughters with their husbands went straight to the food.

Almost immediately, Elliot was pulled away by Lady Danbury, the Viscount, and Viscountess Bridgerton.

Finally, alone, Colin turned to his fiancée and whispered, "I have half a mind to whisk you away from here and celebrate on our own. What do you say, Pen?" He wiggled his eyebrows at her.

"Colin! Behave!" She hissed as she looked around to see if anyone heard him. Penelope pursed her lips in amusement as the blush traveled from her face to her chest. And it did not go unnoticed.

"I'd like to see the extent of that blush on your bossom, Pen." Colin continued to whisper with that gleam in his eyes.

Mouth agape, Penelope was too shocked for words as her fiancée was relentless in continuing to misbehave. "You better close that mouth, my love, or I'll make good use of it—and I'm not talking about kisses." He smirked.

Penelope pinched his arm, long and hard. She laughed as he yelped, "AahhOww! Pen!" Several of the guests looked at them curiously, and some snickered at Colin's ungentlemanly outburst.

He pouted. "Pen, that really hurt."

She had her nose up in the air. "Serves you right, Colin Bridgerton." And this time it was she who was whispering. "But if you'll be a good boy, I might let you do one of those two things you mentioned earlier."

Colin nodded eagerly; that made her laugh. Her fiancée was so agreeable when it came to "certain" things. "Now, no more talk of 'you know what', lest we want the guests to be scandalized," she arched an eyebrow at him.

"I can do that." He smiled sheepishly. "Speaking of guests, I invited someone who I thought I wouldn't have considered inviting in a million years."

Penelope cocked her head to the side. "Who?"

Colin gestured at the far corner of the room, where Cressida was standing and speaking with Eloise. Penelope's heart lifted. Cressida looked well and better compared to the last time she saw her at her home.

"Oh, I'm glad you invited her, Colin." She gave him a peck on the cheek. "She's smiling, and she looks happy from where I can see."

Cressida smiling, without a grimace or disdain on her face? "That would be a first time." He retorted snidely. Penelope giggled as she pulled him along to walk towards the two women who seem to be in their own little world.

Cressida immediately caught sight of them, and she beamed. "I don't think I'll ever get used to her smiling like that." 

"Hush, you," Penelope whispered as they neared her friend.

"Penelope!" Cressida exclaimed and took her hands as she pulled Penelope closer. Colin made a barely heard, discontented sound as he wanted to object to the immediate loss of his fiancée beside him but kept it to himself as he saw how happy she looked.

"I'd like to congratulate you on your engagement! Both of you." She turned to Colin. "And thank you for inviting me, Mr. Bridgerton. I didn't expect to be invited." Her smile was guarded as she was still uncertain of her welcome in their home.

Colin smiled. "A friend of Penelope, whether new or old, is welcome in our company and our home. Besides, my bride-to-be has been worried about you, and this would be an opportunity for both of you to see each other."

"I couldn't have said it better myself." Penelope preened at him, then turned back to Cressida, who was still holding her hands. "How have you been? I'm sorry I haven't been able to see you. We've been busy with the preparations for the wedding," Penelope said with a touch of sadness.

Cressida shook her head. "I understand. You deserve to enjoy planning your wedding. And I'm, well, actually better than the last time we saw each other." She bit her lip to keep from bursting. "Lord Greer has rescinded his proposal of marriage right after the exposé in the last Whistledown issue."

"Oh, that's wonderful, Cressida!"

"Isn't it?! I didn't expect Lady Whistledown to defend me—I'm used to her saying mean things about me. But to expose all of those things about Lord Greer, I'm very grateful for her. I couldn't imagine being his wife and living with him after reading all those things he had apparently done." She smiled sadly.

"You don't deserve a life like that, Cressida. Nobody does."

"Pen's right. Good riddance to him. He was also really old enough to be your great-grandfather." Eloise made a gagging sound.

"Careful, Eloise, your future husband might be as old as Lord Greer, if not older," Colin teased and fixed his annoying smirk at his sister. Eloise's eyes bugged out as her jaw hit the floor. She recovered immediately, though, and responded with an expressionless face. "I really don't see what Pen sees in you." And it started the verbal war between the siblings, leaving Penelope and Cressida to themselves.

Penelope shook her head at the siblings' penchant to annoy each other at every opportune moment. She looked back at Cressida and was happily relieved that she would no longer be married to such a horrible man. But it seems that her friend has something else on her mind as she forlornly watches the siblings argue.

"What's wrong, Cressida?"

Penelope heard her sigh. "After my bungled arranged marriage, I heard my father threatening my mother to send me to my aunt's...in Scotland...since I have no use for him here."

"I...I do not want to go...I finally have friends here." She looked at Penelope knowingly. "And I've met my aunt. She and my father...are the same when it comes to dealing with their children." She fiddles with her gloves. "I know I may not have a very promising future here, but at least I have Eloise and you..."

Penelope immediately held her hands. "Is it certain? Your father sending you to Scotland?"

Cressida shook her head.

"Then it might not happen. Have faith, Cressida."

She smiled and nodded. "Yes, yes. Of course. What a morose way of thinking." She laughed nervously. "Here I am dampening the mood when it should be a happy celebration for you. I'm sorry, please think nothing of it. I'll be alright. Tonight is for you and Mr. Bridgerton."

"What is?" Colin asked as he pulled Penelope close to his side again. She giggled at his possessiveness. "That tonight is our night and that we should enjoy it."

"Oh, you're about to enjoy it alright. We'll be playing a game in the drawing room soon enough." Eloise had her arms crossed with an unmistakable competitiveness in her eyes.

