Penelope Gets Engaged, and then Colin Surprises Her

Posted originally on the Archive of Our Own at http://archiveofourown.org/works/56126986.

Rating: Explicit
Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Category: F/M
Fandom: Bridgerton (TV)
Relationships: Alfred Debling/Penelope Featherington, Colin Bridgerton/Penelope
Featherington
Characters: Penelope Featherington, Alfred Debling, Portia Featherington, Mrs.
Varley (Bridgerton), Colin Bridgerton
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Alternate Universe, Polin, Sexy,
Romance, Fluff, Romantic Fluff, Friends to Lovers, First Time, Sex, Oral
Sex
Language: English
Stats: Published: 2024-05-24 Words: 3,393 Chapters: 12/12
 Penelope Gets Engaged, and then Colin Surprises Her
by ElanorEnchanted

Summary

In this version, Penelope gets engaged (and more!) to Lord Debling before Colin comes to his
senses and rocks her world.

I thought of this before it became evident Lord Debling was more passionate about his travels
than about Penelope, so it is riffing off some conversations in the show, but is more of an AU
where Debling and Penelope do develop feelings or at least lust—before she knows how
Colin feels!
 Chapter 1

“Do you think love could grow between a man and his wife even if there were often some
distance between them?”
“I should think,” Penelope said carefully, glancing up at Lord Debling as he twirled her on
the dance floor, and she returned to face him, “that if the marriage were happy, then frequent
distance may result…that is to say, they say absence makes the…heart grow fonder.”

Penelope could not help blushing at what she was really thinking, and glanced down quickly,
hoping the lord had not seen her face. Or maybe, hoping he had. Did he suspect?

Most of the tales of romance Penelope had read were quite tame—Miss Austen’s books, Miss
Edgeworth’s, etcetera. But she had found some books of her late father’s in the library that
were, well, quite bawdy, and illustrated quite clearly what her mother had apparently failed to
communicate to her sisters before their marriages. She had had a good laugh at Philippa’s
expense, especially, and she had written a private Whistledown entry about it, which she
never intended to publish, but amused her very greatly. That made her mind drift to that entry
she had chanced upon in Colin’s journal—it had been most explicitly sensual, and yet, there
was a certain quality about it that made it somehow more than mere smut. There was a true
artistry, a genuine appreciation that…oh drat, she had missed a step and Lord Debling was
looking at her. There was no way he would not notice the warmth in her cheeks now.

After the dance ended, Lord Debling pulled her aside and offered her a glass of lemonade.
She accepted gratefully, to quench her suddenly parched throat. It could be any moment now.
Her mama had told her he wished to propose.

“Miss Featherington.”
 Chapter 2

It was still strange. Now that Prudence had married, she was the de facto Miss Featherington.
Would be for life if she didn’t get her head on straight! She looked up at the man who might
rescue her—and provide her with an ample library of her own.

“Yes, my lord?”

“What were you thinking of just now, that seems to have raised your temperature, my lady?”

She smiled. She was not his lady, but she could be. But could she really tell him what she had
been thinking? Certainly not all. She banished Colin from her mind forcefully. But her new
honesty policy (which had come from…no, don’t think about him) had served her well with
Lord Debling so far. “I was thinking about distance, my lord, and what a wife…might do
with a husband who is no longer distant.”

She could not look up at him. She could not believe she had dared so far, and she could feel
her cheeks flaming again. Why didn’t he say something?

Then, he drew closer. “Tell me, what might a wife do?”

She took a step back, drawing out her fan. “I think that is something only a wife could say.”
She wielded the cool of the fan against the heat that rose once more. Oh, so this is what fans
were for.

“Miss Featherington,” Lord Debling said, in a most solicitous tone. “Do you wish to take a
walk?”

She nodded her consent and accepted his proffered hand with her gloved one.

“I have wished to make my intentions known,” he said, when they were alone in the garden,
save for a maid and some footmen trailing them, “and this afternoon, your mama granted me
her blessing. Miss Featherington, would you do me the honor of accepting my proposal of
marriage?”
He pulled a ring out of his pocket —an exquisite emerald cut in the classic style, surrounded
with pearls—the color and design of which suited her perfectly. Penelope trembled as she
removed her glove and his skin touched hers for the first time as he slid his ring onto her
trembling finger.

She was as good as a wife. She would have a home of her own. And maybe…more.

