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Chapter Text

“Benedict! Mr Bridgerton! Please, wait!”

Benedict turns at the voice, calling to him from the alley way he has just passed. Slightly wobbly after a sombre night at Whites, he wheels himself around and blinks owlishly into the dark.

“Genevieve? Is that you?”

“I need to speak to you, come!” Genevieve whirls and pulls open a door, ushering him into the rear of the modiste.

“Is everything alright, Gen? You seem upset,” Benedict flops into an armchair, nodding in gratitude as she places a glass of sherry in his hand.

“Drink this first, I believe you will need it.” Genevieve sits opposite him and drops her head into her hands, rubbing her temples.

Benedict takes a small sip and sits back, worry furrowing his brow as he waits for Genevieve to continue.

With a shaky breath she says, “It is about Penelope.”

Benedict shrinks back in his seat, his heart twisting in his chest, “She is gone, Genevieve. We have done nothing but grieve for the last three months. What more is there to say?”

Genevieve swallows, raising her dark eyes to his face, “I need to know the answer to something, I understand you may not wish to tell me but please understand that I would not ask unless it was of utmost importance.”

Benedict looks at her gravely as gestures for her to continue.

“Penelope’s death, it was an accident, was it not? Please forgive me, I have only heard the rumours of what transpired.”

Benedict flinches at the question but answers, “Yes, that’s correct. A tragic accident. She drowned in the lake at Greystone.”

“Greystone Mere is your brother Colin’s estate, is it not?”

“Colin and Marina’s, yes. Penelope was visiting after the birth of their children, she was Marina’s cousin. A dear friend of Colin’s as well, of course. She was out for a walk with Marina and slipped.” Benedict looks at Gen curiously, “We did have some concerns over Marina's behaviour prior to the accident, but there was never anything we could prove."

Genevieve sighs, “I would say that you and I know each other quite well, you know of my real heritage, we have seen many different sides of each other over the years, yes?

Benedict smirks, “I think I’ve seen every inch of you, Gen.”

Genevieve shakes her head with a snort, “Yes, well. There is another side to me that you may not know. You may not believe it, many do not.”

“To what are you referring, Gen? Speak plainly.”

“I believe I have a connection to the spirit world, to souls who have passed and also those that have yet to complete their journey.” Genevieve looks at him seriously.

Benedict blinks and throws back the rest of his drink, “You see ghosts?”

“No, I receive messages and images, usually when I dream but on occasion I will receive something while I am awake if the message is powerful enough.”

Benedict has paled, his voice just a whisper as he asks, “Penelope?”

“Yes, I believe so.” Genevieve watches as Benedict stands and begins to pace. “Please believe that I would never joke about something like this. Penelope was my friend.”

Benedict stills and stares blankly for a moment, “I do not know how I feel about what you are saying but I believe I know you well enough to trust you. Please, continue.”

“I have been dreaming of dark water, my lungs filling as I sink into darkness. Over and over, I thought it was just a nightmare.”

Genevieve’s hands have begun to shake and Benedict reaches out to steady her, “Perhaps it is just the grief from hearing of Penelope and her manner of death?”

“I thought so too, Ben. Until last week, and the mirror.”

“The mirror? I don’t understand, Gen.”

“I can see her, I can see Penelope. Those eyes, so soft and kind, the eyes of my friend. The first time I saw them I was mesmerised, I miss my friend very much.”

“I am sorry, Gen. You know I share your grief.”

“There is more. Her face changes as I watch, her face changes to worry, to fear, to shock. The very last thing I see is panic. I think I am seeing her last moments.”

Benedict gulps, “I do not wish to think about it but it does sound like the reaction to her accident. Her slip and her fall into the lake.”

“It is not only her eyes I can see, Benedict. I can see her mouth, she is talking, yelling, pleading.”

"What are you saying, Gen?"

Genevieve drops her head to her hands, tears beginning to flow. “I think she is trying to contact me, I don’t think she has yet passed over. I don’t think this was an accident.“

Benedict stares in silence, finally whispering, “Marina was the only one with her, Colin and Mother were at Aubrey. He will never forgive himself for not being there. Did Marina do this?"

“I do not know. I can only see Penelope.”

"Marina was not well, for a long time, even before she came into our lives from what I have heard. But surely she would not be capable of something like this?"

Gen shakes her head sadly.

“She is gone Genevieve! Even if it was no accident, she is lost to us. Eloise and Colin may never recover!" Benedict cries, anguish written all over his face. "Do you think she is a danger to Colin, to the children?"

“"I do not know, I am sorry Ben. But I think I may know of someone who can help. I have had many discussions and meetings with others who share my ability, in one way or another.” Genevieve stands to place a hand on his shoulder to stop his pacing, “What if we could stop it?”

“How is it possible to stop something that has already happened? We cannot go back!”

“We cannot, but I may know someone who can. Would you be willing for me to reach out?”

Benedict lets his eyes rove her face, seeing nothing but grief and sincerity, “Yes. If there is a chance we can get her back, do it. I would give anything to relieve us from this pain.”

Genevieve pulls him in for a gentle hug, “Leave it with me for now, I will make some enquiries. Please Ben, do not mention this to anyone, it is a very long shot.”

“Of course, I will myself gently try and ask some more questions of Colin. He has been too distraught to speak to anyone, perhaps he is ready. Maybe there is something else he remembers, or there is something Marina has said. He spends all of his time with the children, I do not know if she is even still there.”

“Send me a missive if he does, the more we know the better. Please do go gently, I would hate to cause him more pain.”

Benedict kisses Genevieve on the cheek gently and takes his leave, “Be careful, my dear.”

“I will write when I know more, farewell my friend.”

*******

"He is not here, I'm afraid Benedict," Marina says, not even bothering with a greeting for her brother in law. "I am afraid you have travelled all this way for nothing."

"Well, where is he?" Benedict bites back, slightly taken aback at Marina's lack of manners and cold tone of voice.

"I assume that if he had wanted you to know he would have informed you of his destination." Marina barely even bothers to look his way, her gaze firmly on the window behind him.

"And what of the children? May I see my niece and nephew while I am here?" Benedict demands.

"You know full well that they are of no relation to you, please do not trouble yourself with pretence." Marina rises as if to leave the room, "Bancroft will see you out."

"Marina! Please!"

"I am sorry Benedict, but now is not the time. I shall have Colin write to you on his return."

*******

Benedict paces his bed chambers at Bridgerton House, exhausted after his return from Kent, his mind unable to rest. Marina's countenance and Colin's absence causing him great worry. It was unlike Colin to leave without informing the family, well it would have been before Marina. He did leave for Gretna Green in secret after all, when had his brother changed so? His charming, loving, open book of a brother. The whole of the last twelve months had felt wrong.

The family had suffered but survived in the wake of Colin and Marina's clandestine nuptials, only for Penelope's death six months later to tear them apart. Nothing had been or would ever be the same again. Darling Penelope, his little sister in everything but name. Eloise's best friend. Colin's soulmate. If only he had realised before it was too late. Before Marina.

He is yet to tell his mother and Anthony of his trip to Kent, the aim being to check on Colin with as little fuss as possible. To softly ask more questions about the accident, to see if he was ready to talk. He had barely spoken a word on his brief return to London for Penelope's funeral, his guilt and devastation plain on his face for all to see. He and Marina had left immediately after to return to Kent, the children having been left with the nanny and nursemaid back at Greystone Mere. It has now been over three months and there has been no communication since.

If only, if only Colin had not been blinded by infatuation with and manipulation by Marina, he may have come to see what was obvious to everyone who knew him well. It was Penelope, it had always been Penelope, if only he had realised. Benedict knew that Colin would never forgive himself for being blind to her love, for taking too long to realise that everything he had been looking for was always right in front of him. And then she was gone.

His thoughts are interrupted by a knock at the door, Humboldt appears with a letter, "For you, sir."

"Thank you, please, close the door." Benedict does not recognise the writing, a small and delicate hand. He sits and carefully opens the missive, his eyes widening as he reads.

Benedict,

I have news, same time and location as last time, at your convenience.

G.

Benedict puffs out a breath, is this something that he is really going to pursue? He may be open minded and free spirited but this is a long way away from his usual endeavours. Can he really deny the opportunity to bring her back, to fix this terrible wrong? He decides to go and listen to Genevieve, to see what she has been able to find out. It could surely not get any worse.

He has done some careful questioning after his conversation with Genevieve. Stories from Prudence and Phillipa of Marina's disturbing behaviour prior to her marriage with Colin. The rumours they had heard of her obsessive behaviour with a man back in her village, his rejection of her after he became aware of her pregnancy. Benedict knows to take everything he has learned with a grain of salt, especially considering the source of the information.

Checking his pocket watch he can see it is only early evening, a few hours to fill then. He will join the family for dinner, a nightcap with Anthony in the study. He will play his role, bring some levity to the family table, ensure his younger siblings are well and distracted from their grief. Did Penelope know how loved she was? He hoped so.

As soon as the clock struck midnight he made his way to the modiste, slipping down the back alley and letting himself through the unlocked door. "Gen?" he whispered, the room dimly lit by a single candle and the low fire in the hearth.

"I am here Ben, thank you for coming." Genevieve slips down the stairs, her hair loose and wrapped in a robe. "Sit, please. I will get you a drink."

Benedict sits in the armchair, gladly accepting the small measure of whiskey. "Thank you. Are you well, Gen?"

"In all honesty? No. I have not had a night free from the dreams since we spoke, my mind consumed with Penelope's fear and grief. Did you find anything else out? Did you manage to speak to Colin?"

"No, I'm afraid not. I travelled to Greystone but he was not in residence. Marina either did not know or chose not to tell me where he was. She was cold, unwilling to help. Nothing I have learnt has eased my mind."

Genevieve shudders, pulling her robe tighter around herself, "Nothing feels right about any of this, Benedict. Would you be willing to hear more of what we discussed last time?"

"I- yes, I think so." Benedict takes a harsh swallow of his whiskey, "I don't think I will be able to rest if there is something we can do and we do not try."

Genevieve sits, "What I have to tell you will not be easy to hear. Please help yourself to more whiskey if you need it." Benedicts nods and gestures for her to continue. "My friend, Hazel, I have been to see her and told her of my dreams and my visions in the mirror. She has more of an ability to make contact than I do, through me she was able to see more. To feel more of Penelope."

Benedict feels goosebumps rise on his arms, "What did she see?"

"It is hard to describe, but her contact is more of feeling and emotion, rather than sight. She was able to validate what I had seen, Penelope was shocked and scared at the time of her death. She sensed large feelings of betrayal and loss. This was no accident."

Benedict stands and pours himself a generous measure, knocking back a hard swallow. "My poor darling girl. Is there a way we can stop this from having happened?"

"Yes, Hazel believes we can contact another soul connected with Penelope who can try and warn her. There is a ritual she knows that will reach out over the many universes and timelines connected to our own, to locate such a soul. It is complex, way beyond any abilities I have. Hazel is something different, something special."

"It sounds like witchcraft, Gen. Surely you cannot be truly considering this?"

"It is, Ben. But it is something that I am willing to take the risk on, to have Penelope back in our lives. Your involvement will be small, but I do need your help."

"What can I do?" Benedict sighs.

"I need three things, the document certifying her death, an object someone has created in tribute to her and an item belonging to her that would have been most treasured."

"I think Anthony has a copy of this, I know he assisted after the death to ensure everything was in order. Colin was in no state at the time." Benedict plucks his lower lip, thinking, "There was a ring, a gift from Mama for her eighteenth birthday, I know she treasured it. I think Eloise may have it."

"And the tribute? Do you have any ideas?"

"I- I have been painting something that may be suitable. I shall bring it with the other items. Give me two days to finish it and I will return." Benedict knocks back the remainder of his drink and stands, "Faster if I can, I do not wish for you to suffer any longer, Genevieve."

"It is worth it if we succeed."

Chapter Text

Felicity pulled on her gloves and opened the envelope with care. She'd agreed to this as a favour to her cousin, not the kind of document that she would usually work with, but she was happy to lend a hand. When Olivia had started rabbiting on about some old documents she'd unearthed while studying the family history last time they were at a family function, she casually mentioned that could possibly help with the restoration of some documents if she wanted. Felicity herself had a minimal interest in her ancestry, god knows she finds it difficult enough to deal with her own current family, let alone whatever grievous behaviour her long dead relations had gotten up to.

Fucking gin and tonic strikes again, she had work piled up around her ears at the museum and no real other social life to speak apart from the occasional pub night with her colleagues, why not give up her Sunday to restoring what looks to be an old death certificate from the 1800's. At least she thinks that's what it is, the years have not been kind and it looks as though it's been crumpled, folded and there's even what looks like burn marks around the edges.

The paper is very worn and thin, the ink faded and some of the words illegible but she'll do her best. Felicity is confused about the name on the certificate, it's smudged, the first name practically illegible, and the last name appears to be something like Featherinston, or Featherlington? It's not a name she recognises.

Gently moving the document into a stiffer clear cover, Felicity carries the document over to her scanner, delicately placing it inside and letting the machine do its work. She has no idea about any of the tech she uses really, all she knows is that this is the best device to get the clearest picture possible of any faded ink and marks on the paper. Her speciality is the written word, dialects and language, her keen mind and eye helping to decipher many mysterious ancient documents.

She doesn't expect this to be too hard, surely she'll be able to restore something barely over two hundred years old. The scanner beeps to let her know it's done and she moves over to her laptop to view the image, not too bad at all. She adjusts the contrast and exposure, sharpening the dark lines and bringing more of the looping script to life.

Rubbing her eyes and trying as many tricks as she knows to try and decipher the missing letters, Felicity gives up on her laptop and returns to the original document. Withdrawing it from its protective cover, she pulls her glasses back down and gets her face in as close as possible to the document without breathing all over it. The ink used for the name appears to be different, thicker and almost in another shade. Like the words have been traced over and smudged in the process. She tries a smoke sponge to absorb any residual dirt and dust but the result is minimal, working slowly she can potentially make out a P and an E as the first two letters? Maybe? Her next and most dangerous step is hydrogen peroxide to try and soften and remove some of the excess ink, not her favourite method by any means but the document is not exactly precious, and she did warn Felicity that her processes may not be successful and even harmful to the document.

Felicity dabs at the area very carefully, using as little of the acid as possible each time. She can see the ink lifting slightly each time but it's slow progress. Feeling her eyes begin to tire, Felicity decides to let the document dry out and she'll return to it after work the next day once the evaporation process has completed. Time to head home to her tiny one bedroom apartment, maybe she'll pick up some fish and chips on the way home, as a little treat. She places the document into a box to protect it and let the acid and ink dry overnight. Yawning widely, she gathers up the used cleaning implements carefully, pulling back slightly when she feels a sting to her index finger. Damn it, there's a tiny hole in her glove and the ink and acid soaked swab has soaked through onto her skin. Luckily it's only hydrogen peroxide and a bit of old ink and shouldn't do too much damage. Stripping off the gloves, she runs her finger under cold water for a couple of minutes until she no longer feels the slight sting on her skin and dries off her hands. Interestingly, the ink has stained her finger slightly, kind of weird considering how diluted it was. Felicity makes a mental note to give her hands a good scrub when she showers at home, flicks everything off and locks up.

Felicity's dreams that night are of a devastating cold, she feels herself sink, weighted down and unable to breathe, over and over. Interspersed with flashes of wide brown eyes, her ears ringing with harsh tones, pointed fingers and ugly words, garbled and muted. She finally pulls herself awake, sucking in ragged breaths as though she's been deprived of oxygen. She's sweating but freezing cold, her teeth chattering and her chest tight.

Dragging herself into a warm shower and into work at the museum is a struggle and she's distracted all day, flashes of those eyes and dark, cold water running through her mind whenever she tries to concentrate. She begs off early, forgetting totally about her favour for Olivia. Her head is pounding and her chest burning, perhaps she's coming down with something? This combined with her disturbed sleep from the night before has her into bed early, a warm soothing bath doing nothing to alleviate the tightness of her chest, around her ribs. A glass of wine helps, and she finds herself drooping over her book, leaning over groggily to switch off her lamp before succumbing to sleep.

Awakening with a start, Felicity is shocked to find it's daytime, and she is definitely not in her cosy little London flat. Taking in her surroundings, she's on what appears to be a terrace, cold grey stone looking out over structured gardens, a lake in the distance. The sight triggers a shudder to run down her spine, the sun momentarily disappearing behind a cloud, darkening the water. The door behind her is flung open, a beautiful woman Felicity has never seen before brushing past her, gliding down the stairs and disappearing into the garden.

Felicity watches her go, tall and lithe, smooth caramel skin and dark curly hair piled on top of her head. Shocked and unable to move, Felicity jumps as the closing door is thrown open, crashing into the stone behind her. A man appears, large and imposing, chestnut curls hanging over his forehead.

"Marina! We need to discuss this! What you have done to me is unforgivable! Marina!" His face is pale, marked by a patch of dark red high on each cheekbone. His eyes are dark, flashing green in the light, eyebrows furrowed in anger and distress.

Felicity stares as the man turns his eyes to an older woman who has followed him out the door, the same chestnut hair and distinguished features, "You need to go, Mother. I cannot bear to have you, or her, look at me in pity."

She feels her heart twist in pain, a feeling of despair and longing washing over her as she looks at his face. She does not know this man, why does she have these feelings? Why does her heart seem to recognise him?

"There's nothing that anyone can do for me now. You would be best not to return." His last words are almost whispered, "I will send word when I have news."

Slowly walking back into the house, he wrenches his cravat from his neck and wipes a hand over his eyes. Felicity takes a step to follow before being overcome with a wave of dizziness. Her heartbeat seems loud in her ears as her vision blurs and darkens. She desperately pulls a lungful of air in, willing herself to open her eyes, to not let him fade away. Her eyes fly open, adjusting to the dim light around her, the sun has gone and she's no longer outside. She can feel the softness of her bed around her, the dampness of the pillow beneath her, her hair sweaty and tangled. Felicity sits up, she's in her bed, in her flat, the early morning sun just beginning to rise.

The dream seemed so real. Who were those people? Why does she feel like her heart has been ripped out of her chest? Scrubbing her hands over her face, she reaches for her journal and jots down what she can remember. Details of the house, the clothing, descriptions of the man and the woman. Their faces have faded quickly, leaving her with just a hazy memory.

The ladies name . . . Marina? Yes, Marina. They're just dreams, she tells herself, maybe cutting back on the wine before bed would be a good idea.

*******

Felicity slogs through her workload, nothing of great interest on her desk at the moment. Just more boring historical documents, letters from long dead politicians, The occasional interesting translation. Her mind keeps going back to her dream, trying to work out the time period and realises that it's probably close to the certificate that Olivia asked for her help with. What era is that, Regency? Georgian? Hmm, maybe that's what triggered the dreams.

Heading over to her shelf, she pulls out the box containing the certificate and carefully pulls it out. The ink has definitely lightened, pulling on her magnifiers, she can see that the last name has become clear and is definitely Featherington. Not a name she's familiar with from her brief knowledge of Olivia's research, maybe it's just the name of a servant that worked for the family? Someone close whose papers were mistakenly included with the family's? The first name is still slightly unclear, so Felicity pulls over her UV lamp to try and highlight it further. It's definitely a P and an E, and she can make out another E at the end. The longer she looks the clearer it becomes, it's smudged and the looped handwriting is difficult to read, it says Penelope. Penelope Featherington.

