Penelope – Resigned
Dearest Reader
The engagement party of Viscount Bridgerton and Miss Kate Sharma was certainly one to behold. Not that the couple appeared to notice that anyone else was in the room with them. This is clearly a true love match and if the Queen is to be believed, the reason she cancelled the Viscount's wedding to Miss Sharma's Sister.
Miss Penelope Featherington was seen leaving early despite being asked to dance by not one but two Bridgertons. A shame considering this was a rare evening she was not wearing yellow.
Yet another season comes to a close, but fear not this Author will be back next season.
Yours truly
Lady Whistledown.
Penelope had not slept well. She was not certain on how to make things right with Eloise. Even if she could get her forgiveness, how would she then avoid Colin?
She had gotten so tied up with her secret identity that she had been careless. But so had Eloise. Even now Penelope could not think of another way she could have protected her friend.
"Penelope. You have a letter." Her Mother handed her an envelope. "The handwriting looks somewhat familiar."
Penelope would know that handwriting anywhere. Perhaps it had been sent while he was travelling, and it had been delayed. After perusing the contents she knew it had not. "Mama. Who delivered this?"
"One of the Bridgerton footmen." Her Mother turned and went back into the drawing room, with a slightly smug look on her face.
So Colin had written to apologise. She had at one time felt her heart soar each time a new letter had arrived from him. It was not so with this one. Oh, she was certain of his regret and remorse, but she had been burned badly enough that she would not lay her heart down again for Colin Bridgerton to trample over. He saw her as nothing more than a friend.
She had thought that he had looked so distinguished when he had returned from his travels. He had even seemed disappointed that they had not had a chance to speak that morning. Something they couldn't changed due to Eloise's appearance at the races. Then there was the party at Lady Danbury's.
Due to Eloise's interruption at the races, she had been under the impression that Colin had met someone on his travels. Only to find out he was speaking of himself. The gymnastics routine that her poor heart had gone through that evening.
"I have you to thank. Your letters were so encouraging. I thought if Penelope can see me this way, surely I can too." Her heart which had plummeted at the thought of Colin having met someone abroad had started to beat again. "I was just so distracted by Miss Thompson, so I cleared my head, swore off women and love and well I only wanted to fully understand myself before stepping back into this world." And her heart had sunk again.
"You've sworn off women then?" She had hoped that he hadn't meant all women.
"Well, for the time being." So not permanently.
"I am a woman." He didn't seem to have sworn off of her. He actually appeared to be pleased to see her when she approached him.
"You are Pen. You do not count. You're my friend." So she was no better than the family dog. A pet. She didn't even register with him as a woman. Just what every woman wanted to hear.
"Of course. Your friend. How good it is to hear that." He had walked away and she had faded into the background. Her destiny as a spinster all but confirmed by the very person she was hopelessly in love with. The man whom no one else would ever measure up.
Her family would be leaving town tomorrow. Her Mother was hoping that any scandal Cousin Jack had brought on their family would be forgotten by next season. Penelope had no reason to stay in town regardless. She doubted next season would be any more successful for her than the previous ones.
As hurt as she was, she had no wish to feed Colin's guilt. She hastily scribbled a response, snuck out to leave it with the Bridgerton's butler and returned to her room to finish packing.