As Penelope and Eloise lay there in the grass beneath the stars Penelope felt a sense of wonder. Wondering if she will ever get the chance to be seen at all. As much as her invisibility has helped her tremendously keep her identity as Whistledown a secret however it has her thinking if her life will always be lived on the sidelines always watching, always observing. These were her thoughts as she lay there. Suddenly there was a silence that fell between the two young ladies and as Penelope gazed up at the sky, she saw a shooting star pass by and as she observed it she wished deeply to get a glimpse at her future. The future of Lady Whistledown. She very much wanted to see what that future could be. Will she and Eloise truly be spinsters?
...
She began to gain consciousness with her eyes still closed the first thing she noticed as she was beginning to rise was the unfamiliar weight she felt on her mid-section. She was already confused when she then began to feel movement and the heat along her back before she could hear a piercing cry next to her. Finally opening her eyes in confusion, she took in her surroundings. Looking around she quickly realized she was in her family home however she was not in her bed chamber but in her Mama's room.
Why on earth was she in her Mama's bedchamber? What on earth is that weight and heat behind her. As she looked down, she saw an arm draped around her waist. A man's arm. A naked, toned, hairy man's arm draped along her waist. She didn't have time to dwell on that fact long before she heard the cries again. Finally looking towards the sound. She saw a baby. A small little babe in a cot lying next to the bed. The baby had a head full of bright red curls. She barely had the chance to take in the baby's little features when she felt movement next to her and she froze. The man grumbled and then she heard him speak.
"Pen" he groaned. And she went completely ridged. There was no denying it. As deep as the voice sounded, she knew that voice. She knew that voice very well. But no there was no way. Why would Colin Bridgerton be lying next to her in her Mama's bed? What on earth was this? A dream? Of course it had to be a dream.
"Pen." He mumbled again. He shifted closer to her and gave her a gentle peck on the cheek. "It sounds like he's hungry. Love." Love? Did Colin Bridgerton just call her love? That sealed it for her this was most definitely a dream. She heard the baby's screaming start to get louder and all of the sudden she felt a wetness on her chest. It was the strangest feeling. As she looked down, she noticed as the covers have fallen that her breasts were leaking. Having visited many of farms in the countryside she concluded that it must be breast milk. She tentatively sat up and leaned over looking at the baby gently picking him up. The cries began to subdue as the babe began moving his arms and face searching for something. Penelope instinctively slid her nightgown down and brought the baby closer to her chest. The baby latched on immediately. Penelope watched the baby's little face and immediately could see the resemblance to Colin. His little nose and mouth were so very distinctly Bridgerton. As he drank, she ran her fingers slightly over the baby's cheek and ears. There was no denying this baby was Colin's twin. However, that hair so bright and so red that was her genetics. Finally, as the baby looked up at her and held her gaze, those eyes were very much hers as well. Penelope felt an immediate sense of peace looking into the baby's eyes. Like she was supposed to be there. As the baby took his feed Penelope couldn't quite pin point the feeling it gave her. It was an absolute odd feeling having this baby latched on to her nipple and her body feeding him. She finally took a moment to look over at Colin next to her. Her breath caught in her chest as she gazed upon his face. He had moved and sat up next to her and had been watching her feed the baby. His face was much more chiseled and his hair was slightly longer and much messier than she last remembered. Her eyes couldn't help but wander slightly noticing he was completely shirtless and she could see every muscle in his chest move as he took in a breath. She could feel her face heating up as she looked him over. He looked at the blush grazing upon her cheeks and furrowed his brown slightly. He noticed how she would not hold his gaze. She blushed more furiously the longer he kept looking at her. The baby then released her nipple and she looked absolutely mortified as she quickly tried to readjust her nightgown trying to gain some modesty.
"Penelope, Is everything alright?" He questioned her. Something was definitely not right. She was yet again looking away from him. The baby began slapping at her chest. She took that as an indication that he was not quite done with breaking his fast. She looked down and shifted him in order to line him up on her right side shifting her nightgown yet again trying to get him to latch. However, this time she was struggling. Her ears were burning red under Colin's gaze. She sighed in frustration as the baby kept crying and moving his head not latching like he did immediately on her other side.
"Pen, you have to relax. May I?" She looked at him bright. Not knowing what to do all she could muster was a nod. Colin leaned over Grabbing her breast with one hand and guiding the baby's head with the other shoving her breast in the baby's mouth. He finally latched. Penelope looked up at Colin in shock. "How did you-" She began.
"Penelope he's always struggled with latching on that side. I have watched you feed plenty of times and I know that the only way you can get him to feed is by shoving your breast into his mouth on the right side. I know you know that." He sighed. "Now, will you please tell me what has you so out of sorts this morning?"
"Colin, I-" She stuttered. "I do not know what you are talking about."
"Pen, it has never taken you that long to reach for Thomas like it took you this morning. Never mind the fact that you have barely been able to look at me." He looked at her sympathetically.
"Colin, what is today's date?"
"Pen, It's the 18th of March." She sighed.
"And the year?" She blushed.