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It had taken Benedict one glance at Colin to realize that he could never allow his thoughts to drift any further.
As he stared at his oblivious brother, animated and full of delight as he talked to the youngest Featherington, it occurred to him that as slow to the uptake Colin was, he would get there eventually.
Colin was an idiot. He was young and unaware of Penelope’s affections. It seemed to be a common trait that ran among the Bridgerton men. That being said, Colin was far more innocent and acted with no ill intent.
He and Anthony on the other hand were more than worthy of the title “rake”. They broke the hearts of many women outside the ton. At the same time, their flirtatious albeit gentle manner with the respectable women was just enough to keep mothers and daughters alike on edge. Call it egoistic but it was the reason why Benedict, despite being a second son, was in no hurry to marry.
He had never truly thought about it, the attributes that he would want his future wife to possess.
He surely knew that he was not as traditional as Anthony. He did not need a woman who was there to only agree, obey, and to be at his beck and call. No, he wanted a bit more excitement, a little spontaneity and most of all, a woman with a mind that could match his own.
He also knew that despite being restless and finding ways to constantly disappear, he did not possess the wanderlust that Colin did. Surely, he went on tours as any young man of his age does, but he did not like being away from his family for too long. The Bridgerton’s were known to be tight knit and therefore he expected that his wife would delight in the little mundane traditions that his family upheld. Repetitive as it may be, he enjoyed seeing his brothers and sisters sprawled around the drawing room every morning.
None of these had crossed his mind prior to Anthony getting married. As one of the youngest and most eligible patriarchs in high society, every member of the ton had their eyes set on the young Viscount.
With him out of the way, it was now Benedict’s turn to be under the scrutiny of the ton. He felt pity for his future wife, as much pity as he had for Kate when Anthony first announced their engagement.
He needed a strong woman. One who could put aside any judgment cast by the ton. One who did not care about what others thought of her.
And that is how he ended up thinking of… Penelope Featherington.
After seven less than promising dances and hiding from his mother’s watchful eyes, Benedict had managed to finally escape the ballroom floor. He needed a breath of fresh air. With Colin out on tour, Lady Bridgerton’s focus was solely on him, and she was hellbent on finding him a suitable wife this season.
He pulled out a cigar from his inner pocket, only to realize that in order to light it he had to reenter the ballroom. He should have known better than to come tonight. Although, he would have probably never heard the end of it from his dear mama and Anthony if he didn’t.
Frustrated and grunting, he turned back only to bump into someone small.
“Oh!” the lady expressed as she fell.
Despite the dim surrounding, Benedict knew that only one person in the ton possessed that tiny bearing.
“Goodness Pen! Are you alright?” he asked as he grabbed both her arms to hold her up.
“I’m fine!” Penelope responded as she struggled to stand. It was the annoying frumpy yellow dress that her mother adorned her with that made the task of standing so difficult.
“Are you certain?”
“Yes well… this monstrosity broke my fall” she frustratedly responded as she dusted off her gown.
Benedict chuckled in response. It was common knowledge that Lady Featherington dressed her daughters in a less than tasteful manner. Although he never realized that Penelope thought the same. The youngest Featherington looked up at him with a sheepish smile after her little outburst.
He crossed his arms and looked at her with a smirk.
“What on earth are you doing here?”
He observed from her expression that it caught her off guard. In a second, she recovered quite quickly.
“I could ask you the same thing.”
“I will answer you then you will answer me.” he said with a nod. “My mother has put in word that I am in search of a wife, unbeknownst to me, of course. Therefore I have spent the whole night attempting to escape the clutches of the ton’s matriarchs.”
“Shockingly you have not yet been abducted by Lady Twombley”
“Thankfully I haven’t” he replied in jest.
“Although I wouldn’t put it past Cressida”
“Neither would I”
The two shared a laugh. It never occurred to Benedict how cheeky the seemingly innocent Featherington was.
“Now tell me why you’re here.”
“Me? Oh I was just taking a stroll.”
“In the dark?”
“It’s hardly dark with these new inventions” Penelope responded, looking upwards at the lights that illuminated the pathway.
“Penelope….” he said in a warning tone.
“Oh, alright.” She said with a huff. “I wanted to see it if it was real”.
