Portia's past
Bridgerton
Colin/ Penelope
A guess as to what could have happened to Portia for her to be this way with Pen.
When Misses Varley saw the announcement of Penelope's engagement to Colin Bridgerton in the latest Issue of Lady Whistledown, she grew worried. She didn't have a choice anymore, she had to keep her promise to the late Baron Featherington and protect young Penelope, above anything. No matter what. Up until now, the best way she could do it was by keeping quiet and obeying Portia's orders, but not anymore. This engagement, and what she had seen the widow looking at in her bedroom earlier, was enough signs that she needed to take action and quickly.
Luckily, Miss Penelope had taken her breakfast alone in her bedroom and had taken her time coming down the stairs, probably enjoying her peace while it lasted but as soon as she appeared down the stairs, actions would have to be taken. Already Varley warned Rae, Pen's maid, to be ready to take Miss Penelope across the square as soon as she walked down the stairs.
Suddenly, she saw Penelope walking down the stairs, happy, about to join her mother and sisters in the drawing room.
"Miss Penelope, do not go in there!" Varley whispered, holding her back.
"What is going on?" Pen asked her, seeing the urgency on her face.
"There is no time, you are in danger. Please trust me and do not ask any questions just yet. Go to the Bridgerton's and stay there. I shall be along shortly with explanations and evidence. Do not talk to your mother or sisters, do not go near them, they cannot see you!" Varley whispered urgently.
Rae, Pen's maid, was there with the young woman's shawl and gloves and she urgently pushed Pen out of the house as discreetly as possible.
Penelope didn't understand what was going on but she followed her maid, who did not seem to know anything except that Varley had ordered it and that it had to be important. When she arrived at the Bridgerton's, she was guided to the drawing room where the entire family was happily talking.
"Penelope!" Hyacinth exclaimed, rushing to hug her.
"Come on in! We're always happy to have you here!" Violet exclaimed as Kate came to hug Pen as well.
"Pen, what's going on?" Colin asked when he saw her puzzled face.
The others hadn't noticed yet, but he knew her enough to see it. She was shocked, and maybe a little scared. Something was wrong.
"I honestly do not know. I came down the stairs, about to join my mother and sisters in the drawing room when Varley stopped me, told me that she had no time to explain just yet, that I was in danger and should come here immediately, without going anywhere near my mother and sisters, without speaking to them or letting them see me. She said that she'd be along shortly with explanations and evidence. I have never seen her like this before. Evidence of what? I have no idea what is going on..." Penelope shook her head.
"She did not explain anything more?" Anthony asked as Colin invited Pen to sit down next to him.
"No, and Rae did not seem to know anything either, she just pulled me along here." She shook her head.
"We shall wait and see what this is all about then." Violet smiled, trying to hide her worry.
A few minutes later, Varley arrived. She had an old journal in her hand.
"Varley, what is going on? How could I possibly be in danger? What is all of this secrecy for?" Pen asked.
"Miss... I'm sorry I kept the secret for so long, but I was afraid that revealing it sooner... I was afraid that nobody would have believed me, I would be fired and unable to protect you, look after you like I promised your father I'd always do. You see, my mother and father worked for your father's parents. Your father and I, we were friends... I mean, great friends, but just friends, not friends like you and Mister Bridgerton. He was like a brother to me and I a sister to him, but there was nothing romantic between us. Anyway, when he married your mother, she was already pregnant with Prudence. She tried to hide it, and threatened me when I figured it out and tried to warn your father. Eventually he found out, shortly before Miss prudence was born but he accepted her as his own anyway, promised to care for her like he would his own child. Your mother's lover had gone to work far away after Prudence was conceived but he came back a little after her birth, thinking your mother would have waited for him. When he saw that she was married, he was sad but stayed near and that's when Miss Philippa was conceived. Your sisters share the same father, and your father knew it but agreed to care for them anyway. Their father died shortly before Miss Philippa's birth in a work accident, and that's when you were conceived. Your mother was drunk for weeks and grieving, she finally accepted to give your father one true heir. They had you and he loved you the moment he saw you, even if his only true heir was a girl, he did not care, for he believed you were perfect just the way you were. Then your mother made his life miserable enough that he only found joy in drinking and gambling, she blamed him for her lover's death though I have no idea how this could have been your father's fault. Your mother chose the Baron because he was a Lord and had money and a good enough Estate that she would want for nothing. No matter how harshly she treated him, he was never violent or mean to her, you are a lot like him in that way, always a forgiving heart. He adored you, your father, he truly did, but every time he tried to show it, your mother would be even more cruel to you, so he stopped, to protect you. I believe that he drank and gambled to force himself to hide how much he truly cared for you." Varley spoke quickly, but clearly.
Violet tried to send Hyacinth and Gregory out of the room but they refused. They both wanted to be there for Penelope and to know what would happen.
"How... Why..." Pen didn't know what to say.
Colin brought her closer to his side.
"Your mother used to keep a journal where she wrote everything, where she confessed it all, and when your father died, she ordered me to burn it so that all evidence that her two eldest daughters were not legitimate would be destroyed. She trusted me, you see. I figured that the best way to protect you like I promised the Baron I would was to go along with her, and I made her believe that I was on her side, that I understood her. I told her that as women we had to stick together and help each other, she believed that this was my reason. I could not let her know that YOU were the only reason i stuck by her side." Varley shook her had.
"That's why you stayed with us after my father died and we were financially ruined? Because you swore you would look after me and to protect me?" Pen asked and Varley nodded.
"That journal, you burnt it?" Anthony asked Varley in a serious tone.
Pen was a member of his family, even if she hadn't been engaged to Colin, she counted as a member of his family. He would protect her and get justice for her. He knew that Simon, his best friend and sister's husband, and a Duc, would help him if his influence alone wasn't enough.
"I did not, I burnt an empty journal for the show of it but I kept her journal preciously. It is the only evidence that proves that you, Miss Penelope, are the only true Featherington heir. I did not think that my testimony would be believed against Lady Portia Featherington and her important friends, and if they took me away from the house, from you, then you would be defenseless. Your mother wants the title and money to go to one of your sisters, because she wants her lover's children to have it all, and you nothing. After reading about your engagement this morning in Lady Whistledown, I saw her taking a small metal box out of her floor board. She looked at it for a while, smiled, then placed it next to her jewelry boxes. I looked inside once she left the room and it's filled with different poisons, each with a note on how to use it. A few of them mention you by name directly. Put one in your tea several days in a row to make you sick, make you smell one on top of the stairs so you can fall and break your neck, one she wants to slip in your drink at a ball so you'd have a spectacular death, with witnesses and attention and the possibility to blame it on somebody else..." Varley added and everyone was shocked.
