Chapter Text
Colin Bridgerton has always known he's destined for greatness. Born into the illustrious Bridgerton bloodline, he's been graced with a unique ability that sets him apart from the rest: a gift for charm. In a family of exceptional beauties and physical prowess, Colin's power to charm is unmatched. His effortless charm and wit are the talk of high society, and he navigates through even the toughest of crowds with ease. With his alluring smile and captivating presence, Colin is a force to be reckoned with, and no one can resist his irresistible charm.
Every Bridgerton child born into the family's prestigious bloodline is blessed with a unique gift on the eve of their first birthday. It's a closely guarded family tradition, shrouded in mystery and known only to the family themselves. The special occasion takes place in an empty chamber of their ancestral home. With their parents by their side, the Bridgerton child is given a special gift, carefully chosen to reflect their first year of life and personal qualities. This tradition has been passed down from generation to generation and the details of each gift are carefully recorded in the family's legacy book. It's truly a magical experience, one that has remained a well-kept family secret until the day someone joins the family by marriage. Then, and only then, will they be given the key to open the door and unlock the secrets of this enchanting ritual.
Growing up, Colin envied his brothers' gifts. Anthony was given the gift of estimation, allowing him to see possible outcomes. Benedict was given the gift of the arts, and his creations were world-renowned from a young age. Gregory had a gift for athleticism and excelled at any sport he pursued. In contrast, Colin felt like he had been shortchanged with the gift of charm. He only used it as a means to get away with things, manipulate others to agreeing with him and he was always surrounded by attention.
As an adult, Colin finds himself struggling with his gift. While he can still command a room's attention effortlessly, he no longer enjoys being the center of attention. He's trying to find his passion and determine what he truly likes to do in life. Colin knows that he's more than just his gift of charm.
Despite feeling uncertain about his gift of charm, Colin Bridgerton has always been adept at using it to his advantage. He's a popular figure in high society and is constantly invited to all the best parties and events. However, he's often aware of how his charm can influence people and make them do things they wouldn't usually do. He's also aware that he doesn't want to be seen as a frivolous socialite, but someone with depth and meaning.
Penelope is simply Pen - born into the Featherington family, who are considered relatively new money in high society. Her grandfather started a small betting business in the countryside, which grew into a big company. After migrating to the city, Penelope's father took over the company from her grandfather but struggled as CEO, though he succeeded in keeping the business afloat and the family in a lavish lifestyle. Penelope's mother, Portia, married into the family for their wealth; she was once a supermodel but lost her fame in her 30s. Portia often pushed her 2 eldest daughters, Philippa and Prudence, to become models and social media influencers, providing them with the best tutors and stylists. However, Penelope was unlike her sisters - she wasn't tall or slender like them. Her mother paid little attention to her because she knew she wouldn't make it in the modeling industry.
Penelope's father, on the other hand, was always supportive of her interests. While her sisters attended modeling lessons with their mother, Penelope accompanied her father to art galleries, space auditoriums, science laboratories, and sports events. She was always the nerdy girl in the family, and in school, she took pride in being thought of as smart. She had never been told that she was beautiful - except by her father.
Penelope is comfortable in her own skin and takes no offense to being called the "nerdy girl," but she has moments when she wishes she could be seen as beautiful in everyone's eyes. She's always been considered cute or pretty, but never breathtakingly beautiful.
15 years ago…
When Penelope was nine years old, her father told her that he would take her to an art exhibition showcasing the latest creations of a young artist named Benedict Bridgerton. Intrigued by Benedict's art, Penelope searched for him online to familiarize herself with his work before attending the exhibit. She discovered that he was indeed a prodigious talent - at just 19, he had exhibited his artwork in various parts of the world.
As Penelope's search deepened, she learned that Benedict hailed from a family with deep roots in regency times. They were old money, having accumulated wealth through generations and established a legacy of philanthropy and patronage. All of the Bridgerton generations had achieved success in their chosen fields, making them one of the most respected families in high society.
On the day of the exhibition, Penelope's father received an invitation as a member of the business club to attend the opening. They arrived just in time and were ushered to a hall where the artist would be introduced and would talk about his work. They soon found their names on one of the tables and settled into their assigned seats. Not far from them, they spotted the table where the artist's family was seated. However, Penelope was surprised to see that the family was not as she had expected them to be - refined and proper. Instead, they appeared to be a lively and boisterous group, with the mother and father taking care of two toddlers while the rest of the family engaged in chaos. Penelope found them fun to watch as they teased each other and enjoyed each other's company.
Benedict Bridgerton took the stage to give a background on his art pieces and introduce the exhibit called "Longing," telling attendees that it's about finding something or missing something you never had. It went over Penelope's head as it was too deep for her to grasp. Benedict then introduced his family, including his parents, Edmund and Violet, and his seven siblings, who were all named alphabetically, which Penelope found interesting. As she scanned their faces, she saw a girl who appeared to be around her age or perhaps the same age. She waited for her name to be called and was delighted when she heard it was Eloise.
