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As Colin helped Penelope get comfortable on their bed, Portia gave adoring looks and gentle sways to their second child who had just been born, a beautiful girl. It had been an easy labour – easier than the first time, Penelope assured. Almost an hour had passed by, and everyone in Featherington House was caring for her and the baby. Agatha Bridgerton.
Penelope and Colin’s firstborn, five-year-old Thomas Bridgerton, was allowed inside the room once his mother was settled, entering the place holding Violet’s hand. The boy had been beyond excited during his mother’s nine months of pregnancy, the idea of being an older brother thrilling him as he imagined what his little brother or sister would be like.
“My boy.” Penelope’s lips curved into a weak yet happy smile, waving at her son the moment the door opened.
“Mama!” Thomas immediately jumped onto the bed with the intention to hug his mother when familiar hands stopped him.
“Thomas, dear.” Colin softly pushed him away, knowing the boy’s hugs were a little too strong when he was feeling affectionate. “Be gentle with mama now, okay? She needs to recover from giving birth to your little sister.”
The moment he heard the word sister, Thomas’s eyes switched to Portia, who still had little Agatha in her arms. Remaining on the bed, he moved closer to his grandma, curiously eyeing the baby. Like any curious child, his first instinct was to stretch his hand and try to touch her, but Portia was quicker, moving away from his reach just in case.
“Do not be so impatient.” She told her grandson, sharing a smile with Violet as the other woman placed a small kiss on baby Agatha’s tiny head. “She’s just like Penelope when she was a baby.” Portia whispered mostly to herself.
“I’m sure she will be as beautiful as she is when she grows up.”
“Thomas, dearest, come here.” Penelope called for her son, distracting him from his sister for a moment. “Do you remember the name we thought for the baby if it was a girl?”
“Agatha.” Thomas responded without hesitation, making himself comfortable next to his mother. “Mama, did it hurt?”
“A bit, but do not worry.” Penelope’s fingers threaded through Thomas’s ginger locks. “I will recover very soon, as your sister is healthy. That is what matters.”
Agatha had moved from Portia’s arms to Violet’s, who swayed the baby a little more before she walked next to Colin to carefully place his daughter in his arms before kissing her son’s hair and giving Penelope’s cheeks a gentle squeeze. “I will be in Featherington House with Portia for the rest of the day.” Violet told the couple. “In case there is something you need, do not hesitate to look for us.”
Portia sat on the bed, placing a loving kiss on her daughter’s forehead. “We will do everything in our power to help you with the baby.” Her smile was proud as she looked at Penelope in the eyes. “You have done so well, my girl.”
“Thank you, mama.” Penelope had already gotten used to Portia being that expressive and open when it came to showing affection. It had taken her years to work through what she was conditioned to believe and grow as a person – but she had succeeded at it.
Once Violet and Portia left the room, Thomas’s curiosity took only five seconds to come back to the surface. “Papa, can I hold Agatha?”
“Your sister’s too fragile now.” Colin explained in a soft voice, his adoring eyes on his precious daughter before giving certain look at his wife, one she knew more than well, and nodded in response. “You can touch her, if you want. Only if you are careful.”
Thomas’s tiny, shaky hand held even a tinier one, not missing a single detail of his baby sister’s reactions. He let Agatha’s hand go and moved to her small head, his index finger tracing the tiny locks of ginger hair which would one day probably be as long as Penelope’s. It seemed Colin and Penelope were bringing ginger after ginger to the family.
“She has the same as me.” Thomas’s lips curved into a fond smile. “And mama.”
“Maybe your next siblings will look like your papa.” Penelope ventured. “Whenever that happens.”
Penelope and Colin had lengthy talks about how they wanted to navigate parenthood. They had quite similar ideas about the matter and were pleasantly surprised when they agreed of ideally having four children. Colin told Penelope multiple times that she didn’t have to go through more pregnancies once Thomas was born, but she assured that she wanted it.
“I will not complain if we keep having gingers.” Colin brought Agatha’s head to his lips so he could kiss her daughter again – multiple times.
Penelope could tell Colin had always wanted a daughter. He loved Thomas, of course he did, and would do everything for their boy, but every time they discussed the idea of having a girl made Colin giggle like a child. Penelope’s heart melted when during one of those talks, Colin mentioned that he would like a little girl who looks just like you when you were a child.
And Agatha already looked like her mother when she was a baby. Penelope remembered how Colin jokingly messed with his oldest brother at times, remembering Anthony’s exaggerated overprotectiveness of Daphne when she debuted in society many years ago – but she knew Colin would be just like him once his children were older, boys and girls.
The moment Agatha started to cry, Thomas retired his hands from his sister, a little worried. “Did I hurt her?”
“Of course not dear, I think little Agatha is just hungry.” Colin was extra careful when passing the girl to her mother’s arms. “Let’s not disturb mama while he feeds your sister, okay? Come, I will take you to your grandmas.”
While Penelope didn’t mind Thomas staying in the room, the boy’s energy was too much at times. Which was normal in a five-year-old, but a newborn baby needed the peace and quiet. Colin came back after leaving Thomas with Portia and Violet, sitting next to his wife on the bed, fondly laughing at the sight of their daughter’s tiny mouth attached to Penelope’s nipple.
“Do you need to rest?” Colin asked, moving his arm around Penelope’s shoulder once she was done feeding Agatha. “I can take Agatha to her cradle and leave–”
“I could use some rest.” Penelope softy interrupted her husband. “Though I would very much prefer for you to stay with me.”
Colin exhaled a relieved breath. “That is what I prefer as well.”
Once Agatha was on her cradle – which was placed next to her parents’ bed, Colin got rid of his shoes and removed his yellow vest, making himself comfortable next to Penelope, who instantly buried her face in the crook of his neck, her eyes already closing. Childbirth hadn’t been too hard for her so far, but it was still so incredibly exhausting.
“You have done so well, my love.” Colin kissed his wife’s hair. “Sleep now, you deserve it. I love you.”
Penelope had heard those words so many times, yet she cherished them as if it was the first. “I love you too.”