#ladyticklebotham

[daphnejane]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Good evening, Polin fans! LadyTicklebotham and I have updated our butler AU!

Chapter Summary: A failed outing to the village adds to Lady Eastbourne's low spirits. While the earl remains elusive, the butler takes it upon himself to see to the lady's comfort.

Rated: M (no smut yet, but it is coming)

Relevant tags: slow burn, light angst, Polin HEA

Snippet!

The earl had been gone now for eight days, with only a short note to say he had arrived safely in Brighton. During that time, Lady Eastbourne wandered the halls, familiarizing herself with the manor’s corridors and hidden nooks. She spent a great deal of time in the library, arranging and rearranging until she was satisfied with the layout. He would often catch her in different rooms of the house, staring out the window toward the village. He wished there was something he could do for her.  Colin shook his head, dispelling his thoughts as he checked the table setting, adjusting the daffodils in the centerpiece. Having received word from the chambermaids that the lady of the house had risen, Colin ordered breakfast. He caught the whisper of slippers over carpet and looked up as she entered the breakfast room, pale and lovely in a sage green gown. “Good morning, my lady,” he said, more cheerfully than he felt. Really, he ought to have waited for her to speak, but she looked so morose, he felt quite desperate to raise her spirits. “Morning,” she replied. “Is it still morning?” “Only just.” Of course, she hadn’t been at Wycliffe long enough for him to say that he truly knew her usual habits, but he couldn’t help feeling that it didn’t seem like her to sleep the morning away. He set chocolate and toast before her. “The weather looks very fine today. Perhaps some time out of doors might cheer you.” She looked up at him in surprise, her rosebud mouth ever so slightly puckered. Colin wondered if he might have been too forward. Lord, she made him forget his place. He held his breath, waiting. Lady Eastbourne blinked slowly. “Yes, Bridgerton, I think you are right.” Continue reading on AO3.

[daphnejane]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Hello, Polin stans! LadyTicklebotham and I have added another chapter to our dirty picture book! This piece started as a LLW Kinktober prompt (voyeur/exhibitionist), but SURPRISE! I didn't finish in time. Then I remembered this smoking hot sketch by Lady T, and I knew I had to work some facesitting in there too, so we could add it to our picture book. This is a slight canon divergence in the name of smut.

Summary: Colin must apologize for acting so beastly when Pen stumbled upon his journal. Will he make up to her?

Rated E

Snippet!

He shouldn't be here. He really shouldn't be here. When he had begun climbing the tree outside of Penelope’s window, he'd only wanted to apologize to her for acting so abominably when he’d caught her reading his journal. She'd completely evaded him when he saw her crossing Berkeley Square, ignoring him when he called her name. Really, he'd had no choice but to surprise her at home. But when he had gotten to the window and seen her like that—gown unbuttoned and pushed down to her waist, breasts straining to be free of her stays, barely covered by her chemise... He couldn't very well tap on the window when she was in the middle of undressing. He would give her a few minutes to change and then speak to her. Colin turned his attention to the night and looked up through the leaves to study the moon and stars. The sky could be so very different abroad, and he appreciated the constellations of his home. He could make out Polaris just above the roof of Featherington House. That brought his mind back to Penelope. When he looked again, he nearly fell out of the tree. She hadn't dressed. Penelope stood naked between her bed and the window, facing what must have been her mirror in the corner. Well, naked aside from the stockings clinging to her calves, paler even than her skin. The flickering light of a fire in the grate painted her body in shades of gold and orange and set her hair aglow. Her soft curves filled his vision, from her full breasts to her flared hips and the swell of her round bottom. The sheer curtain over her window did little to obscure his view. He should have left immediately; he knew he should have. It was wrong to watch her. Yet he was rooted to the spot, leaning forward as she turned this way and that, pawing at her plump figure with a dissatisfied frown. He opened his mouth, ready to call out and tell her she was perfect, before he realized what a mistake that would be.

Continue reading on AO3.

[daphnejane]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Chapter 2 of our epic Valentine’s Day collab is live! This chapter was written by LadyTicklebotham. Don’t worry, that E is coming at you soon. 😘

It should be the perfect morning: potatoes, Penelope, and post-coital bliss. But Colin finds that even his signature charm can't save him when everything he thought he knew turns upside down...

Next up is my chapter!