The Season After that Thing You Said

A new season had begun. Penelope had been loving Italy through Colin's letters. He hadn't mentioned finding someone in his time abroad, but as far as she knew, he wasn't back in London yet either. The first edition of Lady Whistledown's gazette had gone out this morning and although things were still tight in the Featherington household, they were managing.

This season would make or break Penelope Featherington. Madam De La Croix had been busy and had a few non-yellow dresses waiting for her to smuggle into her wardrobe. Of course, all paid by Lady Whistledown.

There would be the first ball of the season at the end of the week and still no sign of Colin as yet. At least she had something to wear that was more her taste than Portia's, so she was a little more excited about attending this ball than she had been previous season's balls.

In between receiving Colin's letters from Italy, she had gone through the ones he had sent the previous year from Greece. She really believed they would make an excellent travel novel. Even if Colin decided to marry someone else, she would be honoured to edit his novel if he would allow her to.

"Penelope! You have a visitor." While they were managing, they were doing so by having a limited staff. Unfortunately, that meant that Portia was answering the door.

Making her way downstairs she wondered if Eloise had come across the road for a visit. They were back on speaking terms which was a relief as she had missed her best friend. But when she made it to the bottom of the stairs it was another Bridgerton waiting for her. "Colin! When did you get back?"

"I just arrived, but I wanted to see you first." Colin couldn't believe how much he had missed Penelope. She looked stunning. Still wearing a pale shade of yellow but going by her letters, her mother was letting her choose more of her own clothes.

Although she was thrilled to see him and flattered that he had stopped by to see her first, she knew Lady Violet would have noticed her third born arrival. "You really should let your Mama know you have returned."

"I need to speak to Lady Violet." Portia offered. "I shall let her know you have been delayed." Not waiting for a response, she called out to Mrs Varley and the two women left to go across the street leaving Colin and Penelope alone.

"You are too far away." He was still debating if going travelling had been the best decision. Italy was amazing but he had longed to be with Penelope. Especially to travel with her. Her keen eye would catch things others had overlooked.

Cautiously she stepped down the remaining steps on the staircase. "Better?" Her sister was still somewhere in the house and was not even close to being discreet.

Colin took the same number of steps forward and shook his head. "Still too far away." Clearly money was still short in the household as no servants had ventured through the foyer apart from Mrs Varley who had left with Lady Featherington.

Penelope took another couple of steps forward as did Colin. "Surely this is close enough." It was dangerous being too close to Colin. He made her forget where she was and made her dream big.

Colin glanced around him. "I take it your sister is still home." He wasn't sure he cared though.

"I believe so. She is being uncharacteristically quiet though." Penelope also looked around to check they weren't being watched. "I could go look for her if you would like." Suddenly she had the terrible thought that Colin might be there to see Prudence.

"No, I would not like." He reached out and hooked his arm around Penelope's waist, pulling her into his arms. "I have been dying to kiss you since I arrived." He kissed her as though he was dying of thirst, and she was the last glass of water on the planet. He would not end another season without Penelope Featherington as his wife.

Penelope's knees went weak, and she prayed that her sister stayed put because she did not want Colin to ever stop kissing her. Unfortunately, the need for air did mean he had to stop. "I take it from your letters that you enjoyed Rome."

"Not as much as I would have with you by my side." He really should go and see his family, but he didn't want to let go of Pen. "Is there a ball I should be attending tonight?" He hoped not. He was exhausted although kissing Penelope had certainly roused him in more ways than one.

"Not that I am aware of." She couldn't be aware of anything when he was kissing his way down her neck. "You may want to check with your Mama." After all the Featheringtons weren't always invited to the same balls as the Bridgertons.

"Hmmm. I should do that." Although he would not be attending if Penelope wasn't going to be there.

"Speaking of your Mama. You really should head home. She will think you are up to no good." Although she did not want him to leave.

"Well, I am trying to get up to no good, but you keep trying to send me home." She was right though. If he stayed much longer, his mother would send one of his brothers to look for him. Or worse, one of his sisters.

Penelope giggled. "Your Mama will send a search party for you soon." When he groaned into her neck, it sent the most delicious vibration through her.

"I know. I will see you tomorrow." He kissed her goodbye. Leaving her had never been so difficult. It took three attempts before Penelope pushed him out the door warning that his mother may send Hyacinth to fetch him if did not go. The threat of his youngest sister coming to look for him was enough to send any gentleman running for the door.

Colin returned home to find that Lady Featherington had updated his mother on his return. He expected to be chastised on not informing his mother of his return first, but it appeared both mothers were happier with him checking in with Penelope first.