When they returned inside, to her glowing mama, who immediately went to show off her new
son-in-law to every member of the ton, she didn’t even care that Philippa stuck her tongue
out, Prudence gaped, and Cressida Cowper sent her a look of purest venom. She was
engaged. She might more than hope to engage in some amorous activities. Her kiss with
(don’t even think his name) would not be her last.
 Chapter 3

At the end of the night, Lady Featherington was only too glad to let Penelope have a moment
alone—truly alone—with her fiancé in the drawing room. “No need for a chaperone!” she
remarked gleefully, as she shut the door behind her.

Once more, Penelope looked up at Lord Debling. Should she call him Alfred now? She
hoped he would kiss her. She so wanted to be loved. She knew he was going away soon, but
surely, before he left, he would want to do everything possible to secure an heir…?

“Miss Featherington…”

“Penelope.”

“Penelope.”

They looked at each other a long moment. Then, he said, “How would a moment like this go
in one of your books?”

“Well,” Penelope said, “I might do something like this.” She lifted her gloved hand to his
temple and slid it slowly down his cheek, not breaking eye contact. “And I’d look at you, like
this.” She looked up at him through her lashes, trying not to remember who had once
mentioned eyelashes in such a context.

“And I would, perhaps do something like this?” He brought his bare hand to her shoulder and
gazed down at her. He took a step forward. She remained still.
“Perhaps something like this?” He bent down, and brushed her cheek with the back of his
fingers. “May I…?”
“Yes.”

She should have been more coy, but Penelope was eager. She was eager to start the life of a
wife and mother, mistress of her own estate.

Lord Debling—Alfred—brought his lips and mouth down on hers, and she welcomed them
eagerly, awaiting the pleasure she had felt with Colin. Except this time, maybe he would feel
it too. She and Lord Debling could take solace and pleasure, not pity, on one another. Perhaps
it could grow to more.
 Chapter 4

She could feel his surprise and pleasure at her welcome. She, in turn, smiled and pressed
deeper into the kiss. His hands began to wander around her body, and she lost herself in the
pleasure of being so wanted. He gripped her backside most firmly, pulling her to him, and she
thought, even through her skirts and petticoats, she could feel the evidence of his manhood
rising.

“Oh, Penelope,” he groaned, “It has been a long…you make me feel things I have not felt in a
long time. Do you even know what you are doing?”
“My lord, I only wish to do what pleases you.”
He moaned into her neck. “There are many things you could do to please me. We could, we
should, wait until the wedding night. And, yet, I don’t think—I don’t think it would be a great
sin if we got started a little early, especially since I will be gone so long?”
“Whatever my lord wishes. I am sure he would do nothing untoward.”

His hands slid to the hem of her gown, raising it up slowly. “You are a virgin, yes?”
“Of course, my lord.”
“You have not done this before?”
“Done what, my lord?”
“Let me show you,” he whispered in her ear, “Let me show you what a man does with his
wife. I think you will make me very happy, Penelope. Now, for women, this may hurt the first
time, so I will go slow.”

His hand was up her gown and had reached her undergarments. She knew this was part of it,
but still she was a little nervous. She took deep breaths to calm herself. This was what her
fiancé wanted. He wanted to put a baby in her.
 Chapter 5

He pushed her back into the settee and drew up her skirts. Then, he began to undo his
breeches. Penelope peeked. His member looked large to her. She had a ridiculous thought that
it wouldn’t fit. But people did this all the time. Breathe. He was as good as her husband. But
when he began to kiss her, she couldn’t help picturing---

She bit down on her lip to keep from saying that name.

“Penelope? Are you all right? Do you like…”

And she felt something. She became aware of the dampness between her legs because his
finger was inside her. It was a strange sensation.
“Does this feel good?” he murmured against her neck.
“Yes, yes…”
“Now,” he said, shifting so that he was above her, his breeches dangling around his ankles.
“You’re going to feel some pressure, and then maybe a little bit of pain.”

She felt him as he began to enter her. She looked into his eyes. “My love,” she said. She
smiled, and clasped her arms around his waist, urging him closer, further inside her. She
breathed away any feelings of pain and focused on the thrill of being loved, wanted, sought.

“Oh, Penelope!” He was breathing and moving faster now. “I shall spill my seed in you,” he
whispered, and she gasped, feeling the warmth of his seed inside her. She held his head
against her breast where it had fallen. “You are mine,” he whispered.
“I am yours,” she replied, smiling.

They cleaned up and kissed farewell.