“What was real?”
“The ghost.”
“What ghost?” Benedict asked while chuckling.
“Oh, you know! I’ve seen you and the other men go to the gardens to look for it”.
Benedict stared at her with utter confusion on his face.
“Pray do tell me as I am quite unaware that I have been participating in a ghost hunt for many years”.
Penelope huffed as she felt idiotic. Benedict found it very amusing.
“Well, I’ve always noticed that whenever there are balls, men would go outside to the gardens and enter the maze. One of the servants said that she heard some dreadful noise, like a woman murmuring inaudibly. Almost as if she wanted to shriek.”
“Is that so?” Benedict responded, bemused. It did not take a bright man to know what ghost she was referring to. Despite participating in the somewhat “ghostly” actions, he had no intention of allowing innocent Penelope to ever be aware of what truly happened in the gardens.
“Mama said not to mind it… but I was curious you see. Eloise and I were supposed to—”
“Oh well that explains it! Eloise…” Benedict sighed under his breath. His sister had a penchant for accosting trouble. Leave it to her to instigate Penelope into doing something reckless.
“Yes, well…. but she is unwell and we had already planned it and so I thought —“
“That you would bravely find the ghost on your own?” Benedict asked her.
A small part of him was irate that she would do something so thoughtless. A much greater part of him found the situation humorous. It was well noted by him that Baroness Featherington was too busy with her other daughters to even notice that Penelope was unaccompanied and lurking in the gardens.
Meanwhile, Penelope was embarrassed. She knew that she was being careless by promenading unsupervised. Yet for some reason, she needed to satisfy her curiosity.
“Well, would you tell me then what is so interesting in the gardens that even you and your brothers have been spotted entering the maze?”
How passively assertive, Benedict thought. He never knew that Penelope was quite feisty. It certainly explained how she and Eloise were attached by the hip. It was very tempting to inform her about the lewd albeit pleasurable actions that took place in the gardens, but he held his tongue.
“There is no ghost, Pen”.
“What?”
“There is no ghost.” He reiterated. “What there is is a hunting game. It’s tradition. The Duke of Wembley started it years ago. He would hide an object in the maze and whoever found it would be given quite a sizeable amount of money”
He lied through his teeth. It would do her well.
“So it’s a game?” Penelope asked, quite confused. “Well what about the noise?”
“That was probably Berty Dewitt scared for his life”. Poor innocent Berty, being labeled a coward unbeknownst to him. “He’s easily petrified you know? Yet the prize is quite impressive so he’s been more than willing to face it”.
“Well how big is it?”
“Is what?”
“The prize. It’s quite unfair that only men are given the opportunity to participate in such a game.”
“Yes, it is quite unfair but it would also be unbecoming of a lady to be wondering on her own in the dark in search of some…. rabbit!”
“We ought to find a rabbit?”
“I was being metaphorical. You ought to find nothing.” He responded rhetorically.
Penelope wore an annoyed expression. “You’re quite irritating Lord Bridgerton.”
“And you’ve gone quite mad being here on your own”. He jokingly reprimanded her.
She gave him an embarrassed pout. He was right. She’d be ruined if she were caught. So much more so with a man present.
Benedict sensing that she had finally conceded decided that it was time for them both to return to the ballroom. As much as he enjoyed their little banter, he knew the implications of being with a woman alone in the garden.
“Now let’s go. I’ll walk ahead so that we may not be spotted. We must be quiet.”
“Alright…” Penelope said as she dragged her feet, walking behind him.
The deafening silence was disrupted by Penelope’s attempt to lift her gown as she walked. One could hear her gown’s ridiculous ruffles gliding along the grass. Benedict tried to hold it in, he truly did… but before he knew it he was laughing loudly. He turned around to see a vexed looking Penelope.
“What is it?!” Penelope asked, obviously in an antagonized manner.
Benedict covered his mouth in an attempt to suffocate his laughter. “I’m sorry but that has to be the loudest attempt to go unnoticed.”
“Well as much as I’d love to take off this horrendous dress and walk in silence, obviously that would be very unbecoming of me”.
