Finding you in New York.

7.

"MONTHS?" Hyacinth screamed from the sofa.

Penelope froze.

Daphne scowled at her elder brother and Benedict tried his best to smile as innocently as possible – hence leaving his girlfriend to the pack of wolves (AKA the Bridgerton women).

"Are you two telling us that you both have been sneaking around together for bloody months? And didn't inform any of us?" Daphne put a hand over her mouth in sheer shock. "Jesus Ben, you in for it now..." Hyacinth said smugly as she sat back on the chair with both her arms crossed upon her chest.

"Well I knew," Eloise said a little too confidently. "Of course you fucking knew, but why the hell didn't you tell me?" Daphne said through gritted teeth and pointing at Benedict.

The thing about Daphne was she hated being the last to know anything.

Especially when it came to her siblings love lives.

Benedict came over and stood behind Penelope and placed his hands upon her shoulders, "I wanted to keep her to myself a little bit longer." He reached down and placed a kiss on her cheek. The sweet gesture elicited an 'aww' from the crowd. "Besides, you all know now anyway, and aren't you all happy that's its Penelope?"

The girls all looked at each other and some whispers occurred.

After a few moments, Hyacinth stood from her chair, "As the youngest I can concur that we are extremely happy at the new, well, old addition finally re-joining our family. But I warn you Benedict, you break her heart and I break your face."

Eloise high fived her little sister quickly, "Agreed."

Francesca shook her head, "It's Ben, he'd never do that."

Violet agreed while kissing her son's cheek, "No he wouldn't, now excuse me children I have some dinner to prepare." Benedict squeezed his mother's hand, "Thank you mum."

She smiled and rubbed his arm, "I'm just happy you are home my boy and I'm happy you are here with Penelope, I've truly missed you both very much."

"See even mum agrees," Francesca said shrugging nonchalantly while biting into a biscuit.

Benedict strolled over to Francesca's side and blatantly kissed her cheek in front of all his other sisters, "You were always my favourite sister Frannie."

Now even little Penelope Featherington knew they were words of war he spoke.

As soon as the words left his mouth, he was running straight out the door trying to protect himself from the swarm of pillows and slaps heading his way. Eloise obviously being the main conspirator.

Penelope was in fits of laughter at the sight.

No matter how long she had a been away, she never forgot the love and chaos of a Bridgerton family get together. Gregory strolled over and plopped down on the couch next to Penelope.

"Well Penelope, I myself am extremely glad your back," he smiled and bumped her shoulder with his own. His own little way of showing support – it was cute, and needed.

Penelope smiled, "Thank you Gregory."

The youngest Bridgerton brother was always a delight to be around (he was always by far the sweetest). He was just a boy when Penelope left, but now, he definitely wasn't a boy, he was a man.... And probably twice the height from when she saw him last, and a least a few inches taller than any of his brothers – that didn't mean he wasn't treated like a baby. Because he still had those cute little dimples after all.

"Stop being a creep," Colin said as he swatted the back of the head of his little brother and shooed him off the seat that he was currently preoccupying. Colin quickly sat down and scooted a little closer to Penelope along the spacious three-seater sofa.