I DO NOT OWN BRIDGERTON
Bridgerton House. London, United Kingdom. 2 days later.
2 days after our engagement was announced, the dowager Viscountess invited the entire flock of Featheringtons over to celebrate my engagement to Marina Thompson. I knew that this was the absolute last chance for me to back out. I knew that I could take Penelope aside, tell her that I loved her more than Marina...more than Melanie herself if i'm being totally honest, and ask her to marry me. The Bridgerton's would be more accepting and the hard core Polin fans would with hold their vile venom from me; but I couldn't. Thanks to Melanie's reading of the books, I knew that Philip Crane was eventually going to marry Eloise and the only way he could be with Eloise was if Marina killed herself. Philip seemed like a decent enough guy, but Marina did not love him. She was going to be miserable about the life she was to be trapped in and not even the children could give her reason enough to stay.
Marina seemed certain that I was her 1 chance at happiness and I couldn't deny her that, even for a shot at my own. I had to marry Marina and raise her children; come what may. I couldn't afford to be selfish when a good woman's life was at stake. If she didn't marry me, Marina's only alternatives were Philip or the streets; because George Crane had most likely already been gunned down by the Spanish at this point. I was her last hope and I felt that obligation weighing heavy on me when she arrived with the Featheringtons. Marina greeted me with a kiss on the cheek and Pen greeted me with a weak smile as I squeezed her hand. I could tell that my decision was causing her just as much turmoil, but I tried to remain resolute as we all sat down for dinner.
"What were your favorite pastimes in the country?" Lady Violet asked my intended as we ate.
"I enjoyed riding above all else, my lady." Marina replied as it wasn't hard to imagine her on horseback, flying above the ground.
"Please, you must call me Violet now; remember?" My false mother said with what I felt was a plastered on smile.
"Miss Thompson is such a proper young lady, is she not?" lady Featherington said, trying to sell Marina to the rest of the family.
"Have you traveled at all beyond England, Miss Thompson?" Violet inquired. "It has long been Colin's greatest ambition to travel the world."
"Never, though it is now a great ambition of mine as well." Marina replied as I gently took her hand in mine.
"I am sensing a honeymoon in foreign parts. What think you, Lord Bridgerton?" Lady Portia asked as I groaned at her. She was pushing way too hard and Anthony, fool as he was, would pick up on it.
"I would not like to speculate." The viscount replied, refusing to answer.
"Yes indeed, I believe a honeymoon in foreign parts would be just the thing." Portia continued as she turned to me. "Mr. Bridgerton, you might even make the most of this fine weather we've been having if you choose to marry sooner rather than later."
"Colin is still very young." Anthony countered before I could speak up. "I believe a lengthier engagement would be prudent, excellent weather notwithstanding."
"Mother, have I told you Miss Thompson is very accomplished at needlework?" I inquired, trying to change the subject. "She is quite brilliant, puts my sisters to shame."
"I can assure you, that is not true." Marina countered trying to be modest.
"You have not seen my sister Daphne's embroidery; In all honesty, it is like a battlefield." I quoted, earning fake laughs from Marina and Portia; the rest of the family were either bored or uncomfortable.
After dinner, Philippa started to play the harpsichord while Prudence sang. I thought her singing was suckish on the show, but hearing it live; it was pure torture. I quickly excused myself to the hall as I tried to cover up my ears with my pinky fingers. Eventually, I saw Penelope walking out of the parlor and I was relieved to see her, but also anxious because I knew she was going to throw a Hail Mary to keep me from marrying Marina.
"Colin, might I have a word?" Penelope inquired as I took a deep breath.
"Pen, of course." I said as i took her hand and led her into a rather spacious closet where the family's coats and umbrellas were kept.
"It is a rather delicate matter." She admitted as she looked at me with pain in her eyes. "I wish I did not have cause to raise it, but I believe you deserve to know.
"Is this something about Marina?" I asked as if I didn't know that it was.
"Her heart belongs to another: His name is Sir George Crane." Penelope explained as the words came rushing out of her mouth. "He is a first son, a soldier. They grew up in neighboring properties in the country. I am sorry, but I have seen their love letters. I felt you should know before it was too late." I weighed my words carefully before i responded, so i could try to explain my decision to her.
"I assume this George Crane...he is the father of her unborn child?" I asked as Penelope's eyes went wide in astonishment.
"How...how did you know?" She asked in return.