"It must be stuffy over at the Featheringtons." Eloise murmured as she hugged him. "I trust that Pen looks as flushed as you do."

"She was looking a little flushed when I left but they may be out of fear of mother sending Hyacinth to fetch me." Colin chuckled.

"How was Italy Dear." Violet Bridgerton embraced him.

"Wonderful. It is nice to be home though." He had missed his family, but he missed the young woman across the road more.

"Well, I should be heading home." Lady Featherington stood and headed for the door. "I will see you at the Trowbridge Ball."

"Trowbridge Ball?" Colin hoped that it wasn't tonight. He needed to get his sleep patterns back onto this time zone. Penelope wouldn't be going if it was tonight so there would be no need for him to go.

"Yes. It is at the end of the week." Eloise groaned. "More idiots stepping on my toes and wrestling me while calling it dancing."

"Or you could chaperone Pen and I." He knew Penelope would feel better about attending the ball with a friend close by. Especially if Cressida Cowper was attending.

"Are you still courting Penelope, brother?" Gregory still wasn't able to attend the balls just yet and Francesca had made her debut this season. But the youngest Bridgerton male had enjoyed dancing with Penelope at their brother's wedding.

"Yes, I am. So, I am going to need all of your help to convince her to marry me." Colin hugged his brother.

"Something tells me you have already made a head start on that." Francesca gave him a knowing smile. "Let me know if I can help in any way."

"So is the Trowbridge Ball the first of the season?" Colin started to form a plan. But he needed to catch up with what had been going on in his absence.

"Yes. But that should not stop you from picnics, promenades and I am sure the Featheringtons would not mind a weekend in the country with us." It appeared that Violet Bridgerton had been working on a plan of her own. "Perhaps they could join us for dinner."

"How long have you been planning all of this mother?" His Mother was good at pulling an event together quickly, but not that good.

"Since you returned from Greece last season." His mother smiled at him knowingly. "I saw your face when you realised Penelope was here. And that dear girl has been in love with you since she was sixteen."

"I almost ruined everything." Colin couldn't breathe at the very thought that Penelope might have married another because of his foolish words.

"Not to rain on your parade brother, but you have not proposed yet. And Pen has not agreed to marry you." Eloise could always be counted on to inject a healthy dose of reality into a moment.

"Knew I could count on you Elle." Colin left his family to go an unpack. It was good to be home. Italy had been fantastic to visit, and he was glad he had gone but his heart had stayed in England with a certain redhead.

His hand had been shaking when he had written that first letter. He feared that she would not write back. It felt as though a heavy weight had been lifted off his chest when her first letter had arrived. It was friendly just as her letters had been when he travelled to Greece. This time though she had suggested that he keep a journal of his travels that might be able to be published. It wasn't quite what he had hoped for, but it was a good suggestion. She had been right about it almost being like she was there with her letters. But there was nothing like the real thing.

Retrieving the journal, he wondered if anyone would really read them if they were published. Then he saw something sitting on his bedside table. It was a new journal with a note attached.

Colin,

I thought you could transcribe your letters from Greece. It could be one of many books you could have published. I am certain People will want to read them.

Penelope

He was touched that she thought that his writing was good enough to be published. And incredibly aroused by the thought of Penelope being in his room.

"So, you found your welcome back present then." Eloise leaned against the door frame. "What was in the parcel? Pen was very secretive when she gave it to me to leave in your room."

"It is a journal. So, Pen did not come into my room?" Now that she had told him that Penelope had given her the parcel, it made more sense.

"No. She gave it to me when I went to see her this morning. She said you would need it for Greece. Are you going back there?" Eloise was confused. Colin had only just got back from travelling.

"She had an idea that I could do something more with the travelling I have done." He was still uncertain if he would be able to get a novel published, let alone if people would read it.

"And you need a journal for that?" Eloise shook her head. "I guess Pen knows what she is talking about." Although Eloise had no idea.

He wasn't sure if he could re-write from memory everything from his Greece trip. If he had the letters, he had sent to Penelope it would have been easier. "She has always been so encouraging and inspiring. Why did it take me almost losing her to be able to see that she is all I ever wanted?"

"Answer me this brother, if Pen had not stopped speaking to you, would you have noticed how wonderful she was?" Eloise crossed her arms in front of her. "Or would you have been happy to stay friends?"

"I hope that I would have been smart enough to see that she had become more than a friend." Last season he had started noticing Penelope more. He would deliberately look for her at parties and balls. If she hadn't overheard him and not wanted anything to do with him, he was almost certain that he still would have ended up courting her. It just would have taken a little longer.

