Promise the Stars
Chapter 1: The Vow Original Version.
7 of April 1820, Mayfair, London.
John, the most loyal servant of the Bridgerton family, frantically rushes into the front entrance of the grand estate.
The butler knows that there is one person awake at this hour.
John pulls nervously on the right arm sleeve of his navy blue uniform as he enters the hidden entrance towards the Viscount study room.
The moment he found the Lord of the Bridgerton Pretentious Estate sleeping in his study chair with a half-written apology letter to a Lord named Alfred Debling in front of him, he had felt guilty for what he must do.
The poor Viscount Bridgerton had his plate full of obligations. To add the theatrics of his seven siblings and their scandalous love affairs as the top priority is something the butler could not understand.
The young man has gained more grey hairs from the stress of obtaining a family reputation and being their source of income.
John cannot help but admire Lord Bridgerton. His utter devotion to his family and the care of the estate made him one of the most beloved by his staff.
The tan man with brown eyes and a gray wig lightly shakes the weary man with brown eyes, curly brown hair, and disheveled attire from his slumber.
"Lord Bridgerton!" John genuinely shouts, "Please accept my sincere apologies for disturbing you at this hour!"
The panic hidden behind his sincere words awakens Anthony from his slumber.
"Whatever is the matter, John?" Lord Bridgerton asks while rubbing the sleep from his eyes with his right hand.
"Your neighbor from across the square, Mrs. Eliza Evergreen, has requested an audience with you in their gardens."He addresses the distressed Lord, "Swiftly, I may add."
Anthony nods to accept the message."Is there anything else?"
John looks uncertain about how to reply.
Anthony's mind went high alert from witnessing his butler being speechless.
"It is- your brother, sir." The butler utters with pity behind each word.
Dread comes across Anthony's wary face as he learns why his neighbor had called him.
Mr. Colin Bridgerton, his second youngest brother, had sneaked out from his childhood bed-chambers and had gone unnoticed by Anthony's footman. Colin must be causing a spectacle in Mr Evergreen's townhouse gardens. The more he thinks about his reckless brother, the more Anthony dreads the outcome with Mrs. Evergreen.
To see if there is a clue on where Colin's mind could be, Anthony's brown eyes roam around the room until he notices a half bottle of brandy missing.
Lady Mary had gifted him a bottle of Brandy on his wedding day. He had poured himself a serving while dealing with the aftermath of Colin's dramatic scene last night. The bottle is no longer on the desk where he left it.
It takes a few seconds for the Viscount to realize that Colin has taken the glass bottle. With the enormous portion of liquor his brother drank the night before, Colin is not in the right state of mind.
The liquid from that bottle of brandy is so strong that one drink could cause a gentleman to falter, and that is when everything clicks in place.
'Colin, what have you done?' the eldest sibling thought as he stood up from his seated position with a panicked expression on his lips.
"John, I must request you to inform Mister Benedict Bridgerton of the matters. I also ask for you to grab Javier and Judas.We will need assistance at the Evergreen Estate gardens!" Anthony orders.
John nods in acceptance while Viscount Bridgerton moves around his desk.
'Colin is being reckless again. He may as well announce the ton about his forbidden love for all of Mayfair to hear.' The stressful Vicount sighs.
Anthony feels his patience diminished by John's standing in the study room. The sleep-deprived man woke him up from his deep thoughts but shouted. " Well, do just stand there. Make haste!"
"Yes, sir!" John replies before springing into action.
Both leave the study room without uttering another word to each other.
"My Lord, please have Colin come to his senses. I cannot help him if he gets in an illegal duel with another ton man for his actions.' Anthony murmurs under his breath as he feels time slipping through his fingers.
The Viscount begins to dress himself for descent purposes. He then pinches his nose in annoyance as Anthony Bridgerton recalls the events from the previous night.
Colin Bridgerton had stolen more than one drink this week from his expensive liquor cabinet.
Anthony was ready to rig his neck when he found a letter from Lady Debling's maid-in-waiting, Rae. Penelope Featherington-nee-Debling had a troublesome childbirth. Before her twenty-fourth birthday, she had perished after giving birth to a daughter. Colin, his once-kind brother, had gone off the rails since Lord Alfred Debling had Lady Penelope Debling buried. The widowed Lord had not only begun removing his wife's items from the house, but he was also selling or disturbing her belongings.
Secretly, or so Colin thought his eldest brother didn't know, he began collecting the items that Penelope treasured through her closest loved ones.