"She wants to kill me?" Pen asked in a small voice as Colin pulled her tighter to his side.
Colin was not the only Bridgerton that looked furious. They all did and it warmed Pen's heart to notice it.
"I am sorry for my part in her lie, my only concern was to remain by your side, in your service! I swore to your father that I would do my best to protect you, to remain at your side from the day you were born until my last day in this world. As long as you remained unmarried, you posed no threat to your mother's plans, so she accepted it, quite enjoying the idea that you, the true heir, would be there to care for her in her old days and would have to beg for anything you wanted in the future. But now she knows that you would be happy, and she refuses the idea." Varley insisted.
"What do I do?" Penelope asked, lost and overwhelmed by everything.
"You do not have to do anything except remain here and stay safe, Penelope. I will go with Misses Varley to the authorities and have this sorted as quickly as possible. They might not believe her and doubt her words if she's alone, but with this journal and a Bridgerton by her side, they will listen and investigate. If I am not enough to force them to do something, I shall remind them that we have the Duc of Hastings in our family and that Lady Danbury is our close friend. If they truly find this box full of poison, it will only add to Lady Featherington's charges. Penelope, you stay here where it is safe for you. Colin, you DO NOT try anything on your own, no matter how much you want to defend your bride and take actions against Lady Featherington. You are to remain here with Penelope. Benedict, you make sure they both stay in this house." Anthony spoke as he stood up, taking charge of things and leading Misses Varley out of the room after he dropped a kiss on his wife.
"Penelope dear, are you alright?" Violet asked and Pen only shook her head.
Pen looked pale, shocked.
"Here, maybe drinking something will help." Eloise said gently, giving a cup of tea to her old friend.
"I guess you were not the only one counting on me being a spinster all my life." Pen commented in a dry tone to Eloise who shook her head:
"Do not say that. I was wrong, you never said that it was what you wanted, I simply assumed, as I did everything else. I pushed my thoughts and ideas on you and I never listened when you protested so you stopped. It's my fault, not yours. I'm sorry. We'll talk later, but we are good." Eloise replied gently with a smile.
Seeing that Pen was feeling overwhelmed by everything, Colin took her to his study, where they'd be alone for a moment. He noticed that Benedict followed until they were in the study, making sure they would not leave the house.
"How do you feel?" he asked her softly.
"I do not know... I... I mean, her behavior towards me just makes a lot more sense now but..." Pen shook her head.
"What can I do to help?" he asked and she just shook her head and kissed him softly.
A few minutes later, they pulled appart and he hugged her to his side.
"There is something I need to tell you. It is important and I have tried to tell you several times before but we were always interrupted... It might not be the best moment to tell you but I feel like I might not get another opportunity to tell you anytime soon and it is important that you know now." She started and, when she saw that she had his full attention, she continued: "I am Lady Whistledown."
Of course he was shocked, but she explained herself, answered all of his questions, about why she wrote about Marina, about why she wrote about Eloise... She told him everything. She spoke a long time, long enough to put Varley's story in the back of her mind for the time being.
"You truly are amazing, you know that? Do you realize how amazing it is that you, that everyone dismisses so easily, are this all powerful woman? You hold this ton in the palm of your hand, you could start a revolution if you wished it." He smiled.
"I thought you'd be angry." She smiled shyly.
"I'm angry at myself for not seeing it sooner, and for being angry at Lady Whistledown for so long, but never at you, Pen. I will stand by your side and do my best to defend you and protect you against anyone who dares come after you. Always. I love you and from now on, you and me, we are a team."
They kissed for a moment longer before they pulled appart.
"I feel better now, we should rejoin the others." she smiled and he guided her back to the drawing room.
Violet went to hug Pen as soon as they walked back in the room and sat her down beside her on the sofa, with Eloise on the other side.
"Anthony and the royal guards just arrived across the square." Benedict informed his brother as he walked back in the room.
Pen looked up.
"That was fast... Is Varley with them?" she asked and Benedict nodded.
It felt like they waited for hours in the drawing room.
Francesca played some music, to try an cheer Penelope up, but everyone was tense, expecting to hear more. Benedict had his valet keep watch, and they were informed of the evolution of the situation as it happened.
Benedict reported to them as he learned more.
Penelope's sisters were quickly escorted to their home and instructed to stay there, an officer would keep watch until a decision was made about them. Their husbands were to stay with them until further notice. They were on house arrest, not allowed to contact anyone until they could be interrogated and an official decision was made.
They had found the box full of poisons, with the instruction notes that Varley had spoken about, and Pen's mother was arrested. The instructions were in the same handwriting as the journal, so it was easily comparable. The woman apparently did not go quietly and she revealed just in how many ways she had thought of killing Penelope, sometimes even in the past. Apparently, Portia had tried to kill Penelope when she was a little girl, but her father had intervened, Portia had made it sound like it had been an accident and he had punished her by cutting her off financially for an entire year.
Still, Anthony did not come back, he even left with Misses Varley and the guards once more and it only make tensions grow. What else was going of for him to leave once more?
Finally, shortly before dinner time, he came back.
"What's happened?" everyone asked him as he hugged his wife.
"Penelope's mother was arrested, found guilty quickly. She was so angry at Varley's betrayal that she confessed to everything and even more... There is no way for her to get out of it now. So far they believe that your sisters are innocent and that they knew nothing but they cannot present themselves as Featherington's anymore and they will be watched. If they try anything against you, Penelope, they will be arrested as well. The matter was brought in front of the Queen and her son the Regent quickly, that is why we went back after they searched the house and arrested your mother. The queen wishes to meet with Penelope before she makes a final decision, but we believe she'll give the Estate and title to the two of you as soon as you marry." Anthony explained, pointing to Colin and Penelope for the last part.
"What about Varley?" Pen asked.
"They believe her word, believe that her only interest was to obey Baron Featherington's orders and to protect you. The rest is up to you. If you want to keep her in your service, she will stay, but you can terminate her if you wish." Anthony replied.
"She saved my life and suffered my mother's presence for years just to be able to protect me, I would be a fool to terminate her. She deserved a raise." She shook her head.
"I figured you'd see it this way. She's back at the house, waiting for you." Anthony assured her with a smile.
"We don't have to keep this house, do we? I mean, it hold so many bad memories..." Pen asked, shaking her head.
"The choice is yours, you can sell it, or donate it if you want. You can even keep it for your children. It's your choice and you do not have to make a decision any time soon." Anthony nodded.
"Yes, take your time." Benedict smiled at his new sister.
"It would be great if you two still lived across the square though." Eloise commented with a smile.
"You could redecorate the house completely." Violet suggested and Pen smiled.
"I guess that's something Colin and I will have to talk about." Pen smiled.
