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"For God's sake, Benedict, you're a bloody pest! Leave him be before he cries and runs to Mother. And if that happens I won't help you because you would deserve whatever you got."
"I am not crying!" Colin screeched, obviously holding back tears.
Anthony was growing exhausted with his brothers. It was pouring rain outside and all he wanted to do was finish his book, but unfortunately Benedict was in one of his court jester-ing moods where he was focused on 'showing off' for his older brother. Really Benedict was only succeeding in annoying Anthony with his bullying of Colin that would probably just end up with all three of them in trouble. Benedict didn't seem cowed by the censure, though, and instead redoubled his efforts.
The middle Bridgerton brother took the cards he was holding out of Colin's reach and fanned them out, waving and taunting Colin like a matador to a bull. And a bull was an apt comparison because the youngest Bridgerton brother was huffing and snorting and stomping like a wild animal at the teasing, egging Benedict on further. Anthony was about to peek over his pages to tell the pair of them to get out before he threw them out when there was a roar of anger followed by a loud thunk and…
"Ow!! Fucking hell! Colin you little bast-"
"What happened?!" Anthony jumped up and his eyes landed on Benedict doubled over holding his forehead while blood poured between his fingers.
In a flash, Anthony tossed his book aside and pulled out his kerchief to staunch the flow coming from above Benedict's left eye and take stock of the damage. It seemed other than the blood Benedict was fine, though this wasn't an ideal accident for the newly redone 'yellow parlour.' Anthony then picked up a surprisingly heavy dog figurine from the floor that must have been the offending weapon.
"That little beast threw that at me!"
"Well I told you to leave him alone," Anthony arranged Benedict so he was holding his own head before kneeling in front his little brother who looked as if he'd just been petrified by Medusa.
"Now, Colin, what were you thinking? That was quite dangerous, you could have hurt Benedict badly!" He tried to be stern, but baby brother was looking shocked and pathetic with tears starting to flow in tracts down his cheeks. He'd leave stern-ness up to one of their parents and instead deal with Benedict.
"He's okay, Colin. It is just a little cut. I'll go get him fixed up like new. You go on to you room and wait to talk with Mama or Papa while I do that, alright?"
"Hey! I'm bleeding like a stuck pig over here! Who says I'm okay?!" Colin's eyes widened and he turned and fled.
Anthony groaned, "You are no help at all, you twat. If I had a dog figurine within reach I would have bashed you with it, as well. Come on, let's get you out of here before anything else in this room is beyond saving."
Anthony pulled Benedict along less gently than if he were any other boy bleeding profusely from the head towards Mrs. Rashford's office. She was the head housekeeper and always seemed to know what to do with boy-ish injuries and their side effects. Like, for example, blood on a new white and yellow rug.
A couple hours later the excitement of Benedict's condition had settled. The doctor had been fetched and Benedict was stitched up and bandaged and resting in his room against his will. However, there was a house-wide search going on for Colin who was no where to be found. Edmund had just taken a break to check on Benedict again, when one of the veteran footmen knocked softly.
"My lord, we found Master Colin in the garden sitting room. Hiding behind the curtains. James is at the door to make sure he does not find a new hiding place before you get there," he informed them before he bowed out.
"Father, wait…Please, do not be too angry. I was teasing. He didn't mean it. He's only little," Benedict had been in a state of shock earlier, but now that things had calmed, he didn't hold it against Colin. Some (ahem, Anthony) might say he'd been sufficiently provoked. And who would have thought that little dog could do such damage. And the doctor said head wounds were bloodier than they ought to be.
Edmund couldn't help but smile, "I know it was an accident. He would never want to hurt you. Though even with his older brother's teasing," he sent a pointed look towards Benedict who cringed slightly, "seven is old enough to know he cannot do such things. A little lower and he might have damaged your eye. We will be back shortly to apologize and you can show him you're alive and well and cheeky as ever." Edmund smoothed some of Benedict's hair that was sticking up wildly out of the bandage before turning to find his youngest son.
Colin wrapped his arms tighter around his knees, curling into the smallest ball possible. He knew he'd been found and now there were eyes on him until Papa retrieved him, but for some reason the position was comforting. Even though he was nervous about what Papa would do, he was relieved to have been finally found. He was worried about Benedict. And he didn't like sitting here knowing that Mama and Papa were out there probably angry with him. What he really wanted was for this afternoon to be done with; a hug and forgiveness, even if it probably meant a smacked bottom first. Colin was so lost in his sorrow that he didn't even hear his father come in and settle on the floor on the other side of his curtain.
"You had us worried, darling."
Colin responded to his father's voice with a loud sniffle. Edmund pushed the curtain aside and gathered the boy into his lap.
"Ben was bleeding," Colin said into Edmund's chest.
"He was, but he's all better now. Dr. Becker came and saw to him and Mrs. Pitt brought him some sweets afterwards."
"Is he very cross with me? Are you?"
When Colin looked up with his red, teary, hazel eyes Edmund was temped to forget the whole thing. Maybe get him a puppy.
"No he is not cross. Except that he has to stay in bed, but I think the sweets made up for that. And neither am I, it was an accident. But we do have some things to talk about, hmm?" Colin whined and snuggled closer.
