Chapter Text
Colin made his way down the sidewalk to his friend Alfred Debling's home in Mayfair. Friend was perhaps too bold of a word...
They had attended Eton together, and would often visit at balls and other events. Occasionally Debling would invite him to join him for dinner to relive their university days.
Yes... he supposed they were friends, just not very close ones. So Colin had been suprised when Debling had sent him a note that morning asking him to come join him for a celebratory drink.
He of course did not wish to offend, so he promptly sent his own note confirming he'd be there.
Arriving at the fellow bachelor's home, he knocked on the door and was quickly ushered in.
"Bridgerton!" Debling exclaimed when he was shown into the drawing room. "Come, have a drink with me."
"Of course, that's why I'm here." Colin smiled as he reached out his hand to take the offered glass of whiskey. "And to what are we celebrating?"
Debling shot him a devilish grin as he took a gulp of his own drink.
"We are celebrating that my bachelor days are soon to be over. I'm getting married."
Colin stared at him wide eyed for a moment before reaching out to shake his hand.
"Congratulations, my dear fellow! Why, I had no idea you'd been courting anyone. Who is the lucky lady?"
"You've never met her." Debling shook his head, then chuckled. "Matter of fact, neither have I."
"I beg your pardon?" Colin nearly choked on his drink.
"Apparently her mother and mine were acquaintances, and when Mother passed away several months ago, she wrote to offer her condolences. Her mother had passed as well, so she wrote on her behalf." Debling explained. "I sent her a letter in return, thanking her for her kind words, and... well, I suppose things took off from there."
"I see." Colin nodded. "But yet you've never met her?"
"Not so much as a portrait." Debling laughed, finishing off his drink. "But, she seems agreeable enough. She's intelligent, seems charming, and frankly, desperate."
Colin did choke on his drink at that.
"I beg your pardon?!"
"Well both her parents are gone. Her father was killed after a deal gone bad, and her mother died of pneumonia a year ago. She has two wedded sisters, and she's been living with the eldest since their mother's death. You know me, Bridgerton. I don't fancy balls, and I much prefer my country estate to town. I desire a wife who isn't needy and expecting a glamorous life socializing with the ton. And I detest courting. So, I proposed marriage to her, and she readily accepted."
Frankly, Colin didn't know what to say. The poor young woman had lost everything, and while she may be desperate, it hardly seemed like a thing to brag about. As if she was easy prey.
However, Debling was a decent fellow. He could be strange, reclusive, and cared more for animals than humans, but none of that was a sin.
He supposed this girl could do much worse. He was sure Debling would never harm her, and he didn't strike him as the type of man to take a mistress.
"Well...as long as you make each other happy, I suppose that's all that matters." Colin smiled as he set his glass down.
"There's one more thing." Debling grinned. "She's arriving today. I've arranged for a special license so that we may be wed tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?!" Colin's brows shot up.
"Indeed. I see no reason to wait. Besides, it would be highly improper to have her stay here if we are not married." Debling pointed out. "And she has no other family or friends nearby whom she could board with in the meantime, so I figured this was the best solution. And why put off the inevitable? We are already engaged, what is the use of waiting?"
"I would assume you'd want to get to know her more..." Colin suggested, but a look from Debling told him no. He supposed it was none of his business anyway. Perhaps they had written in great depth to each other and did not need to be better acquainted before they became husband and wife.
Colin cleared his throat and sent him another smile.
"Well, I offer my congratulations again. I hope you two will be very happy together. And, may I ask why I have the privilege of being the first to know?"
"You may indeed." Debling grinned, pouring himself another glass. He held out the decanter to Colin, but he shook his head. He'd never cared for whiskey much. "I want YOU to be my best man."
"Oh!" Colin exclaimed. He knew Debling didn't have many friends, but was suprised non the less. "Of course. I...I don't know if I have anything appropriate to wear as a best man on such short notice..."
"Oh, nevermind that." Debling waved his hand. "I'm just rewearing a nice suit of mine. You know me. I care not for all those frivolous details."
"To be sure..." Colin sighed. "Well... are you having any other guest?"
"No. I cannot be bothered with all that. We of course need two witnesses, and I've asked Mrs. Smith to stand with my bride."
"Mrs. Smith.... your... your housekeeper?!" Colin gaped at him.
