OKAY, a few points.
1. This will probably not be a Polin story, sorry and I might be critical of Colin as I write about him.
2. Please don't put be off with regards to what Robert thinks about Penelope.. I promise you there is a reason for that NOW at least.
3. In this story, Colin does NOT know that Pen knows he said he would never court her, I intend to save that confrontation for later!
4. If you are not familiar with my stories, allow me to please inform you that my characters, while based on CANON characters aren't really exactly like the ones in Bridgerton so if you find Penelope to act not 'like she usually is', in the books or in the show it is because of that.
5. I am taking historical and creative liberties, I have made Robert a Lord (I believe he is in the show anyway but not sure) so please excuse that and please mind be mindful that I am not British myself so excuse the 'word flow'.
6. Some elements are CANON in this story, like for instance Anthony/Kate marriage, others are not. I am just gonna roll with it.
Robert Fife was someone who was used to getting his way Obstacles didn't mean much to him, no these were to be bought away or otherwise eliminated and there was always a way to achieve this .
They were privileges that came with his status as Lord and he made eager use of them. There was not a day that went by when he was not happy with his origins and did not consider himself lucky that the Fife's were rich because imagine being born a poor pauper! He saw the men and he did not envy them, their exhausted long faces due to the long days they worked in his father's textile factory, which he supposedly had to keep an eye on, whether things were working properly there.
His father had entrusted him with that task, though it was more to shift the responsibility onto him upon which Robert shifted the responsibility back onto his manager. He did go by though, once a month or so, to look around briefly, barely 10 minutes before quickly making his way back to the exit, back to his undisturbed life of drinking and setting his sights on a new conquest, read a new lady he could beckon to his bed.
However, he had been feeling uninspired of late. The ladies, married or not, fell too easily into his lap and there was no challenge into getting them in said lap. He hated to admit but he Robert Sinclair Fife was no longer enamoured with the ladies he found himself with in his company, though that was not entirely fair perhaps. He did enjoy seducing them of course but afterwards there was always an emptiness, the search for something, after pleasure had departed his body. Then Robert didn't know how quickly he could get away because as soon as their mouths opened something or other silly or totally inconsequential would come out and he would have to listen to how badly the husbands were treating them or they were talking about Lady Whistledown, or the latest dresses from Paris.
He didn't give a damn about any of it, least of all the infamous writer Lady Whistledown. Everyone was talking about her publication, Robert had not read it once...Yet somewhere he was grateful, somehow he had escaped Lady Whistledown's thorn, until now but he was also discreet and so were the ladies in question.
Besides, he was no Bridgerton and somehow Lady Whistledown often mentioned them in her tabloid, several times so far. Apparently the writer found this family intriguing and Robert was happy about that even if he didn't understand the fascination much.
The female Bridgertons were all lovely and turned heads wherever they went but he did not find the male ones AS captivating. Benedict Bridgerton was a nice fellow he supposed , he had no grievances with them. The contact between them was superficial yet friendly, a brief conversation during yet another ball. Anthony Bridgerton he had always found to be a pompous arse but being married had perhaps removed some of the stick in his arse, he suspected as he seemed to behave a bit more friendly than usual instead of the insufferable man he used to be. And then there was Colin.
He was no friends with Colin but no enemies either well maybe until recently at this brother's ball
Who did Colin think he was? Robert was five years older than him and did not have to answer to a brat just out of diapers, secondly, Colin had loudly proclaimed that he would never court Penelope
So, what was it? Was it genuine concern for Penelope or was there more behind it? He had to admit that Colin might have had legitimate concerns. His intentions (writers note : hehe semi title check) with Penelope Featherington were not exactly pure, he had to admit. Robert did not want to marry Penelope. No... there were other candidates who were more suitable, who were getting richer and had a better family name, Lord Featherington had died suspiciously a few years back. There were murmurs that Lord Featherington owed money to sinister people, which could have caused his death, but no one had ever been caught for it, nor was there any evidence. Surely he would have to face it in some time, marry, as the sole descendant of the Fife family he was keen to carry on his name and ensure posterity.
Did he want to take away her innocence and have his wicked way with her? Oh, absolutely he didn't deny that. There was something about her though that was not so innocent about her at all, and he couldn't wait to find out what exactly that was.
