The Lobster Effect

6/17/2024

Summary: There are flash fires, slow burns and then there's a low simmer. The plan was to move out of simmering to popping bubbles and perhaps creating a mess of overflowing boiling water. A Polin love story.

By LeBelle

Typical Disclaimers:

I do not own any of the characters, though there may be an OC here and there. I only use the characters within the fandom for entertainment for myself and others and nothing more.

AN:

I'm back! But not in the fandom you all expected me to occupy, but really, can you blame me? I have not forgotten the other stories but this has been burning in the back of my head for a bit now. For those who don't know me, let me introduce myself. I'm new to writing Bridgerton and bare with me as I dip my toes in. I have seen the first 3 seasons of the show, it's been awhile since I've watched the first two and I've read the Polin book once, (I know what it's really called, I prefer this moniker). I'm trying to slog my way through Gregory's but oh man it's slow going. So I'm a fan but not obsessed yet, but that's always the way it starts for me. Once I start writing I slowly become addicted to the world I'm writing for, until I move out of it a few years later and into another one and sometimes go back again down the road. I do tend to like 1 or 2 relationships the most and focus on those. I enjoyed the book well enough, I had high hopes for the show and while it fixed some issues I had with the book, it charged right into other issues that didn't exist before in either book nor previous seasons of the show and ignored others that still needed a course correction. I kind of want to do that within these pages. It's going to be both canon-compliant for both versions of their story and totally not in a lot of other ways. The bones will still be there though, it's still their story.

Well enough about me. Hope you enjoy the story!

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Chapter 1

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It was just her luck to be in love with an incurable flirt, and she had watched many people try over the years to capture his whole and undivided attention. No one had had succeeded, of course.

It would have to be one hell of a woman to do so.

Sure, he gave his full attention to anyone speaking but the moment the conversation was over or at least the heavier side of it was through, his attention would wander, as it always did. That's the bulk of it, he was genuine and didn't even realize he was doing it. He cared deeply about people and let them know it too, but love? That was reserved only for his family. If she were truly honest with herself, she'd count herself among that list, but as a pseudo-sister.

Even that was in precious stock as he had trouble keeping his feet on the same soil as well.

It had been nearly half a year since she'd last seen him in person. She'd missed him in the country over the summer. He'd kept his return a secret from everyone, including her, his only consistent writing partner. She kept him updated on the going-ons of England and he wrote to her fascinating tales of the world beyond.

He admitted her writing had him longing for the familiar shores of his youth and she'd admitted that his adventures called to her very soul. They were always at a cross-roads. The only difference between them was that he had the means and ability to do either or both, whatever it was of his choosing at any given time. She was not allowed beyond her meager little bubbles of atmosphere and only then, on the whim of her mother's fancy. Her mother was a traditional sort, so they followed the pack, from country home to London estate every season.

Gossip was always within earshot and she did enjoy a good word or two, whether written on the page or delivered with eloquence and fluidity. Colin Bridgerton excelled at both.

Which is why it was no surprise to Penelope that there were already a harem of women flocking around Colin as she turned the corner from her family's street and onto his. He hadn't changed one bit and this scene had been replaying itself every year since they were teens. The players hadn't even really changed. Oh sure, maybe one or two were married off but they were replaced by younger siblings or girls who had not yet come out, not able to show off their lowered hems and impeccable dress sense and unblemished faces.

"Pen!" Colin called out, seeing her above the heads of the female pack, all vying for his attention and in typical Colin form, was able to appear like he was giving all of them it at nearly the same time. It had to be something in his gaze, how he locked on and nodded at all the appropriate moments. It had always been her undoing, that clear, unwavering look that made her feel like the only girl in the world. Maybe it was the crooked smile that seemed like it was just for her. Or perhaps it was the warm laugh and welcoming aura and the quick witty retort that always fit perfectly with what the other person was saying, a clear indicator that he was listening and paying attention and wanted to continue the conversation. If eyes lingered just a little longer, it would be inappropriate, and it never ventured into that territory.

"You're late." Penelope sniffed as she lifted her chin and giving him an air of disdain, chiding him when no one else would ever dare dream of doing so, not even his mother. The fact that it was clearly in good fun was not missed. His lips quivered and she knew she got to him. She always threw him off balance with her remarks and it always gave her a zing of pleasure.