"Hmmm." Eloise gave him a thoughtful smile. Perhaps you would have. Enjoy your journal." She headed off to her own room leaving Colin deep in thought.

Later that night despite being exhausted Colin couldn't sleep. He climbed out of bed and stared out of the window at the Featherington residence. Almost as though he had summoned her, Penelope appeared and began walking down the street. Throwing some clothes on, Colin raced after her.

"You really should not be out at this time of night alone." He was surprised that she didn't seem startled by his appearance.

"I am not alone." She smiled up at him. "You are with me." It felt so natural walking beside him in the middle of the night.

"Thank you for the gift. I took a journal with me to Italy but never thought to take one to Greece." He took hold of her hand. He needed to touch her. "I am not certain that I can recall my thoughts to be able to re-write them."

"There is no need to recall them. I have the letters you wrote to me. With a little editing they could be published as a novel." Penelope blushed a little, admitting she had held onto his letters.

"You kept my letters?" He had been going to ask her if she still had them but feared she might have burned them after his regrettable words last season. "I am not sure how I would go about publishing a novel though, even if I had something good enough to publish." Penelope had faith in his writing but what if nobody wanted to read it?

"I could help you with that." Penelope had been looking into getting a book published for when the time came that she was no longer writing as Lady Whistledown. "If you would like me to."

"You would do that?" Could he have really found his purpose? Had Penelope handed him his future on a silver platter?

"Of course." She loved reading his letters. It wasn't a hardship enjoying the world through his eyes. She was certain others would enjoy reading a novel containing sights to see not only the usual ones recommended to tourists, but others that he had discovered from talking with the locals.

"Thank you." He raised her hand to his lips. "I do not deserve you, but I will move heaven and earth to convince you to become my wife." He had hoped that she realised his intentions towards her had not changed while overseas. But if last season had taught him anything, it was that she found the negative comments easier to believe. Possibly because she was consistently having them hurled at her from all sides.

Penelope stopped walking "You still wish me to be your wife?" Granted he had not given her any indication that he had changed his mind or fund someone else. It was simply difficult to believe that a society charmer such as Colin Bridgerton would be interested in marrying a wall flower like Penelope Featherington. As friends certainly. But as husband and wife, not very likely.

"I do not make a practise of passionately kissing women that I do not wish to marry." He had never kissed Marina, especially not the way he kissed Penelope. Perhaps that alone should have alerted him to the mistake he was making at the time.

He was such a good kisser that she only half believed him. "I did not mean to insinuate that you did." She thought for a moment that she may have offended him, but he looked more amused than offended.

"There is no one else I would rather have as my wife." He knew it must sound empty considering he had proposed to Marina the first season Penelope was out in society. "Will you forgive me for taking so long to realise that?"

"You were not happy with Lady Whistledown." Penelope chose her words carefully. She loved Colin but he hated Lady Whistledown. "Why would you want to marry me knowing that I am Lady Whistledown."

"Because you are so much more than that." She had a point. He had complained often to her about Lady Whistledown at how unfairly Lady Whistledown had treated Marina. "You must have thought I was such a fool. Going on about how things may have turned out differently for Marina if Lady Whistledown had not printed her gossip. When you had already told me that Marina loved someone else."

"You believed yourself to be in love." What if that was all this was as well? What made her so different?

"I did not know what being in love was until I almost lost you." He tugged her closer. "I looked forward to every letter I received from you while I was in Greece, but even more so in Italy when I knew why."

"You are a wonderful writer." She was beginning to feel hot despite the cold breeze. "It is as though I am travelling with you." When his lips began making their way down her neck she struggled to remain upright let alone breathe.

"Marry me and we can travel together." He knew it wasn't the most romantic proposal and he was planning to ask again when he had a ring with him. But at this moment, he needed her to know that he was serious and not going to change his mind.

"As much as I would like to travel, that would not be a good reason to marry you." She needed to be sure that this was really what he wanted. "You should get some sleep. You have had a long trip."

Sighing he turned back towards their homes never letting go of her hand. "I will ask again." He would keep asking until she said yes. There was no going forward without her. "You are my future Penelope."

"Why don't I get those letters for you." Penelope was not used to being anyone's future. Especially when it was the one person, she had always dreamed of having a future with.

"It can wait until tomorrow." He wasn't ready to say goodnight to her yet. This was becoming a habit, kissing her out the back of her home in secret. He would be back here tomorrow to continue courting her until she said yes to marrying him.

Kissing Penelope Featherington constantly amazed him. For years he never thought of her as anything but his sister's best friend and then his friend with her unwavering loyalty. The last thing he thought he would be doing was kissing her. Although there was many a time, he found himself holding her gaze longer than deemed respectful. From the first moment he kissed her it always left him wanting more and every time was better than the previous time.

