Work Text:
Colin Bridgerton gave himself a mental pep talk as he rang the doorbell in front of him.
He took deep breaths.
He can handle this.
He’s doing this for his soon to be fiance, Penelope.
The love of his life
Why is he sweating so profusely?
And acting all nervous.
Just then the front door opened and Colin’s pretty sure he stopped breathing.
Eloise Bridgerton scrunched her nose at her older brother
“So not only did you steal my best friend and roommate but you’re here to interrupt my Saturday afternoon.”
Colin pretended that the words didn’t sting.
“I’m here to ask you something that concerns Pen.”
He’s proud that he spoke clearly instead of the fear he feels internally.
Eloise’s eyes widened in concern.
“Oh well do come in then.”
After being invited to sit on his sister’s couch he immediately turned serious.
Eloise came into the living room with two cups of tea and some of Colin’s favorite snacks.
“All right, out with it, what’s happening to Penelope. What did you do wrong and how can I help you fix it?” Eloise questions as she takes a sip of her tea.
“I want to ask for Penelope's hand in marriage.” Colin spoke gently and carefully.
Eloise choked a little on her tea, sending her into a coughing fit.
Colin patted her back to help her out.
“You want to marry Pen.” Eloise coughs out.
Colin nodded his head eagerly.
“More than anything in the world.”
Eloise looked at Colin, with surprise.
“I thought you never wanted to get married? Much less to Penelope Featherington.” she reminds him with narrowed eyes.
Colin took a deep breath, he regretted saying those words seven years ago.
“I know what I said seven years ago, I wish I could take it back, I wish those harsh words were never spoken, but I said them and somehow Penelope was able to forgive me and agreed to start dating me. “ Colin explains with his voice breaking in remembrance of what was said.
Colin could tell his sister was still on the fence.
“I was there for her, you know.” Eloise whispers tears brimming in her eyes.
Colin was confused.
“I was there every time you broke her heart, from when we were silly teenagers to when you finally pulled your head out of your arse and started dating.” Eloise explained when she saw Colin’s facial expression.
Colin’s heart was hurt by everything he put Penelope through.
“She had you on this high pedestal from the moment you met when we were young girls. Nobody could compare to you in her eyes, You could do no wrong.” Eloise continued with some heat in her words.
Colin just sat frozen; he already knew this from the many deep conversations he and Pen had before they decided to start dating. Pen wanted their relationship foundation based on honesty .
So Pen and him spent an entire weekend in his apartment talking about everything from Pen’s lifelong crush to Colin being an idiot.
“I know, El.” Colin whispered.
Eloise scoffed,
“See you say you know but Colin you did nothing about it for years.”
Colin took a deep breath.
“You're right, how I handled my relationship with Pen up till now was a disaster.”
Eloise snorted,
“If that isn’t an understatement.”
Colin ignored her,
“But being with Pen has changed me, she has made me become a better Colin.”
He could tell it pained Eloise but she nodded in agreement.
“I mean somehow she was able to get you to stop traveling and plant roots here in London.” Eloise agreed.
“Exactly. I would have never decided to stay in London if it wasn’t for Penelope.” Colin points out.
Eloise’s eyes narrow again.
“Really. If Marina was still here in London, and she never cheated on you and got pregnant with twins, you’re saying you would have stayed in London to be with her.”
Colin felt the air leave his lungs.
Marina was Penelope’s cousin who stayed with Pen’s family while they were in school. Colin was so infatuated with Marina he used every excuse in the book just to see her. Unfortunately he pushed Penelope aside.
He thought Marina and him were happy, they were together for years. Until one night Marina drunkenly confessed to him that she had been cheating on him. A few weeks later she found out she was pregnant.
Last he heard she had twins and was married.
“The old me would say yes, the new older me would say most definitely not.” Colin insists.
Eloise gave him a look of disbelief.
“Was I in love with Marina, yes of course I bloody was. But the love I had for her is nowhere near the amount of love I have for Penelope Featherington. Pen is the air that I breathe. I'm blessed to wake up to her every morning and see her face just as I go to bed. I never ever felt that with any women.” Colin informs his sister.
Eloise sat for a moment of silence processing everything.
“Do you really, truly, love her Colin. Is she really the one you plan to spend forever with? You realize once you're married you can’t change your mind, you can’t go back to traveling and having one night stands with exotic women. You have to stay and be a husband towards Penelope. For Sickness and for Health.” Eloise explains slowly as if she was talking to a child.
Colin knew all of this.
He knew he was in love with Penelope Featherington the first time she blushed towards him.
He knew he wanted Penelope Featherington to be the mother of his children when he saw her play Knights and Princesses with his nieces and nephews.
He knew Penelope Featherington was his entire world when she said I Love You Too.
He knew Penelope Featherington was meant to be his wife since they started dating.
“I’m not that man anymore thanks to Penelope, I want to become a man worthy of her love and affection. I want to be the man who makes her blush and giggle. I want to be the man that she thinks hung the galaxy. I know all of the risks, Eloise, and it’s because of those risks I want your permission to Marry her.” Colin chokes tears burning in his eyes.
Eloise nodded her head.
“Just remember I loved her first, and just because you are making it legal doesn’t change the fact that she’s my life wife.” Eloise concedes.
Colin smiled through his fallen tears.
“So I have your blessing.”
Eloise rolled her eyes.
“Yes you bloody idiot, I give you permission to marry Penelope Featherington.”
Colin lifted his sister off the couch into a bear hug and twirled her around even as she complained.
They finished the snacks she had laid out since the tea was cold and spent the rest of the afternoon planning the perfect proposal.
“Hey, Col, One question.” Eloise asks as Colin was about to walk out her front door.
“Sure what is it?”
“Why did you bother asking me for Penelope’s hand in marriage instead of her mother or stepfather.”
The question had been on Eloise’s mind ever since Colin asked her.
Colin let a soft smile play on his face.
“Because Pen and I wouldn’t be where we are if it wasn’t for you.”
Eloise felt tears fall on top of her cheeks.