Chapter Text

i. don’t like how you paint me, yet i’m still here hanging

The Bridgertons sat, scattered in their drawing room on a typical Thursday afternoon, enjoying some tea and biscuits. Colin had just joined them. When he entered he slyly swiped the latest Lady Whistledown paper from the side table next to where Eloise sat, with her face shoved into a book like always. He reclined his back on the canapé, sat next to Benedict and read the paper. 

Colin didn’t pay much attention to Whistledown at first. He regarded it as something the people of the Ton used as superficial entertainment and nothing more. One day, his mother came to him, overjoyed, with one of the papers in hand. Lady Whistledown had mentioned Colin. 

Many gallant gentlemen of the Ton were in attendance but perhaps none as remarkable as the Bridgerton brothers. More remarkable than that, Colin Bridgerton, the one always armed with a pleasing smile, beautiful blue eyes and great manners, was seen dancing with every single available young lady there! One can only assume Mister Bridgerton is angling to find a wife. We should all wish him the very best of luck in this endeavor.

After browsing through his first mention, Colin was intrigued. There was something shamefully thrilling about being seen and, in that case, being completely misread. He started to wonder when he would be mentioned again. He even began wondering about the identity of the writer, like everyone else. He’d eagerly await the moments he could purloin the papers from his mother or sisters’ grasps for he was still quite weary of buying one himself, lest he be judged for it.

With time, he became the subject of many mentions indeed. Searching for them in her papers never lost its sheen. The mentions, either brief or detailed, were always complementary in nature. Colin got a thrill from all the appreciation. Even when the scandal with Marina happened, Colin’s character was never put into question. 

Overall, Lady Whistledown always had a kind, gentle or appreciative word about Colin Bridgerton and he really liked that fact.

So, when he returned from his travels to join his family for the season in London, one of the things he looked forward to was Whistledown and what she could write about him next. A month in, he found that the writer had grown tired of him, barely mentioning him at all. At times, she was even critical of Colin.

“Have you read what Whistledown writes of me of late?” Colin lowered the paper away from his eyesight, letting his arm fall on the side rest of his seat. “I am not a dandy!” He said, unhappy.

“Oh, dear! Do not pay it any mind.” His mother said reassuringly, sat across from him, busy with embroidery. “I believe she is simply jesting.” That remained to be proven.

“Additionally, brother...” Benedict cleared his throat, raised his eyes from his drawings. “... when have you started caring for what a gossip paper says about you?” 

“Well...” Colin scratched the side of his head, restraining himself from exhibiting the flummoxed indignance he felt at present. He did not wish for his brother and sister to catch even the slightest whiff of his feelings on the matter or he’d never hear the end of it. “I don’t. I suppose.”

“Given her previous exposés on our family, I believe undergoing the deep shame of being called a dandy to be something of less concern. Don’t you agree?” Eloise said with flourish, already mocking him.

That riled him up. “Yes, of course. But what of last week's musings where she called me a man of little substance? Can you believe it?” One of Benedict’s eyebrows rose at Colin’s comment.  

Eloise huffed. “Are you truly concerned for your reputation brother, or has the writer perhaps hurt your feelings?” She asked with a smirk.

And there it was! He barely said one word about the issue and was already subjugated to ridicule by his siblings. 

That was the moment Penelope decided to walk in, bringing sunlight into their drawing room as she did. She had her fiery red hair perfectly combed to the side in loose curls that invited one to run their fingers through it. She paired her hairstyle with one of the new green dresses she’d been wearing of late, that made Colin salivate, gawking inappropriately at her as she walked away. 

Another one of his issues, coming back into town, had been Penelope. She didn’t answer any of his letters during the summer and always seemed to be, in fact, walking away from him now. He could not get a word in, even when she came to their house to see Eloise. 

Since their squabble was put to rest, the pair seemed more inseparable than ever and Eloise acted as Penelope’s gatekeeper. It was irritating, to say the least. 

Colin began to lose hope that he would ever be able to get a word in without acting improperly. He was merely waiting for his genteel education to snap. Many a time he had considered forcing Penelope’s hand and locking her in a room with him so she would talk.

“Good day, Bridgertons!” She said with a polite smile. Eloise glanced behind her shoulder and upon seeing her friend, she rose from her seat and took Penelope away from the drawing room. Colin watched as Penelope was taken from him and he could not help the exasperated sigh that left his lips.