“I look forward to doing that with you again, soon,” he said, kissing her on the top of her
head. “I may not be able to wait three years to get back to my lovely wife.”

She watched him as he quit the household and stepped into his waiting carriage. She felt her
hands intertwine over her stomach, where maybe even now, a baby was forming. A new little
companion to read to and dote on. Being Lady Debling would suit her just fine.
 Chapter 6

When Penelope fell asleep, she could still feel the imprint of Lord Debling’s member inside
her. It felt more strange than painful, a physical reminder of the great change in her life and
station. Then, in what felt like the middle of the night, Varley shook her awake.

“Wha—whatever is it?”
“Shush!”
She looked at Varley.
“A visitor, Miss.”

Penelope wrinkled her eyebrow. What kind of a visitor came in the middle of the night? Her
mama would never allow it unless—surely, it was not Lord Debling again? Even for a fiancé,
this would be unseemly.

“Mr. Bridgerton again, miss,” Varley clarified.

So he must have bribed her again. That explained why Mama did not know. But why would
he be coming here, in the middle of the night, again? He must know she was well, and she
doubted the entire ton did not know that her ambition had been achieved. There was nothing
left to discuss. Certainly not at midnight.

She was curious enough that she dressed hurriedly and met him outside. He gestured her into
his waiting carriage. The whole thing would have been so sordid with anyone but Colin. If
anyone found out she was alone with a young man in a carriage, her reputation would be
ruined. Little did they know. But what did it signify to an essentially married woman?
 Chapter 7

“Yes?” she folded her hands primly in her lap, but even that touch reminded her of the
soreness between her legs. She hoped Colin could not tell. Of course he could not; that was
absurd.

“Tell me it’s not true,” he said.

“What?”
“Tell me you are not engaged to Lord Debling.”
“It’s true,” she said slowly, wondering what he was playing at. “Aren’t you happy for me?”
“No!” he said vehemently, and she stared at him.

“That is, of course I am happy if you are happy. I want you to be happy. But he is not the one
for you.”
“Whyever not?”
“He…he is going to be traveling for three years.”
“I know.”
“You deserve someone who is with you all the time. Who makes you happy. Who loves you.”
“He loves me.”

Penelope felt a warm blush steal over her cheeks. Oh, she could feel how Lord Debling—
Alfred—loved her.

“He just met you!” Colin spat.

“Isn’t that usually the way of it? How long did Daphne know the Duke? Or Kate Anthony?”
Colin shook his head. “It’s not the same. They had something special. It’s different. It’s not
like…”
“Not like what?” Penelope was genuinely curious.

Colin hung his head. She had never seen Colin Bridgerton looking so discomposed. He
practically whispered his next words, and Penelope could swear there was a tinge of red
creeping up his neck.

“Not like you and me.”

“Colin, we’re friends.”
He looked up at her.
“But what if we were more?”
 Chapter 8

It was everything she had hoped to hear for the past three years. She couldn’t help
swallowing into her throat, which had turned swiftly dry. It was too late. She was not only
engaged to Lord Debling, she was marked, claimed as his. There was no way to get out of it.
No way Colin would even want her if he knew.

“We can’t be.” It was her turn to look down.

He must have taken her tone or expression as encouragement though, because he leaned
forward, grasping both of her hands in his. “We could be. Engagements can be broken. My
brother’s was broken off with Miss Edwina.”

“No…my engagement cannot be broken.” She waited until the words had sunk in. Until he
looked at her with the expression he was wearing now; until he realized. She wanted to look
away, so she did not see the disappointment, or worse, disgust, on his face.

“Do you mean…?”

Penelope bit her lower lip.
“That bastard! But he only…tonight?” He gave her a hard look.
She nodded, then finally looked away. He might as well know all.

“He’s going to be my husband, Colin.”

 Chapter 9

Colin would let her go. She would step out of this carriage and out of his life. But she would
have a new life, a new future, a new hope. She had made a choice, and she would not regret
it.

“Not,” Colin breathed, “if I have anything to say about it.” He grabbed her fiercely by the
cheek and kissed her, passionately, making her mouth burn with a pleasant ache unlike
anything she had experienced before with Colin or Lord Debling.

“Colin,” she managed to say when she got free for a second, but he put his lips against hers to
silence her again.
“If you want to leave and be with him, go now,” he said, “But if you want to be with me, stay
and be with me.”
“But…”
“The deed is already done, is it not? It can’t be undone again. You will lose nothing, but I
hope I can give you something, at least to remember me by.”

