AMORE ET HONORE

By: tweety-src-clt9

Carnal Intoxication

Colin Bridgerton knew he was in trouble as soon as he watched Penelope Featherington walk down the aisle on his brother Anthony's arm. His bride just seemed to glow and glide as she walked towards him. It was strange really. He had known Penelope even before she was out in society – the adorable chubby girl who was nearly glued to his little sister's side. In his head, Penelope was an honorary Bridgerton. She was a much nicer and quieter version of Eloise.

And so, just watching her in her classic silk pearlescent white gown, he was awestruck. Had he been blind all along? Or did Penelope change? Or was it him who did?

He was not sure how. He was not sure why.

But he did know something.

Whatever these feelings Penelope stirred in him; he had never felt this with any girl. Not with Marina. Not with every exotic beauty he flirted with in his travels. And not even with the courtesan's who brought him physical pleasure.

Penelope is Penelope.

His sister's best friend.

His closest friend.

His bride.

And now, it seemed – his future.

It somehow felt right that he was standing here, waiting to promise forever with her.

It was very odd.

Odd but comforting.

He didn't even notice when Penelope stopped in front of him until his eldest brother cleared his throat, his eyes sparkling with a knowing glint and his lip turned into his signature smirk.

By some sort of divine intervention, his mother's request of Anthony escorting the bride was granted by the Featheringtons. Of course, with how much money his family bribed them, they would eagerly grant whatever the groom's side would want.

Finally catching up to the present, he could only clear his throat as he said to Penelope, "shall we, Pen?"

"Okay," she gave him a small smile. He looked over her face and she seemed tired, rather pale actually.

"Congratulations you two," Anthony nodded to him and kissed the bride's gloved knuckles. With a playful wink to his brother, Anthony joined Kate and the other Bridgertons on the pews.

"You look really pretty, Pen… But er, you seem paler than usual," he remarked thoughtlessly.

She tilted her head to shyly glance at him, her cheeks flushed.

"I'm rather hungry," she whispered.

Since his siblings called him the bottomless stomach, he was aghast.

"You should have eaten," he whispered back but his voice betrayed his vehemence to the idea of his hungry bride.

"I'm not allowed," she murmured.

"What?" he was shocked. What in the world?

"The two of you interested in getting married or would you rather chat and talk about food?" the bishop inquired with a stern face.

"Sorry," the couple chorused.

And with that, the ceremony began.

After the long sermons from the priest, Penelope now sporting her wedding ring, and some congratulations from their family and some dear friends – the ceremony concluded. Colin begrudged the fact that society was all consumed with what's deemed proper and whatnot. As he glanced at his bride, he had a startling realization.

They were now married, and he never even kissed her yet.

Pity that. An issue that should be easily rectified, he fought the urge to smirk.

"Are you ready, Pen?" he turned to his wife. Wow! I have a wife now.

"Yes, please. I am rather starving," she muttered bashfully.

"Ah, yes… Let me just – Anthony! A word if you must," he called to the viscount who was chatting with Kate, Daphne, and Simon.

"I'll tell Anthony to gather the party to leave for Bridgerton House soon," he reassuringly patted his wife's hand.

"Thank you," she smiled but it didn't reach her eyes.

Anthony walked towards them and grinned as he turned to Penelope, "My condolences, sister, for getting stuck with my brother."

Penelope giggled while he snorted. He leaned closer to his brother and whispered, "Penelope is hungry. She hasn't eaten anything today – "

"What?!" Anthony was aghast.

"Please gather the party to leave the church. We'll be making our way to the reception first," he continued. His brother only nodded and turned to Penelope with a comforting smile.

Reaching for Penelope's free hand, Anthony kissed her knuckles, "welcome to the family, sister."

"Now, I am wont to do my brother's bidding," with a smirk, Anthony stepped to the front of the crowd and made the announcement.

"Come along, darling," Colin cajoled as he led Penelope to their carriage.

After helping Penelope get settled inside, he too entered the carriage and closed the door.

"Is everything alright, Pen?" he couldn't help but worry.

"Colin… Can you – you – "

"Yes?" he moved closer towards her.

"' Tis embarrassing but I can hardly breathe – can you – "

"Pen? What? How can I help?"

"Corset… too tight," she muttered as she made a frantic gesture towards the buttons on her back.

He quickly moved her shoulders so she could turn away from him. His fingers moved as fast as possible, only careful to not tear them off the dress. Once that's done, he hurriedly tugged on the very tight laces on her corset, loosening them.

