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“Penelope, would you please put that book down and finish getting ready?!” Penelope’s mother, Portia, snapped, glaring at her five-year-old daughter from across the drawing room. Without giving her a chance to respond that she wanted to finish her chapter, Portia walked over to where Penelope was seated at the window, and snatched the book from her hands.
“This is ridiculous Penelope. The Bridgertons were so kind as to offer you to join them for their dance lessons, and here you are being selfish by taking all the time in the world to get your hair fixed. It is a wild mess, and I will not have you showing up looking like that! ”
Immediately curling in on herself at her mother’s harsh words, Penelope tried to blink back her tears and pretend she was unaffected. She may have only been five years old, but she’d grown accustomed to putting on a brave face when it came to her family. Her mother always had some sort of rude remark to give her, her father was barely around enough to even acknowledge Penelope’s existence, and her sisters had never treated her kindly her entire life. Penelope had never known true kindness until she met her neighbors from across the street, the Bridgertons. More specifically, no one had ever shown her kindness until she met the cute, curly headed one named Colin.
The minute Penelope had her first conversation with Colin, she knew he was different. Different in a way that made her heart sing and her cheeks flush. Penelope and her family had just moved into their new house in Mayfair, and she had been playing outside while her parents finished settling everything inside the house. Colin had been riding by on his horse when the wind blew Penelope’s bonnet off of her head and right into his face. She watched in horror as he was knocked off and landed into a puddle of mud, before quickly running over to check if he was alright. Tears had already sprung in her eyes by the time she reached him, afraid he might be angry and yell at her.
But he didn’t.
The boy had handed her back her now ruined bonnet and chuckled as he attempted to brush himself off.
“Well, that wasn’t very well done of me, was it?” he had asked, smiling at her with the most radiant smile she had ever seen.
Penelope had giggled through her tears, teasing him back.
“No it wasn’t. Perhaps you should pay more attention to your surroundings next time.”
“Ah yes. Those yellow head coverings are becoming more and more violent each day. I must do better at avoiding them,” he responded, making Penelope laugh even more.
The two stayed there for a good while, laughing and introducing themselves to one another. As the conversation progressed Penelope realized that for the first time in her life, she felt safe and comfortable. The bubble that had grown around them was one Penelope never wanted to escape. She’d stay the entire rest of the night out here with this boy, Colin she learned was his name, and talk about anything and everything with him if society would allow it.
“PENELOPE ANNE! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!” she heard her mother yell.
It was surprising how Penelope didn’t experience any whiplash from how quickly her bubble with Colin had burst, and she was instantly back to feeling alone and afraid.
She tried to mutter a quick ‘goodbye’ to the kind boy as her mother dragged her back towards the house, berating her for ruining one of her dresses and for acting so careless around the new “neighbors.”
The following morning, she was ecstatic to see Colin again when his mother, Violet, had come over to welcome Penelope and her family to the neighborhood. She brought over some biscuits and introduced Penelope and her sisters to Colin and Eloise, one of his younger sisters who was the same age as her. While the two mothers talked, Penelope worked up the courage to ask Colin if he’d like to see their library and maybe read something together, but as she walked over to him, Eloise cut through her path and pulled her away. Though she was upset about not being able to spend more time with the boy she had already grown a fondness for, Penelope soon found out that she and Eloise had a lot in common. They’d had a few play-dates since, Colin typically joining them, and the two siblings quickly became her best friends.
Which was why she was now currently getting her hair ripped out as Portia roughly brushed through it while still mumbling under her breath about Penelope’s ‘horrid’ appearance. Penelope ignored her mother’s insults, instead allowing herself to wonder about the day ahead. She had never been through a dance lesson before, her mother too focused on her older sisters to pay much attention to her. She was nervous with it being her first time dancing, but knowing that she would be doing it with the Bridgertons made her feel a little more at ease. The Bridgertons were less likely to make fun of her if she missed a step or yell at her if she happened to fall.
“There, your hair looks much better. Now, go change into your dress and shoes so we can make our way over,” Portia huffed out, pushing at Penelope’s shoulders. Penelope hopped down from the seat and made her way upstairs towards her bedroom. Once inside, she took a few moments to gather her thoughts. She knew she’d have to join in on the lessons and though she’d be fine dancing with Anthony or Benedict, she was not-so-secretly praying that her partner would be Colin.