"Wait, so if the Queen gives them the estate, then Colin is a Baron?" Gregory asked and everyone nodded.
"So Penelope would be Lady Bridgerton too. So there would be 3 Lady Bridgerton?" Hyacinth continued and they nodded.
"Greetings are going to be fun!" Gregory added, making everyone smile.
"People can just greet the three of them together at the same time saying Ladies Bridgerton." Eloise shook her head.
"Anyway, Penelope, a royal carriage will pick you up tomorrow morning so you can meet with the Queen. Everything will be decided from there. She wants to speak to you alone, probably to decide if you're a better person than your mother to see what kind of person the true Featherington is. Do not worry, just be yourself." Anthony reassured her.
"Wait, she's really to go alone?" Colin asked, worried.
"Do not worry, I will be safe. Everything will be alright. And I can even promise to come here and tell you what's happened once it's over." Penelope replied softly.
"Fine, I will be waiting." He frowned.
"Meaning he will be unsufferable with the rest of us until you come back." Eloise commented, earning chuckles from the others.
They spoke a few more minutes before Pen declared that it was time for her to go back home and see what needed to be done. Colin walked her across the square.
"Will you write all of this in Lady Whistledown?" he asked her.
"I will, but the next issue will only come out after tomorrow night's ball. I cannot make a special edition just for this, it would be suspicious. Plus, I will have met with the Queen, I will have more details about the facts. I will probably start writing the next issue tomorrow afternoon and quickly add the parts about the ball before sending it off to the printer." She added and he nodded.
"I will wait for you tomorrow." he smiled, kissing her.
"Try not to be too hard on your family as you wait for me." she smiled back before she walked in the house.
The house was empty save for the servants, but Pen thought the air felt clearer for some reason. Maybe the Bridgerton's were right. She and Colin could live here, redecorate everything, make it theirs. She would bring the subject with him tomorrow and they would decide.
She was welcomed by Varley, waiting for her orders. Varley looked a bit nervous and Pen remembered that she still believed she might be fired.
"Varley, thank you for everything. Really." She thanked the woman who nodded.
Unable to help herself and knowing that it would be inappropriate, she quickly hugged the woman.
"I really am sorry for not speaking up sooner, miss." Varey replied, sincerity obvious on her face, once Penelope freed her from the hug.
"Do not worry, I understand. You weren't sure you would be believed and if mama had fired you, you would not have been able to protect me. You will always have a position here with me, or in any house I end up living in." Penelope replied with a smile.
"Thank you, miss. Now, are you ready for your dinner?"
"In a few minutes, yes. I just need to freshen up a bit first." she replied.
Penelope went up in her bedroom, and noticed that it had not been searched.
She was relieved because if they had found her floor board, she would have been in real trouble.
Before she went to have her dinner, alone, she went to check her mother's bedroom. Clothes and other possessions were all over the place and Penelope wondered what she'd do with them. Maybe she could donate everything to the Danbury school for Orphaned girls. They could either use it or sell it. She'd add her old yellow dressed along with it.
.
The next morning, Pen was ready to go when the royal carriage came to pick her up and through she was nervous, she tried her best to remain calm. She had worked a bit on the next day's issue of Lady Whistledown and, since the Queen had just published a note offering 5000 pounds for any information to her identity, she thought it would be a good time to show the Queen who she was, and that she was not her enemy. It would certainly make her life easier if the Queen knew who she was and stopped trying to stop her.
Penelope was surprised to meet with the Queen in the gardens, around a cup of tea, and not in a more official room but it helped her be more at ease. The only person around was Brimsley, and Pen knew that he could be trusted, or he would not have stayed by the Queen's side for so long.
The Queen was open, gentle even and she wanted to know how Penelope was doing, how her life had been so far with her mother and sisters and if she was happy to marry Colin Bridgerton, if it was truly a marriage of love.
"It truly is your majesty." Pen replied with a large smile.
"Now, Lady Danbury has heard from Lady Bridgerton that the story of how you met is special. I shall like to hear it." The Queen declared, making Pen smile at the memory.
"He was riding his horse outside when the wind blew my devilishly yellow head covering off my head. You must remember the kind of Yellow my mother used to force me to wear, I am sure that you can easily picture it. It make him fall in the mud. I laughed, teased him mercilessly before I apologized. He remembers my appology as charming and witty, I just remembered being extremely amused. We've been friends ever since that day." She remembered, smiling.
"How sweet! It seems to be a similar love story to the one his parents shared, is it not?" The Queen asked and Penelope nodded:
"It is, and I can only hope that we have a life and love as blessed as theirs was."
"I have made my decision. You and Mister Bridgerton shall inherit the Featherington Estate. It will be transferred in your name after the wedding." the Queen declared.
"Your Majesty, before you take any decision, there is something that you need to know. It could make you change your mind and you knowing would certainly make my life easier. I am Lady Whistledown." Penelope declared.
"And why are you coming forward now? Do you have any evidence on you? The real Lady Whistledown certainly would not come forward for the prize money alone, she makes much more than that." The Queen asked as Brimsley rose an eyebrow.
"I have here the draft of a portion of tomorrow's issue, it will be completed after tonight's ball. You can read it now and compare to what you'll see in tomorrow's issue. And you are right, I make plenty of money already and I do not need more, especially now that I am marrying Colin. I do not care about the reward money, but after I told Colin, I realized that my life would also be easier if I did not have to worry about being spotted by your men every time I send my paper to the printer. I am not your enemy your Majesty, on the contrary, I admire you greatly. I believe you to be the strongest woman this country has ever seen. I just cannot be too obvious with my compliments if I want to be trusted and believed." Pen explained, handing her draft to the Queen.
"But you criticize me so often. Are you saying that you do not mean those critics?" The Queen asked, surprised but not angry.
"I do not, your Majesty. Now I won't lie, I do enjoy the little game we are playing, taunting and challenging each other regularly, and I believe that you enjoy it as well, but I do not mean the critics, they only serve a purpose. This way, if something happens that has the people doubting you, I can be on your side and defend you with my quill without people doubting my sincerity. They'd say that I'm the first to criticize you so if I'm on your side now, then maybe they are overreacting." Penelope explained the best way she could.
The Queen smiled, nodded and read the paper before she asked Brimsley to read it as well.
"You wrote things about yourself, wrote rumors about yourself. Why would you do that?" The Queen asked softly.
"I write whatever everyone is talking about, even if it is about me. If I did not it would be suspicious and it's only right that I treat myself the same way I treat everyone else, though all the times I criticized my ugly yellow dresses, it was a critic to my mother's poor taste, not me." Pen smiled and the Queen nodded.
