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"Ugh!" Colin almost spat out the drink. "That is bloody disgusting."
Benedict laughs as he watches Colin's reaction. "Come one, Colin. One more." He pours another shot.
Colin obediently tried the cursed tea once again, drinking it all. "Ugh. I still do not like it."
Benedict smiles. "Do you know what tea is that?"
"What?" Colin tilts his head, frowning at Benedict's little game.
"It is a truth serum from the States. I got it from a friend in the gallery." Benedict shares, trying his hardest not to laugh and give the ruse away.
"What??" Colin abruptly stood up. "What could you mean, brother?"
Benedict pats his shoulder. "I gave you freedom, brother." He dramatically paused. "It shall allow you to think and speak freely... without thinking about the opinion of others nor the ton's expectations."
"But." Colin frowns. "Why would you give me such a thing?"
"You." He pats his shoulder again. "Are holding back and denying a lot of things, Colin... now... your mind and lips shall be free."
Deep inside, Benedict hopes his ruse will loosen up Colin a bit. His ever obedient and too kind of a brother needs a bit of delusion.
Their conversation was cut off by a knock.
"Let us go now." Violet peeks inside the study to call the two brothers. "We'll be late for the ball."
The travel was quiet and purposeful for Colin. His mind is reeling to the possibility of Benedict's words, could it be true?
Colin hops off the rowboat and walk through the walkway of the Vauxhall Gardens. He puffs his chest and sighs, another ball to endure.
He caught the sight of the couples dancing and felt envious once again. It is hard to pretend like you simply do not care when your body and soul yearns for its partner. Bollocks, is such musing a product of the tea?
His gaze fell on someone familiar, there she is standing at the edge of the dance floor wearing a pink floral dress. She is watching the dancing couples with her back towards him but he could not be mistaken. Its is Penelope.
"Pen!" he shouts as he briskly walks towards her.
"Colin!" she curtsies and smiles. "I did not know you would be here". she touches her hair feeling a little shy.
"Sorry to disappoint" Colin teased. "May I ask where is Lady Featherington?"
"Marina is ill, Mama had to stay with her. Papa had to chaperone." She pointed to the direction where Lord Featherington is.
They both looked at the man in question, Lord Featherington is deep into playing cards and drinking with his peers. Colin could not help but curse the man in his mind, how dare he not look after such a beautiful daughter?
Wait... why is his mind saying that? Damn the tea. Penelope's words brought him back to reality.
"I'm quite enjoying the fact that he is here. Mama would never allow me to wear a dress like this. Not yellow enough, I think." Penelope giggled nervously while touching her dress.
Colin's gaze followed Penelope's hand. Has she always been this pretty? Her dress matches her skin tone, the pink is just the same as the hue on her cheeks. His eyes trails downwars to her decolletage, how pink is her... damn! Colin stopped his mind before it went further, that tea is dangerous.
"I see." He smiled and went closer to Penelope. "I must admit, yellow makes it easier to single you out from a crowd."
Colin gulps. "Makes it easier for me to find you and not let any man near you." He choked on air as he realized what he had just said. The tea is really messing with him.
"Wha...what?" Penelope gulps. Did Colin just admit to marking her as his? To signaling every men in the ton that Penelope Featherington belongs to...HIM?
Colin had no time to answer as Cressida Cowper walked towards them. "Mr. Bridgerton." Cressida smiles.
"I believe you owe me a dance this evening and I have only one more space remaining on my card at present." she says sweetly as she moves closer to Colin.
"How convenient." Penelope murmurs as she touches her own dance card.
Cressida, still fluttering her eyelashes at Colin subtly spilled her lemonade towards Penelope's direction, acting innocently.
"Penelope, I did not see you there." she gasps trying her hardest to act surprised and mortified.
Penelope was in shock as she clings to her wet dress. She slightly turned her back to them in an attempt to avoid Colin's gaze.
The dress clinged to Penelope's skin and Colin had to gasp for air. His mind is imagining...things.
He shook his head and looks at Cressida. "I'm afraid I cannot offer you that dance, Miss Cowper. I am to escort Miss Featherington to the floor." Colin reached out for Penelope's hand leaving Cressida with her mouth agape.
Colin did not know what came into him after, must be the tea, but the next thing he knew is that he was turning back to face Cressida. "It is funny, Miss Cowper."
Cressida and her friends paused to look at Colin.
"Perhaps if you would lessen the tightness of your hair buns, your tad small mind shall comprehend that Penelope Featherington is the most eligible amongst you." He rambles and gave Cressida a death glare.
"Colin." Penelope squeezes his hand.
Colin looks at Penelope with soft gaze and nods, turning away from the bullies.
Colin and Penelope walked hand in hand towards the dance floor. They stand side by side facing another couple. They marched forward rythmically as the jig started.
Penelope felt like she was dreaming, is Colin Bridgerton finally seeing her as a woman?
As they danced to the music, Colin's mind is racing to a thousand of thoughts. Why is feeling a sudden craving for Penelope? Is this one of the truths that Benedict has been saying?
___________________________________________
Colin sits at their canopy while other family members either play or promenade.
His attention was immediately caught by Eloise and Penelope promenading while seemingly gossping too discretely.
He decided to follow them and corner them near the rows of sprawling trees. "What is it you two are discussing?"
