Heart at risk

3. 'Til we were too far gone,

The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft, golden glow across Penelope's bedroom. She lay on her bed, her hands clasped tightly over her stomach, staring up at the intricately carved ceiling. The hours seemed to stretch interminably as she waited for the physician's arrival. Her mind was a whirlwind of anxiety and hope, each tick of the clock amplifying her tension.

The door to her room creaked open, and Penelope turned her head, expecting to see Rae or perhaps the physician himself. Instead, Colin walked in, his expression unreadable and his posture rigid. The sight of him startled Penelope, and her breath caught in her throat.

'Colin,' she said, her voice trembling slightly. 'What are you doing here?' Colin's gaze was steady but distant as he approached the side of the bed. 'I am your husband,' he said, his tone flat and formal. 'I have come to accompany you during the examination.'

Penelope tried to swallow the lump in her throat, her anxiety mingling with a pang of disappointment. Colin's formality and detachment stung more than she had anticipated. She searched for warmth or reassurance in his eyes but found only a cold, distant stare, 'Oh.'

Colin's face remained a mask of indifference. 'I have a responsibility to ensure that you receive the best care possible.' Penelope's heart sank further. She had hoped that Colin's presence might offer some comfort or even a semblance of emotional connection.

'You do not have to be here if it is only for duty's sake,' she said softly, her frustration barely masked. 'I can manage with Rae.'

Colin's jaw tightened, but his gaze did not waver. Penelope took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. The tension in the room seemed to tighten, and Penelope could almost feel the unspoken battle of wills between them.

Before Colin could respond, there was a knock at the door. The physician entered with a brisk nod of acknowledgment to Colin. Penelope looked up, hoping for a distraction from the uncomfortable conversation. 'Mrs. Bridgerton,' the physician began, his tone professional, 'we are ready to begin the examination.'

Penelope nodded, her hands trembling slightly as she prepared to sit up. Colin remained by the window, his posture rigid and his eyes fixed on the garden outside, as if he were physically distancing himself from the situation.

Penelope's heart pounded as she realized the physician's questions could lead to the truth she was desperately trying to conceal. She knew if Colin stayed, he might find out that she might be with child.

Penelope broke the silence, her voice trembling. 'Colin, I need you to... leave.' Colin's eyes, which had been fixed on the garden outside, snapped toward Penelope. There was a flicker of hurt and disbelief in his gaze, but he quickly masked it with a facade of cold detachment.

'You wish for me to leave?' he asked, his voice low and edged with offense. Penelope's face flushed with a mixture of embarrassment and frustration. She could feel the pressure of Colin's words pressing down on her, making it harder to hold her ground.

'Yes,' she said, her voice wavering as she fought to keep her composure. 'I need Rae's support.' Colin's eyes flashed with a mixture of anger and disbelief, his jaw clenching as he struggled to maintain his control. 'And what exactly do you think Rae can provide that I cannot?' His tone was sharp, almost cruel.

Penelope's spoke, her frustration boiling over. 'It is not about what Rae can provide that you cannot,' she said, her voice breaking. 'It is about needing someone who understands me, who I do not have to feel like I am failing in front of.'

Colin's face hardened further, and he let out another mirthless chuckle. She could see the hurt and anger in Colin's eyes, but it was buried beneath layers of ice and resentment. She wanted to reach out, to bridge the chasm between them, but her own exhaustion and the weight of the moment made it almost impossible.