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........Oh Valeria you should come see me in my new bachelor lodgings in Bloomsbury if you ever visit London......
Penelope was awoken early on a bright sunny morning by some god awful pounding on the front door. She could hear Dunwoody who was quickly joined by Rae speaking to what sounded like a woman with an accent she could not discern. As she left the bed heading for the door Penelope looked to her husband who was still sleeping soundly. As she stepped out of her bed chamber she almost walked right into Rae
Oh ma'am I'm sorry....... We seem to have an early morning guest looking for Mr.Bridgerton. Rae seems to be troubled by something
Rae? Is something wrong?
I am unsure ma'am...it is just when the guest asked for Mr.Bridgerton she called him by his Christian name.
You said she?
Yes ma'am.
Did she by chance say who she might be?
Penelope didn't like the feeling she was starting to get in the pit of her stomach.
Yes ma'am she said she as she is THEE Contessa.
Penelope feels her stomach drop.
Ma'am are you well?.. should I ask her to leave?
Penelope takes a moment to collect herself
No Rae that will not be necessary. Could you inform our guest that Mr.Bridgerton will be down shortly. Could you also send up Dunwoody, have tea sent for and then could you come help me dress please.
Of course ma'am.
With that Rae curtsied and turned to leave as Penelope re-entered her bed chamber. Rae quickly descended the stairs and entered the parlour.
Pardon me Mr.Bridgerton will be down shortly.
With The Contessa not so much as looking at Rae Rae leaves the room.
Dunwoody!
Rae?
Could you see to Mr.Brigherton?
with a nod of his head Dunwoody walks to the stairs and Rae goes to the kitchen.
Sarah bring some tea and light refreshments to the parlour.
Of course, right away.
With that Rae returns upstairs to help Mrs.Bridgerton dress but at the top of the stairs Mr.Bridgerton passes her not looking very happy.
Good morning Mr.Bridgerton ( Rae curtsied)
Rae (Colin nods his head)
Rae almost ran to their bed chamber and entered.
Ma'am is all well
Rae?! You startled me! Yes all is well between Colin and I but you must help me dress quickly as I tell you what occurred after I re-entered my bed chamber.
Over some time Rae and Penelope have gotten more comfortable talking to one another about more personal things and have become friends of sorts.
So after I re-entered I see Colin is still sleeping
Of course Mr.Bridgerton seems to be able to sleep through almost everything.
Yes! So I thought he might benefit from a pleasant wake up due to my not knowing his reacting to our guest.
Wise.
I thought so. So I did his favorite wake up. I straddled him and kissed his neck and chest. That was when I felt his member stiring I had to remove myself and tell him we had a guest looking for him. That was when Dunwoody came in and Colin attempted to guess who it was, all his guesses were family members! When I told him it wasn't a family member but it was a woman Dunwoody then said he believes she is expecting to stay her cause she brought a large trunk!
What!!!! A trunk! I saw no trunk! It must have been brought in after I left.
That ok Rae! But the Colin demanded to know who it was so I told him it was The Contessa and he was furious! Dunwoody tried to apologize because he said she barged in as soon as he opened the door
Yes! She was quite rude.
Well then Colin got dress quickly and requested I join him as fast as I can then he left and you entered moments later. Now we must make haste!
Ma'am you're hair?
Leave it. I must know what is happening.
As the leave and walk down the stairs.
But ma'am Mr Bridgerton clearly knows this women what has happened to cause him to act as such?
To put it plainly Colin and The Contessa were lovers for a time when he was in Italy.
Rae let's out a gasp of shock causing Penelope to stop
A former lover showing up to the house of the wife?! That is a scandal ma'am!
Rae leaves Penelope outside the parlour door to tend to her other duties and Penelope sees the door is left ajar.
Colin's POV
As Colin desends the stairs in his mind he goes from anger at the Contessa for being so rude for just showing up unannounced but also for being so rude to she must not know I am married and must have believed my staff was told about her. That must be it. I will just tell her I have a wife now and she will leave and all will be well but I must be firm. Colin steels himself before he enters the parlour.