The exhibit was officially open, and all guests were ushered to the gallery. Penelope's father engaged in conversation with fellow members of the business club, leaving Penelope to stand there and wait. It was apparent that their discussion would take a while.
"Dad, can I look around the exhibit?" Penelope asked, poking her father's arm with puppy eyes.
He looked at her and said, "Of course, sweetie, but don't go too far." Glancing at his watch he added, "Please meet me back here in 30 minutes." He smiled at her.
"Alright dad, see you in a while!" Penelope gave him a hug before setting off to explore the exhibit on her own. Her father rejoined the discussion while Penelope savored the beautiful artwork that surrounded her.
Penelope looked around the exhibit, and each piece spoke of longing, just as the exhibit's title suggested. It seemed like each work was missing a part, leaving it feeling incomplete, but in a way that touched the viewer. Benedict Bridgerton's pieces were focused on landscapes and portraits, which were hauntingly beautiful.
As she wandered over to a section of the exhibit seemingly dedicated to works that didn't fit into any particular category, Penelope felt an unexpected pull towards a certain painting. It depicted a man standing on a seashore, the sea visible before him. Though only the man's silhouette was visible, the painting's predominantly blue and black tones suggested that it was evening or nighttime. As Penelope perused the artwork, she couldn't help but feel a deep sense of sadness and pain emanating from the painting. It stirred something within her, causing her to contemplate the emotions that must have inspired the artist to create such a powerful work.
Penelope was lost in thought while staring at a painting when a girl's voice broke her trance. "You know, I don't like that painting. It's so sad," the girl said.
Turning around, Penelope saw that the speaker was Eloise Bridgerton. "Hi, I'm Eloise. And you are?" Eloise said, reaching out her hand for a handshake.
"Umm, I'm Penelope Featherington," Penelope said as she shook Eloise's hand.
"That's a mouthful. I'll just call you Pen," Eloise said with a laugh. "I saw you in the hall. I'm so happy to see someone my age. Did your father force you to come here, just like me?" Eloise asked.
Penelope was taken aback by Eloise's chattiness. "Umm, it's okay if you call me Pen. Actually, I enjoy going to art galleries. It's like a treat for me," Penelope said shyly.
"Good for you then," Eloise said with a smile. "Hey, do you want to join me? I'm headed to the kids' corner on the other floor."
"Eloise!" a voice called out from across the aisle. Penelope remembered him as Colin Bridgerton, the third sibling with the letter C. She nudged Eloise, and they both turned to look in his direction.
"Mother has asked me to find you. We need a family portrait taken for a news website covering Benedict's event," Colin informed them.
At first, Colin didn't notice that Eloise was with another girl, Penelope. But he quickly noticed her and furrowed his brow, as if concentrating. He found that it was an easy way to activate his gift of charm, which he decided to use. Colin approached the two girls with a smile on his face.
"I'm sorry, brother. I just got bored and decided to roam around. Then I found her," Eloise said as she pointed at Penelope. "Her name is Penelope. I decided to call her Pen."
"Pen, this is my brother Colin," Eloise introduced.
Colin gave his best smile, and it gave him a sense of confidence when Penelope blushed. Even at a young age, he knew that he had a certain effect on people, thanks to his charm.
"Hi Penelope, I'm Colin," he said, shaking her hand while maintaining eye contact. As they stood near a painting, Colin's attention was drawn to it. "Ah! So Benedict put this in his exhibit. I told you, Eloise, this is a good piece!" he exclaimed.
Eloise responded with her concerns about the painting, "Yeah, yeah, I just don't like how it makes me sad. That's why I told him not to put it."
Penelope chimed in with her viewpoint, "I believe what Colin said to be true. This is a good and interesting piece. It affects your emotions and appeals to your heart. The man in the painting seems to be yearning for something, looking out at the sea for inspiration to answer all of the questions in his life."
Colin was taken aback by Penelope's perspective. He didn't expect a girl her age to have such profound thoughts about art. If his estimations were right, she was roughly the same age as Eloise, around nine years old. As the charming one in the group, Colin was surprised to find himself charmed by Penelope's insights. Her words left him intrigued, and he couldn't wait to learn more about her perception of the world.
"Pen, we should go. But if your father is part of the business club, our family is hosting a book fair. It's a family event. It's my idea, and I convinced my papa to do it. You should come!" Eloise said excitedly.
"Alright, I'll ask him about it! Goodbye, and nice meeting you both," Penelope responded cheerfully before bidding farewell to Eloise and Colin.
Arriving just in time to meet her dad, Archibald Featherington greeted Penelope as she approached him. "Right on time, sweetie," he said with a smile.