It made him mad to see the angry red marks on her back.

It was surely her mother's doing.

Portia Featherington thrived on making Penelope feel bad.

He took a deep breath to control himself. It wouldn't look good if he lost his temper in front of Penelope, the one person who didn't deserve to see his rage when she was the one victimized by her cruel and petty mother.

"Thank you," he heard her gasp out in bated breaths. He could see her back heave and she tried to catch her breath.

With the horror of a fainting Penelope out of the way, he was now noticing that his wife's back was somewhat exposed for his eyes to feast upon. From his position, he couldn't help but stare at her very smooth and soft-looking skin. He bit his bottom lip as he watched the short curly hairs along her nape. Her collarbones exposed and just begging for his teeth to bite and his lips to suckle – Good lord! Restrain yourself, Bridgerton!

Clearing his throat, he asked, "are you feeling better now, Pen?" He couldn't stop himself from reaching out to touch her shoulders in a comforting gesture.

She startled as she said, "Oh! Yes! I'm much better now," she turned towards him.

"Good," he gulped.

Penelope, ever innocent, was unconscious of the fact that she was presenting a very tantalizing view to him. With all her buttons undone, her corset's laces loosened, the front of her dress dipped much much lower.

The short puffy sleeves of her dress dropped lower down her forearms, the hem dipped low, revealing her very ample bosom just hidden by a corset he could so easily push down.

This woman, with her sinuous curves, her fiery red locks that he just wanted to run his hands to as he lowers her on his bed, her plump pouty lips, and her unassuming innocence would surely be the death of him.

Penelope Bridgerton is a seductress who didn't know about the power she had over him.

"Colin? Are you alright?" this time, it was Penelope who seemed concerned.

She was blinking her doe eyes, an abyss of azure waters, as she stared at him with worry.

"Er – " since his eyes were still drawn to her drool-worthy décolletage, he couldn't think of anything else so he said, "never knew corsets can be so tight."

She chuckled, "at least I didn't faint. My sister once fainted in front of the queen due to her corset being too tight. My mother can be determined like that," she shook her head.

"I should fix your buttons now. We'll be there soon," he offered.

"Of course," and with that she turned around again. He made haste with her buttons as he focused on the fact that he could unbutton it all over again. Later, as he removed every nuisance buttons concealing her skin, he would be taking her clothes off for more pleasurable pursuits. His mind wanted to be engaged in his imaginings on what would happen in their wedding night, but then, he remembered her saying she was hungry.

"Pen?"

"Hmm?"

"Why didn't you eat?"

"My mama said I should not look bloated on my wedding day," she looked away. He knew there's something more to it, so he was determined to find out the truth. He held her arm and maneuvered her to face him, but the carriage halted.

"We're here," she remarked.

"When was your last decent meal, Pen?" he insisted.

"It doesn't matter. At least you will allow me to eat what I want now, right?" she avoided the question.

"I would never make my wife go hungry," he said solemnly.

"I know. You do love to eat after all," she teased.

"You'll be regretting that barb, Mrs. Bridgerton," he warned with a playful frown.

"Is that so?" she only raised an eyebrow as if to challenge him.

He looked her up and down, his eyes glinting with restrained desire, as he licked his bottom lip, "Oh, you will," he smirked.

Despite her innocence, Penelope must have deciphered the desire in his eyes, and she blushed.

"Er, well – we should go," she gestured to the door.

He could only chuckle as he opened the door.

Colin – 1. Penelope – 0.

"Are you sure that's all your eating?" he leaned closer to his wife so he could whisper in her ear.

"If I have anymore, my mama will not stop glaring at me. It is rather unnerving," she whispered back. Colin so wanted to spill his wine over his cruel mother-in-law's face, but he restrained himself. After all, he wouldn't want more scandalous gossip to circulate regarding their sudden marriage.

"We can eat more once we arrive at our new house," he reassured her.

"No, it's fine. If I eat more, it will just upset my stomach. I'll just have fruit later… Oddly enough, if it's fruit, my mama doesn't throw a temper tantrum."

Portia Featherington, who was trying but failing to engage the stern Lady Danbury into a conversation, was unaware of the scathing glares he was sending her way.

You'll never have to suffer that vile woman ever again, my love.

What? No! No! No! Just a slip… I meant my wife. Yes, my wife! He shook his head slightly as if to clear his thoughts.

Penelope gave him a curious look as she handed him the glass of water beside his plate. He could only accept the glass as he downed the water in one go. He truly needed to clear his head.