"You have morals, and you seem aware of the power and influence that you have. You do not seem the kind of person that would use and abuse her influence to do bad things. I believe that you and I could be great friends Miss Featherington. This is further proof that you deserve to inherit your father's Estate, once you marry. You will not hold the Estate for your children, no. The Title shall be yours directly." The Queen smiled.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Penelope bowed her head.
Brimsley gave Pen her draft back and the young author spoke a bit longer with the Queen, agreeing that she'd use Lady Whistledown to warn the queen if she heard bad things about the crown, and that, once she was married, they'd have tea together once in a while to discuss things. They also agreed that the secret would be kept, it was better if nobody knew the real identity of Lady Whistledown.
"Now, I do want to give you the reward money, you deserve it." The Queen insisted and Pen accepted it, knowing that arguing would be pointless.
"I wonder, maybe you could not say right away that you know who Lady Whistledown is. We could wait a few weeks, see if anyone would be so desperate for that money that they'd dare lie to you." Penelope suggested with a small smile.
"What if someone who knows who you are betrays you?" The Queen asked, concerned.
"I have complete trust in the three people who knew before I met with you today. Eloise and Colin Bridgerton would not reveal it without my permission and the only other person to know is Madame Delacroix and I believe that I can trust her completely. She was keeping my secret before I helped her get rid of the new Modiste that was taking all of her clients. She knows what she owes me and would keep my secret. She knows that every time I compliment her work in an issue, it brings her more clients. As for the printer, he does not know my name. He knows my face and he thinks I'm Lady Whistledown's lady's maid. I always speak with him with a heavy irish accent and I change my voice a little so he would not recognize it. He will not make a connection and he needs my work to stay open so he would not look into it too much. As for mister Brimsley here, if he could not be trusted, he would not have remained in your service for so long." Penelope explained.
Out of the corner of her eyes, Pen saw Brimsley smile and she knew that she had been right.
"I have to say that I agree with you, it could be fun to see what people would do to get the money. It would be entertaining to wait a while and we shall see this way who we can trust to be honest with us and who lies. I shall take great pleasure in humiliating publicly anyone who will dare lie to me. We'll see after your wedding to lift the bounty." The Queen smiled.
.
When Penelope finally left the palace, she was happy and proud of herself. Everything would be fine now.
She just had to decide what she would do with her sisters. The Queen had informed her that they had been interrogated and that it was obvious that neither of them knew anything. The house arrest had been lifted and they were allowed to go back into society but if they tried anything against their half sister, they would be arrested and punished. As for Portia, she would spend the rest of her life in a woman's prison. Pen decided not to reach out to her sisters directly and to wait it out, see if they'd come to her or not.
Before she went home, Penelope stopped at the Modiste to make a quick appointment to fit her wedding dress and everything else she'd need. Of course madame Delacroix was only too happy to give her a spot the next morning. She already had ideas on how to work on everything.
As promised, she made a stop at the Bridgerton house to inform Colin of how everything went. He was in the drawing room, pacing while the rest of the family, obviously waiting for her as well, tried to keep busy.
"Pen's here!" Eloise exclaimed and suddenly Pen found herself surrounded by her future family, wanting to know how it went.
"Give her the time to sit down!" Colin complained, helping his wife to be to a chair by his side.
"Thank you." she smiled.
"Do you know more of what will happen to your mother?" Anthony asked her.
"Yes, she will be imprisoned for life, in a woman's prison on the other side of the country. My sisters' house arrest was lifted since the interrogation showed that they knew nothing but they were warned that if they tried anything against me, there would be heavy consequences for them. They are allowed to go back into society, but they might take their time doing so, wait for people to forget this entire story. There was also talk of their doweries. Since they are not Featherington, I am apparently entitled to ask for it back because it was paid with Featherington money, but I have decided to let them keep it." Pen explained.
"How about your meeting with the Queen? How did it go?" Eloise asked.
"As soon as Colin and I are married, my father's Estate will be ours, along with the title." Pen nodded, knowing that this was what they wanted to know.
"How was it, meeting with the Queen? Scary?" Gregory asked.
"No, it was not. I believe she did her best to make me comfortable. We were in the garden, just the two of us and Mister Brimsley. She was very kind, and did her best to make me at ease. She wanted to make sure that what Colin and I have is really love, she wanted to know the story of how we met. She seemed pleased with our discussion. She said that she believed we would be good friends in the future and that she'd invite me for tea some time after the wedding." Penelope explained.
"And you know what is the coolest part of this? We had a Viscount and a Duc in the family, now we have a Baron! If Francesca marries her Earl, then all we'll be missing is a Marquees!" Hyacinth exclaimed.
"And a prince if you really want your collection complete." Gregory corrected, making everyone chuckle.
"It could be a princess. Maybe Benedict will marry a princess, or you might." Hyacinth shook her head.
"Well, it certainly would be a kind of collection that very few families have." Penelope joked.
"What are you going to do with all of your mother's possessions?" Violet asked her future daughter in law.
"I was thinking of donating it to Lady Danbury's school for orphaned girls. They can either use it one way or another or sell them to raise money. I thought I would ask her at the ball tonight what she'd prefer." Pen replied.
"That's very kind!" Violet smiled softly.
"I'll use the occasion to put all my old ugly yellow dresses in the lot. Those girls at the school can learn to sew on them, I do not want to look at them ever again." Pen added with a smile.
"I kind of liked your yellow dresses. Some of them at least." Colin commented with a small smile.
"Then you can wear them." Pen replied, making everyone chuckle.
"I'd pay to see that!" Benedict joked.
So they'd have some time alone, Colin walked Penelope back to her house across the square and she brought the subject of the house. He liked the idea of living so close to his family, and she did too, so they decided to redecorate it completely before the wedding and to make it their own. They'd meet the next day to start on making decisions. Colin's mother even offered her help, which they gladly accepted.
.
Later, when Penelope went back home to get ready for that evening's ball, she asked for Varley to come and see her first. The housekeeper had gone above and beyond to prove that she could be trusted, so Penelope decided to trust her fully.
"You asked to see me, Miss?" Varley asked to announce her arrival in the bedroom.
"Yes, you have proven that you could be trusted, that you care about me and would do anything to protect me and I feel like I can trust you with my biggest secret. What I am about the tell you, only Eloise and Colin Bridgerton know, with the exception of the Queen whom I have told this morning. I am Lady Whistledown." Penelope declared and Varley smiled.
"I am not surprised, Miss. You were always so discrete and smarter than most around you... I knew you were smarter than you let on. And I am not surprised to find that you were clever enough to keep it secret from everyone around you." Varley smiled.
"After what you have done for me, I just do not want to keep a secret from you. I believe that I can trust you with everything." Pen smiled kindly before she added: "And I believe it is time your wage be increased, you have done far more than you were expected to and you stayed even when we could not pay you properly. Thank you, really, for everything." Penelope smiled.
