Linger in love

(18) Forgettable

"You have a visitor, sir"

Colin walked down the stairs, in the dining room was Mr Thomas Fairaway. I hid my disgust well. Was it him. Was it this man that kissed my dear Penelope. He obviously felt my eyes sizing him up because he turned the moment I walked into the room.

"Mr Fairaway, what brings you here today?" I forced the pleasantries and asked for tea and biscuits to be brought into the room.

He took a seat "I have come to ask you what your intentions are towards Miss Featherington"

"We are friends" I shrugged it off.

"Be that so sir, but you care for her a great deal. I do not wish to overstep. But I do rather like her and am wanting to propose"

Rather like her. Not love her. There is only one reason I know that a proposal would be offered unless something else was amiss. I am going to take a page from Eloise. Sometimes if subtlety will not suffice, bluntness is favourable. I leaned forward in my chair. Keeping my tone low.

"If I find out you compromised her in any way. Not even the Queen will save you" my tone was irritated. Mr Fairaway tilted his head knowingly.

"So you do care for her"

"She is my friend" I bowed my head, if she was not my friend, then I was unsure what she was.

"You just threatened me sir. She is neither your friend nor your wife. Who are you to her. That gives you the right to question my integrity?"

"She is my friend" I repeated sternly.

"Hmm. So you say. Is the thought of her happy with anyone else truly not the wake up call you need"

"I do not know what you mean"

"Of course you do Mr Bridgerton. Like I said Penelope speaks of you often. The word simple never came up"

"Watch your tone!" I spoke sharply. Was the threat on his life not enough.

"You are in love with her Mr Bridgerton. The sooner you accept that, the better off we will be" his irritation was imminent.

I stood frozen. Perplexed. What. I love Pen. No it cannot be true. I could never. She. Is. My. Friend.

Mr Fairaway sized me up. Looked at me with a wince, how could he assume something like that. We are not that aquintent that he felt it fine to assume my feelings.

He does not know me. He never answered my question. So I drew the subject back to him.

"Did. You. Compromise her?"

He shook his head "No, I did not. I am a gentleman. I would never so much as touch her hand unless we were dancing"

"Thank you" I appreciated his honesty. I still need to know the brutes name. If it was Lord Fife, beating him would be more pleasurable than all other gentleman at the ton.

"She is a good person Mr Bridgerton. Think of that when you next accuse another man of such a thing. You are admitting to others that you believed her to be. Which would sully her reputation as so you know"

He stepped closer "Tread carefully, Mr Bridgerton"

It sounded like a threat. But he was correct. He needed to get the information of Pen, not go around insulting all the male suitors in the ton. What would give me the right to take that from her. It is just the thought of a man kissing her, makes me feel physically sick. Then I feel angry with myself for feeling that way. Then comes the anger that someone gets to touch those lips. I feel that they now belong to someone else. She is my friend.

The Featherington Home

"Good day, Pen"

"Good day, Colin"

He looked at her family around her "Would you like to promenade?"

She looked at her family and the the gesture of his arm "That would be most agreeable, Colin"

She did not look happy in the least about it. She knew he would ask questions. He was not stupid.

Pen and Colin walked side by side along Rotten Row.

"I need to speak with you, Pen"

"We are speaking, Colin"

"You have avoided my gaze"

"It is just I fear what you want to talk about"

Pen followed Colin under a weeping willow tree "What is it?" she was clearly having trouble focusing on his face. Perhaps she was nervous or was something else afoot.

"I only wish to know. Who compromised you, Pen?"

Pen's head looked down in shame "I do not know" she was withholding information. I did not appreciate that at all. I would kill the man.

My voice grew sterner "Who comprised you?"

Pen shook her head. Tears already streaming.

I found I could not hold my anger, I barked at her "Who?!"

Her body trembled "You did!" She shouted. She had never shouted at me before, I hate to think of the expression of pure shock across her face. I would not. I could not.

I stood there unable to move. Unable to breathe "What?"

"You did" her voice grew softer, her hands trembled. Why would Pen lie to him.

"I would never... " I started before she interrupted "It is all my fault"

I instinctively reached my hand towards her before dropping it.

We stood regarding each other for a few moments. I could hear the wind getting stronger blowing the branches above us. We needed to leave.

Then we heard the patter of rain starting again, then a crack. The whole sky flashing with light.

If the quote seemed indeed true. The silence between us was deafening. I could not breathe. Could not move.

What have I done.

"Colin. I would very much like to go home" her eyes still could not fall on mine.

I just looked at her like a fool. I did not know what to say.

A plead left her lips "Please, let me go"

"Of course" I tried sounding sincere towards her needs. But I wanted more information. I cannot just be thrown the accusation. And by Pen's expression. It was true.