"Of course, dad. You taught me to be punctual and respect time," Penelope cheekily replied.
"How was the exhibition?" Archibald then asked.
"I loved it, dad," Penelope replied with enthusiasm.
"Glad you did," her father responded.
"Dad, I met a girl earlier, Eloise Bridgerton. She invited me to a book fair, and she said that all business club members' families are invited," Penelope said, hoping to gain her father's approval.
"Oh, I see. You want to go there, sweetie? I once asked your mom if she wanted to go to these events with your sisters, but she declined. The club always has these kinds of events," Archibald responded thoughtfully.
"Yes, dad, I would love to," Penelope replied eagerly.
"Alright then, it's scheduled for next Saturday. I'll bring you there," he said, smiling down at his daughter.
"Thank you, dad! Love you!" Penelope gushed before giving her dad a big hug.
———
"Eloise! Finally found you!" Penelope's bright and excited voice carried over the din of the fair as she caught sight of her friend.
Eloise's face lit up at the sound of Penelope's voice. "I'm so happy to see you! Umm, who are you with?" she asked with genuine curiosity.
Penelope beamed with pride. "I'm actually with my dad; he should be here somewhere, probably talking with the other club members. We agreed to meet each other by the entrance in 2 hours," she replied, grinning, and showed her watch to Eloise. "This actually has a tracker and a call feature. My dad and I can easily locate each other, so he's quite confident letting me roam around."
"Wow! That's awesome!" Eloise exclaimed, impressed with Penelope's gadget as she practically dragged her towards her family. Eloise took great pleasure in introducing her father and siblings to Penelope, starting from her dad to her youngest sibling, Hyacinth.
Violet, a regal woman with piercing eyes and a warm smile, approached Penelope. "Hi Penelope! Colin and Eloise talked about you after Benedict's exhibit. It's nice to finally meet you. We're happy you came here. Enjoy the activities we prepared."
"Thanks, Mrs. Bridgerton," Penelope replied respectfully, overwhelmed by the famous Bridgerton family's graciousness.
As the girls were about to leave for the puppet show, a voice boomed behind them, "Hey there! Mind if I join you girls?" Colin appeared out of nowhere, sending Penelope's heart racing. She might have developed a crush on him when they first talked at the exhibit. She could feel the heat rising to her cheeks, and she tried to hide her face behind her hair.
Eloise groaned, "Can you just go somewhere else, Colin? I want to bond with Pen."
Violet, noticing the commotion, approached the trio and said, "You can all stay together. Is it okay with you, Penelope?" Penelope nodded her agreement, still blushing when she caught Colin's eye.
"Well then, it's settled. Go now, kids!" Violet said, shooing them off with a friendly laugh.
The next two hours were a blur of excitement and joy, as the trio explored every nook and cranny of the fair. They attended the book cover design area and even submitted their own designs. They listened intently to the stories told by the performers at the storytelling tent, and weren't afraid to show their appreciation through applause. The puppet show was a crowd favorite, and they laughed themselves silly at the antics of the puppets. Finally, they all donned silly costumes and posed for ridiculous pictures in the photo booth.
Penelope had to leave early, so she said her goodbyes to the Bridgerton family before heading to meet her dad. Although it was a bittersweet moment, the three friends knew that this was only the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Over the years, Colin, Eloise, and Penelope remained active members of the business club-family committee , attending meetings and helping plan all kinds of events. As they grew older, they eventually became committee members, taking on more responsibility and making lasting contributions to the club's success. Despite attending different schools, they always made time to keep in touch and hang out.
One night after their hangout,as Colin was driving home with Eloise after they had dropped off Penelope. Everything seemed fine until Eloise spoke up, irritation lacing her voice.
"Can you stop doing that?" she said sharply.
Colin was confused. "Doing what?" he asked, focusing on the road ahead.
Eloise rolled her eyes. "Using your gift on Pen," she replied snarkily.
Colin couldn't help but laugh. "What's the matter, Eloise? Do you want me to use it on you too?" he joked.
"Don't you dare use it on me," Eloise shot back, her annoyance showing.
"It's not my fault I'm more interesting than you," Colin teased.
Eloise shook her head. "Level your head, Colin. I've seen you use your gift on Pen ever since we met her," she said seriously.
Colin didn't deny it. He knew that he had been using his gift of charm on Penelope ever since they first met. As he grew older, he learned to use his gift intentionally and gained control over it. However, he still couldn't resist using it on Penelope. He just loved seeing her smile and how her face brightened whenever she saw him. He loved how, when he walked into a room, it seemed like he was the only person that mattered to her.
He understood where Eloise was coming from. Yes, he did use his gift to spend more time with Penelope, but he couldn't admit that to Eloise.
"Speak up, Colin!" Eloise demanded.
Colin looked at her and just gave her a wink. Eloise growled in response.