It had been six days since Colin had found Penelope climbing out of her window, and five days since he had promised himself he wouldn't spend every single day of the Season with her. Too bad he apparently had the will of a child in a room full of biscuits, because he had spent every single one of those six days with Penelope. It wasn't good. And it wasn't doing anything to help him lessen his growing feelings toward her.

He knew from Penelope, Anthony, would be back in Town today. In fact, he and Kate had been expected at Bridgerton House the previous evening. Colin had intended to pay them a visit when they first arrived, but had gotten stuck at that blasted ball, guilted into filling every young debutante's dance card. Most nights, he didn't mind. However, ever since Penelope had arrive in Town and been without a proper chaperone, thus unable to attend any social events, he had felt as if London had suddenly lost some of its magic.

Ballrooms didn't feel quite as dazzling knowing that Penelope was only a ten minute carriage ride away. He had pictured her curled up next to a fire, reading a gothic novel that Eloise had lent her, and dying to talk to someone about it. Penelope could never just read a book. No, that would be far too docile for her. If Penelope was going to open a book, she was going to pause every minute to recount whatever nonsense she found, or animatedly read the funny bits, or...

Wonderful. He was still thinking about her.

Of course he was, because that seemed to be all Colin had been able to do for the past several months. Which was why he needed to go visit Anthony, and the rest of his kin at Bridgerton House. Being amongst his loved ones could help to re-center his very being and ground him to reality, which was this: Penelope Feathering was―and would only ever be―his younger sister's friend.

Colin dressed quickly, left his rented apartment in Bloomsbury, and walked toward Bridgerton House as if the very ground beneath him was on fire.

It was probably a little ridiculous how much he was looking forward to reuniting with his brother. Growing up, Anthony, Benedict, and he had been as thick as thieves. Nary a single soul was safe from the three Bridgerton boys once they had you in their clutches. This had been one of the longest stretches Colin and Anthony had gone without seeing each other in a decade. That pitiful fact alone proved that it was good that Anthony had married Kate.

Colin peered down at his pocket watch and smiled as he approached the massive familiar townhouse. Anthony hated mornings. And he especially hated seeing Colin in the mornings. That was precisely why he made it a priority to show up in Anthony's bedchamber at the earliest hour he could manage. Just then, it was only a quarter past eight o'clock, so he knew his brother had likely not yet even opened his eyes. Perfect.

Colin ducked into an alley that led behind the house and headed to the servants' basement entrance. The trick to achieving the prank was getting in the door without alerting the staff. He'd been caught a few times by Humboldt and then made to sit in the drawing room like a misbehaving child until "his lordship was ready for visitors." In his own childhood home, no less!

Colin slowed his steps and quieted the click of his boots against the pavement as he rounded the house. He slipped down the small set of cement stairs that led to the servants' entrance. When he opened the door, he could hear the staff bustling around in the kitchen, so he turned the handle while closing the door to prevent it from making a clicking sound. He then hunched down as best a man of his six-foot stature could and inched quietly toward the staircase.

He made it up the narrow steps that led to the ground floor of the expansive home without detection. Peeking his head into the vast main foyer, he found he familiar sight of the large crystal chandelier, a navy ornate rug spread over the marble floor, and the longcase ticking in the corner. And, thankfully, no disapproving footman.

A grin pulled at his mouth as he eased open the door and stepped fully inside.

"Ah, Mr. Bridgerton," came a voice that made Colin nearly jolt of his own skin in shock. He jumped and turned around, only to find a disapproving Humboldt emerging from the coat closet. Had he been lying in wait for Colin?

"Blast, Humboldt," said Colin, tugging on the lapels of his jacket and straightening to his full height. "I wasn't expecting to find you emerging from the closet."

The man's face was impressively smug. "I, however, am not surprised to find you emerging from the servants' stairs." Yes. He had definitely been lying in wait.

"Well," said Colin with a grin, "it's lovely to see you, as always, but I can see myself to my brother's rooms."

"Mr. Bridgerton," said Humboldt in a lazy tone, most likely weary from having to utter the same phrase he had said for the umpteenth time ever since Colin's childhood. "His lordship―"

" ―does not receive visitors before the hour of ten o'clock. I know, I know," Colin said, waving a dismissive hand in the air. "But, surely you know me well enough to make an exception?" Colin flashed his most charming smile.

"...No."

His smile fell. "Fine. I shall go wait in the drawing room until―" but then he spun around the scowling footman and ran up the stairs, taking them two at a time. Colin didn't look back. He knew he would find Humboldt wearing a black look and possibly muttering profanities under his breath. It never failed to make Colin grin. Penelope would have been proud of that spin maneuver.