She sits and looks at the certificate and takes in some more details. Died on the 31st of January, 1815 in the parish of Maidstone, the county of Kent. Cause of death: Accidental Drowning at Greystone Mere.

A quick flash of cold water, the feeling of sinking down and her blood turning to ice runs through her mind, that fucking dream. Poor Penelope, what an awful way to go. January in Kent too, bloody miserable and freezing cold at that time of year. Making some more notes of what she's found, she flicks through a quick message to Olivia with the details of what she's unearthed, letting her know that she'd return the original to her over the weekend.

Unable to let it go, Felicity does a quick search for the property "Greystone Mere, Kent." Google throws up a few results for her but nothing that seems directly related. She flicks over to images, interesting enough there's a photo of a painting, attributed to a B. Bridgerton from 1815. It's dark and gloomy, the house itself grey and imposing, dark stone amongst green gardens. In the background, she can see the lake, the artist managing to make it gleam and glisten under the grey sky. The painting is beautiful, sad and sombre but detailed and she can almost feel the artist's emotion radiating off the screen. Zooming in closer, Felicity's breath catches. There's a figure on the shore of the lake. Barely visible, tiny in the scheme of the painting. It's a woman, faded and almost wraith-like. The only thing to stand out about her being her long, red hair.

Felicity flinches, closing down the tab and slamming her laptop closed. Carefully gathering the document, she returns it to a plastic sleeve and then into a protective folder. Sliding her laptop and the folder into her bag, she shuts down her office for the night and heads home. Having sworn off the wine, maybe a gin and a bath is what she needs to get a good night's sleep. God, maybe she needs a holiday. Somewhere warm and dry, far away from any water.

*******

The following days, she's plagued by dreams, the same one over and over, dark water and those eyes. Nothing as clear as her dream of the couple fighting, just heaviness and muffled shouting. Felicity is exhausted but she can't stop her mind returning over and over again to Marina, and the unknown man. She eventually gives in and calls Olivia, asking if she can see the other documents in the trunk, maybe if she can satisfy her curiosity about Penelope and Greystone Mere her mind will let her move on, no more dreams. It's a Saturday morning, grey and cold, when Olivia drops off the trunk, not staying long when it becomes obvious that Felicity is not in the mood for visitors.

Felicity clears her tiny dining table and drags over a lamp, her flat dark and dingy from the lack of sunlight. With a deep breath, she dons some gloves and carefully begins to sort through the documents. Quickly moving the folder containing the death certificate to the side, she makes some general piles over the table. It's mainly ledgers, column after column of figures in tight, neat handwriting. There's rough maps of fields and crops, notes on yields and prices. There's nothing really of note, until she reaches the bottom of the pile. A marriage certificate.

The certificate is printed and she can make out the title PARISH OF GRETNA. Putting on her magnifying glasses she can read the following:

Colin Bridgerton from the Parish of St George Hanover Square in the County of Westminster and Marina Thompson from the Parish of St George Hanover Square in the County of Westminster. This 15th day of July 1814.

Fucking hell, Marina. MARINA. From her dream.

Letting her mind get carried away, if that's her Marina, then the sad and furious man she saw must be Colin. Colin Bridgerton. It sounds right, the name fits the memory of the man from her dream. How can she know that that's right? Her brain snags on Gretna Green, given the grandeur of the house they seem to be members of society, why would they elope? The families did not approve? Were they too young? From her limited knowledge of Regency times, Gretna was the place to go if you needed or wanted to avoid going through strict English laws around marriage at the time.

Opening up the folder again, she compares the dates. Colin and Marina, married July 1814. Penelope Featherington, died January 1815. The estate she briefly saw was not in London, she strains to remember any other details and sits up straight suddenly when something comes back to her. The lake. In the distance in her view from the terrace. The painting of Greystone Mere.

Carefully flicking through the papers again, she squints to take in the finer details of the ledgers and maps, searching out the estate name. There, in a tiny script on a map of the property. "Greystone Mere." Penelope Featherington had died at the estate of Colin and Marina Bridgerton. A bit less than six months after they married.

Felicity packs everything away with shaky hands and brews herself a cup of tea. She can't stop thinking about Penelope, that tiny ghost-like figure in the painting.

*******

That night she dreams of mirrors, this time she sees a face eerily similar to her own, brown eyes instead of blue. Red curls instead of her blonde ones, swept back off her face in an elegant chignon, a style she has never worn or attempted. Heavy earrings and jewels around her neck, the same clear, pale skin. She watches over and over again as the eyes grow wide with fear, frightened tears pooling along the lashes, before growing dull and gently closing. Over and over. Felicity can only sit and watch as she runs through the gamut of emotions, her face moving from serene to hurt, to devastated to empty. She can't look away, can't move away. A shrill tone finally breaks her out, she sits up suddenly, her breaths harsh and fast as tears run down her face. Looking over, she can see her alarm on her phone going off, and she pulls a deep breath in through her nose forcing her head to clear.

Hesitantly turning her head to see her reflection in the vanity mirror of her dresser, she's relieved to see her own bright blue eyes and wild, untamed hair reflected back at her. Shaking off the dream, she decides she can't stay in bed any longer and get herself up and ready for the day. She has no plans for her Sunday, such is her sad little solitary life. Felicity wouldn't call herself unhappy, more unfulfilled. She's not regretful of her decision to limit her contact with her family, that's to protect her own piece of mind. The lack of friends and total absence of a romantic relationship does frustrate her, she just never seems to fit anywhere. She's always out of place, and she's not gonna lie, she is pretty particular about who she allows into her life. She has Olivia, her work colleagues in a stretch, but no one she can call up on a day like today and just hang out with. Felicity ends up spending the day catching up at home, a short walk in the park, some reading on the balcony over cups and cups of tea.

In the late afternoon, she nods off on the couch, her eyes dropping closed as the light through the window slowly fades. Opening them again, she finds she is back at Greystone. The man, Colin is hunched over his desk, writing with a quill on parchment. He's so wrapped up in what he is writing that he does not hear Marina enter the room. Felicity watches from the corner as she approaches him from behind and peers over his shoulder at the letter.

"You do realise that this cannot continue." Marina says, smirking as she sees him jump.

"Marina! I did not hear you enter, what cannot continue?"

"This letter to Penelope," she replies, pointing down at his desk. "Married men and unwed women do not correspond. Surely you understand."

Colin blanches, turning to face her fully, "You must be in jest. This is Pen!"

"I am entirely serious, Colin. It is not proper, there is no place for anyone but your wife, your mother and your sisters. Penelope is none of these."

"She is your cousin, she is my friend!" Colin cries.

"She is my cousin, you are correct, if I choose to correspond with her, then I will. Married men do not have female friends, married men do not correspond with the cousin of their wife."

Colin stares in shock, "Marina! I need to write to her, I need to explain why I left without saying goodbye. She is dear to me!"

"No, if you respect me as your wife, you will cease this! There is no room in our marriage for anyone else, especially now." Marina rubs at her stomach.

"What are you saying? Are you with child, Marina?" Colin stands in shock, "So soon?"

"Yes, my love. We are with child, it is very early but you are to be a father." Marina steps back slightly as he approaches, "Now please, you do not wish for me to be distressed in my condition?"

"Of course, I understand. It is sooner that I expected, but I am no less excited to be a father! My own family, it is all I have ever wanted." Colin draws Marina in for a gentle hug, "Go and rest, my love."

"Thank you Colin, it is very early and I would like to enjoy it just between ourselves for now. Please, no more letters." Marina extracts herself from his arms and glides from the room, leaving him to sit back at his desk.

Felicity watches as Colin reads back over his letter to Penelope, his face etched in sadness as he crumples the letter and tosses it into the fire. He looks so young in this moment, the loss of his friendship warring with the happiness of finding out he is to be a father. Felicity knows as well as he does that he has no choice in this any longer, the path he now has to follow is that of his wife and child. Her view of him is fading as she begins to wake, his shoulders squaring as he straightens his jacket and breathes deeply, a gentle smile breaking out on his face.

She wakes and writes down all that she can remember before it fades.

*******

Felicity doesn't dream for the next few days, her body and mind exhausted and grateful for the rest. She finds herself wondering about Colin and Penelope's relationship. It would have been unusual for them to be friends in this time period, Marina was right. Were they simply childhood friends who thought of each other as brother and sister? Was there something more that Marina was right to shut down?

She decided to try and bury herself in work, ignoring the trunk of documents, doggedly trying to forget the darling, doomed Penelope.

Waking on Saturday, her mind is racing again. She can no longer ignore the mystery so she decides to find out more about the painting and see if it's actually viewable in person somewhere. Her quick research reveals the artist to be one Benedict Bridgerton (1786-1860), a moderately well known Regency painter out of Mayfair, London. In a few clicks, she miraculously finds a small exhibition featuring his works at the Dulwich Picture Gallery, not too far from her flat in Croyden. She's not sure if the painting of Greystone Mere will be there, but she's intrigued at what else she might find.

The journey is fairly quick for a Sunday, she pulls into the car park and wastes no time in making her way inside. She pays her fee and asks the museum attendant for assistance in finding the collection she is after, after a few moments looking up Benedict Bridgerton in the system, she's directed to a small room towards the back of the sprawling museum. She makes her way through the galleries, all gorgeously illuminated by the large skylights, too distracted to take in anything on the way to her destination. The gallery is thankfully quiet this early and she's able to make her way through quickly. Entering the room, she scans the walls quickly for Greystone Mere and is dismayed to find that many of the landscapes look the same. Her eyes roam the paintings and she eventually finds it. A nondescript landscape, the colours faded with time, the only thing to catch the eye, the glint of the lake and tiny flash of red if you know where to look. Getting as close as she can, she's thankful that the painting is not encased in glass, she can see each tiny brushstroke, the ghost of Penelope standing on the shore.

There's other works of Benedict's here, portraits of smiling children, more landscapes and an abstract looking self portrait. His work is beautiful, and Felicity takes the time to examine each painting closely. Her eye is finally caught by a ballroom scene, a gentleman and a lady dancing. Her small stature in blue, him tall and sturdy in his fine coat. Her heart catches at the sight of the flowing red curls spun out behind her, smiles and laughter present on both their faces. The crowd in the background is blurred, the pair only seeing each other. It's her, it's Penelope. Is it Colin she is dancing with? She struggles to remember his face from her dream, it does look like his form.

Raising her phone, she takes a few quick snaps of each piece before finally approaching again to farewell tiny ghost Penelope at the lake, unaware that her hand has raised itself of its own volition and her fingertip gently grazes the figure. A voice rings out, "No touching please!" and she springs back in apology, leaving the room in haste and almost running to get back out to her car.

Felicity feels slightly shaken once she's back at her flat, it all feels so real, could it be that she is seeing what has happened in her dreams?

Chapter Text

Penelope cannot believe that she is being made to witness this, this abomination. Her dear friend (and unrequited love of her life) and her cousin, smiling sickly sweet at each other over her family dinner table. She is fully aware that Marina holds no real affection for Colin, her devotion already given to another, the letters she has seen proof of the fact.

Her conversations with Marina had proved to be useless, a final letter she had received from her mystery suitor only solidifying her pursuit of Colin. This was one letter that Marina had not allowed her to see, her devastation so great that she had thrown it on the fire as soon as she had read it. She had stayed in her chambers for days, before emerging happy and bright as through nothing had happened. Her focus now fully on Colin, he'd announced their engagement shortly after.

Watching them together is infuriating, her worst nightmare come to life. She loves Colin deeply, she knows of his desire to marry for love and worries for him once he discovers Marina's true nature.

Colin eventually excuses himself from the table, and Penelope follows. Slipping out the door after them, she requests a private conversation with him, "It… is a rather delicate matter," Penelope then tells Colin of Marina's other love, the letters she has seen written by a man from her village, desperate for Colin to understand that Marina's love cannot be trusted.

She can feel the pain in her chest as Colin replies, "You really are very good, do you know that?" in a condescending tone, explaining that he does not feel the need to hold any prior flirtations against Marina, after all, he has done enough of that of his own. Penelope can feel her face fall as it becomes clear he is not willing to listen, that he knows Marina, he replies "She is marrying me. Trust me, Pen, do not fret. I know my mind and Marina’s. We understand each other."

Penelope needs him to listen but of course Marina enters the hallway to interrupt them, "Oh. Have we moved the party to the corridor?" The conversation is over. She will need to keep digging, surely if she can provide Colin with some proof he will believe her. She needs to get her hands back on the letters, maybe seeing the words in front of him will be enough to convince him of the truth.

She returns to the party to offer her excuses and take her leave, catching the tail end of a heated conversation between Colin's brother Anthony and her own mother Portia. "They are both so young, we all feel that a long engagement will be most appropriate. Give them a chance to court, to get to know each other properly before entering into marriage," Anthony speaks loudly and firmly, determined to get his point across.

"Who are we to deny young love? A love match is a rare thing in the Ton, as Marina's guardians we would have no issue with a wedding sooner rather than later." Portia retorts, looking to Archie for his agreement, smiling archly as he nods his head.

"Perhaps we should table this for the evening, there is no rush to decide this tonight," Violet responds, seeing Penelope reenter the room. "Tell me, Penelope. Will you be joining us at Aubrey Hall before our ball? I believe Eloise was to officially invite you?"

"I would love to, I had not yet had the chance to ask Mama and Papa," Penelope responds, looking hopefully at her parents.

Portia responds with a dismissive wave of her hand "Of course, of course. A break in the countryside will do you wonders, dear. Perhaps those lovely walks in the country air will improve your countenance, it will be a perfect opportunity for you to try and attract a suitor. The country gentleman do not need to be as selective, after all."

Penelope sighs and takes her leave of her family and the Bridgertons, quietly moving upstairs and to her bedchamber, hoping that she does not have the misfortune to run into Marina on her way.

She sleeps fitfully, disturbing dreams of herself in a mirror, her eyes blue instead of brown, her face scared and pale. She finally drops into a deep sleep in the early hours of the morning, only to be scared awake by her bedroom door bursting open. "Eloise! What is the meaning of this?!"

Eloise is panting, her face flushed as though she has run all the way from Bridgerton House. "He's gone!"

Penelope rubs her eyes, trying to wake herself up enough to take in Eloise's words, "Who?"

"Colin! He was not in his bedchamber or at breakfast this morning, his travelling trunk and clothes are gone!"

"Oh! I did not know he was planning a trip," Penelope's heart drops as she remembers something, "But what of Marina?"

Eloise runs a shaking hand over her face, "Your mother just checked. Penelope, Marina is missing too."

Penelope sits in her bed, taking in Eloise's words. She knows exactly where they are, what they are on their way to do. "Oh no."

Chapter Text

The next few days pass in a haze, her household strangely calm, her mother unbothered behind closed doors. Penelope watched as she wailed, her eyes dry of tears, in front of Anthony and Violet. Loudly cursing Colin and Marina and the scandal their elopement will cause when she has an audience. Anthony's fury is more than real, Violet's heart truly broken by the actions of her son.

With no real proof as to where Colin and Marina have gone, the assumption being Gretna Green, the decision is made to wait for their return. Chasing them would be pointless, by the time their disappearance was noted they would have been well into their journey. Their early morning departure was confirmed by a very sheepish footman.

Penelope herself feels numb, she had always known that she was born for Colin Bridgerton but he was not meant to be hers. She had long resigned herself to the fact that she was only to be his friend, she truly believed that if one day he found his true love, then she loved him enough to be happy for him. But this. This. Marina did not love him truly, she could not see how this could ever end in anything but heartbreak for Colin.

She does not understand the urgency for them to be married, is it purely Marina seeking the security and safety that the Bridgerton family can provide? Is it a thoughtless reaction to the not as elated as they had hoped reaction from the Bridgertons? Colin was always alarmingly spontaneous, impulsive and then often regretful once he has had time to think. This is one decision that he will not be able to charm his way out of, there is no easy way to undo this particular action.

Penelope hears through Eloise that Colin and Marina have returned, but only as far as Aubrey Hall where they will honeymoon while organising a home. They are indeed wed, as confirmed by a letter from Colin to his family, informing them that the marriage has been consummated and is unable to be disputed. They intend to find an estate relatively close to Aubrey Hall in Kent, unwilling to return to the Ton for the rest of the season. Not wishing to draw further attention and scandal to the family, how kind of them both.

Portia is ecstatic, pleased to both have Marina off her hands, but also to be able to brag to everyone she knows about the new connection the family has to the Bridgertons. Penelope hides in her room, feigning illness as the servants pack up Marina's room and arrange for everything to be sent to their new estate, Greystone Mere. From what she overhears, it's relatively close to Aubrey Hall, a large manor house with extensive grounds and a lake.

Penelope waits for over a fortnight for word from Colin, checking the post each day, surely he would send some kind of word to his dearest friend. She is shocked into reality when her mother observes her behaviour and tells her the cold, hard truth. "Married men are not friends with unmarried women, it is not proper. Although he is now your cousin, the only acceptable correspondence would be with Marina herself."

Her heart sinks, of course her mother is correct, her relationship as it was with Colin, is over. There will be no more gossiping and giggling together in the corner at balls, no more long letters exchanged, they had been allowed liberties that would never be able to happen again. She wonders if this has occurred to Colin, if it is something that would even concern him now he has Marina as his wife.

Penelope withdraws further from her family, unable to sit in the parlour and listen to tales of Marina and her new enormous property, how well she has done for herself. How the other girls should follow her lead to ensnare a husband. It's late one evening when she sneaks down to the kitchens for a glass of warm milk to help her sleep. She passes her father's study, the low voices of her parents attracting her attention.

"I will be needing to make a purchase from the apothecary, Archie. Marina has written and requested I send her some teas and tinctures for her sickness, it is still too soon to be able to tell him. I have said that I will help her to continue to conceal the pregnancy as long as we can. It would not do to be found out so quickly, not after all the work we put in."

"Of course, my dear. Purchase what you need and I will settle the account. Another couple of months and the poor fool and his little whore will be off our hands entirely. Remind me again in the future to never borrow money from family!" Archie shakes his head ruefully, "This is one debt I will be glad to see the back of."

"Given the tales Varley heard from the maid that accompanied her on her journey here, we are lucky she was able to pull it off. Quite an unstable girl if they are to be believed," Portia giggled, "We may have had to haul her off to the madhouse if she'd suffered another rejection!"

Penelope staggers back against the wall, the truth finally making itself known in all its horror. Marina Thompson is with child and she has been from the very first day she arrived in London. She has manipulated Colin into marrying and will convince him that the baby is his. Of course, early births are easily explained away all the time. Whatever the timing of the birth, Colin has now committed himself to be the child's father. A potentially loveless marriage and a child not of his blood.

Just as appalling is the fact that her parents knew, had taken her in to repay a debt. Penelope is not surprised by their callous comments having been on the receiving end of many like that in the past. Everything she's heard has her very worried for Colin.

He would want to know, and now that she has learned the truth, in heart she knows she must be the one to tell him.

*******

Penelope's sleep that night is awful, those blue eyes are back, haunted and scared. She sees hands tracing documents, words being scribbled in a journal with a strange writing implement, the face that is not quite her own reflected back at her in the mirror, blonde curls instead of her red.

When morning finally comes and it is of a suitable hour, she dresses and presents herself at Bridgerton House. Humboldt, the Bridgerton's butler informs her that Eloise is not in at the moment, currently at the modiste with Lady Bridgerton. Penelope informs him that she is here to see Viscount Bridgerton and the Dowager Lady Bridgerton and is led to a drawing room to wait.

