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“They’ve danced a couple of times together at a ball! Colin has done the same with Penelope Featherington. It does not signify,” Anthony declared to the room at large – and to his mother in particular – determined to make her finally see reason. Hastings would not be proposing to Daphne, and he saw no point in either of them getting their hopes up for an impossible fairytale ending.
He was expecting Daphne’s hurt and protests, his mother’s tight expression and judgment. What he was not expecting was a loud snort of amusement coming from the entryway – but it was who the noise was coming from that caught Anthony even more off-guard. “This is why Hyacinth is the Nostradamus in this family, not you,” said the guest teasingly, pretending ignorance of the internal chaos his very presence was causing.
“Colin?!” Anthony asked, bewildered, looking at a man who was unmistakably his brother, but an utterly transformed version. For starters, this Colin appeared to be several years older than the 20-year-old he knew – and certainly broader across the shoulders. Beyond that, everything from his clothing to his deportment was more mature in a way that couldn’t occur overnight.
And then, as if the universe was determined to prove Anthony even more insane – the younger brother he was used to also appeared in the entryway, lured by the sound of his name.
“Yes, Anthony, what is it?” the more-familiar Colin asked impatiently before he caught sight of his double, and his neck whipped around. “You’re –”
“You,” the older Colin agreed, his forehead furrowing as he took in his other self. Standing across from each other, their differences were even more apparent – to the newcomer also. “I’d forgotten how pale I used to be,” he said, his stare intense as he looked into otherwise-identical dark blue eyes.
His younger twin opened his mouth slightly, but no word of protest came out. Still, the action snapped the other Colin from his thoughts.
“Apologies,” he said, graciously taking a step back. “I got lost in a moment of self-reflection,” he observed with a pleased grin and a pause that clearly was waiting for someone to acknowledge his joke. When no one did, he shrugged, undeterred. “As I think you’ve surmised by now, I’m the same Colin you know – only misplaced a little. By about three years, based on the context.” He seemed remarkably calm about the situation – certainly more so than any of the other people in the room, who were actually supposed to be there. Certainly more than Anthony, who considered the possibility that he was dying and this was his boiling brain’s idea of a practical joke.
“I… I need to sit down,” their mother exclaimed, reaching out for the arm of the nearest settee and lowering herself down onto the cushions. That, at least, seemed to trigger the visitor’s concern.
“Do you want me to fetch you something?” he asked Violet, already moving toward the brandy cabinet with a sense of purpose. Anthony wasn’t sure whether to yell at him for treating their drawing room so familiarly or ask him to fetch him a glass. A very full one.
When he heard the sound of tinkling, he grumblingly settled on the latter.
/////
“Time travel,” Anthony repeated for perhaps the tenth time, trying to rub the headache from his temples as he paced across the room. “That’s impossible.” The first time the visitor had tried to explain what had happened to him, his words didn’t even reach Anthony’s ears, he was so stunned.
By the third time, he was at least grasping onto key phrases – and, of course, that’s when Benedict had shown up, drawn as always to spectacle like a moth to a flame – causing the future Colin to have to explain himself all over again.
“I was of a similar opinion before I decided to explore the Standing Stones on our trip to Scotland, but I’m finding it a bit harder to hold onto that belief now,” Colin responded, sounding slightly exasperated but not like he had a headache, which seemed an unfair distribution.
“Did you try going back through the Stones?” the younger Colin asked from his place on the settee, where he had taken over comforting their mother. Benedict, for his part, had pulled up a separate chair for a ringside view of the two Colins’ conversation, treating it more like a particularly exciting boxing match or play.
“I would have, except I didn’t come out in Scotland. I arrived here at Bridgerton House not even an hour ago.” He sighed. “I suppose I could go to Scotland now to see if the process works in reverse, but the myths surrounding those stones usually involve the missing person reappearing after only a day or two, so I’m hoping that I will be sent back naturally.” The more he talked, the more the weight of the situation settled in around his shoulders. “I need to get back. My wife will be frantic if I don’t show up at the inn soon.”
