"It's my wedding day!" Francesca squealed as her sisters and mother surrounded her. They were at Kilmartin Castle in her suite of rooms getting ready for her big day. "Oh, Eloise! I'm so happy that you were able to come. I know it is still your honeymoon and all, but to know you are here, oh!" Francesca teared up before launching herself into her sister's arms.

"What can I say? Married life has changed me. I am all about love and happiness these days." Eloise chuckled as her sister squeezed her closer.

"Come now. Let's get you dressed. Clara?" Violet called out for Francesca's new lady's maid. Now that Sophie was to marry Benedict in a fort night, Lady Fiona hired a local girl from the village in her place. She was still young but tended to all of her younger siblings most of her life, so she was a quick study.

"Yes, m'lady. I have had the gown steamed and pressed. Miss Bridgerton shall look perfect for Lord Kilmartin." Clara curtsied then let the sun their ladies take over until they were ready for her to style Francesca's hair.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the castle, John was pleading with his cousin, Michael. "For Christ sake, Michael. Are you actually fucking drunk at 9 in the bloody morning?" He had arrived at 5AM after a two week bender across Great Britain before finally ending up back home in time for his cousin's wedding.

"I've lost her. I never even had a chance." He heard him mumble from where his face was planted in the chaise lounge.

"Who the Hell are you talking about?"

"Penelope." Michael cried out, "I'm in love with a married woman! A pregnant, married woman! And I don't know how I can face anyone." John sighed. He had never seen anyone this strung out on a person before. "Is she here?" He watched as Michael turned over to his side, a forlorn look upon his face.

"She is. Frannie is her sister-in-law. Of course she is here." John answered.

"And him?" he looked like he was about to get sick, "Her husband? I guess he is here as well."

"Yes. Maybe you should stay here and sleep it off. I don't need you embarrassing me nor Frannie. You ruin this day for us and I don't know how long it would take to forgive you."

Michael choked on a sob. "I'm sorry. I'm a complete and utter mess! It just hurts so badly. I've never been in love before and of course the moment I do, she's already taken." John sat next to his cousin and took him in his arms. "Oh, Penelope!"

They heard a gasp and John rushed to open the door.

"Colin? I'm going to walk around. Did you want to join me?" Penelope had just finished getting ready as her husband was eating a snack of cold meats and cheese.

"I shall finish up here in a bit. Did you wish to wait or I can find you in about half the hour?" Penelope shook her head.

"Find me after. If I do not walk after eating, this little one makes my stomach upset. I'll more than likely check out the library again." She gave her husband a quick kiss and walked down the corridor.

As she walked closer to the library, she heard voices and couldn't help but be curious.

"I guess he's here as well?" Penelope stopped. She knew that voice. Michael Stirling.

"Yes. Maybe you should stay here and sleep it off. I don't need you embarrassing me nor Frannie. You ruin this day for us and I don't know how long it would take to forgive you." Lord Kilmartin, John, was speaking now.

She heard a man sobbing now. "I'm sorry. I'm a complete and utter mess! It just hurts so badly. I've never been in love before and of course the moment I do, she's already taken." An anguished groan sounded and then she heard it, "Oh, Penelope!" She gasped and moved to pass the door when it opened.

"Oh! Mrs. Bridgerton! What a surprise." John tried to sound nonchalant.

"Excuse me my lord. I was on my way to the library." Michael heard her voice. And ran to the door. John caught his arm to stop him. "Hello, Mister Stirling." What could she say? 'Oh, so sorry that you believe yourself in love with me. Good luck in your future endeavors?'

"Penelope. You look well. Glowing. Just so beautiful." His voice broke. Penelope looked uncomfortable in his presence which made him feel awful. "My apologies. John, I think I need to go. I cannot be here. I tried but I just can't do this. Please excuse me. I shall retire to my room." He bowed before her before stalking off.

"Lord Kilmartin? Will he be alright?" Penelope worried at her lip as she watch the distraught man turn the corner.

"I am not sure how much of that you heard, but my cousin seems to think himself to be in love with you." He sighed. Penelope huffed a laugh.

