Today is the day. The wedding that Violet had never thought she would live to see. Her bullheaded, headstrong daughter Eloise was getting married AND it was a love match! Violet sat as her maid, Mary, did up her hair and makeup. She had promised to stay out of Eloise's hair until the hour before they had to leave for the church, so Violet had done something she hadn't done in years.
She had a lie in.
Frannie was to be married to John, the Earl of Kilmartin, in another month and another two months until Benedict and Sophie wed. Her children were all in love and finding their own happiness in the world. Gregory was just in his first year at Eton and Hyacinth was going to start helping Lady Danbury a few days a week to break up the monotony and loneliness of her days. And Violet? Violet was having...urges.
She had been in a state of dormancy for several years. Edmund, her sweet, doting husband had been gone for twelve years now. Her children were leaving home to start their own families. Violet felt lonely and wanted a companion. Someone to share her thoughts...her fears...her desires.
"All set Lady Violet. Would you like to break your fast in your room or the drawing room?" Mary asked and Violet had responded the last. As she made her way to the drawing room, her eyes caught on the newest footman. He was bending over to wipe some dirt from the top of his shoe and Violet took a moment to appreciate the view. She felt her chest blush and that damn throbbing between her legs. Goodness, Violet Bridgerton! Pull yourself together!' She chastised herself.
Perhaps she would discuss this feeling of longing with Agatha again.
John waited with Aunt Winnie and Francesca for his cousin Michael's carriage to arrive at the church. Michael was going to attend the wedding and luncheon afterwards. It would be his first introduction to Francesca's family. He had met Fran and Aunt Winnie at the Kilmartin Winter Ball this past summer. They had become fast friends and John knew Michael had a small crush on his cousin's future wife.
It was at that ball that Francesca described their family friend, Penelope Featherington. Michael had begged for an introduction when he was next in London town. Too bad he had been in India the last few months or he could have had his chance. Now, as it sat, Penelope Featherington was now Penelope Bridgerton expecting her first child with his soon-to-be brother-in-law, Colin.
"Ah, here he is!" John exclaimed as the carriage came to a stop.
"Cousins!" Michael exclaimed as he disembarked from his carriage. "And Aunt Winnie, looking as beautiful as ever. Beautiful day for a wedding. Has Miss Penelope arrived? I am most eager to make her acquaintance." He wriggled his eyebrows and winked, a small smile playing upon his lips.
"Um, about that Michael." Francesca began to explain before she watched his mouth drop open. Perfect timing. Penelope and Colin had arrived, walking from their townhome just three blocks from the church.
"She's a goddess. You said she was beautiful but by God. She glows. Oh yes. I think I am half in love with her already." Blinded by her glowing vermilion hair and porcelain skin, Michael had yet to noticed there was a man attached to the angel before him.
"Michael!" His cousin got his attention at last. "You are too late. She has wed. Penelope is newly wed to Colin Bridgerton, Francesca's brother.
Michael looked then and saw the blinding smile of the reincarnation of Venus was directed at the tall, broad-shouldered man beside her. His heart felt as if it had dropped into his stomach. Another lost opportunity. But, he could still have some fun. He smiled mischievously and John knew it was on. Michael had turned on the charm and his Merry Rake persona.
He walked up and extended his hand out to Colin. "Mister Bridgerton, Michael Sterling. John's cousin." Colin looked over the man. He was as tall as him, with jet black hair and piercing gray eyes. "And who is this enrapturing beauty?" He held his hand out toward Penelope and she blushed. 'Oh yes,' Michael thought to himself, 'such a pretty blush.'
He kissed her hand and stared into her eyes, "Mister Sterling, this is my wife, Penelope."
"A pleasure to meet you, Penelope." He purred and she giggled. Colin looked to her and she stifled her laughter. "I hope it is not too bold of me to say, but you have got to be the most gorgeous woman I've ever laid eyes on." She gasped and Colin bristled.
"That is too bold Sterling. Please step back from my wife." Colin was red with fury and John rushed over to put space between the gentlemen sensing a lot of tension between them.
"For fuck's sake, Michael!" John whisper screamed at his impertinent cousin. "Can you behave please?" Michael chuckled.
"Did you see Bridgerton's face?" Colin was giving him a death stare as he pulled his wife closer. Penelope patted his arm to placate him and her eyes shifted towards Michael Sterling.
He was smirking at her and staring unabashedly at her. It should make her uncomfortable but instead, she felt sexy. It was hard being just about 3 months pregnant to feel desired. Although Colin's insatiable appetite for her was wonderful, it felt good that someone else also appreciated her looks.
"Come on my love. Let us find our seats inside. Eloise should be arriving soon." Penelope said as she finally got her husband to stop trying to murder Michael Sterling telepathically.
