Chapter 13

Penelope paced up and down the street, around the corner from her home; wondering if what she was about to do was wise. When she had accepted Colin's proposal in the Keatings' garden, she had not thought about telling her family and Colin's family the news. She did not know how it was going to go; they had not even courted.

She stopped breathing momentarily; her eyes catching sight of Colin, striding towards her with the biggest grin on his face. She pinched her leg, making sure this was not a dream; her brain still trying to comprehend the last 12 hours since Colin proposed. She was really going to marry Colin Bridgerton.

She did not even get a chance to greet Colin before her pulled her close with one arm and used the other hand to cup her face, crashing his lips against hers. "Colin!" She gasped, with a giggle, pushing him back. "We are in public."

He wrapped both his arms around her, holding her close. "I do not care." He simply replied. "Soon everyone will know you are to be mine and I will be the luckiest man in the world."

"Well, can you try to control yourself…at least until we tell our families in a matter of minutes." Penelope suggested, looking around her; hoping no one had seen them.

"I do not think I can." Colin replied. "It is the strangest thing; for years, I was happy to converse with you, dance with you, hold your hand a little longer than I probably needed to but now that I have kissed you, I cannot stop."

"Well, you will need to." Penelope replied with a small laugh. "If I can do it…so, can you."

"If that is the challenge, I can make you give in." Colin stated in a low whisper, his lips hovering over Penelope's lips while his hand pinched her bum.

"I have no doubt you can but please do not." Penelope shot back, smiling as she pulled back out of his hold. She took hold of his hand. "We have to face my mother and I rather get it over me sooner rather than later."

"Oh, wait!" Colin protested, pulling her back.

"Col, we really have to…" She began to say until her eyes fell on a small velvet box that he was pulling out of his pocket.

"We cannot tell your mother we are betrothed without a ring." Colin said.

"Where did you get that?" Penelope asked.

"From our family collection…it meant I had to tell Anthony and I made him promise not to say. He is very happy for us…he did not even try to talk me out of getting married or berate me for not sowing my wild oats."

"Would he?" Penelope asked.

"Well, he did when I asked Marina…I was not getting the family collection then." Colin replied. "Now, if you do not like the one I have selected, you can pick another from the collection, I just thought this one reminded me of you and…"

"Are you going to let me see it?" Penelope asked, growing a little impatient at the closed box in front of her.

"Oh, yes of course!" Colin replied, before flipping open the box to reveal a emerald surrounded by little diamonds.

"Oh Colin…it is beautiful!" Penelope sighed, holding out her hand for Colin to slip it on her finger.

Once the ring was safely on her finger, Colin slipped the empty box back in his pocket and held out his hand for Penelope to take. "Pen…Pen…we have to go tell your family." He said.

"Huh?" Penelope asked, completely distracted by staring at her ring finger. "Oh, yes of course." She took his hand and headed towards Featherington house. The ring made it all the more real; this was definitely not a dream.

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

As they entered Featherington House, Penelope let go of Colin's hand and entered the parlour, to not only find her mother and Prudence, but Philippa was also visiting. "Philippa, what are you doing here?" She asked, taken by surprise.

"I always call for tea on a Wednesday." Philippa replied.

"Oh!" Penelope muttered, wondering if she should take offence that her sister would call for tea on the one day she normally had tea with the Bridgertons. Why did she not know about these visits? She thought Philippa only visited on a Sunday.

"Never mind Philippa, why is Colin Bridgerton hovering outside the door?" Prudence asked, looking past Penelope.

"Oh!" Penelope gasped, remembering there was a reason why she came in to the parlour. "Yes, Colin would like to talk to mama."

Colin stepped forward, looking a little nervous.

Portia Featherington swallowed hard, remembering the last time Colin wanted to talk, he destroyed her jewel scheme. "Oh really?" Portia asked. "We do not have any more Lord Featheringtons scamming us, do we?"

"Oh no, of course not." Colin replied, licking his lips; his mouth had suddenly gone dry as Lady Featherington motioned for him to sit.

"Tea?" Portia asked, beginning to pour as Colin nodded a yes, taking a seat beside Penelope.

He took the tea he was offered and gulped it down. He could feel the eyes of Lady Featherington, Mrs Finch and Prudence on him. "I um…we um…have news to share." He said, glancing at Penelope. He took Penelope's hand. "I have asked your daughter, Penelope, to be my wife and she has accepted."

Penelope waited for the gasps, the congratulations and the questions to come but there was silence; her family was staring back at her; their mouths agape; stunned into silence.

Finally, her mother spoke. "I um…I was not aware you were courting."

"Who needs courting when you can have years of friendship like Pen and I?" Colin stated, looking into Penelope's eyes and giving her hand a quick, reassuring squeeze.

"Penelope, are you doing a Marina?" Prudence asked.

