Chapter Text
Colin watched the glances darting back and forth across the ballroom, restless at Simon’s lack of initiative. It was clear Simon was as interested in his sister as she was in him.
The third Bridgerton sibling had a life mission inherited from his mother: he was great at bringing couples together and even better at recognizing when two people were meant to be together.
So, it was unthinkable to him that this situation wasn’t resolving itself. How could two people so obviously on the same page not act like adults and just get together already? He had to intervene!
“You look weird,” a female voice said near him, making him smile even before he turned to see who it was.
“It’s good to see you, sweetheart! I was just about to look for you,” he said, pulling Penelope into his arms and kissing her cheek.
“Oh my God! What are you up to?” she laughed, earning a playful squeeze for her teasing.
“I’m not up to anything, Pen. I just want to help — you know that, babygirl! It hurts me that you think so poorly of me. Tell me you see that too,” he said, spinning her around in his arms so that she could take in the scene as well.
“Oh, you mean the looks between Daphne and Simon?” Penelope chuckled, gently stroking his arms still wrapped around her waist.
“See? I knew you’d notice too,” he grinned, burying his face into the curve of her neck, making her close her eyes as her skin tingles at the contact.
Colin was always very touchy, and his friend had to use all her willpower to keep her feelings tightly contained. They had known each other since childhood, their friendship developing naturally due to their similar interests. But Penelope couldn’t stop her heart from clinging to a glimmer of hope for something more, especially when he was so openly affectionate.
“I don’t understand what’s stopping them from doing something about it. They haven’t even spoken yet; they’re just staring at each other from across the room,” Colin grumbled in frustration.
“You know why. Why is Anthony — no funny business with my sister — Bridgerton . Simon is your brother’s friend, Colin. I think that puts them in a tricky position,” Penelope pointed out.
“Anthony is always a problem! I can’t wait for him to meet the right woman and stop being such a pain!”
“That’s a day I’d like to witness!”
“I can’t make it happen without you, baby! I’m useless without your help, you know that!” he said, kissing her cheek again, making her blush.
“So, what’s your plan to help Daphne today? Are you going to get rid of Anthony?” she teased, turning in his arms to face him.
“That’s a great idea, beautiful. What do you think about helping me with that?”
“I’ll help, but what’s the plan, darling?” she laughed, finally slipping out of his embrace as he pouted.
“There’s only one thing I know for sure that will get Anthony to leave without hesitation,” Colin said, pulling out his phone. “Hyacinth? I need your help with something.”
Penelope watched as he explained his plan to his youngest sister, a mischievous smile on his charming face, making her heart race in her chest. His plan seemed simple enough: Hyacinth would call Anthony with an “emergency” that would send him rushing home, leaving Simon and Daphne free to get closer than the four-meter distance they’d maintained in the ballroom.
“All right, we just have to wait for Hyacinth to play her part and get Anthony out of here. Then we’ll move to the next step: getting Simon and Daphne somewhere they can talk alone!”
“You’re enjoying this a little too much, aren’t you?” she laughed, pinching his cheek.
“I just want to see my sister happy!”
“Meddling is just a bonus?” she teased.
“Are you trying to hurt me, Penelope Featherington? My heart won’t survive if you do this to me!” he said, pulling her close by the waist again, resting his face in the curve of her neck. “You’re my favorite partner in crime!”
“You’re really dramatic today. I think we should focus on your plan. Where do you think we should send them to talk alone?”
He sighed heavily, kissing her neck, making her shiver in his arms before letting her go.
“Lady Danbury’s library is pretty secluded. I think we can steer them there. We just need to figure out what to say.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to tell them the truth? I’d just tell them to take the opportunity to talk.”
“What’s the fun in that?” he said with a mischievous grin, making her roll her eyes.
“You do realize not everything needs an elaborate plan, right? It’s totally acceptable to be straightforward and say what you want to happen!”
“If it were that easy, why would I need to get involved, Pen?” he replied smugly.
"You don’t have to get involved, that’s my point," she laughed at his offended expression. "You just enjoy the meddling!"
"And what do you suggest? Should I walk to my little sister and say, ‘the library is empty, why don’t you take Simon there and...’" He shook his head, cutting off the thought before it finished. "I don’t even want to think about it!"
"I can talk to her, you know? Isn’t that the kind of thing you need my help for? I have no problem telling Daph to go make out real good with Simon in Lady Danbury’s empty library," Penelope laughed.
"You’re so mean to me today, Penelope. I think I’m going to need therapy after this party!"
"You’ll survive," she said, freeing herself from his arms, rolling her eyes at his frustrated expression.
"No, I won’t! Did I do something wrong to deserve such coldness from my best friend? Are you punishing me?"
"Funny you ask that!" She looked at him, trying to keep a serious face, but betrayed herself with a giggle at the last moment.
"What did I do?" Colin asked, genuinely concerned, taking her hand to pull her close again.
"Anthony’s leaving," she pointed to the eldest Bridgerton practically running out without explanation. "Time to put your plan into action!"