“What a scandalous notion, Penelope! Suggesting that alone is unbecoming of you!” Benedict said with shocked eyes and yet a humored smile . He was slightly scandalized that Penelope could say such a thing. “I feel like I don’t know you at all”
“Well because you don’t Mister Bridgerton”
Benedict stepped closer to her. For some reason, she truly piqued his interest with their little encounter. “Are you angry with me? Did I unknowingly do something to cross you?”
Penelope swallowed. “N—nooo.” she stuttered. She was petrified. Had Benedict taken a closer look, he would have seen that a certain male servant was lurking not far behind them, attempting to run.
She was supposed to meet with the man to transport her post for the latest Whistledown. The countless of balls in the month had made it difficult to leave Mayfair. She had no choice but to seek for help. It had been the first time she was transacting during a ball. She was no innocent, in the mind at least. She may not know what exactly takes place in the gardens, but she knew to a certain extent that it was improper, and it usually was not until later in the night. She never expected to encounter anyone in the garden so early on, especially not Benedict Bridgerton. It was hard trying to keep up an ignorant facade, but she could not risk getting caught. Truthfully, Benedict ruining her plans seemed to dampen her mood. She should truly learn to bite her tongue.
“You’re acting quite off. Are you hiding something from me Penelope? Were you truly here to find a ghost? It seems a bit too risky. Too out of character. ” He asked, staring her down as he stepped closer.
“I don’t know what you are implying Sir but I assure you—-“
They heard giggles. They also heard a ruckus and the sound of people coming. Benedict, acting swiftly, pulled Penelope behind a large tree, and held her in an embrace. She was quite small and was only at the height of his chest. She was very easy to hide. She glanced up at him in shock. He put his fingers on his lips to show that she needed to be silent as a mouse.
Benedict cursed in his head. It was one thing to be caught but it was completely another to be caught in this position. The scandal that would ensue. They would certainly be married in the fortnight. He prayed and hoped with every fiber of his body that whoever was coming would make their way into the maze. Bloody rakes.
As the sound subsided, Benedict breathed in a sigh of relief. Penelope was completely still and in shock.
“Oh my, Penelope. I’m so sorry. This is absolutely improper.” He immediately let her go.
Penelope shook her head, still in a daze. Benedict was stating to panic. “I meant no perverse intent. I was merely trying to keep us from being seen and I—“ He was at a loss for words. He took in a deep breath. “I had no ill will but if propriety demands it then we—“
This seemed to snap Penelope out of her trance as her head swiftly lifted to eye him.
“Oh, no, no, Mr. Bridgeton! No, of course you did not. Propriety demands nothing, I assure you! I was merely shocked.”
Benedict nodded his head while looking at her, as if to assure them both. Penelope tried to avoid his gaze.
“Right, well we must make a way out of here as we—-“
More voices. Instinctively, Penelope pulled Benedict down so that both of them would be our of sight.
Benedict could feel Penelope trying to hold her breathe.
“You will pass out if you don’t breathe”
“Shhhhhh.” Penelope hushed him.
Benedict knew that the men would enter the maze eventually. He did not account how long it would take them to enter it. He and Penelope would be stuck here till daytime unless those debauchees would finally decide to move along.
The men started distancing themselves from the position Penelope and Benedict were in but were still in sight. The larger proximity was a slight relief as Penelope had given in and sat on the ground. Benedict followed the same.
He took the watch from inside his pocket. He had been out of here for more than an hour, he wonders how long Penelope had been here as well.
One of the advantages of being a man was that his mother would barely be bothered at the thought of him disappearing for the night. Sadly, the same could not be said for a lady like Penelope.
“Pen?” He whispered.
“Yes?
“I promise I will get you out of here. Your mother must be worried.”
Penelope looked at him with an amused smile that did not reach her eyes.
“It’s quite alright, Mr. Bridgerton. I hardly doubt she would notice. I doubt anyone did.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, it’s no secret. She’s looking for spouses for Prudence and Philippa as I’m hardly a catch. She probably wouldn’t notice that I’m gone. Also, Eloise isn’t here so no one else would probably take note of my absence.”
Benedict fell in silence. He knew that Lady Featherington was known for being quite callous to Penelope and that probably encouraged the rest of the ton to do the same, but he never knew that Penelope had accepted it as fact. He knew that she was no diamond of the first water like Daphne, but she was nice and full of intellect. She could charm many men with integrity if she wanted to.
