The dungeons are dark and gloomy places filled with many prisoners of various crimes. It would be a rare occurrence if some high official ever ventures this way but today a clocked woman was seen walking by, surrounded by a few guards.
In the deepest isolated part of the dungeon there are only a few cells for worse criminals and in one of them a chained up man watched guards approaching with torches in their hands.
He flinched away from the sudden glow and as he finally got accustomed to glow the cell gate was open and he saw a woman stepping inside. "Good evening Commodore Welsh. I hope these accommodations are suitable for you."
"Your Majesty!?" His eyes widen as he watches none other then Queen in front of him. "Your warden said you have confessed to doing various crimes since the day you became captain."
His head hung in shame as he admits. "Yes your Majesty, I confess that blinded by power and greed I have committed many crimes using my rank."
The Queen glared at him as she asked. "Then you must remember your earliest crime. I am talking about Kathani Sharma." She watched as he gasped, his eyes horrified by hearing this name.
She was about to ask who had ordered her exile when frantic words started spilling from Welsh's mouth. "Your Majesty! I swear I was following orders! That man gave me huge amounts to fake her death and smuggle that child into Mount Désespoir, along with some instructions for warden."
The Queen heard guards around her gasping in horror as she stepped closer with a thundering heart. "What do you mean faking her death?! What is this place you send her to? Answer me Welsh!"
As Welsh cowers one of the guards stepped forward as he explained. "My Queen he is talking about a remote prison situated in island in the middle of the Atlantic ocean. The prison is known as worst place on earth and it's illegally built by rich aristocrats of Europe who sometime put innocent people there to hide their crimes."
"You are telling me you send an innocent child into this Prison!"
Welsh started crying as he fell on his knees. "I was blinded by those coins and promises of higher rank. He told me she is insignificant hurdle and no one will miss her loss."
At that moment Queen Charlotte wanted to strike this man but instead she needed more information. "Tell me everything!"
"When word reached us that the late Viscount Bridgerton is trying to bring that girl home, a man came to me when our ship docked on French islands. He gave me large sums of money and instructed me to fake her death and then smuggle her to prison. He handed me a trunk filled with coins and told me to give them to the warden along with a few instructions."
He stopped talking as if he was recalling something heinous.
"What were those instructions Welsh!?" The queen demanded fearing worse possibility but what she heard instead was something she could never even dream of.
"The instructions were to keep her alive at every cost. She was too kept alive until her last breath gave away. I was told to instruct the warden that he can torture her anyway he want. To break her physically and mentally. They were instructed to rape her, to wiped her, to starve her, to inflict pain in any form unless it didn't cause her death. The instructions were to keep her alive but make her begging for death until her last breath leaves her worthless body."
As soon he stopped talking an eerier silence fell in that cell. The guards were gripping their torches feeling beyond hatred for this man and horrified with this inhuman crime.
The Queen's face was void of any emotion but her eyes showed Welsh the wrath that he was about to face as she grabbed his neck and demanded in a murderous voice. "Tell me the name!" He was choking as name slipped out from his lips. "Prosecutor , Prosecutor Willes Herbert." The Queen then stood up and as she was about to leave that cell she left instructions of her own. "Make sure our prisoner gets hundred lashes a day starting this very moment and as soon all his confessions are made, prepared for his public execution!" With that she gave one last disgusting look to the man and as she left Welsh's screams could be heard all around the dungeon.
The second she was out of dungeon she instructed Brimisily.
"Brimisily send our trusted men to this prison to find Lady Kathani Sharma and also I want Prosecutor Herbert arrested and bring him straight to me so I can punish that monster myself!"
Feeling quite nervous and different. Penelope was walking towards Countess room. She knocked once and then entered.
She had only taken a few steps when Countess turned around from her huge oval mirror and Penelope had to take a moment as she stared at a beautiful star in front of her. Her pearl white gown was covered with small pearls and crystals. She had a diamonds tiara on her head and her curls were pinned on one side. On her neck she wore a beautiful pearl choker with a huge diamond in the middle.
"Wow! You look quite vision tonight Kathani. I think you will be brightest start at tonight's ball."
She smile at her before taking out sapphire tiara from box, which she placed on top of Penelope's head. "If I am going to be the brightest star then it only fits my companion look like shimmering moonlight." Kathani had to admit Penelope looked extremely beautiful in her silvery blue gown.
"Come, let us leave, I am sure tonight many eyes will be on us my dear companion, especially two smitten Bridgerton men who will be at our side before we can take another step." She laughed as Penelope blushed in the same shade of her hair.
Once both women and Jacopo were inside the carriage as it started its journey towards the ball, Kathani began to instruct them. "Penelope tonight is the night for which I recruited you. Your real task will begin from the moment you step inside that ball."
Penelope looked alert as she listened carefully. "Tell me what you want me to do?"
"I want you to do exactly what you were doing all this time I want you to listen but tonight I want you to give special attention to Lady Sheffield and Lady Penwood. I want to know everything they do tonight and especially when they are conversing together."
Penelope frowned because while she understand spying on Lady Sheffield, she don't understand why she has to spy on Lady Penwood. "Why Lady Penwood? She is nothing but the widow of Late Earl Penwood and quite unpopular among ton for her wretched behaviour and I heard the Penwood family are on the brick of bankruptcy."
Kathani's eyes darkened as she told her. "Appearance can be deceiving Penelope. Just follow these women as their shadow and you maybe surprised by their conversation."
"But what about other gossip?"
"Don't worry my Lady, I will be collecting other gossips on your behalf." Jacopo assures her before signaling carriage to stop so he could slip into his Butler role as he went to sit outside with coachman.
"Just focus on your target Penelope but do enjoy your night. I believe you can manage both quite spectacularly." Penelope tried to smile because if one thing she is sure off is playing these parts perfectly at the same time.