Without answering his question, leaving him visibly worried, Penelope quickly walked over to Daphne and whispered something that made his sister smile.
"Did someone eat the last slice of pizza before you got to the table?" Benedict appeared beside him, pulling his attention away from the two girls for the first time.
"What?" He turned, confused, making Benedict laugh.
"You’ve got the face of someone who lost the last slice of pizza, and, knowing your history, that’s a real tragedy!"
"I'm fine! Pen and I are trying to help Daphne, that’s all," he said, gesturing toward the girls. Both brothers watched as Daphne left the ballroom alone.
"Help with what?" Benedict asked, confused. But before Penelope returned, Simon followed the same path Daphne had taken. "Ah! I get it! That explains why Anthony left like the house was on fire — was that you?"
"He’d only get in the way," Colin shrugged. "Was your approach better than mine?" he asked Penelope as she returned to his side with her lovely smile.
"The fact that you even have to ask, hurts me," she teased. "I just had to be very clear that they need to talk before... you know." He pulled her into a hug, resting his face against her neck.
"No, no," Benedict shrugged. "I may not be Anthony, but I don’t want details about my siblings’ love lives, thank you very much!" He stepped away, looking perturbed, while the other two laughed.
"So, are they going to talk?" Colin asked, and Penelope nodded.
"They’ve been texting non stop these past few days, waiting for this party! I told her that if they can’t stand being apart, they need to figure out how to be together. It’s the only solution," Penelope said with a small, sad smile.
"I agree!" He seemed satisfied. "I get that Anthony will be a hurdle for their relationship, but if it were easy, it wouldn’t be worth it, don’t you think?"
"I do. The things that are worth it deserve our hearts, no matter what it takes!"
Colin hugged her tightly.
"Come on, I want to dance with my best girl while we reap the rewards of today’s mission," he said, leading her to the dance floor, holding her by the waist as they swayed to Just a Kiss by Lady A.
Penelope rested her head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat sweetly close to her ear, wanting that moment would never end. She looked up at him, wishing she had the courage to tell him how she felt, but both their attention turned to Daphne and Simon as they returned to the ballroom hand-in-hand, joining the other couples on the dance floor.
"Looks like they’re going to make it clear to everyone that they’re together," Colin said, smiling with satisfaction, happy to see his sister so radiant.
"They should! I think they’re the most gorgeous couple I’ve ever seen!" Penelope gave another sad smile, pulling away from his arms as the song ended.
Colin immediately went to speak with Daphne as she and Simon moved to the refreshment table.
"Finally!" he joked, making them laugh. "I’m really happy for you! I know Anthony might cause some trouble, but if you need help, count on me!"
"Thanks, Colin," Simon said, shaking his hand.
"Thank you!" Daphne kissed his cheek, smiling brightly.
"Just make my little sister happy, Simon. That’s all I ask," Colin said, making them laugh.
"You’ve got it!"
"What about you, big brother? When are you going to give love another chance to sweep you off your feet?" Daphne asked, teasing, and her brother rolled his eyes, brushing imaginary dust off his shoulder.
"I’m happier seeing others fall in love!"
"I don’t know how you can be such a fool, Colin," she laughed, snuggling into Simon’s embrace. "I think my older brothers all have some kind of head problem. I hope Greg doesn’t!"
"Let’s focus on one problem at a time, shall we? I got Anthony out of your way today, but it won’t work every time. I think it’s a good idea to get our mother’s support."
"Your mother has always liked me. We can talk to her," Simon agreed, and Colin smiled, stepping away to leave the couple alone again. "What did you mean about him giving love another chance, sweetheart?" Simon asked Daphne.
"Colin had a rough experience a few years ago. It left him wary of his love life," she explained with a sad smile.
"But they don’t seem to have any issues. I’ve always thought they seemed so happy together," Simon said, confused.
"Happy? Marina made my brother’s life a living hell. She left him shattered," Daphne said, her voice tinged with bitterness.
"Wait, I don’t think we’re talking about the same thing," Simon chuckled. "I’m talking about your brother and Penelope. Who’s Marina?"
"Marina was Colin’s ex-girlfriend. She was the one that traumatized him. He and Pen aren’t dating,” Daphne said, confused.
"What do you mean they’re not dating?" He laughed at her reaction. "Could it be a secret relationship? Did I just discover something even you didn’t know?"
"What are you talking about?"
"That," he said, pointing to Colin and Penelope across the room, laughing and talking while Colin played with a strand of her hair. "There’s no way you don’t see there’s something between them."
"They’ve always been like that — like joined at the hip. It drives Eloise crazy!"
"Daph, there’s less space between them than us!" At that moment, they watched Colin pull Penelope into his arms, holding her by the waist as he leaned against the wall, playing absentmindedly with her hands. "For heaven’s sake! And they’re not even dating? What are we going to witness when they do?"
"Honestly? I don’t even want to know," she laughed, wrapping her arms around Simon’s neck and kissing him tenderly. "But I think you’re right; there’s definitely something there, and I don’t think even they know it yet!"
"He definitely doesn’t," Simon rolled his eyes. "But she does. I know she does."