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The first time he’d seen her, he’d been looking out the upstairs window. He watched as carriages stopped in front of the house across from them and the help began to unload all the boxes. From the very last carriage, people began to get out. Colin watched with fascination as a man similar in age to his father got out first and held his hand out to a lady, who took it gingerly as she stepped out of the carriage. Once they were both out, two little girls followed, both of them linking arms instantly and following their parents towards the house. Colin had been about to turn away when a third girl stepped out of the carriage, a book in her hand. She looked smaller than the other two girls, her bright red hair a mess as she rushed after her family. Tilting his head to the side, Colin watched as she struggled to catch up with her sisters but when she finally did, they didn’t link arms with her, simply let her trail alongside them. He couldn’t help but sympathise with the girl, after all, Anthony and Benedict always did that to him too. They always left him behind, usually telling him that he couldn’t go with them and that he should play with their sisters. He knew what it felt like to be the odd one out and in that moment, he knew he wanted to be friends with that girl.
*****
In his head, it happened in slow motion. Colin saw the yellow bonnet coming his way but before he could do anything, it hit him in the face and he found himself letting go of the reigns of his horse and then tumbled backwards, off his horse and straight into the mud. With a groan, he slowly sat up, pulling the bonnet away from his face as he inspected his hands. They were covered in mud but it didn’t look like he’d cut himself.
“I am so very sorry!” Came a small voice from beside him.
Looking up, Colin was met with a terrified look from the little girl from across the square. The girl who he’d seen trailing behind her sisters and who he had decided he wanted to be friends with.
Chuckling, Colin slowly stood up, brushing some of the dirt off his trousers.
“It’s alright. I always fall off my horse anyway.”
“I’m so sorry.” She repeated again, her eyes filled with tears.
Shaking his head, Colin handed the bonnet back to the girl, a smile on his face.
“Truly, it is quite alright. I have three little sisters who are always making me fall into the mud, it is alright.”
“Three sisters?”
“Yes, Daphne, Eloise and Francesca. How old are you?”
“I am 6.” The girl replied.
“My sister Eloise is 6 too and Fran is 5. You should ask your mama and papa if you can come to our house to play with them. Daphne will be 8 soon but I am sure she will want to play with you as well.”
The girl looked up at him with her bright blue eyes, a small smile beginning to play on her lips.
“Oh forgive me, I forgot to introduce myself I am Colin Bridgerton. I am nine.”
Colin held out his hand, as good manners dictated but hastily dropped it when he remembered he was not allowed to shake the hand of a young girl. She must have thought the same thing because she gave him a sheepish smile.
“I am Penelope. Penelope Featherington. It is nice to make your acquaintance Mr Bridgerton.”
“Please, just call me Colin. My brothers like to be referred to as Mr Bridgerton but I prefer just Colin.”
Blushing, Penelope simply nodded as she took in his disheveled state once more.
“I truly am sorry.” Penelope said quietly, fiddling with the bonnet that Colin had passed back to her.
“It really is fine. So do you like it here?”
“What?”
“Well your family is new to the square, do you like it here?”
“How do you know that?” Penelope asked, confused.
“We live across the square from you. I saw your carriage arrive and your family move in.”
“Oh.”
At the age of 9 and 6, neither Colin nor Penelope were particularly good at making conversation so they simply looked at one another, unsure what to say next. The silence between them was instantly broken by a loud shout coming from behind them.
“Penelope Featherington, what on earth have you done!”
Colin watched as a lady rushed forward, her hair as red as Penelope’s as she looked between her and Colin. Even if Colin hadn’t seen Penelope’s family from his window, the resemblance between Penelope and this woman was uncanny. This was undoubtedly her mother.
“Mama…“
“How many times do I have to tell you to tie your bonnet properly. And that young ladies do not run at break neck speed to recover their lost items of clothing.”
Looking down, Penelope mumbled her apology. Colin felt sorry for the little girl in front of him. It felt as though her mother was being unnecessarily harsh. In fact, he knew her mother was being unnecessarily angry because his own mother would never admonish him or his siblings in such a public setting. And lord knew they deserved it sometimes with the hi-jinxes they came up with.
“Colin, what happened to you dear?”
Turning, Colin found his mother approaching, a look of curiosity on her face and Eloise and Daphne beside her.
“Nothing to worry about mama, I simply fell off my horse.”
Eloise scoffed and Daphne gave her a sharp nudge with her elbow as her eyes fell on Penelope. She gave Penelope a little smile and a little wave. Violet too noticed Penelope and her mother, a wide smile forming on her face.