In classic Colin Bridgerton style, he drowned his resentment for Portia Featherington in food as his mind focused on ways he could prevent himself from wringing his hand around the harsh woman's neck.

Because he was so focused on containing his anger, he didn't notice Penelope consuming ridiculous amounts of champagne. It wasn't until dessert when his wife caught his attention once again.

In fact, if Penelope didn't give out a satisfied moan, he would have been lost in his thoughts as he continued to eat.

"My god," his wife whispered in delight as she licked the juice on her bottom lip –a remnant from the plump cherry she just devoured.

Oh god! Colin could only gulp as he was forced to think of disgusting thoughts to prevent himself from public humiliation. He could only imagine the salacious remarks Lady Whistledown will write if anyone would notice the burgeoning evidence of his desire in his breeches. Lost in his dilemma between looking at his wife and reining in his baser urges, he was unaware that his elder brothers had a knowing gleam in their eyes. If he only saw the smirks on his brothers' faces, he would have realized that they would be torturing him with teasing remarks the next time they would share a drink with Simon.

If he thought that watching sweet innocent Penelope devouring cherries was the worst-case scenario, he was wrong.

The bloody seductress just didn't want to give him a break. After the cherries, Penelope Bridgerton just had to enthusiastically gobble down a banana. He tried really, to think of other things, anything to stop himself from picturing his wife, devouring other banana-shaped like things in their bedroom. However, it was bloody difficult when he was sitting beside her.

"Good lord," he muttered in half agony and half arousal.

He thought he heard snickers from somewhere, but he didn't care. He could only pray for some miracle that no one noticed his lustful and wandering thoughts.

When he heard a fork clanking on the wine glasses, he sighed in relief.

All eyes were on Viscount Bridgerton as he stood from his seat.

"Ladies and gentlemen, a toast to my new sister, Penelope, and to her lucky husband, my brother Colin. To Colin and Penelope, may you have a long and happy life together… To the bride and groom!" Anthony raised his glass in a toast.

"To the bride and groom!" the wedding party chorused before they drank in honor of the couple.

"Now, as you all know, the groom has a voracious appetite," the guests chuckled, and Colin playfully pouted in vehemence. "Because of this, why don't the guests head off to the dancefloor first and we'll let Colin carry on with his food," Anthony winked, and the crowd laughed.

As the men stood to extend their hands to their wives, Colin sighed in relief. Thank god for Anthony's intervention!

"Pen! Pen! Come with me!" Eloise all but ran to the bride's side, tugging on her hand. Penelope looked at Colin who only smiled at her.

And with that, Eloise dragged Penelope towards the Bridgerton women, her wine glass in her free hand.

More than an hour later, after Colin was certain he had better control of his desires, he walked toward his wife. By now, Penelope was laughing gaily at whatever clever quips his sisters and in-laws were regaling her with. From afar, he watched as she continued to consume more champagne than he'd ever seen her drink. So, he expected to find a bolder Penelope, with the alcohol loosening her up.

Clearing his throat, he greeted the Bridgerton women, "ladies," he gave the women his most winsome smile before adding, "darling," as he winked at Penelope who giggled.

Yep! Drunker than I thought.

"I believe it's time for my wife and I to dance," he continued.

Eloise snorted, Daphne smiled in support, Kate rolled her eyes, Sophie giggled, and Francesca huffed.

"Colin – there are two of you," Penelope slurred as she bursts into giggles.

"What did you all do?" Colin scolded the Bridgerton women.

"We're just talking!" Eloise insisted.

"Pen is intoxicated," he glared at his sisters.

"You better leave now, Colin," Daphne suggested.

"Daphne's right. I'll tell Anthony to think of a distraction or something to say if anyone asks where you'd gone," Kate added.

"I'm feeling dizzy," Penelope murmured.

"Oh, dear!" Francesca exclaimed.

"Come along, Mrs. Bridgerton," Colin wrapped an arm around Penelope's waist in what could only be seen as a loving gesture. In truth, he was supporting her in case she felt faint. Eloise, ever the supportive friend, held Penelope's hand.

"Thank you," he turned to his sisters who only smiled as he, with Eloise's help, led Penelope away from the ballroom.

When they stopped in front of their carriage, Eloise looked at him as she said, "let me just say goodbye, alright?"

Colin could only smile as he noticed the tears Eloise was trying to conceal.

"I'm going to miss you, Pen," she hugged her dearest friend.

"I shall miss you too, El. Thank you for always being there," Penelope, despite her drunken stupor, actually managed to return the embrace.

