Pretty in Blue

Her Attention

Mayfield books

"I truly do not understand how this will help attract a love match, Colin." Penelope groans while looking through the book shelves. 

"You are an interesting woman, Pen. I want you to know that your thoughts and feelings should be something you shout from the rooftops. Not something you hide under your bed in shame."

"Something that makes you so interesting are the thoughts and inspiration you get through books. I still remember that day you talked me and El's ears off about your theories and opinions of A Lady's work, especially Sense and Sensibility. Goodness were you obsessed" Colin chuckles.

"Did you know she just released some new novels I have yet to find in any stores." She gleams.

"Let us look then!" Colin says while taking her hand and leading her to the bookshelf that holds most of A Lady's novels. 

They both search trying to find the novel titled "Persuasion". 

"I found it, Colin! I found it" She says excitedly holding it up. 

"Yes! let us go and buy it, come Pen." 

Colin's Carriage 

While Penelope dives right into the new novel, Colin sits opposite and watches her. He smiles like a fool. Goodness, he loves watching her when she sports such a gleeful countenance. He wished Pen found him as interesting as her books. Is he truly getting this jealous over her books right now? 

"Penelope"

She looks up, "Yes, Colin?"

He shouldn't ask this question. He should but shouldn't. He does.

"Which would you prefer most of?"

"Of what, Colin?"

"Your novels or me?" he said cheekily.

She burst into a fit of laughter.

"I wasn't joking Pen. I truly want to know where your loyalties would lie." his eyebrows raise.

She looks shocked for a minute and recovers fast. She clears her throat. 

"My books, Mr. Bridgerton. That is my answer."

He puts a hand to his heart as if wounded. 

"That is, of course, until I find my love match. That is when I will put my book down." She smiles slyly. Two can play at this game.

Colin suddenly gets an overwhelming feeling of jealousy. More than before with the books. He reminds himself that this is the reason he is teaching and helping her. But all the way back to Chaplin Clearing he thinks of a faceless man taking his Pen and gaining all of her undying attention. 

The Abandoned shed 

"Well, That was such a lovely evening except for the Debling thing" Pen says standing up after they just sat in silence while she read and Colin just stared out into space. 

Colin suddenly shoots up and takes her arm.

"Leaving so soon?" 

"It is nearly supper, my mother will become very worried seeing as I never miss a meal." She jokes.

Colin just stares. Stares into her eyes then his eyes follow the map to her lips. They look so red and sweet. He wondered what they would taste like. Mint? Strawberries? Maybe a delicious and juicy orange. 

To say Penelope doesn't notice his gaze would be a simple lie. She notices. And blushes. 

Penelope wants to joke or throw a barb but she just can't think because even though she already knows the color and shape of his lips she also stares. 

"I-I, Colin." She says weakly. She doesn't feel in control but she needs to be. She can't be a fool. She won't be a fool. 

"Yes, Pen." He says hotly. 

This is her chance to stay in control or maybe fulfill some self-desire before she finds a perfectly good husband. 

"I-I wonder what it feels like to be kissed. Have you ever experienced that sensation?" She looks up her blue eyes showing a sign of seduction.

"I-uh. I, yes. I have." he says gulping roughly.

"I've never kissed anyone. A kiss can ruin a girl in my standing but I've always wondered what it would feel like." 

"Yes" He says, his voice going horse. 

"Yes, what?" She looks up at him deviously. Licking her lips just to tease even more. 

"Yo-You should be taught the ways of kissing. Your future husband will except you to be well-taught in this learning." 

"Oh, I have yet to hear that. I guess I wouldn't want my future husband to be disappointed in my lack of kissing."

"Exactly" He says leaning down.

He nearly touches his lips to hers. She pulls back and smiles with a knowing look. 

"I should get going now, Goodbye Colin." She says, picking up his hand and sweetly kisses his ungloved hand. 

And before he even knows it, she is gone. Leaving Colin with suddenly cold lips. He rolls his eyes and kicks way to many rocks on his way home. 

AU: Just wanted to clarify Jane Austen wrote her books using the name "A Lady". I feel like Pen would be a huge fan of Jane's work especially since they lived in the same time and such. BTW, Jane Austen was not a well-known novelist during her time but then again I feel Pen would be into authors that aren't to often spoken of especially if she knows it's from a woman because we all know she's a feminist icon. :}}}}