It's been weeks after and still none of the food really tasted good enough. Colin tried to help her but it went nowhere, as she was right it wasn't something anyone could fix. Colin started a new habit of writing from early morning till late night. While she had not even one good enough gossip to write about. And to tell the truth, she could hardly focus on reading lately, never mind writing. Nausea was her new constant friend, who just would not leave. For a week or so he still tried to cuddle up closely to her while falling asleep, but since her state got worse at that time, she just pushed him off. Trying to eat and throwing up, while dying from boredom was her new reality.

As she was walking in their garden, she could not help but laugh. Didn't he tried to save her from exactly that kind of outcome with Lord Debling? Of course, Colin was still here. But it definitely didn't feel like it. She pushed him away and now they were falling asleep laying back-to-back or in the best-case scenario facing ceiling. Just as her as she started getting lost in her thoughts, enjoying fresh air, she heard familiar voice from behind.

"Penelope! Or should I say Ms. Bridgerton now."

"Lord Debling?" She turned around and she couldn't be more surprised.

"Good day." He said as he nodded with a light smile.

"Good day." She said still way too surprised and confused.

"I didn't congratulate you on your recent change of social status, but I thought I should before I leave." He said in a nice way. It felt like he was truly happy for her.

"I thought you shall be mad if not more."

"I must say I was." He looked down briefly and then looked back at her. "But seeing both of you together after made me realize it was indeed a right match for you." She could not hold her smile after hearing that. It was indeed hard on her the way things turned out and they never got to talk about it. They weren't friends really, but she felt like she owned him an apology.

"I apologize for leading you on, the way I did. I didn't mean not harm and everything I said was indeed true." She looked down, feeling somewhat embarrassed for the way she treated him.

"You owe me no apology. I know everything happens for a reason and you did teach me something in the end." She looked up at him with question in her eyes.

"Oh, what that might be?"

"You showed me that I should not settle for anything less than a person who can truly except me just the way I am." He said with a smile. "And I did feel like that with you." He looked up to the blue sky as he continued. "Anyway, I am glad you found what you were looking for."

"Thank you." She said as she was truly touched by his words. "Do you want to tell me about your upcoming travel over tea?" Her question made them both smile, as he answered.

"I believe I have time for tea."

They went to the main living room and the conversation was flowing. Maybe they actually did have a lot in common. Or maybe she missed human interaction so much so she would find any kind of topic interesting now. The conversation felt light as he told her all about his plans and somehow, they moved on to discussing favorite books. There she truly felt at ease.

Colin was going to get a cup of tea, as he heard familiar laughter coming from a next room. It was definitely Pen talking to someone. And just as the question was about to enter his mind, he heard the voice. Lord Debling. He froze in the hall. Questions came running to his mind. What was he doing here? Did she invite him? Wasn't he suppose to leave by now? What the heck she was doing talking to him?

As he entered the room, he overlooked the situation which from the first glance felt innocent enough. "Good evening." He announced as he walked to stand right near Pen. He noticed how seeing him, sent her sight to look slightly scared at him and completely lost for words.

"Good evening." Lord Debling looked right at him, as he got up and shook his hand. Penelope got up also, standing near Colin. "I wanted to congratulate you both on your marriage and Penelope invited me for tea." The only word that Colin managed to caught from this was 'Penelope'. How dare he call her by her given name? Were they friends now? "But we clearly forgot the time. It's way too late now, I must leave." Lord Debling said looking in the window, seeing how it was dark outside by now.

"It was a pleasure to talk to you, Ms. Bridgerton." He said nodding slightly at Pen. "And again, congratulation to both of you." He said looking between Colin and Pen with a smile and then his glare turned serious once again as he looked right at Colin and simply said, as he nodded his goodbye. "Mr, Bridgerton."

"Lord Debling." Colin nodded back and just like that Debling was gone.

As soon as Colin heard him leave far away from this room, he turned to Pen.

"Do you mind explaining?" He asked quite serious looking down at her.

"What is there to explain? You just heard the whole story." Penelope said as she walked right past him to walk away.

"I was about to get tea in my own house, when I accidently ran into two of you chatting here at this time. How about explaining that?" His voice was slightly raised and expressed just how flabbergasted he indeed was.

"Yes, it's indeed a miracle you weren't too busy to notice it." She said slightly ire, as she turned back to him.

"What is that supposed to mean? Want to tell me it's not the first time you two are having tea here?" He asked with awe. It almost sounded like he was…

"Are you jealous?" She asked. Her eyebrows raised in question, she was genuinely surprised.

"I asked a question." He said as he clenched his hands, which only proved her right. Her face relaxed suddenly, as she smiled slightly.

"Jealous and yet still choosing to hide behind that journal of yours all the time." She looked intently at him and added. "Interesting."

"Will you answer the question?" He demanded. She could tell it was no joke for him and he truly was jealous.