“Ah, you must be Lady Featherington! I am Viscountess Violet Bridgerton, it is an honour to finally meet you.”
“Good day Lady Bridgerton.” Portia Featherington replied with a tight smile. “How ever did you recognise me?”
“I have heard you and your daughters have the most beautiful red hair. I presume this is one of your young ladies?”
Violet Bridgerton gave Penelope a warm smile and Penelope recognised instantly that Colin had his mothers smile. Curtsying as her mother had taught her, Penelope smiled back at Lady Bridgerton.
“Yes, this is Miss Penelope Featherington, my youngest. And it seems she is responsible for the plight of your son. I do apologise.”
Violet waved off Portia’s apology, looking between Colin and Penelope with a smile.
“Nothing to apologise for Lady Featherington. My Colin here, my third born and third son, is not an adept horse rider yet. He is always falling off his horse and coming inside with scrapes and bruises. I am sure he would have fallen off the horse regardless of whatever it is you believe young Penelope is responsible of.”
Colin nodded in silent agreement because his mother was right. He probably would have fallen off his horse even if Penelope’s bonnet hadn’t hit him in the face.
While the Bridgerton’s made light of the situation, Portia Featherington took Penelope’s misbehaviour as a personal failure and could not find it within herself to accept that the young lad would have fallen anyway. Simply put, she was embarrassed that this was how she was meeting the Viscountess.
Placing a firm hand on Penelope’s shoulder, Portia fixed her best smile on her face as she addressed the Viscountess.
“It was lovely to meet you Lady Bridgerton but we really must be going.”
“Of course, of course. But you must come round for tea. And you must bring your girls. It would be lovely for our children to get to know each other.”
With a tight smile and a curt nod, Portia Featherington caught hold of her youngest and gestured her away. Penelope waved goodbye to the Bridgerton children, her eyes lingering in Colin a moment too long before she finally looked away.
*****
Over the following weeks, Penelope and her sisters found themselves being invited to Bridgerton house often. A friendship developed between Penelope and the second Bridgerton daughter, Eloise, almost instantly, but she got on well with Daphne and Francesca too. While Philippa too got on well enough with the Bridgerton girls, Prudence found herself unable to form the same kind of bond her sisters did. As a result, she found herself pulling her middle sister away and soon enough, only Penelope would go across the square to play with her new friends.
Sometimes Colin would try to join his sisters and Penelope, teaching them the games that he knew or simply playing along with whatever they were playing. For the most part, they were more than welcoming, letting him join in. Other times they would tell him to go away. Penelope though always said he was welcome to join them. He liked Penelope, she was kind and included him in ways no one else ever had. Penelope as slowly becoming his favourite person and he didn’t know what to do with this revelation.
*****
One particular afternoon once Penelope had gone home, Colin walked through his house aimlessly, unsure what to do. His sisters were in the nursery having a tea party and had made it clear that he was not invited and his brothers were out doing their own thing, and again, he was not invited. Sighing, Colin tried to find something to do, but when nothing else came to mind, he began walking towards his father’s study. Perhaps he could sit across from his father and read while he worked. Approaching the study, Colin noticed that the door was open, meaning his father was not too busy and so he could join him. As he stood in the doorway though, he stopped at the sight of his parents, their arms around each other, their faces pressed together. As much as he felt like he should look away, Colin found himself unable to, wanting to work out what was happening here. He watched as his parents pulled apart ever so slightly only to smile at one another and lean back in, their lips locking once more as Edmund ran a hand down Violet’s back. When Colin saw his father’s hand come to rest on his mother’s bottom, he turned away, his face heating up.
It was once Colin was turned away that he realised what was going on. His parents were kissing! He had never seen two people kiss like that, not on the mouth, but he knew from his brothers that that was something that happened, that people did. He had seen his parents kiss each others cheek or hands plenty of times, but never on the lips. Colin had so many questions but could he dare to ask them?
“Colin, what are you doing there dear?” Came his mother’s soft voice from behind him.
Turning around Colin noticed the way his parents stepped away from one another, the way his mother tucked her hair behind her ears and the way his father adjusted his breeches. Tentatively, he stepped into his father’s study.
“I was coming to read with father. I have nothing to do.”
“Did you sisters send you away?”
Colin nodded glumly as his father chuckled.
“I have to meet with Lord Fife, but you can read with me once I come home.”
“Why do you not come with me and we can go check on the vegetables in the garden. And then we can come inside and you can read beside me while we wait for your father to come home?” Violet suggested as she placed a gentle hand on Colin’s shoulder.
