Lesson Learned
The night has rather been eventful. Every one was merry and there seemed to be perfection that was planned for the entire evening. Save from one of the Bridgerton ladies. Eloise had retired early for the night as she had never been one to take pleasure in attending balls. She politely excused herself with the permission of her mama and her sister-in-law, the new Viscountess Bridgerton. Eloise had somehow been able to endure these kinds of balls for the past two seasons, mainly because of the company of her dearest best friend Penelope Featherington. Together, they share the same feelings of just wanting to become a spinster. Or so, she thought.
Since her discovery of Penelope's identity as the anonymous Lady Whistledown, Eloise had never spoken to her friend. They ended up with an argument and had said harsh words to each other. She had always been by her side and seeing now that Penelope was able to blossom as a true lady in society, makes her feel proud of her friend. Proud and regretful at the same time. Eloise had always wanted to celebrate everything with Pen, and now that their friendship had taken a crack, she can only see her dear good friend from afar. Over their vacation, the second Bridgerton daughter had realized why Penelope, as Lady Whistledown, had to write the column issue about her. She had pondered these past months what the Queen may have done so, if she were to submit herself and take claim on Whistledown's identity. But even after accepting herself that it was the soundest choice Penelope could have, Eloise could not find the strength to speak and face her childhood friend, as stubborn as she is. After all, she had just called Penelope Featherington an insipid wallflower right to her face.
"I will take my leave now, mama." Eloise says as she removes her presence away from the banquet hall, leaving her mother Violet Bridgerton in the company of Lady Danbury.
Violet did not even respond in return to her daughter Eloise's withdrawal as her attention was rather fixed on the dance floor.
"Good heavens, I had truly wished for you to be my daughter." She softly whispers to herself after letting out a brief sigh.
"I beg your pardon?" Agatha Danbury's voice seem to waken Violet from her trance.
"Oh, did you say me something Lady Danbury?" Violet asked the acerbic woman, not realizing that she has been talking to herself.
"I'm sure my ears have not deceived me Mrs. Bridgerton. I suppose you have uttered something about being your daughter." Lady Danbury looked at her suspiciously, before taking a glance to where the former viscountess had been affectionately staring at.
"Oh, it was nothing Agatha. Just a passing thought."
"Was it, really?" Agatha knew it was something more than just a passing thought. "Well, I could not agree more how it would be pleasing to have Miss Featherington as a daughter."
Violet returned Danbury's remark with a raise in her brows. She has not mentioned the young lady's name, but still Lady Danbury was able to figure out who it was on Violet's mind.
"Ha! Did you think I have not noticed how affectionately you have been staring at the young lassie?" The old sharp woman laughed graciously at the Bridgerton matriarch. The latter had come to mother eight wonderful children of nobility and yet, Violet seemed to desire for one particular ginger head.
Violet smiled innocently at the Queen's aide. She could not deny Lady Danbury's words as she was caught red-handedly.
"You have read my mind, Agatha. Miss Featherington is such a treat for a daughter, indeed." Violet kept herself from telling the woman that she had been wanting to have Penelope as a daughter-in-law rather, as she knew that Agatha had been trying to assist the Earl of Beverley in securing the young Featherington's hand for marriage.
"And here I thought that you Bridgerton lot had been close with that young Featherington."
An inkling of sadness had formed at the corner of Violet's eyes from the mention of their family's closeness with Penelope. "I believe it difficult for Miss Featherington to spend leisure time with my children, sweet and annoying as they are, as she is busy with suitors as of late. Not that I take it against her. I truly am happy that Penelope has become a flower on her own." Lady Danbury could feel in Violet's soft-spoken voice that the latter had been missing the Featheringtons' youngest terribly. Albeit not being told directly, she knew that there has been a strain on Penelope's and the Bridgertons' relation as caused by what was written last year on Lady Whistledown's gossip column. How can there not be, the anonymous columnist had made the society fully aware on the snide remarks Colin Bridgerton made about Penelope Featherington.
Curious as she had also been wanting to know more of this lady, Agatha concocted a plan that lightened up the eyes of her long-term acquaintance. "Do you believe Miss Featherington would be so kind, not to turn down an invitation from this old hag? An afternoon tea perhaps?"
"I am pretty sure she would accept, Lady Danbury. Miss Featherington has always proved herself a gently bred. Even more so, than my own daughters, I must admit."
"Very well, expect to have an invitation delivered to you in the next days. It would be comforting for the lady to see a familiar face rather than mine, don't you agree?"