Anthony approved a location for Penelope's book collection in Audrey Hall's Library. He had a footman remove them from his brother's hiding spot in the Library the night prior and placed them on the bottom shelf. Colin had more of her belongings in his childhood room at the Bridgerton estate in a trunk beside his bedframe. One of the few Eloise mentioned could be an unfinished romance novel, which Penelope was close to completing. In addition to the stack of brilliant words on parchment paper, which Anthony would not admit he read, there were other things he didn't want to know.
The Viscount assumes there are two years worth of letters.
Anthony had to remember walking in on Colin while re-reading her letters. His brother had confessed to Benedict and him that Miss Penelope Featherington had corresponded with him more than the rest of the family while on his travels.
It is not prohibited in society for an unmarried gentleman and a gentle breed to exchange throughout the years. Still, Colin and Penelope continued their communication throughout the end of their lives.
The last of Penelope's belongings were a couple of sets of jewelry.
There is no doubt in Anthony's mind that Colin removed those items from his wife's belongings. Indeed, Colin did for his wife had revealed the deed, and she told Anthony's wife, Kate.
Penelope's cousin retold the situation with astonishment behind her words, "I have no clue where the blue emerald necklace with the set of earrings has gone. On the day I placed Penelope's jewelry boxes on my vanity, the next day, they had vanished. My maid has searched the house and came back empty-handed."
Anthony refocuses on the announcement of Penelope's death.
After finding the letter written to Colin, Anthony pulled Benedict out of his slumber. The two eldest brothers made haste as they realized why their sister, by marriage, was acting so strange during her visit with their mother.
The brothers knew Penelope's birthday was the 8th of April. Lady Debling was supposed to turn four and two.
There was doubt in their minds about where to find their mourning brother, the Debling Estate.
Colin had gone out and done something foolish.
He demanded a butler to call upon Lord Debling. Only to find out that the widower was seeing Lady Cressida Twombley.
Colin was outraged by the news.
Anthony heard Colin shout this in bewilderment before making their presence known. Seeing the anguish on Colin'soverly extended- thin body broke Anthony's heart. In Colin's mind, Lord Debling was already replacing his wife, Penelope, with someone who despised his wife.
It had seemed wise to approach his brother of six and two as one would when handling a wounded animal until he saw Colin pull out a pistol.
The Viscount thanked God for Lord Debling's footman's quick actions.
The man had grabbed the pistol from Colin's hands before his youngest brother could join his beloved Penelope.
The bullet barely missing Anthony's ear was the last of his concern as two footmen and Benedict helped him pull Colin from the Debling's residence.
The last thing Anthony remembers from that sterilized estate is the wailing of the baby in the room where his brother was sitting nearby and Colin crying out Lady Debling's Christian name."Penelope."
When the brothers came home, Anthony was about to scold Colin for his actions. His plans changed when they entered the Bridgerton Estate.
Dowager Violet, their mother, has been beside herself since Colin entered the room. Two of Anthony's footmen help the Lord and his brother as they keep the distressed man away from the rest of the family.
Benedict tried to console Colin's fury, and his words caused their brother more anguish like a wild werewolf.
Anthony remembers ordering the children to leave the room to one of the staff employees. He didn't want the children to see their Uncle in such a state of agony. The nursemaid had taken the initiative to his order by taking the little ones to the family gardens.
Colin's sobs brought several of their siblings into the foyer.
Throughout the walls of the Bridgerton home, his shouts echo through the silence of their childhood home. Colin demanded the men around him to let him go until he spotted the one person who kept him from marrying the love of his life, Penelope's cousin.
The Viscountess and the love of his life, Kate, Benedict, his expected wife Sophie, and their mother witness the third eldest degrading his wife.
It had shocked Anthony to hear the words his brother yelled at his wife. Hearing Colin blame Marina Thompson-nee-Bridgerton for ruining his chances with Penelope was something he never thought Colin would express. Lady Violet chastened his loud thoughts while Marina cried in their mother's arms.
Anthony allowed Colin to say everything he could not while his brother kept his turmoil emotions hidden behind the mirage of a happy marriage.
Unexpecting as it was, Colin turned to him and confessed what Anthony had said privately after learning of his engagement to Miss Thompson.
"There I said it." Colin roared with his agony and fury behind each word he spat. "Is that what you’ve been waiting for? There they are, the words finally spoken out loud. Are you happy now?”
