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Penelope was frantically searching in the garden and stopping anyone she could in search of Eloise. When she was jolted to a complete the moment she heard a group of men in a fit of laughter. Unmistakenly recognizing one of them as Colin Bridgerton.
“Penelope Featherington?”
She couldn’t help herself from listening as she heard him mention her name. Why would he be talking about her? In front of the group of men at that. She was very confused but at the same time curious as to the topic they were discussing.
“The way you were dancing with her looked rather interesting.” Lord Fife had paused before following up with a question. “You courting the girl, Bridgerton?”
Penelope froze. Her heart was beating faster and louder than she’d ever felt or heard it before.
“Ah. Are you mad? I would never dream of courting Penelope Featherington. Not in your wildest fantasies, Fife.” Colin responded with a grin.
After hearing the laughter erupt between the group of men Penelope ran off distraught and in shock of what she had heard. How could he have said such a thing? And to a group of eligible men no less. He had single-handedly ruined her by name claiming she is undesirable. Did he not see how damaging that comment could be for her? For her reputation? For their friendship?
What Penelope did miss however was the aftermath of said conversation and the instant regret Colin had felt as Fife began to speak again.
“Good, I just needed confirmation before I was to call upon her.”
Colin was stunned and hit with an overwhelming fit of anger.
“What are you getting at Fife? You are going to call upon Penelope?”
“Yes. I believe I am. It is getting rather tiring listening to my mother pestering me to marry. Miss Featherington seems like a good fit. She will make a fine wife.”
“How so?” Colin asked unsure if he really wanted to know the answer.
“Well, for starters you can’t blame a man for noticing she’s very blessed upstairs and I’m not talking about her mind if you know what I mean.” Fife smirked at the other men while they all burst into another fit of laughter.
Colin, however, was fuming. His jaw was clenched, and his fists were balled at his sides so tight that his nails were digging into his palms.
“Penelope is not one of the women from the brothel Fife. She is a young lady. You cannot just treat her as one of your revelries.” Colin spit out while gritting his teeth.
“Ah. I see, don’t you worry Bridgerton. Miss Featherington is nearly a spinster. I’m sure she will be eager to marry and once we produce an heir, I will swiftly join you all at the clubs. Once I do, I’ll be sure to tell you all about her bosom that I’m sure will not disappoint.” Fife was grinning like a madman, thrilled with his comment.
“Absolutely not. I will not allow you to treat her like that.” Colin was fuming. He was shouting now.
“Oh, Come on Bridgerton. What are you, her brother? Don’t you have enough siblings to worry about?”
“Of course I’m not her brother. She is a dear friend of mine, she has no one looking out for her. So, excuse me for not allowing you to treat her like she’s just another chit for you to entertain for a short period of time and discard when you are done with her.”
“What are you on about Bridgerton. You cannot tell me you never thought of sinking your face into that heaving bosom. We are all men here with the same enate urges.” He burst into a fit of laughter before he continued. “Surely having her married and with children would be better off than letting her become a spinster forever. It is not like she has any prospects lining up for her. Surely a season or two at most before Miss Featherington is destined for spinsterhood. She would make a fine mother I imagine. Surely, she will have no issue feeding the child with those dugs.” Another burst of loud laughter erupted between the men.
Colin was clenching his jaw trying his best not to step forward and hit Fife. He wanted to of course. He would like nothing less than to beat him to pulp for even glancing at Penelope in such a manner nevertheless the comments he was making.
“Absolutely not. You have gone mad if you think she would be okay with what you are offering anyway.” Colin spat out.
“Who said I would ask for her permission. Surely Lady Featherington will accept any offer for the girl. She has been quite eager to marry off her daughters quite swiftly.”
Colin couldn’t believe his ears. He refused to even entertain Fife’s outrageous plans. No there was no way he would allow Fife to go through with this.
“You have truly gone mad.”
Colin stormed off done with the conversation he had just had. He couldn’t believe Fife would think that he would ever let him court Penelope. Never mind lay a hand on her in the way he is suggesting. She deserves so much better than Fife of all people. No absolutely not.
Fife turned to the remaining three men.
“Surely, that should have riled him up. Am I right lads?” Fife grinned. Knowing full well what he had just done. He is guessing that Colin was currently on his way inside to find Lady Featherington as he and the other men headed out for the evening.
Lord Fife has been more observant to the relationship between Colin and Penelope than either of them has noticed. It has been obvious for some time now that Colin sees Penelope as more than a friend and definitely not like he sees his siblings. He simply needed a slight nudge in the right direction. Fife was just the accelerator to what he believed would be the inevitable. He was sick and tired of watching the poor girl pining in the distance and done with Bridgerton’s oblivion.
Once Colin spotted Lady Featherington he wasted no time at all asking her for a moment alone.
“What is it now Mr. Bridgerton? In case you haven’t noticed I have a ball I am to host.” She noted in a slightly annoyed tone of voice as she led him towards a quiet hallway nearing the bedroom units.
“Lady Featherington, I won’t take up too much of your time. I must ask for your daughter’s hand.” Before Colin could continue Lady Featherington cut him off with an elated tone of voice.
“Oh! Mister Bridgerton! I’m sure Prudence will happily accept your offer. I Can hardly believe it.”
“What? Prudence.” Colin scoffed. “Absolutely not. I wish to marry Penelope.”
“Penelope? Are you sure? Prudence is a much better conversationalist and much more adept at social gatherings.”
“With all due respect, I do not care. I care for Penelope, and I wish to marry her.”
“I apologize Mister Bridgerton. I do not comprehend the situation. Why in god’s name would you wish to marry Penelope? For what reason?”
“Were you not so narrowly concerned over your own standing, you might see that Penelope is the most eligible amongst you.”
“Oh!” Penelope gasped as she overheard the conversation between her mother and Colin. Tears down her face. Colin turned towards her.
“Penelope! I must ask you something.”
“Colin, I heard everything.” She wiped her eyes. “But i must ask, what happened since a few moments ago when I heard you speaking in the garden?”
His ears reddened as the embarrassment of his foolishness hit him.
“Pen, I’m sorry you had to overhear such vile comments. I never should have said what I said and I never should have let those men talk about you in such a way.” He noted the confusion on her face as he continued and realized she didn’t hear the whole conversation which he was pleased by. He sighed.
“Penelope, please forgive me for not realizing sooner. I truly do wish to marry you, if you will have me.”
“Colin, in what world would I not?”
Portia was too stunned to speak. As Colin began approaching Penelope however, she managed to clear her throat “Ahem.” Colin stopped just shy of being too close for propriety standards.
“It is settled then.” He grinned at Penelope.
“It is.” She smiled at him.
Colin noticed her eyes shining even brighter than they had before and he swore to himself he would do everything in his power to make sure they never lost that sparkle.