Chapter Text
Penelope winced watching Mrs. Varley pulling her sister's corset tighter. Of course her mama had decided it wasn't tight enough and took it into her own hands. She tried to stop her mother but got cut off by her mother saying something about herself at her age. She was just worried about her sister who looked on the verge of passing out.
They were then shooed out to the carriage waiting for them. She looked across the street while she waited for her turn to see the Bridgerton family scrabbling like her family into their carriages. Eloise noticed her and waved which she returned before climbing into the carriage. She could not help but note that Anthony was not in the group and she wondered where he was.
The ride to the castle was a boring one with her sisters gushing over finally debuting. She was not excited for this since she wished she was debuting next year with her best friend but her mother could not be persuaded out of it. They were escorted to a room with all the other debutants and she could already feel the nervous energy seeping out of the doors even before she entered the room. A few minutes later Daphne and Violet entered so, she slowly slipped away from her mother over to the two Bridgertons.
"You look stunning Daphne." Penelope complimented to announce her presence. Daphne smiled at the young girl hiding the fact that she hated Penelope was forced to be here instead of out with the other families. She could not agree with Lady Featherington's decision on making all three of her girls debut with Penelope barely hitting the marriageable age of ten and seven.
"You look gorgeous Penelope." Daphne told her watching the blush appear across her cheeks.
She knew Penelope thought she was just being nice because she was Eloise's best friend but Daphne was not. She thought Penelope was beautiful even if she wasn't the ton's standard of beauty. While she still had baby fat on her cheeks, Penelope was starting to fill out in areas even Daphne at twenty and one still didn't have. Penelope also had the bluest eyes she had ever seen mixed with a bright copper red hair that not an average girl had, all this made her look unique.
Daphne stood next the the redhead while occasionally brushing their arms together giving them both the comfort they needed in this moment. The Featheringtons were called out that made Penelope to force a smile at Daphne.
"Breathe. All will be well." Violet gently told the girl noticing the tension in her shoulders relax just a bit. Violet disliked seeing her stressed since she was like another daughter to her. Penelope closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened her eyes she straighten her posture and forced her chin out causing the two Bridgertons to grin.
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Anthony stood off to the side with his family watching all the young ladies of the ton be presented to the Queen. He may be bias but none of the ladies held a torch to his sister. Many were stiff and could visibly see nerves shake the girls bodies. This was honest to god boring since he's never had to be at these until now and he still has three other sisters to put through this. Well, maybe. He thought looking over at Eloise who was watching the whole thing with a hint of a sneer on her lips.
"Miss Prudence Featherington..."
"Miss Phillipa Featherington..."
"And... Miss Penelope Featherington."
Anthony watched as all three Featherington girls pushed their way through the tiny door. He could tell that Lady Featherington pushed them all through at once instead of the right choice of letting them go by age order. He noticed Penelope staying a slight step behind her sisters which helped with her getting through the door with more success than her sisters.
They slowly walked up and he couldn't take his eyes off Penelope she looked pretty but he couldn't help but notice how small she actually was. He knew that she was short but she look absolutely tiny in this giant room and her towering sisters and mother. It made her look to young to be here which was the opinion to the rest of him family. He glanced over to Lord Featherington to see he was looking less than pleased with his eyes focusing on his youngest before they dropped back to the ground. He hid his sneer at the man flicking his eyes back to Penelope to see her forced smile at Eloise.
Penelope could feel all their eyes on her. She could say that they were on her sisters as well but it didn't feel like that. She would say the eyes were burning holes into her skin. Her eyes scanned the room quickly before catching the sight of the Bridgertons, one in particular who was staring intensely at her. Anthony, who looked so tense. She couldn't tell why he was looking at her like that but he looked away and her gaze dropped to her best friend who sent her a slight grimace. They had finally made it to the Queen where they bowed but with her mama forcing her sisters lower making the Queen wave them away. Prudence then faints due to her corset which in turn embarrassed her mama.
In the end Daphne is announced the Diamond of the season. It's sealed with a kiss from the Queen on her forehead. Penelope watched as the tension in Anthony's shoulders tightened even more that she worried his tendons would snap.
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Lady Danbury always made sure she had the first ball of the season. So here she was following her mother and sisters into the ballroom with her cousin following close behind her. She was a bit jealous that her cousin was not in a citrus colored dress but in a light pink dress instead. Her cousin did put up a bit of a fight to wear what she wanted tonight. She did look a bit out of place with the Featherington's who all had pale skin, red hair and all citrus themed dresses while she had tanned skin, a wild mane of dark hair and a bit more willowy than them. Their mother handed them all their dance cards before looking at each one of her daughters.
"Fill those up. We need you three dancing to make you be seen." She didn't say a word to their cousin before she sent them all a seering look and left to go find the other mamas of the ton.
