After trying to reason with his mama, Colin felt like he'd been talking to a brick wall. He's sure that his mama walked away feeling similarly. It didn't make sense that she was so dismissive of someone choosing love.
However, Colin and Marina had their plans. Colin had his bags packed and travel arrangements set to get them to Gretna Green first thing in the morning.
Marina was just so kind, nice, and stunning. All things that a man should want in a wife. Right? She'd had her pick of suitors, and she'd chosen Colin. As the third son, Colin was never chosen first. But this woman had chosen him. What more could he do other than to choose her back?
And what was love really? His mother couldn't offer him a straight answer (and he wasn't sure that he wanted his story to mirror anything to do with his father). He'd gotten some vague advice from others about books making sense and that he'd just know … not exactly helpful.
But … Has Colin ever felt like this before? He didn't think so. It made sense that he would honor his feelings, her choice and marry her. He was ready to step into manhood. He'd marry Marina, they'd move to a new home together, and settle firmly into adulthood. It was what his life had been mapped out for, because, what else is there? If he didn't follow this path, what would his purpose in life even be? Best not to think of it.
Deciding to put it out of his mind for the moment, Colin ended up in the sitting room just as the sun was setting. He stared longingly at the Featherington home across the square. It had a promise of the future and he relished it. Colin noted the rooms where candles had been lit, the colors that the sunset brought out in the greenery in front of their home, and a maid hurrying into the night.
Wait, the woman had red hair. There were no maids in the Featherington home with red hair. It must be one of the Featherington women. After tomorrow, Colin would be family to them in short order. It was his duty to protect them. As long as no one else was around to do it, he would have to step in. Rushing out the door, Collin followed his future in-law. He had to blink in shock. They were heading to the area where hired hacks … No. They wouldn't.
Yet, as Colin got closer, he watched as a flash of red hair climbed up into a hired hack. And with that motion, Colin knew at once it was Penelope. Portia, Prudence, and Phillipa were all too tall.
Quickly securing his own hired hack, Colin instructed the man to follow Penelope's. Colin held back the curtain on the door window to determine where they were going. His brow furrowed. As the hack turned corners, the landmarks matched those seen on the way to White's. They would never allow a woman inside. Why was Penelope heading there and at nightfall?
Colin had definitely never felt this way. His anger was rising and rising. Penelope was Eloise's best friend. Penelope was in the Bridgerton home weekly. Penelope was quite clever and witty. But to do this? She would be ruined if caught! How could she put herself in danger like this?
Unfortunately, his intuition paid off, as both hacks stopped outside White's. Colin debated going in, but Penelope didn't even attempt to go to the front door. She immediately ducked into the alley and headed for the back. He wasn't sure what the best thing to do was. This scenario never occurred in the books he'd read or the lessons he'd had in school or with Anthony. What would a good man do? The only man he'd ever known was his father and … that wasn't an example he wanted to follow.
He couldn't just sweep in and force her back to her home. This required more information. Did Penelope have a secret nightlife? No, she couldn't have. Not Penelope. She couldn't be a working nightly woman, was she? She would be ostracized from the ton if anyone found out! His breathing sped up.
Taking a few deep breaths, Colin settled just beyond her hearing (and to his dismay, outside of his own hearing). After a series of knocks and a hushed conversation with a worker, Penelope was joined by a man. With the lack of sound, Colin was limited to reading body language. If only they would step into the moonlight, Colin could … oh, but was Penelope's stance confident? The particular set to Penelope's shoulders was definitely one of confidence - the likes of which he'd never seen from her. His knee was bouncing like crazy as he tried to take in the unspoken elements of the conversation.
His fist clenched. Did she have an understanding with this man? If that man so much as put a finger on Penelope, Colin and his fists would intervene rather swiftly. He was more angry than he'd ever felt in his life.
Both Penelope and the man began to gesticulate with their hands wildly. The conversation must be important, however, there was still more than enough room between the two, Colin didn't feel the need to disrupt whatever schemes Penelope was spinning.
In light of this moment, Colin's thoughts were rushing. Penelope was a clever girl - she'd have to be to keep up with Eloise. But, she'd never shown such … er, that wasn't quite true. Penelope had made quite daring comments to him in the past. She'd even questioned the heritage of a lord's heir at their home ball. Colin had been amused at the time, but he wasn't sure that he should be amused now.
Blinking the memory away, he refocused on the two other people in the alley. Penelope had her hand stuck out in an imitation of the way men did business. Where would she have learned that? After such a long pause - to the point that Colin wasn't sure that it would be taken - the man quickly shook Penelope's hand and re-entered White's.
Penelope turned back towards him. Colin ducked down.
He couldn't be found by her just yet. In his anger and confusion, he was likely to snap at her. Besides, she must be heading home. Colin could afford to give her a slight head start. Once she was near home, he could intercept her walking back and force her into an explanation.
After a few moments, Colin exited the alley to find her hired hack gone. Flagging his own hired hack, Colin instructed his driver to return to the area where he'd first hired the man.
Oh, if only Colin had seen who the man from White's was. Maybe then he could puzzle out what was going on. But this night had opened up so many questions for Colin about Penelope.
When they arrived back, Colin didn't see any sign of her. His thoughts raced: Who was that man? Why did Penelope look so confident talking to someone other than him (he wasn't blind to her inability to talk to other women and men of the ton not named Bridgerton)? How did she know how to get a hired hack? What had they talked about? When had she learned to shake a man's hand? And, as each minute passed, the pressing question: WHERE WAS PENELOPE?
She should have beaten him back. His face paled. She must have gone on to another location or maybe attacked. This alien feeling of anger, concern, and terror was taking over him. His heart rate sped up and he was extremely jumpy. He paced back and forth. For every hack he saw, his hope raised and quickly waned as Penelope didn't exit.
Colin had no idea how much time had passed before he saw her. Rubbing his tired eyes, Colin chased Penelope. He caught up to her in short order.
"Penelope Anne Featherington!" Colin whisper-yelled. They were near enough to her home (and his) that he didn't want to draw any attention.
Penelope turned with a squeak.
"Have you lost your sense? Because I'll help you find it." Colin said, menacingly as he stepped closer and closer to her.
Penelope stepped back from him perfectly in sync with his steps toward her as though they were at a ball dancing. His eyes narrowed. Then, her back hit the side of the Featherington home.
A/N: Okay, this is not to pass judgment on the show/claim Colin didn't have real feelings for Marina. But in my story, Colin sees Marina as a pathway to adulthood and a way to be a man. Throughout his relationship with Marina he grew in maturity and shifted from boyhood to adulthood (though, he won't recognize it in himself). He doesn't see Marina as a person - someone with flaws and a personality that he loves. *wink, wink* But to his defense, Marina didn't exactly show everything of herself to Colin, she couldn't. (Oh, also we love and respect sex workers in this house, Colin's concern with Penelope as one was that she'd be kicked out of the ton - not the role itself.)