---

"Lilies. Forget-me-nots. Lilacs!!!"

The rest of the Bridgerton siblings are all shouting their answer along with the other guests.

"No!" Eloise rolls her eyes at every wrong answer and still waiting for someone to get what she read right.

"Has your brother always been like that?" Penelope grimaced as she listened to Anthony's competitive shouting. She knew of his competitiveness in Pall Mall, though he never raised his voice.

Colin was wincing as well with each answered yell. "You don't know the half of it. You'll see more once you marry into the family." He winked.

Her eyes were smiling. "I can't wait."

"Pen!" The couple turned to Eloise, who had a pleading look on her face. "Help. Please." She said with gritted teeth.

Penelope looked around the chaos and decided to have mercy on Eloise. She cleared her throat so that she could get everyone's attention. "Um. It's Heart's Ease."

Everyone just stared at her. "Uh, ease is conveyed to one's heart by the company of family. So, Heart's Ease, the flower."

"Yes! That's right! Finally!" Eloise yelled her relief. So far, several people have already taken their turn in reading the riddles. Colin kissed her hand, in awe. "Brilliant, Pen."

She blushed as everyone clapped their hands. Penelope stood up to accept the pocketbook from Eloise since it was her turn. As she stood in front of everyone, she noticed that they had used up all the riddles in the tiny book.

"It seems that we've already used up all the riddles," Penelope confirmed.

"Well! It appears we have a winner!" Anthony announced.

"Oh, um." Penelope cut him off. "I do have one last. It's not in the pocketbook, though."

"Ah, one last shot to be the winner then." Anthony was rubbing his hands together and was at the edge of his seat.

Penelope chuckled nervously. "Yes. I guess you can say that." She took a deep breath and held her betrothed's gaze as she mustered the strength to recite what she remembered reading earlier that day.

"It is patient, it is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. It does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

There was silence at first with everyone trying to digest the riddle. Then everything broke loose. 

"It must be a person."

"Who do we know who is not easily angered and keeps no record of wrongs?"

"That's easy. Is it Anthony?" Benedict asked Penelope while he snickered behind his champagne.

Anthony glared at him. "Oi, I resent that jest."

"But honestly, is it me?" He asked Penelope, who in turn giggled at his serious ask. "No, it's not a person." The Viscount crossed his arms and leaned back like a petulant child would.

After some time, someone threw their hands in the air. "We give up! Tell us the answer." Penelope was surveying the room; even Eloise was stuck in figuring out the answer. She caught Violet's gaze, though, who had a tiny wistful smile on her face. Her future mother-in-law knew the answer—even Kate had a knowing smile—but it seems that they wanted to keep it to themselves.

"Well, um, the answer is..."

"Love."

Everyone turned to Colin.

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. Love does not dishonor others; it is not self-seeking. Love is not easily angered; it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

Colin ended his speech, keeping his eyes on Penelope. "Am I right, Pen?" he asked quietly, but the whole room still heard it. She smiled brightly—ecstatic that it was Colin who guessed the right answer.

"Yes."

"And I... I also wish to share something, as my fiancée had romantically told you earlier how we met. I'd like to share with you what happened next, right after Colin landed on the mud." She wanted to be honest with him as he had been about her in front of their family and friends. Everyone now had expectant and curious smiles. She peered nervously at her mother, who smiled encouragingly and nodded her head to continue.

Penelope landed her gaze upon Colin. "I've loved you, Colin, for an embarrassingly long time, in truth." She licked her dry lips. "In the years I pretended to be your friend—I was." She shook her head. "I still am." She looked back as she tried to keep her hands steady in front of her, fiddling with her engagement ring seemingly to draw strength from it. "I have loved you in secret. I have always loved you, Colin. I also wanted you to know that the riddle you guessed was how I felt about you...even until now." 

She bit her lips, waiting for his reaction. 

Since when? Colin thought. Since then? She loved me? Since they were little? Since her first season? When I first got engaged? He winced internally. How does one feel when they see the person they love pursuing someone else and engaged to another?

Devastation.

That's what he felt—in the time Debling was pursuing her. It would feel worse—if she were engaged to anyone other than him. Life would no longer have any meaning for him. Even traveling would cease to have any joy or fulfillment. His heart twisted, and he clenched his fists just thinking about anyone else making her smile, laugh...or moan other than him. Did she feel the same?

And all the time that they conversed and danced as well at balls—she loved him?

She has loved him ever since they started their letter writing too? And—oh, dear lord. His visit to Lady Crane last season. What must she think of him then? Someone who couldn't move on from the past and had to visit his previous fiancée? Who does that? How did she feel then when he told her of his plan to visit and went to Romney Hall?

Heartbroken. Raging jealousy.

Those are what he would feel if Pen would still have some type of contact with Debling. Colin also would've beaten him to a pulp. His wincing couldn't be contained inside any longer, as it must've shown on his face.

"Colin?"

Her voice brought him back to the present. He immediately swooped her in a loving embrace. "I will spend the rest of my life begging for your forgiveness and showering you with all the love that you deserve and more—for not seeing you sooner—and also because I love you." Colin made sure that everyone heard his promise as well.

And to the discomfiture of their family and guests, he sealed his vow with a chaste kiss while pulling her closer to him—that took a little too long.

"Ehem. Save some for the church wedding, brother. Penelope is not going anywhere." Benedict tried to physically separate the two with his words. He straightened as he raised his glass for a quick toast to the happy couple.

"To the future Mr. and Mrs. Bridgerton!"

The occupants raised their glasses as well, to the young couple who are now facing everyone with love etched on their faces.

"To Mr. and Mrs. Bridgerton!"