Penelope - Engaged

It had been an enlightening day so far. The Kentingtons were full of surprises and the Bridgertons were out in force as her protectors. It was almost as though she was one of their own. That certainly had a nice ring to it.

The three of them had spent the rest of the day keeping Marcus occupied. Or rather Marcus kept Eloise occupied while Colin kept sneaking a kiss when he could. These kisses kept getting more and more heated. At one point Eloise had actually come looking for them when Colin had ducked behind a tree with her. They had narrowly escaped being caught but Penelope was certain she looked too flushed for Eloise to accept that Colin was just pointing out a rare type of mushroom to her.

When her thoughts were not consumed with Colin which was most of the time since he kept kissing her, they were filled with Lady Whistledown. How would she tell him especially since he appeared to blame Lady Whistledown for the whole Marina incident. Eloise had only recently begun talking to her civilly after she had found out. Would Colin take the news any better?

Perhaps if he found the purpose he was looking for, he would accept that she had already at least begun down the path of hers. He was a talented writer. She had so looked forward to receiving each and every letter he had sent her while abroad. If it were something he enjoyed perhaps his purpose could be tied to that.

He seemed to have enjoyed her responses. She remembered their conversation when he informed he that he had found himself. "I have you to thank. Your letters were so encouraging. I thought if Penelope can see me this way, surely I can too." Of course that conversation went South fast when he brought up Marina and informed her that he had sworn off women. That and also she was his friend and so did not count as a woman.

How had they gone from being just friends to Colin taking an opportunity to kiss her? When had she started to count as a woman to him? After last season the last thing she had expected was Colin Bridgerton to be courting her. So much so that he had to inform her that she was being courted. This was everything she had ever dreamed of, so why was she waiting for the other shoe to drop.

"Are you alright Pen?" Eloise fell into step with Penelope. "Do not let Colin put you off with his knowledge of mushrooms."

"I am just thinking." Penelope dearly loved Eloise. But surely she knew Colin could not distinguish one form of mushroom from the next.

"About what?" Eloise seemed to be having some deep thoughts herself.

"What to do with my hobby." Colin was too close to come right out with her secret career. "I do not know what will occupy my time if I give it up." She had been willing to do so to protect Eloise when the Queen suspected she was Lady Whistledown. But that had not turned out well.

"You could find something else. Maybe something similar." Eloise glanced at her brother who was helping Marcus pick some flowers for his mother.

"I have been trying to work out what I want to do with my life. I know I want more than marriage and children." She smiled at Marcus when he ran up to her and handed her a flower. "Although that does not seem as terrible as it used to." She signed thank you to the little boy who ran back to Colin. "If I could find the right person."

"Well, what is it you enjoy? Perhaps you can make a career of it." Penelope wondered if Eloise still had Theo Shaw as an acquaintance. He had at least shown Eloise there was more to life than her privileged upbringing.

"I enjoy learning new things. Hearing different points of view, instead having my own points of view dismissed because I am a woman." Eloise looked down at the flower in her hand. "Mrs Kentington is very knowledgeable isn't she?"

"Yes, I suppose so." She certainly did subtly display a wealth of knowledge. "Rose seems to focus on something and then goes after it, gathering as much information as possible." Colin had spent more time with the couple than she had, but Rose was obviously intelligent.

Marcus came running up with an armful of flowers. "Colin, I hope you left some flowers in your mama's garden." Penelope knew Violet would never scold Marcus. Colin on the other hand would not be so safe.

"Mother will not mind." Colin ruffled Marcus' hair. "Besides, these are for you." He handed her a bunch of sweet peas. "Shall we head back inside? We will need to get ready for the ball."

Penelope had not realised how late it had gotten. "My mama will be looking for me I expect." It was a depressing thought. It was doubtful that she would get away with not wearing yellow two evenings in a row.

"That is a shame. I was hoping to keep you to myself." Colin loved to make her blush. He wanted to see exactly how far that blush went. "Perhaps you would grant me a dance or two."

"I hardly think you'll be fighting off gentlemen for a chance to dance with me." Penelope knew that no one outside the Bridgerton family and perhaps Mr Kentington would be asking her to dance and that was merely out of politness.

"You do not give yourself enough credit." He kissed the top of her head.

"Perhaps you give me too much." Penelope hoped this was not a dream. Her whole body heated up delightfully when he kissed her.

"Never." Colin hated that Penelope had reason to be insecure. Even more so that he had been one of the people who made her feel that way. "I always enjoyed dancing with you. Even before I opened my eyes and really saw you."

Penelope watched him for a moment to see if he was teasing her, but could not find a sign that he was. "I was thinking that your letters from when you were abroad. Would you consider writing a novel of your travels?"

"I am not a writer Pen." Colin was confused by her suddenly changing the subject. Did she still doubt his intentions towards her?

"But you write so beautifully." Penelope protested. "You make a person feel as though they are right there with you experiencing the joy of each different country."

"No one would read them." But he was flattered that she thought so highly of his writing.

"I would." Penelope was certain that she would not be the only one.

"Marry me." It was not a very romantic way to propose but he simply could not wait any longer.

And just like that Penelope Featherington found herself engaged. "You can not ask her like that." She had forgotten Eloise and Marcus were still with them. "Have you even gotten a ring?"

"I am working on that." Colin had apparently forgotten as well.

"Well, when you have the ring, you can ask Pen properly and also speak to her mama." At that, Eloise tucked her arm through Penelope's and dragged her back to the house with Marcus happily skipping beside them. Leaving Penelope wondering it that had actually just happened.