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“... and I am certainly not going to marry Penelope Featherington!”
“Oh!” She couldn’t help but exclaim. Immediately, the three brothers turned to her, surprise etched on their faces the same way that hers was. Soon, Colin’s face turned red, his mouth opening and closing as if he was trying to say something, making excuses that she couldn’t even be bothered to listen.
“Not going to marry me,” she repeated softly, and slowly she felt her face scrunch up in disgust and anger. She looked directly into Colin’s eyes. She could see there was shame and other emotion she couldn’t decipher, but Penelope was filled with annoyance; she didn’t even try to figure them out.
“Look at the state of you,” she said haughtily, putting a hand on her hip. “I never asked you to marry me. Never in my life did I expect you to ask me to be your wife. I wouldn’t even dare to call you worthy to be my husband.”
She watched as Colin began to splutter. His face, which was already pink, seemed to have turned red. Anthony and Benedict were trying to hide their sniggers from where they stood behind him, and even Benedict was biting his knuckle to refrain himself from laughing out loud.
Penelope felt some sense of victory, some pride in being able to ignore the sound of her breaking heart, and leaving him out of words. There were many ways she could have handled this, but she was happy that this was how it turned out.
“Excuse me?” Colin said, an incredulous expression on his face. “‘Not worthy to be your husband?’”
Penelope raised her chin in defiance. “You heard what I said. I do not think that you would need it to be repeated, unless-”
“I heard what you said,” Colin retorted, taking a step closer to her. This sudden proximity made Penelope tilt her head up, and she realized that he looked offended by her statement, yet Penelope could care less of what he felt.
He stared at her with intensity, one full of irritation, challenge, and something that she couldn’t quite decipher. Penelope pushed that thought to the backs of her mind. It was no use dwelling on something she didn’t know.
“Good!” she exclaimed, crossing her arms. “I am glad to know that your hearing is quite sound.”
He narrowed his eyes at her, looking down at her in a way that made her feel quite small and warm all over her body. This made Penelope yet again realize the gap in their heights, and she so thoroughly wished she had a few more inches to her, just so she wasn’t so bothered by the intensity in his blue eyes.
“Take it back,” he hissed through clenched teeth. “You take that back now .”
“And why should I?” She snapped. “If that is the opinion I have? Which is something that you should even be caring about.”
He glared at her, looking vexed and that same emotion she couldn’t recognize, yet it was spreading warmth from the depths of her stomach. She held his glare. Usually, she would look away and let him have this victory, but Penelope could not give him that satisfaction this time.
Abruptly, she was met with an epiphany. She realized she wanted to vex him, wanted to see the exasperated expression on his face, wanted to hear the way he released an incensed breath he was holding. She wanted to see all other emotions Colin could make, all because of her.
All of the sudden, they heard a cough that broke them from their glares toward each other. Both of them finally looked away from each other, and turned to the direction where it came from.
Anthony and Benedict both have amused looks on their faces, and Penelope felt embarrassment creep up on her as she finally remembered that they were not alone. She knew that constantly being in Colin’s presence unchaperoned was going to land them into trouble one day. This familiarity made her complacent that she forgot that it wasn’t always just them in the world.
Trying to save some face, she cleared her throat.
“Now if you will excuse me gentlemen and,” she gave a sneer towards Colin, “ Mister Bridgerton. I would like to return home. I am expected for dinner.”
Benedict, who couldn’t help it anymore, bursted out in laughter, as Anthony offered to walk her home. He too, couldn’t stop the amused smile still etched on his lips. Penelope, who suddenly felt tired, just let him do what he wanted. The sooner she was gone from Colin’s vicinity, the better.
She was almost out of the door, when Colin’s rang out into the empty foyer.
“Just you wait, Penelope Featherington,” he called out to her. “You will eat your words, and I will prove to you that I’m more than worthy to be your husband.”
Penelope could only roll her eyes. She didn’t see that happening, as she did not think she would be worthy to be his wife, as he declared that he certainly did not see that he could ever marry her.
“Good night, Mister Bridgerton.”
And with one last curtsy, she allowed Anthony to escort her home.