Penelope walked over to her bed, groaning when she realized her mother sat out another yellow dress for her to wear. She struggled with putting it on but knew that if she shouted for her mother or a maid to help, she’d be reprimanded for it. Her mother always acted like it was a huge problem whenever Penelope would ask for help.
Once she was in her dress, Penelope made her way back down the stairs, a little hop in her step at the fact that she’d soon see her favorite people. She reached the landing, and fumbled to put on her shoes with a huge smile on her face. Standing back up straight, Penelope went back into the drawing room where her mother was seated.
“Mama, I’m ready,” she said, rocking back and forth on her heels as she tried to contain her excitement.
Portia looked up from the newspaper she was reading and scoffed, her eyes narrowing. Penelope’s grin dropped in an instant, her stomach turning with anxiety.
What have I done now?
“For God’s sake Penelope. Is it possible for you to do anything without making a mess of things? It took me forever to tame your wild hair, and you’ve gone and messed it up in a matter of seconds.”
Running her hands over her curls in hopes of fixing whatever mess she caused, Penelope pushed back another wave of tears. She’d be with her Bridgertons soon, and Colin always told her how much he liked her hair. As soon as she stepped foot into their house, all would be well.
“S-Sorry, Mama. I must’ve messed it up when I was putting my dress on,” she said, irritated that she stuttered and that her voice sounded shaky.
‘Well then, next time do a better job at putting on your dresses. The Bridgertons are a well-known family in this town. I cannot have you showing up to their home not looking your best.”
Penelope nodded, wincing when her mother tried fixing her hair with her fingers and pulled slightly too hard.
“Much better. Let us walk on over now. I ask that you, please, be on your best behavior,” Portia told her in a firm tone. Penelope nodded again, taking her mother’s hand before the two began their journey across the street.
They arrived at Bridgerton house not but a few minutes later, Portia using the door knocker to announce their arrival. Penelope heard some commotion on the other side shortly after they knocked, and her heart jolted slightly when her ears picked up on a familiar voice. The door opened not long after that and she couldn’t fight the smile that took over her entire face as she saw Violet and Colin standing there.
“Hi, Pen!” he yelled happily, waving at her. “Your hair looks pretty.”
Penelope blushed, her cheeks feeling warm from his compliment. Hearing him say those words calmed the storm going on inside of her head, fearful that her mother may have been right. Even though they had always been kind to her, Portia’s insults always made Penelope scared that perhaps she was too unkempt for Violet and her family. Colin just reassured her that that was not the case.
“Thank you, Colin. You look distinguished today.” And everyday, she thought to herself.
Colin gave her a toothy grin before reaching over and grabbing her hand.
“Thanks Pen. Now come on! Let’s go wait in the drawing room while our mothers visit. I want to spend some time with you before the dance lessons begin!” he said excitedly, pulling her through the threshold and towards the drawing room.
Once inside, Colin sat them both down at the settee and started to tell her about a recent story his father had read to him. While he spoke, Penelope tried to bite back a grin at the fact that he still hadn’t let go of her hand. She didn’t say anything about it to him, enjoying the way her hand felt in his. Penelope listened as Colin went on and on about his father’s pirate story, never once interrupting him. If she had the opportunity to spend the rest of her life listening to Colin’s stories while he held her hand, she’d take it in a heartbeat.
Seven-year-old Colin had woken up cranky that morning, remembering the moment he opened his eyes that it was Thursday, his least favorite day of the week. Thursday was dance lesson day at Bridgerton House, the day their tutor would come to instruct the eldest Bridgerton siblings in learning the steps to the dances that would become part of their language when they entered society in a few years time. His parents insisted that if they began learning young, the dances would be second-nature to them by the time they began receiving invitations to balls.
Colin’s hatred of dance lessons was well known, so much so that it was a joke amongst family and friends that when dancing was to happen, little Colin would be as far away as he could manage. He enjoyed the music and moving his body, but he despised the instruction. Specific steps were not something he appreciated, nor did he like being watched for mistakes by six-year-old Daphne, nor having his feet trampled upon by five-year-old Eloise.