They all looked at each other before scurrying off together to the refreshment table. After getting lemonade they wander off to a section that had few people in it. None of them knew what exactly to do but stand here and wait. Until the men of the ton took notice that there was a new miss with the Featheringtons. Their cousin became the new shiny toy that everyone had to take a turn with on the dance floor. The sisters glanced at each other once the first man came to claim their cousin to a dance.
All time seemed to stop as Daphne came in on the arm of her eldest brother, Viscount Anthony Bridgerton. Who, Penelope thought looked more like a guard dog than a man at the moment especially when the man noticed all the men looking at his little sister.
A few brave souls walked over to the Viscount and the Diamond to make small talk but only a few lines in Anthony had sent them running with a tail between their legs. He knew these men and none of them would be good enough for his sister. Penelope couldn't help the soft laugh she let out at the thought of the Anthony snarling at the other men like a dog.
Anthony took his sister on a turn of the room once he knocked down another man that attempt to talk to Daphne. He was quite displeased with the thought of the only eligible man here for his sister was her brothers. While he knew he was being rather picky he couldn't help but want to find a good match for Daphne. He watched the dancers and could pick out Colin dancing and flirting with a young miss but behind him out of the way of the dancing stood the Featherington sisters. It wasn't hard to see them since they were dressed like citrus fruit but while her older sisters had slightly duller colors, Penelope was in a bright yellow dress. Daphne followed his gaze and sighed.
"I wish they would have let her wait a year." Anthony hummed watching the way Penelope found Colin dancing and never took her eyes off him. Most of the family knew of the crush Penelope had developed one summer to his younger brother, sadly the only one that didn't see it was Colin.
"I agree." He stated and started moving again. He was now looking for Benedict since his brothers had scattered once they stepped foot in the ballroom. That's when he spotted him with a few other gentlemen and with all his siblings accounted for he steered his sister over towards his mother. They were waylaid by their brothers. They bantered back and forth once Colin announced he was to start his trip in Greece. Before they got to caught up Anthony noticed the formidable Lady Danbury making her way over.
"On guard!" Anthony announced trying to allow him and his brothers to scatter but was caught by the Lady herself.
Penelope had been watching the scene with the siblings unfold since no one had approached her. She had to laugh at the failed attempt to run from Lady Danbury. She was sure Lady Danbury had given the men a tongue lashing in the brief exchange that had to leave the Bridgertons slightly shaken up. That's when she noticed Colin gesturing to the dance floor. He had asked a question and it seemed no one had the answer to it. Next thing she sees is Colin making his way to the group dance with Marina, her cousin. Penelope frowned before leaving her sisters to find a dark corner to escape to.
From her corner Penelope watched as Daphne escaped her brother for a few moments to breath without his presence only to be captured sadly by Lord Nigel Berbrooke. A wince escaped Penelope knowing if she was Daphne she would have definitely pick her over bearing, protective brother before the desperate man that is Lord Berbrooke. She watched as Daphne practically runs away from the man before colliding into the very attractive young Duke of Hastings, all the while she hummed at the way both looked together before Anthony had to go and ruin it by the looks of it. The Duke backed off Daphne quite quickly after Anthony introduced the two. She then saw her mama rushing towards the Duke with her two sisters in tow. She can admit that she hadn't seen the Duke walk in or be announced. She then decided he had to be sneaking around trying hard not to be seen and it looks like Anthony ruined his plan. With a sigh she watched as all of the Bridgerton took their leave and she was still stuck here for who knows how much longer.
It was entertaining though to watch the mamas' flocking to the Duke with everyone's voices overlapping each others. She watched as mamas' nearly threw their daughters at the poor man. After ten minutes the man was able to escape through a small hole that was between the women and made an excuse to them all, what the excuse was she could not tell but it held them all back for a moment. Without looking he came closer to her hiding spot by a column, with a quick thought of how this would look if they were spotted. She made her hasty decision and grab the man by the sleeve and traded places with him.
The Duke grunted as his back hit the wall sending a wild look to his attacker only to pause and looked around not seeing the person. A throat cleared making him look down, really far down at the tiny girl staring at him. He went to speak not believing this tiny slip of a girl managed to pull him but Penelope spoke before him.
"Apologies, Your Grace." She spoke in a soft voice not even looking him in the eyes as she bowed slightly.
"I had to stop you for if you had continued you would have been in the lion's den." Penelope nodded her head to the doors he was about to walk through.
"That is the ladies sitting room for this evening and you had just escaped the clutches of only half of the mamas and debutantes of the season." He nodded his thanks knowing well that it could have caused him a massive headache and left him to the mercies of the rest of the mamas. She grinned when she saw his face pale sending him a small smile back. As she went to walk back to her mama since she gave up her hiding spot. His hand halted her.
