What if Colin and Penelope's meeting outside the modiste ended differently?
Penelope ushered herself into the dead of night, her whistledown cape blowing in the breeze, as she walked proudly down the empty street. A figure walked towards her, it took her a moment to realise that she wasn't alone. The realisation, stopped her in her tracks. She cling to the silk of her cape, pulling it closer to her chest. She was too scared to look up. Had she found herself in an impossible situation? Had her midnight stroll compromised her very self.
"What are you doing out here?"
It was Colin. His voice hoarse and tense. She still couldn't bring herself to look up. He walked towards her at pace, his feet thrashing against the cobbles, his back slightly hunched in despair. The air was cold. The night silent. The two of them thrown together, so unexpectedly. Penelope naively approached her husband to be. The man who stole her heart all those years ago, but this wasn't the same man and this encounter was going to be way more than she bargained for.
He repeated himself; "What are you doing out here?"
She goes to answer but Colin was not yet finished.
"No in fact, do not answer that. It is clear that I have found you in the midst of some secret dealing." He Paused. "I do not wish to know."
Penelope's heart sank. The silence between them resumed as they finally locked eyes with each other. How could he talk so cruel and bluntly? Had anger clouded his judgement? Did he truly see her as only Whistledown? Had he forgotten that she was still Penelope? His eyes, glazed by drink held more than just tiredness. He was devastated. A shell of the man Penelope loved. Their breath, running hot, fogged up the air. How was Penelope to react? Beg with the man in front of her or stand up for herself? Colin began to walk on.
"And what secret dealings have I found you in the midst of... All alone, the night before our wedding?" She bit back.
She shocked both herself and Colin. He turned and took a fierce breath of air. She took a step back. Creating more distance between the two of them.
"What right do you have to ask me that?"
He approached her with pure anger. He scared her, she had never seen him this angry before.
"After all the secrets you kept? All the things you have written? Over the years, all the damage you have done?"
Penelope was ashamed. Filled with guilt and sadness that her actions had brought on all of this. She never knew her words could ever have this effect on someone. She knew she had been in the wrong all these years past but giving up Whistledown was not something she ever thought she would even have to consider.
She gave in. "You are Right! I realise how much damage I have done, and I am so, so sorry for it!"
Her words fell on deaf ears. Colin was too worked up to accept anything Penelope was saying.
"What were you thinking? When you wrote that of Eloise?"
They were finally within touching distance, all she wanted to do was grab him and for him to wrap his hands around her. The step putting them at each other's level. Their eyes fixed on the other. Colin's filled with tears of frustration and Penelope's full of desperation.
"I was trying to protect her. I realise now how misguided that was!" She pleaded, still longing for him to hold her.
"And when you wrote about Miss Thompson? Exposing her as you did, ruining her?" His anger intensifying
"I thought I was protecting you!"
His eyes searched her, looking her up and down.
"Then you should have told me to my face!"
She nodded in realisation. Agreeing with him. She should have been brave. She knows that. If only she was as brave as she is now.
"I know!"
She was giving him her all, still now, even though she could see him slipping from her grasp. She knew he would not forgive her, he hated that part of her and nothing she said was going to change that.
"Or do you not respect me enough? It is clear you do not after what you wrote about me this year. That I hardly know myself. What were you thinking then?
His words stung with every breath. She had to win him back. She scrambled for reasons. Reasons why she had written what she had written.
"I was thinking that I simply wanted the Colin I know back, not the stoic man you returned. Acting as if you care for no one and need nothing. It's you. Kind and feeling, occasionally excitable, good hearted man who I love."
Colin taken a back, sucked in his chest and stood taller.
"I should have told you myself. There are so many things I should have done myself and now with the confidence you have helped me find this year I am finally able to!"
He shook his head in denial, he wanted so badly to pry her from Whistledown. He couldn't bare that the woman he loved held such a secret. Finally the words she had dreaded, left his lips.
"So then you do not need whistledown anymore"
She felt broken. How could she give it up? Deep down she was scared that just being Penelope wasn't good enough. How was she to be a Bridgerton just by being herself.
"I do not need to hide behind Whistledown anymore but I am not saying there isn't any value in it."