"It was my pleasure, miss. Now, are you ready for Rae to help you get ready?" Varley asked.
"In a minute. Colin and I have decided to live in this house after the wedding but we will need to redecorate it completely in order to make it our own. We shall start making decisions tomorrow. I think the entire color code of this household needs to be changed."
"Good idea Miss. This particular shade of green is... tiresome." Varley replied, looking at her dress, making Pen smile.
"We shall change this as well." Pen nodded at the housekeeper's dress before she added:
"I have decided to donate all of mama's possessions to the Danbury's school for Orphaned girls. Could you please ensure that it is all packed soon? And Varley, if there is any item in my mother's possession that you wish to keep, please take it. Think of it as a bonus for your good services. If not for yourself, feel free to take one of her necklaces to sell and help your family." Penelope added and Varley smiled tenderly at the young woman before she nodded and left the room, right before Rae came in.
.
It felt strange for Penelope to be on her own and she was surprised to see Colin waiting for her in front of her carriage.
"I thought we'd meet there?" She asked, confused but pleased.
"I did not want you to go on your own." he smiled, opening the door for her.
That sat side by side in the carriage, and she was simply happy to be near him.
"So, how do you usually do this Lady Whistledown thing? I'm guessing someone comes to pick it up at your house later?" he asked her and she shook her head.
"No, it depends on the timing. I usually have plenty of time so I drop it off at Madame Delacroix who sends it out in a box, hidden in a cloak, but tonight there won't be time for that, I will have to drop it off myself. I have what I need under this seat. A maid's cloak and what I need to quickly complete the next issue with whatever I get from tonight's event. My mother's arrest and the rest of the story will be the main story, everything else will have to be secondary. i'll write it on the way to the printer." She explained.
"On the way? And you called MY writing effortless!" He chuckled.
"I'm guessing you will want to go with me to the Printer?" She asked hi.
"Of course, we're a team now. I want to be by your side and protect you from anything and everything that could possibly hurt you." he smiled.
"Don't worry, I have been doing this on my own for a while now, you can come, but you will not need to protect me from anything." She smiled back, dropping a kiss on his lips.
When their carriage arrived, Benedict was waiting for them.
"What's going on?" Colin asked his brother, already worried that there might be another problem coming his bride's way.
"Anthony asked that I warned you. Everything that happened to Penelope's mother has not been revealed yet. Nobody knows. The newspaper was waiting for final information they got today and will publish it tomorrow, so if you want to keep the secret for now and enjoy a normal night, you can. Neither of your sisters are present tonight anyway." Benedict informed them both.
"Good. We'll enjoy tonight as any other night and face people's inquiries tomorrow." Pen nodded.
"And in two days we will hold our engagement celebration, remember? My mother is organizing it with Kate. they will surely use this occasion to question us about this." Colin reminded her.
"Let's hope that between the newspaper article and Lady Whistledown, all of their questions will be answered." Pen smiled before the couple followed Benedict inside.
There, people congratulated them on their engagement and Pen was surprised at how much joy she felt. Even Eloise was acting nice towards her, and even though they hadn't talked yet and the fact that their relationship would never be the same again, they were friends again.
At some point, Penelope was able to speak with Lady Danbury. Being best friends with the Queen and good friends with Lady Bridgerton, Lady Danbury knew of what had happened with Pen's mother and she was not surprised to learn that Pen wanted to get rid of her mother's possessions. Of course she accepted it all for the school she funded and they arranged for a time the next afternoon where a carrier would come to pick it all up.
The sooner it was all out of the house, the sooner Pen and Colin would be able to start making decisions on the changes they wanted.
"Everyone is talking about the bounty on Lady Whistledown's head." Colin told Pen as they danced later.
"I know, I'm kind of excited to see if anyone will come close to a clue. But I doubt it. Nobody ever suspects the insipid wallflower."
"You are not that!" he shook his head with a frown.
"That's how people see me. Do not worry. It will all be well, and we have the Queen on our side." She smiled.
"True." He smiled back.
Penelope could not help but notice Cressida and Eloise arguing and it got her curious. What was happening? Why did Cressida look so angry with her? Shaking the thoughts out of her head, Pen went back to her favorite activity: people watching.
Later, in the carriage, Colin watched her as she quickly wrote the few pieces of gossip she had gathered from the evening. An argument during a dance between two people who had been courting for a while, Cressida Cowper's sour face, Lord Fife being seen leaving a closet while adjusting his pants, Miss Stowell's longing looks at Benedict Bridgerton...
When they arrived at the printer, Colin opened the carriage door for Pen. She already had her maid's cloak on her.
"Do not come in behind me and do not react loudly to anything you hear!" She warned him before she walked in.
From outside, Colin smiled, amused and amazed, when he heard his bride speaking with the printer with an irish accent he had never heard before, going so far as to change her voice. The exchange was quick and she left the office with a big bag of money. He silently opened the carriage door for her, laughter in his eyes.
"You better not be mocking this accent!" She warned him getting rid of the cloak and placing it back inside the seat.
"I would not dare! Honestly, I'm simply amazed at your multiple talents." he smiled.
"Shall I come tomorrow morning to discuss the changes you want made to the house?" He asked her with a smile later.
"I have to be at Madame Delacroix pretty early tomorrow morning for my wedding dress. I could come by when i'm done and we'd go over together. The carriers will empty my mother's room of her possessions mid afternoon. there are a few paintings that I hate and am planning on adding to everything but we can decide the rest later. Change the color of the walls. Varley hinted that she'd like the servants' clothes to be a different color as well. I actually like this idea." Pen explained.
"As you wish." he smiled before he kissed her and watched her enter her house before he went into his own.
.
The next morning, Penelope was met at breakfast by Varley.
"Everything is packed in your mother's room, miss." Varley declared.
"Thank you Varley, Lady Danbury's carrier will come some time this afternoon. I have to go soon to the Modiste but I will most definitely be back before then. Colin shall come back with me and we will start making decisions." Penelope smiled.
"The latest issue of Lady Whistledown has arrived, Miss. Do you wish to look at it?"
"I would, yes, thank you." Pen nodded.
"May I ask why you read it when you've written it?" Varley asked in a small voice to ensure they would not be overheard.
"Several reasons. First, it would be suspicious if we were the only household without a subscription to the Gossip Sheet. Second I like to check if they did the work like I asked. And lastly, I know you and the other like to read it." She explained.
"Today's issue was different, Miss. When I read today's issue, I felt pride, as I'm sure your father would have if he had known." Varley added with a smile before she left Pen to her breakfast.
.
