Where there's tea, there's hope.

"Absolutely not! You're not moving forward with that idiotic plan of yours!" Gertrude Stated with an angry adamant expression.

Colin stood behind her like a little boy hiding behind his grandmother when his mother comes to scold him, except it wasn't his mother scolding him, it was his friend, Fabian.

Consumed by guilt and worries towards both Safa and Fabian especially after his talk with his friend earlier in the day, Colin ended-up traveling to the Struat's estate and made it there just in time for dinner.

Upon spotting her, Colin confessed everything he knew about Fabian's plans to a distraught Gertrude who was on her way to the dinning room.

And once she knew, she barged into the spacious room with fury to find Fabian who was already seated and ready for his meal, when Gertrude demanded to know whether what Colin said was true or not.

"You traitorous Rat! how can you go behind my back and tell Gertie about my plan! What happened to your promise of not standing in my way?!" Fabian said as he stood fiercely facing Gertrude while giving Colin behind her a dirty look.

"You are acting bonkers Fai?! What was I supposed to do? Let you ruin both your and Safa's lives?!" Colin replied.

"So Does it mean that your word means nothing?!" Fabian asked.

"Am I invisible to you?! Look at me Young man!" Gertrude demanded, "Gertie! I do not care what you think at the moment, I am not listening." Fabian replied earning a glare from the old maid.

"You're misbehaving just like in your aunt's stories about you growing-up! No wonder the late lord Struat and you couldn't get along! If this is the behavior he had to deal with all the time! What A manchild!" Gertrude said.

Her words stunned Fabian a little, he found himself unable to face her anymore.

As he looked away from her, Gertrude took a deep breath and spoke-up "Fabian...your plan may work, if we were to look at it from a logical angle, it's brilliant...it would probably guarantee you that Safa would become your wife...but...

Is it really worth ruining any chance of salvaging your relationship with her?!

The late lord loved your aunt so much, they had their ups and downs, they fought countless of times but slept in each other's arms at night.

if there was one thing they both were adamant about, was that they needed to communicate.

Even when they knew it would result in an argument, they didn't shy away from voicing their opinions, they didn't resort to bottling things up or tricking one another into compliance like you seem to always do!

They discussed what needed to be, and sometimes agreed to disagree, they never slept a day without making sure that they said their Peace, so if one of them wouldn't awake the next day, the other would have no regrets knowing they parted ways on good terms.

And while the late lord may have taken his life because he couldn't bare to live without your aunt even for one day, the fact remains that she died in bed next to him with a smile on her face."

Colin let out a fascinated low gasp, "Why are you telling me this?" Fabian asked holding onto his own arm.

"Relationships take time and efforts.

Please, talk things out with Safa, let her know what you're thinking...if you believe she has twisted your arm and is leaving you no choice, voice it to her.

Don't trick her into matrimony with you!

What is a union based on force, but a sham?" Gertrude said, her features softened and she decided to approach Fabian, placing a hand on his arm.

"My loyalty unfortunately always lies with the woman in these situations, so I'm warning you...While the choice remains yours, if you don't promise me you'll abandon the plan, I'll have no choice but to let Safa know of your plans...

But I genuinely hope, you choose wisely.

Safa has gone out of her way to be kind to you, and while yes she overreacted on multiple occasions and she's also in the wrong about blaming you for the entire Lady Danbury situation...she deserves a chance to make her own choices." Gertrude said.

"But she made her choice..." Fabian uttered unconfident, "Maybe...but it's for the best if you give her a second chance...I do believe she gave you a second chance when she allowed you to court her despite announcing her engagement to Lord Teaton.

I mean think about it, what has changed that much? You are going to court her whether she is engaged or not, And you can still change her mind!

Just be mindful, demure and honest! Women love to hear what they love to hear.

And You do believe you love her right? Then act like a lover would! Charm her to heaven and back! I believe you can do it!" Gertrude replied smiling at the now nervous but mostly embarrassed albino man.

Chuckling, "You're all red Fai!" Colin said, "Shut it!" Fabian replied making his friend laugh louder.

"Oh dear you are awfully red! Your skin gives you away so easily, you can use that to show your sincerity to Safa!" Gertrude said happily.

While covering his cheeks, "Do you... really think I can do this...without the plan?" Fabian asked, "Only through trial one will know what they can and cannot do, but! Let's face the music here, Safa is a woman who's used to a cold world, and romantic love is naturally a warm feeling.

Who wouldn't find themselves intrigued by such thing! Especially a woman who enjoys experimenting like Safa does, trust me!

However long it may take, her heart will come close to you to feel the warmth at some point, just make sure you welcome it and don't burn it, it will leave a nasty scar." Gertrude said making Colin awe at her.

"You're such a poetic person Miss Gertrude! No wonder my wife enjoys your company!" He said.