“You’re married?” Violet Bridgerton’s stressed expression brightened instantly, and Anthony wanted to groan. How was even this conversation going to devolve into discussions of matrimony, he thought.
“I am,” the Future Colin said, unmistakable pride – and maybe even smugness – in his tone, which was clearly only going to feed into their mother’s rabid curiosity.
Given the obvious signs that she was about to launch into a dozen follow-up questions, part of Anthony was almost grateful for the sudden arrival of Eloise and her friend, Penelope, their heads bent close together in a loudly whispered discussion. Almost.
It was clear that they had yet to notice anything amiss, and for a second, Anthony wondered if he could reroute them before the situation could get even more out of control. But apparently, his younger brother was determined to pile on stress after stress, as if Anthony having a premature heart attack was not a likely outcome, given everything. “Pen!” Future Colin exclaimed with a wide smile. The two girls snapped to attention.
For a second, Eloise stood there looking annoyed at the interruption, while Penelope let out a pleased sounding, “Colin!” in return. And then, they took in the rest of the scene and their mouths dropped open.
And that’s how Future Colin ended up explaining his situation all over again – although this time, Anthony couldn’t help but note, it was with a distinctly more elaborate flair, his hands moving animatedly as he talked.
/////
“Perhaps Penelope should go home,” Anthony said once the tale was concluded, and he’d made sure to impress on everyone the need to keep this information to themselves. The girl in question looked embarrassed, but at least willing to comply. However, the time traveler next to her caught her hand before she could fully stand.
“I don’t see why that’s necessary, Brother,” he responded with something like censure, as he tugged the redhead back to her seat. “Pen has always been an unofficial Bridgerton, and she can offer as good of insights as anyone here.”
Anthony watched him, stunned. Sure, the girl had been friends with Eloise since the two of them were seven, which made her more than familiar to the family, as evidenced by their use of her Christian name. Still, he wouldn’t have extended things quite that far.
It seemed, however, that the decision was out of his hands, especially when Violet chimed in to say, “Of course, my dear. You must stay.”
Penelope’s smile was small and nervous, but she did resolutely sink back down into the cushions, doing an impressive job of making herself invisible in Colin’s shadow despite the brightness of her hair and dress.
“Now, I believe you were going to tell us about this wife of yours,” their mother said, shifting her gaze first to Colin and then to where Colin was still holding Penelope’s hand. Anthony’s brother seemed to realize his impropriety at about the same time, slowly releasing his grip and fisting his hand instead over his own leg.
“You’re married?” Eloise asked, surprised, her arms crossed over her chest.
“I am,” Colin agreed, sounding a little more cautious this time, as if he was somehow only now realizing that he’d walked into a lion’s den. “But I’m not sure if I should elaborate. I… while our story started off imperfectly, she’s also everything I could have dreamed of. I don’t want to risk changing the outcome by saying too much.”
“Well, what about my prospects?” Daphne spoke up, voice determinedly firm. Anthony had to glance over his shoulder to see her – but the look on her face matched her words. “You seemed to know of the matter we were discussing when you arrived – of Anthony’s promise to wed me to that… that man. And I should like to know if he succeeds despite my protests and wishes. Whatever happens will likely be decided in a matter of days. Surely, there is no harm in spoiling such a surprise.”
Colin frowned in thought – a few lines appearing on his forehead, hidden by one flopping curl – but then he looked at Daphne again, and his eyes softened. “You don’t have to worry about that cad, Daph. Although good job for decking him when you had the chance –” In the background, Violet gave a gasp, while Anthony felt his blood freeze in his veins. “Just get the word out to Lady Whistledown about how he abandoned his maid once she became pregnant with his illegitimate child. I promise you she isn’t that hard to contact,” he said, with a sardonic smile. “And he’ll be run out of town with his tail between his legs.”