“Do you really think no one cares about you?” He asked her.
“Eloise does.” She said brightly. “Don’t feel bad for me Benedict. I don’t need many people to like me to make me happy. Having a few who truly care about me is what matters.”
She said it in such a gentle and genuine manner that Benedict swore that he could fall in love right at that moment.
“What about yourself, Mr. Bridgerton? Has no lady caught your eye?”
“What? Oh.” Benedict said dumbfounded as he snapped back into reality. “No, not yet anyway, much to my mother’s disappointment.”
“Anthony’s as well?”
He laughed. “Yes, Anthony’s as well… You see, I’m not ready Pen”.
“Oh? Why not?” she asked, surprised.
“Well, I don’t know really…” he said in a pondering tone. “I never liked to discuss marriage. I can’t point to any particular reason. I just don’t feel that I am.”
“Well, I sure do hope we aren’t caught or else you’ll have no choice.” She said in jest as she peered her head to look at the men finally entering the maze.
“He truly won’t.” Anthony’s enraged voice spoke out of nowhere.
“Brother!” Benedict exclaimed, as he pulled Penelope up without much thought. “It is not as you think!”
Anthony was livid as he observed his brother touching Penelope Featherington’s hand without hesitance, almost as if he was used to it.
“You shall explain to me later. For now, we will get you both out of here!”
“Right.” Benedict said in agreement.
Anthony glared at him before leading the way. Benedict swore that if the eldest child were given the privilege to murder his siblings as he so wished, he would have been dead on the ground already.
Penelope looked to be in fear as they followed the eldest Bridgerton. Benedict gave her a reassuring smile and gripped her wrist in comfort.
“Get your bloody hands off of her!”
“It is not as you think!”
-
To say that the night involved a shouting match was underplaying the scenario. It was only when Penelope explained to Anthony what had truly happened did Anthony believe them both. As the carriage stopped at the Featherington household, Penelope bid them both farewell, whilst apologizing once more to Anthony. She would come up with an excuse for her mother as to how and why she retired early, she promised them both.
Anthony nodded at her in trust, for some reason Benedict felt afflicted. The carriage rode on and Benedict could not help but look out the window as they passed the Featherington home.
Anthony looked at him in an accusing manner.
“Oh, don’t look at me like that!” Benedict scoffed. “It was a misunderstanding. We crossed each other by chance!”
“You are not to be alone with her again, do you understand me? She is a lady!”
“Once again, it was unintentional, brother!”
“and had you gotten caught?”
“I would have married her!” Benedict spurted out without hesitation. He could not believe his own words. Anthony was also in shock.
“Well, then it is with great luck that you were not caught.” Anthony said, in a serious manner. “As you said, you are not ready for marriage, are you brother?” Anthony asked, with an underlying tone. It was as if he wanted to test Benedict’s resolve.
Benedict looked at him dead in the eye. “No. No, I am not. I am full of luck.” He said in silent anger.
--
Benedict could not deny that at that very night, he felt enthralled by Penelope Featherington. Although, his affection remained nothing more than that of a close friend as time went on. Despite Anthony’s warnings, he realized that he enjoyed speaking with the youngest Featherington. From that day forward, he sought out her company on every occasion.
It had been awkward at first, especially the first time they had crossed paths after that night. But as lovely as Penelope was, she managed to sneak in a joke that gave light to their encounter.
“Colin and I shall return for supper!” Benedict shouted as he and Colin headed out the door.
“Oh!” a voice exclaimed as they ran into Benedict. “I am very sorry, sir!”
Benedict looked at her in surprise.
“Penelope.”
“Benedict.”
“I apologize. I did not see you.”
“No, no, it was my fault. I ran into you.”
They both looked at each other with awkward silence in the air.
“Yes, uh, well –”
“Well, at least I did not fall this time around.” Penelope quipped.
It took Benedict a moment to process what she had said. When he did, a delighted smile graced his face.
“No, no, you did not. You most certainly are not dressed in a ruffled monstrosity either.” Benedict jested back.
Colin looked at them both confused. When had they gotten so close? He thought to himself.
