Pairing: Colin Bridgerton x Fem!Reader
Summary: What a lovely afternoon for a promenade. There is something unusual brewing in the midst.
Content: No use of y/n, reader’s last name is Bennett for fic purposes but feel free to imagine another surname that’s suitable for you, pining, friends turned lovers and a lot of fluff. Reader has a younger sister and an older brother.
A/N: Thank you for sticking with me through another part! I would love to hear feedback from you.
In addition, gentle reader, there have been sightings of Lord William Brixton returning to the Ton. It was a scandal when he had left Miss Bennett with no proposal during her debut. There have been whispers of him returning to take her hand once more. Are these rumors or the truth of his presence during this season? We will not know until-
The newest edition of Lady Whistledown was plucked out of your hands by your mother. She scowled because she did not want you and your sister to read the words of the rumor-littered paper. You only read it for entertainment, but it intrigued you to read more when you were mentioned. Lord Brixton's return had certainly been a topic of conversation for the Mamas who had wished to pawn their daughters off to the Lord. Yet you knew that each of them had been turned down due to his interest in you.
It was flattering, to say the least, knowing that he had eyes on you. Soon you thought of Colin, your fingers toyed with the dainty jewel hanging from the necklace he had gifted you. A special gift he purchased because he thought of you. Lord Brixton hadn't bestowed you a personal gift such as that but he simply declared that he wished to court you. You told him you would give it thought, and he had respectfully accepted that you needed time after his abrupt departure that started whispers.
Now with his return, you were deemed desirable to your dismay. You did not want the attention when your sister was the one eager to be married while you were fine being unmarried. If only you could be a wallflower much like Penelope Featherington had been. Was, rather. Lady Whistledown had written down information that you were not aware of a certain Bridgerton helping her to find a husband. He was a good friend to her, so you saw nothing wrong with him aiding. However, there were whispers.
Now you walked alongside your mother as your sister was a few paces ahead with one of her many suitors. At the corner of your eye you saw a familiar figure walk your way with a smile that belonged to no other than Colin Bridgerton. When he had approached you and your mother, he nodded his head in greeting. You and your mother acknowledged him with small curtsies in return.
"Lady Bennett, Miss Bennett," Colin greeted, "Lovely day, isn't it?"
"Yes, quite lovely," you replied, a soft smile gracing your lips.
Colin smiled at you before he glanced at your mother, asking her permission to whisk you away momentarily. She waved you both off with her hand before she continued on to chaperone your sister. A simple chuckle rumbled in Colin's chest as he glanced back at you. He offered his arm to you, and you reached out to hold it as he guided you on the path. Your own maid followed paces behind you to keep you chaperoned.
"It pleases me that you are wearing my gift," he commented.
You smiled warmly at him. "I have taken quite a liking to it," you responded. He turned his head to look at you, and you felt his hand pat your hand that rested on his arm. That smile of his made him swoon.
You suddenly grow nervous, your cheeks warmed as you become aware of how close he is to you. Your heart raced in your chest because you knew that Colin wanted more, but he was not voicing that he did. However, you did try to push past that when you had something to ask of him.
"I did not know you were aiding Penelope to find a husband," you then said.
He was taken by surprise, and a nervous chuckle left him. "Ah, so you read about it then," he said as he looked ahead. "That was true. Since I cannot keep anything from you, I have spoken to her before seeking you out. She has put my help on pause to prevent further gossip."
The smile only grew on your face as you pulled him to stop walking so you could look at him. "That is truly admirable, Colin. I do not see that as a negative thing at all for helping Penelope. It shows your brilliant character," you stated.
His gaze lingered on you, and yours on him. You could see the tiniest hint of pink on his cheeks as you complimented him, which made you giggle in return before you gently tugged him along to continue your walk.
He then cleared his throat. "And what of you and Lord Brixton? Has he really returned to seek your hand?" The question made you gently grip his arm a little tighter and it was his turn to pause your walk to look at you. "What is wrong?" His face was now riddled with concern as he looked you over, seeing that distant look on your face.