Despite this not being what Colin wanted to do, he agreed and allowed his mother to lead him away.
*****
Later that evening, after dinner and as he and his younger siblings began to get ready to bed, Colin found himself wandering back towards his father’s study. The door was open once more so Colin knocked quietly and waited. Looking up, Edmund smiled at his youngest son and gestured for him to come inside.
“Should you not be getting ready for bed?”
“I have some time until I have to be in bed.”
“That is true. Well, was there a specific reason you have been looking for me today?”
Sitting down across from his father, Colin shrugged his shoulders, his fingers brushing across the sheet of paper in front of him.
“I was bored.”
“I see. And are you still bored? Is that what brings you here at this hour?”
Colin hesitated for a moment, unsure what to say.
“I actually have a question for your father.”
Putting his pen down, Edmund nodded as he laced his fingers together.
“What question do you have for me today Colin?”
It wasn’t unusual for Colin to have questions, but it was unusual for Colin to sit on it for so long before he asked it.
“Father, why do… Why do people kiss?”
Of all the questions Colin had brought to Edmund previously, the nature of this question was something very new and for a moment, he was stumped. Neither Anthony nor Benedict had ever asked him a question like this and so he was unsure how to proceed. Looking into his son’s curious eyes, Edmund decided on simply telling the truth.
“People kiss as a way to express their love for each other. Like when your mother and I kiss you and your brothers and sisters when putting you to bed.”
“But you kiss our head. Before, when I was waiting for you, you and mama…”
“Ah you mean to ask why do people kiss each other on the lips?”
Blushing, Colin gave his father a small nod. Chuckling, Edmund rose from his seat and came around the desk to sit down on the chair beside Colin’s.
“When two people kiss each other on the lips, it is also to express love, but a different kind a love. A special love you only have for one other person in your life. The person you choose to spend the rest of your life with.”
Colin nodded along, thoughtful as he processed this new information.
“Like you and mama?”
“Yes.”
“Can I kiss Penelope?”
Utterly taken aback by the question, Edmund’s eyes widened as he took in his son’s sincere face.
“Do you… You wish to kiss the youngest Miss Featherington?”
Colin shrugged, his fingers tapping on his little knee.
“Do you like Miss Penelope?”
“Very very much!” Colin replied excitedly, his eyes shining at he looked up at his father.
“I see. And why do you like Miss Penelope so much?”
“Because when Daphne and Eloise tell me to go away, Penelope says I can stay and play with them. She always listens to my stories, she likes reading like me and she is always kind.”
“My, she does have a lot of good qualities doesn’t she?”
“I think I love her.” Colin said quietly, his eyes now on his knees once more.
Edmund smiled at his son, covering his little hand with his larger one. His son was experiencing love for the first time and it was endearing to see. Edmund knew it was probably just a brush that would fizzle on its own, but it was still sweet to witness.
“It is clear she is very special to you.”
“Can I kiss her then?”
“No Colin, you cannot. You cannot kiss a young lady unless she is your wife. I can kiss your mother because she is my wife and because we are adults.”
“But you said kissing is an expression of love and I love Penelope.” Colin was a little louder this time, more confident in what he was saying.
“I know son, and I believe you when you tell me you are in love with Miss Penelope. But you are children.”
“Can I kiss Penelope if I marry her?”
“Yes. Well, that is assuming that she accepts your proposal. If she agrees to marry you and she allows you to kiss her then yes, you will be able to kiss her once you are married.”
“Can I marry her tomorrow?”
Chuckling, Edmund shook his head, doing his best to not throw his head back in laugher.
“No dear boy, you cannot marry her tomorrow.”
“But I love her! And I want to kiss her!”
“Only adults are allowed to get married. So until you are adults and until Miss Penelope accepts your marriage proposal, you cannot kiss her.”
While Edmund had not spent much time in Colin’s presence when he was with Penelope, he knew from Violet that there as a real friendship blooming between them. Violet had even gone as far to say that Colin and Penelope reminded her of themselves when they were younger. If Violet’s observations were correct, Edmund had no doubt that Colin and Penelope would share their first kiss in a matter of years. He knew they would know better than to do that, but if his son was anything like him, nothing would stop him from pressing a gentle kiss to Penelope’s lips long before they wed. But Colin and Penelope were only 9 and 6 respectively and Edmund could not allow his son to believe that he could kiss a young lady outside of marriage. He was trying to raise a gentleman after all.
Pouting, Colin crossed his arms over his chest, shoulders slumped. Leaning forward, Edmund held his son by the shoulders.
