Chapter 11

"Viscount and Viscountess Bridgerton are hosting a ball in honor of the Honorable Mr. Benedict Bridgerton's marriage to Sophie Beckett. Rumors abound as to the way the couple met—is she the Woman in Silver from a past ball that this author was unable to identify? Perhaps someone connected to Earl of Penwood, such as his wife or stepdaughter, introduced the pair and saw their courtship unfold but so far no one has revealed any facts. It will be a challenge to determine the truth.

Dear Reader, I am more than up for the challenge.

Lady Whistledown."

Colin escorted his mother and two sisters to their former home. His mother had approached him several days prior, expecting a fight before he promised to attend, but this time it took very little pushing. He wanted to see Penelope. He needed to speak to her.

He spotted her alone at the edge of the crowd, perhaps trying to hide behind the column that she rested on, but her held was held high. Penelope had an inner confidence that he had long admired. Even with the scandal with Fife and years of bullying from Cressida and others in the ton wearing her down, she refused to crumble.

Colin was restless, waiting through the night for an opening. He found an opportunity to pull Pen aside without being noticed, "I need to speak to you."

They stepped out of the ballroom. Being familiar with the house Colin decided on the library as the destination and he led her to the quiet location. Colin took a moment to close the door securely so they wouldn't be disturbed. Penelope seemed stressed when he turned to face her.

"You owe me nothing Colin." Penelope assured him before he could speak.

"I owe you everything." He stepped toward her.

She blinked, seeming uncertain as to what to say, so he pushed on.

"You have been my friend for years, my confident, the woman who encouraged me to discover who I am." He swallowed, "You have always seen me as more than simply a Bridgerton brother. You saw the man I could be."

Penelope's lips parted but she did not speak.

"When I traveled, I looked forward to receiving your letters. In Mayfair, I look for you at every event. When you are not there, I miss you." Colin took a chance and reached for her hands. Penelope allowed him to thread his fingers through hers. His eyes stared down at her soft hands locked in his.

"I was jealous of Fife pursuing you." He finally admitted it out loud and looked into her eyes, "I wanted you myself but I could not confess that. Not to Fife or you or even myself." He took a breath, "When I discovered he was married but not to you, I found myself relieved…frustrated…and confused. I did not know what to do. But in that moment at your home, I knew I badly wanted to kiss you."

"There is no reason to feel badly." Penelope tried to smooth things over, "I do not need anything from you. No one will ever…"

"I do not feel bad." Colin interrupted, "In fact, I would like it to happen again." He cupped her chin with his hand, his eyes glued to hers.

"Colin." Her voice trembled but she did not pull away.

"I cannot stand the thought of you with any other man and I know I have no right. I know I do not deserve you but I am selfish enough to ask anyway."

"Ask me what?" Her voice was soft, eyes widening.

Colin took a breath, "Marry me."

"Marry you?" Penelope pulled away. Colin's hands dropped to his side as she put distance between them.

"You should not have to lower yourself to propose to me simply because we kissed." She rubbed her hands together in a nervous move he had noticed before when she was stressed.

"Lower myself?" The words were distasteful to him, "Penelope, you are the best of any woman in the ton."

"Do not be insulting." She turned away.

"I am not! I desire you!" He nearly shouted in frustration but tried to calm down when she froze, her back to him, "You are my friend, the one I want to spend the rest of my life with. I want to see you every day. I want you in my arms."

Tears shone in her eyes when she turned to look at him, "You want me?" Uncertainty laced her words.

Colin swallowed hard as he reached for Penelope. His hands slid up her arms and gripping her shoulders gently pulled her toward him. "I have always wanted to protect you, truly. You have always been special to me but I did not fully understand what you truly meant to me."

Her eyes widened as she met his gaze, listening to every word.

"When I thought Fife was courting you, I plotted ways to separate you two." Colin admitted, "I wanted to steal you away every time he asked you for a dance. I wanted to stake my claim to you…" He struggled to catch his breath, "I even punched Fife."

"What?"

"I thought he had hurt you by marrying another woman. And that enraged me. You mean everything to me." He smiled, "Please marry me."

"Yes." This time, it was Penelope who made the move to kiss him and neither fled from the sensual embrace.

"I want to do it right this time." Colin announced as he joined the rest of his family in the breakfast room the next morning. He was so happy, felt like he was floating on air.

"Do what?" Hyacinth was not paying her brother any attention.

"Announce my engagement." Colin grinned.

"Engagement!" his mother straightened up, "Who is she?"

"Penelope."

"Penelope Featherington?" Eloise was shocked.

"Yes."

"That is wonderful." Lady Bridgerton's face shone at his news. She had been right: one of her sons would be perfect for the youngest Featherington girl. But Colin's joy was rudely interrupted when Eloise stood.

"You cannot marry her!" Eloise declared.

"Eloise." Mother tried to intercede but her child was almost shaking in anger, "You must not!"

"And why do you believe that?" Colin wanted to know.

"She is…" Eloise trailed off as she looked around the table and she stumbled over her words, "I discovered…I did not know how to tell you..."

"Say it Eloise." Colin was frustrated.

Eloise's eyes darted to her mother then back to her brother, "Years ago it was Penelope who revealed Marina's scandal to Lady Whistledown and ended your engagement."

Whatever Colin thought Eloise would say, that was not it.