A soft sigh left you as you looked elsewhere, now avoiding his gaze. "He wishes to court me again, Colin," you admitted to him. You looked at him now and you saw the look of conflict on his face, his gaze not meeting yours. The look made you desperately want to ease his worries. "I told him I would think of it and he granted me as much time as I needed," you told him.
Colin's eyes met yours, and a small look of relief showed on his features. "Ah, I see," he responded, and a small smile went to his lips, "That makes me glad that he is giving you time."
You wanted to reach out to him, but it would have been inappropriate. You wanted to tell him to convey his feelings. Then you remembered what your mother told you, and that was a woman must not beg. The words he wrote on paper were strong indications that he had feelings for you, but he never spoke them out loud. Was he too afraid to admit his feelings out loud to you? He did not realize how much turmoil he put you through, but you hid it with a mask that showed that you were fine when you weren't. All he had to do was ask and you would give him what he wanted.
"Shall we?" He asked, gesturing to the path once more. You give him a timid smile and a nod before you are off again. The conversation was more about his travels because he hadn't told you everything through his letters. As fascinating as his stories were, your heart grew heavy with want when you wished he wasn't talking to you as a friend.
You left the promenade with unanswered questions that afternoon. The longing you had for Colin burned through your body, and he consumed your every thought. Even now as you stood by the refreshment table at the Cowell House, you were too distracted by your thoughts until your name was being called. You glanced at Penelope as she joined you, and you both shared sheepish smiles.
"I did not think you were one for hiding," she said softly.
A soft laugh left your lips and you shook your head. "Is it that obvious? I believe my head is entirely in the clouds this evening," you responded. She was curious, but you revealed nothing to her. Your private matters were your own, and you did not wish for gossip to ignite from possible eavesdroppers. Lady Whistledown had eyes and ears at every event, and you simply did not want to be written about again.
Your conversation with Penelope was light and short until your eyes met Colin's from across the room. He looked at you in the same way you looked at him. It was like time had stopped. Your breathing was heavy and you had to excuse yourself from Penelope in a rush as you broke eye contact. You dared not to look at him again as you walked somewhere else in the room, your eyes were to the floor as you attempted to make an escape.
You've barely made it five steps until you collide with someone. Hands were on your shoulders to steady you so you wouldn't lose balance, a startled expression on your face as you looked up to meet Lord Brixton's concerned gaze. He retracted his hands from your shoulders and placed them to his sides as you curtsied to him with your gaze to the ground. Your cheeks warmed with embarrassment due to not seeing him in the first place.
"My apologies, Lord Brixton," you said quickly.
The sound of his laugh filled your ears and your look turned to confusion as you looked up at him. "Your apology is not needed, Miss Bennett. I was hoping to see you today actually," he stated as he placed his hands behind his back.
"Oh?" You asked curiously, but you were far from interested when you were more concerned about leaving the room. "Whatever for?" Your gaze went past the lord and your eyes were met with Colin's again. You broke eye contact and looked back at the man in front of you, a warm smile on your lips.
His brow rose in question at your response, but you kept your composure. "I wanted to see you again. I know I left your estate giving you time to think things over, and I will still allow that time, but I find myself thinking of you often," he expressed.
If you did not have feelings for a certain Bridgerton, you would have been completely enamored by his words like you have been in the past season. However, you felt nothing but a tinge of guilt as he spoke kind words and you couldn't reciprocate them. You had to fake a smile to continue playing a façade. Your mother would want you to be with someone like Lord Brixton, but he was not what your heart yearned for.
"That is quite flattering, Lord Brixton," you said. Suddenly you felt more aware of your surroundings when you felt eyes on you. "Unfortunately, I am feeling unwell, and I wish to go home," you told him.
"Oh, that's too bad. Shall I escort you out?" He did not look pleased, but he was not going to push. You knew him to be too much of a gentleman to push something unwanted on you.
"No, it is fine, I can manage on my own," you replied and gave a weak smile, "I will see you again, Lord Brixton. Have a good evening." You gave him a curtsy before you walked off. You tried not to walk too fast as you kept moving through the crowd while avoiding certain glances. Just like that, you were gone from the Cowell House.
What you didn't see was that Colin Bridgerton was watching your escape, and there was a triumphant look on his face when he looked back to Lord Brixton looking puzzled.
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