My Life As A Bridgerton

Part The Sixteenth

I DO NOT OWN BRIDGERTON

Garden Party. London, United Kingdom. 3 days later.

Once everyone had calmed down from Daphne's marriage to the Duke of Hastings, Lady Violet told the entire family that we'd been invited to an important garden party. I know that this was where Colin was going to announce his engagement and I figured that I should do the same. However, I decided to change 1 aspect and inform my mother of the engagement personally. After we arrived at the party, I asked for a moment alone with Violet and she thankfully obliged me.

"Is something the matter, dearest?" She inquired as she gently held my hand.

"Not at all mother, I believe that I have good news actually: I proposed to miss Marina Thompson at Daphne's wedding reception and she said yes. I mean to make our engagement public today." I explained as Violet looked rather shocked at my declaration.

"Are you certain?" she asked as she tried to remain composed.

"Yes mother...I am certain that Marina is the woman that I want to spend the rest of my life with." I answered as she took a deep breath to steady her nerves.

"I suppose I ought to be relieved I found out before Lady Whistledown." the dowager viscountess replied as I smirked.

"As if Lady Whistledown would learn of my nuptials before my own mother." I teased, knowing that Pen most likely knew full well about it from Marina herself.

"It just...seems out of the blue for you to have made such intentions towards miss Thompson." Violet pointed out.

"Mother, I have been courting Miss Thompson all season." I quoted, remembering Colin's remarks at the breakfast table. "Perhaps you were so taken up by Daphne you failed to see it."

"I knew you were flirting with her, but you flirt with plenty of young ladies. You always have, never in earnest." Violet shot back which as far as I knew, might be true.

"Until now." I shrugged.

"It is all happening so quickly. I am not sure I have ever seen you so solemn and serious." Violet commented wistfully as she squeezed my hand in a motherly way.

"No one ever takes me seriously, except Marina and Eloise...and Penelope." I remarked wistfully also for I knew the heartbreak I was about to inflict on the woman I felt I loved.

"I was not prepared to let another of you fly the nest so soon." She insisted as I laughed at the trouble she was going to have with my sister.

"Never fear Mother, you will still have your hands full." I assured her. "Especially with Eloise, good luck with that one." We both shared a chuckle at her expense.

"I shall get her to the altar somehow." Lady Violet promised me with her cunning smile.

"Then I have your blessing to marry miss Thompson?" I asked as she caressed my cheek.

"If you are sure she is who you want as a wife." Violet replied, making me feel extra guilty. We returned to the family as I grabbed a glass of lemonade and found Marina with the Featheringtons. When she saw me coming, she looked pleased as punch.

"I was thinking we could announce our engagement now, if it would suit you?" I inquired as I planted a kiss on her gloved hand.

"I'd be delighted." Marina replied with a smile as I grabbed a spoon and pinged it on the glass to get people focused on us.

"May I have everyone's attention?" I asked loudly as everyone's eyes were on us. "I would like to make a small but important announcement. I have happy news to impart: I have asked Miss Marina Thompson to be my wife, and she has accepted." Everyone quickly began offering congratulations as Portia laughed in relief that her trashy daughters (except Penelope), would now be safe from the potential scandal. While Eloise conversed with Marina, I saw Anthony looking pissed as Violet tried to calm him.
                                     ***
Bridgerton House. London, United Kingdom. Later that day.

As it happened in the show, once we returned home, Anthony took me to his study and proceeded to tear me a new one. Frankly, I can tell you that as unpleasant as Anthony can be on the screen, he is even more so in real life.

"You barely know the young lady, what were you thinking?" He asked incredulously.

"I was thinking you'd respond like this and how little I would care to hear." I shot back, using Colin's words from the show.

"Do you think this is a joke? Poor Mother was beside herself." Anthony inquired as his eyes pierced me. Unlike the 1st time though, he couldn't use that against me.

"I told Mother I was going to announce the engagement and she gave me her blessing." I pointed out with a smug look on my face. "She seems perfectly happy to me, she congratulated us."

"So, you compromised this young lady?" Anthony grilled me as I decided to be honest in the hopes he would back down a bit.

"We were alone and we kissed...passionately, but I assure you, it went no farther than that; I am a gentleman." I admitted as my false brother groaned in frustration.

"Damn it Colin...that in itself could cause a scandal if it came out!" Anthony declared as he wanted to tear his hair out. "Why ever would you..."

"Why does anyone marry, brother?" I asked, interrupting his melodramatic tirade. "For love, of course."

"Look, I know you are still rather green, and that is my fault." the viscount replied as he tried to calm his anger towards me. "I should've taken you to brothels when you returned from Eton. If this is a matter of wetting your wick..."

"I know that I had a lapse in judgement, but you don't have to be an ass." I said as I was tired of his pretentiousness.

"This is what comes of not sowing your wild oats: proposing to the first chit you set your cap at!" Anthony growled as I finally put my foot down.

"I've had enough of your horse shit, if you want to throw insults at me, fine. I'm a big boy and I can take it, but I will not have you insulting Marina. She has done nothing wrong except wanting a good life with a man who cares about as more than a fucking breeder!" I exclaimed as I finally got Anthony to shut up as he looked at me in disbelief. Clearly Colin had never stood up to him before. "If you don't want to have a love match, that's fine; but don't ruin it for the rest of us."

"You are still a child, Colin." Anthony said a few moments later after finding his words.

"I'm older than Daphne and you were happy to marry her off." I pointed out.

"It is not the same."

"I know nothing of the sort."

"Then you betray your immaturity!" Anthony exclaimed, earning an eye roll from me.

"If I caused Mother discomfort today, I am sorry for it; I shall speak with her." I quoted as i stood up from the chair i was in. "The truth is, I do not require your permission to marry Miss Thompson...but I would very much prefer to have your blessing."

"Then I am afraid I must disappoint you." Anthony replied as i knew he would.

"As I figured you would, at least you're predictable." I shrugged as i left his study. I just hoped that the other Bridgertons could come around to Marina; even if the viscount didn't.
                                     ***
The next morning.

After a sleepless night of bad dreams haunted by a spinster Penelope and a dead Marina, I made my way down to a breakfast already in progress.

"Good morning." I said to the family as Hyacinth and Gregory ceased their fighting.

"Morning, brother." Benedict replied as Hyacinth got excited to see me.

"Colin, your engagement is in Whistledown!" She exclaimed with glee.

"Hyacinth!" Violet chastised as she was certainly not in the mood to hear about Lady Whistledown.

"What? It is!" Hyacinth insisted as I made myself a plate of fruit.

"I'm glad you're excited for me sister, because Anthony is not." I replied as i sat down next to Eloise to eat.

"I know it seems like he is being cruel dearest, but he cares about your happiness." Violet assured me as i nodded while i ate. Caring or not, i was already torn over the decision I made and I didn't need Anthony making me feel worse.

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