Linger in love

(3) One must lie in it

Dearest Gentle Readers,

The ones we love have the power to inflict the greatest scars. For what thing is more fragile... than the human heart?

The bond between man and bride is private, sacred. But I must tell you, I have learned that a grave fraud is afoot.

As if the Featheringtons did not have enough to be dealing with, Miss Marina
Thompson is with child. And she has been from the very first day she arrived in our fair city.

Desperate times may call for desperate measures, but I would wager many will think her actions beyond the pale.

Perhaps she thought it her only option, or perhaps she knows no shame.

But I ask you, can the ends ever justify such wretched means?

Your Truly

Lady Whistledown
SOCIETY PAPERS 1813

Pen broke her quill in half and watched as the flame burnt the feather until it was nothing but ash. She had no other choice and she had to constantly remind herself of that.

I had warned Marina not to lie to him. Yet, she did it anyway, showing no remorse. What was worse is she knew I cared for him deeply and knew that marrying him would break my heart. And I would have let her marry him if she had only told him the truth. But I knew time, indeed, was running out.

Penelope ran to the comfort of her dearest friend Miss Eloise Bridgerton. Eloise would not ask question, she knew the difficulties with her family and the hardship she had to endure daily.

So she would not push for answers. Sometimes Eloise's arms was the only place that made her feel safe. Comfort would never come from the Featherington home, and Pen would be foolish if she assumed otherwise.

Colin stood in the hallway of the Bridgerton home come daybreak. His travel case hitting the ground as his mother passed him the scandal sheet. Violet looked to her son with a painful heart. He was one of her most sensitive children and she knew this news would be taken heavy. Violet looked sorrowful at her son, but she would not hold him, even though she wanted to tell him everything was going to be alright. Because in all earnest, she did not know it would be.

Colin wallowed in his sadness. Taking to bed with his woes. Believing the world was against him.

Daphne searched for Sir George Crane on Marina's behalf, the thought of her being alone, after the fault the man she loved had placed on her. Daphne was a firm believer that everyone deserved to be happy. When one is a woman, being happy is a much more difficult dream to accomplish, especially if one is alone, with child.

Lady Danbury orchestrated a soiree for the married ladies of the ton, it was there where she met Kitty, the wife of a general. She received an address of which to write to the general pleading for information on Sir Crane.

When nothing was written back. The Fatheringtons found a visitor. My Philip Crane. The brother of Sir George in their home. A man which enormous side burns and a charming smile standing tall and noble at Marina's feet. When Lady Featherington arrived back at her home with the duchess, they learned of the circumstances of his arrival. Sir George Crane was sadly killed in battle. With Sir Philip being a good man, he chose to take care of Miss Thompson in the only way he knew how. To take her to be married.

Just like that, Miss Marina Thompson was gone. Soon to become Mrs Marina Crane.

Sir Philip's Crane is a fortunate match indeed. He is handsome and protective of Marina, even if she does not see it. I am sorry to take such a drastic measure. But what else was I to do. One could not hope for a better outcome. Though I do feel for her. She loved George so much.

Colin is my friend. He never asked to be tricked. To be lied to. He deserves the best possible outcome when choosing a wife. Not settle with the lies and doubt their union would have surely brought him.

I know Colin is not meant for me. He is meant for someone else, I am not foolish enough to think the alternate may be true. Even though I wish for it. Dream of it. One day if he still has not wed. Perhaps, I will admit my feeling and hope he doesn't run away from me scared.

I feel for him. He has not been out in society for a few days. He will definitely attend the last ball of the season though. The Duke and Duchess of Hasting ball. His sister Daphne, would make him regret it if he stayed home, to be sure she would not give him a choice.

He locked eyes with me and paced his way towards me. God, he looks handsome. I only hope that he has feelings for me. After our moment at Vauxhall. Or perhaps, it was a fleeting moment and it has already been forgotten. After him deciding to court Marina the very next day. What am I supposed to think. He knows he could do better than this wallflower, to be sure. I just wish I knew for certain that he regards me no more than a friend. When his lips spoke otherwise. Could he care for me? Either way he has not spoke of it since and I am unsure if he ever will.

I told him that I had just come from the dance floor. I'm surprised he swallowed that. It is not like anyone apart from him has ever asked me. They call me a wallflower for a reason.

He thinks himself foolish. He is a good man, if there is a fool in this scenario, it is Miss Thompson. A fool not to tell him the truth so he could decide for himself if they would still suit. There is doubt in my mind that Colin would still choose to marry her. He is a man of honour.