"Penelope, dearest! Are you well?" Violet enters the room first, clasping her hands warmly, "Anthony shall be along shortly."

"I think it best we wait, Lady Bridgerton. I do not relish having to tell this tale twice," Penelope sits shakily on the settee, desperately trying to be brave in the face of what she needs to impart.

Anthony strides in, "Good Day Miss Penelope, my apologies for keeping you waiting. Would you like some tea?"

"No, thank you. I am sorry for intruding on your day, my Lord."

"Nonsense, and please call me Anthony. You are much too dear to the family to stand on formality. How can we help?"

Penelope swallows hard and begins to tell her story, beginning with the letters of Marina's that she saw, her unheeded warnings to Colin, her doubts about Marina's intentions.

"Foolish boy. We, of course, also had our fears but he refused to listen. Unfortunately, he has made his decision Penelope. There is nothing further we can do," Anthony responds with a sad shake of his head.

Penelope reaches out for Violet's hand. "There is more." Anthony sits and gestures for her to continue. "I overheard my Mama speaking last night, Marina is with child. She was pregnant before arriving in London, the child is not Colin's."

Anthony and Violet stare in shock and Penelope continues. "My parents knew and assisted Marina to entrap Colin. He does not know as yet about the child, they intend to fool him into thinking it is his. I am so sorry!" She bursts into tears, grief and guilt overwhelming her.

"My God!" The three of them turn, jumping at the new voice in the doorway of the study. "Is this true, Penelope?"

"Benedict! Please close the door!" Violet wipes the tears from her face, "We cannot have this leave the room!"

Benedict rushes to Penelope and gathers her in his arms, frowning at Anthony to let this act of impropriety go, "Darling girl, do not blame yourself! I know how much you care for Colin!" Benedict exchanges a glance with his mother, both aware of Penelope's true feelings for Colin. "That idiot brother of mine should have known to listen to you."

Penelope leans into Benedict, grateful for the comfort, "What should we do? I think he should know!"

Anthony sits back, "There is little we can do in truth, unless we have tangible proof or a confession from Marina. Even then his only path now would be divorce, while not unheard of, it will not be easy."

After much discussion, it is decided that they will make their planned trip to Aubrey Hall, and then Violet and Penelope will visit Greystone Mere and request a private audience with Colin. They decide the best first approach would be a gentle one, hoping that Colin may take the news better coming from them.

"Thank you for coming to us, my dear Penelope. Would you like to come and stay with us prior to leaving for Aubrey Hall? I am more than willing to make the request of your mother. I cannot imagine that you would want to return home." Violet offers, her heart going out to the exhausted girl before her.

"Yes, I would like that very much. I cannot bear to look upon either of their faces, how I wish they were not my family!" Penelope wipes her tears, "I will send word to Rae to pack my things and be ready to travel with us."

"You have always been a part of this family, Penelope. Never forget that. Now run upstairs and wait for Eloise to return, she'll be delighted to have you here." Anthony pats her gently on the shoulder, exchanging pained glances with the others as she runs out and up the stairs.

*******

Violet holds Penelope's shaking hands in her own as the carriage slowly makes its way into Kent, closer and closer to Colin and the terrible words that she needs to say to him.

"It will be alright, I will not leave your side. Benedict will be in the carriage waiting if we need him, if Colin needs him."

Benedict nods, "I will only enter if he requests it, I do not wish to distress him any further than he will be."

"What if he does not believe me?" Penelope whispers, "He would not listen last time."

Violet nods and raises her chin, "Marina will admit to it, I have no doubts. You have not been witness to my protective side in full flight, it may come as quite a shock."

"It's true, Pen. Mother can be quite formidable when pushed. Colin is her favourite, after all. I would expect there to be quite a lot of carnage."

Violet gives him a raise of an eyebrow, "I do not have favourites, and if I did it would be Penelope."

Benedict laughs, Penelope managing a tiny smile. "I do not wish for Marina to become distressed, she is with child and I do not want to cause her any harm. I fear that she may become quite unstable if confronted."

"Believe me, Penelope. That woman is as cold as ice, some part of her would have been expecting this. She has put in a lot of work to her scheme, even if caught she has managed to ensure her marriage is almost indestructible." Violet sighs sadly, "I doubt that anything we say to her will cause much upset. It is Colin who I am worried about."

"I am not sure I can do this, Violet."

"He needs to know, Pen. Would you like me to also accompany you?" Benedict leans forward, concern in his eyes, "You are as much my sister as he is my brother, I will come to be of support to you if you need it."

Penelope looks to Violet, "I will try, and call for you if we need you. I can do this. He needs me to do this."

Benedict nods and looks out the window as the carriage makes a turn, "We are here."

Penelope looks out the window at the dark, foreboding manor house at the end of the drive. The house is surrounded by gardens but there is nothing warm and welcoming about the property. "This is nothing like I imagined Colin would choose."

"As far as I know this was Marina's choice, from what Anthony has told me it does not sound as though Colin had much say in the matter." Benedict sighs, closing the curtain in distaste.

Penelope can feel tears beginning to build, "How on earth are we going to get him out of this? She has her claws so deep!"

"We will do our best, ultimately it is up to him. All we can do is provide him with the information he is so sorely lacking." Violet straightens her dress and pats at her hair as the carriage slows, "Now let us go and begin the journey to get him home to us."

*******

"Who is it, Bancroft?" Penelope's heart lifts as she hears Colin's voice, a reminder at how much she had missed him.

Bancroft reads out the calling card, "Dowager Lady Bridgerton and . . . " he leans in, "Your name, milady?"

"Penelope Featherington," Penelope answers in a quiet voice.

"Miss Pen-"

'Pen! Mother! this is a surprise!" Colin is beaming as he makes his way to the door, "Bancroft, this is my mother and my dear friend, Miss Penelope! Please come in!"

"I will arrange a tea service to the drawing room, sir." Bancroft gives a slight bow and heads off, leaving the three in the foyer.

"Well, come on Mama, I have missed you!" Colin brings his mother in for a hug, tilting his head into her palm as she cups his face.

"Colin, dearest! It has been too long!"

Penelope blushes and dips into a curtsey, "Hello, Colin."

Colin pulls himself away from his mother, his arms automatically reaching for Penelope until he is halted by a clearing of his mother's throat. He gives her a quick bow instead, "It is so good to see you Penelope!"

"Come, we shall have tea." Colin beckons them to follow him into a drawing room, "Sit, please!"

Violet and Penelope sit, looking nervously around the room, the decor cold and spartan. Colin looks at them, suddenly nervous, "Is everything alright? Are you all well?"

Violet reaches out a hand, "All will be well. We do have something we need to speak to you about. Is Marina here?"

"She is upstairs resting, should I have her woken?" Colin frets, his fingers rubbing together anxiously, "It may be too early to tell you but I would like you both to know, we are with child. Marina is expecting!"

Penelope can feel the blood drop from her face upon seeing his happiness and finds herself unable to speak. Violet is equally silent and Colin looks at them both in confusion. "Will you not offer me any congratulations?"

Penelope closes her eyes and sucks in a deep breath, opening them again to Colin's now indignant face. "That is why we are here, Colin."

Colin furrows his brow in confusion, "How would you know? Did Marina tell your mother? I had thought that we were not announcing anything yet. Well, until now."

Penelope licks her lips, her mouth incredibly dry, "My mother does know. She has known for quite a while."

Colin looks at his mother and then back to Penelope, "How can she have known, we have only been married six weeks! I do not understand!"

Violet reaches over to hold Penelope's hand and encourages her to continue, "She has known since Marina arrived in London. Marina was already with child when she came to live with us."

Colin blanches and stares at her in shock, throwing himself to his feet, "That's not possible. Mama, what is she saying?"

"It is true, dearest. Please sit and listen to Penelope," Violet guides Colin back down to the settee, and nods at her to continue.

"Do you recall at your engagement dinner when I tried to speak to you about Marina's letters, and the man she had left behind?" Colin nods slowly, "I did not know it at the time, but this man had compromised Marina and left her with child and then rejected her. I heard my Mama and Papa discussing it a few nights past, there was a scheme in place to entrap you into marrying Marina. The idea would be that you would never know the child was not yours."

"Marina loves me, she would not do such a thing to me!" Colin retorts, furious at the accusation.

"I am sorry Colin, but it is true." Violet shifts herself to sit beside Colin. "We will need to speak to Marina if you could have someone rouse her."

"How do I know you are telling me the truth? Why should I believe you?" Colin bursts out to Penelope, his anger finally rising to the surface.

"Because I am your friend," Penelope whispers, shaken by his anger, "I would never do anything to hurt you!"

"And yet, here you are!"

"Colin!" Violet scolds, "Penelope has been beside herself since she heard, she came straight to us for help. She could not let you live under these false pretences any longer!"

"Oh, how very heroic of you Penelope." They all turn as Marina enters the room, her eyes fixed on Penelope, "You've been trying to keep Colin and I apart from the very first moment, sowing seeds of doubt about me. No wonder I never felt I had the support of the Bridgertons with you whispering in their ear."

"Marina, is what she is saying true?" Colin looks at Marina, pleading with his eyes for it to be a lie.

"This is entirely the reason that we decided to elope, to make our own family, away from the disapproval of both families. Colin, you came up with the idea yourself, remember? So we could always be alone together, away from all of this."

"Marina, please sit. Let us discuss this. We would like to hear your side of the story." Violet attempts to calm the situation.

"What story? There is no story! Penelope is merely jealous!" Marina whirls to face Penelope, "Colin sees you as you are and regards you no differently than he does Eloise, or even little Hyacinth. He sees me as a wife, a woman. Whatever stories you have tried to come up with will not change that!"

Penelope flushes at Marina's mention of her feelings for Colin, "I am not lying."

"That is absurd, Marina! Penelope does not love me in that way, we are friends!"

"You are as delusional as she is if you cannot see it. She has attempted this more than once, I heard her tell you of my letters. You believed in me then, I would expect that you would believe in me now, husband." Marina retorts, "I think it is time you made them leave!"

"Marina, sit down." Violet stuns them all to silence with her flat tone of voice. Marina finds herself following the instruction and drops down into an armchair, as Violet rises to stand.

"Tell me Marina, what did the physician have to say? Even at this early stage you will need to be examined."

"We have not yet engaged a physician, Mama."

"Why ever not? Doctor Dorset's estate is not ten minutes down the road, do you remember him Colin? He's been to Aubrey Hall many times." Violet replies, "Penelope, be a dear and pop out to the carriage. Ask our companion to fetch the dear doctor? It will be lovely to see him."

Penelope rises, avoiding eye contact with Colin and Marina, and slips out to give Benedict the instructions.

"You cannot force me to be examined. I will not allow anyone to touch me." Marina snaps.

"How far along are you? Four months? Five?"

"Mother!" Colin cries.

"I am surprised that Colin has not noticed your changing body, it must be getting quite hard to hide. What has your excuse been? Tired? A headache?" Violet ignores Colin's outrage and continues, "Tell me Colin, do you share a bedroom as your father and I did?"

"Well, no. Marina prefers separate chambers, as is her prerogative! It is not unusual!" Colin turns to Marina, "I would never force her into something she was not comfortable with."

"It was quite clever of you to convince Colin to purchase this estate, so far away from the Ton. Easy to delay the reporting of a birth when you are so far out in the country, such an early birth would not go unnoticed in London after all."

"It was-" Colin begins.

"Do you think my son is too stupid to notice?"

Marina cannot help the smirk that rises on her face and Colin's face drops at the sight.

"Do you think that I have raised a fool?"

Marina tilts her head and looks at Violet calculatingly, "Well, it certainly took little effort. You all made it very easy to convince him."

Penelope reenters the room quietly, watching Colin closely as his shoulders slump and he drops his head into his hands. She approaches and gently places a hand on his shoulder, his own rising to cover hers. He keeps his head down and eyes covered as his mother continues.

"Who is the father, Marina? Is it the man from your village? What is his name?"

Marina flinches, "There is nothing I will tell you. I am married to Colin Bridgerton, he will be the father."

"I am right here, Marina! Do not speak of me as if I am not!"

"I am sorry, Colin. You were never meant to find out, "Marina smiles at him sadly, "You will be an excellent father."

Colin scoffs, shaking off Penelope's hand. "And if I refuse?" I should have you removed from my home!"

"You will not, this is the very reason I chose you. I suspect that if I had told you the truth you would have married me anyway, you do like to be the hero."

Colin recoils at Marina's words, "This marriage will be annulled, I will not live a life of lies!"

"It is too late for that, my love. The marriage has been consummated, we made sure to tell the Viscount and my family in your letters, remember? There will be no annulment and you will not make me leave. I would have nowhere to go, you would not make the child and I destitute." Marina lays it all out coldly.

"Will you let the doctor examine you? If you are truly that far along, you should be examined for both your health and the baby," Penelope says softly.

Marina inclines her head at Penelope curiously, "Why do you care, cousin? Surely, I am the most evil person you have ever met to do this to your dear Colin."

"I do care, no matter how poor your decisions, I want you to be well. I want the baby to be well. Will you see the doctor when he arrives?"

"Fine. I am going back to my chamber, you may accompany him when he arrives. Only you, Penelope."

Penelope nods as Marina gathers her skirts and sweeps out of the room.

"Colin, are you alright?" Penelope rushes to his side, "I am so sorry!"

"I do not know what I am at the moment. Does Anthony know?" Colin cringes, turning to his mother.

"Yes, he is at Aubrey Hall, we thought it best for him not to be here. Benedict is here with us but has gone to fetch the doctor, would you like to see him?"

"No! I cannot bear the humiliation, it is bad enough that the two of you have had to witness this."

"You should not feel embarrassed, Colin. We are here to support you!" Penelope tries to sooth him, "What can we do to help?"

"I have made this bed, Penelope. And now I must lie in it." Colin sounds resigned as he looks down at his hands, twisting his wedding ring. "We shall wait and see what the doctor has to say." They sit in silence, sipping their tea as they wait for the doctor.

After almost an hour, Bancroft knocks and enters the room, "Doctor Dorset is here, sir."

Colin stands and shakes the doctor's hand, "Thank you for coming so quickly, Doctor. Miss Penelope will escort you to my wife," Colin swallows at the word, "I will have her update me when you are done."

"Are you sure you are alright to be with Marina, dear?" Violet asks. With a nod, Penelope leaves the room, inviting the doctor to follow her.

Violet moves immediately to his side as he collapses into tears, "Oh, my darling. It will be alright." Her eyes follow Penelope, concern creasing her brow.

*******

Colin and Violet are still in the drawing room when Penelope reappears, a measure of whiskey in front of each of them. His eyes widen as Penelope snatches up a glass and knocks the alcohol back. Coughing slightly, she collapses into a chair.

"Is all well, Penelope?" Violet asks.

"Yes," Penelope says quietly, "Marina is well. Around four months along."

Colin slumps in his chair, "So it is true."

"There is more," Penelope says quietly, "It is twins, there is to be two babies."

Violet pales, and Colin's eyes fly to Penelope's. "My God. I had thought with one child I still may be able to find a way out. I cannot leave her alone to grow and birth two babies, I really do have no choice but to stay!" He buries his head in his hands.

"We will speak to Anthony, surely there are options!" Violet cries.

Penelope feels dread begin to pool in her stomach, "I have offered to stay but Marina insists that I leave. I will stay for you if you need me, Colin. You are my priority here."

"No, Penelope. I will not have you give up your own life for mine. Thank you for the offer, but I will need you to go."

"Colin! Please!" Penelope feels tears begin to run down her cheeks. "I cannot bear to leave you like this!"

"I have made a vow to Marina, I will do my duty as I promised. Please go and join Benedict in the carriage, I need to speak to my mother before your departure." Colin is cold as he dismisses Penelope.

Penelope stares in shock, her eyes flicking to Violet. "NOW! GO!" Colin yells, Penelope fleeing the drawing room in tears. They both flinch as the front door slams behind her.

"You should not speak to my cousin that way, Colin. The poor thing will likely never recover. Lovely to see you, Violet." With a smirk, Marina strides through the room, heading out the glass door leading to the terrace.

"Marina! We need to discuss this! What you have done to me is unforgivable! Marina!" His face is pale, marked by a patch of dark red high on each cheekbone. His eyes are dark, eyebrows furrowed in anger and distress as he watches her walk away from him further into the garden.

"You need to go, Mother. I cannot bear to have you, or Pen, look at me in pity. There's nothing that anyone can do for me now. You would be best not to return." His last words are almost whispered, "I will send word when I have news."

Slowly walking back into the house, he wrenches his cravat from his neck and wipes a hand over his eyes.

*******

Penelope sits speechless in the carriage for much of the return home, Marina's words to her after the doctor had departed ringing in her ears.

"You're too late, there is no going back for either of us now."

"You need to leave this house, Penelope. Colin has chosen this, it is no longer appropriate for you to be friends."

"Please don't force my hand, does your family really need the scandal? An unmarried debutant harassing a married man and his pregnant wife?"

"He would never have known if not for you, it is you that have ruined him, not I."

Chapter Text

Felicity is exhausted, it's been weeks since she has slept peacefully, her dreams now only flashes of images, as hard as she tries she has not been able to dream in any clarity. She's spent hours going over and over the documents, desperately trying to trigger something new. She can't let this go now she has the threads in her hands.

The thought occurs to her that maybe she is living on the same time frame as her dream, does she need to wait until something significant occurs in their time in order for her to see it? Jesus, just how mad is she?

Finally, she dreams again. She's back at Greystone Mere, in what looks to be a drawing room. Colin is pacing, his clothes rumpled, hair pulled in all directions, his face crumpled in grief. Marina sits before him on a settee, her posture stiff and still.

"You need to tell me who the father is, Marina! We can still fix this, we can still have this marriage annulled, you and I both know that this marriage is a farce!

"I am happy with our situation, Colin. We have consummated the marriage. My children will be safe and secure with your name, my reputation will not suffer, there is nothing that I will tell you," Marina stares at a point on the wall as she speaks, never once looking at Colin.

"I do not wish for this! I do not wish to live with your lies, your manipulations." Colin pleads, "You stripped away any chance I have of being happy!"

"Happiness is overrated, Colin. Once the babies are born, you will be free to go and do whatever you please. Recommence your travels, discover your purpose, resume your friendships, no matter how improper," Marina sneers, "No one will expect anything else from you. As a man you can do as you please."

"And the children? Are they to grow up without a father?"

"Your role in their life is entirely up to you, you have survived without one."

Colin flinches at the cruelty in Marina's voice, "I would never abandon the children and leave them without a name, you know that. That is why you chose me after all."

"Yes," Marina replies coolly, "Like I said, I am more than content with our marriage."

Felicity watches from the doorway as Colin's face falls, his tears running unchecked down his face. He flees the room, rushing down the hallway and taking the stairs two at a time to the rooms above. She follows, her shorter legs working hard to keep up. She follows and peers in each room she passes until she finds his study and slips through the slightly ajar door. He is slumped over the desk, his head in his hands, sobs shaking his body.

He suddenly straightens and pulls out a key, unlocking a desk drawer. Withdrawing a stack of letters tied together with a yellow ribbon, a sad smile crosses his face. She moves behind him, peering over his shoulder as he opens the first letter, the script unreadable until he flips the page and she can see the clear signature at the bottom, Penelope.