Getting fit for her wedding dress made Penelope especially happy. She could tell her modiste friend had read her latest issue by the way she asked her how she was doing and if she needed anything. it touched Penelope and proved to her that Madame Delacroix was more than a work partner, she was her friend.
"Are you not worried for the bounty the Queen as placed on Lady Whistledown's head?" Madame Delacroix asked her quietly once they were alone.
"Not really. She knows who I am. I told her when I met her yesterday after my mother's arrest. She's leaving the bounty up to see if anyone would lie to get the money, to see who can be trusted." Penelope explained.
"I see, and you're not worried that you might be identified by anyone?"
"I am confident that our way of doing things is well thought out, though it might change after the wedding. Colin wants to help and be involved to ensure that I am safe." Pen explained with a smile.
"It is a sign that he truly cares." Genevieve smiled.
"It is. It is strange to know that from now on, there will always be someone who will care about me, what happens to me, my safety and wellbeing... It is news, but I quite enjoy it." Pen explained honestly.
"As you should." The modiste smiled.
"I know that you are very busy, especially in this season, but would you come to my wedding? Be my gust?" Pen asked with a shy smile.
"It would be my honor." Madame Delacroix smiled happily.
.
When she was done, Penelope went to the Bridgerton's as she promised. It was not too late in the morning and she found everyone in the drawing room.
"Pen's here!" Hyacinth exclaimed, running to hug Penelope as though she had not seen her the previous day.
"How did it go?" Kate asked her.
"Pretty well. She had already started on it when I changed my entire wardrobe at the beginning of the season. It's almost finished she just wants to add something." Pen smiled.
"Good. As for your engagement celebration, everything is ready. Is there anyone specific you wish to invite?" Violet asked Penelope who smiled and replied:
"Well, Madame Delacroix has become a good friend, she won't be able to make it to the engagement but I would love for her to be added to the wedding invitations."
"Anything you want!" Colin replied happily.
"Do you know if your sisters will come tomorrow?" Eloise asked her old friend.
"I have no idea, they haven't reached out to me yet and I have decided that after the way they have treated me my entire life, they should be the ones making the effort of reaching out." Penelope replied.
"Make sure they apologize before you allow them back in your life." Colin frowned.
"Anyway, Colin told me you wish to change the color scheme of your house, I have assembled a few samples I thought you might like for you to look at." Violet spoke as she showed Pen and Colin a pile of color samples.
"I personally love this one!" Hyacinth exclaimed pointing to a pale pink.
"I do not think Colin would love to live permanently surrounded by pink. But I do love this shade... It's very pretty." Penelope replied, pointing to a sample of emerald green paint.
"I told you they were going to chose this one!" Violet exclaimed, looking at Anthony and Benedict.
"Colin said it was his favorite earlier as well." Kate explained with a smile.
"Do we use the same shade for the worker's outfits? Or maybe we let Varley choose?" Pen asked Colin.
"I'm sure we can get several sample within this shade that they'd like." he nodded.
"Well, that was decided quickly. And here I was expecting to be able to enjoy an argument, Bridgerton style." Benedict joked.
"Considering the speed of this decision, they'll be done making all the decision by tomorrow's engagement ball." Eloise rolled her eyes.
Colin watched Penelope taking the sample of Pink Hyacinth had liked in one of her hands, looking at it.
"What is it?" he asked her.
"Well Hyacinth is right, it is pretty, maybe repaint one of the guest rooms in this color, maybe paired with a golden yellow?" Pen suggested and Colin nodded with a bright smile.
"It's not fair! How come she gets to decide on the color of a room!" Gregory complained.
Knowing how the younger two were always in competition, Pen smiled and replied:
"How about we repaint Prudence's old room the way hyacinth chose and you can decide which color we use in Philippa's old room?"
"Thanks!" he exclaimed before he chose a dark blue and the same golden yellow as his sister.
"Anyone else feels left out and wants to chose a room?" Colin asked, amused.
In the end, Eloise chose the colors for Penelope's bedroom, since she'd move into the master bedroom with Colin (they had talked of getting rid of the separating door and opening the wall up to make it one big bedroom) and Benedict chose the color of the room Marina had used. Not to be left out, Violet, Anthony and Kate all chose the color for another guest bedroom.
"Fabric samples for the furniture will be brought to your house this afternoon, so you can change that as well. I had a feeling you'd like the idea of Emerald Green. I have prepared a note with the color shades they should bring. I shall have it sent immediately." Violet smiled.
"By the way, Cousin Jack's rifle cabinet is still at the house, he never took it with him when he left. My mother moved it but it's still there. Do any of you want it or do I donate it to Lady Danbury's school as well?" Pen asked.
"Hunting is not my favorite activity, you can get rid of it if you want." Colin shook his head.
"May I have one of the rifles?" Gregory asked eagerly.
"If your mother and you brothers agree, I see no objection, you can all take them if you want. I mean, even if I donate it to the school, they won't use it they would just sell it. it might as well be of some use." Pen shrugged her shoulders.
"How is it?" Anthony asked her, interested and so Penelope described it the best way she could.
"I guess we could take it, place it in Aubry Hall so that we can all enjoy it when we go hunting there." Anthony smiled, unable to refuse his younger brother's pleading smile.
"If she was planning on donating it to Lady Danbury's school for orphaned girls, you should make a donation to the school in exchange." Kate reminded him and he agreed with a smile.
"When do you want me to have it removed?" Anthony asked Pen and Colin.
"It's out of the way, it can wait until the end of the season if you want." Penelope shrugged her shoulders.
"But having it out of the way sooner would be better to organize everything and make it ours." Colin smiled brightly and she nodded, unable to resist his smile.
"I shall arrange for it to be moved tomorrow then." Anthony chuckle, knowing what it was like to want to please the woman you loved.
Eventually, the couple crossed the square to make decisions. They did every room one by one, taking notes with Varley in tow. Varley would oversee everything when they were busy. The engaged couple informed Varley of the colors they had chosen for the walls in the different rooms and that they workers had already been contacted. The work would be done quickly and completed before the wedding so that they'd be able to enjoy their new home without the memories of Pen's distasteful mother left behind.
They ended with the master bedroom.
Of course it was traditional to have separate bedroom, but neither of them wanted this. They decided to take off the door and to open up the wall on each side of the door to make it one bigger bedroom. Penelope was surprised at how easy it was for them to make the decisions. They agreed on everything, and the one time they hadn't agreed immediately, they managed to find a compromise.
Colin and Penelope took the time to look through the Estate's paperwork but apparently, the one thing Portia had done was to keep it in order, so they did not have to worry there.
.
The next next passed quickly and soon, it was time for Colin and Penelope's engagement party at the Bridgerton house.