"I should get back inside." Penelope managed to get out when they finally came up for air. She didn't want to stop kissing Colin but there was a small chance someone might notice she was gone.

Colin loved everything about this woman. She was the whole package. She was beautiful, witty intelligent, loyal and he was discovering strong and not the pushover that people assumed she was. He had seen the cutting side of her when Lord Fyfe had asked her to dance at his brother's wedding. "I will see you tomorrow." He could happily stay here kissing her until the sun came up.

"I think it is already tomorrow." She was breathless and excited that he wanted to keep seeing her as more than a friend.

"Then I will see you later today." He kissed her goodbye and stepped back before he could get lost in kissing her again. He waited until she was safely inside before he headed home.

The next morning, he got up early to fetch some flowers for Penelope. He had brought her a necklace in Italy, but it didn't seem enough. He had found out that her name meant weaver and in Greek mythology she was the wife of Odysseus. Of course, he wished he had found out all of this when he was in Greece. Still, he managed to find a pendant that had a charm in the shape of a basket on it.

When he called on Penelope, he was surprised that Lady Featherington was on her way out with her daughter Prudence. She stayed long enough to let Penelope know she had a visitor. It appeared Lady Featherington accepted his intention to marry her youngest daughter more than Penelope could.

When Penelope appeared, she took his breath away. She was a vision in blue. He had hardly ever seen her out of citrus colours or pink.

"Thank you." She handed him a parcel of letters tied together. "Here are your letters from Greece." She blushed when he handed her the flowers and gift box. "You did not need to bring me anything."

"But I wanted to." He glanced at the parcel of letters. "I had not realised that I had sent so many." He turned his gaze back to her. "Would you care to go for a walk?"

"Just let me put these in water." She dashed off to find a vase. Taking a deep breathe she opened the box he had given her. It was a beautiful necklace. Not big and flashy like the ones her mother and sisters preferred. When she joined him in the foyer again, he seemed nervous. "The necklace is beautiful. Would you help me put it on?"

Colin heaved a sigh of relief. He had been nervous that she would not like it but had noticed that Penelope didn't wear statement pieces like her mother and sisters. The one he had chosen seemed more suited to Penelope. He stepped behind her to do up the clasp. Kissing the side of her neck, he stepped back in front of her to check how it looked.

"Will one of your sisters be joining us?" This was really happening. Colin really wanted her.

"Francesca said she would be happy to join us." Truth be known, he would rather be alone with her, but he had already done damage to her image in society, he would not also ruin her reputation. That meant he would be proposing sooner rather than later. Especially if she kept going on these midnight strolls. He wanted, no needed to kiss her without worrying that they would be the topic of scandalous gossip.

They stopped off to get Francesca to accompany them and set off for a stroll. Something was troubling Colin about Portia Featheringtons eagerness at leaving him alone with her youngest daughter. He was not complaining about being alone with Penelope. It was just that he appeared more concerned with her reputation than her mother was. "Why is your mother always eager to leave us alone? Not that I mind, but my mother would ensure that one of us was at least close by if it were one of my sisters."

Penelope came to a halt. Colin was right. The problem was that when they were alone Colin was usually kissing her and she could not think straight when Colin kissed her. "I am so sorry." Her mama always covered her bases. "She knows you would marry me rather than ruin my reputation such as it is. And all it would take to ruin it was a rumour of the two of us being alone. She has not taken into account that I would never trap you into marrying me."

She constantly amazed him. She was not thinking of her own reputation. She was only thinking of his. "Then it is a wasted effort on her part as I have every intention of marrying you."

"Have you got a ring brother?" Francesca was slightly amused that Penelope was clearly making Colin work at securing her as his wife. Usually women fell for Colin's charm, but Penelope wanted him to be certain that marrying her was really what he wanted.

"Actually, I have." Colin smiled at his sister. "I just appear to be having some difficulty getting Penelope to say yes."

"I have not said no." Penelope responded primly. "You keep informing me that you will ask me at a later date. It is you who is so sure I will say no." In fairness she would have said no at the end of last season.

Colin squeezed her hand. "And you would have had every right to." He was finding himself learning more about her each day despite thinking he knew all he needed to. "Do you have a favourite flower?" He had stuck to his mother's suggestion last season of daisies and sweet peas, but now he wanted to know everything there was to learn about Penelope Featherington.

"I have never really thought about it. Actually, I love all flowers, but I have grown weary of yellow flowers. Daffodils do not appeal to me as much as they did when I was younger." The more control she had over her wardrobe, the less yellow appeared in it. "You are the first person who has ever given me flowers."