Edmund's knees were beginning to protest about his current position on the floor and the rest of their conversation was probably best in the privacy of Colin's bedroom so he groaned and started pulling himself up with Colin attached around his neck like a monkey, "Alright, let's go then."
In the time it took to get up to Colin's room, Edmund had a chance to steel himself to dishing out a punishment. Maybe small punishment. Colin clearly regret his earlier behaviour. And Benedict was fine. And likely not completely faultless. But still, he can't allow his children to be flinging heavy objects at all their annoyances. So he peeled Colin off his chest and sat down on the bed with the boy between his knees.
"Now would you like to tell me what happened?"
Colin pouted and shrugged, eyes on the floor. Edmund tilted his chin with a finger until they were eye to eye.
"Benedict took my cards. And wouldn't give them back," Colin mumbled.
Now, in front of his father, that seemed a bad excuse. Father's eyebrow cocked in a way that told him they were in agreement.
"And I got mad. Anthony told him to stop!" Colin cried, he and Benedict were supposed to listen to Anthony, it wasn't fair! "He was holding them high so I could not reach, I thought if I hit his hand he might drop them but I missed. Why wouldn't he just give them back??"
Edmund sighed, "Yes he was not being very kind and is sorry for it. He told me not to be too upset with you because he was teasing and you 'are only little.' And I am not upset, but you aren't so little anymore, are you? You're becoming a young man. But even as a little boy you knew hitting and throwing things when you were mad were not acceptable and would earn you a spanking. Benedict is very lucky he just needed a few stitches and didn't get blood in his eye or become ill from a concussion."
Colin was sniffling and wiping his eyes, already giving into tears and Papa hadn't even smacked him yet, "Yes, Papa. I didn't mean it, I am sorry."
Edmund wiped a hand down his face at how sad and sweet Colin looked, he needed to get this over with.
"I know you are sorry, love. Let us deal with your naughtiness and then we will go check on Benedict and you two can apologize to each other. Come, over my knee," Edmund patted the knee unnecessarily.
Colin squirmed in place but started unbuttoning his breeches. He wasn't a little boy anymore and he wouldn't make Papa drag him over his lap. And if Benedict had to have Dr. Becker sew up a cut on his head then it was only fair that Colin was now bare bottom up over Papa's knee.
Edmund immediately smacked down half dozen times, "Next time Benedict or anyone else has you so upset, you come find me or your mother. Or you can go play elsewhere. But you do not try to fix it yourself by hitting or putting yourself or someone else in danger. Is that clear?"
Colin's eyes were screwed up and his breaths came in shallow pants, making it hard to answer. He finally gasped, "Yes, Papa!"
"If I hear of such behavior you and I will be having this discussion in my study," Edmund laid down a few more swats until Colin's bottom was a uniformly stingy pink.
"No!" Colin gasped, he was glad to be growing away from 'little boy' and into 'young man' but not the study! From what Benedict and Anthony said, the study was a place he definitely wanted to avoid!
His father's palm moved down to his sensitive sit spots and upper thighs and he cried out, "Yes. So what can you do next time you are getting so angry with someone?"
"Tell you!" Colin wailed while kicking his feet.
"What else?" Edmund said calmly before snacking each sit spot and thigh twice.
It was so hard to think under these conditions! Unhelpful thoughts flew across his mind like owowow and ouch and not there. He was relieved when his father stopped spanking for a moment and answered for him.
"You go play somewhere else. Take yourself out of the situation. Understood?"
"Yes! Yes, Papa! I promise!" He cried, burying his face in his arms.
Edmund rubbed circles over Colin's back as he let him cry. He didn't think he'd been overly harsh, Colin had just bee quite upset all day and had a lot to get out. He looked like he would barely feel a thing in a couple hours. After a few minutes Edmund righted Colin's clothes and pulled him up to his lap. Colin only wriggled a little after being perched on his father's knee before he settled into being held and forgiven.
Ten minutes later Edmund was leading Colin into Benedict's room and was greeted with a death stare from his second eldest.
"Papa, you said you weren't angry!" Ben accused.
Ahh, so Benedict did not appreciate overhearing Colin's punishment. That was fine, but the attitude was not the smartest way to go about showing it, especially since he was only off the hook because getting stitches in your forehead seemed punishment enough for the day.
Edmund raised an eyebrow in warning, "Watch your tone, Benedict. Colin has something to say to you."
"I'm sorry Ben, I hope your head is not too sore. I only meant to hit your arm so you dropped my cards. I hope Dr. Becker wasn't too scary. And that you don't have to stay in bed for too long. And that Mrs. Pitt brought you a lot of sweets."
"It's alright, Colin. I'm sorry I was teasing you so. You forgive me?" Colin nodded, "Maybe you can sit in here and keep me company for a little while since I'm stuck in bed? We can play cards? Please?" Benedict's earlier death stare was replaced with his best puppy dog eyes.
Edmund sighed, it probably wasn't great parenting to allow them this treat when both should be in trouble, but oh well, "You may. Just for an hour. Then supper and early to bed for you both."
Another raised eyebrow silenced the complaint Benedict was about to spout. Edmund kissed both boys hair before leaving them to their own devices. It might not have been smart to leave them with the object of their earlier quarrel, but with any luck they would get through the hour peacefully and he wouldn't need to deal with another brotherly altercation for a few days. And hopefully it would be at least a week until they needed another house call from Dr. Becker.