Of course everyone was present, they were, after all, the match of the season, at least according to Lady Whistledown, though they had still to hear from the Queen. For this special event, Hyacinth and Gregory were allowed to join the celebration, at least until a certain point. They did have a curfew to respect, though Penelope suspected they would find a way to keep on watching everything from afar.
Even the Queen had come to celebrate the occasion and her presence showed people that she approved of the match.
"I have brought Miss Featherington an engagement present." The Queen declared with a smile when they greeted her.
Smiling, she presented Pen with a long and flat wooden box. Pen opened it to find a beautiful emerald encrusted quill.
"You majesty it's beautiful! Thank you so much!" Penelope smiled brightly.
"You are very welcome, I wish the two of you the happiest of marriage. It will be well deserved. Think of me when you use it." She replied with a smile before she walked away.
"I'll put it in my study until you go home if you want." he offered.
"Thank you." She nodded.
"You two let me do it and stay here. It's your party anyway." Benedict offered suddenly.
They hadn't even noticed that he was standing right behind them. They understood his sudden desire to help them when they saw Miss Stowell going his way. They let him grab it and watched him running away, making them laugh.
Penelope stood and greeted their guests, accepting congratulations and sympathies for the news about Penelope's mother. Everyone had read about it by now and they were all shocked, though happy that this story had such a happy ending instead of the tragedy it could have been. They were about to join the rest of the celebration when Prudence and Philippa arrived, with their husbands.
"We were not sure you'd welcome our presence." Prudence declared after greeting them.
"You could have come over earlier. Or sent a card." Colin replied.
"Albion and I believed it would be best to give Penelope some time to think everything over. And mostly to give our wives time to realize that their mother was the real villain in this story." Prudence's husband replied sincerely.
"They both needed time to accept the truth, and I think that the latest issue of Lady Whistledown helped them see the reality of things, instead of what their mother had fed them." Mister Finch added seriously.
"We are both so sorry, Penelope... I know that we were never kind of fair with you, but we mirrored mama. She never told us it was wrong, so we did not know it was wrong." Philippa argued, looking sincere.
Colin and Penelope could see the rest of the family looking at them, ready to jump in if there was any trouble. Others guests like the Mondrich's seemed ready to intervene.
"Our mother never told you not to jump from the roof, but you never tried it anyway." Penelope replied, making Colin proud.
"I know that we will never have a close relationship, and if you want us to leave, we will. We just wanted to apologize, and congratulate you in person for this engagement. I... We never expected a day like this to happen, because mama told us that you did not want a husband, that you despised us for having husbands. She said that if you ended up getting married and having the male child, the heir, you'd throw us to the street. We should have asked you if it was true before... Please, sister, forgive us." Prudence asked and, Pen had to admit it, they seemed sincere.
Pen smiled and nodded softly.
"You are right, we will never be closed like other sisters are, but we can still have something. Go ahead and come in." Penelope told them.
"You are far too kind. I shall keep an eye on them for you." Colin whispered in his fiancé's ear.
After they joined the others, toasts were given in their honor. Colin declared his love for Penelope and she to him. Every single Bridgerton spoke, celebrating the happy couple's love. Penelope's sisters gave, together, one short but sincere toast to the happy couple. After that, Will Mondrich spoke, saying that since Colin was such a good and honest man and such a good friend, he could only be a good husband to Penelope.
Then the Queen spoke:
"I have nothing to add to the beautiful words that have already been spoken about this magnificent couple by their family. To the best match of the season: a true love match!" The Queen declared and everyone repeated, making Pen blush.
After that, everyone was surprised to see Cressida Cowper stand, going for a toast. Everyone fell silent, surprised. Eloise, who had been speaking with Cressida minutes earlier seemed furious and it scared Penelope a little. Would Cressida use this moment to humiliate her once more? Colin squeezed her hand to reassure her.
No matter what, she was not alone.
"Such a happy moment, and with everyone that matters present, it feels like the perfect moment for me to reveal the truth, finally. Your Majesty, you can stop your search for the elusive author of the ton's favorite gossip column. I know who Lady Whistledown is." Cressida spoke and Penelope paled a bit.
"Is that so?" The Queen asked, unimpressed, almost bored.
"I am Lady Whistledown." Cressida added.
Everyone looked surprised and started muttering among each other.
Cressida's parents looked furious and ready to murder their daughter with one look.
Eloise looked at Penelope in panic.
Colin looked at Cressida with true rage, ready to jump and strangle the girl for daring stealing what belonged to his love.
The Queen started laughing.
Everyone turned to the Queen who signaled for Cressida Cowper to come forward.
Mister and Misses Cowper had already grabbed the girl's arms, ready to take her away. Cressida proudly freed herself from their clutches and walked to the Queen her head held high, looking at everyone as though she had some kind of magical power over them.
"You, you claim to be Lady Whistledown?" The Queen asked again, laughter still in her voice.
Behind the Queen, Brimsley looked condescendingly at Cressida.
"I am your Majesty."
"And why would you come forward now?" The Queen asked, humoring the foolish girl.
"Given the large bounty you have placed on my name, I could not risk anyone else trying to claim it by stealing my name and work. It is time I came forward." Cressida replied and it enraged Penelope like never before.
Penelope had to check if she was indeed not on fire for the rage she felt made her feel like she was standing on top of a volcano about to erupt.
"And yet you, by speaking those lies now, are usurping the true Lady Whistledown's identity." The Queen declared and everyone looked at her, shocked.
Colin and Penelope were still furious at Cressida but happy that the Queen had their back. This showed Pen that she had been right to trust the Queen with her secret.
"Your Majesty, I assure you that..." Cressida started but the Queen cut her off:
"Brimsley, does she look like the true Lady Whistledown that we have met a few days ago?" The Queen asked her faithful servent.
"Not even close, your Majesty. The true Lady Whistledown actually looked smart before she proved that she was, effectively, extremely smart." Brimsley replied, looking at Cressida with disdain.
"Then the other one must have lied!" Cressida started to speak but was cut off by a furious Queen.
"Do not do me the offence of lying any longer! The REAL Lady Whistledown came to me a few days ago, presented proof by showing me the draft of her next issue the day before it came out, and we spoke in great length. The real Lady Whistledown refused the reward money, I had to force her to take it. The one and true Lady Whistledown is my friend and I refuse to allow ANYONE to dirty her name. How dare you lie to your Queen! And for a mere 5000? The real Lady Whistledown makes much more than that in one season alone you pitiful girl! You would know that if you had enough brain to add up two plus two!" the Queen had spoken in great anger and everyone looked at Cressida with anger.
Her parents looked afraid.
"Your majesty..." Cressida started to speak but she was cut of.