He reads through each letter, careful with some that look quite old and thin, before neatly stacking them together and replacing them in the drawer. Locking it again, he reaches for a clean sheet of parchment and a quill. Felicity holds her breath as he begins to write, desperate to see if he is writing back to Penelope.

She's pulled awake with a start, her heart sinking as she realises she's back in her own bed. The dream is fading. Taking up her journal she scribbles as much as she can remember, her chest aching for Colin and his pain at Marina's actions. She even attempts a quick sketch of him, clumsily trying to capture their likeness. She can catch glimpses of green eyes, elven ears, dark brows. The shadow of the man.

Marina has entrapped him, with children that do not belong to him. Felicity assumes it is twins given the mention of babes. She wonders at how Marina was able to manipulate him, she guesses from her words that he was an easy mark. He is certainly a man in touch with his emotions, possibly a man quick to fall in love, no matter the consequences. Felicity feels for them both, Regency times were not kind to women, having children out of wedlock would result in ruin, for everyone attached to the mother. Many men would be happy to be given a licence to do as they please, leave the wife and children at home. Colin does not seem like this type of man and her heart bleeds for him.

Even through the nightmares she longs for sleep, to dream, to see them again and know more of the story, how he found out. She wants to know them, remember their faces. In desperation she trawls back through the trunk of documents and finds a folded piece of paper stuck to the bottom. Her hands shaking, she carefully unfolds the paper. A birth certificate. Twin babies to Colin Bridgerton and Marina Bridgerton. Born December 26th 1815, a boy Oliver and a girl Amanda. Colin's name on the birth certificate tells her that he was never able to escape the marriage, Marina had never told the real father's name and he had taken on her children.

She feels strangely happy to hear the twins were born safely, a single pregnancy a huge risk in those times, let alone twins. Marina has performed the ultimate motherly duty and protected her children, at the expense of her own and Colin's happiness. Felicity can only hope that these children will be loved, she knows better than anyone how painful it can be when you are not.

Chapter Text

Felicity has not dreamed for over three months. Nothing, a dead sleep every night, no flashes of water, or eyes, or mirrors. She's returned to work, the massive pile waiting on her return keeping her extremely busy. The first month was hard, her thoughts continually returning to Penelope, to Colin and Marina and their babies. She trawled through every document, over and over, but nothing else came to her.

It was as if nothing had ever happened, she had even begun to suspect that she had undergone some type of psychosis triggered by Penelope's death certificate. Her memories of the dreams are now scrambled, did she actually dream of these people before she even saw their names? Or had her brain fooled her into believing that? Whatever had happened she was trying to move on in her life. When she realised that she had gone almost a month lost to her dreams and research and no one had questioned where she was or if she was alright, she knew she needed to make some changes.

There is no way in hell she'd be reaching out to her family, but she'd started putting herself out there more with her work colleagues and had accompanied them to some trivia nights at the pub near work. She would say that she was almost friends with a few, some text messages exchanged and further plans made to catch up. Felicity was still not quite sure how to act but people seemed to like her well enough. She'd even thought about joining a club or two down at her local community centre, but wasn't quite there yet.

When Olivia calls out of the blue one chilly Saturday with an invitation to a distant cousin's birthday, she's not as hesitant to say yes as usual. After being assured that none of her immediate family would be there, she agrees and they make plans for Olivia to pick her up the following weekend. Felicity spends a ridiculous amount of time deciding on an outfit and practising small talk, you never know, maybe she'd meet someone not related to her. Surely one day, she'll meet someone who takes an interest in her, she would love to one day find love or some approximation of it.

The day finally rolls around and she hears Olivia beep the horn from down on the road, giving her red curls a final scrunch in the mirror she locks up and runs down the stairs. Olivia is cute, small like Felicity but without the curves. They'd always got along well, grateful to see each other whenever the family got together, tucking themselves into a corner to giggle and gossip. A short drive later, Olivia pulls into the driveway of a suburban home on the outskirts of London. "Which cousin is this again?" Penelope giggles.

"Patrick! Second, or third? Cousin, twice removed. Or some shit," Olivia laughs, "Come on, at least the food is usually good!"

They do the rounds, Felicity recognising and greeting a few familiar faces. Olivia knows how tough Felicity can find these kinds of occasions and keeps her hand in a tight grip, dragging her along as she socialises. After more than enough of that, she begs off to sit and enjoy a quiet drink, finding a seat around the fire pit, warming her hands.

"You must be a Finch, with curly hair like that." A dry voice pipes up from beside her, "Mind if I sit?" Felicity looks up to the older lady before her, and gestures for her to take a seat, desperately trying to swallow the generous mouthful of wine she'd just inhaled.

"Yes, Felicity Finch. My mother had a thing for alliteration, unfortunately. Lovely to meet you!"

"Well, we are related somewhere along the line, forgive me for not dragging out the family tree to work out how, all that bores me to death. I'm Agatha Dankworth. I don't usually attend these, Patrick is a special one though." Agatha holds out her hand, adorned with gold rings for Felicity to shake.

Felicity chooses not to comment on any ancestry, not willing to let those thoughts start up again, "Oh, your jewellery is beautiful!" Agatha holds her hands out for Felicity to examine them.

"Thank you, dear. A mixture of things that have been passed down, a few from my late husband. Has there been anything come to you down the Finch line?"

"Ha! No, anything that reached my mother would have been either sold or squirrelled away into her dragon cave. Whether it was meant for me or not." Felicity laughs, "We're not close. They would never be caught dead at something like this. Thank God."

"Choose one." Agatha says, wiggling her fingers. "I'm not particularly attached to any, apart from my engagement and wedding ring. Every child of this family should have something passed down. Come on, choose one."

Felicity looks at her in disbelief, her eyes finally dropping to Agatha's hands as she flexes them violently in her face. She's drawn immediately to a small opal in a delicate gold setting. Four small diamonds cradle the opal on each side, shaped to form the shape of butterfly wings. It's delicate and beautiful and Felicity finds her finger reaching out to touch it before she even realises it's happening.

"Lovely, it's perfect for you." Agatha wiggles the ring over a swollen knuckle, grabbing Felicity's hand and placing onto her right ring finger. "Don't let your mother see it!"

"Are you sure, Agatha? You don't even know me." Felicity can't take her eyes off it, the sunlight catching on the diamonds.

"Positive, my dear. Now go and be young, that silly little Olivia is over there trying to get your attention, off you go."

Felicity reaches out to squeeze her hand, "Thank you, Agatha. I'll see you at the next party."

"Highly unlikely, but you never know your luck!"

Chapter Text

"Has there been any word from Colin?" Benedict asks Anthony, the pair sitting in the study at Aubrey Hall avoiding their mother's mad decorating spree.

"With the babies due in January I understand Marina is refusing to come, or to allow Colin to come. I can understand, Kate was in no state to travel those last few weeks."

"Did you broach the idea of us calling on them briefly? Hyacinth and Gregory would especially like to give their gifts in person. Hy has knitted a perfectly horrendous cap for each of the twins." Benedict swirls his glass, huffing with laughter at the thought.

"Also denied. Colin was quite firm." Anthony sighs, "I do worry for him so, it has been months since any of us have seen him. He does not do well in isolation."

"Do you think Penelope would know any more about his well being?"

Anthony frowns, "Why would she?"

"Eloise let slip that there has been some letters exchanged between the two, most improper but they have never let that stop them." Benedict smirks, "She is due to arrive later this afternoon with Eloise, perhaps we would ask her?"

"Yes, let us do that. Tell me, are these letters something new?"

Benedict throws his head back with laughter, "No, brother. The two of them were writing when Colin was at Eton, and every off season between the country homes. Have you never noticed the liberties the two used to take with each other?"

"Colin and Penelope? She is like a sister to us, of course there was no impropriety!" Anthony puffs up his chest, horrified that he may not have noticed this going on under his nose.

"Whatever makes you sleep better at night, brother!" Benedict knocks back the last of his drink, "Come, let us go and help mother place the angel on the tree before Gregory falls on his head again."

"Ah, yes. I do believe it is my turn," Anthony spins and pushes Benedict back into his chair, his shoes slipping on the floor in his haste to get down to the drawing room and lay claim to the decoration.

*******

Penelope and Eloise's arrival at Aubrey Hall is met with great joy, the family almost being in complete attendance for the Christmas season. Penelope had made the decision to move into Bridgerton House, her relationship with her family further degraded after revealing their scheme. By some miracle the story had not been discovered by anyone else in the Ton, Violet giving the Featherington's a taste of her ire and supervising the removal of Penelope from their home. Her life had improved immensely since then, the only hole in her heart was the loss of Colin from her life.

All of the Bridgertons were suffering, they missed him greatly and were devastated that for the first time he would miss Christmas. Penelope herself knew exactly how equally upset Colin was to not be there, their exchange of letters beginning again after she had written to him on her return to London. She let him know that she forgave him for his abrupt dismissal of her and assured him that she would always be there for him. Colin had responded almost immediately, reaching out to her like a lifeline, apologising profusely for his treatment of her. She knew of his pain and his regret, his overwhelming sense of duty and obligation to Marina. How badly he wished he had listened to Penelope, how much he valued her friendship and how sorry he was for dismissing her concerns.

Penelope was careful with her replies, crumpling many letters that were too generous with her affection for him and throwing it in the fire. She knew he did not feel the same and was embarrassed at Marina drawing attention to her feelings, but she had friendship and care to offer in abundance and he needed it desperately. Marina had let her know in no uncertain terms when they were at Greystone that she was too late and instructed her to leave them be. Cousin or not, her priority would always be Colin. Marina had no right to make such demands.

After being cornered by Anthony and Benedict, she assured them that Colin was well. Unhappy and lonely but surviving. Impatient for the babies to be born so the family could come and visit.

"You do realise the exchange of these letters is quite improper, Penelope!" Anthony lectured her.

Finally fed up Penelope responded, "Truly, you must be the only one who has never noticed, besides Colin. I will only say this now as I have had to let my dreams die, I love him, Anthony. I always have. I will not forsake him when he needs me most."

Anthony stares in shock at her honesty, "Oh, Penelope. I am sorry."

"I always knew that I could not have him, and that is alright. He is my dearest friend, he and Eloise, I am blessed to be able to love him in this way." Penelope gives Anthony a small smile, not wanting to encourage his pity.

"The two of you have always been close, perhaps I am so used to seeing the two of you together that it never crossed my mind to consider your relationship improper," Anthony ponders before declaring, "He is a fool, you are the best among us!"

"We have grown closer through our letters, he feels dreadfully alone and betrayed. Marina's behaviour has been quite difficult, her moods concerning." Penelope sighs, "He knows he has made a terrible mistake. I am more than willing to offer him any comfort I can provide."

"Have you ever told him, Pen? Does he know of your true feelings?" Benedict asks curiously.

"No, I have not directly. I am not sure what good it would do now."

"Perhaps you are right, on the other hand maybe it would do him some good to know that he is loved so assuredly by someone." Benedict muses, "If I was feeling as low as Colin, it may be the thing I needed to hear to help me to continue on."

"Quite right," Anthony says softly, "I must be going soft in my old age but love can be a wonderful balm to the heart."

Penelope leaves them to their thoughts, escaping to her guest room. She had finally gathered the courage to request her own room, sharing with Eloise was lovely but she had had such terrible trouble sleeping lately, her dreams were strange when she did manage it.

She ponders Benedict's suggestion that she confess her true feelings to Colin, there could really be no fear of rejection as they were already unable to see each other, she would not have to bear him looking at her in pity. She thinks about how she would feel if someone confessed their love for her, how warm and welcoming the words would be even if she did not return their feelings.

She finds herself seated at the little writing desk under the window, parchment at the ready and quill in hand. Whether she sends it or not, getting the words out on paper may help with her own heartache.

Dear Colin,

I have recently arrived at Aubrey Hall to spend Christmas with your family, but there is something missing, you. We have spoken often of your circumstances and your need to stay at Greystone, I understand your reasoning, I promise I do. I am constantly thinking of you there, alone. Marina is with you, of course, but I know how terribly lonely you feel in that place.

There is something I’ve been meaning to tell you for a very long time. That I have loved you since the moment we met. An embarrassingly long time, really. Even the years I pretended to be your friend, I was, but I loved you in secret. I have always loved you, Colin.

I have no expectations of you, I never have. I only have recently felt the need to declare it, assuredly, fervently, loudly to you. I think it is something you desperately need to hear and I hope my love will help to carry you through each day. Please know that you do not have to say anything in return, it is my gift to you. Whenever you are feeling low, think on my words and feel my love surround you. Know that you are worthy and deserving of it.

Please do not hesitate to write if there is anything I can do to support you. I look forward to news of the birth, you will be a most excellent and loving father no matter the circumstance.

Your truly,

Penelope

Rushing downstairs, she finds a footman and provides her instruction for the delivery to Greystone Mere, directly into Colin's hand. She feels a slight moment of panic as the footman leaves with his pockets heavier with her coin, but thinking back on her words to Colin she only feels relief that she has finally told him. Perhaps it will help her to move forward as well.

Chapter Text

Felicity dreams. It's cold, the fire in the grate doing little to warm the large dining room. Colin is thin, dark circles under his eyes as he sits opposite Marina at the head of a long table. Marina is delicately eating, her large stomach causing her to stretch for her plate.

"Please, will you let them come? I haven't seen any of my family for months, I have never gone a Christmas without seeing them, even when I was travelling I always managed to come home."

"No Colin, I am reaching the end of my confinement. The babies could be born at any time, I do not want them here."

"What if it was just for a short period of time before Christmas, a meal, an exchange of gifts? Please Marina."

"We do not need them, you and I alone was always the plan." Marina's face remains expressionless.

"I need them! I miss them terribly." Colin rubs a hand over his face.

"You miss them terribly, or you miss her terribly. I know you have been writing to each other." Marina doesn't look up from her plate.

"Marina. She cares for us-"

"She cares for you. She's in love with you. I have seen the letter."

Colin blinks, "That was private!"

"Nothing happens in this house without me knowing, Colin." Marina watches him coolly, taking a sip of her lemonade, "I have no doubt that our marriage devastated her. She told me as much in fact, tried to convince me to do the right thing after the doctor left the day she and your mother visited. I think she had always hoped you would finally see her, it almost made me feel bad for taking you from under her nose."

"You knew?" Colin asks quietly.

"Of course I knew," Marina laughs, "You dropped her like a hot coal as soon as I paid you the slightest bit of attention. She's such a sweet girl, her angry little face at our engagement dinner was priceless."

"I am sorry that I did not see her, she means more to me than anyone. I will not stop writing to her, Marina."

Marina waves her hand dismissively, "No one is to come for Christmas, I feel that there is not too much longer to wait until this is finally over." She gestures at her belly in disgust. "Invite her here after the babies are born, Heaven knows she'll probably never have any of her own. She can care for them so I can recover."

"Your cruelty knows no bounds, Marina. I will try to love these children as though they are my own, but I will have as little to do with you as I can after their birth."

Marina blanches a little at this, "Come now, Colin. I am not as bad as all that, it wasn't too long ago that you professed your love for me. Maybe once the babies are here we can start over, we are married after all. It is not like you would ever return her feelings."

Colin looks at her coldly, "Let me know if we need to summon the doctor. I have letters to write."

Felicity watches from the corner as Marina's face changes, her eyes narrowing at Colin's back. Her icy indifference changing into one of loathing.

Gasping awake, Felicity's heart races as she tries to catch her breath. She feels dread drip into her chest and down her arms as she remembers Marina's face. Her knowledge of what happens to Penelope burns brightly again in her brain, accidental drowning January 1815. All she can sense is danger. Penelope is in mortal danger. From Marina.

Felicity lies back and wills herself to fall back to sleep, her left hand idly rubbing the opal in her ring. She focuses her mind on her memory of Penelope's eyes, the dark golden amber to her light aquamarine, the face so like her own but not quite. The face she never has to struggle to remember. Clear, pale skin to her freckles. Neatly brushed red hair to her riot of blonde curls. She eventually drifts back to sleep, and opens her eyes to the mirror. She can see Penelope, her eyes closed, peacefully asleep. She is twitching, her eyes rolling behind the lids as she dreams. Felicity watches for a moment, reaching out to touch the mirror, as though she was gently touching Penelope's cheek. The glass feels warm, soft to touch and Felicity pulls her hand back. Penelope twitches again, her hand raising to her face as though to fend off an itch. Felicity's eyes widen, her hand raising again to touch the mirror, her knuckles running along the reflection of Penelope's jaw. She sighs, her eyelids rapidly blinking until she finally opens them and stares directly into Felicity's, recognition crossing her face. They've never made direct eye contact before, it was always more like watching each other from a distance.

Felicity feels frozen as Penelope gazes at her curiously, raising her hands to rub her eyes as though to wake herself from a dream. Her eyes drift to Penelope's small hands, her heart beginning to pound as she sees the ring on her finger. It's the same ring Agatha has gifted to her today, the delicate butterfly wings unmistakable. Penelope's eyes clear again and she blinks to see that Felicity is still there. Felicity slowly raises her own hand and turns it to the mirror, watching as Penelope's eyes move from her hand down to her own. Instinctively, they both rub the opal setting, their eyes meeting again. There's a feeling like a jolt of electricity through her hand as Felicity finds herself snatched away from the mirror and into wakefulness. "No!" She feels bereft at the loss of connection, her need to help Penelope, the need to warn her overwhelming. Staggering out of bed, she moves to her vanity, searching for those eyes but can only see herself reflected back.

Chapter Text

Pen,

Your words mean the world to me.

I do feel your love, I have always felt it.

I still have hope that one day I will be free, for now this is to be my life.

I love you, Penelope.

Colin.

Chapter Text

No matter what she tries Felicity cannot induce the dream again. She worries, constantly, about Penelope. She needs to reach her, needs to warn her. How?

Chapter Text

"The babies have been born!" Violet cries, running to the drawing room, an open letter in her hand. "A boy and a girl, Amanda and Oliver!"

The Bridgerton's all rise and cheer, while distraught and worried for Colin, the children have always been viewed as a blessing.

Penelope feels her body relax in relief, she had not written again to Colin. She felt that they have both said what they needed to for now and she needed to let him deal with the impending birth. Anything more would likely muddy the situation, Colin would need her friendship and support more than anything once the children were here.

"Christmas babies, how adorable!" Daphne cries, clasping her hands together. "Is all well?"

"All are well, Marina included. Born yesterday the 26th."

"How marvellous! A toast!" Anthony calls, "To Amanda and Oliver!"

"To Amanda and Oliver!" They all respond, raising their glasses and teacups.

"When can we visit?" Hyacinth asks excitedly.

"Marina has requested a month before any visitors," Violet reads in disappointment.

"A month! They will be huge by then! I want to see them all tiny and squishy!" Hyacinth moans.

"Ugh, babies are babies. They will not know if you have visited or not," Eloise sniffed, deeply uninterested in anything to do with children.

"Eloise!"

"It's been so long since we have seen him, what's another month?" Eloise shrugs and wanders off in search of a cup of tea.

Her comment sobers everyone for a moment, "Are you not going to see them earlier Mama? I thought Colin would want you there to help?" Daphne asks.

"Apparently not, Marina has employed a nanny and a wet nurse. She has no need for any help or support from the family." Violet replies sadly.

"And what of Colin? What of his need for help and support?" Benedict says.

"We shall give them time and trust that he will send for us if he needs us. In the meantime, I expect a letter from all of you to be ready to send to Greystone by this evening. Perhaps we can parcel up the Christmas gifts as well."

