Colin – Almost Wedded
That was not how he intended to propose. He had no idea what had come over him. He would rather had not had an audience and he had yet to receive an answer to his proposal anyway. Not that he could blame Penelope. He had just blurted it out at her. It was doubtful that it had been the proposal of any young lady's dreams.
When had he fallen in love with Penelope Featherington? She filled his every thought and had him so befuddled that he was blurting out proposals and stealing kisses behind trees. If they had been caught she would have been ruined.
How had he ever thought that he had been in love with Marina? He had kept his head throughout that chaos to a certain extent, but with Penelope he was tripping over his own tongue and saying things without thinking.
A terrible thought entered his head as he was getting changed. What if Pen declined his marriage proposal? After announcing that he would never court her at one ball moments after telling her she was special to him, not to mention informing her that she didn't count as a woman at another ball, she had absolutely no reason to believe he was serious about marrying her. He had even had to inform her that he was courting her.
If it took him the rest of his life, he would spend it proving to her how special she was to him. Although he was not looking forward to speaking to Portia Featherington regarding marrying her daughter, Penelope was worth the aggravation of dealing with her mother.
As soon as he got downstairs he searched for her. It appeared she was still getting ready. He could not see Eloise either so perhaps his sister was educating her on what an idiot he was. Finally he spotted the Kentingtons and decided to join them while he waited.
"Colin, are you well?" Rose's keen eyes immediately noticed his agitation. "Is Penelope alright?"
Frustrated with himself, Colin explained his disastrous actions to the highly amused couple.
"It happens to the best of us." Gerald chuckled. "When I proposed to Rose I was tripping over my tongue the entire time."
Rose laughed at her husband. "You were adorable although I have no idea why you were so nervous. I had already informed you when I was eight that we would be married."
"I was concerned you might have changed your mind. I should have known better. Once you make up your mind you seldom change it." He leaned down and kissed his wife. "It sounds as though we had better get started on that ring as soon as we get back to the house."
"Thank you. I would appreciate it." That was a relief at least. Now where was Penelope?
"Marcus tells us you spent a lot of time kissing a certain young lady." Rose smiled at him while her eyes darted around the room making sure nobody was listening in.
Colin groaned. He had been more concerned with any adults catching them that he had completely forgotten about the little boy.
"Our son inherited his mother's eye for details." Gerald nodded in the direction of the door. "I believe the person you have been waiting on has arrived."
Sure enough Penelope followed her mother and older sister into the ballroom still looking a little flustered. Just as Colin moved towards her, Eloise appeared and steered Penelope over in their direction.
"Good evening." Eloise greeted the group. "I gather my brother has caught everyone up on this afternoon's activities. Will your mam be joining us this evening?"
"He has indeed Miss Eloise." Rose took the force of nature that was Eloise in her stride. "My mama will join us later."
"So we are in agreement that my brother is a fool." Eloise had no filter. She simply said what she thought. "I have told him to ask again properly once he has a ring."
"We should be able to help with that." Gerald nodded to a furiously blushing Penelope. "Of course you are the one who will have the final approval."
"Why would you need my approval?" Penelope looked as though she had not noticed that she was expected to take part in the conversation instead of merely being a bystander.
"You have not actually agreed to marry me." Colin was starting to panic that there was a good chance Penelope would say no.
"Are you sure you want to marry me?" This was all too much for her. She was feeling quite put on the spot. At least she was surrounded by supportive people.
"I have never been more certain of anything in my life. I would marry you this second if I had my way and a ring." Colin glared at his sister. "I had intended to propose once I had a ring and not blurt it out as I did."
Penelope blinked stunned. "Oh, then of course I will marry you." She had not realised that she had not responded to Colin's proposal in the garden. Mainly because she had not expected him to propose.
"But not until he asks you properly with a ring and has spoken to your mama." Eloise added not noticing that Rose was laughing into her husband's chest.
The band started playing so Colin seized the opportunity to dance with Penelope before Eloise could begin negotiating details regarding their wedding. He hoped to get a moment to speak to Penelope alone, but it looked as though this would be his only chance.