"Expect a visit from me in a day or two," Eloise gave Penelope one last squeeze.

Before Colin could deny the request, Penelope replied, "I shall be excited to spend time with my new sister," and with that, the dearest friends separated.

"Take care of Pen, Col. I can't thank you – "

"No need to thank me, El. You take care now, alright?" he smiled at his sister before kissing her forehead.

"You must make haste before anyone notices your disappearance," Eloise remarked.

"I really feel… faint," and with that, Penelope would have dropped to the ground if not for her husband's strong arms catching her.

"Pen!" Eloise exclaimed.

"She'll be fine. I'll take care of her. She's just intoxicated – "

"But – why?"

"She hasn't eaten anything in the morning, and she had very little at the party, something about her mama not allowing her to eat for some stupid vanity reason," he explained.

"I hate that woman!" Eloise all but growled.

"Aye… El, can you hold Pen for a bit. I'll go in the carriage first, lift her from my seat, and then, I'll have her head on my lap so she can rest," he explained.

"Of course," Eloise nodded as she held out her arms. The footman, ever efficient, also nodded to show he was there for support.

Colin sat on the bench, nearest the door, as he extended his arms to wrap around Penelope's waist as he pulled her towards him. Eloise and the footman made sure that her dress was safely ensconced in the carriage before the door was closed.

Sighing, Colin could only watch as Penelope slept with her head on his lap.

You are quite the handful Mrs. Bridgerton, tiny woman that you are, he chuckled lightly as his fingers curled with the loose tendrils of her coiffure.

Colin was glancing at the window, lost in thought, as his hand lightly stroked Penelope's hair. He was thinking about the future – his future with Penelope – and in turn, of the life of bachelorhood and travels that he gave up. It was no question, he just had to do right by her – she was his friend after all. On the other hand, he couldn't help but wonder if he would miss seeing foreign lands and exotic cities.

His musings were interrupted when he heard a whimper as he felt Penelope's curvy soft body shift on his lap.

He looked at her sleepy face and with a bright smile greeted, "hi."

Penelope, still under the influence of champagne, giggled before saying, "hello, dream Colin."

He laughed. She actually thought she's just dreaming. How adorable.

"Hi, gorgeous. Dream about me often?" he smirked.

"Well…maybe," another giggle. Their eyes met. Her blue eyes sparkling and his green ones, he was certain, were blazing with desire. He was slowly leaning in, closing the gap between their lips, when her face morphed into a contemplative look.

"Dream Colin never looked at me like that before," she muttered.

"Is that so?" he teased.

"Dream Colin talks about books with me, and his travels," she grinned.

"And?"

"What else is there?" she snorted, and he chuckled.

"I'm sure there are more… pleasurable things we can do," he said huskily as his index finger traced her pert nose. As always, her cheeks tinged pink.

"You're different this time, Dream Colin," she said pensively – well as pensive as one could possibly be in a drunken haze. "Oh, well… Since Dream Colin always keeps my secret, maybe I should tell you mine," she continued.

"Oh-ho! By all means!" he encouraged. She's so cute and this is just so funny. Who knew Pen could be like this?

"Alright…Hmmm…"

"Take your time, darling," he smirked.

"You know, Dream Colin, I was ready to run away – before Real Colin arrived… I bought a house in Bath, wrote my farewell letter to Eloise… sorted out everything… I was ready really," she started to blabber.

"Where did you get the money?" he frowned.

She giggled as she lifted a hand to urge him to lean closer, so he did.

"I have a lot of money hidden somewhere," she stage-whispered. Colin was confused. Was all this for real or she was imagining some story?

"But how?"

"A lady has her secrets, Dream Colin, but let's just say that I could be rather talented when necessary," she fluttered her eyelashes coyly before she giggled once again.

Note to self, investigate this talent further, he thought.

"Oh… Is that all?" he challenged playfully.

"Dream Colin, can I ask you a question this time?"

"Of course, darling."

"Do you – do you know what, er, consummating a marriage entails?" she inquired shyly.

"Why are you curious about that, Mrs. Bridgerton?" he smirked.

"Mrs. Bridgerton? I don't see Sophie or Lady Violet around?" she glanced all over the carriage.

"You, darling. You're Mrs. Bridgerton," he pinched her nose, and she swatted his hand away.

"Oh…right. Real Colin asked me to marry him so he can save me from that lecher," she murmured.

"That's right," he agreed.

"Real Colin is so nice, but he doesn't love me," she sighed.

"Oh?"