"Breakfast isn't for another twenty minutes and we are five minutes from mother's doorstep. The butler can see us clearly even at this distance." His easy smile crumpled a little as he looked around her and then up and down the street from whence she came and also ahead of her. "Are you alone? Where is your escort?"

"It's as you said, only a five minute walk from here to her home. I am in no need of an escort." She shrugged, she'd made this journey a million times on her own, no one even lifted their head whenever she announced her destination.

"From here, maybe, but from your home it is a brisk ten minutes, twenty at a more modest stroll." He was in fact frowning now but he was offering her his arm as well, taking over the role of escort for the time being.

"Honestly, Colin, it's not as if this is the first time you've noticed that I make this trek without an escort. I haven't had one since, well, I don't actually recall the last time someone has escorted me from my home to yours."

That was not entirely true, there was that one time when Anthony walked her home, but she would prefer to not think of that moment. She did not want to sully her pleasure in seeing Colin again. The frown deepened as he mulled over what she said and she feared she may have done it anyway. "Well, you were a girl then, it is not as seemly for you to do so now."

"I am an old maid now, no one will worry about me walking alone."

"You've only been out three seasons." He disagreed with her assessment instantly and it was a testament to why she was so fond of him. He didn't see her in the same way the rest of the world did. She was Penelope, his dear friend and was to be spoken to, and about, kindly. It was just too bad that she couldn't keep him at her side always, there were a few people who weren't so ready to follow that policy without an enforcer present.

"Exactly, I'm off the marriage market in the eyes of the Ton." She teased him.

"You were out two seasons too early. You were a child when your mother forced you in front of the queen, no man in his right mind would dare ask for your hand. It would be a scandal worthy of Lady Whistledown to write of for years to come, referencing it whenever another scandal of it's ilk were to arise."

"It would hardly have been a precedent."

"It would have with this generation." His hand covered hers on the crook of his elbow and his eyes scoured her face. "But now you are of a right age and it wouldn't be an alarm to any moral sort."

Was it her imagination or did his eyes sweep over her face again as if seeing her for the first time? No, it was just that it had been so long since the last time they were together like this. She was looking at him just as intently, looking for changes in his features, learning any new lines that might have formed, appreciating the definition that formed along his cheeks and jaw as his baby fat melted away. He was looking more like a man that she'd ever seen him look before, yet there was still softness to his face, mostly in his eyes. That hadn't gone away even as his face had looked stern when he was less than pleased to see her walking on her own.

Penelope shook her head, she was just wistful thinking, it was her that lingered to long, hoping he would take notice of her in return. Not, she reminded herself grimly, that what he would take notice of was at all in fashion with the London Elite. She was the exception to a lot of rules and not always falling on the better side of that line. She pushed a smile to her lips even as she stomped those thoughts and feelings down. She was happy Colin was back but he wouldn't be let off the hook that easily and she would enjoy watching him squirm. "You left early last year and returned late this year, one would think that you're trying to make a statement."

"That I want to be left out of these proceedings altogether but my mother won't let me?"

Penelope shook her head again, but this time at him instead of inwardly at herself. "That you want all eyes on you. Perhaps to let everyone know that you're entering the marriage market yourself now that your elder brothers and oldest sister have settled into their own marriages of sorts? That it is now your time?"

"I will never enter the marriage market." Colin denied fervently. "I will know the woman I wish to marry without subjecting myself to clawing ladies and climbing mothers. It will be a genuine connection made outside of those functions."

"The only way to meet eligible ladies is by going to the functions, how else would you know they're looking?"

"I've met you outside those functions, have I not?" Colin pulled gently on one of the curls that had seeped out of her bonnet. She hid his gasp at his intimacy, she had forgotten what it was like being so close to him, the liberties they'd taken with each other that would have been so scandalous if written in the society papers. Cover of childhood best friends and family friend wouldn't protect them for much longer.

"Not everyone is as lucky as to unseat a Bridgerton from his horse." Penelope reminded him perhaps a bit too tartly, matching her lime green dress. She internally winced, vying between wanting to continue on the way they'd always been and remembering the address of society. He was far too intimate with her name and speech and generally it was ok, under the cloak of secrecy, but this was out in the public with curious eyes following them as they walked away from the throng. She just realized he hadn't spared them a glance back or a goodbye.