His plan of action had to be adjusted, after all, there was a block in the road in the form of Colin Bridgerton but it was only a minor setback. After all, if there was one thing Robert was very good at, it was in removing obstacles, no matter what it may cost.
Penelope could not forget about the ball to her chagrin, well she wanted to but Portia wouldn't let her forget...
"And then Mrs. Varley. to everyone's surprise and mine most of all", Penelope rolled her eyes at this part of her mother's sentence, "Lord Fife wanted to dance with Penelope... Never in a million years", Penelope rolled her eyes again but again pretended to read " did I expect him to want to dance with her".
"It meant nothing, no doubt he just wanted to be nice, mother", Penelope said exasperated because that's what it was. Lord Fife had only wanted to dance with her out of pity she suspected, for she was the only girl who had not yet danced, even Prudence (with that vile Lord Berbrooke) and Philippa (with Mr Finch). Colin, who usually did ask, like the other men seemed to be very intrigued by newcomer Melinda Carlyle.
Great, Penelope thought. as if there weren't already enough other women she stood pale by in comparison and then also one she suspected Colin would want to pursue.
"Hush, you. I know that too" Portia reprimanded with a sharp tone.
"That does not alter the fact that... he could not ask her to dance again... Anything is possible, however small the chance and who knows. Perhaps he might develop a liking for Penelope in the future ", said Portia to which Phillipa and Prudence had burst into laughter.
"Penelope? With a Lord and then Lord Fife too?" asked Philippa with a mean smile.
"Really mama, what were you thinking?" said Prudence with a shake of her head.
"I have had enough of this" said Penelope to herself mostly at which she stood up and started walking away.
"Where are you going Penelope?" asked Portia sternly.
Penelope turned around with a jerk and looked at her mother sternly.
"Where else, mother? To my room if you don't mind" and even before Portia could answer, she had already fled the room and went straight to hers. Unfortunately, she could not go to Eloise's, she knew she was visiting her sister Daphne so going there was not an option. Besides, she didn't necessarily want to run into Colin right now either. A part of her obviously wanted to, she wanted nothing more than to be near him but in turn it hurt.
"Never in your wildest dreams, Fife" he had said, with so much certainty that her heart shattered on the spot. The words had wreaked havoc and she had tried her best to banish both him and what he said from her mind, but she had failed.
Penelope was a fool. A fool in love with someone who considered her not a woman but a 'friend'. A fool who kept waiting for Colin She had never confronted Colin on what he said because that was too painful, so she pretended like nothing was wrong.
As if the evening wasn't miserable enough already and she was forced to watch Colin dance with Melinda it only got weirder after that. Her mind going a mile a minute and was oblivious to the figure walking in her direction . Well she had seen him walking of course, she was not blind after all but she never expected him to come to a halt in front of her.
"Miss Featherington. I believe you have not yet danced tonight. It would be my honour. Would you do me the honour of a dance?" she had heard him say.
She had been too stunned to respond, all she could do was stare at him with her mouth open, she later heard from Eloise that she was not the only one as Portia and her sisters had had the same expression. Even Cressida Cowper, Eloise had informed her, was too stunned to speak which is no small feat for that wench.
"Ehm. I... I..." she could only stammer until Portia almost fell over in enthusiasm and stated that her "daughter would be delighted".
"That's kind of yours Mrs Featherington but I'd rather hear your daughter's answer" he had stated a little sternly, yet somewhere friendly again.
"Oh.. That.. would.. be... I" she started stammering again until her mother gave a not too friendly shove to make her respond properly.
"Thank you my Lord. I would love to " she had murmured politely, not quite composed yet.
She was not a bad dancer at all, her mother and governesses had prepared her excellently, she had to admit, from quadrille to waltz, it had been taught to her. However, she suddenly felt so nervous that she swore all her training had flown right out the window and suddenly couldn't remember anything.
Penelope had to make do though, the next dance was about to start so she had to think of something very quickly. The orchestra tuned the instruments briefly, an indication that they would start playing so she moved with difficulty towards the dance floor where he met her halfway.
"Miss Featherington..." he greeted politely and bowed briefly to her.
"Lord Fife" she had said and performed the same gesture. To her it was a manoeuvre that didn't feel entirely natural and had undoubtedly looked a bit wooden. Then she had waited for him to make the first move and he did. He carefully, very cautiously placed a hand on her upper back, the gesture had made her shiver for a moment, even if it was contrary to his gentleness. It just felt so strange, the only man she had danced with was Colin and this was... not Colin.