He escaped his obligation as often as he could, having cited stomach aches so often on Thursdays that his mother had become resigned to his absence, now only requiring him to participate if Anthony or Benedict could not attend in order to have even pairs of dancers.
The night prior, as he had readied himself for bed, his mother had told him that this would be a Thursday he would be needed. He had fussed and grumbled until he fell asleep and felt no better as the morning sunlight drifted through his window to wake him. After he was dressed and had wandered to the drawing room for breakfast, he had noticed that both of his older brothers were dressed and present. He had furrowed his brow and turned to his mother.
“Mother, are Anthony and Benedict both attending today’s lesson?”
She had given him a small smile.
“Why, yes dearest. They are.”
“Then why must I be here?” he had asked, his frustration slipping to make room for confusion about why his mother would break their unspoken agreement.
“We have a third young lady dancing today and so we are in need of three young men,” she had said as she sipped her tea. Colin had sat in silence for a few minutes, eating his scone and wondering how that could possibly be. Franny, perhaps? But she was still just four years old and while she loved dancing alone, she didn’t much care for it with others yet.
“Who is the third young lady?” he had finally wondered aloud.
“Penelope will be joining us today,” his mother had replied with a twinkle in her eye.
Penelope would be there, and his whole morning had changed in an instant.
“Truly?” He had begged his mother for confirmation, hoping this wasn’t some cruel joke to dangle the thought of his Pen and then tear it from him in a moment. “My Pen?”
“She is not your Pen, she is Penelope, and she is my best friend. You are merely her best friend’s annoying brother,” Eloise had declared with obnoxious confidence as she skipped past him.
“I am nothing of the sort. I am her friend in my own right,” he had retorted, knowing in his heart that must be true. “And she is my very good friend.”
For the first time in recent memory, he had spent the rest of breakfast quite excited that it was Thursday, If Penelope was going to be there, it couldn’t be bad at all. He had wondered whether she liked to dance. He had thought it might actually be fun to dance if he was with her. She made everything more fun. As soon as he finished eating, he had run down the stairs and paced around the front hall to be sure that he would get to be the one to greet her when she arrived, hoping that he could sneak her away for a visit before Eloise got ahold of her.
He was thrilled that his plan had been successful, and now he sat on the settee in the drawing room with her soft little hand in his.
Penelope’s big blue eyes sparkled as she listened to him explain every detail of the pirate story his father had so lovingly created for him. It made him feel warm, how intense her eyes became as she hung on every word he said. Nobody else really ever paid attention the way Penelope did.
Suddenly, he remembered his manners.
“Apologies, Pen. I did not even think to ask. Do you enjoy pirate stories?” Biting his lip, he worried that he had been going on about something that may not even interest her. He truly loved pirates and hoped that she did as well, but he would gladly change the topic if he learned that she did not share his passion.
“I do not know any other pirate stories,” she said sweetly, her little voice melodic and soft in a way that always made him think of songbirds. “But I quite like them now, the way you tell them.”
He beamed as he basked in her praise.
“Oh I am glad,” he murmured, truly pleased to know she enjoyed his storytelling while also curious about her own interests. “What kind of stories do you prefer?”
Colin thought that you could tell a lot about a person by the stories they loved. Even though he was but seven, and Pen only five, they were both avid self-taught readers and shared a love of books, frequently found curled up on the rug near the fireplace in this very room reading together while the others were engaged in more rambunctious play. He knew she read all kinds of books - whatever she could get her hands on, it seemed, but he did not know her favorite.
“Oh,” she breathed out, scrunching up her face. “Nobody has asked me that before.”
“Truly?” he asked, bewildered. His parents often asked him what he was reading and procured books that fit his tastes along with those of his siblings.
“Truly,” she answered quietly.
“Well I am eager to know,” he replied, locking his eyes on hers and giving her a small smile to encourage her, hoping she would share with him.
“I do love fairy tales,” she whispered.
“Oh, of course!” he exclaimed, thrilled to know a little bit more about his dear friend. “I enjoy them, too.”
Her grin stretched across her face, crinkling her eyes, and he loved that he was able to make her feel so happy. He thought he should remember this and pull some fairy tales out of their family library next time she visited. Perhaps he could find her a few new ones on a future trip into town. A birthday or Christmas gift, perhaps, to make her smile.
