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Colin was the first of the siblings to meet his soulmate.
When he went out ridding on the morning he met her, he was not expecting to be tossed off his horse due to a bonnet flying in his face. Colin found himself in the mud after that, the smell of pomegranate, lotus, and orchids infusing his senses.
He hungered for more.
"I'm so sorry," a voice squeaked out.
Pulling the bonnet away from his face Colin looked up at a girl Eloise's age. Auburn red curls framing her soft round cheeks, and brown eyes. She reminded Colin of the stories he heard about greek nature spirits called nymphs. The smell that was coming off the bonnet was also on her.
Now normally the temper Colin hid so well would be raging and he would be thinking of several different ways to pay the girl back, but that isn't what he found himself doing this time.
Colin looked up at the girl and found himself laughing from pure joy. "Well, that wasn't well to do of me." Now standing Colin gently takes her hand and kisses her knuckles. Her face is bright red, reminding Colin of the forbidden fruit Hades used to trap Persephone in the Underworld. Colin found himself wanting to take a bite out of her. "May I know the name of my lovely bonnet assassin?"
"Penelope Featherington!"
Colin quickly hides the scowl on his face at his lovely nymph being interrupted. He has to stop himself from tearing her away from the older woman as well when she starts chastising his nymph.
"Colin! Are you alright?" Violet rushed over too. Though once she was closer her eyes narrowed in suspicion. Colin was still holding this nymph's hand.
"Perfectly fine Mother." Colin smiled.
On the way home Violet dragged Colin into the carriage with her and her two older daughters.
Violet stared down her son. "Colin Bridgerton you are to leave that girl alone-"
Colin smiled at the thought of his little nymph. "Mama, she's. . . my soulmate."
Daphne and Eloise stared at their brother; the whole family always thought they wouldn't start finding soulmates until Daphne was out in society. That's usually how it worked in the past anyway, once the oldest daughter finds her's then the reast follow soon after.
Violet's face lit up at the news. "Oh Colin. My lucky boy! We'll have to invite her over for tea!"
Colin looked over at his sisters. "Do you two think you could try befriending her? Propriety and etiquette say I can't," Colin spat the words out like they offended him.
They nod, and Eloise begins to scheme how she can get closer to the Featherington girl.
Once home Violet dragged Colin to Anthony's study, where he and Benedict were already trying to figure out a way to stop Colin from exacting revenge on his poor bonnet assassin.
"Oh boys," Violet practically sang. " Your brother has wonderful news to share."
Anthony and Benedict turned their attention onto their younger brother.
"I met my soulmate."
Benedict's eyes widened. "The Featherington girl from today?"
"My little bonnet assassin." Colin grinned.
Since that day Colin has been using his charm and manipulations to pull Penelope further into his web so tightly that she would never even think to leave him.
His family helped where they could. Eloise befriended his little nymph so they had a reason to bring her over. Anthony used his power as Viscount dig into any potential threats against Colin's claim. After he would give the files to his brother so he could do as he saw fit. If his little nymph was being accosted by some unworthy random man and he was not there Colin had given his siblings full permission to do whatever it took to get him away from her.
Oh yes, Colin planned to keep those strings around his little nymph tight.
Though it did feel like sometimes Penelope would weave those strings into what she wanted.