Chapter Text
The Bridgertons plus one young Miss Penelope Featherington descended upon Aubrey Hall for the season. It was no great feat convincing her mother to allow her to go to Aubrey Hall. She was too busy trying to find a man for Prudence.
As it were many of the Bridgertons did their own things while at Aubrey Hall. Anthony was quite busy checking in with his tenants, Violet with managing the estate (and secretly trying to plan for chances for Anthony to woo Penelope), Benedict was out painting, and Eloise was generally trying to avoid her mother. This left Penelope often alone with the two youngest.
Penelope had to admit she loved them to pieces. Hyacinth let her braid and play with her hair as long as Penelope returned the favor. Gregory loved talking about books he has read and things he is learning. Penelope encouraged his excitement on the topics he enjoys even when she does not understand.
Penelope finally understood what it is to have a younger sibling. She never had that opportunity. Penelope knew her mother struggled having Penelope. Penelope was a large baby. Her mother fell pregnant a few years later she unfortunately lost the pregnancy. To hear her mother talk about it she could care less but when she speaks of it you can see it in her eyes, Portia Featherington missed the child that she never knew. She knew her mother and father had names picked out. If it was a girl they decided on Felicity for a girl or Feagan for a boy. Both names mean joy. As both parents knew this would be their last baby. They lost her little sibling and she would never experience that feeling naturally, but here now she could not imagine a better feeling.
On the rare days that Gregory and Hyacinth were busy Penelope was asked to do different things. On one particularly sunny day, Benedict invited Penelope for a picnic specifically so he could draw her. He explained that while he loved drawing his family it feels disingenuous since they all look so similar.
"Honestly, it is like drawing myself with longer hair and breasts, or younger. Mother and father were very faithful and father's genetics are very strong." Benedict joked.
"I guess I can understand that." Penelope responded. "May I bring my work or would my movements disturb you.
"No Pen by all means. I am assuming you are writing to my brother?" Benedict knows how she has felt previously and is also aware of Anthony's feelings he would hate for anyone to get hurt.
"Yes, well that is part of it. I am also writing to Marina. She is near and I would like to visit sometime this season. And I do not know if you have ever noticed but Colin is quite the correspondent. The way he describes the places he has been. It is all too real. One can almost picture it. I am saving his letters in case he ever decides to publish them." Penelope's upfront honesty threw Benedict off balance.
"You truly mean that?" Benedict asked.
"Yes of course I do. Listen to this, he just wrote to me from Cyprus. 'The weather here is unreal Penelope. Think of the most sunny day you can imagine then imagine a cool breeze blowing. Similar to that time we had a promenade and I fed the ducks but I digress. The food here is the best I have ever had. The different combinations and sauces. The deserts it is all so amazing.' Do you see what I mean? I know exactly what he means. It is so sunny where one might imagine that it would be hot but it is unexpectedly not."
"Wow Pen, I did not know this about my brother. May I read some of his letters?" Benedict asked, settling his items down around himself. Penelope thought it over. There was a part that was a little salacious but she had asked for everything. She decided Benedict could be trusted. He read and she could pinpoint the moment he read what was inappropriate.
"'There are many other sites to enjoy here. While the scenery is quite beautiful I must admit that the people here are just as much. There is a lack of propriety that I find most refreshing. I will not scandalize you with the more salacious details just be aware I am taking your advice and living.'" Benedict finished, "Penelope does Colin often write to you like this?"
"Yes. I mean this is how we talk as well." Penelope tilted her head not really understanding what Benedict’s concern was. She was worried because Colin mentioned beautiful people he did not specify sex when determining who was attractive. Colin knew well enough that Penelope would not judge him if he found himself attracted to another man. "What do you think Colin and I talk about usually? Colin gossips like an old maid. If I did not know any better I might think he is Lady Whistledown." Penelope said with a little chuckle.
Benedict just blinked at her he did not know what to say to that. "Well" is what he decided on. "Have you written him back?"
"Not yet, no. That is one of the things I am working on." Penelope answered. "Would you like me to pass along a message?"
"Yes. Please let him know he can pass along any of the salacious details to me if he so chooses."
"Ooohhhh will you then tell me?" Penelope practically begged.
"Absolutely not." Benedict firmly stated. "Are you mad? Among other reasons Anthony would have me drawn and quartered."
"Oh like you all were not doing worse at my age." She gave him a look that led him to believe that she knew all of his secrets.
"Well yes but there is one key difference… I am a man." She knew he had a point but it did not signify.
"How does a woman come to be with child?" She asked suddenly. She knew that this question made him uncomfortable when Eloise asked him during the season. She really just wanted answers.
"Jesus christ what is with you and my sister?" Benedict blurted.
"It is only natural that we are curious and concerned." Penelope tried to explain. "It is our sex's burden yet we are told nothing. On top of that we believed one must be married but then we were proven wrong. We are both just concerned that something may happen and we will not be able to prevent it."
Benedict had to admit that she had a point. "Allow me to speak to my brother. Perhaps I could find you some kind of reading material and then perhaps we may find you someone you may ask questions to. I know it can be quite embarrassing to talk to your mother and my mother cannot be much less embarrassing." Penelope opened her mouth to argue that he could simply tell her now. "Allow me to speak with Anthony first please. I like my body in one piece. Please."
Penelope nodded her head and returned to her correspondence.