Guilt and confusion were written all over his face upon hearing Colin.
Colin's actions were nothing more than his heart and mind speaking.
Marina caused his brother's welfare to decline to protect her children.
There was no doubt in Anthony's mind that she had a choice in Lady Portia Featherington's scheme. He could not comprehend the reasons for choosing Colin until he overheard his wife's last conversation with Lady Mary before her departure.
Men have everything they need. Women are expected to obtain and obey their husbands by society. The Bridgertion family is a desire many would die to be associated with as investors, trading, or marriage. It is something that Anthony should be proud of but he cannot.
Colin was now hurting his loved ones with his words as a weapon. His brother also had a choice in the matter but was blind to see what he had gained by asking Marina for her hand in marriage.
Anthony knew he should have stepped in long before Colin could rip the locket Lord Debling had gifted Marina and the Featherington's woman. Inside the silver heart locket is a piece of Penelope's red hair.
Anthony ordered someone to bring something to calm his brother down.
Quickly, Miss Wilson put something over Colin's nose, and he fell unconscious.
Relief came over everyone in the room as his fragile body had fallen into the nearest two footmen's arms.
Kate had taken over the situation by requesting the footman to bring Colin to his childhood bedroom. Anthony had smiled proudly at his wife before turning to Mrs Marina Bridgerton. The eldest brother wanted to shout at her to leave the premises when his mother had taken the woman into another room.
The Viscount has not seen Marina since last night.
Kate informed him before retiring to their bed chamber. "Your mother had prohibited Marina from coming over for a while. Marina had dared to deny the Dowger's request until I got involved. My word! How was your brother able to handle such a vile woman? I will not ever comprehend."
The news of Marina's departure brought a sort of ease to Anthony's mind.
Still, there was one more issue to solve.
Annoyance and grief are written all over Anthony's worn-down face. The man of zero and four takes the time in solitude to create an apology for what will be a never-ending cycle of Colin's rash behavior.
Once the Viscount is ready to make his appearance known, he greets his neighbor with a kind smile.
A lady with brown hair, pale white skin, and green eyes greets him with a sorrowful expression written all over her thin face. "Thank goodness you have come! Please, come! I must talk to you in private."
"Mrs. Evergreen. What has occurred?" Anthony asks with his right hand clutching his black coat.
Mrs. Evergreen sighs. "I believe it would be better- if we had this conversation inside the garden walls. For this situation is something which you must see with your own eyes, Lord."
Despite the low temperature, Lord Anthony accepts her request and waits for the ivory gate door to be open. "Very Well. As you wish."
Mrs. Evergreen orders the curvy maid in an emerald uniform beside her.
"Helga, will you open the door?' She kindly asks, "Once finished, please tell Mr. Fernando Everngreen that Lord Bridgerton is here."
The stoic maid accepts Mrs. Eliza's order, and Helga opens the small gate without hesitation before leaving.
The lady of nine and three steps aside and allows Anthony to enter the property.
Walking next to Mrs Evergreen, he notices where they are heading.
A lemon tree and a marble bench beside the townhouse's right-side granite wall come into his view.
The thin lemon tree was bearing more fruit than its branches could hold, which should have been a sign to Lord Bridgerton that something was wrong. Instead, Anthony recalls seeing Miss Penelope Featherinton sitting at her favorite bench beside the tree with Colin or Eloise by her side.
"Mrs. Evergreen, whatever my brother Colin has done-" Anthony begins to utter but stops when the annoyance from his eyes evaporates.
Besides the lemon tree on the ground, Mr. Colin Bridgerton lies on his back. Dry vomit comes from the corner of his blue lips, and Anthony stands frozen with pain in his eyes. The Viscount sees Colin's right hand reaching out to the bench beside him, and the other holds Marina's locket close to his heart.
The scene before Anthony makes him realize the reason for the unexpected call at this forsaken hour.
Mr. Colin Bridgerton, his brother, is dead.
"No!" Anthony hoarsely whispers in shock.
In the dark of the night, the Lord sees what had caused his brother's demise.
Colin had died due to asphyxiation from his vomit.
"Oh, Colin, what have you done?' The Viscount whimpers out as his nose stings with pain.
Mrs. Everngreen stares at the man before her with sorrow behind her kind eyes. Her right-hand dabs several of her tears away with her handkerchief while she waits to explain the situation before them.
"My Lord, if I may speak." She kindly requests.