"Now is not your time to speak, Miss Cowper! Not only you have lied to me, to the crown and the entire ton and stole someone else's identity but you have ruined a very joyful event. A moment Miss Featherington truly deserved after the latest events! Or did you not read the paper you claim is yours? Did you honestly believe that you would escape this lie without consequences? That I would just hand you the money this easily? Do you think us fools? What do you think Lady Whistledown will write about you tomorrow? You have become, in a matter of minute, the enemy of a woman so powerful she could end your reputation and shun you and your entire family from most part of this country in one article! Do you have any idea of the true power she holds? Do you honestly believe that people will not shun you after this? They will, because associating with you would mean becoming a target to the real Lady Whistledown! And trust me, whatever treatment our beloved author has in store for you would be childs' play compared to what we could do to punish you for lying to us!" The Queen exploded.
"Cressida, apologize this instant!" Mister Cowper demanded, scared.
"No! Why would I? It is simply not fair! Penelope Featherington of all people does not get to marry before me! I should have had a prince and stupid Daphne Bridgerton took him and when she changed her mind he left and I had nobody. I should have had Baron Jack Featherington but Prudence intervened and then he left! And Lord Debling should have been mine but then he wanted stupid ugly Penelope of all people and she refused him and now he left town without marrying!" Cressida started yelling but she was interrupted by Colin's loud and furious voice, booming around the room:
"ENOUGH! You do not get to speak about Penelope that way! She is far smarter than you will ever be and she's absolutely breathtakingly beautiful and you will respect her, especially in my family home!"
"Colin, calm down, she's not worth it." Penelope whispered and everyone saw how just the touch of her hand on his cheek calm him down.
Looking around, Penelope realized that had Colin not intervened, the other Bridgerton's would have. Even her sisters and their husbands looked ready to speak in her defense. She looked further. Mister Mondrich, Colin's friend, seemed ready to defend her as well. It warmed her heart to see that she was so loved now.
"I think that we have all seen and heard enough from you tonight Miss Cowper. You are to go home and stay there until further notice. You are not welcome anymore." the Queen spoke and guards came to escort the family away.
"Pen, are you alright?" Colin asked her and she nodded.
"I am a bit overwhelmed. This is the first time I find myself with so many people ready to defend me. It feels nice." Penelope smiled at him.
The music was playing once more and they danced together before going for a drink.
"Penelope?" Philippa interrupted the couple.
"Yes?"
"Prudence is not feeling well, probably because of the pregnancy. I'm not feeling too well myself and I think we should leave before we ruin your evening with the all night long morning sickness."
"Of course." Pen smiled and she surprised her sister by giving her a small hug.
Shortly after her sister's departure, Benedict joined the couple.
"Trying to hide from Miss Stowell once more?" Colin asked, amused.
"No, I came to inform you that, once they were outside, Mister Cowper informed Cressida that she would be sent to live with relatives of them in Scotland in 2 days. He was furious at the humiliation. I thought you'd like to know."
"That is cheerful news indeed." Penelope nodded.
"They were probably afraid of Lady Whistledown digging into all of their secrets." Colin commented.
"She should do it anyway. I don't know how I would react if someone took something I've worked hard for and claimed it as their own but I would surely be furious." Benedict shook his head.
"I am sure she was." Pen nodded.
The rest of the evening was much happier. Full of laughter and dance and great conversation with the people who mattered to them.
.
The next morning, everyone woke up to find an issue of Lady Whistledown that retold the events of their engagement celebration, including Cressida's grave mistake. It written that rumors indicated that her father was ready to send her off to Scotland, which was probably the only way to keep her safe from Lady Whistledown's reach and fury. Of course the young liar's parents were shamed as well, and they would not be seen again for the reminder of the season.
The next few days passed quickly. Since Varley was overseeing the redecoration of the house, Penelope was free to spend most of her time with Colin and his family, happily. Her sisters kept their distance, and Penelope wondered if maybe their husbands hadn't been the ones to push for them to apologize. It did not matter if they were being sincere or not, she would only have to cross them once in a while. Nothing forced her to invite them for tea regularly.
"How is the house going?" Kate asked Penelope the day before he wedding as they were having tea, just between the Bridgerton women.
"It's done and it's beautiful. It does not feel like the same house I grew up in, which is a good thing, I think. Do not worry, you will all see it eventually." Penelope replied, a large smile on her face.
"I know, after the honeymoon." Kate smiled.
"Are you already sleeping in the Master bedroom," Eloise asked curiously.
"No, that's for after the wedding. I'm sleeping in my old bedroom for now." she shook her head.
"Is there anything else you need before tomorrow?" Violet asked Penelope kindly.
"No, thank you. I have everything I need."
And Penelope realized that she truly did. She was about to marry the man she loved, who happened to love her back, and she had gained a great and loving family in the process.
.
The next day passed quite fast and, before she knew it, Penelope was in her wedding dress, looking at her reflection in the mirror with a smile. Varley had given Penelope her father's old watch. Portia had tried to have it sold but Varley had hidden it away, waiting for the right moment to give it to Penelope. Now she had something of her father's and when she opened the watch, she saw a strand of her red hair inside it. Just hers, not her sisters. She smiled and hid the watch on her.
Hyacinth is the one who came to warn her that it was time and Penelope walked herself down the aisle and to Colin. She did not pay attention to the guests, she barely saw the Queen and bowed on time before she went back to only seeing Colin.
And then they were married, and Colin was her husband and this had become the happiest day of her life. They were married, husband and wife. Finally lawfully receiving the Featherington Estate, put in their name. Baron and Baroness Bridgerton. Lord and Lady.
Happy, that was the most important. They were both happy.
She eventually turned to their guests, seeing mainly her close friends and family, ignoring the rest.
The after wedding celebration was perfect and happy. The couple received congratulations and vows of happiness. Everyone around them was happy.
"How long do you think we have to stay here?" Colin asked her discreetly as they watched their family having fun.
"I do believe the most important happened. We have received congratulations, we have danced and talked with most of the guests. I believe we could leave now if we wanted to. People would understand." Pen smiled.
"Great, let's go home then." he replied, eager to be alone with her.
"Wait, do we just sneak out or do we say goodbye first?" She asked him and before he could reply a voice yelled to everyone, from their side:
"Hey! they're trying to sneak away!" Gregory had yelled, amusing everyone and making the bride blush.
"Absolutely! Goodbye friends and family, we will see you again eventually, but not too soon! We will let you know when we are finally ready to receive visitors." Colin replied, pulling his wife behind him, making her and everyone else chuckle along.
I hope you liked it. It came from a small idea and it grew... A lot... And Portia's past became a trigger event more than anything else.
Still, I would love your feedback in a review.
Lorelei Candice Black