Daphne’s clear relief made something wretched churn in Anthony’s stomach, which he tried to force down with a steady breath. And yet, it was clear, there was still something on their sister’s mind – something she felt even more nervous demanding answers to than her last question.
“Just for the record,” the time traveler told her. “I know you think the courtship with Hastings is all a ruse, designed to fool the town into seeing you as the diamond again, but Simon does love you – or at least, he will. But he’s very determined to not take a wife and even more determined not to sire children, so that’s something you need to discuss with him seriously.”
Colin then turned and caught their mother’s overthinking expression. “Francesca falls in love and marries John, Earl of Kilmartin.”
The sudden frankness caught many of them – and Anthony certainly – off-guard, unsure of how to feel. What ruse was Colin talking about? Daphne actually married Hastings? Francesca – so naturally reserved and practical – turned into a romantic?
Violet seemed to reach a decision faster than the rest, as her face first lit into a smile and then released a chuckle. “You don’t know what a balm that is to hear, dearest. While I’ve always loved picturing your future marriages, hoping and wishing for the best for all eight of you isn’t without its stresses. To think of three of you happily settled… it means my job has at least been partially well done. May I ask… any other matches in the family?”
Colin tilted his head to the side like he was weighing the pros and cons of answering. “One other,” he admitted, finally.
Anthony, Benedict, and Eloise exchanged glances. There was no way Hyacinth or Gregory would be out already in this Colin’s time, which meant…
“Well?” Anthony asked, his voice both intentionally and unintentionally demanding.
Colin, as usual, didn’t respond to that tone happily, but he seemed to understand, at least, that now was not the time to play coy. “You get married. Second of us, actually.”
Anthony remembered talking to Hastings not too long ago, the both of them reaffirming their commitment to perpetual bachelorhood, and here, he was being told that both of them changed their minds? The future being described to him seemed more and more unlikely by the second. And yet, there was a burning desire to know more. “And?” he asked his ‘brother’ impatiently.
“And that’s all I’ll tell you,” Colin replied, leaning backward, pretending to be at ease.
“You just told us about Daphne and Francesca,” Anthony fumed, his internal gaze trying to picture a life with a certain opera singer by his side and finding it almost impossible while standing in the middle of his family’s drawing room. And yet, the idea of some stranger with the family jewels on was almost equally incomprehensible.
“There wasn’t a reason not to.”
“And there is with me?”
Anthony did not like the energy he could feel from his collective family.
“How about this? I’ll tell Daphne later. She’ll do better with the information than you will. After all, she did last time,” Colin said, with an infuriating shrug. Daphne, who had seemed missing from the conversation for the last several minutes, suddenly turned sharp-eyed at the idea of having any sort of control over his romantic life. Not that he was guaranteed to have one. Unlike when describing the others, Colin had only said he was married, not what form the marriage took.
“Do we marry Miss Thompson?” The sound of the younger Colin’s voice was slightly jarring for not having been heard recently – or for having been heard, but from quite a different direction. Anthony’s body instantly grew more tense. Miss Thompson? He knew who his brother was talking about, of course – knew that he had shared some dances with the girl – but to ask about marrying her?
Anthony turned his frown towards the time traveler, who – perhaps surprisingly – wore a very similar expression.
Out of all of them, it was always easiest to tell when Colin was deep in thought, as his eyes became deep wells looking inside rather than out. And that was clearly what the older version was doing now. Anthony, for his part, took the silence as answer enough. Future Colin had practically glowed when discussing his wife – and that attitude was nowhere to be seen now at the mention of Miss Thompson’s name. However, it was equally obvious that the younger version of his brother was still waiting on tenterhooks.
