Not so fake love

Part 4

Lunch was served on the top deck in the sea air and warm breeze. Bowls of pasta, risotto and colourful salad occupied the table. Platters of Italian meats and cheeses baked in the intense heat of the sun. "Everyone this is Jack our captain. He's going to have lunch with us then we're spending Sunday in the pool on the boat then off to Savona for dinner. Monday we're docking at Genoa. Tuesday we travel to Livorno while Wednesday we travel for the day. Thursday we set to Napoli. Friday is Salerno and Saturday we finish in Cagliari where we'll fly home on the Sunday." Daphne handed round laminated itineraries to the wedding party. "These list our activities for the week. I'd get an early night tonight we're watching the sunrise on the beach in Savona harbour." Oohs and wows emitted from around the table. A particularly grumpy reaction came from Eloise and Phillip who were both very much not morning people. But to Pen the idea of watching a sunrise over the blue of a foreign ocean seemed exhilarating and scenic. Having never been out the country due to her mother's distaste for travelling and later a busy work schedule that didn't allow her time to pursue her interests. She squeezed Colin's hand excitedly, he looked down smiling fondly. He could practically read her mind and knew she was looking forward to adventures over seas. He'd always enjoyed sharing his stories from over seas with her especially as he knew her mother and sisters had such an aversion to it. He couldn't wait to take her around the Italian ports and share the experience with her. He couldn't wait to see the look on her face when she took in the architecture and hear the song of Italian speech. The lunch was delicious and everyone ate like they hadn't gorged themselves on the wedding buffet just the day before. Pen felt alive as the food touched her lips. So used to the starchy blandness of English meals the flavourful vibrancy of Italian cuisine made her stomach sing for joy. The captain, Jack, left after finishing his plate to prepare the crew for departure. The family continued to delight in the new tastes of Italian culture.
Penelope found herself over-joyed by the delicacies laid out in front of her. After spending so many years, her whole life really, confined to a strict lifestyle that could only be described by the colour beige, this experience brought with it such opportunity as to widen her world and she could not wait to go home and write about it for her blog which she did alongside her magazine under the same pseudonym.
"As if you need to eat anymore." Lily hissed so only she could hear. Penelope glowered at the brunette. Colin hadn't heard what Lily said but had seen the movement of her mouth and the sharpness of her words. Tears glistened in Penelope's eyes and he immediately felt anger fill him. He had an idea of what Lily had said, at the shy look Penelope now looked at her plate with and longingness she gazed at his siblings with, who were delightfully stuffing their faces with the food.
"Here try this it's really good!" He deposited a spoonful of spaghetti puttanesca on her plate and winked at her.
"I don't think you should eat anymore than you already have. You might explode!" This time Lily didn't hiss quite as quietly as she had before and Colin heard her along with Kate and Anthony who slammed their cutlery down on the table in anger. While Colin pulled Penelope closer.
"My girlfriend is the most beautiful woman at this table thank you very much. And at least she's trying the Italian dishes instead of sticking to salad like a lizard." Colin spat across the table causing everyone to look up. Lily was so out of order and all the bridgertons bristled in anger but none so much as Colin. Penelope smiled and placed her hand on his cheek in gratitude sending blood rushing to his cheeks before he pecked Pens cheek to further the performance. Penelope herself just smirked at Lily. "It must be hard to watch someone with an appetite when you have been cursed to have not have such a cultural palette. It's okay Lily, don't be ashamed your not as brave to new experiences." All the wedding party choked on whatever they were drinking/ eating at Penelope's quick wit. Colin grinned proudly.
"Ugh." Lily sulked rolling her eyes and getting up from the table to storm off. Colin had seen Daphne and Simons toddler do the same thing.
"She makes a good point though Pen. I remember you went on that diet when we were dating, I'm sure Mr Bridgerton doesn't want a chubby girl for arm candy." Marco didn't even lower his voice. Penelope bit back another sarcastic comment as she saw movement around the table. This time the growls were loud and Anthony and Benedict went to get up. Colin raised his fists in preparation for a good teaching of manners but was beaten to it by the bride herself. Eloise stood up abruptly sending her chair flying to the floor in a squealing of wood on wood and came storming around the table. In the blink of an eye and before Marco could so much as prepare himself she raised her hands and slapped him. The snap of flesh on flesh reverberated around the dining room. Immediately the Bridgertons broke out into applause turning Penelope a shade of rose. Marco blinked in surprise as Eloise barely contained her rage as she marched back to her seat.
"You can excuse yourself Marco." Anthony said in his firm manner that you didn't disobey. Marco quietly nodded and slouched out the room. "I'm sorry Penelope you don't deserve that sort of talk about you." Anthony said.

"Well it's true. I don't fool myself into thinking I'm a Bridgerton woman who beauty and grace come to so naturally. I am beautiful just in my own way. An unconventional way. My mother made sure I knew that as I grew up so please don't try and say it's not true." Penelope gave a sad smile. All the siblings opened their mouths to say something but were beaten to it by Violet.
"Now I don't want to hear that sort of talk about yourself Penelope. You are a beautiful woman. It's my greatest regret not adopting you on the spot when you told me how your mother and sisters treated you." Calls of here here and too right echoed around the table.
"Oh if only you had Mama then Penelope and I could have been sisters!" Eloise laughed.
"I'm sure we all would have loved you as a sister Penelope. Please pay him no heed." Daphne added on.
"I can think of one of us who would not want Penelope as a sister." Benedict chortled merrily. He winks over in Colin's direction who smiles thoughtfully.
"Well it certainly would make our charade that much more scandalous." Penelope giggled. The table joined in but all Colin could think is that he truly was grateful his mother hadn't adopted Penelope despite her awful mother and sisters. And not just because it would mean their fake dating scheme wouldn't have worked.