Chapter Text
"You were avoiding Mama and Papa today," Maina said. "Does it have something to do with a certain alpha?"
Penelope winced. Damn, she was hoping Marina hadn't noticed. "I was not avoiding them. I was merely avoiding their unsubtle hints about me and Pip courting."
"Oh, Penelope why don't you want to marry Phillip? We could really be sisters then," Marina said, holding her cousin tighter. The two omegas were cuddling in Marina's nest. Marina's heat was due soon and it always helped if another unmated omega was there before and after the heat.
Because Pip and I only see each other as pack mates, Penelope thought. Because I would rather write my novels and Pip wants to study his plants. Because it would be the most awkward marriage and mating ever.
Truthfully the only real advantage Phillip and Penelope would have being married to one another is that they would let each other continue their passions and be left alone by others. Penelope couldn't say that though. Her cousins didn't even know she was the novel writer Lady Whistledown, it wasn't something a proper omega did.
But her romantic cousin did believe in true mates.
Penelope leaned in closer to whisper to Marina. "I believe I have found my true mate."
"Penelope," Marina gasped. "Who is it? Have I met him?"
Penelope shook her head. "Do you remember my pen pal Eloise?"
"Ms. Bridgerton?" Marina asked.
Penelope nodded. "Yes, one of her brothers caught my scent from a letter I sent her. He sent me a letter with Eloise's and oh Marina. I just know he is my mate."
"Which brother?"
Penelope ran through a list of names in her head, trying to remember Elosie's actual brothers' names so she didn't choose one of them. How many did she say she had again? Three? Yes, that sounds about right, two older and one younger. The Bridgertons were so well known, even out here, for their being many in their pack and for all looking so alike that half the time most don't know which one is which from a distance. Surly no would notice if she added one more, and Eloise would help surely help her if she knew Penelope was doing it to avoid marriage.
A name, she needed to pick a name.
"Colin. His name is Colin Bridgerton."
Later that night Penelope wrote two letters. One to Eloise, and one to the mate she made up.
Dear Eloise,
My cousins are once again trying to push me and Phillip to court, no matter how many times we tell them we see each other no more than as pack mates. I may have fibbed and told them I have recently started a long-distanced courtship with one of your brothers. Colin is the first name that came to mind. If you could please help me I greatly appreciate it.
with great thanks ,
Penelope Featherington
The letter she wrote to the made-up brother was shorter, adding in a few details she remembers Eloise said about one of her actual brothers.
Dear Mr. Bridgerton,
Thank you kindly for your first letter. You will have to write to me while on your tour around the Mediterranean. I have heard you could find really good tomato plants there.
yours truly,
Penelope Featherington
On the back of her stationary, she added some musings she had once written on new love when Marina and George first started courting.
Two weeks later Penelope found herself having a picnic with Marina and the Cranes. George and Marina were sitting on a blanket a little ways away from Phillip and Penelope, still in sight but far enough to where they couldn't hear their conversation. Phillip and Penelope were sent to keep an eye on the engaged couple.
Phillip rolled his eyes. "More like scheme to have us start courting too," he muttered under his breath.
"Yes, your. . .father and my guardians do seem rather persistent," Penelope agreed. "Which is a wonder since you'll be starting Cambridge soon Pip."
Phillip glared into the distance; the same one he used when thinking about Sir Crane. "Anything to make me proper alpha. I guess we should be grateful that your pack alpha has not given in to the arrangement Penny."
Which was odd, since it was her pack alpha, her father, Lord Featherington, that sent her live in Gloucestershire with her cousins in the first place. One would think he would make arrangements to keep her out here since to her knowledge neither of her parents knew what to do with an omega. Everyone else in her family was betas, from her parents to her three sisters.
"I still can't believe you made up a fake mate," Phillip whispered.
Penelope looked down at her letters. She had received two from Eloise. One smelled of Eloise's warm scent of honeysuckle, the smell becoming more potent as she opened the envelope.
"If I had not Sir. Crane," Penelope spat the name, " and my guardians would certainly have us engaged to be married."
It was almost too easy for Penelope to spin the tale to her guardians of a long-distance suitor who she believed to be her true mate, and that her mama was help coordinating back in London. Neither really wrote to Lady Featherington, Mr. Thompson exclusively only wrote to Lord Featherington.
Penelope pulled out the letter.
Dear Penelope,
Yes, I shall help you at once! We still have accomplishments we must achieve and how are we to do that when they try to marry you off when you are not even out in society yet!
Though really Penelope, Colin? Of all your choices, you chose Colin? I suppose it is better than Gregory.
you friend,
Eloise
Penelope smiled. "Oh, this is wonderful Pip, now you can continue your studies at Cambridge and . . .Pip?"