“Colin! It’s lovely to see you!” Penelope greeted. “You look very tan! Basking in the Greek sun, I suppose?”
“Yes, I have. It’s lovely to see you, Pen.” Colin responded with a smile.
“Are you staying for the season?”
“Most likely. Am I to expect that we dance together at tomorrow’s ball?”
“Well, it’s up to you is it not.” Penelope responded in a teasing manner. “Yes, well, I better proceed. Eloise is waiting for me.”
“Surely, I am not to catch you looking for ghosts’ tomorrow night, shall I Pen?”
“Goodness, no. Penelope responded. “Lest I be married by the end of it”
Both shared a laugh before separating and saying farewells.
The interaction had left Colin utterly out of loop, and he did not take liking to it.
Benedict should have taken it as a sign then. He entered the carriage in high spirits, oblivious to the troubled expression Colin was wearing.
He watched as Colin brought Penelope to the dance floor. She was lovely in her own right. So full of wit and intellect. She could carry a conversation without difficulty, a trait that Benedict found attractive. Whoever she was to marry would live a lifetime of smart banter. In fact, maybe he----
“Benedict.” Anthony called him, forcefully grabbing his arm, and pulling him to face the other way.
“Get your bloody hands off of me!” he said, shoving Anthony’s forceful hand.
Anthony looked at him as if he was to be reprimanded. “You ought to be more careful of the way you look at her!”
“At whom?”
“Do not act as if you are some sort of halfwit!”
“At Penelope, you mean?” he asked, in a taunting manner.
Anthony looked at him, half irrate, half exasperated.
“Now, remember what we talked about.”
“Yes, yes, I know.” Benedict responded, off handedly.
“You are not to polarize Ms. Featherington’s time unless you have clear intentions… I am serious, Benedict!”
“And if I did have intentions, Anthony. What were you to say to it?”
Anthony stepped closer to him in a whispered tone.
“It is not I that you should be thinking of but our brother! Look at that oblivious fool!” he said, eyes darting to the dance floor.
Both brothers looked at Colin and Penelope. Even at a distance, you could spot it from afar. Colin was enamored as he danced with her. Their brother was in love, unbeknownst to his own self.
Penelope returned his affections, of course. The entire ton was aware that she was in love with him since they were children.
Colin on the other hand was unaware of his own feelings. He was probably aware of Penelope’s but did his best to ignore them. If there was one thing the Bridgerton men all had in common, it was the fear of marriage for reasons unbeknownst. Look at the Viscount, a newlywed at almost 40 years old.
Benedict was not cruel. He would never proceed with “stealing” Penelope Featherington from his brother.
But he knew why Anthony was so adamant that his intentions be clear. He wanted to give Colin a chance. Despite being undoubtedly in love with Kate, he will forever be scarred from his and Sienna’s love affair. Anthony knew what it felt like to lose someone, all because you showed your intentions too late. He did not want Colin to suffer the same.
Benedict could overhear a commotion coming from the study. He had just returned from the gentlemen’s club and was in a jolly mood after winning a game.
He stood by the opened door to Anthony’s study. He could see Colin’s infuriated face, trying but failing to argue in hushed tones.
“Knock, knock.” Benedict said out loud, capturing both his brothers’ attention. “What are you both arguing about?”
Anthony massaged his forehead before he glanced up at Colin.
“Am I to explicate your concerns to Benedict or shall you do the honor?”
Colin looked him indignantly before standing straight and putting his arms behind his back.
“I demand you tell me about your intentions with Penelope Featherington.” Colin said seriously.
“Penelope?” Benedict retorted in disbelief. “I have no intentions, dear brother. We are merely friends.”
Colin walked up to him like a bull ready to charge towards the matador.
“Then why on earth are you taking so much of her time? You have filled both her cards in every ball in the past month! People are starting to talk!”
Benedict smirked in levity. “So, let them talk! What does it matter? Penelope and I are good friends who enjoy each other’s company.”
Colin saw red.
“She is a lady! A respectable one at that. Her reputation is at stake!”
“We have done nothing to warrant gossip!”
Anthony looked at him with a raised eyebrow. Benedict pointed at him as if to tell him to shut his mouth. Colin obviously took notice.
“What does that mean?”
“What?”
“You pointed your finger at him. Has something happened between you and Penelope?”
