Chapter Text
Dearest gentle reader,
You are all back from your country estates and so is this author. Eyes ready to see, ears open to listen and my sharp quill in hand.
What will this season bring ? Probably something old, something new, something blue…
I think the most important question, the one on every lips, is who will be the diamond this year ?
I am as eager as you are to see if our majesty the Queen will be smitten by one of the debutantes. My bet is on Francesca Bridgerton. I am sure she will follow the footsteps of her eldest sister Daphne, Lady Basset. Francesca could charm a lord or even a marquis. Every dream is allowed, isn’t it ?
After two successful weddings in the span of two seasons, Lady Violet Bridgerton must share with us the secret of her skills in matchmaking.
Another question is coming to my mind, almost as important : which unmarried gentleman will be seen as the most eligible bachelor by the mamas ?
Penelope put her quill down wondering how to continue. She had never lacked of imagination before but her and her family were just back in Mayfair since a couple of days and she didn’t collect much gossip. This afternoon the presentation of the debutantes to the queen was going to take place and she would certainly have something to write about.
Penelope could say she felt rusty because it was the first time in months that she wrote a paper. If she was being honest, the exercice was difficult for another reason.
Eloise.
The last time Penelope published under her nom de plume, she lost her friend. Her hands shook and she had to take some breaths to calm herself. The two young women had not spoken since their desastrous parting at the end of last season and everytime she thought about it, Penelope felt a mix of anger and sadness.
After the season, Penelope lived in fear that Eloise would tell her secret to the whole world but she didn’t. The red-haired-girl felt grateful for that though she had no clue why Eloise did not speak especially since the queen herself thought SHE was Lady Whistledown. It was the perfect opportunity to reveal everything. Penelope had no doubt that the royal highness would be delighted to finally know who was hidden behind the mask of the famous lady.
She missed her friend every day. She never imagined Eloise would be mad for so long, that she would not forgive her.
Her mind drifted to another Bridgerton.
Colin.
She missed him too like everytime he left for his travels in foreign lands.
But he doesn’t miss you, snapped a voice in her head bringing her again to that awful moment.
Penelope opened her drawer and looked at his letters. She touched the envelopes with her fingertips. She remembered the time when seeing Colin’s letters made her heart jump and butterflies dance in her stomach. She used to cherish every word.
However she did not read a single one of these new letters. Oh she was sure they were entertaining but she did not want to hear what he had to say. Needless to add that Penelope did not reply either. She wondered how Colin reacted when he saw no letters coming from her. It probably did not affect him though.
The young woman glanced at the clock on the chimney. It was almost time to get ready. She got up and went to the window. She noticed there was some agitation in front of Bridgerton house. She knew she should not do that , it became a bad habit, but she told herself that she needed some fresh air. Penelope left her house and carefully made her way across the street. Half hidden by a tree she assisted to the family escorting a dazzling Francesca on the sidewalk. Penelope smiled at this lovely view.
Before anyone else did, the young writer saw him. Colin Bridgerton in the flesh. He was dashing with his long brown coat and the smile stuck on his face. As if he felt her stare, Colin glanced briefly at her and his smile got bigger. The young man looked away and focused on his siblings.
Penelope stumbled a little and had to grab a branch to stop herself from falling because of a sudden weakness in her knees. A man walking nearby asked about her well-being and she said she was alright. This statement was far from the truth though.
Seeing Colin again made her realise he still had so much effect on her. All he had to do was to look at her, how unfair !
Watching the presentation of the debutantes was far more entertaining than being a part of it. This only happened once in a lifetime to a girl and Penelope was grateful for that. She did not wish to have that experience ever again, not even for all the gold in the world.
She observed and memorized every juicy detail. After that she rushed to her printer to be sure that tomorrow the ton would get their usual Whistledown by breakfast.
Penelope was walking alone in the park when she saw Colin again. He was going in her direction and he was all smile. Colin was happy to see her after all these months. He had so much to tell her and he didn’t know where to begin.
Unfortunatly, Penelope was not ready to face him. She panicked and quickly left her path.
‘Penelope?’
Colin got startled by her reaction. Did she really run away from him ? Before he could go after her and ask for an explanation, Colin was surrounded by his friends. A fake smile appeared on his face as he listened to them.
‘ Why are you hiding in the bushes ?’
Penelope jumped up.
‘ Benedict ! You shouldn’t sneak on people like that !’
She chose to not answer to his question. The young woman did not want to tell him she was avoiding his brother.
‘Would you like to take a stroll around ?’ Benedict asked.
‘ Of course’