Future Colin looked off to the side, likely to continue staring into the distance, though it froze Penelope in her seat when she was caught in the direct path of his gaze. Ten seconds later, his choice was apparently made. “No. We don’t,” he answered firmly, and then, a little more gently, “I know that you care about her and are, maybe, disappointed. I’m not trying to minimize your feelings. The two of us – we feel everything deeply and seriously – even infatuation. But whatever you might have believed in a few weeks’ time had I not shown up – it would be infatuation, not love. And not infatuation with a person so much as an idea of one.”
“The truth is… you don’t know her as well as you think you do, nor does she truly want you to. She fell in love once, with a man named Sir George Crane, and I think never fell out of love with him. Come about seven months’ time, she’ll have his twins, though by then, he will have been killed in a war overseas and she will have married his brother. Her interest towards you is towards a potential father for her children.”
So many thoughts were racing through Anthony’s head – reflected, in different ways, upon his mother’s and Benedict’s faces – but for once, they all managed to collectively hold their tongue, perhaps sensing the danger of this moment.
“I’m not saying any of this to hurt you, Colin,” Future Colin continued, “because I know you’re hurt right now. But I also don’t want this to encourage you,” he continued solemnly, “the way that it might in a few weeks or months. You might think to yourself – she’s in an unfortunate situation where she needs help, and you can be the one to provide that for her. That the two of you can move past this together. And I am desperately, desperately asking you not to. She will be in kind hands with Sir Phillip, and you – you have the other half of your soul out there, just waiting for you to recognize her.”
“Your wife – my wife – is beautiful and witty and loves that you’re a Bridgerton because she is envious of such a close family – not for any of the reasons that the ton discusses behind our backs. She’s more patient than you will believe, and so much fiercer than people give her credit for, and you will love her so much that it staggers you. So, I am begging you not to take her away from me. Wait, and… focus on your real friendships, not the ones that make you feel lonely while you’re still in the middle of a conversation. And if a real friend should happen to… to ask you for something significant, don’t hesitate, alright?”
It was a feature of Colin’s character that he was often very genuine – but Anthony thought he could speak for all of them in the room when he said that he had never seen Colin so painfully sincere. Even now that he had finished, his hand was twitching at his side in acknowledgment of what might – accidentally – be at risk. And Anthony, who had always both admired and feared his parents’ love story couldn’t help but feel the same mix of emotions now, watching the 23-year-old version of his brother contemplate his future.
The younger Colin was hard-jawed in the face of this speech, but in a way that didn’t indicate anger so much as a bitten-off something else, and Anthony trusted that the solemn nod he gave at least signified that he had been listening, not just hearing. Still, it was not unexpected when he shortly thereafter asked to excuse himself, his shoulders tense as he stalked out of the room.
Penelope, who had been quiet for a while now, bit her lip as she twisted her body to follow his progress. “Do you think… Should someone go talk to him?” she asked uncertainly, turning her questioning gaze to the future Colin, unconsciously looking up at him from under her eyelashes.
Some of the tension unspooled from him instantly, and he even managed to smile a little. “He’s probably in his room already and might need a moment. But I don’t think a note would be unappreciated. You don’t have to wait for him to go off to Greece to start exchanging letters, and at this stage, I think both of you will like the chance to think out precisely what you want to say first rather than navigating such a delicate situation in person. He’ll talk to you face-to-face about it later, I’m sure,” he said reassuringly.
“Oh! Well… I… um,” Penelope was as bright red as a tomato as she tried to gather her thoughts together, and yet, every cut-off syllable seemed to only make Colin’s smile grow fonder and make Anthony feel even more lost.
“Since when are you two so chummy?” Eloise asked, voicing the question that he had just been thinking, though her tone contained a particularly territorial edge.
Colin spread his hands. “We’ve always gotten along well together – from the day her dangerously yellow sunbonnet smacked me in the face and caused me to tumble off my horse – but, as I have just mentioned, we begin exchanging correspondence during my first tour abroad. Throughout the following seasons, we grow closer. I’m sorry, Eloise. You’re just going to have to settle for being her second-favorite Bridgerton.”