Colin!
The Contessa stands and smiles as Colin enters the room.
Contessa d' Orozco
She seductively saunters towards him.
Oh come now Colin say my name like you used to.
Enough.
ignoring him she continues.
I want to hear Valeria spoken from that beautiful mouth again like you once did.
she gets close and leans in to kiss him. Colin leans back
I SAID ENOUGH! and it is Mr Bridgerton!
The Contessa takes a step back and Colin calms himself.
It is clear you are unaware of this but I am married so
she starts laughing.
Oh tesoro mio of course I know why do you think I came. I knew you needed me. Wanted me. Not who ever was forced upon you .
Colin is struck dumb but can feel his rage building at the speed of a racehorse. Colin thinks of this was a man his first would have connected with his face twice by now.
Hush hush all will be well my birichino. I know you need a real woman not whatever painted up child pretending to be a woman you got stuck with.
Just as Colin is about to loose his mind in rage Penelope steps into the room with a calm demure smile on her face.
Good morning, I am Mrs Penelope Bridgerton but my husband likes to refer to me as Pen.
P..Pen?
Clearly by her reaction Colin has spoken about her quite a bit to the Contessa.
Yes! But please do go on about how I am a painted child pretending to be a woman who was forced to upon Mr Bridgerton so he is now stuck with me.
The Contessa does not respond.
Well?....You have nothing more to say?
Penelope looks to Colin and then back to The Contessa.
Then I believe it is my turn............ HOW DARE YOU COME INTO MY HOME UNINVITED AND UNANNOUNCED. YOU HAVE THE NERVE TO TO WALK IN HER LIKE YOU ARE OWED SOMETHING, THEN YOU ARE RUDE TO OUR STAFF. THEN YOU INSULT ME AND OUR MARRIAGE AND IN TURN INSULT MY HUSBAND FOR HIS CHOICE IN A WIFE. You came here for what?To make yourself my husband mistress? And the trunk! What were you thinking with that? Did you think he would be so happy and grateful to see you he would send his wife elsewhere disgracing himself and his family? What did you think would come of this idiotic display? You are foolish and pathetic. Remove yourself from my home immediately!
You can not speak to me this way!
She turns to Colin.
You are not going to allow her to speak to me like this are you?
Colin let's out a single cold laugh and momentarily leaves the room. Coming back with Dunwoody they say nothing and pick up the trunk at opposite ends and leave the room with it
Wait what are you doing?!
Penelope follows the men out of the room and the Contessa follows after. Penelope steps in front and quickly opens the door to the street and gets out of the way. Colin and Dunwoody stand just inside the doorway holding the trunk and give it three good hard swings while they count down.
3....... 2.......1!
The Contessa screams
Nooo!!!!!!
With a loud crash the trunk hits the end step spilling it's contents onto the street for all to see. The Contessa steps out of the house to see her clothes, her undergarments and those items only meant for the eyes of ones husband or lover completely on display. She turns to say something cutting but stops when she is only met with Penelope.
Puttana
With that she slammed the door in the Contessa's face. When Penelope turns around Colin is staring at her with a look of awe a joy on his face.
Did you just?....
Yes I called her a whore in Italian. I wanted to make sure she understood my opinion of her.
They both began to laugh at the events of the strange morning.
Could we restart the day? Go back to bed pretend like this never happened and I can have a good morning with my wife like I'm meant to?
As he is talking he walks over wrapping his arms around Penelope's shoulders and upper back while she wraps her arms around his waist and lower back.
Rae!?
Yes ma'am?
Rae pops out from nearby.
Colin and I have decided it would be best to restart our day.
That sounds like a wonderful idea. Do you need any help?
No I believe we can manage, but could you have breakfast sent up in about an hour?
Of course ma'am
Colin and Penelope proceeded to their bed chamber hand in hand ready to restart their day the way they should have.
Fin.