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Penelope Bridgerton lay in her bed, gasping through waves of unbearable pain. Her hand gripped the sheets beneath her, knuckles white as she fought through another contraction. The midwife and maids bustled around her, but their voices were a dull hum in her ears, overtaken by the sound of her own strained breathing. The world seemed to be closing in, her vision hazy and dark around the edges. She was exhausted, terrified, and on the brink of losing herself to the overwhelming pain.
But through the haze, there was one thing she couldn’t stop thinking about: Colin.
Her husband was somewhere outside, pacing the halls. She knew him well enough to picture it—his fists clenched, his brow furrowed with worry. He was likely cursing himself for not being able to do anything, for being helpless while she suffered. But there was something deeper than his worry that
Penelope couldn’t shake.
Would he stay? Would he still love her once this was over?
A sharp pain tore through her abdomen, and she cried out, squeezing her eyes shut. She could feel the midwife’s hand on her arm, trying to comfort her, but Penelope’s mind was far from the physical pain. The emotional turmoil gnawed at her, the fears she had tried to bury resurfacing with a vengeance.
They had made up, hadn’t they? After everything—the lies, the betrayal, the revelation that she was Lady Whistledown—he had forgiven her. He had told her so, time and time again. Yet, deep in her heart, she couldn’t forget how much she had hurt him. How, after their wedding, when the truth came to light, he had ignored her for days. How he had turned away from her, shutting her out, breaking her heart in ways she had never imagined.
She hadn’t known she was pregnant then. She had thought the tension, the nausea, the overwhelming exhaustion had been caused by the strain of their relationship. Only later, after the fights had subsided and he had kissed her with that old warmth, had she discovered the truth.
And when she had, the fear that he might leave her, that he might not love her the same way, had nearly consumed her.
“Penelope, love, you’re doing well. Just breathe.” The midwife’s voice broke through the fog, but Penelope could barely focus on the words. The pain was intensifying, and with it, the old fears returned in full force. What if this was it? What if she didn’t survive this? What if the strain of her deception, of being Lady Whistledown, had pushed them too far? Would Colin still love her if something happened to her or the baby? Would he resent her forever for putting them through this?
She could hear his voice outside, muffled but frantic. He had been beside himself for hours now, pacing, demanding updates, begging to be let into the room. The midwife had denied him, saying he would only make things worse in her condition, but Penelope wanted him there. She needed him there.
“Colin,” she gasped, her voice barely above a whisper. “Please… let him in.”
The midwife hesitated, but Rae, her most devoted maid gave a quick nod before rushing to the door. Penelope closed her eyes, the pain and the exhaustion overwhelming her. She wasn’t sure how much more of this she could endure.
Within moments, Colin was by her side. He looked disheveled, his cravat undone, his hair a mess from running his hands through it too many times. His eyes were wide with fear and love as he knelt beside her, taking her hand in his, holding on as if she were slipping away.
“Pen,” he whispered, his voice trembling. “I’m here. I’m right here.”
She turned her head to look at him, tears streaming down her face. “I’m scared, Colin.”
His heart clenched at the sight of her, the love of his life, so fragile and in so much pain. Her beautiful red hair now plastered to her forehead, her once rosy plump lips now colourless. He had never felt so helpless, never felt so useless.
He squeezed her hand tightly, his thumb brushing over her knuckles.
“I know, love. I know. But you’re the strongest person I’ve ever known. You’re going to get through this. We’re going to get through this.” he said while kissing her forehead
Penelope’s lips trembled, her breath hitching as she tried to speak. “Do you… still love me?”
Colin’s heart shattered in that moment, her question slicing through him like a knife. How could she ask him that? How could she ever doubt it?
“Penelope,” he said, his voice breaking, “I love you more than anything. More than I can even put into words. How could you ever think otherwise?”
Tears spilled down her cheeks as she looked up at him, her fear and exhaustion written in every line of her face. “After everything… Lady Whistledown… the secrets. I thought… I thought you’d hate me.”
Colin felt the weight of her words, the guilt and pain from those early days of their marriage washing over him. Yes, he had been hurt when he found out. He had been angry, confused, and had felt betrayed. But that was before. Before he realized that none of it mattered. Before he understood that he loved her too much to ever let something like that tear them apart.
He leaned down, pressing his forehead to hers, his voice thick with emotion. “I could never hate you, Pen. I was hurt, yes, but I was a fool. I love you, and nothing will ever change that. Not Lady Whistledown, not anything. I love you so much, you’re the love of my life, my sunshine, my heart, my darling Pen.”
She let out a small sob, her fingers gripping his hand tightly as another contraction wracked her body. “I was so scared you’d leave.”
“I’m never leaving,” Colin whispered fiercely. “Not now, not ever.”
The midwife interrupted softly, her voice strained. “She’s weakening, Mr. Bridgerton. The baby is almost here, but she needs your strength now. Keep her with us.”
Colin felt panic rise in his throat as he looked back at Penelope, her face pale and her body shaking. She looked so fragile, so close to the edge, and fear gripped him like never before.
“Pen, listen to me,” he said urgently, cupping her face with his hands. “You have to stay with me. You have to fight, love. I can’t do this without you. I can’t live in the world without you in it, because then my life wouldn’t make any sense. I was made to love you, to worship you and the ground you walk on, to cherish every day you’ve been a part of my life. And now you and I darling, we’re going to raise this baby together.” He felt the tears running down his cheeks. God how he loves her. “Soon you’re going to hold our child, and I’m going to remind you every day how I love you more than anything in this world. But you have to stay with us my love”
Penelope’s eyes fluttered, her breaths shallow, but she nodded weakly. “I… I’m trying.”
Colin’s heart pounded as the midwife continued to coach her through the final stages of labor, her voice distant in his ears. All he could focus on was Penelope, the woman who had become his everything. He couldn’t lose her. He wouldn’t lose her.
“Come on, Pen,” he whispered, his lips brushing her forehead. “Just a little more. You can do this.”
Penelope’s grip tightened on his hand, her entire body tensing as she pushed through the final contraction, a scream of pain ripping through her throat. Colin’s heart nearly stopped as he watched her, willing her to hold on.
And then, after what felt like an eternity, a sharp cry pierced the room.
The baby.
The midwife moved quickly, wrapping the tiny, squalling infant in a blanket before holding the child up for Colin and Penelope to see. “Congratulations! A healthy baby boy. The new Lord Featherington” she announced with a tired smile.
Colin felt tears spill from his eyes as he looked down at their son, his heart swelling with a love he had never known was possible. But his joy was tempered by the sight of Penelope, her chest rising and falling shallowly, her eyes barely open.
“Penelope,” he whispered, his voice trembling as he stroked her cheek. “We did it. You did it, love. He’s perfect.”
Penelope’s lips quirked into the faintest of smiles as she looked up at him, her eyes filled with exhaustion but also relief. “He’s… beautiful,” she whispered weakly.
Colin pressed a kiss to her forehead, his tears falling freely now. “And so are you. You’re everything to me, Pen.”
She blinked slowly, her body finally giving in to the overwhelming exhaustion as she slipped into a deep sleep, her hand still gripping his tightly. Colin stayed beside her, his heart in his throat as the midwife assured him that she was going to be alright—that both she and the baby would survive.
He looked down at Penelope, her face peaceful now, and vowed to himself that he would never let her doubt his love again.
She had fought for them—through pain, through fear—and he would spend the rest of his life making sure she knew just how much she meant to him.