"He doesn't even know me. I think he just wants what he cannot have." John could not agree more.

He said his farewells to Penelope. "See you in an hour and a half then? Francesca is going to look so beautiful. Good luck with him, my Lord." She dipped her head then continued on her way to the library.

Ten minutes later, Colin found his wife reading in a chair. "Ah, found you my sweet! How is our little one treating their mum?" He knelt down and placed a kiss to her abdomen. "Dada loves you little one. We cannot wait to meet you."

Penelope combed her fingers through Colin's chestnut curls. "Already the doting father. My God, do I love you." His shining eyes met her own. They were both so enamored of one another. Penelope hoped that one day Michael Stirling would find his own true love. For his sudden obsession with her was beginning to make her anxious.

"Mother, Aunt Helen?" John entered his mother's drawing room where she sat with her sister and future mother-in-law, Violet Bridgerton. "Lady Violet, good morning." He gave a slight bow. "Mother and Aunt Helen, I must speak with you in private. If you could please excuse us?" Violet got up.

"Of course. I was about to excuse myself to check in with my daughters. I shall see you all in the chapel." With that she left the room.

John checked the hallway and then closed the drawing room door before pacing about the room. "Son? What is it? Are you getting nerves? Is it the weddings?" His mothers voice was laced with concern as his Aunt Helen looked just as worried.

"It's Michael." His Aunt Helen got up and ready to leave the room.

"Wait. Please. Just let me speak." His aunt sat down next to her sister and took her hand. "Michael believes that he is in love," Aunt Helen perked up at this but her face became crestfallen with her nephew's next words, "with Penelope Bridgerton." His mother gasped.

"She has strayed from her husband?" His mother said in shock.

"No, of course not. It is entirely my fault." He shook his head. "Frannie and I had wanted him to come last season to meet her. We felt that they were compatible and would make a great match. We described her and spoke about her wit and intelligence whenever we got the chance. He was going to come with us, but at the last minute, decided to do a tour in India first. Then he arrived in Mayfair for Lord and Lady Debling's wedding and saw Penelope arriving. Says he fell in love with her at first sight. He wanted an introduction but I had to tell him that he was too late; that she was married to Colin Bridgerton now."

"Oh, my poor boy." Aunt Helen cried out, and Janet Stirling held her closer.

"That's not all. He provoked Colin and unabashedly flirted with Penelope in front of him as well as waited for her in the gardens at Aubrey Hall to speak with her alone. He's been drinking a lot over the last couple weeks. He is currently already well into his cups this morning and was very emotional. She overheard him talking about how much he's in love with her."

John sat down finally and put his head in his hands. "I fear what he will do if ever alone with her again. What if he does something to offend her or Colin or anyone of my new In-Laws? He says he cannot come to the wedding and has locked himself in his room."

Michael was supposed to stand up with him at the wedding in less than an hour. "I shall go talk with him now." Helen stood up. She squeezed her nephew's shoulder as she passed before leaving the room.

"Michael cannot ruin your wedding day. I will not stand for it. He's being very selfish." John's mother was slightly annoyed. "He has only himself to blame. If he'd just come with you last season, he could have been married to that girl."

John couldn't help but laugh, "I would have to disagree with you on that, mother. No matter what happened, I think that Colin and Penelope were always going to end up together. No matter how much I wish Michael could have been successful, I do know that for sure."

Michael did not come. His mother entered the chapel shaking her head with red, puffy eyes. Instead, John had to ask Benedict to stand with him. He could not worry about what his cousin would do next. All of the worry left him as soon as the chapel doors opened and he saw Francesca walking towards him.

Her smile was blinding. Her hand was clutched around her eldest brother's arm. He didn't even care that he had tears streaming down his face. This beautiful creature was going to be his forever. In that moment, he could see their life together; laughter, joy, children. He could picture it all.

After the blessing, they began the Handfast, "Do you, John William, take Francesca Marie to be your wife, To be her constant friend, her partner in life, and her true love? To love her without reservation, honour and respect her, protect her from harm, comfort her in times of distress, and to grow with her in mind and spirit?"

John smiled and squeezed Francesca's hand, "Aye, I take thee."