"I have seen my mother have 5 children, I know the signs by now." I lied as i couldn't very well tell her that i'd watched the show. "I have suspected for a few days, but I didn't want to confront Marina without proof."
"Then you know why you must not marry her, Colin. She is trying to seduce and trick you into this marriage." Penelope insisted as i took her hands in mine.
"Pen, I know what I am doing; I need to protect her from the fate of an unwed mother. If I don't marry miss Thompson, who will help her. Clearly this George fellow isn't going to do right by her. " I insisted as I was faced with the heartbreak on her face.
"Marriage is a life long commitment, do you truly wish to be shackled to a woman who doesn't love you and only sees a fat purse?" Pen asked as she fought back the tears that were threatening to pour from her eyes. I could not take this much longer. I hated to see Penelope in pain like she was.
"Her life and the life of her child is at risk, I can't forsake either of them...not even for a woman I love." I said in haste before I truly realized what I had said. I realized that in our interactions...I had come to love Penelope Featherington; her mind, her heart, her bravery in attempting to live a different life through Lady Whistledown. Penelope looked at me with disbelief in her eyes as she took in my revelation as she looked torn between wanted to be happy at hearing that Colin Bridgerton loved her and her low self esteem telling her that it was a lie.
"Please Colin...please don't mock me..." Pen whispered as she hung her head. I tilted her chin up so she could look in my eyes and I in hers.
"It is not mockery, Penelope Featherington. I do love you and I refuse to act as if I'm too blind to realize it anymore. I love your looks, I love your mind, I love your heart. I love you, Pen." I insisted as the tears rolled down her cheeks silently as she quickly leaned in and pressed a big wet kiss to my lips. I inwardly told regency manners to go fuck themselves as I eagerly returned Pen's kiss. We began to increase the passion as our kisses were sloppy but enjoyable. I picked Pen up in my arms as I started kissing her neck, earning sounds of pleasure as she held onto me tightly. I inhaled the scent of lavender on her skin as our foreheads touched.
"I don't know how I am going to live without kissing you..." I muttered as she looked in my eyes with determination.
"Don't...do not marry her Colin...tell Lady Bridgerton about her pregnancy, surely she will call off the engagement." Pen begged as I put her down.
"Pen...Marina would be shamed." I pointed out as I saw a look of anger in her eyes.
"Perhaps she should be...she attempted to pull a good man into a sham of a marriage. I can't have found your love only to lose it again." Pen pleaded as we heard the sound of Marina calling our names.
"She can't find us like this." I told her as we quickly straightened ourselves out before heading out to the corridor where Marina stood.
"Apologies miss Thompson, we simply needed some time to...digest the musical talents of Prudence Featherington." I said as Pen snickered at my false praise.
"Have we moved the party to the corridor?" Marina inquired as I tried to act casual.
"You know, it is peculiar, but the further I get from that piano forte, the more like a party it feels." I quoted in a teasing fashion as my fiancee turned to Penelope.
"Pen, your mother's asking for you." she said as Pen reluctantly took a last look at me before rejoining her family.
"Is anything wrong? Is it my brother?" I asked as she looked forlorn. "He was odious at dinner, I apologize."
"I cannot stand it, Colin." Marina griped as she took my hands in hers. "My own father does not want me, even the Featheringtons cannot wait to be rid of me. Fool that I am, I truly thought that with your family, I might finally find acceptance; but it is no use, even your mother is just being polite."
"That is not true, Marina, we shall make our own family, you and me." I promised her, even though I knew it was not what I wanted.
"It is all I want, it is all I want in all the world...I wish we could be married this very minute; then we could be alone together always, I would never have to leave your arms." Marina replied as she planted a kiss on my lips which was nowhere near as pleasant as Penelope's kisses. I loathed what I was about to do, but I knew that I had no choice if I was going to save Marina's life.
"What if I told you there was a way?" I asked as I summoned what nerve I had left.
"Colin, what are..." Marina started to say.
"Scotland: Gretna Green." I replied as I caressed Marina's cheek with my hand. "I know it is mad, but we could be married within a matter of days. We just have to make it to the border. Anthony would be an ogre about it when we first return, of course; but by then, it would be too late. We would be married, we would be together." Marina said nothing for a couple minutes, but I knew what she was going to say.
"I love it...I love you." Marina replied as I leaned in and kissed her deeply.
"I'll arrange a carriage and a driver, have a bag packed and be ready to leave at dawn." I said as I took her hand and walked her back to the gathering; wishing that I didn't have to be her hero; but if I didn't, who else would be?
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