Violet just smiled agreeingly to Agatha. She knew completely how the younger generation had always been avoiding to be the recipient of Danbury's attention. After all, the old woman has become one of the most powerful women in London. And with her sharp-tongue and astute mind, one can only cower before her toes.
At the dance floor
"Have you been enjoying the night, my lady?" Lord Debling asks of his dance partner as they occupy the center of the dance floor. Thomas had now been taking the steps for the cotillion with Penelope Featherington for their second dance tonight.
"I have, my lord. I hope it was the same for you." Penelope softly answers the man as they continue to stare at each other's eyes. Fortunately for her, she has to thank her mother for getting her and her sisters a dance instructor when they were still fairly young. Remembering the lessons, she was able to keep up with Debling's steps despite not counting and looking at her feet.
"There is nothing more joyous in this evening as I get to spend some time with you Miss Featherington." Thomas' response makes Penelope blush. All throughout their conversations and interactions, Penelope had been strictly following the tip Colin had given her when exchanging words with a suitor. She had tried to confidently share gazes whenever Debling speaks with her. A slight change that the earl had noticed since the ball started.
"You must know, my lady.. I have long been attracted by your beautiful eyes. And seeing them, looking back at me.. makes my heart jump in every second I breathe." Lord Debling sweetly says, not minding that there are other pair of dancers that could hear his words. He has not even realized that he and Penelope Featherington had gathered half the attention of the guests who were standing around the hall. All pair of eyes were caught by the view and curiosity for the charming couple. Never have they saw such a good pair of dancers that equally look good together.
"My apologies, Lord Debling. I did not gather that it may have been disturbing for me to share a glance at your face." Penelope lowered down her voice as she felt embarrassed.
"It was nothing of that sort, Miss Featherington! If anything, I would love to be the receiving end of such beguiling stares."
The words uttered by the man could have easily made Penelope's knees go weak. Thank heavens, Lord Debling had been supporting her arms strongly, yet with a gentle touch, making herself feel light as if floating with the steps. At loss of words on Thomas' sweet admission, the young Featherington miss can only smile in return.
"Miss Featherington, there is something I have been meaning to ask of you." A quite serious expression immediately planted on Lord Debling's face.
Penelope's heart rate increased as it was the first time she saw Debling without a smile. There were still a couple of octaves left for the orchestra to play before the cotillion dance could end, and there she was, feeling nervous on what might the earl say next, as he led them to a turn.
"Pray tell, my Lord."
The Earl of Beverley swallowed a lump on his throat and breathed deeply. He looked at Penelope's crystal blue eyes without even stopping their movements for the dance. "My lady, the moment I first saw you at Lady Danbury's... I have known for certain. You have taken my heart and held it hostage. I find it endearing as it is a first for me to feel admiration and affection towards a lady." He swallows once more as he leads Penelope's arm for a turn. He supports his hand at her back tightly, making sure she will not fall out of balance from his arms. The Featherington miss' eyes continues to stare at him confusedly as he continued to speak with her.
"I plan to ask your mother, Lady Featherington, permission to officially court you. Of course, with marriage in mind. I am hoping you will agree."
Penelope Featherington's eyes widened up as she heard the most surprising words she had heard from all the years of her existence. She blinked twice and saw the expectant eyes on Debling's face. His face. His good-looking, manly face. Adorned with his golden hair and beard, coupled with an ocean blue pair of eyes, Penelope could not stop looking at the man's handsome face. Even if someone were to call her out for staring too long, she could not pull herself away from staring at his soul.
She could not help but be curious how it feels to be kissed by his lips, to be hugged tightly by his strong arms. And to hear his heartbeat if she is to lean on his chest. It was improper for her to gather such thoughts, but the mere presence of Thomas Debling in front of her makes her feel intoxicated. Was it his cologne? He does smell so good that she wanted to lean more closer to inhale his good scent.
Penelope Featherington had woken up from her light trance as she hears the earl calling for her name.
"Miss Featherington?" There was a hint of worry on the man's voice as he has yet to hear the lady's reply.
"Forgive me, Lord Debling. I was caught off guard by your words." She continued to look up to him and saw the man's vulnerability. Little droplets of sweat had started to form on his temples showing an indication of his nervousness.
"To be courted by you would be such an honor, my lord."
And in an instant, right after hearing Penelope's words, Thomas Debling's face glowed up more as he received such delightful news.
"So, you agree?"
"I could not think of any reason not to, Lord Debling. I am of at marriageable age, and so as you. It will be worth to see if we are compatible as a match for a husband and wife." Penelope says. Her voice was able to hide her own excitement as she strictly maintains acting on good behavior. It will be unwise for a lady to show off familiarity when in front of just a suitor. If he were already a fiancée, Penelope can then share a more informal conversation with him.