"I do not want you to feel pressured into marrying me." It had occurred to him that she had not had a chance to think for herself. "It would be an honour if you would become my wife." He twirled her on the dance floor.
"Did you really mean it when you said you would marry me this second if you could?" Unlike Eloise, Penelope could talk and dance at the same time.
"Yes. I would happily elope with you but I doubt either of our mamas would be happy with us if we did." His mother would never speak to him again and his future mother-in-law would probably never stop."
"Eloping does have a certain appeal to it." Penelope looked excited at the thought.
"Oh no you don't. I am marrying you properly." Colin realised in that moment that Penelope had no desire to be the centre of attention. She just didn't want to be constantly overlooked. "Eloise would hunt us down if we even thought seriously of eloping."
"She has had a slight change of heart in regards to marriage." Penelope smiled to herself. "Do you think she would agree to be my maid of honour?"
"I do not think we will get much of a say if our mothers and Eloise have anything to say about it." Colin shook his head in amusement. "I want you to have the wedding of your dreams though, not theirs."
"What do you want?" Penelope asked. It was the first time he had ever been asked what he wanted. It left me speechless. "It would be your wedding as well."
"As long as you walk up the isle and say I do, I will be the happiest man alive." Colin bowed as the dance came to an end. He noticed that the rest of his family and Lady Maria had joined the Kentingtons. "Shall we tell the rest of my family?"
"Do you not want to wait until you have a ring?" Penelope looked nervous at the prospect.
"No. Eloise will inform everyone that you will not marry without a ring." Colin led her back to the group just as Portia Featherington walked up. "Good timing Lady Featherington. I was just about to share the news with my family. I have asked Penelope to marry me and she has said yes."
"But not until he has a ring and proposed properly." Eloise piped up.
"You want to marry Penelope?" Portia Featherington seemed stunned for a moment. "Well, we have some preparations to make."
"There is no rush mama. We have not got the ring yet." Penelope looked panicked.
"Nonsense. There is so much to prepare." Portia was already envisioning plenty of yellow. You could see it in her face.
"Eloise is to be my maid of honour mama so she will be helping." Penelope looked frantically at Eloise.
"So tulips and sweet peas in lavender." Eloise announced. "Especially sweet peas since they are your birth flower." Eloise led Portia away under the pretence of discussing wedding plans.
Violet stepped forward and took Penelope's hand. "Welcome to the family. We will talk tomorrow and you can tell me what you want for your wedding." Squeezing her hand she left to see to some other guests.
Antony was looking at something Rose was sketching. "What took you so long brother?" He looked up briefly. "It will be good to have you as part of the family." He smiled at Penelope.
"What are you sketching Rose?" Colin could his brothers attentions were held. Benedict was an artist so Colin could understand his fascination.
"Viscount Bridgerton tells me his wife is fond of lilies." She handed the sketch to her husband.
"Bracelet and or necklace?" Gerald looked over at Antony.
"Both. Definitely both." Antony looked at his wife adoringly. Kate was expecting their first child and Antony loved to spoil his wife.
"Once we have made the ring for Colin, we will work on this for you." Gerald handed his wife's supplies to his mother-in-law. "Now if you will excuse me, I would like to dance with my wife." He led his wife to the dance floor for on of the slower dances.
The rest of his family offered their congratulations and joined the dancing. "Well that went better than I thought it would." Colin had doubted his family would not be welcoming but Portia had not needed to look so stunned that he wished to marry her daughter.
"Yes, well hopefully Eloise had managed to talk mama out of any yellow in the wedding." Penelope didn't exactly look excited about her upcoming nuptials. Weren't all brides looking forward to their wedding?
"It will be your day, Pen." He reassured her. "Whatever you want. Discuss it with my mother and she will ensure you get it. We can have a small wedding if you do not want alot of people there." He just wanted her to be happy.
"It will be your wedding too. You have a right to have your day as well." Penelope looked up at him and he got lost in her big blue eyes.
"I will be marrying you. It will be perfect." At least it would be if his mother and sister had anything to say about it.