“I’ll tell you what. I promise, as soon as Miss Featherington debuts in society, and if you still wish to marry her, I shall accompany you the day after her presentation to ask her father for her hand in marriage. What do you say?”
Thinking about it for a moment, Colin sighed once more.
“She cannot debut until she is one and seven. That is years away.”
“Well if she and her parents wish, she can debut a year earlier.”
This response seemed to make all the difference in the world to Colin because he nodded excitedly as he got to his feet.
“And when we marry, I can kiss her?”
“Yes dear boy. Once you are married, you can kiss her to your hearts content.”
Excitedly, Colin hugged his father and bid him goodnight. As he reached the door, he turned back to his father and stood tall, his shoulders back.
“When I grow up, I will marry Penelope.” Without another word, Colin rushed out of the study.
Slowly, Edmund got to his feet, smiling to himself. He had no idea what the future held, but he had faith that Colin and Penelope would find their way to each other, much like he and Violet had done.
*****
Thirteen years later…
Colin looked down at his wife, struggling to see straight because of the tears that were welled in his own eyes. He still couldn’t quite believe it. Couldn’t believe that he was here, waiting for the carriage that would take him and his new wife to their wedding breakfast at Featherington house. Despite all the hardship, despite the Whistledown of it all, he and Penelope were finally married. Looking down at their joint hands, he gave her fingers a squeeze and she looked up at him, a small smile playing on her lips.
Unable to take his eyes off of her, Colin used his free hand to reach out for her, cupping her face and lifting it to his own.
“What is it?” Penelope whispered, her breath brushing against his lips.
“I am just thinking about how lucky I am that you agreed to be my wife.”
“In what world would I not.”
Chuckling, Colin closed the distance between them, pressing the lightest of kisses to her lips before pulling away. Brushing his nose against hers, he kissed the tip of her nose and wrapped his arm around her.
“Colin…”
“There’s so much I need to talk to you about, so many things I’ve waited years to tell you.”
“Like what?”
Looking out, there was still no sign of the carriage so Colin gestured Penelope to sit down on one of the chairs and he sat down beside her.
“Did you know, when we were children, I asked my father about why people kiss?”
Covering her mouth to stop her giggle, Penelope looked at Colin with wide eyes.
“Did you really?”
“I did.”
“What did he say?”
“He said that it was an expression of love.”
Blushing, Penelope looked down at her lap.
“Do you agree with that?”
“I do. I mean, when I kiss you…” Colin trailed off, an eyebrow raised to make his insinuation clear.
Clearing her through, Penelope carried on. “What else did you ask your father and what did he tell you?”
Colin paused for a moment, casting his mind back all those years ago. As he remembered some of his conversations with his father, he smiled to himself before turning back to Penelope.
“I had told my father that I wanted to marry you and he said I had to wait until you debuted. But he had promised that as soon as you debuted, he would have accompanied me when I asked your father for your hand.”
Eyes wide, Penelope shook her head, unable to understand what Colin was telling her.
“What?”
“When you and your family first moved in, I fancied myself in love with you and after I saw my parents kissing, I told my father I wanted to kiss you because I love you. He told me that I could not kiss you until I married you.” Pausing, Colin chuckled to himself, squeezing her fingers. “I cannot believe I had forgotten all of that and had lost my way. But I’ve found my way back to you now and I’m certain my father would be proud of me.”
“I am certain he is too. I still cannot quite believe you had this conversation with your father all those year ago.”
“It has always been you Penelope. I lost my way a bit, but it has always been you.”
Blushing, Penelope looked down at her lap. As Colin took her in, sitting there with her cheeks all rosy and in her beautiful blush wedding dress, he couldn’t find it in himself to stay away. Finger sliding under her chin, Colin moved in, his lips pressing against his in a lingering and passionate kiss.
Pulling away slightly, Colin watched as Penelope’s eyes fluttered open, her eyes locking on his. He could see questions in her eyes and he knew he would have to get his head straight so that he would answer everything that was playing on her mind, but for now, they were just going to go with the flow.
“I love you Penelope Bridgerton. You know that don’t you?”
“I do. And I love you, Mr Bridgerton.”
“I know things have been strained between us the last few weeks, but I want you to know, I love you, somewhere in my heart, I have always loved you and I always will. We just need to find a way through this.”
“I understand.” And she did.
After struggling to deal with his distance after he had found out about Whistledown, Penelope had been unsure that things were going to be okay between them. But now, with the way he was looking at her with nothing but love and adoration in his eyes, Penelope knew everything was going to be okay. There was no doubt about it. They were going to be okay.