Pen and I are waiting for Colin in the foyer of the Bridgerton house. Pen has not stopped fidgeting.
"It is alright, Pen," I assure her.
"I do not think I should be here," Pen states. "Maybe I should wait outside."
"Truly I do not believe that is necessary," I state.
"Ruth. Penelope," Colin greets as he walks towards us. "I've been eagerly awaiting your visit.
"As have I," Pen says. "But it'd be better to meet you at the market instead of coming here first."
"We are not going to the market this time," Colin informs her. "We are going to the Bridgerton drawing room."
"Uh, but why?" Pen questions.
I smile. "Your next lesson, of course."
"Uh, but, my maid is outside, and Eloise..." Pen starts.
"Is out at the modiste with Francesca and our mother," Colin informs her. "And the rest of your family?"
"Playing cards in the garden," Colin explains. He gestures for Pen to follow after him. "You've seen my family play pall-mall. You know how competitive we are. Hyacinth loves to win, Gregory hates to lose to her, while Benedict will refuse to miss the spectacle. Trust me, not one of them will be leaving that table in the immediate future."
Colin closes the door to the drawing room after us.
"You mentioned you were comfortable at Bridgerton House, so we are going to practice here," Colin explains.
"Uh, I was comfortable at Bridgerton House. Previously," Pen remarks.
"We needed a place to be alone," I reason.
"Here, your maid can wait outside, and we can pretend we are at a ball," Colin explains.
"Have you gone mad?" Pen questions.
"Maybe," I offer.
"Imagine it with me," Colin instructs. "The quartet is by the pianoforte, preparing for the Parisian quadrille. Here, on the sofa, some mamas are debating the merits of the decoration. Across the room, gentlemen are asking a young lady to dance. And here, we have the lemonade table, which is where we shall begin."
Pen nods her head. "Very well. Shall I pretend to flirt with the imaginary cellist?"
I laugh. "No. I think it best you flirt with the dashing suitor you just met by the refreshments."
Colin holds up a glass of lemonade. "Me."
"You?" Pen questions.
"I'm the perfect person to practice on," Colin argues. "You don't have to be embarrassed. You know me."
"That is exactly why I will feel even more embarrassed. I know you," Pen argues.
"You could practice on me, Pen, I will not mind," I offer.
Colin sighs.
"Forgive me. It is only..." Pen sighs. "Deep inside, I know I can be clever and amusing, but somehow, my character gets lost between my heart and my mouth, and I find myself saying the wrong thing or, more likely, nothing at all.
"Forget what is wrong or right," Colin tells her. "Imagine what you would want to say to me if I were a suitor without concerning yourself with how I might receive it."
"Your eyes... are the most remarkable shade of blue," Pen tells him. "Yet, somehow, they shine even brighter when you are kind. I might say something like that if you were a suitor."
