Pretty in Blue

Is it love?

A/N: So sorry I haven't been able to update for a hot minute. School work and honestly was having writer's block but I am back!! :)))

Dear fellow readers,

The season has been going splendid! The new announcement of another future baby Hastings is much cause for celebration. For without the babies mama and papa, I would not be here divulging the best gossip London has to offer. 

In other news, another scandal of passion has arisen and begged for my attention. It seems a certain Lord has certain feelings for a particular Featherington lady. Good luck old chap! You will indeed need it seeing how horrendous the Featherington women are. 

----

Bridgerton house

Colin eats up almost the whole tray of snacks within the 10 minutes he had sat down. He loves good food, especially when he has an empty stomach. Which is almost always because he eats and processes his food as fast as a cheetah runs. 

Francesca comes in waving the horrid gossip column in the air.

"She has finally published. I thought she was dead in a ditch somewhere" Hyacinth exclaims, getting up to look at what has been written. 

"I wish" Eloise murmurs. 

"Oh! She announced Daphne and Simon's pregnancy. How wonderful!" His mother says proudly.

"Oh my goodness." Frannie whispers.

That piques Colin and Eloise's attention. "What did she say this time around?" Eloise asks.

"Did you know that Lord Debling shows much interest in one of the Featherington girls? It says it right here how he kept on approaching her at multiple balls and promenades."

"It's probably Penelope he's interested in, I don't see any ever taking favor with Prudence." Hyacinth giggles.

"Hyacinth" her mother scolds, although they all agree, even Violet. 

Colin whisks the paper away and looks at what is written. Had Lord Debling really approached so many times. He recounts seeing it twice. Once at the ice shop, another while at a ball. But than again it had been a week and he just had to come down with a bad fever that left him unable to teach or protect Penelope from the wrong suitors. Thankfully he has been feeling better. 

He is back in the game, full swing.

Lord Twombley's ball

Of course the Bridgerton clan just had to be late to the ball. How is he supposed to serve and protect his dearest friend if this family always holds him down. That is why he ditches them once inside. On the lookout for his Pen. 

He spots her and is furious to find her dancing with Lord Debling. She's laughing about something and he wants to rip Debling to shreds. He is the one who should be making her laugh. He should be dancing with her. Sharing barbs together, discussing matters important to his beautiful Penelope. He bets whatever Debling said wasn't even that funny. For propriety's sake she is laughing. She is to kind to not laugh and stupid and inferior jokes. 

He waits for what felt like an eternity. When Debling finally stepped away he pounced. 

"Pen" He smiles.

"Colin, how are you? No longer ill, I see." she points out. 

Her face, her hair, her everything. Oh, how he missed her. 

"Yes, feeling much better. Feeling ready to teach more." He states excitedly with the idea of more Penelope time coming to mind. 

"I'm afraid that will no longer be needed. You see--" She stops and Lord Debling suddenly appears with a lemonade glass in hand. 

"Bridgerton!" he states while patting Colin's back. 

Colin hates how Debling is acting as if they are good buddies. He wants to lay him out right there. On the ballroom floor.

"Debling" he mutters. 

The Lord hands Penelope the cup, "Here you are, Penelope" 

Colin is about to lose his mind. Did he just refer to Pen with her Christian given name. Propriety is obviously not something Debling is aware of.

"Thank you" She nods.

"Up for another quadrille" He smiles.

Penelope looks at Debling and then back to Colin. Trying to gauge the situation and if it was okay to go and dance but before she can say yes Colin speaks.

"Actually Debling, She promised me this dance. Right Pen." Hah in your face, He gets to call her Pen. 

"Oh, I see. Well then, we shall dance after." He smiles down at her 

Penelope blushes. He say the pink flush grow into a red and he feels as if he is about to see red. 

"Of course, my Lord" She bows.

Colin take her hand and leads her away and onto the dancefloor.

"Tell me truly, Has he compromised you?" Colin whispers, his breath giving her goosebumps.

She looks at him angerly.

"You were wrong about him. The way I got his attention wasn't under the best circumstances but he is a good man. He loves learning and he loves hearing about all the things you said were important. My books, my love for learning, my love for writing. He listens and appreciates my mind." 

He sees even more red. How dare Debling trick Pen into thinking he actually cares. He knows deep down what type of man he is. He knows and has experienced how truly ungentlemanly these types of men are. 

"I also enjoyed a meal in front of him. Just like you said and he still finds me attractive unlike my mama's advise. He makes me laugh and I feel seen." 

"Is it love, Pen?" He searches her eyes for an answer.

"I-I, maybe it is. It can surely turn into some sort of love." She answers.

"Before you say anything more, he is serious. We had only a few interactions and before I knew it he came to my home and asked my mama if he could properly court me." 

He stills. 

"Colin, aren't you happy for me?" She asks. 

"I, I think my sickness is coming back." He states, trying not upheave all of the food he ate today. 

He feels dizzy and suddenly feels like he is shrinking. Like he is slowly becoming smaller while the room becomes much much bigger then before. He starts to walk away. Pushing into the dancers and the on-lookers. Leaving poor Miss Featherington on the dance floor.