Thomas Debling looks at Penelope with such admiration on his eyes. He could never deny his attraction to the young lady's eloquence. With how intelligent and well-mannered Miss Featherington is, he knew that she deserves a title and position more than those of ignorant fools among the ton.
"You must know how you have made my entire night, my lady. I could not seem to express it much, but my heart is flying with joy to hear your consent. I will, right after this dance, speak to the baroness and tell on her my intentions." Lord Debling eagerly says as they continue to finish off the dance.
A couple of minutes later, the earl was seen bringing the youngest Featherington by her mother's side. And a wide smile had painted on the dowager baroness' face.
"Miss Featherington, may I take you for a dance?" Penelope looks up to see the charming face of the third Bridgerton son. She had been taking her sweet time at the refreshments table trying to recover some vitality spent from dancing.
Supposedly, Penelope Featherington would avoid and try to decline dancing with Colin Bridgerton after what transpired when they last did so at the Danbury ball. But since she had something to thank him for, she had accepted the man's invitation despite the contretemps between them.
Colin Bridgerton took Penelope's hands as she nodded on his invitation. He led them to the right side of the ballroom as they dance along the music for the Quadrille.
"Pen.. You must know how it means to me, that you have agreed for this dance." Colin nervously tells the ginger head as they dance the Quadrille.
Colin noticed that Penelope Featherington's facial expressions were much calmer compared to their previous encounters. He could no longer feel the obvious hostility coming from the lady and what had surprised him the most was the small curve that formed on Penelope's lips. It was a faint smile that turned to an innocent one the moment she started to share him news.
"I must say, you have helped me a great lot, Mister Bridgerton." Despite her nicer treatment, Penelope was still calling the Bridgerton boy by his family name, not letting their familiarity resurface out in the open.
"It seems what you've taught me the last time is truly effective."
Colin was taken aback from what he heard Penelope said. "Effective? The thing I taught?" was all he could ask from the inner workings of his mind. He swallowed hard as he tried to contemplate on what ever from his steps, his friend Miss Featherington had applied. Was it the physical contact? Colin felt goosebumps from his skin. Had Penelope really tried to act on improper behavior? The third Bridgerton had truly been a good dancer, but for some reason, he found it hard to count the steps and maintain his balance while leading on his dance partner.
"Effective? What is and to whom? Oh Pen.. Pray tell." There was exasperation in Colin's voice. He asked Penelope for a dance to prove to himself that his longing for her was only that of friendship and of a sibling, much like what he is to Eloise. But the man could not help but be annoyed to whoever it was, Penelope had acted on the lessons he gave the other day.
"I've followed what you have said and have done it with Lord Debling. He had officially asked to court me and my mama could only be happy about it." Penelope's eyes shied away from his face as she tries to hide the blush on her cheeks.
"Wh-What? What have you done, Pen?" He angrily asks.
Penelope became confused as to why Colin Bridgerton shows off an annoyed look. Was he not proud of her? She had rightfully done what he taught her but it seems like it was an unwelcome idea to the man.
"I merely held eye contact just as what you've said for the second step!" Penelope's nerves have started to rise up. Tonight is supposed to be a merry one as her relation to the Earl of Beverley seems to progress forward. And yet somehow, Colin's reactions are trying to bring her mood down.
"As you have done your part in our agreement, I will put beyond past whatever unfortunate words you've spoken about me. So to say, I have forgiven you. But it does not anywhere near convey that I will forget how cruel and hurtful you were. I hope this would be the last dance I'll share with you, Mister Bridgerton." Colin felt Penelope's cold treatment once again. He could see her conviction from the seriousness of her eyes. Penelope was serious. Serious in cutting off their relation, their friendship. He would no longer be able to share letters between her, no more exchange of wit on their frequent but short encounters. No more of her smiles to him.
Colin Bridgerton started to feel suffocated. His chest was hurting as if an invisible force was gripping him from the inside. No matter how loud the orchestra was playing their music, he could not hear anything. Penelope's icy voice was all that echoes onto his ears. Was this what his mother meant earlier? Was he afraid that Penelope Featherington will be by the hands of another, for him never to hold her dear anymore. Was he jealous, that he is not the one who have been calling and giving her flowers every morning? Was he truly in love with Penelope?
Before Colin could fully realize all the answers to his questions, the music had finally ended. Penelope had let go of his arms and was invited by her next dancing partner. Colin absent-mindedly stepped out from the dance floor and went to their garden. He needed a breather to think. God, he needed some air to breathe.
