Chapter Text
Colin couldn’t have pictured a more splendid morning after the Featherington ball. He had found a new sense of self confidence after having a word with Lady Featherington regarding Jack Featherington’s illicit affairs. Colin refused to refer to him as Lord, even in his own thoughts, since he did not seem worthy of the title that was bestow upon him after the death of his cousin. Nevertheless, this newfound confidence, that had also led him to form some sort of friendship with Lord Fife and other gentlemen from the Ton, had also given him an unexplainable feeling that something was amiss. But he chose to ignore that feeling. After all, what else could a man ask for than to be a hero?
He was on his way to the drawing room to join his family for breakfast when he heard the already audible conversations his siblings held.
“Tell us now!” the unmistakable voice of his youngest sister Hyacinth was what made him draw a smile on his face. “You can inform the others of this important news some other time!”
As Colin walked into the drawing room, he registered that only Eloise was missing amongst his family members. Well, besides Francesca, who was already on her way back to Bath with their aunt.
“Good morning, family.” He greeted them and they all replied at their own pace. He then noticed the biscuits at the table and approached it.
“Ah, brother!” Anthony called from the settee where he sat in between Gregory and Hyacinth. “I’m glad you have finally joined us, now we shall just wait for Eloise so that I may make an announcement.”
Colin made a frown after swallowing what was left of the biscuit he had taken.
“Do you have any idea what this might be about?” Benedict asked Colin in a low voice, while Colin took his seat on the chair in front of his brother.
“Absolutely none.”
“Mama, may I go wake Eloise?” Hyacinth suggested with such eagerness that she was already halfway through the doors only to encounter herself with Mrs. Wilson stepping inside the drawing room.
“Ma’am,” the housekeeper directed her gaze towards the dowager Viscountess, “I’m afraid Miss Eloise has informed me she will remain in her chambers today, as she is not feeling quite well.”
“Oh well, I guess that settles it, brother.” Benedict said, looking towards Anthony. “Now please relieve us all from this agony and tell us your big announcement.”
Anthony smirked at his siblings and finally stood from the settee. He adjusted his velvet jacket as he did so and then, with a smile, he said “I have asked Miss Kathani Sharma to be my wife” he made a pause after everyone gasped for a second “and she has accepted.”
The third Bridgerton son raised his eyebrows in surprise to the information. Though he could not claim to be truly surprised, since he briefly saw Anthony dance with her at last night’s ball. He also couldn’t help but notice how enraptured they were with each other.
Then Colin smiled his brightest smile, in tune with the happiness he felt for his brother.
“Oh my!” his mother immediately went to give her eldest son a hug. “Those are such wonderful news, dearest!” she held her hand in his cheek and Anthony smiled as if he were a little boy again. “I am very proud of you, Anthony” she said in a voice so sweet and tender, Colin’s wouldn’t have heard it if he had not been at such little distance from them.
Colin then stood from his chair and embraced his brother after Hyacinth did. Then Gregory and Benedict followed.
“Congratulations, brother” Benedict repeated the words that his other siblings had previously said to the Viscount. “I think we must celebrate with a toast at Mondich’s club today.”
“Can I come as well?” Gregory said quickly and smiled shyly.
The eldest three Bridgerton brothers laughed gleefully at his request.
“You are still far too young, Gregory.”
It was the matriarch who answered her youngest son.
“And I believe we shall delay that toast, Benedict” Anthony said as he strode towards the doors that led to the hallway.
“Where are you off to, brother?” Colin asked him.
“Why, to ask for Miss Sharma’s hand, of course.” He must’ve seen the confusion in Colin’s eyes as he corrected himself quickly. “She has said yes but I have yet to properly ask her mother for her hand in marriage.”
“How romantic!” Hyacinth exclaimed.
Colin gave him a nod, took his cup of tea and held it to the air signaling towards were Anthony stood. “Then we shall toast in advance with this tea in your absence.”
Suddenly, quick steps in the hallway were heard and they all went silent. A screamed followed.
“MAMA!”
Eloise’s voice was heard before she entered the drawing room, still wearing her nightgown and with shaking hands that held a piece of paper that appeared to be a letter. Her eyes were red, and her cheeks had both dried and new tears in them. Her eyes fixated in Colin for a brief second and he saw panic and fear through them.
Then, unable to step further into the room, her legs gave up and she fell to the ground on her knees.
Violet Bridgerton rushed to her daughter’s side and placed both her hands in Eloise’s shoulders, looking at her with concern.
“Eloise, what is the matter?” she took her face between her hands “Are you hurt?”
Eloise shook her head frantically.
“No” it sounded more like a whisper.
Anthony stepped towards her mother and sister and took the letter Eloise held in her hands. She tried to reach for it, but her movements were too slow.
“Mrs. Wilson!” Violet called upon her housekeeper, who quickly stepped into the room a few moments later “please take Hyacinth and Gregory to their chambers”.
Colin and Benedict looked at each other as Anthony read through the letter. Mrs. Wilson nodded and while Hyacinth and Gregory both tried to protest, they left the room.
“What does it say, brother?” Colin asked, unable to keep his calm any longer.
