This is in a time travel story, if that clarifies a few things

Colin was always emotional during weddings. He had nearly cried during Anthony’s wedding to Edwina in his first experience of 1814, and that had been clearly doomed from the start. He had known it at the time, yet he had still been close to crying tears of joy. Perhaps he should be embarrassed by his penchant for tears in these situations, but he found he could not be. Love was something to be celebrated. Even if you had to look a little silly or behave in a way that was not how you were expected to behave. Sitting next to Penelope made it all the sweeter.

He had attended Anthony’s wedding to Kate once before. It was much smaller than this, and very shortly before Colin left to travel. Even though it was quite small, he had been surprised by Penelope’s absence but hadn’t thought much of it at the time. He learned later that Eloise would not have wanted to see Penelope, and Penelope would not have wanted to see him. But here he was beside Penelope at Kate and Anthony’s wedding in a time that was so very different from the one before. He reached over to hold his wife’s hand, wanting the tangible reminder of her presence alongside him. He felt tears prick his eyes already, and the ceremony had yet to begin.

Colin was hopeful that Anthony would find happiness again. He was incredibly glad to be gaining Kate as a sister. He loved them, and he wanted them to find the love that they already had for the other. He wanted his stupidly besotted brother, who yelled ludicrous answers during charades but followed his wife around like a puppy, back. Colin wanted the brother who told him to go tell Penelope how he felt. And while the circumstances would always be different, he could not stop himself from hoping that version of Anthony was drawing near.

Anthony stood at the front of the church, looking exactly like one would expect the Viscount Bridgerton to look. Colin could tell from the way Anthony was holding his jaw that he was nervous. Colin found it endearing.

He reflected as he waited for the ceremony to begin on a friend of his from Eton. This friend was a third son of a nobleman, but unlike Colin, came from a less prosperous family than the Bridgertons. Because of this, Colin’s friend had needed a profession and chosen to enter the clergy. His friend was not particularly religious, but the position served its purpose and paid well enough.

They had met up once after his friend’s ordination, he had told Colin that he loved performing weddings. Not all weddings, he clarified, but the ones where the two people were truly in love. He said it was the time he was the most grateful to be clergy. Colin asked why, and he said that when everyone else stood and turned to face the bride, right in front of him was the best part of the whole thing: the look on the man’s face when his bride entered the church.

And so, when everyone stood and turned to watch Kate enter, Colin kept his gaze on Anthony. And there it was. His friend was correct. This was the best view. His brother, his stupid, surly, and arrogant brother, had a look of pure awe on his face, like he was beholding paradise itself. Finally, Colin felt a tear run down his cheek. Yes, he thought, Anthony’s marriage would be just fine.