I DO NOT OWN BRIDGERTON. WE WILL BE FOCUSING ON THE TRIP TO FRANCE FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL CHAPTERS.
Bridgerton House. London, United Kingdom. 3 days later.
After Penelope, Portia, and Eloise were in board with the French vacation, I made the necessary preparations for the trip. I packed all the essentials, but made sure to bring plenty of trunks alone. Odds were that we'd be bringing plenty of souvenirs home from France and I wanted to make sure we had room enough for them. The best part was watching Prudence and Philipa make themselves sick with jealously.
The 2 bitch sisters begged and pleaded with Penelope to get her to convince me to take them with us. Pen took this opportunity to get some much deserved payback on her sorry excuses for sisters and it was very easy to see how she could morph into Lady Whistledown when she meant to. I'm not ashamed to say that I enjoyed seeing those ginger bitches get put in their place.
After all the preparations had been made, Anthony felt the need to take me aside and impart some of that older brother wisdom that he claimed to have in abundance. He cornered me while I was finishing my packing, so that I couldn't get out of it.
"Have a minute, brother?" Anthony asked as he came into my room as i finished packing the last trunk.
"Of course brother." I replied as i sat on my bed as he walked over to me.
"This trip you are going on, it feels a bit sudden; does it not?" The viscount inquired as i heaved a sigh in his direction. When I told the family about my courtship with Penelope, most of them were supportive and thought that Pen would be a great addition to the Bridgerton family. The only reservations were Eloise, due to me going after her best friend, and Anthony; he was still out of sorts with me over the whole Marina fiasco.
"I told you, Pen has been distressed after her father's passing. I was already going abroad anyway, so I felt that if she were to accompany me, it could help get her mind off the grief." I pointed out.
"You do realize that you taking a girl that you intend to court on a trip to the continent tempts scandal? Whistledown has already printed your name in her sheet, why give her more ammunition?" The viscount asked as he stared me down.
"First of all, Eloise is accompanying us as a chaperone to purposefully avoid scandal. Second of all, even if she was not, Pen and I are only vacationing. I do not intend to elope or take liberties with her." I answered as I felt that Anthony's accusations didn't really hold water. I wasn't taking Penelope to France just to shack up with her and I felt that he should have known that.
"Colin, to jump so soon into a courtship with Penelope Featherington after your botched engagement to Marina Thompson...it simply does not look respectable." Anthony pointed out as he thought it made me look like i was just going after every girl in the Featherington house.
"I understand your concern brother, but what I feel for Penelope is far stronger than what I felt for Marina. I know your feelings on love matches are...mixed, but i feel like that is what I have found with Pen." I assured him as I could tell that he thought that I was making another stupid decision.
"I just don't want you to make another foolish error under the guise of following your heart because the risk is too great that your family shall be caught up in whatever happens." Anthony argued as I couldn't stop myself from rolling my eyes at him.
"I have apologized for what happened with Marina, but trying to save a woman from a life of misery is not a foolish error. Maybe when you find a woman you care about, you'll do the same." I snapped as I had finally had enough of his bull shit. I had done my best with the knowledge that I'd had and it didn't work out. I didn't want to blame Pen, but it sure as Hell wasn't my fault. Before Anthony could reply, I made sure to excuse myself to make the final preparations.
The Next day.
The next morning, the carriage driver prepared to drive us to port. We all said our goodbyes to the Bridgertons, whereas the Featheringtons didn't really care enough about Pen to actually show up. It didn't matter though, because Penelope, like Eloise and myself, received a warm motherly hug from the dowager viscountess.
"Have a safe journey and promise that you will be home before Christmas." Violet pleaded as she wrapped me tightly in her arms.
"I promise mother, we'll be back by mid November." I promised her as I definitely wanted to make it back to the United Kingdom before the snow started to fall.
"We should get going so we can secure the best passage." Eloise called to me as she and Pen stepped into the carriage.
"We shall write to you all from France." I assured my faux family as Eloise, Penelope, and I got into the carriage.
"Do not forget to bring me a gift." Gregory insisted as his sister shoved him playfully.
"It is not a gift if you have to ask." Hyacinth chastised him as Violet tried to keep her youngest children under control. "I would fancy anything blue or white."
"We shall be sure to secure something for you." Pen assured my youngest sister as i nodded to everyone before climbing into the carriage myself. I wanted to avoid Anthony's vow to leave romance out of his life for good.
"Just wait till you meet Kate Sharma." I thought to myself as fhe coachman snapped the reigns and we were on our way.
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