"Of course, my sweet." He dipped his head down to kiss her sweetly on the lips. Gently caressing her cheek, he looked towards the voyeur to his right. "Cannot let the mother of my child be on her feet for too long." He watched the look of shock cross the gentleman's face and saw his eyes flit down to Penelope's belly. She wasn't showing enough to be seen through her dress, but only Colin knew of the existence of her baby bump when laying in her shift at night.
Michael watched as the couple entered the church. "He compromised her? Is that why they wed?" He asked in a hushed voice.
"No, they've been wed for just over three months now. I believe they conceived on the honeymoon. They were a love match. It just took him almost losing her to realize that his affections for her were more than just friendship. If you had come with me instead of gallivanting around India, that could be you now." Michael sighed.
It seemed he was cursed to fall in love with the unattainable. First Francesca. Now Penelope.
It was finally happening. He was to be wedded. He was to become a husband. He was to have a wife. And by God, a more perfect person for him he could never have dreamt up. He was to enter into this crazy huge family filled with love and happiness and joy! His new brothers stood around him making sure he was positive that he wanted to be shackled to their most obstinate and headstrong sister. Purely in jest; for they knew him to completely besotted with Eloise Bridgerton.
"She's just pulled up with mother." Gregory came barrelling inside. Anthony shook Lord Debling's hand and left to greet them and walk his sister down the aisle.
"Just breathe." Benedict said before stepping down to sit beside his own fiancé Sophie. Colin remained by his side.
"Chris." He looked over and saw Colin's shining eyes. "Love each other well. Me and Pen will be just a letter away. We love you both." Colin grabbed his shoulders and turned him, "Here comes your girl." He hugged Debling and took his seat next to his wife.
And there she was. In Bridgerton Blue, a huge smile on her face, clutching her eldest brother's arm. Christopher almost rushed forward to wrap her in his arms but stood up taller, a charming smile matching hers upon his face. Everything else blurred as his sight stayed on the face of the woman he loved. His brainy, witty, wonderful woman. His Eloise.
Anthony kissed his sister's forehead then shook Christopher's hand before handing Eloise off. She smiled brightly up at him, "Hi."
"Hi."
"Dearly beloved..." They words were said, basic vows recited because they just wanted to be married. They wanted to be together for eternity. To love and be loved. Christopher was 2 and 30 and eager to make a magnificent life with his Eloise. He wanted to give her the world and get nothing but her heart in return.
"Do you take this woman..."
"I do."
"Do you take this man..."
"Oh yeah, I do!" Laughter in the pews, but she heard nothing. Only the beating of her heart. She watched as his smile grew, pulling her close.
"You may kiss your bride, my Lord."
The kiss was soft at first but increased in intensity. The sounds of their family, friends and acquaintances around them ranged between laughters, cheers and gasps, but they didn't care. Finally they came up for air.
"I love you." They say at the same time before she giggles and takes his hand in hers.
"Ladies and gentlemen, Lord Christopher Debling and Lady Eloise Debling!"
Penelope stepped out to the garden for some fresh air. Her best friends were married. They would be departing for Brighton in a few hours. She gasped as she came around the rose bushes, almost running into a tall figure. "Oh! Pardon me. Oh, Mister Sterling. Wh-what are you doing here."
"I was invited or do you mean here, in the garden?" He smirked at her before gesturing for her to pass. The sweet scent of honeysuckle lingering on her wafted into his nose causing his stomach to clench. "You smell delightful." He almost winced, not meaning to say the words out loud.
"I thank you sir. You are very impertinent, do you know that?" She shook her head and smiled at him before settling on her favorite bench.
"I've been told that I am charming actually." He straightened his lapels and smiled down at her. She truly was an adorable creature. She would have made a wonderful companion, someone he could see himself possibly falling in love with. But he was too late.
"Hmm, yes. Charming you may be, but you are also very flirtatious and seem to have a knack for riling up my husband. Why is that?" Penelope was truly curious. Why was he being so amorous towards her?
"Simply put, Mrs. Bridgerton?" She nodded, "He has something I want." He met her eyes and she knew she was blushing. She needed to get out of there. The hormones from the pregnancy were not helping things either. "You see, my cousin and his fiancé had told me all about this beautiful, Titian haired woman that would be perfect for me. Instead of following them to London though, I mistakenly went to India for a tour not knowing that this remarkable young lady would be whisked away by another so quickly. So now, here I sit. Lonely and envious of one, Colin Bridgerton."
"What's going on here?"
'Speak of the devil.' Thought Michael.
"Is there a reason you are alone in the garden with my wife, Sterling?" Colin asked in an agitated tone.