"And do you, Francesca Marie, take John William to be your husband, To be his constant friend, his partner in life, and his true love? To love him without reservation, honour and respect him, protect him from harm, comfort him in times of distress, and to grow with him in mind and spirit?"

Francesca smiled, her eyes twinkling with joy and happiness, "Yes, I take thee."

The priest smiled at them both and continued with his blessing, "Mìle fàilte dhuit le d'bhréid, Fad do ré gun robh thu slàn. Móran làithean dhuit is sìth, Le d'mhaitheas is le d'nì bhi fàs.

Or for the rest of yeh,

A thousand welcomes to you with your marriage. May you be healthy all your days. May you be blessed with long life and peace, may you grow old with goodness, and with riches."

Everyone clapped. "Lord Kilmartin? Yeh may kiss yeh bride."

John wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled Francesca close, "I love you, Frannie."

"Oh, John, and I love you." With their declaration of love, John dipped down and captured her lips in a passionate kiss." The sounds of cheering drowned out by the beating of their own hearts.

As they boarded the phaeton, the children of the village surrounded them as John tossed silver coins into the crowd and Francesca giggles sweetly at them all. She sees her brother Anthony tossing coins as well with a large smile on his face as his wife Kate, heavy with child smiles at her husband's generosity.

The ride back to Kilmartin Castle is spent with kisses and gentle caresses. The wedding night heavily on her mind. She would be losing her Maidenhead tonight. She was nervous and excited at the same time.

As they pulled in, there was a commotion at the side entrance. "Stay here. Please, my love." John jumped down and rushed to where he saw a group of servants trying to break up a fight.

"What the bloody hell is going on here?" He's not even a bit surprised to see his cousin bloodied up with a heavily breathing Colin Bridgerton and a crying Penelope being held by her lady's maid.

"Your cousin here tried kissing my wife!" John internally cringed.

"Her cheek! It's not like I was trying to shove my down her throat! Although, I wouldn't be opposed," John cut him off.

"Not helping! Dammit, Michael! I asked you to be civil. One day! Just one bloody day without you causing havoc! It is my fucking wedding day! Pardon my language, Mrs. Bridgerton." Penelope sniffled and went to check her husband for any injuries. His knuckles were bruised but otherwise, he was unharmed.

"Mister Stirling?" Penelope's voice was strong and clear. Michael wiped his face with a handkerchief one of the footmen had handed him. His grey eyes met her blue ones.

"Yes, my dear?" She rolled her eyes at him. Colin went to speak but she stopped him with one look.

"Although I am flattered that you find me interesting and attractive, I am happily married to my best friend and the love of my life. I thought that maybe we could be friends, but you have just proven that you are unable to be civil with Colin. And if you cannot be man enough to accept that, do not speak to me nor my husband again."

John turned to where Michael sat on his knees and watched his smirk leave his face as he was given a dressing down by the woman he loved. He hung his head in shame before looking back up. Colin watched him warily. "My apologies. Mr. Bridgerton, Mrs. Bridgerton, please forgive my impertinence. I let my strong feelings and emotions get in the way. I have a tendency of being a right arsehole, pardon me. I shall not bother you again."

"See to it that you don't. We are family now. And Bridgerton's support family no matter what. You must know that I am extremely protective of my wife. Even before we were together, I have always felt like I had to be there for her. I love her very deeply, with all my heart. It has only ever belonged to her." Colin walked over and held his hand out for Michael to take. He pulled him up and held his shoulders.

"You'll find the one your heart truly belongs to one day. Just know, although you may think it is my Pen, it is not. Her heart has been and will always be mine. Okay?" It felt strange being spoken to as if he were a child by a man younger than him, but Michael still smiled and nodded.

Hugging him close, Michael apologised once again. Tilting his head toward Penelope and John. "Come now. My wife is waiting for me." John said as he turned and walked back to the front entrance to help Francesca. Everyone else had arrived; Benedict and Sophie were standing talking to Francesca.

"Everything okay?" She bellowed as he walked closer and saw Colin, Penelope and an injured Michael walking behind him.