“Children,” his mother’s voice rang from the open doorway, cutting through his wandering thoughts as both of the children’s faces turned toward her. “We need you both in the main entryway for dance lessons. The others are already gathered.” She smiled at them both, then turned to go.
Colin and Penelope both stood and he offered his arm to her, as he had seen his father do for his mother many times.
“Shall we go, Pen?” he asked and she giggled a bit, her cheeks turning pink. It made him giggle, too.
“Of course,” she smiled and put her little hand in the crook of his elbow as they walked out into the hallway, then down the staircase to the front hall.
“Colin,” she tugged a little at his arm, and he leaned his head down to place his ear beside her lips. She was much smaller than him, and he didn’t mind leaning down so that she could whisper. He quite liked whispering with her.
“Do you think…” she hesitated and he put his free hand atop hers on his arm, giving it a gentle squeeze of encouragement. Penelope could be a bit shy at times and he didn’t want her to worry. She could tell him anything.
“With whom do you think I will dance for this lesson?” she finished, voice filled with an uncertainty he wished he could soothe.
“Oh. I am not sure,” he admitted. He surely hoped it would be him. Anthony was far too tall to dance with Penelope, as the tiniest of the bunch. She was the same age as Eloise, but much shorter. And Benedict would not be nearly careful enough with the tiny girl. He had thought it would be assumed that Pen would dance with him, but he was now nervous that perhaps he was wrong.
As they arrived in the hall they found his little sisters, Daphne and Eloise, and his older brothers, Anthony and Benedict, standing alongside the dance tutor. Their mother was seated at the pianoforte ready to play a tune for them, with their littlest sister Francesca on the bench cuddled into her side.
“Everyone find a partner,” their man said as he directed the music to begin.
“I should like to dance with Pen!” Colin shouted across the room, earning laughs from his brothers.
“Miss Featherington?” Their instructor raised his eyebrows at Colin, who stared back blankly.
“Yes. I think that Pen and I might enjoy dancing together,” he explained, feeling his heart pound when he received rolled eyes in response in lieu of approval.
“Miss Featherington,” the man repeated flatly.
“Yes!” Colin yelled with an exasperated huff. Why did this insufferable man keep repeating himself?
“Mr. Bridgerton, while we are in lessons, you are to call her Miss Featherington,” the insufferable man sighed.
“Oh. Of course. I prefer to dance with Pen. My Miss Featherington.” Penelope let out a giggle beside him and he shot her a grin.
“Well if you would prefer to dance with Miss Featherington, what must you do?”
Colin scrunched his brow and looked at his dance tutor, then at Penelope, then back at his tutor.
“I must…” he bit his lip thinking.
“Ask her, you dimwit,” Anthony hollered from across the room. Colin’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment for not remembering the protocol to follow as his brothers clearly did. When he was not excused from dance lessons, he was usually told to stand with Eloise and begrudgingly obliged. Occasionally, he was sent to Daphne as she pouted about his lack of skill as a partner. Never had he asked someone to dance. He had never wanted to before, but the idea of asking Pen to dance pleased him greatly.
He cleared his throat and turned to her, bowing a little. She looked flustered for a moment before remembering to curtsy.
Holding out his hand toward her, he put on the most formal voice he could, the one he knew his father used when their family hosted events for the Ton.
“Shall we dance, Pen?”
Penelope knew her face was probably beet red from how flustered she was currently feeling, but she did not hesitate to place her hand in his, having quite missed the warmth from when he was holding it on the settee only moments ago.
“It is Miss Featherington,” the tutor reminded him before returning to his place at the front of the room, still giving out commands that Colin nor Penelope were really listening to.
“Of course, Mr. Bridgerton ,” Penelope replied in a teasing tone as she dipped into another curtsy. Delight filled her chest when she heard Colin let out a giggle.
As the teacher was scolding Benedict for stepping on Eloise’s foot before the dancing had even begun, much to Colin’s delight as he let out a boisterous laugh, Penelope could feel herself brimming with excitement. Not only at the fact that she was spending time with Colin, but also because she’d always loved to dance. Many times, her mother had gotten onto her for bumping into things as she danced around the house. For Penelope, it always made her feel so free. Kind of similar to the feeling she got whenever she was around her current dance partner.
