I am all alone in this boat but I will ship Colin with just about anyone and find it fire. Colin and Pen? OTP. Colin and Edwina? Fuck yeah. Colin and Phillip? That's hot. Colin and Kate? My beloveds. Colin and Marina? Sure! Colin and Will? Fanning myself. Colin and Portia? What a twist! Colin and Sophie? Let's goooo. Colin and Miss Goring? Show off that hero complex, baby!
At any given moment, I'm like 'yeah, of course they'd be into Colin, who isn't????'
Side fic to falling in love all over again (Read first and comments give me dopamine)
Penelope needed a friend. Colin was engaged to Edwina. She did not even know they were courting. He had been friendly to her but was now marrying someone else.
Marina was in London now, with her husband and children. It made her feel better, seeing her.
"Marina, it is so good to-" Penelope began but noticed Lady Crane was not smiling at her with affection as she usually did, and the twins were not in the drawing room as they usually were.
Marina had spoken with Eloise, who had told her about Whistledown after seeing the horrible things written about Edwina.
"You know, I suppose it made sense." Marina mused, "How else would Whistledown know?"
"Marina... I did not mean to hurt you. I was trying to protect you and Colin."
"No." Marina shook her head, fighting back tears of hurt, "You hated me because Colin was in love with me and not you."
"I don't hate you. You were going to Gretna Green, I had to do something." Penelope emphasised.
"And humiliating me. Humiliating Colin. That was your solution?" Marina said sharply and scoffed, "If you were indeed my friend, you would have found another way. You could have told Colin or Eloise privately. You wanted to humiliate me? Why? For a man who did not even love you in that way."
Penelope looked away, "Look at me, Penelope. Look at your handiwork. You have manipulated all of us."
"It's mainly gossip!"
"That stuff about Eloise and Daphne. The Sharmas. What on earth did we do to you?" Marina asked in disbelief, "We all loved you. I understand the gossip but things we trusted you with! I trusted you. I thought you were my friend." Marina shook her head.
"Colin is an adult. He can make his own decisions, and you took that away from him, and you took that away from me." Marina said.
"It does not He said that he would never dream of courting me-" Penelope defened.
"And I had to marry a stranger, thanks to you. I almost died, thanks to you." Marina replied dryly, "Life just is not fair, is it?"
This was not the kind country girl who came to London, wide-eyed and bright. This was a noblewoman who had tried to deal the cards life had given her.
"And yet, now he is courting Edwina Sharma. Pity. Though, that explains why Whistledown has it in for the diamond. You seem to think she took something of yours."
Penelope was silent. Marina did not understand. She was pretty and confident. She could say what was on her mind.
"Hello," Philip had arrived home and smiled, but he could sense the tension between the women, "Am I interrupting?" He hated interrupting people in general.
"No, Philip. Penelope was just leaving." Marina said steely, and Penelope swallowed, walking out of the drawing room.
"Marina?" Philip asked, gently touching her shoulder. She sniffed and sighed, turning to him and hugging him. He was surprised but hugged her, rubbing her back soothingly.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
She took a deep breath and looked up at him, "Nothing. You are such a good friend and husband. Even marrying me. I-"
"You have nothing to be sorry for. You were grieving. We barely knew one another and that horrid gossip pamphlet." Philip said, "You were trapped in this."
Marina hugged him again, "I rather like our trap now. You, at least, have always been honest and kept my secrets. And you are a good father."
"And you are a good mother," He said, "What has happened? Talk to me?"
She shook her head, "It matters no more. I am going to have Eloise, Colin, Benedict and Edwina over for tea tomorrow. Will you join?"
"Of course, I will." He smiled, "I can show them the gardenias!" She laughed and patted his shoulder as he told her enthusiastically of the flowers.
WELCOME TO THE COLWINA CITY! We're happy to have you and we may or may not have snacks <3
AND I AM EXCITED TO BE HERE!
I definitely had the same thought during the country dance when Colin and Edwina were just having a fucking blast so it pleases me greatly that someone else is also a #genius
Colin smiled, "Are you okay, Edwina? How was the ball?" She had departed earlier than everyone else.
"Just a few whispers," She shrugged, recalling the event, "Nothing too awful. I promise."
"Still-"
"Where do you go at night, Mr Bridgerton?" She interrupted, a smirk on her face. She had a feeling; she had read in a pamphlet the shenanigans he and Benedict allegedly got up to.
He winked, "Perhaps one day, I will take you. Sleep well, Winny." And with that, he left her bedroom.
She smiled to herself at the nickname. She liked it.