"You live and you learn...I may be a thornback or more commonly known As a spinster, but I know my way around romance! At least from what I saw during my days with the Struats, I just hope Fabian and Safa can be as lovely as the late couple...

They were unmatched, truely the perfect match." Gertrude replied with a sad smile.

"To love someone so dearly, you choose death for them... surely unmatched." Fabian replied said smiling back at her.

"Hopefully, it won't amount to anything like that with you and Safa, I wish you two a long life and more importantly a happy ending." Colin said.

Nodding, "Alright...I promise to abandon the plan and I shall address Safa personally! But not until it is time for me to court her!" Fabian replied firmly.

"Why? It's best if you go tomorrow before you drastically change your mind again!" Gertrude said.

"Well first, I need to find an apology gift...I feel like Safa deserves one...also she really enjoyed the cane I brought her...her smile when she received it...it was... blinding." Fabian replied feeling shy once more.

Gertrude grinned at him, "I see! You wish to see her smile again!"

"It is merely a peace offering, to smooth things over." Fabian's eyes darted away.

"Do you have enough time to make her something else?" Colin asked, "I doubt it...which is why I wish to buy her something...however I am in no control of the funds the Struats left due to the will, and quite frankly I have not a clue on what to buy either!" Fabian replied.

"Well you need to do something so you must figure out what to gift Safa, yourself.

As for the funding, and as your friend I'm happy to lend you money as long as you promise you shall put in the effort to pursue Safa the right way." Colin said smiling with pride.

Smirking, "Boosting about your wealth? Well since you are offering, who am I to refuse! Just so know you, you will never see the money back! Consider it the fee of betraying our promise!" Fabian sheepishly responded.

"That's fine, I'll just hold it over your head for the rest of our lives, I'll have a story to tell in every event about how the current lord Struat's marriage was built on my financial help and how he was such a cheapskate he wouldn't return me my money!

I'll even ask Penelope to write about it in her column." Colin smirked back.

"Ha! You would not!"

"Yes I would! Watch me!"

"Boys! Stop bickering over things that have yet to happen!" Gertrude said, "My original plan did not happen yet we bickered over it." Fabian pointed out.

"He has a point!" Colin replied excitedly.

Sighing, "Thank you for reminding me why I never settled for a man." Gertrude said walking to her chair in the dinning room, "Since it's too late already...sit your arses down both of you, dinner has gone cold but you may enjoy it still." She added earning a nod from both gentlemen as they hurried to their seats.

...the next day...

"This place is AMAZING!" Clara couldn't hide her excitement, inside the vast lit room, surrounded by jars filled with all sorts of ingredients, books scattered here and there, shelves and cupboards sticking to every wall, and of course the table where the real magic happens.

The anxious girl was no longer anxious, but feeling somewhat at ease while her eyes inspected the place.

"You like it? I can see excitement in your eyes." Safa asked curiously, "Like? I adore this place! This is where you make your tea and cream and whatnot?" Clara asked.

"And where I make myself forget who I am and focus on what I can achieve...so yes, this is my real home inside this mansion." Safa replied walking towards one of the jars, "This tea right here was my first ever successful experiment, I made it to treat light nausea." She said smiling.

"Why did you make it? Were you constantly nauseous?"

"You read my mother's confessions, I think you know the answer."

"Oh!...yes..." Clara replied chuckling in embarrassment.

Sighing, "I doubt I will ever pass down my work to a child of mine, so passing it to someone I trust should be enough." Safa said confusing Clara, "Whatever do you mean?"

"Are you being silly again? You shall be my student and prodigy." Safa replied.

Surprised, "Me?" Clara looked at her with wide eyes.

"If you are not interested in my work and just in securing an income to yourself, then I understand, and I support such choice.

otherwise I would love to have a student, especially a woman to teach everything I have accumulated over the years.

I am of course still learning myself, but I would love to mentor you." Safa said.

"That...would be an honor!" Clara replied smiling big.

"Then I suppose we can begin right away." Safa responded with a smile of her own.

...Meanwhile...

As he unlocked the door, "Lady featherington?! I mean...Bridgerton!" Wolfgang was surprised to find another redhead at his door when he not long ago said goodbye to James who headed back to his estate.

"It's alright Wolfgang, you may call me Penelope." Penelope replied with a radiant smile.

"Uh...alright, Penelope...Come in please."

"Thank you!"

As Penelope walked into the manor, "May I have the honor of knowing why you're gracing us with your visit?" Wolfgang asked.

"I personally cannot explain it, but I've had a feeling for the past few days that Safa wasn't alright...I decided to come see her myself." Penelope responded.

"How very kind of you, I shall go inform her of your arrival, I hope you don't mind the wait, she's in her lab." Wolfgang replied smiling back.