"Just a little misunderstanding. Miss Claire? Can you tell Mrs. Gibbons that my dear cousin needs some attending to." With her curtsy he thanked her and held his hand out for his new wife.

He quickly told Francesca what happened and let her know everything was all worked out for now. Once they met the rest of the family inside, all worries over Michael Stirling were over.

They all enjoyed a lovely dinner and drinks. Viscountess Bridgerton was letting everyone feel the baby moving and Penelope got excited for the next few weeks before she would start feeling her own baby. As the main course came out, Michael joined everyone, once again apologizing for his behavior and missing the wedding ceremony.

Eloise and Christopher disappeared shortly after dinner claiming to be tired, but knowing looks between her married siblings spoke volumes.

"Oh! Yes! Just like that," Christopher wrapped his hand in his wife's hair as she went down on him, one of her new favorite positions. "Ah, not so hard, softer. Fuck yes, El."

As he felt himself getting closer, he pulled her up. "Chris, take me from behind. Grab my arse." The more comfortable she got, the dirtier her mouth became and he couldn't love her more. "Ah yes! Fuck me harder!"

Christopher grabbed her ass and pushed into her hard and fast. "Fuck, I love you!" He adjusted his hold on her, taking her leg and raising it to go deeper, causing her to scream out his name. "Did I hurt you?" He asked out of concern.

"No, god no! Don't stop!" He chuckled at her eagerness. Their hunger for each other was insatiable. They would be returning to Brighton tomorrow and starting their lives together. He was excited to get home and introduce his wife to his tenants. He also had a surprise in store for Eloise. "Chris! Oh! Oh god!" He emptied himself into her as he felt her walls contract and milk him of his seed.

They collapsed onto the bed, breathing heavily and smiling at each other. John rolled over to kiss his wife. "Mmm, you're incredible." He combed his fingers through her hair. "I thank God every day for bringing you into my life." She smiled and kissed him back.

"My stubbornness has always stood in my way of finding love and happiness. I'm very grateful that you were not scared away too easily." He brought her close. "It helped that you won my heart through writing." They chuckled and fell asleep soon after.

Francesca held onto John's hand as he led them towards what will now be their section of the castle. "And this is your Lady chambers, but you won't be staying in there." He winked at her and she felt a chill going down her spine. She was nervous. Her mother gave her a more detailed explanation than Daphne had received. She knew what was expected of her. John was not a virgin, so he'd know what to do. "And this is my study. Across from our bedchamber."

He opened the door and her jaw practically fell to the floor. It was a small apartment really. There was a sitting area off to the side with a large fireplace and ornate mantle with carvings of a woodland scene. The largest four poster bed she had ever laid eyes on with identical carvings. "It's beautiful!" John smiled at his wife and kissed her hand. "I love it." She embraced him, "I love you."

John took her head between his hands, "My wife, I adore you." He met her lips as she grabbed ahold of his shoulders to steady herself. "I want you so badly. Feel like I have been waiting for you my whole life." Francesca tore his jacket off as he undid her buttons with crazy precision.

"John," she gasped as he pulled her dress down and spun her to untie her corset stays. She giggled as he fumbled a bit with the knot.

"Blast that Claire and her damned knots." He cursed under his breath until, "Aha! Finally!" Francesca laughed as he tugged her out of the garment and all that remained was her stockings, garter and underwear. "God, look at you." She blushed at his words, "You're so perfect. Just beautiful."

"And you are overdressed." John smirked as he loosened his cravat and unbuttoned his shirt. Francesca watched in wonder as he lost his shirt and began untying his pants. He was so fit, she'd never seen a man shirtless, not even her own brothers. "You're like a work of art, my husband."

Hearing her call him husband as if it were a prayer, had him feeling like he could do nothing wrong tonight. He was feigning confidence. He was so nervous that he would do something to scare her. He'd only ever been with two women in his entire 30 years of life, and they were professionals. Here she was, this sweet beautiful girl of 8 and 10, all innocence and virtue standing before him. A beautiful woman. His wife. He only wanted to ever please her and make her life happy and fulfilling.