“As if that would ever happen,” their sister scoffed.
Colin only smiled cheekily before completely tuning Eloise out. “How are you today, Pen, by the way?”
“I’m… fine. Good, I mean.”
“Yes, you’re always very good. Let’s see. It should be 1813 – so you’ve been reading a lot of Byron. It might please you to know that early next year, he’ll be publishing a semi-autobiographical tale called The Corsair….”
A minute later, he seemed no closer to finishing his ramble, and yet, the girl’s eyes brightened in fascination – the two of them slowly losing focus of the rest of the room. Eloise couldn’t seem to believe what was in front of her, while Benedict’s eyebrows rose nearly to his hairline. Only Violet acted like there was nothing unusual going on, casting a small smile in their direction.
“I’m sorry. Aren’t there more important things to discuss right now?” Anthony spoke up after several more minutes of just standing around – watching the two of them giggle like little kids, the Future Colin looking suddenly younger than the one that had just absconded to his room.
“Like what, Brother?” Colin asked, unconcernedly. “I told you what happened, and for now, our plan is to wait and see if I fade back to my time. I’ve answered your questions – as much as I am going to at any rate – so all that’s left is to enjoy the moments I have left here, which I was very much doing,” he mentioned as an aside to Penelope. God, he was going to reduce the girl to a puddle if he kept on flirting like that.
And that’s what it was, Anthony realized. Colin was flirting rather mercilessly after having just gone on and on about how his wife was the center of his life. Surely, his brother had not grown into such a hypocrite!
A biting comment burned on his tongue as he was about to ask Colin what he thought he was doing when Anthony caught sight of his mother again. His mother whose smile had only seemed to grow wider and more assured. Frowning, he tried to see what she was seeing. Colin and Penelope – close on the settee together. Colin’s hand, moved from his lap to rest in the space between them, fingers flexing against the fabric like he was trying to stop himself from reaching out again. Though their conversation was quieter now, Anthony could hear Penelope make some sort of pun about lemonade and Colin’s grin cracked wider. Focus on your friends… that was the advice he had given to his past self in pursuit of love. And suddenly, the pieces all fell into place.
Well, Anthony thought. Eccentric family aside, at least Penelope was sensible and kind and got along well with the family. Colin could definitely do worse, and looking at him now, it was even harder to argue he could do any better. Anthony’s gaze slid to Eloise – and then to Benedict, who was definitely going to have years of entertainment in front of him if the situation manifested as Anthony believed it would.
For the first time since the time traveler arrived, Anthony allowed himself to slip into a seat.
/////
For an hour or so, it was almost like a normal family afternoon – full of chaos and biscuits and jabs and laughter. To Anthony’s surprise, the younger Colin even rejoined them after a while, whether it was because the isolation of his room wasn’t helping or – more likely – because he had something more to ask of his future self. And yet, he was willing to wait patiently for him to finish his conversation with Penelope, which was still ongoing.
It took him about twenty minutes to realize that said conversation had no intention of stopping soon. In fact, Penelope was more bright, talkative, and confident than Anthony had thought he had ever seen her – and the younger Colin seemed both confused and fascinated, just watching her and his older self interact.
Of course, Eloise did manage to barge into their conversation eventually and steal Penelope’s attention for herself, but even then, the younger Colin did not take the opportunity to begin a discussion with his counterpart. Instead, he watched himself continue to watch Penelope. At one point, the future Colin even reached out to grab one of her trailing red curls and wrap it around his finger. It had to be an unconscious gesture, but still telling enough that Daphne gasped over to the side. Younger Colin’s eyes widened.
Of course, teatime couldn’t last forever, and eventually, the redhead announced her reluctant intentions to go back home.
“I’ll walk you over,” Future Colin insisted, jumping to his feet.
“The two of you going alone is inappropriate, isn’t it?” the younger Colin asked, causing even Anthony to rear his head around in disbelief. “I can walk her.”
