Chapter Text
Penelope was sorting through and organizing papers at her desk. Getting ideas for Whistledown while also taking care of things for the household was making her workspace as messy as her brain occasionally was these days. She glanced up at the gentle knock on the doorframe to see Rae standing there, looking slightly apologetic.
“Is he awake already?” Penelope asked, pushing her chair back to stand up. It wasn’t out of the ordinary for the littlest Bridgerton to wake up not too terribly long after being put down, deciding his stomach had been incorrect and it was not actually as full as it thought. Penelope was just grateful her body could keep up with the tiny stomach that most definitely came from his father.
Rae shook her head, “No ma’am. Viscount Bridgerton is here. He said he’d like to speak with you.”
Penelope’s eyebrows furrowed, confused. It obviously wasn’t an emergency. Kate had worked miracles on Anthony’s disposition, but she knew if something was horribly wrong the Viscount would come barreling through like a wild animal with nothing able to stop him.
After a moment of slight confusion Penelope just nodded and said, “Send him in,” sitting back down at her desk. Rae nodded and left to go fetch Anthony, leaving Penelope to finish cleaning up her desk and wonder what this meeting was about.
He was behaving too calmly for something to be seriously wrong, which was comforting. When he and Kate returned from India the two couples had quite the discussion about Whistledown, Kate and Colin stepping in when their significant others got a little too... passionate. Surely, Anthony got everything out of his system that day. It certainly felt like he did. Though she wouldn’t be terribly surprised if he remembered something out of the blue and felt compelled to visit the author.
Anthony and Rae walked in as she was putting her last few papers in her desk, stopping her guesswork in its tracks. She gestured to the settees, moving from behind her desk to take a seat on one herself. “Have a seat, Anthony. Would you like some tea? Or is this a conversation that calls for something stronger?”
He gave a small laugh, “Well the conversation doesn’t call for it necessarily, but I wouldn’t turn down something stronger.”
She nodded with a smile, turning and dismissing Rae before grabbing a bottle and a couple of glasses from behind Colin’s desk, relaxing a little more seeing Anthony’s seemingly calm state. She placed them down on the table, knowing Anthony preferred to pour drinks himself, and took a seat, motioning for him to do the same.
He took a seat on the settee across from her, pouring them both drinks then relaxing back, his other hand very slightly fidgeting.
Penelope took a drink of her own, noticing the tick and wondering what was making her brother-in-law so nervous. Her initial thought being, ‘It’s only me’, then remembering, first, she was also co-head of a household now, and second, she was the most famous author in Mayfair, maybe London. She was still learning, with the help of her husband, that she wasn’t ‘only’ anything.
It still felt quite odd to be at a level playing field with Anthony. She spent her whole childhood being slightly intimidated by the man in front of her, always so serious after the death of the Bridgerton patriarch, scolding and yelling instructions at his siblings. So different from her father and certainly his siblings, she never quite knew how to be around the oldest Bridgerton sibling as a child. She just tried to follow the rules, as much as Eloise and Colin would allow her to, and be quiet. Noise, understandably, being his most common complaint towards his young siblings.
Having the Viscount in her home and on a first name basis felt, well she wasn’t quite sure, exactly. It was odd to look at their relationship now and how she felt as a child. She was quite proud of it, really. And of him.
She placed her glass down on the table, reclining herself, as Anthony said, “I’m impressed. My desk never looks that neat.”
She smiled, a small laugh escaping through her nose, “You should’ve seen it twenty minutes ago. You probably would’ve felt right at home.”
He nodded, an understanding smile on his face. “It gets away from you, doesn’t it?”
She nodded back, “Running a household and writing Whistledown with a baby doesn’t exactly lend itself to perfect organization. Though the idea is nice.” She knew this wasn’t what Anthony came for, but she was happy to let him small talk until he felt comfortable enough to broach the actual subject.
“Certainly not.” Then like he was in her head, he sat his glass down and looked back up at her, almost like he was gauging her, searching her for something.