Eloise snaps her head and looks at his brother. "Since when have you been nosy?"
Colin scrunches his nose. He has always been nosy, he wanted to say to Eloise, he is just vocal about it now, thanks to the tea. "You two are young debutantes, I must know as an elder."
"Elder?" Eloise huffs. "You are merely two years older than us."
"Let him, El." Penelope blushes, her heart is racing to the thought that Colin is concerned about... well probably her.
"If you must know." Colin spats back. "I shall take care of Penelope."
"What?" Eloise flinched. "Who do you think you are brother?"
"We shall know." Colin pulls Penelope's hand and ran with her.
"Oi!" Eloise shouts and tries to follow them.
The duo ran through the clusters of trees until they were breathless and Penelope had to pull Colin to stop.
"Are you alright?" Colin laughs, looking at Penelope. She is the most beautiful when she laughs. Has he always know what?
Penelope giggles, catching her breath. "What has gotten into you, Colin?"
Colin held her hand, looking deep into her eyes. "I have seen you... Penelope." He paused and gulped. "And I shall not look farther again... ever."
Colin felt light. He did not know he had it in him to say these things out loud to his bestfriend, neither did he knew that he hold such place for her, probably since they were children... or perhaps when they exchanged letters when he was in Eton.
Penelope blinks. "Colin... do you-"
Her question was cut off by Benedict. "There you are!" His curious gaze shifts between the two. "You must come back, people are starting to leave."
The two nod at each other, a silent agreement to continue their conversation elsewhere and at some other time.
___________________________________________
When Benedict came back from an art activity, the last thing he expected to find was his younger brother sulking.
Colin was sitting on the edge of Benedict's bed, clearly distraught and wearing only his linen shirt and breeches.
"Colin." He calls out.
Colin stood up, the rim of his eyes are as red as the hair of the woman everyone knew he holds dear. "You... " He points to Benedict. "You ruined me!"
"Wha...what did I do?" Benedict laughs. By the Gods, Colin looks desperate.
Colin runs his fingers through his hair. "I could not sleep... I could not eat... My thoughts are consumed by..."
"By what?" Benedict raises a brow, this is interesting.
Colin blinks and looks at him. "Despicable thoughts. Ideas I should not be having."
"And why not? Maybe it is the truth." Benedict challenges him. "It is the truth serum after all."
Colin gulps. "She is my bestfriend."
Benedict smiles, he knew where this is going. His oblivious brother finally saw his muse. "And? Mama is Papa's bestfriend, Colin."
"There is no truth serum, Colin." Benedict finally admits. "It is all you... you and your feelings for Penelope."
Colin closes his eyes and sighs deeply. He suddenly ran and pushed Benedict aside, going back to his bedchambers.
___________________________________________
Colin arrived at Lady Trowbridge's ball with one goal in mind, make Penelope Featherington his.
Walking around the room, he saw her hiding on the walls. His sunshine shining in her yellow dress.
Colin steps up behind Penelope. "Our host looks a bit fussy. Do you think if he goes to bed, we all have to leave?" he leans closer as they looked at the screaming toddler, the young child of Lady Trowbridge.
"It's lucky the lady produced an heir before the old earl croaked, no?" his fingers subtly touching Penelope's palm.
Penelope felt the warmth of his hand on hers but acted like its the most normal thing in the world.
"Lucky indeed. But do you not think the boy bears a passing resemblance to Lady Trowbridge's footman?" Penelope replied, giggling.
"Penelope! What a barb!" Colin shamlessly held her hand, they shared a lingering look.
"Co..Colin." Penelope blushes, her baby blue eyes staring directly at his denim blues.
"Penelope." Colin whispered, his face a bit closer to hers. "Can I.. can I ask you a question?"
"Yes?" Penelope encourages him.
"Would you... would you like a ginger baby?" Colin asks.
"Uhm." Penelope's eyes widened. "Perhaps... I am ginger after all." She nervously laughs.
"Would you like a ginger baby with me then?" Colin bravely asks.
Penelope audibly gasps. "Wha..what?"
"Penelope... I... I love you. I have loved you for a while now."
"Are you sure?" Penelope blinks. "You showed interest for my cousin."
Colin shook his head. "I was mistaken. It was merely a fleeting liking, nothing more." He held her hand, ignoring the murmur around them.
"With you... I am certain, Pen. I love you." Colin looks at her with pleading eyes.
"Colin... I have loved you.. since the moment we met." Penelepe confessed.
"Well then..." Colin beams. "Shall we have those little ginger babies?"
Penelope bit her lower lip. "But... I would also want a boy with chestnut hair."
"Then we shall." Colin lifts Penelope's chin.
Penelope tiptoed and met Colin halfway, ignoring the shouts and gasps as they kissed in the middle of a ball.
___________________________________________
Ten months after...
Colin is swaying the little ginger boy in his arms, singing to him as he tries to pacify him.
Penelope enters the Bloomsbury drawing room, smiling at the sight. She walk towards Colin and hugged him from behind. "My loves."
Colin tilts the boy so that Penelope could see him. "Look at him."
Penelope kissed the boy's hand. "Happy that you got your ginger baba?"
"Happy that I have two." Colin dipped his head down to give Penelope a peck.