hail polin!

His gaze touched me before his hands touched me [ … ] Even before I was touched, I belonged to you; you had only to look at me.

Phillip and Penelope met when her cousin Marina and his brother George started to go out with one another. Both being the quiet introvert types they got along well. When they both realized they were going to the same university they started to hang out more.

Sadly tragedy struck when George, who was a solider, was killed in action. This news made Marina, who was already suffering from postpartum, fall into a deep depression. So bad that she ended up taking her own life. The parents left behind a pair of twins Oliver and Amanda Crane.

Phillip ended up stepping up and adopting the twins. He didn't trust anyone else to take care of them despite the doubts he has for himself, and he felt like he owed George for taking care of him all those years ago.

Penelope herself also ended up having twins, Agatha and Thomas Featherington, after a drunken one night stand with "a random man in London."

"Penelope!" Michael laughed. "How scandalous! You don't who your baby daddy is?"

"Nope," Penelope said, rubbing her pregnant belly. "Black out drunk. My mother is not happy either."

The three friends were at Phillip's ancestral home visiting. Well, Penelope was actually hiding out after revealing to her mother her pregnancy, and Michael likes drama, so of course, he had to come hear the story.

"You know you could just stay here," Phillip offered later that night. "This house is too big its not like three more will make a difference and the twins love having their Aunt Penelope around."

Penelope happily accepted her friend's offer. The two friends happily live with one another doing their best to raise the kids. Michael came to visit every once in a while. Making sure to bring gifts and sweets for the children.

Things took an interesting turn, though, when the Crane twins were 8 and the Featherington twins were 6.

The cousins were playing in the park when Penelope heard another mother say. "Did I have another son?"

Penelope looked over. A pretty blonde, pregnant woman who could be Cinderella come to life was looking down at four boys. One of those boys being Penelope's son.

Penelope sighed. While both her children could be little troublemakers, just like their older cousins, Thomas has this charm about him that could get him almost anything he wanted.

Picking up Agatha Penelope made her way over to the other mother. "I'm sorry, I think our sons are playing a prank."

Penelope looked down at the four boys and whoa. They really did look a like. If Thomas eye's weren't emerald green, Penelope might not have been able to tell them apart, especially with the oldest boy.

"I've never had a family before I met you all," he admitted. "And I'm so scared to lose you in a way that I've never been scared to lose anyone before."

We know that Lord Wetherby is unmarried, titled, and in love with a Sir Granville.

Later, Penelope points Lord Wetherby out to Marina as an alternative to Colin saying, he had kind eyes and would make a fine enough husband and when the camera pans to him, there’s Cressida again, near him.

Cressida & Wetherby are viewable in the background when Portia informs Marina that Lord Rutledge was now engaged and that Colin is her only hope.

They’re seen speaking at the Queen’s luncheon before the Featherington’s are asked to leave.

And two more times at a concert while Sir Granville and Benedict are speaking about how Sir Granville’s marriage affords his wife the protection of his name and freedom even if their marriage is not a love match.

I’m thinking if Lord Wetherby is not part of season 3, maybe we’ll find out Lord Debling is looking for precisely that sort of marriage and Penelope isn’t looking for a love match so maybe she’ll think that it’s perfect but if Colin realizes that Debling’s not pursuing Penelope for love and he’s battling his own feelings for her he wouldn’t be able to bear the idea that she’ll marry this man and be devastated when she realizes he will never desire her or love her as a man loves his wife.

Maybe Colin will try to warn Pen that she’s marrying someone with secrets, the way she tried to warn him about Marina and much like he dismissed Pen, she will dismiss him because everyone has secrets, even her and when he discovers what her big secret is, he’s not going to trust another man with Penelope’s future or protection because she is too important to him. Only Colin hasn’t admitted to himself yet that he’s fallen in love with her.

POLIN MEETING AS KIDS!!!! it would be so cute omg 🥹🥹🥹

Colin voiceover!!!

if they do have a child by the end of the season COLIN SINGING TO THEM (or just in general. MORE LUKE SINGING PLS!!!!!)

someone catching polin and instead of trying to not deal with it like Simon and Anthony Col stays and declares her as his wife (bonus if it leads to her breaking it cause she doesn’t want to trap him)

POLIN LETTERS‼️‼️

Penelope and Odysseus myth parallels with polin

the scene from the books where Colin lies about how much him and Pen have been sleeping together to get Violet and Portia to move the wedding up (PLEASE it would be so fucking funny)

them making plant puns (maybe at that market picture 👀👀👀)

Pen dancing with A & B!!!!

speaking of A, ANTHONY WALKING PEN DOWN THE ISLE!!!!!!!!!!!

the necklace she is wearing in some of the photos is one that Colin gave her 🥺🥺🥺

either Colin sneaking into Pens room or her sneaking into his room

So, during one of Colin's travels, he comes to the realization that hey, I'm in love with Penelope. But this realization came after his whole, "I will never court/marry Penelope Featherington!" declaration. Embarrassed by his past actions and unsure how she will react to him all of a sudden declaring his feelings after that Colin comes up with the idea to write her anonymous love letters.

With the letters, Colin hopes Penelope would take him more sincerely, and this way, he can work up telling her that it's him. Or maybe he could wait until the season when he's back in London so he could properly court her? Which would be more romantic? Penelope deserves it after his foolish words.

Either way, Colin pours all his feelings into that first letter. Making sure to describe how he finds her adorable, and witty, and how lucky he would be if she ever looked his way. He gives her a return address so if she may ever want to write back, she may. (Not sure if he goes through one of his siblings for the return address or if he's just banking on Penelope, not knowing where he traveled to or think it was a coincidence)

Colin doesn't get a response after the first letter, nor the second one. But as much as it's eating at him not to hear Penelope's thoughts, he's determined to see this through.

After the third letter, Penelope finally writes a response.

Dear Secret Admirer,

I am not sure what to call you other than what you have called yourself in previous letters. Three times you have written to me already and your words are very kind but if all they are are kind words I must ask you to stop. I have had enough kind words with no actions behind them.

Sincerely,

Penelope Featherington

Colin felt a rock in his stomach. Kind words with no actions behind them, she had to be talking about him and his idiotic mouth. Shit, he has his work cut out for him. Not that it matters, Colin knows he loves Penelope, and he will prove it to her.

Grabbing his quill Colin began to draft his fourth letter.

Dear Penelope Featherington,

Thank you for taking pity on me and taking the time to reply to my letters. Though I am disappointed that you believe I am only writing to you are kind words and nothing more. My words may be kind Penelope, but they are also a promise. A promise that once the season begins again and we are both in London, I shall make myself known to you. Then you may cast judgment upon me as you wish.

Until then, my dear one, all I have are my words. I hope that with this letter, you'll start to believe them to be sincere. I intend to send you at least a hundred more before the next season begins.

Your's, always

Secret Admirer

Happy with his letter, Colin also prepared a gift to be sent with it. In the gift was a set of new quills made from swan, owl, and raven feathers. Colin had more he wanted to send as well, but it was best not to overwhelm Penelope too early. He just needs to send them a few at a time. After they are married he can shower her with as many gifts as he wanted.