"Excuse me?" Colin scoffed.

Penelope found all her family were looking at her and completely ignoring Colin. "Are you with child?" Philippa asked.

"Is it Mr Dankworth? Or worse…Mr Anderson?" Prudence asked.

"And is that why Mr Dankworth would not marry you?" Philippa asked.

"I…I refused Mr Dankworth." Penelope stuttered, taken by surprise by their reactions.

"This is ridiculous!" Colin fumed, jumping to his feet. "I am not going to sit here and let you treat my Pen, my future wife like this." He pulled Penelope to her feet. "We are leaving."

"I…we are sorry Penelope but you have taken us by surprise again." Portia said.

"Because you daughter is full of surprises…wonderful surprises." Colin replied, looking at Penelope with a smile. "She is caring, smart, witty, passionate, innovative, beautiful…and I cannot believe I nearly lost her because I did not realise she has always been the one for me…my love."

"Colin!" Penelope blushed, finally hearing her sisters and mother gushing and awwwing.

"Oh, my Penelope." Portia cried, hugging her daughter. "How lucky am I to have two daughters who found love matches…and yours is with a Bridgerton no less."

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Penelope took a deep breath as Colin led her up the stairs towards the family drawing room; a room she entered nearly every other day but today, she could not shake the nerves; as today, everything would change.

As they reached the door to the drawing room, Colin took her hand and brought it to his lips, giving her hand a soft, quick kiss. "Here we go." He quipped with a smile before he opened the door and began to enter the room.

As they entered the room, they found not only the girls that would normally be in attendance for tea, but Anthony, Benedict, Gregory and even Daphne was there. "You are all here…" Colin said. "…even Daff."

"Anthony invited me for tea and you know me, anything to get out of confinement." Daphne replied, her eyes already questioning that there was more to Anthony's invite to attend.

"Penelope, we thought you were not going to make it as you are late." Eloise said, walking towards her friend. "Did you meet Colin on your way in?"

Penelope's eyes widened. Did Eloise not even notice that Colin was holding her hand. Eloise was still approaching her, until Anthony reached out and pulled Eloise back. Eloise was about to shout out a question or insult towards her oldest brother when Colin finally spoke.

"Well, it is good that you are all here because I…" He looked at Penelope and smiled. "…we have something to share."

Colin paused and Penelope caught her breath. All eyes were on them, urging Colin to speak again. Colin pulled Penelope's hand forward, flashing her ring. "Pen has agreed to make me the happiest man in the world by being my wife."

The squeals, cheers and congratulations filled the room. Penelope was dazed; overcome by the hugs that engulfed her and Colin.

"I knew it…I just knew it!" Daphne gloated.

"Finally, I will have a sister that I actually like." Anthony said; which received a slap from both Francesca and Hyacinth.

"There will finally be another member of the Bridgerton Wives Club!" Kate exclaimed. "There is a lot to take in with these Bridgerton men that we need to discuss."

"Thank you for buying me another year or two of freedom brother, before mother or Anthony try to get me to settle down." Benedict said.

"I always knew we were meant to be sisters Penelope!" Eloise exclaimed. "I am willing to share you with Colin but I will need my own room at your home…" which made Colin's eyes widen. "…and I will be your children's favourite auntie."

"You do not even acknowledge the nephew you have!" Daphne interjected.

"Yes, but Penelope's children will be different." Eloise argued back. "With Penelope and me together, her children will change the world."

"I think we can stop planning my children's future…especially when I am not even involved." Colin stated.

"Colin, I am so proud of you; finding the secret to happiness; marrying your best friend." Violet Bridgerton said. "Glad to see this will be the end of your travelling."

"I hope not!" Penelope interjected. "He has promised me a trip to Paris for our honeymoon."

"What? Colin, you cannot take a lady like Penelope on a journey like Paris." Violet scoffed.

"Penelope, as great as my brother is…and he is my favourite, what about Mr Dankworth?" Hyacinth asked.

The room went silent and Colin sighed; he had forgotten about Harry. He was going to have to break the news to him.

"Um Hyacinth…I did not love Mr Dankworth, I love Colin." Penelope said. "But on a positive note, he is still single and he may still be single by the time you come out in society."

"Not if I get to him first!" Francesca teased.

"Fran, that is not fair…you have 5 years on me." Hyacinth complained.

"Girls, please!" Violet begged.

"If Mr Dankworth has any sense, he will stay clear of the both of you." Gregory muttered.

"We need to start discussing things." Violet said, trying to steer the conversation away from Mr Dankworth. "There is very little time left in the season, I am assuming you would like a wedding early next season?"

"I think they would prefer it this season mother." Anthony interjected, noticing the panic in both Colin and Penelope's faces.

"But you have not even been courting." Violet stated.