She was suddenly a little more nervous. “Is everything alright, Anthony? You know if you need anything-”
He shook his head, “No, nothing’s wrong. I just wanted to ask something of you, but you must promise me it won’t leave this room. Not even for Colin.”
Her brows furrowed, confused. What would be so important she couldn’t even tell Colin? “Anthony, I...” she paused. She didn’t feel particularly comfortable keeping secrets from Colin. In fact, after the “Bug Ball” they both promised they wouldn’t hide anything from each other. Certainly not if it was as serious as Anthony sounded right now.
He took a deep breath and blew it back out again, his hand running though his hair. “I know it’s not fair for me to ask you that but to be quite honest you’re the only one I trust with this. Obviously, you can keep a secret. No one else in this family could if I paid them to. Subtlety and silence don’t exactly run in the family; you know that better than anyone.”
She huffed a small laugh, not disagreeing with him. The Bridgerton’s were a lot of things, but those two items were certainly not on the list. Not anywhere near the list. She looked up at him, searching his eyes, trying to determine the right path forward.
After a few moments, she took a deep breath and nodded. If it was this important to her brother-in-law, she couldn’t leave him floundering. Anthony never asked a favor of anyone. As the head of a family and a man that had been in charge at a young age, she knew it was no small thing for him to come to her for help. She certainly understood that impulse.
He let out a breath he seemed to be holding, relieved. “Good, good...” he turned to make sure the door was closed and moved to the other side of the settee she was sitting on. She readjusted to face him, nervous as to what he was going to reveal.
As he sat down, he pulled a small book out of his pocket, flipping it repeatedly in his hands. She looked at it, confused. Maybe he needed Whistledown’s assistance? Maybe there was something in that book about the family or someone connected to it? She couldn’t imagine why else a book would hold such importance.
“A friend of mine sent me this and I just received it this morning, I haven’t even opened it, yet.” he started, finally ceasing the fidgeting. She was more confused now. If he hadn’t even read it, what was so important about it?
He paused for a moment, holding the book like it held all the secrets man could ever ask, before finally handing it to her. She hesitated for a moment before reaching out and taking it, turning it to read the title.
The Riddle Book
She sat there frozen for a second before looking back up at Anthony, a perfectly serious look on his face. She couldn’t stop the giggle that came out, or the actual laugh that came out after, her body relaxing into the couch in a way that certainly wasn’t ladylike, but she couldn’t stop the amusement that came alongside the relief that nothing was actually wrong.
She gently wiped her eyes as she calmed down, her breathing finally starting to settle. She almost broke again as she looked up at Anthony and saw the small frown on his face, he certainly thought this was serious. She let out one more tiny giggle before pulling herself together. “Apologies, Anthony. It’s just... you had me thinking something was wrong. I was worried. Now I’m simply relieved and... well, you must admit it’s a tad bit funny,” she said, picking up her drink and taking a sip, hoping it would help her calm a bit more. For Anthony’s sake.
He squinted his eyes, the smallest hint of a smile trying to escape, “I don’t find it funny at all. I take this quite seriously; I think you would know that by now.”
She giggled again, amused. He certainly did take the Bridgerton games seriously. Every Bridgerton did. They seemed to be born with a desire to best each other. Charades, at least, was not a game physical in nature. No bloodshed to be expected. Pall Mall though, she couldn’t say the same.
She stood up and put it in the bottom drawer of her desk, underneath everything that was in that drawer, and returned to the settee. “I’ll move it somewhere else later. It will be safe there for now, though. Colin does not have a habit of snooping through my things.”
Anthony nodded, picking up his drink and finishing it, looking pleased enough by Penelope’s words.
As if her words spoke him into existence, Colin walked in, laying his jacket over the back of the settee across from them. “Brother. What brings you here?” He asked, making his way over to give Penelope a quick kiss and rest himself against the arm of the settee they were sitting on.
Bridertons were also, usually, quick on their feet. “I came to see if you wanted to go out with Benedict and I tonight? If you can pull yourself away from your wife more than once in a day, that is?” Anthony asked, a small smirk on his lips.