"And because Real Colin is nice, he deserves to find love… That's why – move closer Dream Colin," she urged and so he did, "– I will set him free."

"What do you mean by setting me, er, Real Colin, free?"

"I will ask Real Colin to file an annulment on the grounds of fraud. That way, he can find the woman of his dreams," she smiled sadly.

"Is that so?" he almost growled. Hell no! You'll be my wife forever.

"Yup! Am I brilliant or what?" she actually seemed proud of herself. This 'setting me free' plan is the stupidest idea you've ever had, Mrs. Bridgerton.

"Hmmm…" that's all he could muster.

"Hey!" she whined. "You didn't answer my question on the consummating thing!" she huffed.

"Don't worry about that, darling, the Real Colin will know what to do," he leered at her, his thumb tracing her bottom lip.

"You're looking at me funny, Dream Colin," she asked innocently, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

He laughed. In as much as it annoyed him that she was making ridiculous plans of ending their marriage, he found her innocence so refreshing.

"Don't you love Real Colin?" he couldn't help but ask.

She was quiet for a few seconds and then she said, "I did… Or at least I think I did. I always fancied him – he's so nice after all… But, I'm not sure now if what I feel is true love," she explained.

He was about to speak when she continued, "Marina said that Colin will never love me as a wife or lover… and she's right. Also, unless I understand what consummating means, I can't be certain either if I love Colin as a husband… Does that make sense?"

Marina said what?

"A little," he remarked.

"Right…So, because of that, I will set him free and he can be happy," she smiled – a genuine one at that.

"What about you?" he prodded.

"Don't worry about me. I have lots of money. And I can keep doing what I love," for a drunk woman, her voice was filled with conviction as she said this.

"Why are you so curious about consummating the marriage?"

"Well… my mama says that consummating means all I have to do is lay back and think of England – " she wasn't able to finish her sentence because he burst of laughing.

"Think of England! That's preposterous!" he laughed once again.

"Hey!" she glared at him.

"Sorry! Sorry! Please continue," he bit his bottom lip to stop himself from chuckling.

"So… I reckon that consummating a marriage is an act of patriotism then?" she inquired.

"No, darling. Most definitely not," he managed to say with a straight face.

She frowned; her face contorted in confusion. "Consummating a marriage is hard. I don't want to do it anymore," she pouted.

"Oh-ho! Something needs to be hard alright," he chuckled at his own innuendo that she didn't understand.

"So, what exactly happens then?" she whined.

"Er, well, there's some kissing involved and touching," he explained.

"Oh… I get it now," she sounded relieved.

"Really?" he said dubiously.

She seemed affronted that he doubted her intelligence. "Of course, I do!"

"Hmm… then why do you sound so relieved awhile ago?" he prodded, his finger now twirling a loose curl of her ginger locks.

"Well, for kissing and touching to happen – " she blushed, "the husband must be attracted to his wife, I presume," she added.

"Yes, that's correct," he still wasn't getting her point.

"So… I'm all safe from that. Real Colin is not attracted to me… that means, when the fraud clause fails, we can get our marriage dissolved in three years if we don't you know – of course, there's still something about being crazy that I can do, I suppose – "

"How do you know all that?" he asked, but his mind was screaming, she actually believes that I am NOT attracted to her? What's wrong with this woman? Is she blind?

She snorted, "I read about them in law books."

"Right…"

"Dream Colin?" she yawned.

"Yes?"

"Can you please tell Real Colin something for me?" her eyes were drooping now.

"Of course."

"Please tell him to stop being so nice to me… because if he does, I might end up not doing the right thing."

"And the right thing is what exactly?"

"Letting him go," she yawned.

"Penelope?" he called out, but she was asleep once again.

He sighed.

Raising his index finger, he lightly traced the middle of her forehead, down to her nose, and then down to her lips. Since she was intoxicated, she was already making adorable snoring sounds.

"You're a dunderhead if you think I will ever let you go," he murmured.

You're mine, Mrs. Bridgerton. And he would definitely make sure that she would be completely his – in every sense of the word.

A/N:

So... Penelope is a fun drunk.
And Colin, well, do you think he will be suffering from "blue balls"?

Let me know what you think. Thanks for all your kind comments on the previous chapters.

P.S. To my HP Fandom readers who still support me by reading this story, thank you so much. Your readership makes my heart melt. So sorry though that I don't reply to your reviews. Rest assured that I read them all and they do make me smile. I just don't reply anymore because I get flooded by PMs for other readers "asking" me to update whatever favorite ongoing story they want me to do. With that said, take care and stay safe.