"Purely coincidental, Bridgerton. I was admiring your family's rose bushes when your lovely little wife came upon me. She was merely listening to me prattling about missed connections." Penelope felt her face flush and caught her husband's eyes.
"Hmm, yes. I seem to have overheard a bit of your impertinent conversation. I'd like you to stay away from MY wife. I don't know what you think you are doing here, Sterling. You may be related to my future brother but that does not give you leave to speak to MY WIFE as if you know her. You do not know her and you are not permitted to be alone with her. Do I make myself perfectly clear?"
At this point, Colin was breathing heavily, fist clenched and ready to pounce. Penelope did not know whether to feel annoyed at being treated as a possession or pleased that Colin was so protective of her. One thing she knew she felt was horny and ready to have him take her right there in front of Michael Sterling.
The gentleman in question was currently red faced and looked just as ready to fight the third Bridgerton son. He answered through gritted teeth, "Crystal clear." He looked at Penelope's heaving breast and pink cheeks and instantly calmed. Tilting his head at her, he excused himself. "Mrs. Bridgerton. Enjoy your walk." Then he disappeared behind the bushes.
"Pen, I'm sor-" but he didn't get to finish what he had been about to say because his wife pulled him down to crush her lips to his.
"Oh Colin!" She lifted her leg and he knew to pull her up as she wrapped both legs around his waist. He surged up into her and she moaned at the feel of his hardening member rubbing against her clit.
He quickly loosened his breeches and pulled himself free. His wife had been going without her underthings as of late, and he couldn't have been more appreciative of that fact as he entered her with a moan coming from her lips. "Pen, oh fuck, I love you so much! You're incredible! So sexy! That's why Sterling wants you. My goddess! My beautiful, brilliant wife!" With each word he surged up into her. It was driving her wild.
"Colin! Oh god! You! Only you! Nobody else ever! Oh Colin!" She buried her head into his shoulder and bit down to stifle her screams.
Colin held her there against the trellis as they both came down from the high their coupling always seemed to leave them in. Gently he withdrew himself from her and she laid her head against his chest. She felt him kiss the top of her head then tilted her face up to meet his lips with a sweet kiss. "Love?" He nuzzled her cheek with his own.
"Yes, Colin?"
"Never again, okay?" She knew what he meant. If ever came a time that she found herself in the sole company of another unrelated male, especially Michael Sterling, she was to leave the situation immediately. Not just because of any gossip it could lead to, but fir her safety and that of their unborn child.
"Okay, my love. You have my word."
Lady Fiona was in her own carriage leaving for her son's estate as the newlyweds boarded their own to head off for their journey by boat to France for the start of their honeymoon tour. France for two weeks, then Italy for two weeks before heading back through France to go on another ship sailing to Ireland for two weeks then to Scotland to stay with Frannie and her Earl before starting their life in Brighton.
"Bye Frannie! Love you!" Eloise hugged her favourite sister and smiled softly at her. "We shall see you soon and celebrate our newly wedded bliss together." Francesca squeezed her sister tightly.
"Love you too. Write me often." Francesca hugged her newest brother. "Take great care of my sister you." Lord Debling promised he would then stepped over to hug Penelope and Colin.
"Promise to visit as soon as we get back in two months. And do write, both of you." They agreed and watched as Eloise and Christopher finished saying their goodbyes. With one last wave to the family, Lord and Lady Debling disappeared from view a few moments later.
"Well, two more weddings to go, eh?" Anthony announced as the family moved into the house.
"Yes! Me next!" Francesca squealed as her fiancé hugged her from behind, kissing her neck.
"It cannot happen fast enough." He mumbled into her ear before releasing her.
Michael shook his head and smirked at his cousin's antics. He looked over the happy couples. The artist, Barry or Bennie or something else with a B and his little fiancé were set upon a loveseat talking and laughing quietly. His cousin John and Francesca were teasing each other as her mother sat close by, a small smile playing upon her lips. The Viscount and his Viscountess sat with the youngest Hyacinth as she asked a million questions about the soon to be niece or nephew the dark eyed beauty was carrying. Then there was Colin with his prize beauty looking over a book as he snuck kisses to her neck and smiled into her hair as he whispered words of love into her ear.
He was jealous. He had never felt jealous of anyone in his entire life but here he sat envious of another man's life. Another man's wife. He was an idiot. He should have never gone to India. He should have followed his cousin to London. That could be him right now with that brilliant, gorgeous, giggling woman. He had to leave. If he didn't, he knew that he would do something unbecoming and dangerous. He'd never been in love before. If the lump in his throat and the sick feeling in his stomach were any indication, he felt like the greatest love he could have ever imagined had slipped through his fingers. He would make his excuses and leave. Tonight.
A/N: Well there was my brief interlude of drama with the intriguing Michael Sterling.