"Not everyone is as careless with their scarves." He ignored the undercurrent in her voice or perhaps just didn't hear it. He was remarkably oblivious sometimes, or perhaps it was more privilege that was behind his blithe attitude. He didn't even have to try or question it, he was just able to keep them right where they'd always been, close childhood friends. "If you hadn't looked so mortified, I would have thought it a ploy."

"If you hadn't been so carefree about falling four feet, I would have been cowering."

"It wasn't like it was the first time I'd fallen off a horse." Colin shrugged. "It wasn't the last either."

He was always in such good humors about everything. She didn't even know if he was capable of anger or genuine sadness outside the loss of his father when they were young. He would only look mildly abashed when his mother attempted to guilt him into something but both knew he'd eventually get around to doing it without fear of punishment. Even Anthony seemed to let him get away with things he didn't let his other siblings do. It never took much to coax an agreement out of his siblings or mother either. Even Penelope's mother, firm in her decisions, would bend to Colin's charm. Portia had only ever gone up against Colin and Lady Violet Bridgerton. She'd also had one occasion to face off against iron-wall Anthony, and that was when Portia attempted to take Penelope home early from Eloise's 16th birthday ball. Anthony could not stand to see his sister(s) look so sad. Penelope hadn't been the picture of happiness herself either when her mother came personally to collect her. It had been more of a ploy to be able to see inside the Bridgerton home, she could have sent a servant. Portia ended up leaving without her daughter who stayed the night.

"Besides..." Penelope added without thinking, it went against what they were talking about earlier. "How would you even know if I'm still on the market if you aren't there to supervise my dance card?"

Colin stopped just before the steps to Bridgerton's family home and looked down at her with surprise and another emotion in his eyes. "Has it been filled up completely by suitors or one in particular? And would you be able to make room for at least one dance for me? It's tradition." And so it was, though in truth he was usually the main occupant of her card.

"I'll always have at least one spot open for you." Penelope didn't realized how seriously he would take her words, making them a promise etched in stone. "You have been missing for a few balls already, so I've had to let others write within."

Colin's smile was mysterious and it was good to know that no matter how close they were, how much they'd divulged their innermost thoughts, there were still a great deal to learn about the other. "Perhaps then I may make up for my absence by securing more than one spot. Perhaps at least one spot for every ball I have missed?

"That would be more than the night's festivities would allow."

His smile widened. "Then perhaps it will have to spill over into the future assemblies as well."

"You won't have time for anyone else." Penelope turned to look up at him, trying to figure out this strange request.

Colin shrugged. "I'm not entering the marriage mart, I don't need to dance with the eligible ladies."

"But I am." Penelope didn't know why she would have to remind him of that, that had been the point of the latter part of their conversation.

He made a sound of thinking and he even rapped his chin with his forefinger, his eyes slipping over her face again. "I suppose that is a problem for you, but if you are hard to capture, then you become even more of a challenge and more they will line up to write their names on your card." They shared a mischievous smile then, now on the same page.

"And keeps pushy mamas and looking women away from asking you to write in theirs." It was no secret Colin was opposed to marriage at this time. He could flirt all he wanted but he never crossed a line that would force his hand. She didn't mind being his shield. "We might have to extend this to the remainder of all the balls."

He gave a small shrug. "If that is the burden I must carry, so be it."

"It's a deal." Penelope shook Colin's hand. If she was hoping that this would go the way of the Duke and Daphne, she couldn't be blamed. Though, she knew that their situation was different, they were pretending to be together, whereas she and Colin were just occupying the other's time, and she and Colin weren't newly met with instant chemistry.

They headed in together, to be greeted warmly by the family, as they both always were independently and when they were together. Penelope was just another one of their sisters, another daughter, in this ever expanding family. If nothing else, Penelope knew these people would always be her home and she was welcome to move in once her mother passed and she was unmarried. Looking around at everyone, that might not even be the obstacle she thought it might be, they'd probably welcome her and her entire family into these halls.

It just wouldn't be the way she'd always wanted to merge their families together. She stole a glance toward Colin across the room talking with his younger siblings and found him looking back over to her. She gave him a soft smile which he answered instantly and she knew it wouldn't matter, any way to remain part of this family and she would take it.