Penelope's heart sinks as she imagines Colin opening the gifts alone. She will write to both him and Marina, with her well wishes. "Come, Hyacinth, Gregory! Let us get started on our letters, we can take some biscuits to the nursery!"

Violet looks at her in gratitude, thankful for giving the youngest two a distraction. "We will plan our visit in four weeks time, perhaps not all of us at once though!"

Chapter Text

Felicity is at her wits end, it's been a fortnight since her last dreams. With the museum closed over the Christmas break she has had no other distractions and has sunk into her obsession with Penelope again. She's laid in bed for hours, her fingers rubbing the ring in the hopes that this will work again and she'll see her again in the mirror.

Her flat looks like a bomb has gone off, the contents of the trunk strewn over her dining room table, she's examined every one, sorted them into piles, the tiny calligraphy burnt into her brain.

Exhausted, she sits on her couch staring into space, the ever present question, why her? Why is she the one seeing these things? Sitting up straight suddenly she realises that the one thing she's never looked into is her own connection to Penelope. Her avoidance of anything family related has left her with a massive blind spot.

Swiping back through her messages with Olivia, she finds the one she is searching for. A link to the family tree Olivia has been working on. Olivia's mother was also a Finch before marriage, so Olivia's tree is basically her own. Opening the link, she accepts the invitation to view the tree and is stunned at the amount of information before her. There's branches extending out in all directions, she barely knows where to start.

She decides to just do the obvious and start with her father, Robert Finch. Good old Rob, the piece of shit. She follows the line back, her barely remembered grandparents, generations of parents and ridiculous amounts of children. Olivia has done some amazing work, it just keeps going and going. She scrolls and clicks, going back generation by generation until she finds the time period she's looking for. She finally lands on it.

Albion Finch (1794-1860) m. Philippa Featherington (1794-1859)

Philippa Featherington. Felicity can feel her heart race as she clicks on her profile.

Parents -

Baron Archibald Featherington m

Lady Portia Featherington

Siblings

Prudence Featherington m Harold Dankworth

Penelope Featherington

Holy shit. There it is. There she is. Hands shaking, she clicks on the link to Penelope. Her heart twists as she looks at her information. Her birth date (8 April 1796) and a link to a parish registry and her death date (31 January 1815). That's it. Olivia has not uploaded the copy of the death certificate, Felicity having conveniently forgotten to return everything to her as yet. She feels so sad that this is all there is to show for Penelope, no marriage, no children. Eighteen years old and her life is over.

Felicity hurriedly moves to her dining table, ruffling through the piles until she pulls out the death certificate. Taking it back to the couch, she places it on the coffee table and snaps a decent photo of it. Olivia has given her editing permission so she clicks on the link to upload it to Penelope's profile. It's only a little thing but Penelope deserves to have people to be able to know her story if they ever come looking.

Sitting back, she picks up the certificate and reads over the information again. Sighing tiredly, she runs her finger over Penelope's name. Felicity jumps as she feels a little spark of electricity to her fingertip, the same as when she touched her ring with Penelope in the mirror. Her eyes slam shut, her body collapsing back into the cushions.

Forcing her eyelids open, Felicity finds herself back at Greystone Mere. She's in a room she's never seen, it's warm, dimly lit by a singular candle. There's a rocking chair, a dresser, and two tiny cribs. She hears a whimper and she steps closer, two tiny bundles huddled together in the one crib, tufts of dark hair poking out from their swaddles. The whimper quickly becomes a cry, and before long soft footsteps come her way. She backs away as Colin enters the room, he is in a nightshirt and soft breeches, his hair and face rumpled from sleep. He delicately extracts the crying baby from the crib and tucks them under his chin, patting their back gently.

"Shhh now, Oliver. It's alright, I'm here." Oliver quietens, but continues to wriggle and strain against his swaddle. Felicity watches as Colin places him gently on the changing table, and unwraps him. He clumsily unpins his nappy and wipes him over with a rag from a dish of water. Oliver screams from the cold, Colin working quickly to dry him off and wrap him in a dry cloth.

Oliver's scream wakes Amanda and she begins to snuffle and wiggle. Colin swaddles Oliver tightly and tucks him in one arm, heading over to Amanda to rub her back. He continues to rock Oliver and soothe Amanda, yawning widely. He looks up in relief as a young woman enters the room and gestures for him to pass Oliver to her.

"Thank you, Mary. It feels as though they have only just fed, I swear I only closed my eyes for a moment." Mary gathers Oliver in her arms and heads for the rocking chair, opening her nightgown and latching him to her breast.

Colin gathers Amanda to his chest, lightly kissing her forehead before taking her over to change her nappy. Once swaddled back up, he takes her over to Mary and helps to get Amanda positioned.

"I do appreciate your allowing me to assist you, Mary. I know it is most unusual for me to be present when you are feeding." Colin carefully averts his eyes as Mary feeds the twins, quickly moving back to dispose of the soiled linens.

Mary nods, "It's alright, sir. I don't mind as long as these babies are fed. Alice should be along soon to assist me to get them back to sleep."

"Marina-, Mrs Bridgerton should be well enough to begin spending time with them soon, I'm sure. It has only been a week, the birth was quite draining on her."

"Of course, sir."

"I shall head back to bed and try and get some more sleep, I will return to help in the morning."

"That is not necessary, sir. Alice and I can care for the babies while the missus recovers."

Colin turns as Alice enters the room, giving her a nod, swaying slightly on his feet as he yawns again. "I will see you both in the morning."

He pads out, pulling the door closed behind him. Mary and Alice watch in silence until they hear his door close down the hall.

"Has she been in to see them?" Alice asks quietly, taking Oliver from Mary's arms and lifting him to her shoulder to burp him.

"She has not held them since they were birthed a week ago. I don't believe she has left her chamber, Bancroft said he has been leaving meals at her door." Mary replies, gently stroking Amanda's cheek as she feeds.

"I have seen this before, it is not so unusual. Perhaps the birth was traumatic?"

"Perhaps. Mr Bridgerton has been very attentive in her stead, he was here and changing them before I arrived."

Alice harrumphs, "The nursery is not a place for a man."

"Not usually, no."

The dream fades and Felicity wakes, slumped over on the couch, her body twisted uncomfortably. The certificate still sits in her lap and she carefully places it on the coffee table. Rubbing her eyes she reflects on what she has just seen. The twins, Colin caring for them in Marina's absence. The wet nurse Mary mentioned it had been a week since they were born, it's the second of January for her today, the day after New Years. Stretching out her neck carefully, she stands and heads back to the table to find the twins' birth certificate. The 26th of December 1814. The 26th was a week ago.

Rubbing her hand over her face Felicity tries to process the fact that she seems to be seeing things on the same day they happen, 110 years apart. Penelope has 29 days left.

Chapter Text

It's been over two weeks and Felicity can feel the time running out, she's tried everything to try and get back to the dream, to the mirror. She's held the certificate while rubbing the ring. She's removed the ring and touched it to Penelope's name, she's tried everything and there's just nothing. Every sleep is dreamless.

She thinks back to what else has triggered dreams previously, flicking back through her journal. The first month of notes is quite messy and manic, back when the flashes were almost constant, like they were trying to grab her attention. There's not really anything obvious. She finds her eyes drawn back to her entry about her trip to see the paintings. Maybe she needs something else that is connected to Penelope to trigger something?

Dragging herself out of bed, she showers and dresses, gathering her bag and keys. Almost out the door, she stops and turns, slipping the certificate into a plastic sleeve and slipping it into her bag.

The gallery is just as before, quiet, deserted. It's luckily tucked into a back corner, away from the tourist crowds. She makes a beeline for Benedict's paintings, her eyes immediately finding that faded hint of red by the lake. Her eyes flick to the painting of the pair dancing and she knows now that it is, of course, Colin. If only she could see their faces clearly, she knows she would see the love reflected on both their faces.

Looking around to make sure she is alone, Felicity dips her hand into her bag, slipping her fingers across the certificate until she feels the slightly raised ink of Penelope's name. She flips her hand and rubs the opal over the paper. Raising her free hand, she shakily reaches out with her forefinger and delicately brushes the ghost of Penelope.

The jolt this time is almost painful, her eyes rolling back as her body collapses to the floor of the gallery.

"Colin! Where are you?" Felicity slowly opens her eyes to Colin's study as Marina strides through the door.

"Marina! Is all well? You are out of your chamber!" Colin drops his quill in shock, staring up at her as though she is a ghost.

"Yes, of course. I need to speak with you." Marina glides in and sits.

Colin stares, swallowing hard. "You have hardly left your chamber in three weeks! You have barely seen the children!"

Marina waves him off, "I am well now. I looked in on the babies moments ago, they are fine."

Colin looks her over, "What do you need to speak of?"

She sits forward, eyes gleaming. "I will come right out and say it. The children look very much like their father, their real father. It is quite disconcerting."

"Marina!"

"It is the truth, they are dear little things but I do find them quite hard to look at. We should have another."

"I beg your pardon?" Colin rises from his chair, the colour high on his cheeks.

"I believe for you and I to be happily married, we need to have a child of your blood. Yours and mine. Wouldn't that set things right?" Marina folds her hands neatly over her lap, "The doctor said we could resume relations in around three weeks time. Wouldn't a baby of your own be lovely?"

Colin looks back at Marina in horror, "Marina, that will not be happening. We have two babies to care for, that you need to start caring for, and to be blunt I have no desire to have any children with you."

Marina's face turns sour, "Will you have my whore of a cousin carry them for you?"

"Do not speak of Penelope that way! I may not wish to be married to you but I am, and I will do my duty as a gentleman. There shall be no one else, and no other children!"

"And if she arrived on our doorstep begging for your love, for your children? You would turn her away?"

"I would have no choice. I love Penelope too much to make her my mistress, she deserves much more than I can ever offer her now. Because of you." Colin spits.

"Well, I am pleased we are on the same page. I think I shall invite her to stay."

"W-what?"

"Yes, Penelope and your mother. I know they want to see the children, so I will write to them immediately!" Marina smiles widely, rises and dashes out the door, slamming it closed behind her.

Felicity watches as Colin drops back into his chair, his face pale as he stares into space. A gentle tap to her cheek distracts her, and she feels her eyes close as she is pulled dizzily away.

"Wake up, dear! There you are!" A kind face appears above her, "I think you fainted, are you alright?"

Felicity focuses her eyes on the elderly gentleman before her, he's dressed in the uniform of a gallery volunteer. "Yes, I think I'm okay. I must have had a dizzy spell."

The man helps her sit, encouraging her to take her time before helping her to her feet. "There you go, love. Alright now?"

"Y-yes, thank you. I'll sit here for a moment, I have some water." Felicity gestures to a bench, "I'll be fine."

"Okay, dear. I'll be close by if you need me." With a wave and a pat to the shoulder, he slowly makes his way into the next gallery.

Felicity does sit and try to gather herself, shaky from her dream. She hadn't actually considered that it might work and she'd be out cold on the floor. Jesus. Sipping from her water bottle, she reflects back on what she has seen and heard. Marina's words about her children, waving them away as though they were something she no longer wanted to think about, her awful words about Penelope. No wonder Colin looked horrified, she's acting unhinged.

And now she's inviting Penelope to Greystone Mere.

Chapter Text

Dear Penelope,

Thank you, cousin, for your well wishes on the birth of Oliver and Amanda. We are all well and would love to have come and visit us at our home.

We will be ready to receive yourself and the Dowager Lady Bridgerton in one week's time for a fortnight if this is suitable for you.

Colin and I are truly looking forward to introducing you both to the twins.

Yours truly,

Marina.

Chapter Text

"I was promised I could come and see the babies!" Hyacinth whines, as her mother and Penelope gather their reticules and make their way out to the carriage, "It's not fair!"

"I promise I will send for you to come for a visit for the day once we're all settled in. I think we will be able to arrange for all of you to call, just not all at once!" Violet gives Hyacinth's cheek a gentle pinch, "Now, be good for Anthony and Kate!"

"Give our love to Colin," Benedicts calls, "Send him over when you are settled, tell him his brothers wish to toast him in person! We would all love to see him!"

"That's a wonderful idea, Ben. We'll make sure that happens," Penelope replies, giving them all a wave as the footman prepares to close the carriage door, "Be good for your brothers, El!"

Eloise responds by poking out her tongue rudely, "I shall be awful in your absence, I promise!"

Giggling, Penelope sits back in the carriage, making herself comfortable for the short journey. "You must be excited to see the children, Violet?"

"Yes, I do so love to hold a baby. Would it be alright if I spoke plainly, Penelope?"

"Of course!"

"I am so proud of Colin, the way that he has handled this. I know it has been terribly difficult for him but he is trying his best. I was worried that once the children were born he would leave and choose not to have any connection with them. But he has stayed, he has chosen to be their father." Violet wipes her eyes as tears begin to build, "These children are Bridgerton by name, they will never know anything else if I have anything to do with it."

Penelope smiles sadly, "He is a wonderful, kind man. I only hope that his marriage to Marina has not affected him too much, he was not made for such a solitary life."

"Indeed! Perhaps they have managed to repair their relationship, we may have been worrying for no reason!" Violet smiles shakily.

Penelope nods, knowing from her letters with Colin that this is far from the truth, "Yes, well I expect we will see for ourselves very soon. I do hope they have brightened up the place for the sake of the children!"

Violet laughs, "Oh, yes. Ghastly place, isn't it?"

The pair quieten, lost in their own thoughts as to what they will find at Greystone. Violet hoping that things will be better than expected. Penelope praying that things are not worse.

As overjoyed Penelope is to see Colin, she can't deny the pain she feels as the carriage draws up to Greystone and she sees him and Marina arm in arm waiting for them on the front stairs. It had been a while since they had written to each other, perhaps Colin had had a change of heart towards Marina. He did love her once, after all.

Marina smiles thinly at her as she alights from the carriage, "Hello, cousin, Mama Violet. We're so pleased you could come." She tightened her grip on Colin's arm as if to hold him back from greeting them. "Colin and I can't wait for you to meet the children!"

Colin steps away from Marina, shaking her off his arm so he can embrace his mother, his eyes meeting Penelope's over Violet's shoulder. His eyes softened as he took her in, "Hello, Mama. It's so good to see you." As soon as he released his mother, Marina grabbed his hand and pulled him back to her side. "Hello, Pen."

Penelope gave them both a small smile, "Hello. You both look well. We are indeed very excited to be here."

Violet took in the pair, her eyes slightly narrowed, "I trust all is well?"

Marina responded, "Yes, of course! Now come in, I'll call the nanny to bring the children down. Colin has been so excited to show them off, such a dedicated father and husband!" Patting Colin's shoulder fondly, Marina steps away to beckon to a maid to fetch the twins.

As soon as her back is turned, Colin's eyes fly to Penelope's, his face worried and apologetic. "I am very pleased to have you here," glancing quickly over his shoulder to check that Marina is still occupied, he reaches out to give her hand a quick squeeze. Violet has busied herself examining a painting on the wall, allowing them a brief moment together.

"Are you alright, Colin?" Penelope whispers.

Colin looks back at her, his green eyes intense, "Later," he breathes.

With a nod, Penelope squeezes his hand back, dropping it as Marina turns back.

"Let us take tea in the drawing room, the children will be down shortly!" Marina beams at them all, attaching herself to Colin once more and leading them through the house.

The twins were as delightful as expected, dark haired and bright eyed. Penelope's heart sang as she watched Colin with them, he was a natural, the babies tiny tucked into his sturdy frame. He had passed them over to her and Violet to hold, his large hand cupping their heads gently. They were beautiful babies and Penelope felt the longing sweep over her. All of this seemed so far away or unattainable for her, but she had more than enough love to share with these little ones.

The afternoon was spent passing the babies back and forth, cups of tea and biscuits consumed as Violet and Penelope caught him up on Christmas at Aubrey Hall. Colin laughed but couldn't hide the sadness from his face as they regaled him with tales of Hyacinth and Gregory's mischief. Of Anthony fighting all the children off to be the one to place the angel on the top of the tree.

During a lull in conversation, Penelope glanced over at Marina, noticing she had been quiet for a little while. She was sitting primly in her chair, her hands folded in her lap, staring off to the terrace. Her face was blank and as Penelope watched her she realised that she hadn't once held either child since they were brought down.

Looking down at the bundle in her arms, she noticed Amanda starting to root around, seemingly hungry. Carefully rising to her feet, she approached Marina and gestured for her to take Amanda. "She seems hungry, Marina. I would not like for her to get upset."

Marina blinked, pulling herself out of her reverie, "Oh, yes. Colin, would you ring for the wet nurse to come and collect them?" Penelope placed Amanda in her arms and Marina immediately stiffened, holding the baby away from her body. She did not look at Amanda, her head turned away. Colin was on his feet, gathering Amanda from Marina's arms in an instant.

"Mother, would you help me to bring Oliver upstairs to the nursery?" His face is apologetic as he looks at Penelope, both knowing that it would be improper for him to request Penelope accompany him.

"Yes, of course dear! Come now, my little love. Let's get you fed and to bed." Violet follows Colin from the room and down the hallway.

Penelope sits herself back down and takes a sip of her tea. When she glances back up she finds Marina's eyes fixed on hers.

"Thank you for inviting us, Marina. I-"

Marina cuts her off immediately, "You need to stop. I invited you here so you can see for yourself that nothing you say or do can break up this family."

"Marina, I have no intention of doing anything of the sort!" Penelope retorts, "I will be honest, I do not condone any of your behaviour, it is Colin I am here to support."

"He does not need it, Penelope. He has me." Marina sneers.

"Yes, you did make sure of that." Penelope can no longer hide her contempt.

"I need you to listen. Your love for Colin is an unrequited fantasy, I have seen your pathetic letters. How dare you write such things to a married man?" Marina is furious, her eyes wild as she stands and leans into Penelope, "You will see, you will watch, and then you will be gone. This will be your only visit."

Penelope swallows as Marina glares into her eyes, "He deserves to know he is loved. Truly loved, not whatever this is. That is all I wished to achieve with my letter."

"Bancroft! Have Marie take Penelope to her chambers, she is tired and would like to rest before dinner." She backs off from Penelope, "Your room is over in the guest wing. I hope you don't find it too cold."

******

Dinner is awful, Marina barely allowing anyone else to get a word in. Violet spends most of the meal looking at Colin in concern as Marina tells them all of their plans to have more children, to travel together, perhaps they would even settle somewhere on the Continent? After all, they only need each other, they have no ties to keep them in England.

Colin remains silent for the most part, his eyes fixed on his glass. He seems as disconcerted as everyone else at Marina's behaviour, his head only lifting as Violet manages to interrupt Marina to ask him a question.

"You are thinking of leaving, Colin? I did not know that this was even under consideration for you!"

"In truth Mother, it is not something we have discussed," he throws Marina a hard look, "Most of my attention has been with the children these last few weeks."

"What is there to keep us here, Colin? You are only a third born son after all, you have no responsibilities!" Marina smiles cruelly at Penelope, "Your only duty is to me, as your wife. A fresh start would be most welcome."

"Please, Marina! Now is not the time!" Colin stands abruptly, "I do apologise, ladies, but I think I shall retire. The babies wake quite often in the night still and I find myself fatigued."

"Of course, husband. I will be right behind you," Marina rises as Colin strides out of the dining room, "I will have your ladies maids escort you to your chambers." With a sweep of her skirts, Marina also departs, leaving Violet and Penelope alone at the table.

