Not so fake love

Part 5

The lunch ended merrily and all the family finished the meal with full stomachs and happy complexions. "Alright you two do we need to pretend you had sex tomorrow morning to wind those two heathens up?" Benedict did not mince his words and took great pleasure in the colour red he turned his brother and his brothers fake girlfriend.

Glancing at each other Penelope and Colin silently communicated. "No it'll be fine. We'll leave that to the newly weds." Penelope giggled. The crowd of Bridgertons began to babble excitedly. The words Savona and cruise ship floated around the room.
"So what are you two doing about the one bed situation in your room?" Francesca asked the blushing pair. Colin blinked in surprise. Out of all his siblings Francesca was the one he least suspected to instigate an awkward situation. Loathing being the centre of attention Francesca rarely made anyone else endure it. Penelope gulped awkwardly. Penelope felt the panic start to set in. She also disliked being the centre of attention and all these Bridgerton eyes now glued to her was beginning to stress her out. Colin reached under the table and grabbed her hand, stroking it softly. He knew how she felt about being the focus of the room. She looked up at him sideways and smiled gratefully. He always managed to relax her racing thoughts.
"Two adults can share a bed without anything happening Fran. Pen and I have been friends for years we've slept in the same room before, the same bed isn't much different." Colin responded to Francesca's question.
Benedict just smirked and sent a wink the pairs way. "We'll see. It's a week in Italy who knows what will happen!" Penelope slapped him on the arm and Sophie did the same. "What! Only two single people, who aren't bastards, on the trip in a romantic country also fake dating. I'm just saying things may happen." The Bridgertons, bar Colin, all laughed quietly. The family spent the rest of the afternoon talking some more and playing a few rounds of cards. The colour of the sky out the porthole windows had changed from light blue to endless black speckled with glinting stars before Colin saw Penelope yawn and then proceeded to yawn himself. "Seems our fake lovebirds are sleepy." Benedict teased laughing when the two stuck their tongues out at him.

"Shut up Ben. But you are right though. Pen I know you'll want to be awake and raring to go for the sunrise so I'd suggest we do get some sleep." Colin held out his hand to Penelope who took it shyly. They were in front of his family after all. Once the pair left the rest of the Bridgertons all shared a knowing look. "So bets for when they get together?" Benedict asked.

"They'll have slept together by Cagliari." Benedict continued assuredly.

"No you have too little faith in them I bet they'll have confessed by Livorno." Anthony sniggered.

"I'll take that action I'll bet Napoli is the destination where they'll finally get together!" El wriggled her eyebrows.
"No no no. You're all wrong! We're doing flamenco lessons in Salerno that's where they'll admit it!" Simon boasted confidently.
"Now how much are we betting?" El was one of the most competitive Bridgertons and she got especially serious about competition when a prize was available. Anthony reached into his pockets and removed his Burberry wallet tossing four fifties down on to the table. El, Benedict and Simon did the same. Gen was always shocked by just how casually this family threw money around. She shared a look with Laurent. Unlike the Bridgertons, Danbury's and Penelope they'd grown up with working class parents and had jobs themselves.
"That's not fair I want to be a part of the bet!" Greg whined. Hyacinth wacked him over the head rolling her eyes. Violet glared at her youngest son strictly instilling into him that he would not start gambling.
"So the pots £600, why not make it more interesting?" Benedict smiled wickedly he shared a look with his wife whose eyes widened in realisation of what he was going to suggest. "Losers have to wash out Greg's underwear and socks when we get home!" A chorus of ews and rather you then mes came from the Bridgertons that hadn't entered the bet.
"I've never been so glad not to be in competition with my husband!" Kate laughed. Anthony jabbed her in the arm before pulling her close to kiss her.
"I take great offence to that forfeit! I'm not that bad." Greg grumbled. But everyone knew it was true. Greg was known for being a stereotypical boy with the smelliest clothes in not just the family but the whole of Mayfair.
"What if they get together by Savona?" Gen asks lightly. "And by the way I don't have £200 to just throw around." The Bridgertons all swallowed awkwardly. They often forgot their privilege. And they knew that Gen and Laurent didn't have the same privilege as they did.
"Tell you what if they get together by Savona you get the pot Gen no contribution required." Benedict stated. Gen looked embarrassed for a second.
"I don't want pity you lot. No matter how much £600 would help my uni debt." She sighed. Benedict laughed.
"Oh it's not pity Gen you have no chance. If there's one thing I know about those two it's that they've been in denial for years. There's no chance of them getting together before Cagliari let alone before Genoa sorry you lot that money is mine. Thanks to my brothers ability to live in denial!"

Meanwhile oblivious to the gambling that was happening in the room the two fake daters were left in an awkward silence. They did their teeth and skin routines in the group bathroom. Then the two strolled sleepily out the room and through the corridors till they reached their room. The reality of what was about to happen behind the door hit them. And awkwardness laid over them like a thick blanket. The next thing the pair realised would have to happen was they'd have to get changed into their pyjamas. "I'll look away..." Colin said awkwardly. He turned around and Penelope quickly changed into her night wear. She's brought a set of black silk pyjamas that hugged her figure comfortably. The pjs were previously intended to just be a treat for herself a really nice set of flattering pyjamas which she'd bought on holiday so she could relax in luxury but now she was sharing a room with Colin Bridgerton! What if he thought she was coming on to him? She just had to act natural and not accidentally come onto him.
"Alright I'm ready I'll turn around now." Penelope turned to face the wall. Colin spun around and pulled out his pjs as he began to get changed he casually glanced over at Penelope she was wearing silk black pyjamas and they made her look insanely hot. He found himself just standing there staring at her. "You nearly done?" She asked.  Snapping himself out of his trance he quickly pulled on his joggers.
"Yeah, you can turn around now." Penelope turned around and tried not to stare at his bare chest. She felt his gaze cast over her, she blushed under it. The pair stilled as their gaze fell on top of the bed that seemed to be laughing at them.
"Which side do you want?" Colin asked awkwardly. Penelope walked over to the right side and slowly climbed in before signaling he could climb in too. As they laid down they fell into an awkward silence.

"Well... night Pen."
"Night Colin."