Colin paused and took a moment outside of Anthony's chamber to collect himself. He tugged at the bottom of his light-blue waistcoat, ran a hand against his hair attempting to put it back in place, and rolled his shoulders in preparation for waking the esteemed Viscount Bridgerton.

Once, Colin had thrown a basin of water on Anthony and then taken off, running out of the house before his brother had time to catch and murder him. Another time, he had woken him by placing a live chicken in his bed. The lengths Colin had gone to catch and find that chicken where a little mad―but it had been well worth it to see Anthony's face when he opened his eyes. Today, however, he was going to settle for the simple run and jump. Startling, yet effective.

The moment after Colin turned the handle and opened the door something soft and fluffy smacked directly into his face. Apparently, the footman wasn't the only one who had been expecting him. Colin blinked down at the pillow lying innocently at his feet.

He chuckled and stepped into Anthony's darkened room. "Well, good morning to you, too, darling."

"Go away, Colin," said Anthony, his voice muffled by the pillow covering his face.

"Did you just throw a pillow at me?" Colin inquired, moving more fully into the room to stand next to the bed.

"No. That was Kate."

Colin froze.

Kate?

His eyes shifted, for the first time, to the opposite side of the bed. Sure enough, he saw the form of his sister-in-law under the coverlet pulled over her head, leaving only the ends of her black hair visible. Heat rushed to Colin's face as he realized he had just barged in not only on his brother, but also on his brother's new wife in bed.

"Oh, dash it," he hissed, quickly turning away so that his back was to the bed. "I'm sorry, Kate. Er―Lady Bridgerton. If I had known that you...well, I wouldn't have come in here."

He heard her laugh a short laugh as well as the sound of covers shuffling. "Don't you dare start calling me Lady Bridgerton. And, yes―how could you possibly have known that Anthony's wife would be in his bed with him in the early morning?"

Colin grimaced at her words. It was so obvious that she would be there with him now. Why had that thought never occurred to Colin before? "Right. I'll just be on my way, then," he said, making a beeline for the door.

"No, no. Stay. I am already up and going to my own room so you two ladies can have your morning chat," chuckled Kate, followed by the sound of feet shuffling against the floor and then a door shutting on the far end of the room. Assuming that meant it was safe, Colin turned back around slowly until his eyes landed on his brother.

Anthony was now sitting on the edge of the bed, looking as annoyed as ever. "Colin, do me a favor and get your own wife so you can have someone to talk to in the mornings who is not me."

Colin smirked. "But, you know me so well, brother. Imagine how long it would take for a wife to learn all of my...complexities."

"Believe me, you are not as complex as you think."

"Is that your way of saying I'm daft?"

Anthony ran his hands through his dark hair with a small grin. "I think you must be if you thought you would find me alone, in my bed, after marrying Kate mere months ago."

Colin couldn't help but chuckle―it really was ignorant of him. "Don't worry. It won't happen again."

"I don't doubt that. Kate will shoot you if you do it again."

"Relying on your wife to be your body guard?" Colin tsked. "Shabby, my man."

"I'm debating calling my guard back in here to take care of you right now."

Colin smiled and moved across the room toward the parlor that connected to Anthony's room. Before he opened it, he paused. The room no longer connectedonly to Anthony's room, he realized―it also connected to the bedchamber of the lady of the house.

As Colin stood there, his hand poised on the knob, he was hit with the realization that he could no longer move with freedom throughout the house as he had done nearly every day growing up. An uncomfortable feeling settled over him. It was heavy and cold and told him that he had been replaced.

How odd.

"What is it?" asked Anthony, coming to stand behind him.

Colin forced a smile. "You probably should go in first. Since...that is your wife's parlor as well, now."

Anthony did not seem to be feeling the same significance of that statement, because he just smiled and nodded. "You're right. I will go in first."

Colin stepped back, falling into his new place as he watched Anthony enter the parlor, and then waited for the cue that it was clear for him to step inside. A fire lit in the grate made the room feel warm and soothing to the gnawing sense of change Colin felt prickling at him. He breathed a quiet sigh of relief as he and his brother sunk into the old, worn leather chairs, and everything felt a little more normal again.

He peered down and ran his finger over the familiar large crack in the leather. For the first time in a long while, Colin was at a loss for what to say. There was so much buzzing around his mind, but he couldn't give voice to any of it.

"No smiles for me today, sunshine?" said Anthony.

"Am I frowning?"