Violet turns and grasps Penelope's hand, her eyes panicked, "I'm afraid things are much worse than we thought. What shall we do?"

"I do not know, Violet. Let us just support Colin as best we can for now, and those beautiful babies. I'm sure all will be well." Penelope tries to reassure Violet, knowing that in fact things are much, much worse.

Chapter Text

It's been a week since her visit to the gallery, Felicity is resigned to the fact that she can't go back and keep trying to touch the painting. She only has the ring, the certificate and the painting that connect her to Penelope and none of them seem to do anything on their own. Is there anything else that she can find that might be connected? She's spent the last week wracking her brain, searching online but there's nothing tangible. Nothing she can put her hands on.

The only thing she can think of is finding and going to Greystone Mere. Going to the lake. She hasn't been able to find out definitively if the estate itself still exists. All she has is some old maps and some rough descriptions drawn from the Kent historical society website. She won't lie, the thought gives her the creeps.

Needing to get out of the house, she decides to take a wander down to the local farmer's market. She desperately needs to get some fresh food, she really has been neglecting herself lately. The cold air will also do her a world of good.

Wrapped up against the cold, she wanders through the market, picking out a few vegetables for some soup. A nice bouquet of flowers to brighten up the flat. She's just leaving to head home when the sky breaks open and it begins to rain. Fucking priceless, the one time she decides to head outside. Her coat is warm but not hooded and of course, she has no umbrella. Breaking into a slow jog, she tries to keep as close to the buildings and awnings as possible.

She reaches the last block before her flat, no coverage at all for the last run home. As soon as she steps out, the skies truly open and it's pouring. Felicity runs but it's no use, she's soaked through by the time she makes it home. Her hair is saturated, cold drips running down the back of her neck as she rips off her coat. She can't remember the last time she felt so cold, her teeth chattering and her lips feeling like they've turned blue. She feels her knees buckle and she slides down to the floor as an image flashes through her mind. The dark water. Sinking. She feels her lungs fill, the cold seeping through her bones.

Felicity pulls in a harsh breath, her eyes snapping open. The mirror. Penelope sits and brushes through her long curls, tears rolling down her face. Her eyes are downcast, the room dim behind her. Felicity reaches out, trying to get her attention but she does not see her. The ring, she reaches across to rub the opal and watches as Penelope jerks, her attention moving to her hand. She sits for a moment, and then flicks her eyes hesitantly to the mirror. Her brown eyes widen as they meet Felicity's blue, her mouth falling open.

Felicity smiles gently, not wanting to scare her and raises her hand in a tiny wave. Penelope blinks, pulling back in shock. She sees her say something, but of course Felicity cannot hear her. She needs a way to communicate, but she has nothing that she can write with, her dream only of the mirror and Penelope reflected back to her.

Penelope is watching her curiously and reaches out a finger to touch the mirror, Felicity grins and copies her, both of them jumping as they make contact. Their fingers don't pass through the glass but they can feel each other, Felicity's cold finger to Penelope's warm one.

Felicity thinks for a moment, she needs to let Penelope know that she's in danger from Marina, but how? She bends forward and breathes on the glass to try and fog it up but nothing happens. Penelope tilts her head and then breaks into a smile, leaning forward to press her palm to the mirror. With her other hand she gestures writing with a forefinger. Felicity grins, and touches her finger to Penelope's palm.

Slowly and carefully she traces M, A, R, I, N, concentrating on making sure the letters are mirrored. Her eyes flick to Penelope's and she can see her mouth "Marina?" Felicity nods quickly, she's starting to feel dizzy and knows her time with Penelope is running out. Her thoughts are starting to get muddled so she quickly traces the first things she can think of, 3 1 L A K. Her eyes are closing and she struggles to force them open, Penelope rising closer to the mirror in confusion, shaking her head. Felicity's heart sinks, she doesn't understand, all she can think to do in her panic is to draw an X or her palm and point to Penelope frantically before she's pulled away.

Chapter Text

Penelope wakes with a start, she's slumped over the vanity in her room, still dressed in her nightgown and robe. The room is freezing, the fire long since out in the grate. Her dream comes back to her slowly as she stretches and her eyes fly to the mirror. It's her own brown eyes looking back at her, the blue ones no longer there. The other girl has been trying to tell her something, and it seemed important.

Moving over to the bed and slipping between the cold sheets she tries to make her shivering body relax so she can remember. It was only a dream, but it seemed so real. She's positive she's seen that face in her dreams before, flashes of her opal ring and those blue eyes reflected back at her. Penelope screws her eyes shut and circles the opal with her fingers, that was it! A touch of fingers, the other's finger on her palm.

MARINA

31

LAK

X

The look in the other girl's eyes was of fear, of worry, like she was trying to warn her. She could understand why Marina could be of concern but what of the rest? Her writing set is still packed away in her trunk, she will need to wait until the morning to write this down. Committing the number and letters to memory, she lies awake for the rest of the night. She feels nothing but dread for the day to come.

Chapter Text

Felicity sleeps, her body still slumped at the front door.

Chapter Text

Greystone Mere feels as dark and dank inside as it looks from the outside. Colin has been absent the past two days, called away by their groundskeeper to assist at a small property on the estate. The weather has been abysmal, lashings of rain and sleet causing damage across the countryside. Violet and Penelope have spent their days with the children in the nursery, assisting the wet nurse and the nanny with their care. Marina has not left her chambers.

Colin was reluctant to leave, he had yet to be parted from the twins and his guests had only just arrived. Violet reassured him that this was all to be expected now he was a landowner, she and Penelope would be fine. It would give them a chance to bond with the babies and keep Marina company.

Penelope found herself to be increasingly concerned about Marina, her dream always in the back of her mind, was it a cry for help on Marina's behalf? The words of her mother keep returning to her head, Marina's instability even before coming to Featherington House.

"May I ask you something personal, Violet?" Penelope asks, finding them alone as the children sleep peacefully in their cribs.

"Of course, dearest."

"Please know that you do not have to answer if you cannot. Eloise and Colin have told me some things about what happened after Hyacinth was born. After Lord Bridgerton passed."

Violet pales slightly, "Oh, yes. It was not an easy time for me."

Penelope gives her hand a soft pat and continues, "I am so sorry and I only ask because I have grave concerns about Marina. Did you care for Hyacinth after she was born?"

"I had a great deal of help, but yes, I did. It was painful, a constant reminder of Edmund but I always made sure that she was fed and loved." Violet pulls in a deep breath, "She does not interact with the children."

"I am yet to see her hold one, she does not feed them, does not put them down to sleep." Penelope says.

"I hear Colin getting up to them every night, sometimes multiple times. But you are correct, Marina does none of these things." Violet frowns, "Her behaviour is also quite erratic."

"Marina and I were not close, but I have never witnessed her behave as she has done since we arrived. Do you think we are right to be concerned?"

Violet sinks back into her chair and thinks for a few long moments. "Perhaps she is suffering from melancholia, it can be common after a birth. Tell me, have you spoken to Colin?"

"Marina has not allowed me a moment alone with him since we arrived, I think she is threatened by my presence. She knows of my affection for him and is determined that I will not be able to interfere." Penelope confesses, "I think she means to punish me by making me observe them as a family."

"Oh, Penelope. I have always tried not to pry but I am aware of your feelings for Colin. How I wish things could be different." Violet pulls Penelope into a hug, "You are very dear to us all."

"Thank you, Violet. I should let you know that she may have been unwell like this previously. I do not know the details but it does make me worry. What do you think we should do?" Penelope extracts herself and rises to check on Oliver who has started to wriggle.

"Perhaps I could take Colin and the twins to Aubrey Hall for a short visit, the family would love to see him and meet the children. He looks worn down, I think some time away from this heap would be of help to him." Violet taps her chin as she thinks, "Would you stay with Marina? I know you are in conflict but if she is suffering from a form of melancholia, she would benefit from having someone here."

"Would a break from having the children in the house help, do you think?"

"As much as I loved all of my children, I did sometimes yearn for silence, to have no responsibilities for a short period of time. Even though she is not present for the children at the moment, she may be feeling the pressure."

Penelope thinks on this for a moment, "As much as I don't relish spending time with Marina, maybe if the weather clears we could take some walks around the property and have some real conversations. We are family after all and I do not wish for her to be unhappy."

"We will pose the idea to Colin on his return, I do hope he has returned by this evening. This weather is woeful."

"Yes, alright. Now let me go and find Mary, I feel Oliver will be singing for his supper shortly."

Chapter Text

Felicity has never felt such exhaustion, she never believed the old wives tale about getting sick after getting caught in the rain but she feels horrendous. She woke in the dark still on the floor beside her front door in the late afternoon of the next day. Since then she has only been able to drag herself out of bed for hydration and toilet breaks.

Forcing her eyes open, she picks up her phone from her bedside table and checks the time. Fuck! It's the 29th? She's lost almost three days since her trip to the market and getting caught in the rain. She sits up suddenly as her dream comes flooding back to her. Penelope! Her head pounds for a moment and she waits for it to subside, sucking in some deep breaths. Had her warning been enough?

She drags herself out of bed and into the shower, feeling slightly better now she is up and clean. Some tea and toast also help and she's able to note down in her journal everything she can remember from the dream. It wasn't enough. Penelope only has two days and she hasn't been able to do enough.

Chapter Text

Colin agrees readily to Violet's idea on his return home that morning, but only on the condition that he can have a moment alone with Penelope first. Marina has not yet been informed of his arrival and Violet is more than happy to oblige.

"Will you accompany me to the terrace, Pen?" Colin asks, holding out his arm in invitation. Penelope nods in agreement, her body warming at the feeling of his strong arm under her hand.

The air is chilled but calm, the storm having finally cleared. Colin leads her to a bench, both of them sitting and enjoying the weak rays of sunlight on their faces. He has not allowed her to let go of his arm, placing his hand over hers.

"None of this has gone how I wanted, Pen. You are here right in front of me and I miss you terribly."

Penelope leans into his shoulder, pulling his arm tighter to her body. "You have me now."

"Penelope, I know this is hopeless, but did you mean those words that you wrote? That you love me?" Colin whispers into her hair.

Shifting slightly to look up into his bright green eyes Penelope can not help but be honest, "Yes, Colin. I have loved you since the first day we met. A child's love to begin with, but it has done nothing but grow as you and I have. I love you immensely."

"Oh, Pen. I am sorry."

"You do not need to apologise, Colin. I have always known that you would only ever be able to love me as a friend, all I have ever wanted is your happiness. It kills me to know that you are suffering." Penelope reaches up to cup his face, "I hope the knowledge of my love is enough to help to get you through dark days."

Colin turns and moves his hands to grasp Penelope's shoulders, "But I do love you, Penelope. I love you dearly and I made the worst mistake of my life by not realising it sooner. Being away from you is like torture, one that I cannot escape from."

"What are you saying, Colin?" Penelope asks in confusion, "I'm not sure I understand."

Colin's eyes search hers, "I am in love with you, Pen. I am in love with you and I have made it so we can never be together. I am so sorry!" Tears begin to run down his face as he draws her into his chest, burying his face in her hair.

Penelope slowly wraps her arms around him, burying her nose in his chest as she takes his words in. He had expressed his love for her in his letter but she had never presumed to think that he meant romantic love. That he was in love with her. "It will be alright, Colin. Perhaps one day there will be a chance for us, maybe in another life, my darling."

"I cannot ask you to wait for me, Pen." He whispers, gently kissing her forehead.

"I will always be here for you Colin, no matter what."

"Will you be alright here if I go to Aubrey Hall?"

"Yes, I will be fine. If I can make any inroads at building a relationship with Marina, I am willing to try. For you, for the children." Penelope pulls back, "I do not think it is in Marina's best interest to be left completely alone."

"You are truly special, my Pen. She does not deserve you."

"No, but those beautiful babies deserve to have a loving family. Now they will finally have a chance to meet the Bridgerton side. Hyacinth may never let you return!" Penelope laughs, "Eloise may be the opposite and have you out the door by dinnertime."

"We will leave this afternoon and return in two days time, Eloise will change her tune. She will never admit it but she was always trying to get her hands on Gregory when he was a baby."

Penelope giggles, "I will be here waiting to hear all about it on your return. Now, let us go back inside so you can prepare."

Colin gently takes her hand, lifting it to his mouth to place a gentle kiss before standing to usher her back into the drawing room. Penelope ducks under his arm as he holds the door open for her, her hand brushing his chest in fond farewell.

Chapter Text

"Hello? Hi, can you hear me?" Felicity says into her mobile phone, pulling it away from her ear to check if she has bars of reception.

"Now I've got you, are you trying to reach the historical society? This is Callum, I'm a volunteer!" The deep voice is crackly but Felicity can hear him at last.

"Oh! Hi Callum, my name's Felicity. Look, this might be a long shot but I'm out here in the middle of nowhere looking for a property, or a lake and I seem to be in the wrong place. Is there any chance you could help?"

"Uh, maybe? What are you looking for?"

"So, I'm looking for an estate called Greystone Mere, at least that's what it was called in 1815. Big, ugly grey monstrosity on a lake. Ring any bells?" Felicity asks hopefully, sitting down on the stone wall beside where she has pulled over.

"Hmmm, can you do me a favour and send me a pin of your location? I can see your number on the display, I'll send you a text with my number, hang on."

Felicity hears him place the phone down and walk away for a moment, she hears a chime and looks at her phone again to see a text from an unknown number. "Did you get that?" he asks.

"Yep, two seconds." She quickly adds his number to her contacts and sends him her location from Google maps.

"Oh, got it, yep. Wow, you are in the middle of nowhere!" Callum laughs, "I've been working on uploading as much as I can online, it's a work in progress but I have built a basic search into it. Was it Greystone Lake?"

"Greystone Mere, the last owner I know of was Colin Bridgerton." Felicity replies.

"Okay, that might help. Let me try." Callum rustles around for a bit, his fingers clacking noisily over a keyboard. Felicity shivers slightly, cloud cover rolling in and hiding the sun.

"Anything?"

"I've found a place called Aubrey Hall that belonged to some Bridgerton's in the area but no Greystone."

"Fuck." Felicity spits out, "Sorry. Am I anywhere near that? Maybe they lived close by."

"Um, yeah not too far actually!" Callum says, "Do you want me to give you directions and you can start driving? I can take a look at some maps, see if I can find anything and give you a call back."

"Yeah, okay!" Felicity thinks for a moment, "I have a photo of a painting that I can send you. Maybe it would help?"

"Yep, do that. I'll text you the directions. You send me what you've got and I'll call you back!" Callum says cheerfully.

"Amazing, thank you so much!"

"Aw, no worries! It's pretty boring around here, you've given me a mission! Talk to you soon!"

Felicity's phone pings again with detailed directions and she heads off in search of Aubrey Hall. It's a massive long shot but this is her last hope. If she can find the lake, she has everything else that's worked before to contact Penelope. There's not much time left.

Chapter Text

"Marina? May I come in?" Penelope knocks on the closed door to Marina's chamber, juggling to hold a tea tray.

The door suddenly sweeps open and Marina peers out at Penelope, "What do you want? You've managed to make everyone leave me, what more torture could you possibly want to put me through now?"

Penelope sighs and holds up the tea tray, "Would you like to have some breakfast with me? A cup of tea at least? Please Marina, I would like to talk to you."

Marina narrows her eyes, "Why would I want to do that, Penelope?"

"As I told you last night, Colin and the twins heading over to Aubrey is just for a visit. You both deserve some respite and he has been missing his family." Penelope explains, "This time together will give us a chance to talk, I would like to be your friend again."

Marina huffs and opens up the door for Penelope to enter, "Why would you want to be friends? I entrapped your precious Colin after all. Am I not the worst?"

Penelope slides through the door and places the tea tray on the dresser, "It is done, Marina. If I could change things, would I? Yes, of course. But I can't, all I can do is offer my support to you both. I want to be a part of your lives, the children's lives."

Marina rolls her eyes, "You do realise that you can never have him?" she says spitefully. "He is my husband."

"I do, yes. I accepted that a long time ago, before you were even on the scene, Marina." Penelope sits on the settee, "I am not a fool."

"Are you not?"

"Please, Marina! Will you at least consider allowing me to keep you company? You are my cousin, I do care for you." Penelope pleads.

Marina looks at her carefully for a few moments, "It can get quite lonely in this godforsaken house, I suppose I could tolerate you until my family returns."

Penelope swallows the jibe and pours the tea, "Wonderful. Perhaps we could take a walk around the grounds later? The weather has cleared and I haven't yet seen the gardens or the lake."

Marina nods, "Alright. The fresh air will do me good, I will have Marie prepare us some afternoon tea to take along."

"Perfect, now let us enjoy our tea and then I will leave you to bathe and dress."

Penelope concentrates on buttering herself some toast, reminding herself that she must be careful, she must not forget the warning.

Marina sips her tea quietly, observing her cousin.

Chapter Text

"Are you sure it's a left? There's literally no roads ahead apart from the one I just passed on the right?" Felicity queries, peering out the windscreen along the straight road ahead.

"Oh shit, you're right! That wasn't very well done of me, was it?" Callum laughs softly, "Sorry! Can you turn around?"

"God, Callum! I thought you were the expert!" Felicity huffs, pulling over as far as she can onto the gravel edge so she can start a three point turn. "This is why I called you back!"

"Uh, did I happen to mention that I'm pretty much an IT guy doing my dad a favour? I was really just meant to take messages while uploading documents." Callum admits sheepishly.

"What! Why did you help me then?"

"Well, I can read a map, kind of!"

"Are you sure that's what you want to go with?"

"Look, I've never been so bored, okay? Your call is the only time the phone has rung the whole week. Plus, you sounded cute!" Callum laughs.

"Jesus Christ," Felicity mutters, finally back on the road and heading for the turn off. "Let me share my location with you in case I end up needing search and rescue when you drive me into a river."

Felicity flicks her eyes to and from the road as she shares her location from her phone to Callum's.

"I was aiming for a lake, not a river!"

"You're hilarious, mate." Felicity continues driving, "I can see a long driveway up ahead and a massive house off in the distance, would that be Aubrey Hall?"

"Let me check, can you pull over anywhere?"

"Yeah, hang on. I'll call you back on Facetime and show you what I can see."

Felicity pulls into the mouth of the driveway and hangs up the call. Unbuckling her seatbelt, she takes a pull from her water bottle and thinks for not the first time about what the hell she's doing out here. Taking a quick look in the mirror to fluff up her curls and make sure she's not looking too offensive, she calls Callum back on Facetime.

Callum picks up immediately, showing her a brief view of the ceiling before bringing the phone to his face. Felicity feels the breath leave her lungs as his dark blue eyes meet hers. Fuck, he's gorgeous, even slightly pixelated by their poor connection. Dark wavy hair, a rogue curl hanging over one strong eyebrow. His nose is straight and aristocratic, his lips plush and rosebud shaped. He looks familiar, God, maybe he's a model or something.

"Holy shit! I was expecting cute, but damn Felicity!" Callum is also yet to blink, his head tilting as he takes her in, "Have we met before?"

Felicity giggles awkwardly, not used to being complimented straight out of the box, "I don't think so, I'm sure I'd remember your eyes, they're the most remarkable shade of blue." She blushes as she realises how forward that might sound.

Callum finally blinks, a blush appearing high up on his cheekbones, a toothy smile splitting his face. "Direct, I like it!"

