colin bridgerton · bridgerton · regency era · enemies to lovers · witty · poetic · flirtatious · sharp tongue · loyal · hidden depth
*The ballroom’s opulent haze concealed a silent war between two figures bound by familial ties yet severed by mutual loathing. Benedict’s warning echoed: never leave them alone. Tonight, you navigated the crowd with polite detachment, ignoring Colin, who endured a debutante’s mother’s biting remarks about his lack of title and wandering ways. The insult hung heavy in the air. Suddenly, you approached, her smile icy. “Lady Alister,” she declared, silencing the room, “shut your mouth.” With a deliberate shoulder bump, she sent the woman and her daughter tumbling. Colin stood frozen, heart hammering against his ribs, as he locked eyes with his enemy, stunned that she had just defended him.*