She on her end hesitantly put her hand on his shoulder, it was more his upper arm, since he was considerably that taller than her, she quickly gathered.
And then... music and the start of one of Penelope's most awkward moments in her life. The first steps still went but she didn't know where to look, at least not at him, though she had wanted to it was again not entirely easy due to a considerable height difference, it was fortunate that he towered over her.
"Are you enjoying yourself tonight Miss Featherington?" he had asked her suddenly and she had looked up where her blue eyes met another set of blue eyes. It had caught her off guard for a moment and she was momentarily lost in his gaze and had held it a little too long. She finally looked away embarrassed and nodded as an initial response before saying very softly "Yes my Lord".
"That's good" he said kindly and to Penelope's relief no other sentence or question came out of his mouth or so she thought.
"Aren't you going to ask me if I am having a nice time as well?", he stated with a curious intonation, confusing Penelope at first but then she realised that it might have been inconsiderate not to ask him the same question.
"My apologies. Are you having a pleasant time, my Lord?" she asked while profusely blinking with her eyes in an unconscious attempt to calm her nerves perhaps. The next thing she had never thought to hear, not in a million years but... he had uttered it. Robert had leaned towards her for a moment and whispered the following.
"I am now..."
It had upset her to such an extent that she had suddenly forgotten to count the steps, which is what she was doing so far, and she had miscalculated, resulting in her colliding fully with him. He had in an instant gone a second arm around her to bring her to a halt, she suspected but nonetheless she was now in the arms of Lord Fife... effectively speaking.
She pulled herself up with a jolt and started to profusely say sorry, but he had to chuckle a little, much to her annoyance, and said she didn't need to apologise
How she got through the next few minutes she didn't exactly know either but eventually her ordeal was over.
"Thank you miss Featherington. I enjoyed dancing with you" he had stated with a smile She had only nodded briefly and politely before going back to her mother and sisters, who still seemed as surprised as before and she couldn't blame them.
The next day her mother wouldn't shut up about it and she had as little reprieve as before. She was in her room now trying to organise her thoughts, but it didn't help. What did he mean by "I am now?". It was not an appropriate comment and it felt like he was just messing with her head. On the other hand, he had not seemed insincere when he said it and it made her confused.
Especially since Lord Fife did not have a reputation for being sincere. She had, at a Hawkins' ball, heard someone say that he, in lieu of managing his father factory spent his days in bed, making no distinction between married or unmarried ladies. Penelope had heard this as she stood in the corner and pretended she was watching the arriving guests with fascination; this was also somewhere her intention as her eyes had wanted to see Colin's arrival and Eloise's.
He was acting however discreetly she suspected because no one ever openly accused him of anything. She could appreciate this about him, she herself knew what it was like to walk around with secrets and how best to guard them.
A rough knock on her door and its opening brought her back to earth.
"Penelope. Get dressed", Portia ordered.
"Whatever for, mama? Can't we have one evening to ourselves? Can't I stay home please? I don't want to go." Penelope complained.
"Nonsense, we have been invited to Clara Hennessy's soirée and we are going… So get up and get dressed. NOW", Portia ordered.
In addition to her family Mr. Finch was an invitee whom Penelope liked but totally clueless, the Cowper's, whom Penelope did not like at all and she had already had three snide remarks from Cressida about her dress. To be fair she could not blame Cressida, the garment had the most hideous shade of yellow and did not look like her at all, and Mr. Nigel Berbrooke, or in other words the most boring person on earth.
"Hennessy... Would you mind passing me the sauce please... this lamb needs a dash more".
"Of course," Paul had said before turning his full attention back to his wife.
The door swung open and everyone expected it to be one of the servants but it was none other than...
"My apologies" said Robert "I was held up in a… meeting" and then walked over to the hosts who had stood up and greeted them.
"Congratulations, you two" he said in a friendly tone.
"Thank you Robert. Good of you to come, please ... take a seat" and the petite blonde Claudia pointed to the seat that was free next to Mr Berbrooke.
"Good evening all" Robert said before taking a seat, his eyes wandering around the room.
"Mrs Featherington, Miss Philippa, Miss Prudence. Miss Penelope, Lady Cowper and Miss Cowper, Mr Finch, and Mr Berbrooke, I hope you are well".