The dance lessons started shortly after that, the tutor spouting off commands of bows and chassés. Penelope was truly trying to pay attention, for she wanted to impress Colin with her dancing skills. She thought that perhaps if she awed him now, that maybe he’d want to always be her dance partner in the future. That thought made her heartbeat pick up because she knew that she’d always want to be his.
Focusing back in on the lesson, Penelope listened as the tutor instructed them all to cross right and then left with their partners while never once breaking the square in which they were to dance in. It was a bit difficult with only three couples instead of the usual four and she stumbled a bit at first, being the only one in the group who hadn’t had any real previous dance history. She recovered from the stumbling and quickly picked up on it as they went, Colin’s fond smile only encouraging her to do better.
Not too long into the first dance, however, Colin grew restless and decided that he wanted to do his own thing. He began to twirl Penelope around at any given opportunity, making her flush and giggle every time he did. Penelope was a rule follower and always had been, but if breaking the rules meant that she would see his smile and hear his laugh all the time, well then she’d break them all.
“Colin, we are going to get in trouble,” she said, trying to sound stern. It had no effect on Colin as he gave her a mischievous look and spun her again.
“Perhaps, but I am enjoying the dance we have come up with much more,” he replied as Penelope crossed his left shoulder, the way the tutor instructed them to.
“Me too,” Penelope whispered, entirely truthful.
Colin grinned and was about to twirl her once more, but the instructor told them to meet in the center and link arms with the person opposite them, which for Penelope was Benedict. Standing even higher on her tippy toes to reach his height, Penelope only noticed just then how badly her toes were aching from being so short. The pain never once crossed her mind when Colin had been twirling her around, too caught up in the giddiness of it all.
She tried desperately to be in sync with the second Bridgerton son, but he jerked her a bit too hard and spun her a bit too fast, and she found that she was not enjoying dancing with him as much as she was with Colin.
“Penelope, you were smiling ear to ear only a second ago. Surely, I cannot be a worse dance partner than Colin. He hardly even partakes in these dance lessons,” Benedict told her with a teasing lilt to his voice.
“You are not a…terrible dance partner, Mr. Bridgerton. I cannot lie and say that I do not prefer to dance with Colin, though,” she confessed, looking in Colin’s direction and blushing when she realized he overheard. Her heart skipped a beat at the prideful grin he shot her.
“Oh, I see how it is. You call him by his name and yet I’m referred to as Mr. Bridgerton. You are hurting my ego here,” he joked again. This time Penelope giggled as she spun around to link their other arms. She glanced over at Colin again and frowned when she noticed him glaring at Benedict.
“Alright! Meet back in the center, and ladies cross around the male’s left side before linking back with your original partner for the ending!”
Following the tutor’s instructions, Penelope followed Benedict’s lead back to the center. She tried meeting Colin’s eyes, but he was still glaring at his brother. Once she passed around Benedict, she gasped as Colin instantly grabbed her hand and pulled her into him. She landed firmly into his chest, flushing when she went to pull back only for Colin to hold her tighter.
“I missed you,” he said softly, tucking a loose curl behind her ear.
Before she could respond, Anthony’s voice broke through their little bubble.
“Colin, please release Miss Featherington from your hold. We are finishing up the quadrille, not dancing a waltz,” he clipped, narrowing his eyes at Colin.
With a roll of his eyes, Colin let her go from his embrace, much to her dismay. As Colin snuck in another twirl that wasn’t instructed, Penelope made sure Anthony saw the irritated glare she gave him.
“Once the final part is finished, we will end with a bow. Remember men, it is always nice to compliment your partner after a dance. After that, we will take a small break before starting with the waltz,” the tutor announced.
For the final piece of the dance, Penelope let her mind run wild on what compliment Colin may give her. She had a whole list of compliments for Colin filed away in her brain, so that part would be easy for her, but Penelope was never one to receive any sort of kind words that often, and the idea of hearing Colin say any to her made her heart sing.
The dance ended shortly after that, both Penelope and Colin bowing to one another. As soon as Penelope was standing back upright, she let out a small gasp when Colin took her hands in his. Anxiety was coursing through her, waiting to see what he might say and hoping she had done enough to impress him.