Anthony knew the second his Priyaey entered the ballroom as every eye turned towards the entrance and sure enough there stood his heart desire looking magnificently beautiful.
The ton noticed as many eligible men tried to approach Countess and her companion but they were thwarted by both Bridgerton brothers as they pushed passed them and reached first to greet them.
"Pen!" Colin spoke breathlessly as he held out her hand. "Will you honor me with your first dance?" Penelope stare at Countess who give her a swift nod. "Yes. I would be glad to dance with you"
Kathani noticed as Colin put his name for three dances. With a bow towards Countess, he took Penelope on dance floor.
Anthony, who was watching his brother finally being brave enough to show affection towards her so openly, turned to face Countess who like him looked quite amused. "Your brother put his name to three dances. It looks like young Mr Bridgerton is going to declare himself soon." He smirks while adding his name on all her dances while leaving two spots for his brothers.
He watched as her eyes widened but she looked pleased as she said. "My Lord are you planning to let any other man dance with me?"
"Only those who share Bridgerton surname. I would leave one more spot if Hastings was in attendance, Alas it pity my brother-in-law is not in attendance that I have to fill in for him." At this she burst into laughter as Anthony led her to the dance floor.
The first set was fast and lively music and Anthony felt it matches his mood because around his Priyaey he felt quite lively.
"You look quite cheerful my lord?" She ask as he twirled her even more faster making her quite breathless and dizzy.
She watched as he leaned improperly close as he told her loud enough for other people to hear. "My lady, any moment in your presence is enough to cheer me up."
She blushed as they swayed even more closer. "I am glad I pleased you so much."
"Very much indeed as he twirled her once again and both faces were lit up with joy for everyone to see.
Violet smiled as she watched both her sons dancing joyously with their partners.
"It seems you will be quite busy planning two weddings this season." Violet looked delighted as she told Lady Danbury.
"I can't believe how much lucky stars are shining over my family. First Duke and Daphne got married last season and this season not one but two of my sons have found their true love match." She wiped a stray tear away as admitted. "If only my Edmund was alive to see this. We used to talk about our children's marriages and he would love to guess what their partners would look like." She then felt even more sad because there was someone he imagined for Anthony but that was just a lost dream.
"I am certain he would love Countess." Lady Danbury's voice brought her back from her thoughts and as she watched her son twirling Countess with a huge smile on his face she had to agree. "Yes, yes he would love her.
Once the dance was over Colin led Penelope away from dance floor (after adding his name on Countess's card on his brother's instruction) leaving Anthony and Countess on dance floor to dance on next set.
Once they reached the refreshments table he began with his compliments. "You look really beautiful tonight Penelope. I swear tonight you look like a reborn Aphrodite. Your beauty is equivalent to moon shining in a dark sky." Penelope was blushing in delight as she was lost in Colin gaze.
Colin who was just opening up about his feelings was rudely disturbed by arrival of his siblings along with Ms. Sheffield. "Brother, Penelope, I must say you are looking quite vision tonight." Benedict complimented her while completely ignoring his brother's scowling face.
"You guys are so annoying!" Eloise then pushes her brothers away and grabbed her friend's hand. "Come Penelope, Edwina and I want to share our brilliant idea."
"It was Eloise idea actually." Edwina told the group feeling little bit shy to be included. "Nonsense! Edwina was the first to tell me that she loves to read as much as us and I think we should heed Countess suggestions and form a book club."
The Bridgerton's and Penelope knew why Eloise is insisting this. Ever since they found out about Edwina they all wanted to get closer to her.
"We should had these meetings in Countess's home. I am sure she would be delighted to join in." Penelope told everyone while thinking this will be great opportunity for Kathani to spend time with her sister.
While the boys start asking if they could join the club Penelope eyes fell on Lady Penwood who was heading towards orangery with none other than Lady Sheffield accompanying her.
"Excuse me everyone, my mother is just calling me." To not make it look suspicious she did stopped by her mother to convey a makeup message. "Mama, Countess has invited you for tea tomorrow."
"Tomorrow, but I thought she would be joining us for promenade tomorrow?" Penelope shakes her head as she improvise. "She would be too tired for Promenade mama, besides she want to talk privately about something."
Portia's eyes narrows in suspicions but then it fell on Countess who was now engaged in waltz with Viscount. "I think you are right about her being tired. Tell her we will join her for tea tomorrow. It will be a great setting to discuss about Philippa's wedding."
Penelope then excused herself as her mother and sister got busy with their planning.
She then discreetly walked towards the orangery and hid behind close by pillars as she heard the conversation between two women.
"How can you tell me to calm down!? Willis could be in danger! He was so afraid that he ran to hide in his mistress's house!" Lady Penwood said furiously while Lady Sheffield tried to placate her. "Lady Penwood, I assure you your family and your brother's family are well protected. Have we ever let any harm fall on you before?"
Penelope watched as Lady Penwood scoffed as she stepped away. "That was in the past. The present situation is that Welsh is arrested admitting decades worth of crimes. Crimes which I remind you my brother ordered him to do on orders of your group!"
"You are also forgetting the benefits you and your brother had enjoyed because of our group. Should I remind you how we make your brother high Prosecutor after getting rid of his rival, or how we help you get rid of your husband and then years later his daughter. Remember that your brother and your hands are as dirty as ours." Lady Sheffield reminds her and Penelope watched both women glaring at each other.
Finally Lady Penwood steps closer as she threatens. "Remind them that if anything happens to us then you all will go down with us too!"
"Are you threatening me?!" Lady Sheffield bristles as other women smirk evilly at her. "It's a promise."
With that she left and under the starlight night Penelope saw the darkness of these women's hearts.