Future Colin tilted his head toward the ceiling and laughed. “Oh, God. I’m never going to live this one down.” When he had managed to work himself back into something resembling a serious expression – even though the corner of his mouth kept twitching – it was to point out, “I’m the married one in this situation. I’m allowed to be around young ladies. If anything, it’s more improper for you to escort her.”
“Yes, but Pen knows me –” he began, and then seemed to realize that argument would not work either. “In either case, no one out there knows you’re married. They would just assume it was me escorting her, so I might as well actually do it.”
“For Pete’s sake,” Eloise interrupted, grabbing her friend by the arm and linking their elbows together. “I will take Penelope the very long distance – across the street – while you men fight over whose eyes are bluer or whatever.” And that is precisely what she did, though not before Penelope managed one last long glance at both Colins. Yet, somehow, Anthony was supposed to believe he got married first.
Of course, the girls’ departure started spurring other people’s. First, Daphne decided she wanted to go to her room to think, and then young Colin departed again to his. Future Colin wanted to bug the Cook for more biscuits, but with them trying to limit the number of people who knew about him, it was decided that Violet would go and bring more up. That left Benedict and Colin to strike up a conversation about art, and Anthony… Anthony decided he needed some peace and quiet, and so retreated into the study.
Looking at the ledgers seemed like as good a distraction as any from the revelations of the afternoon – and before he knew it, shadows were creeping in from the outside, and he noted it must almost be time for dinner. He was about to stand when there was a knock on the door. “Come in,” he called out, straightening the cuffs of his shirt.
It was Future Colin, looking strong if perhaps a little tired. “I think I might be leaving again soon.”
“You… really?”
“Yes, it’s like a tug at my gut that’s getting stronger. Maybe, within the hour.”
A pang of unexpected sadness went through Anthony at the thought, but he just nodded. “Thank you for informing me, so long as you don’t intend for me to be the one to break the news to Mother.”
Colin smiled. “I was going to head there next. I just… I just wanted to give you this,” he explained, offering up an envelope with his own name on it. “In case that one ever comes to you announcing his sudden engagement one day, please – make sure he gets this. I don’t want to leave without… without ensuring there’s a way he knows.”
“It’s unsealed,” Anthony pointed out, tapping the envelope against his opposite hand.
“In this family? I know better than to try that, and I don’t think it would hurt for you to know the truth. It’s just the Other Me who’s not ready for that revelation yet. I don’t think I understood exactly how oblivious I was to what was right in front of me until I saw it with my own eyes. Mother must have been living a nightmare between the two of us.”
“And what, pray tell, are you insinuating?”
“What do you think I’m insinuating?”
“I think – that you’re being impertinent.” Anthony took a deep breath to steady his own nerves. “I suppose Daphne has one of these envelopes as well,” he asked, glancing back at his desk.
“She does,” Colin agreed slowly. “But please… for our family’s sake and yours… trust me. Don’t push it. Let things come to you as they’re supposed to.”
Colin was family. “Of course, I trust you.” The two of them gripped arms, which eventually resulted in Anthony pulling Colin in for a hug. His younger brother was taller than he remembered him being, and smelled vaguely of a wind that was probably hundreds of miles and three years away, but the feeling was familiar all the same. At last, they parted, and with no other words to be exchanged, Colin nodded and headed out in search of his next Bridgerton.
Anthony waited only a moment before flipping over the envelope and pulling out the single sheet of paper inside. It was fairly densely packed, but his eyes clung to one paragraph in particular:
“You will love Penelope Featherington with everything you are, everything you’ve been, and everything you hope to be. You will love her with your past and love her for your future. For the children and years that you’ll have together…”
Anthony thought about the younger Colin’s somewhat jealous expression in the drawing room this afternoon – the way he clearly wanted to get in on the jokes and banter his older counterpart and Penelope had shared – and wondered if he would be giving this to him sooner rather than later.