"We have had years of dancing, conversations and letter writing which is more than most couples." Colin argued.

"But a wedding in such little time…" Violet trailed off.

"We can do it." Kate stated, knowing almost another year would be impossible to wait for Colin and Penelope.

"Okay, well I need to start planning with your mother…and is Madame Delacroix still traveling?" Violet asked.

"No, she came back two days ago." Penelope replied. "She will be able to make my dress no problem."

"And do not forget my dress." Eloise added, shooting Penelope a look. "I mean, I need to be your bridesmaid."

"And Colin, you should go and sort things with Anthony." Violet said. "You will need to find a new home to begin with…"

"But I like…" Penelope began to say and then trailed off, realising that she was not meant to have seen Colin's home; never mind spend many afternoons there unchaperoned.

"Mother, I am sure there is no rush for a new home yet." Colin said. "We will be travelling after we are married…"

"That has not been decided yet." Violet shot back.

"Col, I think you and Benedict should come to my office to start making plans." Anthony suggested, recognising his mother's stress. "I will send a footman over to Featherington House to ask Lady Featherington to come over and begin planning."

"And Francesca, Gregory and Hyacinth…you go finish your lessons." Kate added. "Myself and Daphne will start making a list of all the items you will need from the modiste for your wedding and honeymoon Penelope."

"And I will contact Simon to ensure the Bishop will set a date before the season's end." Daphne stated. "We arranged my wedding and Anthony's wedding quickly…this wedding will go smoothly too. We should be experts now."

"Yes…but just once I would like my children to get married without the rush." Violet sighed.

"Do not worry mother…you will not have this with me." Eloise said, giving her mother's shoulder a squeeze. "If the situation arises that I have to marry, I will drag it out as long as possible."

"Well, I should be happy you are finally considering marriage." Violet said.

"Not anytime soon." Eloise shot back and Violet smiled.

Colin gave Penelope a gentle, reassuring kiss on the top of her head as the rest of the Bridgertons filed out of the drawing room to their respective locations, leaving Violet, Eloise and Penelope alone to await Lady Featherington's arrival to begin the planning.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Colin sat at his usual table at Mondrich's, his finger tracing the rim of his glass of whiskey. He had not taken a sip yet; he wanted to keep a clear head for the discussion he was about to have.

At least he knew Harry was not a violent man; witnessing him use his words rather than fists against Lord Fyfe. However, if Harry did want to hit him; he would let him; he deserved it.

He saw Harry walk into the club and refuse a drink from the barkeep, heading straight towards Colin. "Bridge! I got your note about wanting to meet." Harry called as he approached the table and Colin stood up to greet him. Harry waved him to sit down and sat down opposite him. "It is good timing as I am about to travel back to the country. I am done with this season."

"You will be missed about town Danky." Colin replied, rubbing his hands against his breeches, feeling the nerves.

"Maybe by the mothers but I think the ladies know that after Miss Featherington I am not on the market…I need some time to re-evaluate my needs in a wife." Harry replied.

"It is funny you mentioned Miss Featherington as she is why I wanted to meet with you." Colin said.

"Colin, if you are going to apologise for bringing me to town for Miss Featherington and the mess that followed, then please do not." Harry stated. "You only asked me to meet the girl; I was the one that pursued her; although after all that Lady Whistledown malarkey, I probably had a lucky escape."

Colin coughed and swallowed, trying to restrain the anger building within him. A lucky escape for Penelope? Did he not know how lucky he was that Penelope tolerated his dim-witted mind?

"Actually, I wanted to tell you, man to man, before you heard it from someone else that I um…I am to be married…to Penelope." Colin replied.

"The same Miss Penelope you brought me to town to meet?" Harry clarified. "The same Miss Penelope you assured me that you had no romantic interest in?"

Colin grimaced; hearing his own words back made this even worse. "I am sorry Harry but I did not realise my feelings at the time." Colin apologised. "They snuck up on me when I faced losing her. I guess, in a way I have always loved her I just did not know as there was no lightbulb moment to say this is love."

"So how do you know it is love?" Harry shot back. "I know Miss Penelope, she has a way of making you feel special but I now realise I was not the only man she was bewitching."

"Because to me, Pen is special…she has always been special…the girl to protect from harm, but more importantly, the girl to always have in my life and share my dreams and pursuits with." Colin retorted. "Every time I have gone on my travels, she has been my centre, my home…as much as I love my family, I was always coming back to her."

"Well good luck to you Bridgerton." Harry stated. "Because with a family like hers, you will need it." Harry did not even wait for a response. He walked out of Mondrich's and was soon leaving the ton and Penelope behind him.

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Colin and Penelope walked along the promenade, arm in arm, behind both their mothers, who were still making plans. "I hate this Pen." Colin sighed.