Phillip sat next to Penelope in a daze, his body shaking, and his unfocused eyes staring at the letter in her hands. "Lonicera," he muttered, breathing in deeply.
"Phillip!" Penelope yelled.
Whatever scattered her friend's mind stopped it's control. Phillip blinked a few times before coming back to himself. "I'm sorry Penny. I'm not sure what happened."
"You're not about to go into a rut are you?" Penelope asked, leaning away.
Phillip shook his head. "No, I'm not due for a while."
Penelope stared at her friend for a few moments before turning back to her other letter. This one didn't contain Eloise's scent; she must have sprayed some sort of perfume on it. The perfume gave off a scent of an ocean breeze with hints of citrus. It was the most wonderful scent Penelope has ever smelled. She must remember to ask Eloise what perfumed she sprayed it with.
Dear Penelope Featherington,
I thank you for your well wishes and will make sure to write to you on my travels. You say there are good tomato plants in Greece? I shall be eagerly awaiting to see if that is true.
yours,
Colin Bridgerton
Over the next few years Penelope kept sending letters to her Mr. Bridgerton. She must really commend Eloise for her dedication to keep up the charade, even if she still hasn't told Penelope what perfume she sprays the letters with. If Penelope was not the one to make up Mr. Colin Bridgerton she would have sworn he was real. Eloise put so many details in of a young man traveling to different parts of the world that Penelope wonders where she learned them. She even pretended to send gifts from those travels. Penelope busted out laughing when the first one of tomato plant seeds came in with a note.
You were right Pen, there are good tomato plants here.
yours,
Colin
Penelope wished things went as smoothly with the rest of her life. When she was 17, George had went to battle and died, leaving behind an unmarried and unbitten pregnant mate. Phillip was dragged home by his father who had died two weeks after George. Now the lord of Romney Hall Phillip tried to honor his brother and look after Marina and her unborn child. They had married when Marina was three months along, but never mated. No one dared spoke about how Sir Crane and Lady Crane had no mating marks.
Marina was never the same. During the last months of her pregnancy, she had become snappy with Phillip, and demanded that Penelope not leave her side.
"Penelope will move in with us!" Marina ordered. "She will be my companion and my child's governess!"
Phillip and Penelope had hoped that once Marina gave birth she would calm, but no such luck. After the twins were born Marina had become despondent. She never left her rooms and allowed very few to enter.
"Penny how is she today?" Phillip asked one morning, his voice barely above a whisper. "Do you think she would like to see the children?"
"She barely has spoken, nor eaten," Penelope relied. "She only stares ahead of her. I fear brining in the children would send her into another fit."
For two years they lived like that before the sickness took hold of Marina and she allowed it to take her.
Phillip and Penelope were reading over condolence letters when she got the rare letter from her mother.
Penelope,
I am sorry to tell you this but your father has passed. Come next season when we go into half mourning, I will need you in London. It is time for you to be serious about your suitor.
Penelope stopped reading. Her father was dead. She supposes as her official pack leader and sire she should mourn his loss. She's sure her sisters in London are.
Penelope read over the letter once more. Still she felt like she was reading about the death of an unnamed character in one of her novels.
Penelope puts down her mother's letter and picks up the one from her fake suitor.
My darling Pen,
I cannot begin to imagine the pain you are going through right now. It is never easy to lose one member of your pack, much less two. I hear you are to come to London next season. I shall be waiting for you here. Mayhaps we shall finally see if we suit for marriage.
patiently waiting,
Colin
"My mother expects me to return to London next season. I am to join the marriage mart," Penelope said.
Phillip nodded. "I will accompany you. We will both be in half mourning and be able to begin courting others."
Penelope looked up, her confusion leaking into her scent. "You will come to London with me?"
Phillip smiled. Penelope could smell his smugness at shocking her in his pine scent. "I figured we would both like someone we would know there when taking on the marriage mart. I need to find the children a new mother."
"You should find yourself a mate," Penelope muttered under her breath.
Penelope was 20 when she stepped back into London for the first time since her parents decided they could not raise an omega. Her dress was lavender and her gloves black.
Phillip stepped out of the carriage beside her with his black gloves and coat.
They are greeted in the Featherington drawing room by Penelope's mother and three sisters, along with two unknown alphas and an unknown omega.
That familiar smell of ocean and citrus hits Penelope so hard she's thankful Phillip has given her his arm to escort her in. She's not sure she would be standing if he didn't.
"Penelope, Sir Crane" Portia said. "This is Viscount Anthony Bridgerton, Lady Violet Bridgerton, and Mr. Colin Bridgerton."
Phillip shot Penelope a look. I thought you made him up.
Penelope shot Phillip a look back. So did I.