Less than a decade later, Penelope was convinced that Colin had forgotten their pact, and Colin returned home.
It has been eight years since Colin proposed to Penelope. Well, she might be stretching the truth a little. He did sort of offer? Right? Half the time, Penelope was convinced she imagined or dreamed the interlude in the front hall of the Bridgerton home. That, or she was sure Colin didn't remember it happening. They've never mentioned it in their letters. Or maybe Colin would return with a foreign bride at any moment. Then their pact would be void.
It would be Felicity's second season. With their mom retired to Ireland, Penelope would serve as Felicity's chaperone. At seven and twenty, Penelope was firmly on the shelf and widely considered a spinster.
Not that Penelope hadn't tried to get married. Why, not two years ago, Penelope almost achieved it. Unfortunately, Penelope's suitor, Mr. Harry Dankworth, lost his older brother mid-season. In addition to dealing with the crippling loss of his family, he was suddenly responsible for the duties of the Dankworth heir - including the existence of a marriage contract. Any chance of their blooming romance? It was gone.
Before courting, Penelope and Harry had become good friends. She refused to let him go through this extreme loss alone. Writing to him, Penelope passed along her sympathies. Over the next year, they built up an even stronger friendship even as he returned to his countryside estate and preparations for marriage. Once he married, Penelope assumed the letters would end.
Instead, she received an invitation to dinner with him and his new wife. Penelope and Eliza became fast friends. She was happy for them both as they were well-suited. Penelope continued to send letters to Harry and Eliza last year.
Just before the season started, they began alluding to a surprise. Penelope was looking forward to it. But, in reality, Penelope had decided that this would be her last season in the ton. Regardless of whatever surprise Harry and Eliza had for her, Penelope knew Felicity was close to marriage. Plus, Penelope was tired of the seasons in London. She had spent enough time being part of the system and was excited for it to end.
Even though Felicity ended last season without a marriage, she was close. Toward the end of the previous season, Geoffrey Albansdale expressed interest in Felicity. And Felicity felt the same way. Penelope predicted that they would be married before the end of this season.
Then, Penelope would grant her mother's wish and join her in Ireland to grow old together. Some days the plan bothered Penelope, but others … Penelope wished for the freedom it would grant her. During her last visit to Ireland, her mom had fully relaxed and toned down all her biting comments against Penelope. It was night and day from the woman Penelope had grown up with. While not her first choice, it did seem to be a good life.
With all this in mind, Penelope entered this season with a plan to have fun and soak it all up, for it would be her last.
Colin, on the other hand, had a very different plan for this season. He wanted to relearn who Penelope was as an adult. At two and thirty, he may have been driving his mother spare with his lack of marriage or marriage prospects - especially since half of his siblings have married (Anthony, Benedict, Daphne, and Francesca).
Over the years, Colin had occasionally written Penelope. However, neither had mentioned their pact in writing. Despite this, Colin never forgot it. Even as he extended his original trip plans from five to six, seven, then eight years, Colin kept it in mind. He also kept his promise not to let it tie him down. Though there were several women over the years, none of them made him want to stay - or take them with him.
So, instead of extending his travels for the next year, Colin returned home. If he was to be married in a couple of years, he wanted to ensure they would be well-suited. Colin imagined it was likely Penelope had changed, as years had passed. He owed it to his future wife to learn who she was now. She was still just a child when he left. No matter what society says, a woman of a mere eight and ten or even nine and ten years would be too young to be a wife.
A/N
Sadly no interaction between Penelope and Colin just yet ... That will be the next chapter!