"Thank you, Miss..." The Duke prompted knowing he needed to find out his heroine's name but had to do it fast to stay hidden. Penelope eyed him for a moment before mentally shrugging.
"Penelope Featherington, Your Grace." She whispered before her eyes fell back to the ground and all of her courage left her. The Duke smiled at her.
"Thank you, Miss Penelope Featherington. You are my hero tonight." He slowly kissed her gloved hand making Penelope blush before she gently pulled her hand out of his and went searching for her mama. He grinned as he fell back into the hiding spot thinking of not only Daphne, his best friend's sister but of the tiny but surprisingly strong Penelope.
And Penelope couldn't believe she did that to a Duke of all people. She wondered where that courage came from and wouldn't admit it to herself yet but rather liked the feeling of it.
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These past few days blurred together for Penelope, all the callers that came around the Featherington's place but not for any of them but for her distant cousin, Marina. Which Lady Whistledown took notice of in her papers and also commented on the few that were brave enough to go over to the season's diamond would run away because of Lord Bridgerton. While the lack of callers did not bother Penelope since she could sit back and read her book, it did bother her mother and sisters, even her father was a bit annoyed but she wasn't sure why.
No, what really bothered her was one caller... Colin Bridgerton, out of all the ladies of the ton. Why did he have to come over for her cousin? Penelope understood this was just her crush on the man talking because her cousin was a lovely person but it was just not fair. She'd been in love with Colin since she was fifteen, maybe even before that but she was too young to realize that since before that he was her best friend's older brother that played games with them. Now he was a caller towards her own cousin. She was just glad Eloise was forced over multiple times due to her inability to hold her tongue while callers were over at the Bridgerton household. Today, the men were going above and beyond with this one speaking poetry to Marina while everyone watched. Penelope and the two Bridgertons shared a look knowing full well if they weren't in a room full of people they would most defiantly burst out laughing, they were barely hanging on to the thin strand of decorum they were raised with. Finally, Lady Featherington shooed all the callers away having enough of the men throwing themselves at the girl that wasn't one of her daughters. Colin stepped in front of Penelope with a grin.
"A most wretched sonnet indeed." Colin said with a grin. Penelope flashed him a smile.
"Lord Bryon, he is not." She told him with a small laugh.
"I do not believe so. Good day, Pen." Colin nodded towards her while grabbing his sister and leaving the house. Penelope looked around before shrugging softly and grabbed her book to sit on the seat at the bay window. Later on Eloise and her had an enlightening chat with Marina on situations that could be started on the royal navy ships with all the young men aboard... which both Eloise and her still did not fully understand.
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At Whites, Simon settled in for a drink alone only to be interrupted by Anthony who decided to poke fun for him being 'caught' with not one, not two, but three women. It ended up in Whistledown which wasn't to surprising since he's been in it multiple times since returning to London. Not to long after their conversation turns to the social season. Before they got to far into it, Simon decided to ask something before he forgets.
"Bridgerton?" His friend hummed taking a sip of his drink.
"Do you know anything about the youngest Featherington? Penelope?" At the name made Anthony choke on his drink before covering his mouth. Simon had to admit he enjoyed catching his friend off guard. Anthony cleared his throat for a few seconds thinking on his answer. Simon could see the slight twitch in the man's eyebrow.
"Yes. Why do you ask?" Anthony questioned narrowing his eyes at his friend. Simon saw the moment his friends eyes turned icy and didn't know why he would look at him like that. Simon clicked his tongue trying to figure out what to say. He couldn't just come out and say that the tiny girl saved him from the claws of the ton mamas.
"I met her at Lady Danbury's ball..." But couldn't say anything else as Anthony slammed his hand on the table leaning closer to him.
"She is not to be messed with Hastings!" Anthony grounded out. He knew he needed to nip this in the butt before his friend got any funny ideas. Simon threw his hands up in surrend, eyes wide not knowing what button he just pushed on his old friend.
"My friend, I didn't mean to upset you. I just had a brief chat with her and thought she was different than her family I met." Anthony leaned back in his chair with a small stiff nod and took a deep breath. He wasn't sure if he believed Simon's statement of a small chat with the young girl since he knew she was shy most of the time.
"Apologies, Miss Featherington has been my little sister's best friend since they were tiny. She's practically family. She should not be out yet but with that mother of hers, she wouldn't take no for an answer." Simon bit back a grin thinking of little Penelope being even tinier.
"I can't imagine her being any smaller than she is." Anthony laughed relaxing further in his seat.
"Trust me, it's possible. I am surprised she talked to you. She's always been a quiet one." Simon shrugged taking a sip of his drink. Anthony was sure that if anything happened to Penelope, Eloise would make sure Simon regretted it. Colin would definitely back her up. Actually, if he was being honest his whole family would riot for Penelope.