Francesca unclipped her garter then slowly rolled down her stockings as John took off his boots and he is own stocking. As they stood facing each other, they both removed their final layer of clothing before staring into each other's eyes and smiling. "Are you ready, Frannie?"

"Yes, John. Just, um, what do I do now?" She asked him n a small voice.

John walked until he stood in front of his young wife. He tipped her chin up with his finger until their eyes locked again. "Lay on the bed and I'll take care of you." He whispered before kissing her slowly as he backed her up, her legs touching the soft duvet. John lifted her to the bed then Francesca backed up until her head hit the pillows. She shook with anticipation.

John crawled onto the bed and she saw that his penis was long and hard. "Is that supposed to fit inside of me!?!?" She squeaked in surprise causing John to huff out a laugh.

"Do not worry my love, your body was made for this." He opened her legs, spreading her knees apart.

"What are you doing now?" She inquired as she watched him lower his head.

"I am getting you ready for me. If I prepare your body, the pain should minimise and believe me, my dear Francesca, you will enjoy this immensely." She lay back and closed her eyes tight waiting.

"Oh! Oh! Oh, John!" Her head was spinning. She had never felt a pleasure such as this. He licked and suckled lightly on her clit before adding a thick finger and preparing her hole for his intrusion. He smirked as she grabbed ahold of his hair and pushed him closer. Her moans were getting louder and he knew she was close to her first orgasm.

Francesca felt a pull in her abdomen as her pleasure reached new heights. She cried out her husband's name as her eyes rolled back into her head. "Good?"

"Fantastic!" John kissed his way up her body before landing on her tits. He took one dusty pink nipple into his mouth and felt Francesca wrapping her legs around his waist. He felt his cock brushing against her folds. "No more teasing, John. Please, I need you."

"You have me." He felt that she was still wet from his first 'feast' and grasped his dick in his hand. He coated him with her juices then slowly began to slide in. He felt her tense up, "Relax baby, you need to relax or it is going to really hurt." He kissed her, their tongues fighting for dominance against the other. Feeling her loosen up, he continued to push through.

Francesca gasped at the stabbing feeling as he broke through her hymen. John stayed still as she adjusted to his intrusion. "Move, move slowly okay?" So he did. He slowly slid in and out until her moans urged him to go faster. Francesca grabbed his shoulders tight and slid her hands to his back, her nails scratching into his skin and leaving marks.

"Fuck, you're so tight! I don't think I am going to last much longer! Fran! Oh shit!" He burst and filled her with his seed, praying that he would give her a child. Multiple children. He wanted a family. A family with his beautiful and loving wife.

"That was unbelievable. Is it like that every time?" John kissed her sweet lips and smiled.

"Every time gets better and better."

And with that, they curled up together and fell asleep. Round two and three happened at mid morning and again in their combined bath.

And Francesca looked forward to more.

The next morning after breakfast, each of their family members began to leave. First to leave was Lord and Lady Debling, with Eloise hugging Penelope and having her promise to visit them soon.

The Viscount, Viscountess, Lady Violet and Hyacinth left next. With Gregory away at school, Hyacinth was becoming less spirited. Her mother had been in talks with Lady Danbury about her going to the Danbury Estate to read for the lady, just to break up the monotony of Hyacinth's days.

Michael came out looking much more rested and in good health than he had in weeks. With permission, he kissed Penelope's hand and gave Colin a hearty handshake. Another apology was made and a promise to write his newest pen pal, Penelope. "Friends, we all need as many as we can get. Plus," Penelope took his hand in hers, "We are family now." With a gentle squeeze of his fingers, she turned to get into her and Colin's carriage.

"Take care of that perfect woman, Bridgerton." Michael said as he watched them pull away. He still felt a pull towards her. And if friendship was all he could have from her, he'd take it.

"So, where shall you go next, dear cousin?" Francesca asked as John hugged her to his side.

He stared as the young Bridgerton couple's carriage disappeared from view then turned to his cousin John and his young wife. "Wherever the wind takes me."

A/N: Wrapping this up in the next chapter.

We'll have a time jump to the birth of Colin and Penelope's baby...or shall it be babies?