Chapter Text
CHAPTER 1
Penelope Featherington was actually excited to attend the first ball of this year’s London season. Despite it being held by the Bridgerton’s, the family of both Eloise and Colin Bridgerton – her two closest friends until the terrible events that had occurred last season at the Featherington Ball – she was happy to be back in the world of romance and dancing, even if it wasn’t for her. She was also anxious to get back to work. Her column as Lady Whistledown gave her purpose and meaning, something that she had sorely missed over the winter.
But this ball was a masquerade. That meant that she was able to hide her face behind a mask, allowing her to feel free from the usual pressures that came with being Penelope Featherington. And the dress that she chose that night was stunning.
Portia Featherington had made it clear over the winter that this season, she would be doubling her efforts towards getting Prudence married. As a result, Penelope was finally free, for the first time in her life, to chose her own wardrobe and hair styles. When Penelope chose the antique dark blue and silver ballgown for the event with a matching mask, Portia rolled her eyes slightly but said nothing further. Penelope knew that her mother thought silver and blue were sad colors, but they made her feel pretty, and it was finally her choice.
When Penelope entered the ballroom, she felt more confident than usual. With her chin held high and a genuine smile on her face, she made her way to the perimeter of the dance floor. When Penelope spotted the Dowager Viscountess, Violet Bridgerton, she walked straight over. “Lady Bridgerton! Happy birthday. What a beautiful party your son, the Viscount, has thrown for you!” Penelope curtsied as she spoke from behind her mask, freer and more direct than her typical demure party persona.
“Is that you, Penelope?” Lady Bridgerton responded. “Thank you dear. Anthony and Benedict threatened to reveal my age if I didn’t agree to let them throw all of this in my honor!” She chuckled.
“It is I!” Penelope retorted. “I believe you in fact made the correct choice.”
“So do I!” Violet laughed. “Penelope -” she began, this time softer and more serious, “Why haven’t I heard your name all winter?”
“Oh… I…” Penelope started.
“Mother! Happy birthday!” Penelope heard her old friend Eloise call out from a quickly closing distance behind her.
Penelope reeled around and then froze. Eloise’s face dropped when she recognized Penelope in her path. Penelope had written to Eloise once since the end of last season. While it was too dangerous for her to explain anything in detail, Penelope had apologized for lying to her friend, for betraying her trust, for failing to be loyal, and for the horrible things she had said the last time they spoke.
“Oh, it’s you.” Eloise remarked coldly. She hesitated for a moment, then walked past Penelope and embraced her mother. “Mama, you’re not hiding tonight, are you?”
“Oh, no dear! Just taking a break. I was catching up with Penelope.” Violet said warmly, but her face revealed a hint of concern as her eyes quickly studied the body language and visible portions of her daughter and Penelope’s faces.
“Indeed!” Penelope interjected, before Eloise had an opportunity to reply. Penelope was afraid of the honesty that might come from Eloise in that moment. “We were just discussing your brother’s gift of persuasion!”
A riotous laugh burst forth from the opposite side of Violet Bridgerton. “Lady Danbury!” Penelope yelped, then curtsied. “I didn’t realize… were you standing with Lady Bridgerton this whole time?”
“Indeed I was Miss Featherington.”
“I do apologize, I would never intentionally ignore you like that.” Penelope stammered. “It is quite nice to see you!”
“No one thinks it’s nice to see me!” Lady Danbury chuckled. “But I’ll take the compliment all the same.” She paused, “Notice how neither of them contradicted me?”
Penelope chuckled while Eloise rushed to speak, “Always a pleasure, Lady Danbury.”
“Flattery will get you nowhere.” Penelope added without thinking. Her face went hot behind her silk mask as soon as the words left her mouth. But then something glorious happened. All three women in front of her began to laugh in the most unladylike fashion! It took almost a full minute before they began to catch their breath.
“Oh, I feel I am beginning to understand why you and my Eloise get along so famously!” Violet finally gasped.
Penelope started to lower her gaze to the floor when Lady Danbury added, still breathy from laughter, “I like you.”
Without turning, Eloise reached over, took Penelope’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze before releasing it once again. Penelope was glad for her mask as it concealed and absorbed the single tear that would otherwise have run down her chin.
Emboldened, Penelope began again, “If that little comment made all three of you laugh that hard, this season is shaping up to be the dullest yet!” Penelope paused for a moment, realizing quickly that she did not want to offend Lady Bridgerton, since this particular ball was, of course held in her honor. “This ball, and present company notwithstanding.”
“Penelope, you are quick. I almost had a moment to feign offense!” Violet replied.
“I must say, I quite agree with you Miss Featherington.” Lady Danbury added. “Miss Bridgerton, your friend here is quite the sharp wit.”
Eloise shifted. “Indeed. More than you know.”
“I believe I have quite the idea.” Lady Danbury chuckled. “Now, we were speaking of how dull this season is expected to be?”
“I am afraid so. I can’t imagine a thing that would bring intrigue back to the Ton.” Penelope replied.