"It was the first time he came." She said, as she rolled her eyes but just as she was about to turn around, he spoke again.

"How about the other question." He was felt truly uncomfortable and surprised that he found Lord Debling in his living room talking to his wife alone so late. He needed to know what exactly led to this situation.

"Colin, please…" She said as she inhaled deeply, trying to keep calm. "You have nothing to worry about. We're married, if I must remind you." She said as she raised her arm to point at her wedding ring. "You wanted your tea? Go make yourself a cup." She tried to finish this absurd conversation, so saying that she turned around and starting walking away.

"Pen! Wait." He walked after her.

"What?" She turned around in the corridor. But all she saw was a confusing on his face. But something inside her switched, as she said the next line. "Maybe you want me to make a cup of tea? Because I am a wife now?"

"I didn't say it." He sounded as he was trying to defend himself now.

"Of course I can make you one, as there's nothing better for me to do." She brushed off and quickly walked to the kitchen, as he followed closely after.

"I didn't say that!" He said with his voice raised, as they entered kitchen together. And she turned to him all of the sudden, almost making him bump into her.

"Yes, you're right. You said nothing to me. Nothing at all for the last couple of weeks." She said angrily.

"So, you decided to talk to Lord Debling?" He mirrored her mood, asking that in the similar tone.

"And what if I did?"

Their eyes locked. Time went still. Only heavy breathing could be heard. They stayed like that for a moment, talking without words, just by looking at each other. Suddenly his lips crushed hers, pushing her back. Her back met the counter in the middle of the room, as their kiss got even more heated.

And then his hands reached her waist and in one swift motion he lift her up and sat her down on the counter, as the loud squeak left her lips. She didn't hesitate to pull her legs apart, as he stood impossibly closer to her, their mouths meeting once again in a passionate kiss. Her hands reached for the back of his neck caressing his hairline, as his hand quickly got under her dress and started going up her leg.

At that moment nothing else mattered. There was no other feeling inside her than complete need to fill him touch her like only he could. When he needed to claim her again. Show her he still was there. Show her he loves her. Remind them both they belong to each other and no one else.

As his fingers entered her, she bit on his lip hard, pulling it. Desire overtook them. Her hands pulling his hair. His fingers moving inside her. Moan intertwined with groan, as he moved to bite lightly on her neck. She threw her head backwards, his hand on her back holding her tight. As they eyes met once again, her view was blurred by all that heat. Her hands reached for his shirt, starting to work on the first button. It was too much for both of them, as they held each other's glance, feeling all of those emotions and sensations burning inside of them. Those buttons were unbearable at this point, so with both hands she pulled his shirt apart. Buttons flying everywhere, as neither of them cared about his shirt being ruined like that. Her hands touched bare skin of his chest, running lower.

He stopped. Pulled his hand out from under her dress. She inhaled deeply. Quickly he worked on his belt and put trousers down. He out her dress up out of the way, as he pulled her closer to the end of the counter, closer to him. Her legs wrapped around his body, as he entered her fast. Her head flying back, as he held her frame, nibbling on her neck. Moving fast inside, he kissed his way down from her heck to her breasts, as she groaned herself loudly.

Heat. Love. Desire. All mixing in a feeling they never knew existing. Longing for something that is here, but felt somewhat lost somehow. They found each other again in this heated conversation they just shared. This love they shared. This newfound fresh desire.

It felt not enough for both of them, as he laid her down on the counter, changing the angle, increasing all of the feelings at once. She would not stop moaning, under his touch. As his hand reached her breast, he pulled on her dress to reveal it free and she let out a wild new sound for him. It sounded just like a pure bliss. It sounded just like…

Reaching for her nipple, he was met with a scream, he felt her walls squeezing all over him from inside, triggering his own release of pleasure brought by this delightful experience.

As he pulled out and fixed the skirt of her dress, she still remained there unmoving. Slowly coming down from her newfound high.

He helped her to help her sit back up, as her head fell lifelessly on his shoulder.

"Are you okay?" He asked whispering in her ear.

"Yes." She was still breathing heavily. "Just need a moment."

As he held her, his hand moved to fix her dress on her breasts. "Ouch." She inhaled deeply.

"Still too sensitive?" He asked her as she just nodded.

It took her a few more minutes to raise her head from his shoulder

"Let's go to bed." He said as he helped her get down and quickly pulled his pants back. Seeing her watch his every move, like she was mesmerized by him. And she was.

They walked back to their bedroom hand in hand. Never closer. Never so loudly silent. He opened the door for her, and as soon as she walked in, he pulled her back into his chest, hugging her from the back.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

Fingers reaching to her get out of her dress as quickly as possible. Met with a sound of pleasure as her corset was undone and fell to the floor. Throwing his pants off and getting on the bed. Exhausted and yet delusionally happy.

He held her close as they fell asleep.