Flawless My Dear ( English version )

Chapter 8

Penelope lay in bed, resting as the doctor had instructed her, and even more so after the letter she had written to Colin. She had opened up like she had never done before, but she didn't care anymore. She had to move on, and to do that, she had to leave the past and the fantasies behind her.

"I get you some tea, Penelope," Portia announced, walking into her bedroom. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm still a little dizzy, but I just need to rest. It's been too much in too short a time," she said, holding her hand to her head.

"You really gave us quite a scare, Penelope."

"I didn't mean to, I suppose I wanted to take on more than I could," Penelope confessed.

"I know how it feels, daughter, but you mustn't let anything or anyone affect you like this," replied Portia, looking sharply at Penelope.

"Mother," before she could speak further, Portia cut her off.

"I've been young myself and I know what it's like to love someone who doesn't love you back. "It's also I know how the exciting is what secret letters can be," Pen blinked in surprise. "But in the end, you have to think about what it is you want in your life: unrequited love, a simple exchange of letters, or someone to laugh with every day for the rest of your life?" Her mother suggested,

"How would I know?" Penelope asked.

"You'll know when you find him."

That was the problem, she knew she had already found him, and the worst thing was that he was all three. Colin had to be perfect even in that?

She instantly thought that she had made a complete mistake in writing to him, as she would give him room to reply, but she was too exhausted to continue pretending. She had been slowly losing her voice and her essence trying to please someone who didn't even see her. How had Penelope abandoned herself in such a way?

She shook her head, she couldn't think about it any more. She had to think about the fact that she had two suitors who, when she was well, were going to require her full attention. She had to remove all distractions, so she took all the letters that had been sent over the years and put them in the double bottom of the floor. Penelope was burying the letters of her true love and forcing herself to bury the tremendous love she felt for Colin. She could no longer be there if staying hurt more than leaving. This time she wouldn't be there.

(...)

"Enjoying your evening, Penelope?" said Colin, coming up behind her.

"Colin, don't give me these scares!" she said, giving him a little punch on the arm. "I was just looking on how much her son resembles the servant. I mean, look at them," she said, pointing her eyes at the lady in question.

"Penelope Featherington, you're so bold sometimes," replied an amused Colin Bridgerton.

"What can I say? It's true, as a matter of fact," she replied, smiling.

Colin stared at Penelope with a certain mischievousness in a good way. How was she so clever and subtle to throw such questions around? As he watched her, he took a closer look at the yellow dress she was wearing. It was like the yellow that came out at the beginning of the sunset, as if the same ray of sunshine was upon it. Penelope looked into Colin's eyes and the smile was wiped from her face, as well as the glint that had caused her eyes to light up. A tingle went up the back of Colin Bridgerton's neck but he was distracted by Marina Thompson as she approached them. Before he knew it, Penelope had disappeared.