“Can’t you? I rather thought you might have a broader imagination than that Miss Featherington. Perhaps we must stir the pot if we expect to see any motion.” A gleam entered Lady Danbury’s eyes.
Lady Danbury stepped towards the dance floor, where couples had just finished a quadrille. “Attention! Ladies and Gentlemen!” she bellowed. “One thousand Pounds.” “One thousand Pounds!” She repeated, turning as she spoke so that all could hear. A hush fell over the room as on-lookers stepped nearer. “One thousand pounds to the person who reveals to me the identity of Lady Whistledown!” Gasps spread through the room, then building chatter. Within seconds the entire ballroom was pulsing with theories and gossip.
Lady Danbury turned back to Penelope. “That ought to bring some excitement!”
Penelope swallowed nervously, then did her best to plaster a grin across her face. Violet spoke next. “My Eloise here has been trying to unveil Lady Whistledown since her first publishing. If she can’t do it, I’m not sure anyone in the whole of the Ton will be able to!”
“Is that right Eloise?” Lady Danbury inquired.
“Yes, I am afraid so. She is, well, she has been, um, difficult to, difficult to expose.” Eloise wrestled with every word of her answer to Lady Danbury, avoiding eye contact with any of the group of women.
Penelope’s stomach was already in knots, but it did a small flip when she realized that Eloise wouldn’t reveal her secret, even for a small fortune. Sure, Eloise was a Bridgerton and as such, generally was never light in the purse. But this reassurance that she would hold Penelope’s secret, even from her mother and Lady Danbury, not to mention the Queen – who had threatened Eloise’s family last season in an attempt to get her to confess herself, and now even for money. Eloise was a better friend than Penelope had ever realized.
A crowd had gathered around the four women, all trying to get the ear of Lady Danbury and share their speculations on the topic. “Who do you think it is?” a voice in the crowd called. But Lady Danbury had turned her attentions back to Penelope. “I want to know what Miss Featherington has to say. Who do you think it is?”
Penelope could feel Eloise’s hot stare on the side of her face. She again was grateful to be wearing a mask which would surely cover most of her deep crimson flush. She knew that Lady Danbury wouldn’t allow her to shrink away from the question, and the intent stares of at least two dozen masked strangers were hanging on her next words. So she chose to answer as boldly as the circumstances would allow. “Actually. I think it’s you Lady Danbury.”
The crowd that had gathered around Penelope and Lady Danbury stood in stunned silence for a moment, punctuated by a handful of gasps and murmurs. Lady Danbury stared back at Penelope. After what seemed like a lifetime, Lady Danbury’s face broke into a wide grin, followed by a low chuckle. “I like her.” she said, now looking to Violet. “Did I tell you I like her?”
“We like her too. I consider her an honorary Bridgerton with all the time she spends in my drawing room.”
Lady Danbury continued, “I would wager at least half the ballroom thought the same, but not one of them had the mettle to say so.”
“I really don’t either.” Penelope sighed. She felt Eloise move closer to her side and take her elbow.
“Obviously, you do.” Lady Danbury leaned in. “Isn’t it nice, Miss Featherington? To discover we’re not exactly what we thought we were?” With that, Lady Danbury walked away, followed by a throng of society men and women, all eager to speculate and discuss the secret identity of Lady Whistledown.
“Eloise.” Penelope whispered, turning to her friend. “I know we have much to… catch up on.” Penelope said, aware that Violet Bridgerton was still present with them. “Thank you, for standing with me. I hope I may call on you soon?”
By now, Eloise had let go of Penelope’s arm and had moved back towards her mother. “We do. Have much to catch up on that is. Why don’t you call on Wednesday afternoon.”
Penelope let loose a smile that was as much from happiness as it was relief. “I look forward to it. Thank you.” Penelope hoped that the full meaning of her thanks was not lost on Eloise. Eloise returned Penelope’s smile with a small one of her own, then turned to speak with her mother.
Penelope drifted away from the Bridgerton women and towards the refreshments table at the back of the ballroom. Her mind was reeling from the events of the past fifteen minutes. She was, of course, delighted to know that Eloise remained her friend, even if there remained a long road to true forgiveness ahead of her. But that was a road she was willing to walk.
The matter of the wager Lady Danbury had just made with the entirety of the Ton was a different story. This truly complicated things for Penelope. The queen’s relentless efforts to unmask her had been trouble enough. Now, with all of society, motivated by a hefty sum, seeking to do the same? Penelope would need to once again consider retirement. She had amassed enough wealth to support herself quite comfortably through her eventual spinsterhood. And just when she had considered a scheme to use her funds to help save her family from destitution, after Cousin Jack had absconded with the last dregs of her mother’s money, her Great Aunt had passed away, conferring a sizable inheritance on the Featherington women. Or, at least that was what Mama had told her.
Penelope was waiting for an opening to pick up a glass of lemonade, quite lost in her thoughts, when suddenly, she felt every hair on the back of her neck stand. Without understanding why, she turned to look behind her. And there, about fifteen feet away and closing, was the last person she wanted to see that night. Colin Bridgerton.
“Pen! Pen. Please, can we speak?”
Penelope turned and ran out of the ballroom.