“You look rather pretty today, Pen,” Colin exclaimed and Penelope’s whole body burned brightly under the praise. “I think I quite like you in yellow.”
Penelope’s cheeks warmed at his words, and she knew that she most definitely looked embarrassingly red with how much she was blushing. Except, when she looked up to meet Colin‘s eyes, he didn't seem to think she looked embarrassing at all. In fact, he was looking at her so tenderly that Penelope immediately wanted to go home to her secret diary and write sonnets about it. In order to do that though, she would have to drop his hands and leave his presence, and she was not ready to do either of those yet.
“Thank you, Colin. You are an astonishing dancer,” she said back, giggling when she saw the tips of his ears turn pink.
“As are you. I hope to always be your dance partner, Pen.”
Yay! I impressed him!
Unable to hide her joy at hearing him say that, Penelope leaped up and wrapped her arms around his neck in a hug. Colin’s arms instantly wrapped around her as well.
“I hope to always be yours as well, Colin. I do not want anyone else,” she confessed.
“Not even Benedict?” he asked, trying to sound like he was jesting, but Penelope could hear the slight edge in his voice.
“Benedict is kind, but I do not wish to dance with him again. I fear he almost took my arm off at one point,” she replied, the two immediately falling into fits of laughter.
“Well then, it is settled. From this day forward, you and I shall be each other’s only dance partners,” Colin commanded, lightly tugging on another loose curl.
“I quite like that idea,” she agreed, another giggle escaping them both when Colin lifted their left hands and twirled her around once more.
The waltz was the final dance they were to learn today. Colin had never actually completed a waltz lesson before, not having the attention span or patience for something so controlled.
“Are we to keep the same partners?” he asked before hearing snickers around the room from his older siblings.
“Unforunately for Miss Featherington, yes, we will keep the same partners for the waltz,” their instructor replied as he rolled his eyes. For a tutor, he surely didn’t have much patience with the antics of children.
Colin was torn between reveling in his excitement about continuing his lessons with Pen and feeling great offense at the thought that she should not want to dance with him. His lower lip jutted out as he pouted until he felt her little hand squeeze his own and he looked down to see her big blue eyes looking back up at him, a soft smile on her face.
“You should not listen to a word the others say, Colin,” she said, her sweet voice filling him with confidence. “I do enjoy dancing with you.”
Colin beamed, proud to be someone his friend wanted to spend time with.
“I enjoy dancing with you, too, Pen. Quite a lot.” She blushed as she smiled back, the pink that graced her cheeks quickly becoming one of his favorite colors. Fourth, perhaps, after the yellow of her dresses, the deep red of her hair, and the ocean blue in her eyes.
“Gentlemen! For the waltz, you are to hold one of your partners hands like this,” the man said as he demonstrated with their mother, “and the other rests on your partner's back.”
Colin furrowed his brow as he looked at Pen.
“It seems I must hug you for this dance. Would that be alright?”
She nodded quickly.
“Of course. I do love your hugs,” she answered and his heart melted as he wrapped his arm around the back of her and her hand rested on his arm.
As the music began, Colin tried the best he could to listen to the instructions and pay close attention to the placement of his hands and feet as they moved through each step. Though he didn’t mind holding onto Penelope at all, he could not help but feel that dance lessons took all the fun out of dancing.
“It gets a little boring at times, does it not?” He looked down at her to see her eyes watering a bit at his admission. Taken aback, he hoped he had not said something to upset her. He never wanted to upset his Pen.
“Oh, I did not think it was boring. I have had a nice time with you,” she was sniffling slightly and he silently admonished himself for making her feel badly.
“No, Pen, I did not mean it that way,” he hunched down slightly to look into her eyes. “I have had a nice time with you. The best time, in fact. I only meant that the dances themselves could use a bit more…”
“Flourish?” she suggested, smiling up at him.
“I was going to say twirling, but yes. Indeed. Flourish is the perfect word for it.”
Both of the children began laughing so hard that they lost their rhythm, their feet getting tangled together as they tumbled to the floor in a heap.
“Colin Bridgerton!” his mama hollered and he bit his lip to try to slow his absolute glee at the silliness of their situation. He looked at Penelope, biting her own lip as well, both of their eyes sparkling with the secret that this was delightful despite whatever show of remorse they would have to put on now.