“You still want me, even though you know?” Penelope said.
“I want you no matter what, Pen. You are the only one for me; I know that now. I should have
realized before. But that was my stupid mistake. And I had to tup a few people to figure that
out, why shouldn’t you? But I mean to make this the best tup of your life…I bet there are
some things he didn’t do for you.”
“It was only a few hours ago,” Penelope murmured.
“All the better. I hope it will be a favorable comparison.”

He began to nibble at the crease of her pulse beneath her jaw and continued kissing down the
column of her neck. She felt like a woman in a French novel she wasn't supposed to read.
 Chapter 10

“Do you want me to stop?” He whispered.

It was Penelope’s turn to say, “No.”

Colin’s lips on her felt positively incandescent. A tear slid down her cheek. Alfred’s touch
had felt pleasurable, but Colin’s felt spiritual. She felt suffused with whatever the opposite of
longing was. Fulfilled. Content. Aching…

Colin’s hands had found their way to her bodice. He loosened the top with expert fingers and
slid his hand in to cup her breast.

“Oh, Pen,” he sighed. “You feel so good.”

She moved against him.
“Do you like that?”

He brought two of his fingers to circle around her nipple, making her gasp in anticipation.

“Do you want me to touch you? There?”

She looked at him, but she couldn’t say it.
“You have to tell me, Pen. Do you want me to touch you? Do you want me to put my hand on
your tit?”
His fingers were making the most marvelous circles. She had not known her nipple could feel
so tight, so agitated, so aroused. It began to point itself toward him of its own accord.

She gaped at him. “Colin!”

“Did he do this?”

Colin looked at her most wickedly, and then he took her entire nipple into his mouth. It was
warm and wet, and oh she felt so much tingling down below, and was she dripping? And then
she remembered, Lord Debling’s seed was inside her, would Colin see it?

She began to squirm.

“Do you want me to stop?”
 Chapter 11

He removed his mouth from her breast. She felt the cold air rush in to take the place of the
warmth that had been his mouth.

“No, please!”
“Or do you want me to do something else?”

He slid his hand up her skirt, the way Lord Debling had done. She felt more self-conscious.
What would he feel?

Although Lord Debling’s fingers had felt good, Colin’s were a revelation. He moved in
circles, stroking her in places she didn’t know she had, that made her lose control of her
breath, her sight, her very sense of herself. She was nerve endings under Colin Bridgerton’s
fingers.

“Colin,” she murmured against him.

“Penelope,” he answered reverently.

She opened her eyes. He was looking at her, like she was a particularly difficult but enjoyable
passage of Shakespeare.

“I want to make you feel good,” he said, “I want to make you feel everything. Did he put his
mouth on you?”

Penelope frowned. She was not sure what Colin meant. “We kissed.”

“No, I mean, did he put his mouth…” he stroked his finger on the sensitive part of her that he
was still touching.
 Chapter 12

Penelope’s jaw went slack. She had not known that was a possibility. The idea of Lord
Debling doing that was strange, but the idea of Colin doing it was suddenly tantalizing and
absolutely impossible.

“No, he didn’t, but he…his, it’s still there.” She turned away. All this married folk business
was too much for her, however much she thought romance novels or her father’s books might
have prepared her.

Colin gently grasped her chin, and turned her to face him. He kissed her softly, and then he
said, “I don’t care. I want to taste you. I’ll lick him off of you.”

Penelope stared at him as he lowered his head beneath her skirt.

At first it felt odd. And then it felt soft, wet, welcoming, beguiling.

“Oh! Colin!” She lost her fingers in his hair. She was destroying his carefully pomaded style.

Colin’s tongue licked at her most intimate places, and she felt no hesitation, only his
eagerness. He began to lick in a certain pattern that she found irresistible. She started to feel
strange tightening sensations down below. She felt as if she was going to explode.

“Oh—Colin, something---oh…” she exploded into his mouth. It felt like he was drinking her,
and she never wanted him to stop.

As she caught her breath, she felt him disengage, and his head emerged from beneath her
dress. There was some viscous liquid at the edge of his mouth, which he wiped off.

“How do you feel, Pen?” he asked.

“Like I’ve been transported into the pages of a very naughty romance novel.”

He leaned forward, kissed her cheek, and took her hand with his own, still damp from her
body. “I hope to make you feel that way every day for the rest of your life.”
Please drop by the Archive and comment to let the creator know if you enjoyed their work!