“Jack Featherington…” Colin felt his heart fall to the ground as his brother began speaking “has left Mayfair along with Lady Featherington and her daughters”. Anthony then left the letter on a table and exited the room.
Violet let out a gasp and held Eloise closer as she began to cry aloud once more.
Colin couldn’t decide whether to read the letter or follow Anthony.
He chose to read the letter first.
Dearest Eloise,
I am truly sorry about the way I handled my actions under Lady Whistledown’s pen, I truly never meant to cause you or your dear family any harm. But I will not apologise further, since I am very proud of the work I have done as Lady Whistledown. I have made a name for myself, an anonymous one, but mine, nonetheless.
I understand you may still be angry with me, and I respect it, but I needed to write this letter to you before my departure. Mama has asked Prudence and I to pack our things tonight. We are leaving tomorrow morning, along with cousin Jack, to the Americas.
Colin told me and my mama about his discovery of cousin Jack’s scheme last night at the ball. He never had mines of rubies in the Americas, and Colin told him that he should return every gentleman of the Ton their investment and leave town immediately. Your brother was quite heroic to be honest.
But I believe that is the reason we are leaving with such haste, so that when word spreads of his illicit affairs, we may not be in Mayfair to witness the aftermath of it. I heard Mama say that she wished for cousin Jack to find me a husband abroad, since he is already marrying Prudence anyway. Lord knows how that will end up…
Tell Colin I thank him for looking after us and please say goodbye to your mother and siblings on my behalf. I am very thankful for all their kindness over the years. They are all very dear to me. You are very dear to me, El, and please know that you are the greatest friend a girl like me could have asked for. You have always been, and forever will be, a sister to me.
I will write to you as soon as I can, and I hope you read, and perhaps find it in your heart to reply, my letters someday.
Kindest regards, Penelope.
What had he done?
Colin’s hands were also trembling once he finished reading the letter.
He exited the drawing room, ignoring the voice of his mother calling his name and going after Anthony. He found him at his study down the hallway. He was going through some papers and striding across the room deep in thought.
“It is my fault he has taken them.” Colin said, and for a moment he thought it came as a whisper but then Anthony looked up at him.
“No, it is not, brother” the Viscount said with absolute certainty “Jack Featherington knows no boundaries to his greed.” He almost spitted the words. He took in his brother’s concerned look and placed his right hand over Colin’s shoulder. “I just wished you had come to me as soon as you found out he was a fraud. I would have handled it; you know how we all care for Penelope here.”
“Anthony’s wrong, Colin.”
Eloise’s voice interrupted them, they turned and found her and their mother standing in the doorway of Anthony’s study. “It is your fault that bastard has taken Penelope away. Had you not tried being the damn hero, he would not have taken them with him abroad” Her eyes were filled with anger and her hands were in fists so tight she might have been hurting herself with her fingernails.
Eloise’s words cut through Colin like sharp knives. He knew in his gut that she was right. But he desperately wanted to believe Anthony too. If not, he would succumb to the pain that he began to feel in his chest the moment he heard the news.
“Stop it, Eloise” Violet said from behind her daughter “It is no matter now what might have been. We must do something now.” She stepped forward into the study. “Anthony, do you think you can find out if their ship has already sailed?”
Anthony nodded. “That is what I am going to do, I was just trying to find the address of a man who might help me do so. He has access to every record of every ship that leaves the docks.”
Colin snapped back to reality and the feeling of pure adrenaline started clouding his mind.
“That will take far too long, brother” Colin began walking towards the door “I must go to the docks immediately to see it for myself.”
Colin hadn’t noticed when Benedict appeared, but he heard his footsteps following him. “I’ll go with you” Benedict said.
“Wait,” Anthony was just behind them then “I think it is better if we ride over there rather than take a carriage, that will take longer.” He strode faster and outran his brothers to speak to the butler and ask him for a horse.
Anthony’s face reflected his disappointment towards the answer the butler gave him. “And so, I’m afraid there is only one horse available with such haste, my Lord.”
“I will take it” Colin said with determination.
“But Colin, you—” Anthony began to say but his brother cut him off.
“Please, let me. I have traveled a great deal and know those docks plenty. And this is all my fault, I must be the one to bring her back.”
Benedict noticed how his brother was only referring to Penelope, but he only smirked a little and said nothing about it.
Anthony stared into Colin’s eyes for a second and he noticed in them that fierce look he once had made when he went to look for Kate that fateful morning that he found her riding her horse and falling from it. He gave his brother a decisive nod. “Fine, take it.”
After the butler called for the horse, Colin played out in his head the route he would take to reach faster the docks.
“I shall arrange for a suitcase with some of your belongings in case you don’t make it in time” Anthony said, holding out an envelope with money that Colin took in his hands after putting on his coat.
“Let us hope he does make it in time” Benedict offered, “Good luck, brother” he hugged Colin.
“Where are you off to?” Violet Bridgerton’s voice made her three sons turned back and looked at her, noticing Eloise was no longer by her side.
“To get her back” was all that Colin said before he took his leave.
He prayed the Heavens he did make it in time before the ship sailed.