"Why yes." Debling shrugged.
Colin was shocked. This poor young lady... Mrs. Smith was a kind woman, to be sure. But... the housekeeper?!
He was about to offer one of his sister's to stand with Debling's bride, when a footman entered the room.
"Miss Featherington has arrived, my lord."
"Ah! She's early." Debling mused as he checked his pocket watch. "No matter. You shall get to meet her as well, Bridgerton."
"I'm not sure it's appropriate for me to be here during your first meeting." He tried to point out, but it was too late, the footman was already showing Miss Featherington into the room.
His breath caught in his throat when he saw her. She was very short in stature, which he found adorable, and her bright red curls brought out the prettiest blush in her round cheeks. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation as they darted between the two gentlemen.
Colin then realized the poor girl didn't know which man was her intended. He looked over expectantly at Lord Debling, suprised he hadn't immediately stepped forward to greet her.
He furrowed his brow when he noticed Debling's expression.
The man's usual jolly smile had faded, and his eyes had lost their sparkle. He almost looked as if he was glaring at the poor girl.
The silence was beginning to get awkward, so Colin stepped forward to greet her.
"Colin Bridgerton, my lady." He extended his hand for her to shake. Her smile faltered slightly, but quickly returned as she daintily took his hand and gave a small curtsey as he bowed his head at her.
"Penelope Featherington." She introduced herself. Her eyes flitted back over to Debling's, who's expression hadn't much improved.
"May I present Lord Alfred Debling to you." Colin gently led her over to the man in question, who finally shook the near scowl off his face.
"Miss Featherington! Pleasure." Debling extended his hand for her to take. She smiled shyly up at him, and her blush slightly deepened. "I'm terribly sorry about all of this... you apparently did not receive my letter."
Miss Featherington's smile fell as she withdrew her hand.
"Your letter?" She inquired.
"Yes." Debling cleared his throat. "I'm afraid there's been a terrible misunderstanding. You see, while I was corresponding with you, I had been courting a young woman, and, now this is rather embarassing... but I accidentally sent the letter with my offer of marriage to YOU instead of her. I did not realize my mistake until I received your letter of acceptance. I wrote back to you as quickly as I could, but... well, it appears I was too late. So sorry you had to make such a long journey in vain."
Colin could strangle the man. While not five minutes ago Debling was singing Miss Featherington's praises, he now was making up stories to dismiss her. What had happened to cause this change?
"Debling, I-" he began. He wasn't sure what he was going to say, but felt he must say something!
"And as you can imagine, this is all very embarrassing for me. I'll give you some money for your travel expenses, but you must understand that I cannot have you staying here. The ton does like to gossip so." Debling prattled on.
Colin was shocked. While he didn't claim to know Debling incredibly well, he felt he at least knew him well enough to never think he'd perform such a stunt.
In hindsight, he really ought to have called him out on it, but he was just so shocked by it all that he couldn't form the words.
"I see..." Miss Featherington's lower lip trembled. "I...I am so sorry, Lord Debling. It was never my intent to embarass you. I will bother you no longer."
Colin whipped his head back around to Debling after she'd left the room.
"What was that?!" He hissed.
"My thoughts exactly." Debling sneered. "Pathetic looking, really. Much too short, and much too round for my liking. And the hair! Red hair is a bad omen, you know."
Colin had never heard such a thing, and was sure Debling had simply made that up. But he was appalled to realize Debling was bothered by her appearance. She was a very pretty girl, and she looked quite healthy. Not to mention she seems sweet and gentle...
"Are you telling me that you find her so unappealing that you are sending her away with a bold faced LIE as your explanation?" Colin growled, unable to conceal his disgust.
"You saw her!" Debling scoffed. "She hardly looks handsome enough to be paraded around on my arm."
"You hate parading around!" Colin cried out. "You wanted a wife who was a hermit like you! And it seems you got one! Not to mention, you proposed to her, sight unseen, and didn't once think about the possibility that she didn't meet your pathetic standards?!"
"No need to get so upset, Bridgerton." Debling huffed. "It seemed right at the time, and now it doesn't. These sort of things happen all the time."
"No. They really don't." Colin glared at him. "I shall take my leave now. Please, never ask me to call upon you again."
He left Debling standing in the middle of the drawing room, another whiskey glass in hand, his mouth hanging open.