"Thank you Lord Fife. And how are you?", Portia asked.
"Splendid" he grinned, "it is good to be . among friends. Speaking of friends... " he said as he raised his glass.
"To the newlyweds, may you forever be happy together", he wished wholeheartedly, and the rest of the guests followed suit.
The evening got a lot better after Robert's his arrival as he quickly became the light of the party. He had a dry sense of humour and managed to tell one funny anecdote after another with no trouble at all.
It was apparently so amusing that her mother just wouldn't leave, even when the Cowper's and Mr Finch had left. Mr Berbrooke was talking to Paul and her mother was talking to Claudia Hennessy about her wedding dress and its cost. Lord Fife had briefly excused himself a while back.
God... It was so hot, and mama had insisted on making her wear a dress with a dense fabric in the sweltering heat. She felt stuffy and asked if she could go to the garden for a moment to get a breath of fresh air, Portia for some reason was so interested in what Claudia was saying, she absentmindedly agreed. Philippa and Prudence were both nearly sleeping in their seats.
With relief, Penelope got up and walked quickly downstairs to the back garden of the small yet impressive estate. There she took a few deep breaths, stretched her neck and moved her head from side to side, before turning to the sky, where she saw some stars and a bright moon.
"Beautiful evening isn't it?" she heard suddenly, and it made her pivot back. There was Robert with his hands folded behind him staring at her. When Penelope said nothing he took a few steps towards her and all she could do was gaze at him.
"I didn't know you were invited" he said "but it was a pleasant surprise. Where do you know the Hennessy's from?" he wanted to know.
Penelope summoned herself to talk instead of gawking at him.
"Paul's mother was an old friend of my mother's" she stated, thinking afterwards about how stupid the sentence sounded.
"Ah. That explains it... Claudia is my old neighbour girl, we often used to play together and were very close, she's like a sister to me. The day of their wedding I had a horrible cold and unfortunately couldn't attend".
"I'm sorry," Penelope also said not really knowing why she said that at all.
"I survived as you can see," she said. However, I don't know if I can survive Mr Berbrooke's company for long. I think Nigel is a nice man but my God, how boring he is. I couldn't leave fast enough"
Penelope couldn't help but laugh, it was not very lady like no doubt but it happened before she knew what she was doing.
"I see I'm not the only one thinking the same thing" he grinned.
Penelope shook her head, with a twinge of regret.
"Mr Berbrooke is kind. It was wrong of me to laugh at him" and she genuinely did feel a touch bad if she was honest.
"Why? It was the truth wasn't it? Don't back down now or I will feel guilty for making you laugh!", Robert replied with that same mischievous expression.
The two locked eyes for a moment afterwards and both could not look away, it was like at the ball, they were lost for a moment.
"I have to go back".
"Fine, I'll walk back with you" Robert suggested.
"No!" had Penelope said startled.
"My apologies don't take it the wrong way please but we can be seen".
"I hardly think an innocent stroll back to the house together will cause a scandal", he stated matter-of-factly.
"No but people can draw the wrong conclusions... no matter how unrealistic they may be". Penelope had witnessed first-hand what a clandestine meeting in the garden could have led to, the Viscount Bridgerton and his now wife had been caught and forced into marriage by none other than her own mother.
He took a step forward and now dropped his arms beside him, his demeanour loosening a lot but at the same time looking at her inquisitively.
"I suspect you are talking about people would suspect we have something together... I understand your concerns but my question is then... is that line of reasoning, that thought so... unbelievable then? So unattainable?" he asked, and Penelope's heart just started beating harder. She had to swallow a few times and willed herself to compose.
"I really have to go now" she stated; not answering his question
"Of course. Don't let me keep you" he replied evenly, happily ignoring the fact that she had thus not answered his question.
Penelope nodded in farewell and then walked past him.
"Goodnight Miss Featherington" he called after her and then something that almost brought Penelope to a halt.
"Till we meet again".
When she was back, Portia finally had the wise idea to go to her house. She thankfully did not see him back in the dining room and suspected he was still in the garden.
Once she got home, she quickly walked towards her safe haven, her room, undressed and changed and got into bed. It took many hours before she finally fell asleep.
It was not the same for Robert, who slept pretty soon after resting his head on the pillow. His last thought for that night was the memory of his encounter with Penelope in the garden, and without realising it, he had unconsciously gotten a big smile on his face.