“Yes, mama?” he called innocently from his spot on the floor, Pen’s hand still in his grasp.
“Your mother seems quite angry at us,” Pen whispered, some hesitation in her voice. Colin remembered then that her mama often got angry - far more angry than his own - and his little friend might truly be worried even though she need not be.
He squeezed her hand tight.
“I don’t believe she is angry, she only wishes I would be more careful. All will be well,” he whispered and she looked up at him, nodding and trusting him.
He looked up to find his mother approaching, her face stern but a softness in her eyes as she knelt to the ground in front of them.
“I need you two to take more care as you dance. You could have truly been hurt.” She glanced back and forth between the friends. “I know that you do not wish to learn to dance, Colin, but Penelope does.”
“I do wish to learn,” he said, surprising even himself. “I did not wish to before but I do wish to learn to dance with Penelope. When we grow up, I shall dance with her at every ball.”
Penelope giggled beside him and he grinned.
“Only if she wishes that as well, Colin,” his mother said, holding back her own laughter.
“Oh I do,” Pen said with a smile. “Colin may have the first dance at every ball.”
“Only the first?” he looked at her and scrunched up his nose. “Why should I not have all the dances? I am your best friend.”
“I am her best friend!” Eloise cried from across the room as she waltzed with Benedict.
“No you are not,” Colin yelled back, rolling his eyes and then raising his eyebrows at his best friend as she smiled and popped her hand over her mouth to hide it.
“Colin, Penelope can save you that dance if she chooses, but not all of them. When you two are old enough to attend balls, you will be out in society. Penelope will need to dance with other young gentlemen who take interest in her and who she enjoys. She will have suitors. And you will be dancing with other young ladies as well.” His mother rubbed his back as he stared at her, then at Penelope and back.
Violet rose to her feet then reached a hand down to each of the children, helping them up.
“I am glad you two are enjoying one another, but during dance lessons, please do listen to the instructor and learn the proper steps.” Both children dropped their heads and nodded.
As she walked away, Colin tentatively reached his hand back out to Penelope and she took it, giving him a soft smile.
“All is well, Colin. You were right, she was not angry,” she said.
But it was worse than that for Colin, his mind spinning with the information he had just been given. That Penelope was learning to dance so that she could dance with others and leave him alone. That he would be required to spend his time dancing with debutantes instead of enjoying her company.
“Are you alright?” His little friend whispered as he waltzed her around the room, taking care not to step on her toes. His toes were never in any danger. He really was quite lucky that his sweet friend was a natural dancer.
“I just do not wish to grow up and dance with other young ladies,” he confided in her. “I would miss you terribly.”
“I do not wish to have suitors, either. Not really. I would much prefer to talk to you.”
“And make quips about the others,” Colin whispered and she giggled.
“Mmhmm. And they must have sweets at balls?”
“Oh they do, I have seen them when I have snuck to the top of the stairs to take a peek,” he shared, fondly remembering their cook sneaking him a few biscuits last time his parents hosted such a soiree. “And lemonade, there must always be lemonade.”
“Oh I do love lemonade,” she sighed and smiled.
“So perhaps when we are older we would not have to entertain silly young gentlemen or young ladies at all,” he suggested. “Perhaps we could enjoy sweets and lemonade and share jokes.”
Penelope nodded.
“I quite like that idea,” her voice was bright, but her eyes were filled with concern. He widened his own at hers, silently encouraging her to go on. “Although in truth, I would also like to dance.”
“Well then it is a good thing we have lessons so that I can learn to be the best dancer of all.” He meant it with all his heart, he realized, and she didn’t need to worry one bit. Becoming the best dancer for her would be no trouble at all, and then he would be able to dance with her any time she pleased.
“I believe you will always be my favorite dance partner, Colin,” she said.
“And I know you will always be mine, Pen.”
Seeing his siblings all focused on their own feet, Colin took advantage of the opportunity to give Penelope several extra twirls, spinning her wildly beneath his outstretched arm with no regard to the music or the steps.
“Mr. Bridgerton and Miss Featherington!”
Both children looked at the instructor, then back at one another before erupting in giggles once more.