Can't Help Falling in Love

It was unnerving. She had made about two turns around the park and Penelope could not divest herself of the niggling feeling that someone had their eyes on her. It was only on her third turn that Penelope identified the source of the sensation.

If she had not been seeing it for herself, Penelope would have scarcely believed it if anyone told that for the last 30 minutes, Colin, in the relative comfort of his family tent, had been intently studying her.

"Miss Featherington?" Penelope suddenly remembered that she was currently on the arm of Lord Debling. He had been most gentlemanly in the way he approached her to promenade. For the majority of their turn around she had been listening to him extoll the virtues of being vegetarian and the benefits it had afforded him in his daily life. She was amused and had responded to him wondering how he had come upon the decision to change his life in such a drastic manner.

It was a wonderful back and forth, until the hair on the back of her neck began to prickle and Penelope locked eyes with him, from far across the park. She felt as though there was a new nuance in the way he looked at her and it made her want nothing more than to look away and hide from him.

It weighed on her, Colin's watchful gaze. What had once been a look of familiar warmth and friendship now seemed to hold a different kind of intensity, leaving her feeling both flustered and uncertain. A rush of nervousness washed over her each time she caught his eyes lingering on her, prompting her to wonder about the meaning behind this newfound depth in his look.

She forced herself to smile at Debling and made an effort to ignore the specter of her feelings.

"Apologies Lord Debling, I became a bit distracted for the moment by the heat." She made a show of fanning herself for the heat, which admittedly was quite high today. Penelope was unaware that she was inadvertently drawing attention to some of her rather obvious assets, but had she known, she would have ruefully realized that her mother would have been proud of her for using her "talents". As it stood, she fanned herself, oblivious to the furtive glances the Lord was making despite himself.

Still, around they went, this time with the Lord safely escorting Penelope back to her mother. They bid adieu, both the picture of decorum while she tried to pretend she could not feel him from across the park scrutinizing her like an enigma to unravel.

If she had looked, Penelope would have seen Anthony lean over to comment on his behavior. She might even have seen the way the conversation relaxed him. It was as though something within him suddenly understood the conundrum he had been looking to solve.

She fiddled with her fingers, strolling with her parasol, wondering what to do when Miss Edwina stopped by the tent. Her mother gave her a cursory hello and greeted Ms. Sharma but to the younger Featherington, this was a lifeline. Surely, nothing could happen now that there were others. Surely, he understood what she had said in their last meeting. Surely he wouldn't -

Her eyes caught movement and indeed Colin was making his way over to where she only had a moment to think and hurriedly seized Miss. Edwina's arm, not quite gently maneuvering her to the walkway, however in that moment she could feel relief when Colin was forced to halt his approach as she began to walk with her partner. It was only when she saw the questioning look on Miss. Edwina's face, that she flushed scarlet and hung her head a little.

"I do beg your pardon, but I have no one else to turn to. I only wish to avoid an encounter that would hurt my heart." Edwina glanced behind them, her eyes finding Colin some distance back. She patted Penelope's hand kindly, watching her expression melt into one one of relief, a soft smile playing on her lips as they walked towards a quieter part of the park.

"Come, let us walk. Would you like to tell me what is the matter?"

The second ball of the season was held later that same week. Its hosts were well known to the ton for being partial to an unusually gaudy display of opulence, and this time was no different. Every inch of the estate was drenched in crystals and silks, complete with chandeliers that bathed the entire ballroom in refracting lights that gave the illusion that one could be walking among the stars. Colin was present along with most of his family. Anthony and Kate bowed out from tonight's festivities citing illness on Kate's part, something that had become a chief complaint of late.

He was on edge, it had only been recently that Colin figured out what was ailing him. Well, he could not omit credit where credit was due. Had it not been for Anthony on the day they promenaded, he would never have been able to put a name to what he was experiencing.

"Brother, if you continue to stare at Penelope so, people will begin to talk."

"Let them." He had snapped back. Anthony arched a brow, seeing the tension simmering within Colin, he wisely refrained from commenting on his demeanor and instead switched tactics.

"Colin." There was a noise of frustration as he barely glanced at his older brother who attempted to gain his attention. .

"Colin." More warningly this time. " You cannot conduct yourself in this manner. This is just not done. Penelope is an unmarried young woman. Your behavior is not appropriate." These words were hissed in his direction, discreetly, since Anthony was hoping his mother would not overhear.

"I am doing nothing untoward" He retorted, his eyes following the young woman as she held onto Debling's arm. He hated the way the man smiled at Pen. It was incredibly immoral. How could no one else see that? The way he smiled, and spoke to her, made her laugh. He could not know the things that made Penelope laugh, that was a secret that he and Pen shared, no one else! Only the two of them understood the kind of humor they enjoyed.

" I am just…confounded. I feel untethered Anthony, and I cannot begin to fathom why. As you say, she is unmarried, it is natural for her to be entertaining suitors, heavens knows there is a barrage daily of them at our home. Daphne had no end of them. But seeing her with men, men who could be any kind of scoundrel and villain, I feel a sense of unease. I could not bear it if my friend were to suffer something untoward because I could not forewarn her." Colin watched the wind swirl around Penelope, causing her silky tresses to lift in the wind. He caught the distant sound of her giggle as it fluttered through her dress and pushed her further into Debling's arms. A picture perfect couple, he thought, scowling.