Benedict scoffed. “Of course not, brother. Nothing that severe in any manner, anyway.”
There was a moment of silence before Colin launched himself at Benedict. Colin, despite being less athletic than all of them was surprisingly strong. He toppled Benedict down in an instant.
“You bloody rake! What have you done to her?”
“I have done nothing you fool!”
“Tell me or I will end you!”
“You demand from me as if you are in love with her!”
“She is my best friend!”
“She is mine as well!”
The two wrestled each other before Anthony finally intervened and separated them both.
“Stop it this instant, you bloody clods! You will wake the women!” Anthony shouted, as he pushed them apart from each other and to opposite sides of his study.
“If you touched her, I swear on all---” Colin said, as he gasped for air.
“It was merely an unintentional embrace, you buffoon!”
Colin charged again but not before being stopped by Anthony.
“That is enough both of you!” Anthony reprimanded them both as he restrained Colin. Benedict decided to sit down as he lacked air and energy.
Colin glared as Anthony explained to him the events of the night he had missed whilst he was in Greece. During the duration of the story, there were multiple times that Colin attempted to lunge towards Benedict.
“… although I was unaware that there was unnecessary touching involved!” Anthony ended the story whilst glaring at Benedict. Benedict rolled his eyes.
Colin, who was still fuming in anger was more restrained than he initially was.
“You nearly compromised her!” Colin said, accusingly.
“It was by happenstance! And I assure you, I would have proposed had we been caught.” Benedict responded with as much agitation.
“Enough!” Anthony shouted with authority.
“You!” he said, pointing at Benedict. “You are to stop polarizing Ms. Featherington’s time unless you have clear intentions. Colin is right. She is a lady and people are starting to talk. She may not expect that you propose to her, but Lady Featherington will. Unless you are ready to be wed, I suggest you stop with this carelessness of yours.”
“And you Colin, might I remind you that regardless of your closeness, you are not a suitor. Although, you have been acting as if you were one. A jealous one at that. When the time comes that Ms. Featherington will be properly courted, whether it be by Benedict or some other man, you must remember that you cannot control what happens around her. The time will come eventually, and you are not to meddle. If she is to be courted, might I remind you that you have no say, and it will do no good for your friendship if you growl like a hound at every man that takes her time.”
Benedict saw it at that moment. Whilst he had an irritated expression on his face, Colin was masked with one that almost seemed… in despair. Benedict understood it now. The young chump was in love… and downright jealous at that.
“Now, I suggest we all retire for the night before any more arguments arise.” Anthony said, as he started to arrange the items that had fallen.
Benedict sighed and decided to help. Colin on the other hand, looked distraught.
“I have to go.” Colin quietly said, as he exited Anthony’s study.
“Oblivious fool.” Anthony muttered under his breath, as he picked up a fallen book.
Benedict looked at Anthony, a face full of thoughtfulness.
“I assure you brother that I am aware of Colin’s buried feelings for our dear friend. And in all honesty, she is a lovely woman, but I know that she is not for me. She is in love with him. We have all known that since we were children. I do not know what we can do to instigate him to confess his love for her but if it involves asking her to dance with me to rouse jealousy on his behalf, I am willing to do it.”
Anthony tried to interrupt him.
“No, brother! You cannot change my mind.”
As their dance ended, Benedict charged forward, ready to be the next man to fill Penelope Featherington’s card. As he stepped closer, he could see Colin look at him.
It made Benedict halt. Colin looked at him, then to Penelope, and back at him again. His eyes looked as if they were almost pleading with Benedict not to come closer.
It was at that moment that Benedict decided not to hurt Colin with his antics any further. Instead, a certain Michael Sterling approached Penelope.
“You see brother, you have to let things run it’s course.” Anthony said as both he and Benedict looked at Michael Sterling fill the remainder of Penelope Featherington’s card. He exchanged pleasantries with their brother before whisking Penelope away. Penelope being polite as she is, curtsied to Colin before leaving him to go to the dance floor. Colin reluctantly left them both.
He made his way to his two brothers, head down casted.
“Ah.” Colin said with a faux smile. “It seems that my obligation to Miss Featherington has finished for the night. If you don’t mind, I shall retire early. Please inform mother on my behalf.”
