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Colin hated having to wait. Yes he had managed to convince his mother to move up the wedding but he still had two days to go… three long agonising days before he could marry Penelope…
Tonight would be the last night he would see her until their wedding, he was not to be allowed anywhere near her tomorrow and it was going to kill him. He’d seen her every days since… but he knew he was in for a rough night of torment from his brother’s tomorrow but he would make do.
Right now he was walking into the final ball he would have to attend as a single man… last ball where expectant society mama’s might hope that the entire thing with Penelope was some joke… that the two had concocted to tease the ton… if they had thought more of Penelope they might have thought that anyway.
Colin was of the opinion that society mama’s and the people of the ton were just blind to Penelope’s brilliance, her wit and her beauty.
He hated the whispers, he hated that people thought the whole thing was some sort of joke. They didn’t see the love that he had for her… yes fine, it had taken him 12 years and a fair amount of jealousy to realise that himself …
“ You know I never took you one to hide out in the corner” came tones of his sister in law.
He turned and smiled “Sophie… what are you doing over here? I am surprised Benedict has let out of his sight”
Sophie scoffed “You think after 7 years I don’t know how to handle your brother… I sent him off to Dance with Penelope” she grinned.
“Oh. Thank you. I have already danced with her twice…” Colin said sadly.
“Well I believe Anthony has the next… but when do Bridgerton’s care for Society Rules. Anthony has danced with Kate three times already. Benedict with me twice… and I believe we are to dance the next… If you wish to dance with your fiancée more than society deems appropriate then to hell with them” she said grinning.
“I knew there was a reason you’re my favourite sister in law” Colin said as he kissed her cheek
“I’ll tell Kate you said that” she grinned.
Colin shrugged “after that cake you made last year, I think she is aware… but shall we my dear sister show them how it is done?” he said offering her his hand
“Oh Colin, you’re still the same old troublemaker” she grinned as she took his hand and joined the dance.
Colin danced with Sophie and then when Anthony danced with Penelope, he danced with Kate, whilst Benedict returned to his wife and made her sit down.
Kate laughed “you can stop glaring at your brother you know”
“I know but it’s a family habit” he grinned
“I know it is easy to do so… but still… You can dance with her afterwards…” Kate smiled “hang Society”
Colin snorted “I am sure Sophie has been spending too much time with you… she said something similar just before”
Kate grinned “you’re just lucky you have such sensible women in your life to make you see sense”
Colin twirled her as the dance ended and they bowed and curtseyed and Colin led her off the dance floor and towards her husband and his fiancee.
“Toes still in tact Colin?” Anthony teased his wife, who whacked him with her fan.
Colin nodded loyally “of course. She never once stood on my toes”
Kate smirked “No, I save that just for you… but I think I shall go see Sophie and Benedict before we all head back home, come on dear” she grinned at Anthony who followed her like her loyal pooch Newton.
Penelope laughed “even after all these years, he still very much loves his wife”
“Oh I am sure I shall be the same when we have been married that long” he said brightly. “Shall we?” he said gesturing to the floor
“It’s not proper!” she said quietly
Colin shrugged “I do not care… nor do my brothers if I want to dance with my future wife then I will, hang society,” he said simply
“Oh…” she blushed “very well then” she smiled and took his hand.
Colin had years of extra dances to make up and it was to be the last dance of the night so he had every intention of making the most of it. It would be the last time he would see her until she walked through the doors at the church so he held her closer than was polite.
They giggled and laughed as they danced, and smiled happily like they were the only two in the world.
A few beats before the end of the dance, Colin stopped, and took Penelope’s hand, and a few of the party goers and dancers glanced in their direction as he dipped his head and pressed a searing kiss to Penelope’s knuckles, the heat of his lips causing her cheeks to burn as he said, a touch too loudly but with Cressida Twombley stood there glaring “I cannot wait to marry you, two days cannot come quick enough” he said, smirking as he saw Cressida storming off.
Penelope gave the traditional curtsey at the end of the dance but Colin had still not relinquished her hand and he lead her off the floor and once out of the crowds, Penelope gave him a searing kiss “I can’t wait to marry you either”
Two days... they both decided… could not come quick enough.