Not everything is as it seems

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The afternoon tea at the Bridgerton House was perhaps the only place where Penelope truly felt she could be herself. There, she never worried about speaking out of turn or saying the wrong thing. In more ways than one, Pen was more comfortable in the Bridgerton's home than she ever was in her own.Even without the Whistledown article, Penelope was still part of the deception that her mother and Marina concocted. Being aware of the entire scheme and not doing anything about it felt like a betrayal to her best friend and her family, which is why she had preferred playing the villainess before. The truth was, her drastic decisions last time were only because it was Colin they decided to target. Would she have done the same thing if it had been Anthony or Benedict? They were good to her, but she wasn't as close to them as she was with Colin and Eloise.

She realized that she would have cared no matter which Bridgerton they targeted because her loyalty lay with the Bridgertons even more than with the Featheringtons. But would she have written that article and ruined her cousin, someone she once considered a friend? Marina was not her friend, she had come to understand that. Marina wouldn't have ignored her pleas otherwise, and she wouldn't have continued to use Colin even after knowing how much he meant to Penelope.At this point, two betrayals loomed over Penelope's head: her knowledge of the elopement and the pregnancy. The Bridgertons might already know about the elopement, but they were still unaware of Marina's pregnancy. She dreaded the thought of Eloise or the Bridgertons hating her for this betrayal. There was only one person she knew who could break this news to the Bridgertons in a controlled setting and ease them into it. She have to call on Eloise afterall.

It took 3-4 days to travel from Mayfair to Gretna Green, even longer as they were going slow due to Marina's poor health. Colin couldn't help but wonder if it was the nervousness from the elopement and the swift wedding, or perhaps she simply wasn't accustomed to long journeys. If that was the case, it was no wonder she wasn't enthusiastic about the honeymoon. Maybe travel wasn't in the cards for them. Colin felt a pang of sadness at the thought. It explained her annoyance when he had talked to her about it. She had been excited about travels when they were courting; she might be upset because she is not cutout for long journeys.Colin couldn't help but consider that Marina's apparent disdain towards him during the journey might stem from her discomfort with traveling rather than any regret about their marriage. This realization brought him some relief, knowing that her feelings towards him hadn't soured. Perhaps she was simply one of those individuals who became irritable and angry when confined to a carriage for an extended period.

As miss Thompson slept on the other end of the carriage, as far away from him as possible, Colin couldn't help but reflect on their recent wedding. He knew she loved him; she had been eager to marry him. He smiled at the memory of her asking the officiant to cut some vows to expedite their wedding ceremony. She had been equally eager to consummate their marriage, but Colin had insisted on waiting until she felt better. After all, she had vomited again right after the wedding. They had plenty of time to enjoy their wedding night after they returned to Mayfair.

Marina, Colin corrected himself, had tried to convince him otherwise at every inn they stopped at. Her attempts to seduce him filled him with pride; it was clear she desired him. As the third son with no clear purpose, Colin found validation in Marina's desire for him. But now that they were married, things were different. Marina's eagerness for their wedding night reflected her love for him; he was sure of it. Her other behaviors towards him were merely a result of annoyance with the long journey, not any issue with him personally.

That's why he wanted their first night together to be special. He would wait until they reached Mayfair to even kiss her. They had the rest of their lives ahead of them; there was no need to rush.

Benedict Bridgerton was undeniably handsome, a fact that Penelope had always been aware of. She had heard many women in the ton speak of him, expressing their disappointment that he was not actively seeking a bride. His charm was different from Colin's, though equally captivating in its own way. There was a reason he was Eloise's favorite brother; Penelope could see it clearly. There was an uninhibited quality about him, a sense that one could trust him with their deepest secrets, knowing he would listen attentively and never betray their confidence. He was supportive of Eloise, in ways that she might not even be aware of.

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