Knowing that Mrs Evergreen had to ask the question for her to speak, Anthony replies."You may."
In a relaxed tone, she begins her tale, "One of my maiden maids was making her rounds of picking up my children's toys when she approached Mr. Bridgerton. Our housekeeper, Miss Hagal, had awakened after hearing her scream in shock. MyLord, my housekeeper was a nurse before joining my staff. She checked his pulse and determined his death to be at twenty-three."
Mrs Everngreen pauses to ponder her thoughts. "I know how fast gossip spreads. I thought it was best to tell you before the ton awakens. My staff will not talk to anyone about this situation."
Anthony nods at his neighbor's response as he hides the rest of his emotions from her.
"Thank you, Mrs. Everngreen." The Viscount muffled. "Would you mind if I stay alone with my brother before my footmen come?"
Mrs. Evergreen nods." Of course! And- my condolences, Lord Bridgerton." she whispers the last phase with remorse behind her condolence.
Anthony nods 'Thank you' while he approaches Colin's corpse.
He waits for Mrs. Evergreen and her staff to be gone before allowing the tears behind his eyes to fall.
"Colin." Anthony studders as he tries to keep his vision clear."At last, you are with your Penelope."
Silence fills the garden's grounds until a surprised sob escapes Anthony's lips.
It has been a long time since he had felt a pain such as tonight.
The moon shines brightly upon the two men in the dewy grass. One of the two cradles his brother in his arms while the other stares at the stars with dead eyes.
"I hope you know what you have done, dear brother." He pauses to stare into Colin's face, "Mother may not live when she sees you."
Anthony took this time to think about what Colin would have done after his mourning period.
His brother may have blamed the child for her mother's death, but Colin's selfless heart would also do anything in his power to keep Peneloe's daughter safe.
The poor child will be living a dreadful life with an absent father and a vile stepmother.
No, a child should never live in a hostile environment.
The Bridgerton family is the key to bringing happiness to Miss Delbing's life.
In the middle of the night, while he holds Colin in his arms, Anthony knows what he must've done in the first place. Anthony will do everything in his power. To prevent such a situation from occurring again.
Truly, Colin desired Penelope as his wife. His mind had no inkling of what his heart had always known. The travel writer was in love with the gossip author of Mayfair.
Penelope. Darling Pen, as Colin would call her, wanted the same thing.
In the family's mind, Penelope was supposed to be a Bridgerton. She was the light behind Colin's eyes, but her presence had a major impact on their lives.
After her funeral, Eloise came to him in private study while he was working on the balance of checks. She had informed Anthony of the many times Penelope had saved their family from ruin due to his foolish actions. It is thanks to Penelope'sfamily that the scandals surrounding their family were mild.
Anthony may have a chance to fix the error from his brother's previous action with one of his children. He can give Penelope's child the life their mother, Violet, had always desired. To be a Bridgertion.
It may be tricky for the Viscount to take on such a task.
Yet, he knows history cannot repeat itself.
"Yes!" he whispers with determination, "That is what I must do."
Anthony holds Colin's head securely in his arms like a father holds a newborn. He gently faces his brother's eyes to stare into his while he remorsefully declares. "Colin, I have a vow. This promise is one I bestow on the child of Penelope's, my dearest brother. Please, listen to it before you fully leave this earth."
Anthony places his unbandaged hand over Colin's eyelids before staring at the night sky.
"On Colin Bridgerton's behalf, I promise the stars that Miss Debling will be taken care of by the Bridgerton family. I swear it, dear brother! The stars will know your death will not be in vain, Colin. Kate and I will ensure Penelope'sdaughter will become what Lady Debling should have been since the Featheringtons came into our lives. A Bridgerton."
Two stars in the night sky twinkle from hearing his vow while the Viscount holds his baby brother's upper torso into his chest. Allowing the vomit to smear all over his cravat.
Sitting alone in the place that was once known to Anthony as Featherington's garden, he mentally prepares his new life on behalf of his brother, Mr. Colin Bridgerton. Silence fills the foggy air again as Anthony turns back to face his brother's body and closes Colin's eyelids for the last time.
That night is one Anthony will never forget.
For you see, dear readers.
When a man has no will to live, their deepest desire to perish becomes their reality.
It is not the same for those who choose to live.
When a man is devoted to his love like the Viscount is to his family, he will triumph over all the odds to succeed.
Rewrite the Stars by rottentiger
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