They watched their brother, obviously troubled, making his exit out of the ballroom.
“Do not sever ties to make a point, dear brother. Those were our father’s words.” Anthony reminded him.
“You can only push him so far. As you can obviously see, he is not ready to settle down.” Anthony said with a sigh.
“And by then it might be too late.” Benedict lamented.
Eloise walked up to them, obviously bothered that her best friend was to dance the night away instead of conversing with her and Lady Danbury.
“Do you see that? Penelope is dancing with Michael Sterling. A bloody rake! A much greater rake than the both of you.” She said with a huff.
“and here I thought that she was forsaken to either marry you or Colin! She is surely to have a worse fate with Sterling. At least I would be around to oversee her if she married a Bridgerton. It would be delightful to have her as a sister-in-law. We are practically conjoined by the hip, you know. Sadly, Sterling is in search of a wife this season unlike the two of you.” Eloise said with a sigh.
“Well, who knows?” she said, while taking a large gulp of her wine. “That wife might actually be Penelope… What am I to do if he takes my best friend away to Scotland?” she asked them both, sadly. “I always thought that we would be at each other’s sides forever.”
Eloise continued to speak; blabber was a more fitting word.
As Benedict watched Penelope dance with Michael Sterling, he realized his intervention was no longer necessary. Someone else seemed intent to take the remainder of her evening.
“I will be back brother.” Benedict informed Anthony.
Benedict looked as if he was a man on a mission. He rudely pushed people as he rushed outside.
“Colin, wait!”
He called after the carriage to no avail. Colin had left, and knowing his brother, he would be leaving in the fortnight.
“Blasted!” Benedict cursed to himself.
“A carriage, please.” He motioned to the servant.
“But there are no carriages available yet, sir.”
“A horse then. Anything that moves. I will have my men return it in the morning and in exchange, a hefty sum”
“Certainly, sir.”
Benedict took off his coat and loosened his buttons. Tossing the coat to the side, he rode off in haste. Despite having been at each other’s throats since the brawl at Anthony’s study, he wanted to prevent the future heartbreak of his brother and good friend.
Eventually, number five was at sight.
“Bloody bastard.” Benedict cursed as he dismounted from the horse. He made his way inside their home and started calling out Colin’s name as he made his way down the hall and towards his brother’s bedroom.
“Colin!” he shouted, barging in the door.
Colin glanced up at him. He was packing again. The season was about to end. There seemed to be no reason for him to stay any longer.
“What is it, brother?”
“Do not runaway, Colin. Not this time.”
“I do not know what you mean.” He responded, feigning indifference. “The season is about to end. I might as well begin preparing for my tour to India.”
“He is looking for a wife, Colin.”
“Who?” Colin asked, as if he was ignorant.
Benedict was slow to anger, but he has had enough of Colin’s antics.
“Would you stop packing?!” Benedict screamed in frustration.
“She is twenty and five, Colin! She wants to be married and have a family. Now, an infamous rake is to take her away to Scotland permanently, if he so chooses her.”
“What do you want me to do about it, Benedict?” Colin asked him in an agitated but calm manner.
Benedict in his frustration motioned walking out the door before turning right back to face Colin. He laughed in disbelief before turning completely cold.
“I did not allow my thoughts to go any further in regard to Penelope for your sake.” Benedict said slowly. “Anthony has reminded me every day since our encounter to give you a chance because he does not want you to experience the heartbreak that he had gone through.”
Benedict has started to uncuff his wrists, as he could not look at Colin without looking vile.
“I am not in love with Penelope, brother. I did not lie to you when I said that we were merely friends, but it is a friendship that I greatly value. I also value her friendship with our sister, who would be heartbroken if she were to move to Scotland.
Penelope is loyal, kind, and smart. She would make a wonderful mother. Now, if you have no intention, be it today or the near future to wed her, tell me now because you most certainly may not want to marry Penelope Featherington…”
He was being foul, and he knew it. He knew that that was one memory that haunted Colin every time he came across their red headed friend.
“But I do.” He said looking Colin dead in the eye.
“So, tell me your intentions brother, because you will have nothing to take against me if you so choose to change your mind. You will only have yourself to blame.”
-- END --