"It was merely a brief conversation, I assure you. I also have no attentions towards her or any other young lady." With that Anthony relaxed completely in his seat. He then restarted poking fun at Simon again about the mamas wanting him to marry their daughters. That brought about a conversation of Simon never wanting to marry or having an heir. Simon was done with the conversation focusing on him so he turned it on Anthony about where his wife was and his mistress. Also how Anthony needed to sire and heir but Anthony responded back about how he had the one thing Simon did not.
Brothers.
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It was another ball for the season in the Vauxhall Gardens. Penelope was excited for this one since her mama had stayed home with Marina and her papa had been the one to escort them. He even let her wear a dress that she knows her mother would have thrown a fit over. She was on the sidelines yet again of the dance floor but that didn't bother her as she swayed to herself.
"Pen!" She tilted her head towards the sound to see Colin walking towards her.
"Colin. I did not know you would be here." She tried to keep the excitement out of her voice. He flashed her a crooked grin with a causal roll of his shoulders.
"Sorry to disappoint. Have you seen Miss Thompson?" Her smile dimmed a bit as he turned to survey the dance floor. It seemed that lately all their conversations all had to do with him looking or asking about Marina. She plastered back on a fake smile when he faced her again.
"She is... ill." Penelope hesitated.
"My mama stayed home with her. Papa had to chaperone." She jutted her chin towards Lord Featherington.
"I am quite enjoying the fact he is here. Mama would never allow me to wear a dress like this. Not yellow enough, I think." She said in a hushed tone like her mother could hear them even if she wasn't there. Before Colin could say anything Cressida walks over and bumps Penelope while spilling her drink all over Penelope. The redhead gasped, frantically trying to wipe off the cold liquid while also forcing her tears back at the humiliation and her ruined dress.
"Did not see you there." She said before moving on.
"Mister Bridgerton, I believe you owe me a dance this evening. I have only one more space remaining on my card. At present." Cressida crooned like she did not just degraded his friend. Colin eyed the blonde before his eyes flickered to his sad best friend.
"I am afraid I cannot offer you that dance, Miss Cowper. I am to escort Miss Featherington to the floor. At present, I think." Colin said with as much competent as he could his voice as he could.
He took Penelope's hand and lead her to the dance floor. He could not believe the nerve of some people but he had to make his best friend smile again instead of dwelling on it. Penelope tried not to show her giddiness that she was dancing with Colin but she wasn't sure if she was successful. This would be the first time she was on the dance floor.
After their dance they went their separate ways leaving Penelope alone yet again. She wandered off not really knowing what to do with herself after the dance. Sadly, she was not paying any attention to her surroundings and slammed herself into a hard body, forcing her breath out of her as she lands on the ground. A muttered curse was all she heard before a hand was shoved into her face. Her eyes trailed the arm up until they landed on the handsome face of the Duke.
"Apologies, Your Grace." She said ripping her eyes away from him not before catching the corners of his lips curling up.
"I should be the one to apologize, Miss Featherington. It was my fault. Please, let me help you to your feet." She laid her hand into his as he gently pulled her up. He gave her a small nod once she was standing. She looked around to make sure no one saw her blunder but found they were on the outskirts of the ball, not far enough that nobody wouldn't be able to see them but enough that they couldn't hear the music anymore.
"It seems you are always finding me when I am fleeing." Simon joked trying to get the young miss to release some of the tension that he could see coiled tightly in her eyes. She huffed out a laugh.
"I think if you stop fleeing, I would stop finding you like this." She threw back at him without thinking. Once her words finally caught up with her she gasped covering her mouth. Simon let out a little chuckle due to the sass that came out. He was happy that he was right in his thoughts that her hair wasn't the only thing fiery about her.
"Your-" Penelope was cut off by the Duke shaking his head.
"Do not apologize. I like when someone is unafraid to talk back to me." Simon said wiggling his eyebrows at the young girl. Penelope giggled relaxing slightly. He wasn't sure why he seemed to be able to be himself around Penelope, there were few who could get him to relax enough to show his joking nature with. He glanced behind her shoulder before bowing dramatically towards her.
"I must flee yet again, Miss Featherington." He said and left. She turned around to see what he was looking at only to find the mamas' looking around.
She sighed and went to find herself a drink. She was surprised that the Duke actually remember who she was. She wasn't sure what was going on or how she actually talked back to the man but she was finding it very fun. She grabbed another lemonade wandering towards the dance floor making sure to watch her step that's when she noticed Anthony standing by himself with a scowl on his face.
She was debating on going over but stopped as she saw the Duke and Daphne walking towards the dance floor. They looked beautiful together and she hopes it last. Her eyes then flickered over to Anthony whose scowl deepened as he took a drink. Her gaze went back to the couple, sighing as she did so at the way they danced together. It was so smooth that it looked like they were dancing together for years, where one moved the other followed immediately. She was sad to see the dance end but all good things had to come to an end.