Anthony shifted in his seat, seemingly thinking of a way to craft a response. Colin hated the way he felt Anthony tiptoe around the issue, it felt oddly patronizing.

"Brother, I say this only for your benefit. Have you not considered that your feelings towards Pen are less companiable than you are aware?" The sentence was gentle but it's meaning was anything but. How could he suggest that the very foundation of their friendship was centered on something so base! He had not befriended Eloise's companion, her closest confidant, for something of this manner.

"I say Anthony, of all the things you could have said to me, this is indeed the strangest." Colin snorted derisively. " Granted, I do feel upset when I see her in the presence of men, such as this Debling character. Or indeed Carrigan from the other night. She has no need for such acquaintances." He waved dismissively at the men before them, mingling with women.

"No need -" Anthony was cut off from replying as Colin forged ahead.

"Anything they have to offer, I can offer in their stead, and she would be safe as well. How are we to know if any of these men are who they say they are? How are we to know that once one of them sinks their talons into her, she would not be at their mercy. No, if Penelope needs a trusted male friend, I am here." He gave a decisive nod, thinking to himself that this was exactly the solution for the situation they had found themselves in. This nonsensical speech left Anthony agape in wonder at the oblivious drivel his brother was confidently spouting.

He sputtered incoherently, and then took a deep long suffering breath.

"No friend feels such as you do regarding suitors of their companion. It is the opposite." He said resolutely. So much so, that when Colin finally deigned to look at his brother it was only to find him wearing the condescending look of someone who knew something you did not. He narrowed his eyes in annoyance. This did not feel helpful at all. Why did Anthony insist on continuing down this ridiculous path of inquiry?

"Glare at me all you want, Colin Bridgerton, but you know as well as I, that this sort of conduct is not friendly, and it is most definitely not platonic. You covet this woman and you are a fool to think otherwise.."

The statement was so bland, so matter of fact, that it left Colin unable to rebut. It felt as though suddenly something in his mind was putting the pieces together of an unnecessarily difficult puzzle. However, when the final piece slid into place.. Everything made sense.

Why had he not seen it before?

Colin could not help but search for her, even here, where all the ton could see him. It felt as though her presence called to him, something he had never noticed until now. How he looked for her at every gathering, and the pleasure he felt when they engaged in their silly conversations. Even here, among the masses of twirling skirts and idle chatter, he was compelled to seek her out.

It did not take long to find her. Her hair gave her away immediately, unlike her mother, or her sisters, Penelope's hair seemed to glow in the candlelight, and he could see her from across the hall. Engrossed in conversation with another lord, one whom he had no inclination to recognize or acknowledge, she had yet to become aware of his presence. The gentleman, he deemed, would hold little significance.

Colin, having resolved his desires, could wait no longer to declare himself.

He approached Penelope, who was turned away from him and spoke as politely as he could manage to her partner.

"Apologies, sir. I am only here to ask if Miss Featherington would be amenable to a dance?" He cast a glance downwards, only now realizing how small she was,, a detail that had until now escaped his notice. Penelope, wearing an expression of distinct disapproval, appeared to be on the verge of declining him when her mother intervened with a conspicuously timed cough. Though the young lord appeared vexed by his interruption, Colin remained indifferent. Instead, he leaned in to write on her dance card and led her onto the dance floor.

He let her place her hand gently in his, her other barely grasping his shoulder, a sign of ire no doubt.

"Mr. Bridgerton," Her voice carrying a frostiness so tangible that Colin almost expected to see her breath crystallize before him. "Did we not agree to maintain a respectable distance throughout this season?"

"We did," he responded, as they glided across the room, the music weaving its spell around them. Colin found the glimmer in her eyes under the flickering lights to be truly enchanting.

"Then may I inquire as to your intentions? Your actions stand in direct contradiction to our agreement," she remarked, turning just as the other couples did, her back now facing her partner.

"I am asking you to dance, as I have always done, in the years since your debut." Colin began, sensing her reluctance. Before she could voice her objection, he smoothly interjected, "Would you not agree that it might raise eyebrows if we were to abandon such a longstanding tradition?"

Penelope stiffened visibly before him, but then pressed on, "Even if others took notice, does it truly matter? Besides, Lady Whistledown has provided a convenient excuse for us to maintain a certain distance." He felt a surge of disdain at the mention of the scandalous writer who had brought Penelope such public humiliation. Placing a hand on her waist, he guided her back to face him with deliberate gentleness.

"Surely you do not credit her garbled scribblings?" he challenged.

"And do you?" she countered sharply, her tone betraying a hint of hurt.

"I was a fool," He did not deny his behavior.

"As you have said, still, this does not change anything, I am being courted Colin." her use of his name sending a surge of delight through him, albeit belatedly comprehending her implication. " For once, I am desirable. This season holds promise for me to secure a husband, and your familiar manner towards me may indeed diminish my prospects."

"Prospects? Is that all that concerns you?" he interjected incredulously.

"Do not make it sound so trivial. You possess the liberty to choose any partner you wish. You have that right. I need only wait. And every moment I wait, my prospects dwindle. You do not - "

Their conversation was neatly masked by the crescendo of the music, the symphony of violins and cellos enveloping them in its melody.

"Marry me."

He whisked her into a spin, drawing her close once more as the music swelled around them.

"What?"