Everything that she was saying was another blow to Colin. He could not see why she was still holding on to this elusive persona. He was trying to give her the world but she would rather choose the life of a gossip writer.
"Do you know what is most humiliating?" Tears streamed down his face, tarnishing his cheek bones. "I let you talk so much about my journal is if I were to be this great writer when all this time you have been a published writer renowned across mayfair."
Penelope knew now she had to stand up and defend her actions even more. He was just so terrifyingly broken.
"Colin. I meant everything I said about your writing."
He joined her on the step, scaring her backwards. He leant in closer.
"You are putting yourself in danger being out here." He was now shouting. "And you've been putting yourself in danger living this double life."
She gasped for breath as he towered above her.
"I have been careful!" She shouted back, defending herself.
"You have been foolish!" His body so close she could feel his whole body shaking.
"Colin I can take care of myself!"
This cut deep. How could she say that to him? The one person who was there to protect her. To be all and everything she needs. Did she not want him anymore? Had his words, over stepped the mark.
"Then what good am I to you?" He asked, his voice breaking, anger sitting in his throat.
She could feel words building in her heart and threw them at him.
"Colin I love you."
Silence fell once again. He edged backwards, straigtening his posture. He finally reaslised. She had done everything out of love. What would he had done if the tables were turned? If he was the one fighting for Penelope all these years. She did what she could to protect the people she loved.
"I love you!"
He searched for words, but they failed him. Her eyes drew him in. Her lips poised for more arguements but he was tired of it all. He could see her now for exactly who she was. Penelope, the best friend he has always had and who he had taken for granted. He wanted nothing more than to take her in his arms and hold her body against his. He had to forget the anger. He had to instead allow the love to flood his brain. He had to kiss her. Her body quivering for him, she looked up to him urging him to kiss her. The words of past long forgotten. He rushed to her and took her face within his hands. Their lips met and everything was forgotten. His hands wrapped around her shoulders and he pushed her with force to the doorway. She pulled him closer and their love rekindled. He passionatley kissed all of her that he could reach. Her body pressed against his. Caressing her breasts through the cape, he made his way down her lushious curvy body. He lifted her dress and found his fingers fall inside her. He needed her. He needed to show her exactly what their love meant to him. What she meant to him. He felt her give in to the pleasure, a small moan left her throat. He had her. She was truly his, he could do whatever he wanted. He swirled his fingers and explored inside of her, all whilst she was staring directly at him, enjoying every minute. She met his hand with hers and released it from inside her. He leaned with both arms on the doorway, as she ran her hands over his body. She unbuttoned his breaches and plunged her hand inside. Embracing all of his manhood with both hands she caressed until he too felt the pleasure she had previously. He leaned his head back in pleasure as she kissed along his buttons of his shirt, moving quickly down. They had been imtimate a few times but he was always in control. He was enjoying it more than ever now that she was in control. She wasn't exactly that shy girl he grew up with anymore. She was to be his wife. She knew exactly what she was doing and exactly what he wanted. Her mouth met where her hands had been and the warm sensation of her lips threw him into a frenzy. Pleasure grew for them both but he couldn't hold on any longer. He need to be closer to her, he needed to be as one. He pulled her back up to his level and adjusted her on top of him, thrusting inside her. Her whole weight was on him and it pushed him even harder. He threw her arms around his neck, and they moved together. She was enthralled by his presence, and urged him to never stop.
"More. I need all of you!" She whispered in his ear.
He pulled at her shoulders, forcing her down harder onto him. They were truly one. Every movement intertwined. They were lost in each other and blissfully unaware of anything going on around them. They soon forgot where they were. All that mattered was that they were together again. She was longing for every inch of him and was urging him with every inch of herself. They were close to climax when a noise rattled them. Her carraige. He refused to let go so instead covered them from view. They continued until both could not hold on any longer. They moaned in unison as they finished. His hands pulled her down and he lay one final passionate kiss on her lips.
"Your carraige awaits Mrs Bridgerton!" He laughed whilst straightening himself.
They took each others hands and he led his future wife to her carraige. He watched as she bundled herself in.
"See you tomorrow!" He smiled.
Her carraige pulled off and left Mr Bridgerton alone once again in the dark of night, leaving behind only memories of this night. All he could think was that of what his life is about to become and he knew he wanted nothing more.