Disclaimer: I don't own "Bridgerton" or any of its characters, wishful thinking aside.
Authors Note #1: Inspired by the picture on Luke Newton's Instagram months back with his arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmms. Ya'll know the one. This is an au version if how season three might start.
Warnings: arm porn, season three au, romantic tension, sexual tension, emotional hurt/comfort, angst, drama, romance, anger, revenge, admiration of a particular body part, but somehow also plot.
Golden ticket (to the gun show)
Chapter One
She tried not to notice when Colin returned with more brawn than when he'd left.
It was all there, for the discerning eye. With his suits fitting just a bit too tight. Decidedly snug in the arms and shoulders. She told herself she didn't care a wit. And why should she? He'd made his feelings clear. Indeed, she was grateful he'd saved her from making an even bigger fool of herself.
"I would never dream of courting Penelope Featherington!"
Despite her indifference, she was shocked when the draper was not immediately summoned. Lady Bridgerton must have been preoccupied with Francesca's upcoming season not to order a new wardrobe. Or even have one of the servants let out the seams.
The constant peacocking rankled her.
Surely he found it uncomfortable?
She told herself she only noticed because the window in the parlor faced the road. But she did hear - because she made it her business too - that he'd spent the last month abroad at some sort of gentleman's retreat. She'd investigated as much as she dared, and even she didn't have the full of it. But the rumor was, all sorts of wild activities - not befitting a gentleman - took place there.
Manual labor?
It was absurd.
It had come directly from one of her little ones. A girl that had family who'd seen the estate firsthand. It should have been a scoop. A salacious story worthy of a fresh edition of Lady Whistledown's society papers. But she never wrote it. Despite everything, she didn't have it in her. No matter what Colin had said.
So, for now, she observed. Remarking that she hadn't noticed when Prudence spied Colin from the window the following morning. Lingering at the sill as she crowed at the sight of him. Wondering aloud at the transformation while she stayed as far away from the window as possible.
If Prudence had an ounce of interest in anything but herself and her strained marriage, the lie would have been quite transparent indeed.
She was doing well trying to forget him.
Until he came to call unexpectedly the very next day.
A/N: Thank you for reading. – There will be one more chapter.