Felicity can feel how red her face has gone, "I'm so sorry, I'm not very good at social interactions." She unbuckles her seat belt and exits the car, "Please don't think I'm a weirdo!"

"Sorry, Fel but it's too late for that. You had me at girl looking for a gothic mansion and lake for reasons unknown." Callum chuckles, "Did you ever tell me why?"

Felicity swallows, looking away from the screen, "Uh, long story?"

"I'll make you a deal, I get you where you need to be so you can do what you gotta do and you can catch me up later. In person." Callum quirks an eyebrow at her.

"I-in person?" Felicity feels slightly light headed.

"Yes. An in person date, in fact. Deal?"

"Okay. Are you sure?"

"Am I sure? A mystery woman with a face like an angel? Yes, I'm sure." Callum smiles softly, "Now turn that camera and show me what you can see."

Felicity grins and switches the camera, showing him the countryside around her and the driveway. "The house is down there."

"Um, are you sitting down? The sight line is quite low. Can you get the camera any higher?"

Felicity turns the camera back around in indignation, "I am not sitting down! I'm five foot one, this is my sight line!" Flicking the camera down to show her standing on the ground, "See!"

"Jesus H Murphy," Callum mutters, Felicity blushing as she realises that she just gave him the scenic view of her body.

"I'll stand on the bumper, hang on." Switching the camera back, she climbs up on the car and holds up the phone towards the house. "Can you see that?"

"I can see that, it looks like the photo of Aubrey Hall I have here." Callum replies, "Give me back your face."

Jumping down, Felicity turns the camera back around with a roll of her eyes, "Where to next, Captain?"

Callum grins, "So I've been scouring a few maps and I think I've found your lake. I also had a look on some Google satellite images and it looks as through there was a house near it at some point. Looks to be kind of a ruin now."

"Is it far?"

"Another ten minutes or so down this road. It would have taken a couple of hours in a carriage back in the 1800's, so sounds like it could be it. Families often had estates close together." Callum replies, "Want to give it a try?"

"Let's do it! I'll have to take you off Facetime while I drive, I need to concentrate." Felicity feels some nerves start to kick in at what she might find and what she might see, seeing that handsome face will be way too distracting.

"Do you want me to drive out to you, Fel? The weather has started to chop up here, I'm probably like forty five minutes away?" Callum's eyes rove her face.

"I'll be careful, I'll just take a look. It really shouldn't take too long." Felicity smiles to reassure him, "Thanks for the offer, though."

"Alright, you get back on the road and call me back, okay?"

"You got it, boss." Felicity gives him a little salute and hangs up, cringing at her words. Jesus, why is she so bad at this?

After pulling back out and heading down the road, Felicity frowns as the sky darkens ahead of her. All she needs now is some fog to roll in to make it even creepier. She's allowed herself to be distracted by Callum and not think too much about Penelope and what she was going to try and do, it feels crazier the closer she gets.

Her phone buzzes and she pops in onto speaker, "Sorry, Cal. I got caught up in my thoughts, do I just keep heading down this road?"

"Hey, all good. Yeah, it's about ten kilometres and then you'll see a road to your left lined with big old pine trees. It looks pretty narrow so I'd say it's the original old driveway, I've had a scan through the Google images and it's the only tree lined one in the vicinity so you can't miss it."

"Perfect, and it is on the left hand side? You want to hold up your hands and make an L to check?"

"Cheeky! Yes I'm sure, I'm a leftie. Now tell me more about you. Did you really say you're only five foot one?" Callum asks incredulously.

"Yup, how about you?"

"Six foot one. God, you could probably walk straight under my arm if I held it out." Callum audibly gulps, "What else? What do you do?"

"I'm kinda boring like your Dad, I'm an Archivist in Document Conservation at the British Museum. I kind of fell into it, I've always loved ancient history and languages and I did an internship as part of my university studies. Got a good offer, so I never left." Felicity explains.

"Oh, wow. I love ancient history. I spent quite a bit of time in Greece after Uni. Have you been?"

"Oh, yes! It's one of my favourite places. So, IT?" Felicity asks, slowing down a bit as the sky continues to darken.

"Kind of, I did my degree in Communications with a minor in IT. I produce videos usually, used to do a bit of travel vlogging back in the day. Now I just do the nerdy background stuff for other people."

"You don't travel much anymore?"

"Nah, not for work. I missed my family being away all the time so I built myself something here at home." Callum explains, "Jeez, it's really coming down."

Felicity jumps at a sudden flash of lightning up ahead, fat raindrops starting to hit her windshield. "Yeah, I think it just arrived here. I must be almost there, can you see my location?"

"Yeah, you're almost there. Are you sure you don't want me to-"

Felicity glances down at her phone at the sudden silence, the call has dropped. Great, must be another dead spot. Slowing down even further, Felicity peers out through the rain, flicking on her headlights. She can see a dark line of trees up ahead on the left and figures she's arrived at what could potentially be Greystone. Pulling over carefully, she tries to call Callum back but it doesn't connect. A loud roll of thunder shakes the car and Felicity jumps, the rain starting to get heavier. She checks her maps app but the location has dropped as well. Fuck, no service. She quickly types out a message to Callum and hits send, letting him know she's arrived and is okay. Hopefully it'll send once she's on the move again.

Turning left, she begins to creep slowly down the narrow road, the trees leaning ominously above her.

Chapter Text

"It is so good to have you here, brother!" Benedict throws an arm around Colin's shoulder, "Did we ever tell you how proud we are of you?"

Colin blinks at him in shock, "Proud? How can you not be disappointed?"

Anthony strides into the study, pulling the door closed behind him and heading straight over to the decanter of whiskey on his desk. "Benedict speaks the truth, brother. Now sit, we shall have a toast!"

Colin pulls out his pocket watch, "It is barely midday!"

"And we have been waiting months to see you, and weeks to toast these beautiful children of yours!" Anthony grins passing them each a measure of whiskey.

"We couldn't bear to tear you away from everyone last night so now is the time," Benedict reaches out his glass to Colin's, "To our baby brother, an honourable man and a fine father!"

Colin feels tears begin to pool as he looks upon his beaming older brothers, "I thought you would all still be furious with me over what transpired with Marina. I've been preparing for weeks to be lectured!"

"Sorry to disappoint! We cannot change anything that has happened, as much as we would wish to. You have proved yourself to be nothing but a gentleman and accepted your duty as a husband and father. We could not be more proud!" Anthony sits at his desk and adds, "I know it has not been easy."

"No, it has not," Colin admits, "It is perplexing, I wish everyday that I had not been so naive, that I could go back. But at the same time I would never wish to not be Amanda and Oliver's father."

"They are a delightful pair," Anthony agrees, "I cannot wait to give them some cousins."

"How are things with Marina? It must be difficult but you did have feelings for her in the beginning, have you been able to come to any kind of reconciliation?" Benedict asks curiously.

Colin remains silent, Anthony and Benedict exchanging a glance. "You know that you can talk to us, brother?"

"She does not touch or interact with the twins, at all!" Colin bursts out, "She admitted to me that they remind her too much of their father, it's like she cannot bear to look upon them!" The brothers stare at him in shock, "It has been six weeks and she has barely held them!"

"Oh, Colin. Maybe she just needs time?" Anthony suggests.

"She wants to have another child straight away, one of my own that she could bear to be around. Since the birth she has acted as though we are close, as though it is the next natural step for us!" Colin cries out, "I have not touched her since I found out, we do not share a bedroom!" His shoulders slump and he sobs into his hands.

Benedict moves to embrace him, letting him cry on his shoulder. "It will be alright, what can we do to help?"

"Nothing! You can do nothing!" Colin shouts, "She is telling Mama and Pen these plans, telling them that we will be moving to the Continent, things we have never discussed! Things I would never agree to!" He shrugs Benedict off and throws back his whiskey, "It is like she lives in a fantasy world! She is either hidden in her chamber for days or making these outlandish plans. I do not know which to expect and it is driving me mad!"

Anthony stands and comes around to lean on his desk in front of Colin, "I am sorry to say this Colin, but she does not sound at all well." Placing his hand on his shoulder, "Could it be like how mother was after Hyacinth's birth?"

Colin calms and considers this, "I believe she has always been like this, the birth of the twins has not brought this on. It certainly has not helped but it is not the same. Do you think I should be concerned?"

Benedict speaks softly, "Do you think she could be a danger to herself? To the children?"

Colin sits upright, "I do not know in regard to herself, she does not speak to me when she is low of mood but I do not believe so. The children are always with me, or the nurse and nanny, I do not think she would harm them. She is quite indifferent towards them if anything."

"Do you feel safe, Colin?" Benedict asks, "Penelope has told us of how she treats you, she does not mean to interfere but cares deeply for you."

"My darling Pen, I would be truly lost without her," Colin rubs his face, "I do not think Marina would harm me, apart from with her words."

"Mama mentioned how she has been quite spiteful." Anthony comments.

"Her attitude towards me has improved, she tends to direct most of that behaviour Penelope's way. She blames her most of all for me finding out the truth. Penelope is determined to support us both no matter what, she is astonishing." Colin replies.

Benedict and Anthony look at each other in concern, "Colin, do you think Penelope will be alright alone with Marina?" Anthony asks carefully.

Colin's head snaps up, his tumbler falling to the carpet. "Oh God!"

"I'm sure it is alright, brother. None of Marina's behaviour indicates that she would harm anyone, as you have said. Penelope may just find herself on the end of some unkind behaviour." Benedict tries to reassure him, "If there is one thing that I have learned about Penelope in the last year is that she is surprisingly strong."

"I should not have left her! She does not deserve any of this, I have done nothing but hurt her!" Colin says in despair.

"And yet she loves you more than anything in this world, brother." Benedict says, smirking at Colin's shock, "It is no secret. Her love for you has never wavered, I doubt that anything Marina can say will change that."

"I am not worthy of her love. All I have done is make mistake after mistake, pushing her farther and farther away from me. We can never be together and it is all my fault!"

"Penelope sees you much clearer than you do yourself, Colin. You are deserving of love, and you are lucky enough that Penelope chooses to give it to you in any form, even if it cannot be romantic." Anthony pulls Colin to his feet and embraces him in a hug, "You also have all of our love, and we will help you in any way we can. I will make some discreet enquiries of Doctor Dorset, perhaps there is some way we can help Marina."

"I have heard that there are some new ways of treating melancholia and the like that are not so barbaric, we will find something to make this bearable," Benedict adds, "Now let us go and join the others, I'm positive Eloise will be overjoyed to learn how to change a nappy!"

Colin huffs out a laugh, feeling relieved to have spoken of his concerns of Marina. If only he could stop himself from the worry that has begun to seep in for Penelope back at Greystone.

Chapter Text

Callum sits and stares at his phone, willing Felicity to respond to his messages, call him back, anything.

A flash of lightning cracks and the office lights and computers go dark.

Fuck. He can't leave Felicity out there alone. He has to go.

Chapter Text

Colin sits and watches as the twins are passed from hand to hand, smothered in love and kisses. He is so lucky to have such a wonderful family.

A flash of lightning illuminates the parlour, making them all jump and laugh. Daphne and Francesca rise to light more candles, Benedict stokes the fire.

Fuck. He can't leave Penelope alone there with Marina. He has to go.

Chapter Text

Penelope sits and waits for Marina to emerge for their planned walk in the gardens. Marie has left to arrange a small basket of afternoon tea and lemonade for them to enjoy in the sunshine.

Writing in her journal, she notes the date, 31 January. 31. Flipping back she reads the note she scribbled down after her dream. MARINA. 31. LAK. X. What could it mean?

Dash it. She has a terrible feeling but she's determined to not leave Marina alone. She has to go.

Chapter Text

Felicity sits in her car and looks in dread at the ruin before her. The house is long gone, a pile of rubble, overgrown with weeds and ivy. Shadows of garden beds and fallen statues.

In the distance she can see the lake. The dark clouds seem to centre over it, heavy drops disturbing the smooth surface of the water. It can't be any other place, she can feel it. She can feel her.

Fuck. She has a terrible feeling but she's determined to not leave Penelope alone. She has to go.

Chapter Text

Marina sits and thinks about Penelope. About Colin. How her plans have all succeeded and yet she's as unhappy as she's ever been.

If only George had seen her for who she truly was, if only his family had not forced him to forsake her. They should have been happy together. And now it's happening again.

Damn her! She is not going to let Penelope take her only chance at happiness away. Time to go.

Chapter Text

“Do you have the items?” Hazel’s light green eyes peer at Benedict curiously from beneath the hood of her cloak, before flicking back to Genevieve.

“We have her death certificate, a ring gifted to her by a loved one, and a tribute.”

“Show me the tribute,” Hazel demands, “This will be the true link.”

Benedict unwraps his painting, Greystone Mere imposing and severe, surrounded by gardens, the eye being led to the dark, foreboding lake at the rear. Genevieve gasps at the canvas, “This is not what I expected, Benedict! Is where she died?”

“Look closer Gen,” Benedict explains, tilting the painting towards the light, “Can you see her?”

Genevieve peers closely, her eyes roving the landscape, “Oh! Oh, yes Ben, it is her!”

Hazel gently takes the canvas, her eyes immediately drawn to the wraith-like girl on the shore of the lake. “She feels strong, she feels brave,” she whispers, “I can feel your connection to her. Well done.”

“You should go, Ben. You can wait downstairs, it should not take long.”

“But-”

“She’s right, child. This is not meant for you.” Hazel clasps his hand gently, “I will do all I can to bring her back to you.”

Benedict nods, relieved to not be needed, “Please, be careful Gen.”

Hazel waits until he has departed, “Close the door, lock it.”

Genevieve does as asked and stacks the items on Hazel’s altar. Lighting the single white taper candle, she backs away and lets Hazel sit. Withdrawing a small mirror from her cloak, she sprinkles a pinch of salt from a bowl on the altar onto its surface, and then spits. Using her saliva and the salt, she covers the glass, her eyes closed as she begins to focus.

She mutters to herself, concentrating on priming the lens and communicating her requirements. Slowly opening her eyes, she wipes the mirror dry with her cloak and lays it on top of Penelope’s certificate, her ring and Benedict’s painting.

Rising to her knees, Hazel looks down into the mirror, gazing deeply but avoiding her own reflection. She begins to chant, her words quiet and indistinguishable to Genevieve. The candle begins to stutter as Hazel’s words grow louder, her eyes fixed on a point in the mirror beyond her own reflection.

She can see Hazel in the mirror from her position in the room, and she sucks in a breath as she sees it begin to distort and pull away. As Genevieve watches, Hazel’s strength begins to wane, her energy draining. The candle suddenly flares and her reflection returns to normal, a resounding crack sounding across the room. The mirror is now split, jagged lines dividing Hazel’s face in the glass.

Hazel slumps, and the candle goes out. Genevieve rushes forward to grasp her shoulders, pulling her back gently from the shattered glass. “The box,” she whispers.

Genevieve turns and picks up the small wooden box placed at the side of the altar. Hazel flips the mirror, the shards falling out and into the silk lining. Closing the lid firmly, she leans back into Genevieve. “Bury it. At the place she was lost. Her twin soul will be led to her.”

“Thank you, Hazel. You are a wonder.”

Hazel sighs, her energy beginning to return, “Remember this when I order my next cloak, deeper pockets perhaps for all the coin your man is to provide.” Laughing softly, she pats Genevieve on the arm, “Now, help an old woman up.”

“Psh, you are not old, Hazel,” Genevieve huffs, pulling her to her feet.

“I am older than you will ever know, my dear. Now take Penelope’s things and return them to where they belong, and tell that handsome man to paint you one day.”

Genevieve nods, dipping into a curtsey before collecting everything and leaving a coin purse on the altar, “Farewell, Hazel.”

********

Benedict leans on the wall outside the house in Whitechapel, his height and build providing him with the confidence required in such an area to not be worried for his well being. Hearing Genevieve descending the stairs, he signalled his hack driver to approach and assisted her inside. Knocking on the roof immediately to return to the safety of Mayfair, he turns to her, “How did it go, Gen? Are you well?”

“I am fine, mon cher. Here,” Genevieve passes over the painting, assisting Benedict to wrap it and place it back in the bag he had brought. Carefully folding the paper, he also places this inside and lets Gen slide the opal ring onto his pinkie finger. “There is one other thing, Ben.”

Looking up from the bag, Benedict raises an eyebrow, “Hmm?”

“This. I am afraid that you will need to return to Greystone. It needs to be buried at the lake,” Gen tells him while passing over the box, patting him sympathetically on the knee as his face pales. “Perhaps Colin will have returned and you can visit.”

Benedict sighs, “He and the children are living in a cottage on the outskirts of Aubrey Hall. Anthony relocated him. He is not capable of having visitors yet, so we did not know. Eloise is the only one allowed to stay.”

“And Marina?”

“She remains in the house as though nothing has happened. I will have to approach the lake on horseback, I have no desire to ever set foot in that house again.” Benedict shudders, “Do you think this will work?”

Genevieve shrugs, “I think we will only know if it does not, if we remain in this grief then we have failed.”

“Then we will try again, I cannot bear to see my brother in so much pain. It seems none of us are surviving too well without her.”

“I cannot wait to sleep peacefully,” Genevieve sighs, “Penelope’s soul needs to rest, she needs to live a long and well loved life and then rest in peace.”

“Amen. Or whatever witches say,” Benedict chuckles, “I cannot thank you enough, Gen. Fancy being tucked in?”

Chapter Text

The air is cool but not unpleasant as Marina leads Penelope through the gardens. Nothing is in bloom at this time of year and the storm has damaged most of the greenery, the paths muddy and desolate. "There is not much to see unfortunately, Penelope. Perhaps if we walk further, down by the lake we will see some birdlife. Or at least the sun reflecting off the water."

Penelope nods in agreement, wary but encouraged by Marina's almost pleasant behaviour. She admires some statues and fountains in the gardens as they walk by, imagining how it will look in better weather. "This will be a wonderful place to raise the children, I can just imagine the Summers you will have down by the lake."

Picking their way down carefully to the shore of the lake, Marina indicates that they should head to a bench set back from the water. "I sent Bancroft down with our afternoon tea, it should be waiting for us, please go ahead and sit."

The sun is weak but warming as they both tilt their heads back, allowing a moment of peace to settle between them. "The fresh air feels lovely, I do so dislike the colder weather." Penelope comments.

"I do not mind it, the rain and darkness sometimes suits my mood," Marina confesses.

Penelope takes a sip of her lemonade, shivering as the sun slips behind dark clouds that have begun to gather. "I know you do not consider us friends, but I do care for you as my family. Is all well with you?"

Marina turns her head sharply, her pleasant facade slipping momentarily. "You may be my cousin, but you are not my family."

Penelope stutters, knocked off kilter by the sudden change, "I- I do not wish to pry, and of course you do not need to confide in me if you do not want to. I am a good listener if there is anything you would like to talk about."

Marina rises, her boots slicking through the mud as she begins to pace, "I think you have done enough talking for all of us," she mutters.

"Marina, I am not sorry that I told Colin. He is a good man, he deserved to know."

"God, Penelope! Do you think I do not know that you write to my husband? That you write to him of your love as though it is something he needs." Marina sneers, "You come here and act as though you are doing us a kindness. We are a family! Colin and I! We do not need you!"

"And what of the babies, are they not your family? You do not treat them as such!" Penelope bites her lip as she realises what she has said, her plans to keep things cordial having gone awry so quickly. "I do not mean to reprimand you, I only worry for them. For all of you!"