Right there and then he silently vowed that he would shower her with every type of flower he could find. It broke his heart that nobody had noticed how amazing she was, enough to bring her flowers. Himself included. "Then you have a favourite colour?" Clearly it was not yellow.

"Green." She did not want to admit that it was because of his green eyes. "Although I am partial to blue as well."

"I am partial to you in blue." He had to admit she looked unbelievably beautiful in that blue dress. Especially with the blush his complement brought on, tainting her cheeks. Although he felt a little foolish not knowing such things as her favourite colour and flower considering he had known her since she was sixteen.

"Colin is right. That is a lovely colour on you Penelope." Francesca admired the pretty dress. "Did Madam De La Croix make it?"

"She did. She is very talented." Penelope had let her mother believe she had saved up her pin money to buy the dress. She would need to get creative with future purchases. Although her mama had given her more control over her wardrobe choices.

As he was prone to do when he was with Penelope, Colin realised they had walked quite the distance. Turning them around he headed back towards their homes. "Will you grant me a dance at the Trowbridge ball?" Although he would not be relinquishing any of her dances to another suitor especially looking as stunning as she did today.

"You have no need to make arrangements in advance. With the exception of your brother's wedding nobody asks me to dance." She wasn't certain that she wanted to dance with anyone but Colin regardless.

Colin knew that wasn't true. He had only been back for one day and he had already heard several gentlemen enquiring on Penelope's presence at Friday's ball. The Trowbridge balls were always outrageous, but everyone always wanted to be invited to them. "I think I will reserve a dance or two with you regardless."

In that moment Colin realised how isolated Penelope had been, even in her own home. Despite the odd occasion when Pen bit back, she was still incredibly shy and introverted.

Penelope let out a breath she had unknowingly been holding. "Then I suppose I could spare a dance for you." This was very surreal. The hope she had been trying to bury was slowly and with great determination digging its way to the surface.

"That is very gracious of you." He kissed the top of her head. "Will you have dinner with us?" He was not ready to let her go.

"Is that not rather short notice?" Penelope knew she would be welcome at the Bridgerton dinner table short notice or not. Still, this was big step.

"I may have mentioned to our cook that you would be joining us this evening." Colin looked at her sheepishly. "Perhaps you could help me organize my Greece letters."

"How can I say no?" Penelope would love to help him get his work published. Despite being mad at him, she had loved reading every letter from Italy. He wrote so beautifully that she felt as though she were walking hand in hand with him through Italy.

Colin smiled as though she had given him the world. "Francesca, would you mind letting Lady Featherington know Penelope will be joining us for dinner."

"It would be my pleasure." Francesca practically skipped across the road. She loved Penelope as Eloise's friend and would love her even more once she became Colin's wife. She had no doubt this would happen as Colin could be very determined when he wanted to be.

"Alone at last." Colin led Penelope inside. Nobody was in the foyer, so he seized the opportunity to kiss Penelope as he had been dying to all morning. As much as he appreciated Francesca accompanying them, he preferred being alone with Penelope, where she could feel safe to let her guard down.

"Uh hmm." Unfortunately, the foyer had not remained empty for long. Antony Bridgerton was coming down the stairs towards them. "Are you joining us this evening?" He directed his question to Penelope who was blushing profusely behind Colin.

"If that suits you, Lord Bridgerton." Penelope looked at Antony Bridgerton to check and see if she should be apologising for something. But the Viscount merely looked amused by the situation. And in fairness, Colin kissed her. She just made no move to stop him. Mainly because she had no desire to do so.

"It would be our pleasure." Antony nodded to Penelope before moving on to the drawing room.

"Perhaps we should go through your letters from Greece while we wait for Francesca." Besides she needed to catch her breath.

Colin groaned into her neck. "But that will mean joining my family in the drawing room, when all I want tis to be alone with you." He huffed. "Come on. If we do not join them Antony will send one of my younger siblings to look for us." When she gave him a sweet smile, he realised she was probably feeling very overwhelmed at the moment.

"I am not going anywhere Colin." She squeezed his hand reassuringly. "You can stop buying enormous bouquets of flowers for me. I appreciate the gesture, but I will soon run out of room for them all. Although mama is very impressed by them." She found this all a bit much to accept but she would enjoy never the less.

"I am rather intent of discovering what your favourite flower is, so what if I brought smaller bouquets?" He yearned to lavish her with the attention she had so clearly been neglected to be given and obviously felt she did not deserve.

She studied him for a moment. "If it means that much to you." There was little she would say no to when he looked at her that way. "Let us make a start on your purpose." She led him to the drawing room. This was going to be fun.