Chapter Text
The ballroom was closing in around her. The noise deafening yet all Penelope could hear was the laughter and scornful remarks.
“Bridgerton courting that? Fife I had never took you for a jester!”
“If the likes of a Bridgerton settled for her, can you imagine the lot the rest of us would get? I can scarce keep the half acceptable ones from me. That would open up the field to all the rest. We would be surrounded!”
Barks of laughter rattled through her.
“Thank all that is great and good in this fair England that Bridgerton confirmed the truth last Season.”
“Else we would have to see him in Bedlam!”
More laughter that struck straight to her heart.
Penelope tried to swallow the lump in her throat and the tears burning her eyes. She told herself they were in their cups. That they were only mocking, seeking an easy laugh. They couldn’t possibly mean those words? Yet the group of very eligible bachelors continued to remark. Now others joined, Cressida Cowper, of course she would not miss an opportunity to disparage Penelope. The comments now led by Cressida, were focusing now on her gown. A new one for a new Season. A season that was meant to be different from the last. Penelope had hoped that the cruel words from Colin at the end of the previous Season would have been forgotten, how very wrong she was to hope on that.
The words and laughter did not abate, she tried once more to shake away the comments, blink back the tears. The wall behind her now closed in surrounding her, yet offered no sanctuary. Penelope had memorised the words Colin spoke, they had haunted her for many nights and she woke with soft tears dampening her pillow. Now when she had moved beyond them, put those words to rest, she was painfully returned to that moment in the garden and hearing him speak. She could still feel the ache where her heart had broke.
No, this was yet another reminder that she did not fit into the mould of society. She had been foolish to think she, Penelope Featherington, could rise above this. In truth this Season she had hoped to put that comment behind her, had hoped to find a husband, gain her freedom and continue her guise as Lady Whistledown. However she was not silly enough to think that was going to succeed now. Despite trying to appear confident, despite distancing herself from Colin, it seemed she was still the same plump unattractive Penelope from before. Worst of all she had forgiven Colin for speaking of her in such a way, damn her traitorous heart.
She could take no more of these words and half ran from the ballroom. Escaping into quiet hallway, her head down to hide her shame. The tears now flowed that she was free from the ballroom, alone as she realised she would always be. Penelope needed but a few moments to gather her resolve. A room must be free somewhere along this hallway.
Rounding a corner she struck something large and solid. Crashing to the ground on top of the object, a loud ooof sounded making Penelope realise it was a someone not a something. A someone she was now on top off, her gown’s skirts caught behind them slightly preventing her from getting up and exposing one leg to her knee. Her curls had loosen and covered her face, brushing them back as she tried to stand, stumbling further she heard a sharp intake of breath.
“Oh my! In the middle of a hallway! The wanton behaviour of a harlot I say!”
Lady Blessing exclaimed to her companion.
“No no! You are quite mistaken.”
Penelope shouted out, trying to get to her feet, not looking at the male she had crashed into. Trying to ignore the groan of pain as she clumsily clambered to her feet, quite sure she had stood on the ‘someone’s’ stomach.
“Lord Bridgerton. Excellent timing I assure you. I do hope you will ensure your brother’s behaviour is put to rights.”
Penelope turned then slowly her eyes settling on Lord Bridgerton and Lady Bridgerton. Who scurried around to take her hand, while Lord Bridgerton assisted the ‘someone’ to his feet, her eyes followed the strong familiar lines of body up to their face, Colin Bridgerton. Could her humiliation get any more complete?
“I assure you Lady Blessing the right thing will be done. Miss Penelope, Colin, follow me.”
Anthony Bridgerton took charge, leading the little group into the library. Closing the doors on Lady Blessing and her companion as they attempted to enter. The Viscountess had dashed to the ballroom to seek out Lady Featherington. Once the door closed again Penelope felt the deafening silence consume the luxurious library. She was unable to look up, instead keeping her eyes fixed to the floor. Colin was the first to break the silence.
“I will of course offer marriage to Pen. It is a given, I would never see her ruined.”
His words were thick and Penelope felt the room collapsing in around her. Her lungs screaming with the want of words. Neither were looking at her, addressing only each other as if she had no part in this discussion or indeed even existed. Her chest hurt with the anxiety of what was unfolding before her, the cruel mocking still ringing in her ears. Clawing a breath in she managed to speak.
“There is no need.”
She finally squeaked out, Lord Bridgerton and Colin both turned swiftly to her.
“It was an accident. We fell to the ground because I was running down the hall. This is my fault. I am sure we can explain the circumstances. The ton will understand.”
“Understand? Miss Penelope, Lady Blessng will be telling anyone and everyone who cares to listen the sordid details of what she thinks she witnessed. Your reputation will be in shreds before the end of this ball. Unless a marriage is announced.”
“I have no reputation Lord Bridgerton. None pay any attention to me.” She spoke with a tremor in her voice, one that she wished desperately to stop.
Penelope knew that what she said was not strictly true, especially given the circumstances that she had fled the ball under. This Season her name seemed to very much be in the first stare of fashion, for gossip. Penelope swallowed hard to hold her tears at bay, she refused to cry and refused to be wed due to scandal alone.
Plus she could not bear the thought of hearing those gentlemen comment on her trapping Colin. Not after he voiced his opinion so publicly on her as a suiter last season. She felt sick and feared casting up her accounts right there and then.
“Lord Bridgerton what is the meaning of this?”
Her Mama’s high pitched voice pierced the air as she bustled into the room. Coming straight to Penelope’s side.
“The ballroom is a buzz with talk Lord Bridgerton. I do hope that this matter will be put to rights?”
The Viscountess shot Penelope a sympathetic look .
“Of course Lady Featherington. I have already advised the Viscount and Miss Featherington that I will marry her.” Colin interjected to calm the rising panic within Lady Featherington’s voice. He stood still as stone, back ramrod straight. Penelope dared a look at him yet his gaze never wondered towards her.
“Well then the matter is settled. Lord Bridgerton I expect that you will see to the necessary arrangements?”
“Of course Lady Featherington.”
Without further comment nor discussion Penelope was hauled from the library having not set her eyes upon her soon to be husband again nor spoken to him. What would society say?
The carriage ride home was torture. Her dear Mama and sister unable to contain the glee that the match would set them up in society. Prudence ever hopeful that other eligible gentlemen would now consider her. However true to form she could not be completely magnanimous.
“Though it is most unfair Mama, that she should be wed before me for I am older!” Prudence huffed out, folding her arms across her chest in a most unladylike manner.
“Sit up straight.” Her Mama hissed.
“Besides I did not ask for your views on Penelope’s betrothal. You would do well to take your sister’s example and seek a husband soon.” Her tone was chastising as she spoke, which surprised Penelope as it was more often her being chastised than either of her sisters.
“Mrs Bridgerton, oh how well it sounds. It shall be such a joy to only have one daughter to see wed this Season. How very fortuitous we are.”
She lent forward taking both Prudence and Penelope’s hands.
“I really do think our fortunes are changing, I can sense it.”
Her Mother then turned back to Prudence, discussing every bachelor the ton had to offer.
Penelope stared at her hands unable to find any joy. The words from Colin last Season and from the gentlemen this evening rattled in her head. She also could not contain the hurt at the thickness of how he spoke when offering marriage. Penelope was not a simpering Miss, she was a veteran of the Season, near a spinster and she knew that was not the sound of a gentleman eager or content to wed her.