"Is your talk with Mr Dankworth still playing on your mind?" Penelope asked, he voice filled with concern. "I know it is hard to hurt a friend…when I hurt Eloise…"

"No…well yes the conversation was not pleasant." Colin interjected. "But, I would do it all again to have you."

"So, what do you hate?" Penelope asked.

"This!" Colin exclaimed, waving his free arm in the air. "Pen, I want to marry you because I want to spend every day with you. We have been engaged almost a week and this is the first day I am seeing you since we told our families…and we are with our mothers."

"Colin, we will be wed soon enough and then you will be stuck with me until the day you die." Penelope stated. "This last week has not been that pleasurable for me either. There have been plenty of ladies and their mothers whispering and gossiping about me, wondering how I managed to trap a Bridgerton…"

"Who are these ladies?" Colin snapped. "I will have mother ensure they are not invited to the wedding and when we attend the ball at Lord Stephens, I will make a big show of how much I adore and love you."

"Please do not." Penelope hissed, tapping his hand. "And I would not worry; Madame Delacroix and Lady Danbury has been putting them in their place. I have been the modiste every day…I have had more pins in me than a pin cushion. And the amount of clothes the girls are saying I need for my wedding trunk…"

"I would not bother…" Colin said, giving her a smirk. "…my honeymoon plans do not require clothing."

"Colin!" Penelope gasped, blushing. She smacked his arm. "If you are taking me to Paris then I want to see some of Paris as well…not just the room of the inn."

"Ugh…fine." Colin muttered. "But do you think our mothers would notice if we slipped off? We could be at my place in 10 minutes."

"You are insatiable Mr Bridgerton!" Penelope giggled.

"What? We could just read…like we used to." Colin shot back with a smirk.

"We will be alone together soon…I promise." Penelope replied, resting her head against his upper arm.

"I will hold you to that promise Miss Featherington." Colin said, placing a soft kiss on top of her head.

"Have you mentioned to your family about the publishers wanting to publish your journal yet?" Penelope asked. "I thought Eloise would bring it up but she has not."

"That is because I have not told them yet." Colin replied.

"Colin, it is good news that should be celebrated." Penelope stated.

"And I will tell them…my mother has just been a little overwhelmed organising another quick wedding that I do not want her to know her son, a gentleman, has decided to become a writer."

"A published writer Colin…there is a difference." Penelope replied. "It is a career that will provide an income, not just what you will receive as a 3rd son of a Viscount…and Benedict is allowed his art…writing is an artform."

"Yes, but Benedict will not be responsible for a wife and a family." Colin observed.

"Well, I am quite happy with the life you, as a writer, will provide." Penelope replied.

"Spoken like a fellow writer…willing to starve for their art." Colin said. "We however, will not starve…one of the benefits of Anthony being so serious and responsible is that he has secured a good future for myself and my brothers. However, if the book is successful when published, that will also help."

"It will be successful…which is why you must tell your family." Penelope shot back.

"And will you be okay if I do become a successful writer?" Colin asked. "You must already miss it Pen…and I only want for you to be happy."

"I will be happy Colin." Penelope replied. "But well…there was something I was going to discuss with you on our honeymoon and I would not say yes to it if you did not 100% agree…"

"Tell me Pen." Colin pleaded.

"My publishers have been missing Lady Whistledown." Penelope began. "They know it will no longer work as I am no longer in the shadows but they have offered me a column in an actual newspaper; commenting on society."

"Pen! That is amazing!" Colin exclaimed.

"Yes, but it means I will be a working woman…" Penelope stated.

"Pen, you were a working woman when you were Lady Whistledown." Colin argued.

"But now I will be a married working woman." Penelope countered.

"So? I think you should go for it…you are far too talented to not write." Colin replied.

"Your mother will definitely not like it." Penelope sighed.

"So?" Colin shot back. "In a few short weeks, we will be Mr and Mrs Bridgerton and the only people we will have to please with our life choices is each other."

"If that is your reasoning, why have you not told them about your journal?" Penelope queried.

"I will…soon…I promise." Colin replied. "But seriously Pen, whatever you want to do with this column, I will 100% support your decision…we are a partnership, no matter what."

Penelope stopped walking and stretched up on her tip toes to press her lips against Colin for a soft, gentle, loving kiss. She could hear a few gasps from those walking past and she could hear her mother and Lady Bridgerton tutting but she did not care. She pulled away from Colin, with a smile on her face.

"I thought we were not to kiss in public." Colin whispered with a smile.

"I thought you deserved a reward for being you." Penelope whispered back.

"If you really want to reward me then we can stop by my place and…" Colin teased.

"Colin!" Penelope gasped, nudging him as she laughed; blushing.

"Fine…but know, when we are finally alone, I will not have reading on my mind." Colin whispered, causing her blush to increase.

To be continued…if you want me to!

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