Colin muttered to himself as he all but stomped down the stairs and out the door about what a pig headed, idiodic fool Debling was. So cruel, so heartless, so-
"Oh! You're still here..." Colin exclaimed when he exited the house and found Miss Featherington standing on the sidewalk, a miserable little suitcase beside her.
"Lord Bridgerton!" She straightened up and bobbed as curtsey towards him. "Yes, I... forgive me. You do not care." She turned her crystal blue eyes away from him and stared at nothing across the street.
"But you are wrong, Miss Featherington." He took a step towards her. "I do care. What Lord Debling did was atrocious. He never should have said what he did."
Miss Featherington still didn't meet his eye.
"There is no other woman, is there?" She whispered.
Colin let out a heavy sigh. It gutted him to tell her, but he refused to lie to the poor girl.
"No. There is not."
She nodded her head and said nothing more. She kept her head held high, but Colin could see her eyes misting with unshed tears and her chin slightly tremble.
"Debling is a fool." He said at last.
"I am the fool, Lord Bridgerton." She shook her head. "I should never have come. I should have known I'd be rejected. No man wanted me at home either."
"You are wrong." He stepped even closer. "If he was going to be so picky about a wife, he should never proposed to someone he'd never even met."
"I suppose..." She mumbled.
They stood in silence a few moments more.
"Miss Featherington... do you have anywhere to go?" He spoke up again.
The young woman began to cry again.
"No. I have no money to get home, and no family or friends in the city." She admitted.
"I will go speak with Debling. He did say he'd pay for your travel expenses." Colin turned to walk back up the pathway.
"No!" She cried out, grabbing his large hand with her tiny one.
Colin looked down at their joined hands as his eyes widened. Miss Featherington blushed and quickly retracted her gloved hand.
"Forgive me, I...I do not want his money. Besides, I cannot go home. I've been living with my eldest sister and she... she is not kind."
"I am very sorry to hear that, Miss Featherington." Colin spoke gently as he stepped near her again. "Is there anything I can do for you?"
Her eyes fluttered up to meet his. They really were a striking blue shade, he thought to himself.
"Why do you wish to help me?" She innocently asked. Colin was appalled. What kind of horrible people was this sweet girl surrounded by that his concern for her wellbeing was surprising to her?
"Because you deserve better in life than what it's apparently given you." He softly replied.
She stared up at him for a moment, seeming at a loss for words.
"I.... that is very kind, Lord Bridgerton." She said at last. "Perhaps you could think of someplace I could look for employment?"
"Employment?" Colin raised his brows in suprise.
"Yes...I am not a Lady." She pointed out. "I've never had a job before, but lots of women in my family do. My parents were not titled, so there'd be no shame in me getting a job."
"Of course not!" Colin hastened to say. "I've always admired the working class. Let's see... place for you to work... well I suppose I should ask what can you do?"
"Oh, well...." She nibbled on her lower lip. "I can write....um...I suppose I can clean. My sister would often have me clean for her as part of earning my keep."
"Well now, this could not be more perfect!" Colin laughed. "One of our maids has recently gotten married, and now we are short one. I'm sure my mother would be delighted to have you work for us. You'd of course be housed, fed, and clothed, on top of a getting paid."
"Oh, Lord Bridgerton...I-" she gaped at him, eyes darting back and forth between his. "That would be wonderful! Are you sure your mother won't mind?"
"My mother has a very kind heart. I know she would love to help you." Colin assured her. Reaching down to grab her small suitcase, he crooked his elbow for her to take his arm.
She blushed as she timidly took it. Colin couldn't help but grin as they made their way back to Bridgerton House. He was sure they made quite the pair with their height difference.
"Lord Bridgerton, I cannot tell you what this means to me." She smiled up at him.
"It's just Mister." He grinned back at her. "My brother is a Lord. He's the Vicount Bridgerton. Alas, I am a lowly third born son."
"Oh! And yet your brother and mother allow you to make decisions on the household?" Her eyes widened in suprise.
"My brother is recently married, so he's quite occupied with all that." Colin chuckled as he helped her step around a puddle. "And as I said, once my mother hears of your misfortunes, she will want to help."
"She sounds like a very kind woman."
"The most kind woman I've ever known." He nodded. "Ah, here we are! Miss Featherington, welcome to Bridgerton House!"