Eternal Flame

Them or Her

Before The Home for Lost and Lonely Souls, Henry Somerset was once a nameless orphan. As a child, Miss Hartley had given him shelter, food, clothes, a warm bed, a name he could take pride in, and most importantly, love. Until her, he had never experienced any of those things, and though she was gone now, he remained eternally grateful. He vowed to always honor her by keeping the traditions of the orphanage alive.

"Henry?" Penelope's voice called out in the quiet of night.

"Penelope?" He answered groggily, sitting up to see her holding a candle in front of his open door. "Y'alright?" He asked, much as he was known to do with her. He expected her to get annoying of him asking by now, but she told him once that she found it endearing.

"I couldn't sleep. I hate to wake you, but I---"

"It's alright, Penelope," Henry waved away, patting a spot over the covers for her to sit. "Was there something weighing on you?"

Penelope padded over and sank into the mattress beside him. "Today was...overwhelming." In many ways, Henry imagined, thinking back to both encounters outside the shops, as well as their kiss. Mostly their kiss. "That man today...Mister Bridgerton...I believe he was my neighbor. And his siblings, Colin and Eloise that he mentioned, I was close with them."

Henry tried not to let himself become jealous over the mention of her closeness with another man. He knew that she had a life to get back to, one that he had temporarily taken her from. For all he knew, she could have been engaged to this Colin fellow, and he was forcing her to break a promise to him.

"So you wish to find them again?"

Penelope shook her head. "I am not sure. Something in my gut tells me that my return to them will not be as pleasant as I might hope. As if there was some sort of fight between us."

"Surely something as small as a fight will not prevent them from wishing to see their friend after she has gone missing. You heard that man, they are out looking for you. That must mean they care for you."

"Perhaps," she said quietly.

"Is there anything else you remember?"

"Not yet," she answered, which was mostly true. There were fragments, chunks of memories that she was trying to put back together like pieces of a puzzle. None of them seemed to fit, and she was struggling to see the bigger picture. "I am terribly sorry for bothering you, Henry. You have to work tomorrow. Please get some rest."

"Nonsense," he said as she moved to get up. He gently reached for her hand, and she let him guide her back to the bed. "Will you be alright?"

Penelope smiled and nodded. "Could I sleep here, with you? I know it might not be proper, but---"

"Penelope," Henry said with a teasing grin. "We are not in the Ton. There is no need for propriety here."

Without a word, Penelope slid uneasily into the bed next to Henry, keeping a layer of covers between them. There may not be a need for propriety, but she was still a lady, and she did not wish to find out right then how a lady comes to be with child. Once she settled in, she whispered, "Goodnight, Henry."

"Goodnight, Penelope," he replied, falling asleep with a smile on his face.

When he awoke the next morning, Penelope was still fast asleep, her fiery curls sprawled across his pillow. She looked so peaceful, and he tried very hard not to wake her as he readied himself for another day of work. He spared one last glance at the angel in his bed, then headed out the door.

"Henry!" His employer called. "You're late. That's two days now. Honestly, after the incident with yer last carriage, I ought to have fired yous." Before Henry could intervene and defend himself, the man added, "Relax, kid, I ain't going to, but yer on thin ice, got it?"

"Yes, sir," he said obediently.

"Good, now go. Oh, and kid?" Henry turned back. "Look out today. Some prim and proper young lad and miss have been asking around and interrogating my drivers all morning."

Henry nodded, briefly wondering if that could be about Penelope, then shook himself out of his thoughts and jumped into the front seat behind his horse.

He had only made a few trips that morning before he was stopped by a man and woman, likely the couple his boss described, who also happened to look similar to the man from the shops the day before.

"You!" The man growled, pointing an accusatory finger at him, a murderous look in his eyes. "Where is she you bastard?!" He yelled, dragging him out of the seat and throwing him to the ground.

"I take it you're Colin," Henry said, dusting himself off.

"Yes, now where the hell is Penelope?!" Colin demanded, dragging Henry to his feet. "What did you do to her?!"

"I didn't do anything to her. I assume you're Eloise," he said, turning to her. She nodded.

"Don't talk to her!" Colin yelled, tightening his grip.

Henry continued his attentions on Eloise. "Could you call your brother off, please?"

Eloise shook her head, her jaw clenched. "Not until you tell us where Penelope is."

"She's safe. I can take you to her, alright?" Colin looked to his sister, as if asking if she trusted the man. She nodded, and Colin reluctantly let the man go, albeit harshly. "Get in," Henry said, motioning for them to step into the carriage. When they did, he hopped into the driver's seat and grabbed the reigns. He took a deep breath, silently cursing himself for what he was about to do. He wasn't proud of this decision, but what choice did he have?

The Queen had approached him over a week ago, saying that she had grand plans for ensnaring her nemesis, Lady Whistledown, and explained how he could help. In exchange, she could provide a hefty sum of money for the orphanage and the children who lived there. How could he refuse such an offer?

So, he became an instrument of The Crown, and on the night of the Featherington ball, he waited for his target to show themselves. Sure enough, in the midst of the fireworks and festivities, a tiny young woman dressed in a blue cloak approached the carriages, looking for a ride to Bloomsbury.

The accident was not apart of the plan, nor was her losing her memory, or the feelings that overcame him when he brought Penelope into his home. As soon as he saw her pale beautiful face among the smoke and ash, he knew he had to bring her to safety, despite Her Majesty's wishes. Soon enough, however, the Queen's guards had found him and ordered that he turn Whistledown and any of her allies in, or else he could join them in their punishment. It was either the Bridgertons or Penelope.

"Pen is at the Queen's palace?" Colin asked, realizing where the carriage was taking them.

Eloise paled. "Colin, I do not believe he is taking us to Penelope."

Colin paled as well. "Hey!" He yelled at the man, pounding on the roof. "Where are you taking us?! Where is Penelope?!"

"I am sorry," Henry called back, the carriage slowing to a stop. "I had to."

"Colin?" Eloise panicked.

"El, stay calm. Everything is going to be alright. Stay calm," Colin said, just before they were both yanked out of the carriage by palace guards.