Penelope blushed and smiled; her husband's love was certainly not hidden from anyone. He was not shy about kissing her or placing his arm around her no matter where they were. She would blush and object, looking around, but it was obvious to all that he did not particularly care for the thoughts of others. And she knew it was quite obvious to him that as much as she protested, she was not actually upset by his attention. Their marriage was night and day when compared to the early days, when he could barely look at her. Now he was never not looking at her. Despite being a writer, she was happier than she could put into words.
Colin chuckled, his hand rubbing her arm. “You can’t blame me for finding my wife enchanting. Or better company than most.”
Anthony shook his head, a small smile on his face. “No, and I cannot say that I don’t feel the same in regard to my wife. But Benedict has been asking me about all of us going out together, so I figured I’d come ask before he throws a tantrum.”
Colin chuckled, then looked down at Pen. She looked up at him, her right hand going to his left on her left shoulder. “The little lord and I will be fine. Go have fun with your brothers. I’m sure I’ll still be awake when you return.”
Rae knocked and opened the door slightly, Penelope’s words bringing someone to her door, yet again. “I’m sorry, my lady. He just woke up and is quite determined.” She said, her hands holding tightly to the little lord in question, wiggling vigorously to get to his mother.
Penelope laughed and opened her arms, “That’s alright, Rae. I knew it wouldn’t be too much longer.”
Rae walked over and handed the baby to Penelope before turning and leaving the family to themselves, closing the door behind her. Now content in her arms, the baby sat with his back against her stomach, looking at Anthony curiously. He had certainly seen Anthony before, but not usually after a nap. And not too often in his house.
“Can you say hi to Uncle Anthony?” Penelope asked, picking up his hand and waving.
Anthony waved back and smiled, “Hello, little lord. So sorry to disturb your mealtime. If you’re anything like your father, I know that’s a great sin to commit.”
Colin laughed, his hand rubbing the top of his son’s head, already covered in red hair to match his mothers. “Quite. He takes his mealtimes very seriously, which I understand entirely. And it’s important for a lord to regimented. He’s ahead of all of them, I’d say.”
“You’re not wrong.” Anthony said, giving the little lord his hand when he reached for it. “Already knows how to shake as well. It won’t be too long before he’s in the House of Lords with me.”
Penelope took a breath and released it, feeling that sentiment in her bones. Time already felt like it was moving so quickly. She blinked and suddenly, her son was learning something new and showing off to her and Colin because he loved how excited they got. She knew the next eighteen years would go by in a flash and she was most certainly not ready to hand her baby over to so much responsibility so young. Though she knew in reality, it wasn’t uncommon. Anthony did it. Her and Colin weren’t much older than he would be. She found, though, that a mother’s heart didn’t care. The instinct to hold her baby and never let go was strong.
Colin’s hand went back to her arm, rubbing gently, as if he could read her mind. He probably could at this point.
Anthony stood up, straightening his jacket. “Well, I’ll let Benedict know you’ll be there. Unless you want to break your poor brother’s heart.”
Colin laughed. “I’m sure he’d be absolutely devastated. I’ll be there. We might as well go together. What time would you like to leave?”
Anthony shrugged. “Let’s say nine o’clock. You can come over, let mother greet you like she hasn’t seen you in months, and we can go.” Anthony reached over and rubbed the little lord’s head as a goodbye, getting a gummy smile in return. “Thank you for the drink, Penelope. You are much better company than your husband, I must say.”
She laughed, “Of course, anytime Anthony. You know that.”
He smiled and dipped his head in a small bow, then left the room with Colin right behind. “You are just jealous that I’m mother’s favorite. I’m sure it’s difficult...”
She laughed, hearing her husband’s voice trail off as they got further away. The wriggling body in her lap brought her back though, realizing that the mini-Colin in front of her was hungry and pulling at her dress. She adjusted herself and within a couple minutes had the little lord eating contently, staring at her as he ate away.
She stared back with a smile, her heart and body full of emotions she didn’t even know existed, didn’t know what to call them. Again, too happy for words. Then she remembered Anthony’s reason for visiting and laughed again, not able to help herself.
The Bridgertons certainly kept her life interesting.