"Yes, and it's a rather disturbing sight. I haven't seen that face since childhood. What has made you pull it today?"

Colin took in a deep breath, keeping it captive in his chest as his mind raced with reasons: Penelope, Anthony's marriage, his boredom with Society, feeling lost and uncertain of who he was or where he belonged anymore...

Instead, he voice what was most bothersome to him at that very moment. "Your hair."

Anthony's head kicked back slightly. "What the devil is wrong with my hair?" he demanded, grinning and reaching up to run a hand through the same dark-brown locks that all of the Bridgerton boys had inherited.

Colin scrunched up his nose theatrically. "It's too long. Looks as if you're letting yourself go, brother."

Anthony just grinned deeper. "Kate likes it."

"Hmm. I don't."

"Well, it's a rather good thing you're not the one I'm trying to get to kiss me, then."

Colin shrugged. "Your loss. I'm a fantastic kisser."

Anthony shook his head, but Colin didn't miss the hint of a smile that slipped over his mouth. "Speaking of, who is the newest lady to catch your fancy?"

Colin tensed, his finger pausing midway over the crack in the leather. He cleared his throat, asking, "Whatever do you mean?"

"Oh—don't act the innocent. The Season has been in full swing for almost two weeks. Usually, by now, there is someone you are professing your undying love for."

It was annoying how well Anthony thought he knew Colin sometimes. Even more annoying that he wasn't wrong. Colin was in love, again, but this time it was different. His feelings for Penelope were frightening and longstanding. It was because of these feelings for Penelope that he was constantly trying to lose himself in London flirtations. He couldn't marry Penelope—he simply didn't trust himself with her. So, trying to forget her every time he returned to London felt like his only choice.

But now, she was here in London while out in Society, and he couldn't escape her—or his feelings for her.

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, brother, but no lady has caught my fancy this time." He tried not to let his eyes dart away from Anthony's dark gaze, but he was unsuccessful. He looked to the fire and stretched his boots out to it, pretending he was only shifting in his seat to warm himself, and not because he was as uncomfortable lying to his brother as he would be on a bed of needles.

"No one?" asked Anthony, eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"What can I say? Maybe I'm outgrowing my lovesick ways."

"Doubtful." Anthony continued to eye him for several uncomfortable minutes as if waiting for Colin to crack under the pressure. Beads of sweat began to form at the base of Colin's neck but he refused to look away. Finally, the eldest Bridgerton broke his gaze and readjusted in his seat, suddenly intrigued by his fingernails. "Miss Penelope Featherington is coming to stay with us. Moving in today, in fact," he said, as if it was the most natural and spontaneous topic in the world and had nothing to do with what they had been previously discussing.

Which meant he knew. But how? Colin had said nothing to his brother about his feelings for Penelope. And he absolutely wouldn't now, either. There was too much risk that Penelope would find out. The entire Bridgerton family were wretched secret keepers.

"Yes—she told me." Colin opened his hands, indicating his presence. "How else would I have known you had returned to Town? You could have, at least, sent word ahead of your arrival."

"I thought perhaps you had caught my scent on the wind or something." Anthony smirked.

"So, you've seen her, then?" Colin chuckled. Did it normally sound so high and bubbly? He didn't think so.

"Of course I've seen her. Is that surprising?"

Act natural. Don't let him see you sweat.

"Not in the least, actually." Anthony rested his chin on his fist and Colin almost rolled his eyes at the look directed at him. It seemed his brother was in a mood to prove something. Well, not today. Colin was a closed book, but Anthony continued to try to crack him.

"I think we both know I am getting to the point in the conversation where the gloves come off."

"I assumed it." The air felt too hot.

"Brother, do you love Penelope?"

He curled his toes inside his boots. It wasn't fair of Anthony to ask him outright like that. He didn't want to lie to him, but he must. If Colin admitted his feelings, he knew his brother―his entire family, for that matter―would be elated and encourage the match. But there would be no match because Colin loved Penelope too much to marry her. Penelope deserved to be loved by the kind of man his father was―steadfast and true. She deserved the very best. Colin could never be that for her, and he would not do her the disservice to convince her otherwise.

Pushing his feelings for Penelope away was his only focus now. He took in a discreet breath through his nose and looked his brother in the eyes before he lied to him, "No. I do not love Penelope."

I hope you enjoy this chapter! It was soooo fun to write! I'm so excited to write more Kanthony scenes―as well as Kate/Penelope/Eloise bonding scenes! 3

Please leave any feedback you may have!

Until the next chapter,
-Dev.