"You have no right! Colin made his decision and is now bound to it, he has told me himself that he will not go against his duty to me, and yet you are here!" Marina yells, her hands forming into fists at her side.

"I am here as a friend. I understand Colin's position, I do!" Penelope pleads for Marina to understand, "But I cannot forsake him."

"No!" Marina turns to Penelope, twisting her hand into the front of her dress and pulling her to her feet.

"Marina!"

"I said, no!" Marina begins to drag Penelope through the mud and down onto the dock. It's old and unused, its rickety timber slats reaching out over the dark waters. "I do not want you here. You refuse to listen!"

Penelope claws at Marina's hand at her chest, her boots slipping as she is almost hoisted off her feet with each step Marina takes. "Please, Marina! I will go!" Her heart stutters as Marina lets her go but begins to push. Marina advances on her, her hands pressing into Penelope's chest over and over, forcing her backwards.

"When you are gone, he will look at me again. I will have his child, our child, and we can start over." Marina's eyes squint as heavy raindrops begin to fall. "He will love me."

"Why do you even want this?" Penelope tries to bargain, "You admitted that you never loved him, he was just a solution for you! I do not understand what has changed! Please, stop!"

"No one has ever chosen me! But he did," Marina spits, "He is weak, and naive. But he will provide for me, he will be the family I never had."

"Do you not want more? Do you not want love?"

"It is all I have ever wanted! I thought George loved me, he told me so!" Marina shouts, "But he was turned against me, everyone has turned against me!"

"I have not! I want to help you, Marina!"

"You!" Marina laughs, "You are the worst of them all. We will all be better off without you."

Penelope claws her nails into Marina's arms as she reaches out for one final shove, she feels her boots slip and scrabble against the wet timber, her balance gone. "Please!"

The sky breaks open as she falls, the last thing she sees is Marina, her hair plastered to her head, smiling serenely down at her.

The shock of cold forces air from her lungs, and she begins to sink. Down, down. Her dress drags, immediately heavy, the weight of it impossible to escape. Penelope cannot swim, she desperately kicks her legs as panic begins to set in. The light above begins to fade, her lungs aching. Her last thoughts are of Colin, his beautiful face looking at her with love. "Colin! Please, I do not want to go!"

Chapter Text

Felicity carefully drives the car as close as she can get to the shore of the lake, the old garden beds and rubble making it difficult. Turning to hunt through the back seat, she pulls out her dark red raincoat, doubting that it will do much in this downpour but shrugs it on anyway. Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves she exits the car and trots gingerly down the slope to the lake.

The lake is dark, wind whipping up little crests and foaming against the shoreline. Felicity still doesn't know exactly what she should be doing or looking for and decides to just head for the water. There's stumps of an old dock still visible through the water so heads down that way. Pushing through the undergrowth, she stumbles onto an old stone bench, weathered and covered in lichen. Taking a moment to rest, she inspects her surroundings and her eye catches on what looks like a wing poking up through the weeds.

She picks her way over, flattening out the brush as she goes, it's a small statue. Kneeling in the wet grass, she carefully clears around it, pulling out handfuls of grass. Her heart stutters as it's revealed. It's a small copy of Eros and Psyche, mounted on a low plinth. Using the edge of her coat she wipes away a layer of dirt and falls back in shock.

Penelope Anne Featherington (1796 - 1815)

Beneath this mirror, life was fled. The unspoken truth is what remains unsaid. I weep for the soul the clear lake took; I close the pages of her gentle book.

Felicity whispers, "I found you. Oh, Penelope!" Her tears begin to fall, mixing with the rain streaming down her face. "What can I do?"

Reaching out she touches Psyche's face gently, and she is overtaken by a wave of dizziness and falls back into the undergrowth.

Chapter Text

Colin has ridden his horse hard through the spits of rain, departing suddenly from Aubrey Hall, shouting back to his brother's that Penelope needs him. He can feel that something is wrong, his stomach full of dread. Why did he leave her? How did he not know better by now?

He finally turns into the drive, spurring his steed on faster, sweating running off both of them. He throws himself off as they reach the house, sprinting up the stairs and through the front door. "Penelope! Pen!"

Bancroft appears in the foyer, shocked to see Colin frantic and running for the stairs, "They are not her, sir!" he shouts loudly to get Colin's attention.

"Bancroft! Where is she? Where is Penelope?" Colin grabs him by the lapels, "Is Marina with her?"

"Sir! They are walking in the gardens, I set them up a picnic down by the lake. I expect them to return shortly given the weather!" Bancroft gently places his hands over Colin's, "Please, unhand me."

Colin draws in a shaky breath and relaxes his hands, "I am sorry, Bancroft. Please, forgive me. How long have they been gone?"

Bancroft nods in acceptance, "Perhaps an hour?"

Colin spins and runs back out through the front door, sprinting down the side of the house and through the gardens. His boots slip and slide through the mud, his vision worsening as the rain begins to fall heavier.

"Penelope! Marina! Where are you?"

Chapter Text

"Fucking hell, what a dump!" Callum swears as he manoeuvres his Landcruiser down the drive, the ruin of the house coming into view. He'd left as soon as he lost contact with Felicity, putting his foot down on the deserted roads as directed by Google maps. The estate was down in a hollow off the road, no wonder she'd lost coverage he thought as he spotted her Volkswagen Golf parked further down a grassy field.

Hopping out, he heads over to look in the car windows, disappointed to find it empty. "How on earth did she get that down the drive? Probably the only car where her feet can reach the pedals," He joked loudly, on the off chance she was close and could hear him, "Felicity? Are you here?"

There's nothing but the sound of the rain beating on the roof of the car. Pulling on a cap to shield his eyes from the rain, he heads down towards the lake. What on earth was she looking for out here?

Callum looks around and can make out footprints, tiny ones that make his heart sing, in the mud heading down towards the lake. He follows them down and finds the little clearing, a stone bench and a small statue. It looks like a memorial or a headstone of some kind. Picking his way over, he squints his eyes to see if he can read the writing below what looks like a pair of angels. Eros and Psyche, beautiful.

His eyes are caught by a flash of red in the greenery behind the statue, it looks like a jacket. Looking closer, he sees one pale hand. Felicity! Moving quickly, he rounds the plinth and grabs at her hand.

His feet slip in the mud, and he throws out his other hand to balance himself, the closest thing being the tip of Eros's wing. It's cold under his hand, and he feels a wave of dizziness sweep over him.

Chapter Text

The first thing Felicity feels is cold, ice seeping deep into her bones. Her thoughts are immediately pushed aside by another voice in her head, "Colin! Please, I do not want to go!"

She forces her eyes open and looks down, the water cloudy and disturbed as she looks down at herself. The light is beginning to fade as she sinks, her eyes widening as she takes in the long dress she is wearing, her skirts billowing in the water, pulling her down.

Her arms and legs are moving frantically of their own volition, and she can hear the voice in her head pleading for help. Over and over. Concentrating her thoughts she focuses on one word, "Penelope?"

The voice quietens, "I'm dying, I must be dying."

Felicity sends out another thought, "It's me, I can help you. Let me help you!"

Her arms and legs immediately still, and Felicity forces herself forward, feeling herself beginning to be able to control her body. She immediately reaches down to rip the skirts away from the dress, pulling at the seams under the weight of the water. She pries her fingers into a small rip and yanks, the fabric tearing away. She wriggles her way out of layers of petticoats, and then starts to cycle her legs to stop them from sinking. Her chest feels tight and she claws at the bodice of the dress, unable to loosen it from her body. Giving up on this for now, she concentrates on calming her body, fighting the urge to draw in a breath.

"I am here, we will be okay. Penelope, I am here."

She looks around in the dim water, trying to find any light to direct her to the surface. She feels a weed begin to wrap around her ankle and allows herself to sink down further. She feels her booted foot touch the bottom of the lake, relief flooding her as she locates a rock below her. She braces her body and pushes up hard with both knees, using her arms to pull and push down water, her legs kicking hard.

Penelope has gone silent, allowing Felicity full control as she fights against the pain in her lungs, her eyes fixed on the growing beam of light above her. With one final kick of her legs, she breaks the surface, heaving in harsh breaths.

Felicity allows herself to relax, relinquishing some of her control. "Penelope?"

"I am here. Who are you? How is this possible?"

"I have no idea. I'm Felicity." Floating momentarily on her back, she feels a warmth wrap around her, her body and mind feeling as though it was being wrapped in a warm hug.

"Thank you."

The calm is jolted out of their body as they feel an almighty splash beside them, a very large man surfacing beside them and gathering them in his arms.

"Colin!" Penelope coughs out, and Felicity looks into eyes of emerald green in a familiar face as she fades into black. Callum?

Chapter Text

Callum stands shakily, his hands on his knees for balance. The statue has gone, only the bench remaining in the clearing. There's no weeds, and no Felicity.

His attention is drawn by shouting down at the water, turning he sees two women fighting on a dock out on the water. Is that Felicity? How long was he out?

Surely Felicity was blonde? Where the hell is she?

"Felicity!" he shouts.

"Penelope!" a voice tears through his mind, his eyes rolling back in his head as he falls to the ground.

Chapter Text

Colin's vision darkens as he runs through the gardens, causing him to stumble onto his knees. Forcing his eyes open, he was startled to see the lake in front of him. Surely he was just in the garden?

His focus returns as he sees a flash of red hair out on the water, Penelope! She's on the dock, Marina pushing her. Closer and closer to the water.

Colin tries to run but feels another flash of dizziness, blinking hard to clear his vision.

"Penelope!" he shouts.

He pulls in a deep breath, finding himself on his knees in the garden. But he just saw the lake? Penelope and Marina on the dock.

He begins to run.

Chapter Text

Callum forces his eyes open, shaking his head to clear it. He's flat on his back in the weeds, rain pelting down into his face.

Peering up he can see storm clouds roiling above him in the dark sky. Felicity!

Turning his head, his heart leaps as he sees a tiny, pale hand in his. Scrabbling to his knees, he pushes the low branches out of the way, revealing Felicity, her eyes closed, her tangled hair in her face.

Callum holds his breath as he reaches out to gently touch her cheek, sagging in relief at the feel of her warm skin. Brushing her hair back, he gently rubs her cheek, trying to rouse her. There's nothing for a long moment, and Callum fights to keep himself calm, "Come on Fel, wake up for me!"

Suddenly her back arches and her eyes fly open, her chest heaving as she pulls in harsh breaths. "Penelope!"

Callum pushes his way in beside her, ignoring the sharp scratches, slipping his arm underneath her shoulders to cradle her in his arms.

Blinking slowly, she looks up into his dark blue eyes, "Colin?"

"Callum," he coughs out awkwardly, "It's Callum."

Felicity's aquamarine eyes widen and her hand reaches up to cup his cheek, "Of course it is. Callum."

Sitting her up gently, Felicity leans into his chest. Callum looks around as his thoughts catch up with him, "What on earth just happened?"

Felicity shrugs, "Take me on that date and I'll tell you everything."

Callum gives her a big smile, before his face drops in confusion, "Hey, where did that statue go?"

Felicity's eyes widen at the realisation that there's no longer a memorial for Penelope on the grounds of the lake, she's safe and in the arms of her love. Her Colin.

Chapter Text

Colin runs, his heart pounding in his chest as the lake comes into view. Marina has Penelope bailed up at the end of the dock, pushing and pushing. He watches in horror as she falls in with one last shove, Marina standing still and just watching as she fails to surface.

He slides his way down the bank and onto the shore, his long legs carrying him to the dock. His heavy steps cause some of the timber to crack beneath his feet and he's forced to slow slightly, knowing he may need to safety of the dock if he is to save Penelope.

Marina has not moved in the minutes after Penelope has gone in, Colin's shouts not even rousing her. Peeling off his coat as he runs, he prepares to dive down into the lake. As he reaches the end, he can see a form moving up towards him in the water, the dim light reflecting off red hair. His breath catches in his chest as he watches, his beautiful Penelope, his siren, as she surfaces.

Unable to stop himself, he throws himself into the water and gathers her in his arms. "Colin!" Penelope coughs out, her eyes a dark golden amber as she stares into his eyes.

"I have you, Penelope, I have you."

Her hand emerges from the water, cold and pale and cups his cheek, "Of course you do."

Colin feels the cold begin to seep into his clothes and he holds her carefully under one arm, swimming their way back over to the dock. He glances up to make sure Marina is not waiting to push them under and is shocked to see Anthony and Benedict holding her by the arms even though she does not appear to have moved. Benedict drops one, making sure Anthony has her and drops down on his knees to help haul them both out of the water.

"Penelope, our darling girl! Are you alright?" Benedict cries, his hair plastered to his head, face crumpled in worry.

Penelope waits until Colin emerges from the water and wraps her in his arms, "I will be alright, thank you Colin." She buries her head in his chest, keeping her eyes averted from Marina.

Colin laughs, "I didn't even do anything, except nearly drown you again when I jumped in. You saved yourself, you are astonishing Penelope!" He looks at Anthony, his face becoming serious. "Marina pushed her in."

"We saw, we were not far behind you." Anthony says, peering at Marina. "She has not reacted at all!"

"Come, let us get to the house. We need to get you all warm as soon as possible, I will have Bancroft send for Doctor Dorset." Benedict helps them to their feet, cupping Penelope's cheek, "Thank God, you are well!"

Colin takes in her tiny, shivering form and bends down to gather her in his arms, "Wrap your arms around my neck, Pen."

Anthony follows behind them, pulling a catatonic Marina behind him, Benedict running ahead to alert Bancroft and have fires stoked and baths drawn.

"I swear I will never let you go again, Pen." Colin whispers in her ear as they head back towards the house, "I simply cannot believe that a woman with such bravery loves me. If my only purpose in life is to love a woman as great as you, then I will be a very fulfilled man indeed."

"You are a very good man, Colin. I love you."

Chapter Text

"Colin! I have it!" Anthony's voice rings out, "It has just gone through Parliament!"

Hyacinth screeches and runs past Anthony, whipping the document from his hand and waving it in Colin's face, "You are a single man, brother!"

Colin laughs, "Not for long! Penelope! Where are you?" he yells up the stairs, "El? Do you have her?"

Eloise's head appears around the top of the stairs, "Please tell me it's here!" she shouts back. Colin nods in glee, Hyacinth still running in circles around him. Eloise grins and runs off.

"Colin! Quickly, to the drawing room!" Violet hurries in, "Oh, I am so happy for you dearest!". Pulling him by the arm, she directs him into the room, the rest of his siblings plus Kate and Simon already lining up against the wall.

Colin grins at them all, holding out his hand to Anthony for the ring box he's been holding for him for over a year.

Eloise clatters her way down the hall, dragging Penelope along behind her, "What is the meaning of this, El? Has something happened?"

"You could say that! Hurry up, Pen!" Pushing her into the drawing room, Eloise giggles as Penelope's shocked face, taking in the very full drawing room, Hyacinth holding out the certification of Colin's divorce.

"Colin? Is everything alright?"

"For God's sake Penelope Featherington, are you going to marry me or not?" Colin bursts out, dropping to one knee before her to the cheers of his family.

"Oh, thank God! Finally!" Penelope laughs, "Yes, my Colin. Of course, I will!"

Colin gently places the flower shaped engagement ring on her finger, rising to his feet and planting a loud kiss on her lips. Turning to his family, he yells, "We are engaged!"

They all erupt again, many pairs of arms circling them in congratulations, tears and laughter combining as the long awaited day had finally arrived. Colin and Marina's divorce was final, he and Penelope could finally marry. As it always should have been.

"Three weeks, Penelope! Three weeks and you will be mine!" Colin squeezes her in glee.

"I have always been yours, Colin. Now where are the children, I simply must have them in my arms," Penelope kisses him gently and whispers, "I shall take good care of you all."

*******

"Colin! Could we have a word?" Anthony quietly asks, gesturing for Benedict and Simon to follow them to his study. "There is one other thing that I need to speak to you about."

Colin nods, quirking an eyebrow at him curiously, "Of course, I will be back soon, my love."

Once they are all seated, Anthony begins. "As you know we have made sure that Marina has been well cared for, under Doctor Dorset and her nurses she has made much improvement."

"Yes, Penelope and I make sure to keep ourselves updated on her condition."

"You are a better man than me, Colin," Simon says, "Do you regret not pursuing charges?"

"No, she is not a well woman. I don't believe that she would ever have behaved like that if she was in her right mind. We are fortunate enough to have the ability to help her, and we both want her to be able to know her children as they grow."

Simon sighs in agreement, "Quite right. Has something changed, Anthony?"

"Benedict had quite an unexpected conversation recently, would you like to take over Ben?"

Benedict stands, "Yes, alright. Well, on a recent evening at White's I happened upon a very subdued, quiet man. I was feeling quite jolly so I approached to see if I could cheer him up!" They all laughed at the thought of Ben in his cups harassing this poor man.

"Yes, yes, very funny. Anyway, we got to talking and this particular gentleman was in London to find some assistance for his brother. Some medical assistance." Benedict pauses dramatically.

"Get on with it," Anthony bursts out.

"His brother George has returned from the war quite unwell, shell shock I think they call it. He has made quite a good recovery at the family estate but is still quite melancholic. So, I told him in vague words about our experience with Marina and the treatment we have been able to provide."

Colin interrupts, impatient to get back to Penelope, "What does this have to do with me?"

"This fine gentleman is Sir Phillip Crane, having taken over the estate due to his brother's illness and his father's passing. When I mentioned Marina by name he was intrigued," Benedict looks over at Colin, "His brother George Crane was courting a woman named Marina before his father sent him to the war."

Colin and Simon stare at Anthony and Benedict's smug faces. "We managed to confirm some details and it is true, George is the father of the twins." Anthony states, "Now Colin, you do not need to worry. You are their father in name and we have gone to great lengths to establish your custody, nothing can change that. The Cranes do not want to take them from you."

Colin slumps in relief, "What do they want then?"

"He believes that his father forced them apart after learning of the pregnancy, and made some sort of deal with Marina's father to ship her off to the Ton. Made Marina believe that George had rejected her. He was an awful old specimen by what Phillip said." Anthony continues, "He thinks, and Doctor Dorset agrees, that George and Marina may both benefit from receiving the same treatment. Phillip is willing to have them both at Romney Hall with him, perhaps they may be able to assist in healing each other."

"Oh. Well. How wonderful!" Colin smiles, "Does Marina know?"

"Not yet. We expect that she will be overjoyed to learn the truth." Anthony smiles, "Would this be amenable to you? I only ask as you and Penelope have both been dedicated to helping her."

Colin nods, "I will speak to Pen but I cannot see why she would oppose it. It would be a weight lifted from both of our shoulders to be frank."

"Yes brother, you both deserve to enter into this new stage of your life unencumbered," Benedict ruffles Colin's hair, "We've invited Phillip to attend your wedding and he has accepted, he'd like to meet the family that will be caring for his kin. Is that alright?"

"Of course, I will not care who is there, as long as I get Penelope down the aisle." Colin grins slyly, "And then back to Bloomsbury!"

"Yes, you have been very patient, brother." Anthony says to Colin proudly.

Benedict scoffs, "No, they haven't!"

Simon laughs as Anthony whips his head to Colin, "Colin Bridgerton!"

Chapter Text

"I, Felicity Finch, take thee, Callum Crane, to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part."

*******

"I, Callum Crane, take thee, Felicity Finch, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part."