Chapter Text
Lady Whistledown makes Viscount Bridgerton an offer he can’t refuse. An offer that he won’t want to refuse.
*****************************************************************
I am going to make him an offer he can’t refuse. Don Corleone, The Godfather
*****************************************************************
Viscount Anthony Bridgerton was brooding in his study at Aubrey Hall. The season had ended and he had no bride or fiancée. The Sharma ladies had instead chosen to travel to Prussia.
Benedict was still upset that he had donated an obscene amount of money to the Academy and now left his younger brother doubting his own talent. Eloise was grounded due to her poor choices placing the family at the precipice of true scandal once again. Her name being plastered all over Lady Whistledown. His mother was hovering around him constantly. She remained determined that Anthony open himself back up to love. His other brother Colin was traveling again somewhere on the continent. Anthony looked around his desk seeing if he could find a copy of the itinerary but gave up. At least his other sisters were not causing chaos. Daphne was happily married to his best friend and raising their son. Fran and Hyacinth were safe as they were yet to be presented to the Queen. He was confident that the youngest Bridgerton brother Gregory was a lovely young man who would not be reckless when it came time for him to find a bride.
Anthony couldn’t help but smile thinking about how much he truly did love his family. They were at the half point between last season’s scandals and preparing for the upcoming season and it’s diversions.
As much as he resented the Viscount role that he had inherited at a young age at least he appreciated how busy it kept him. The only the other distraction was Eloise’s warden and childhood dear friend Penelope Featherington who was visiting for the next thirty days. He knew that the young girl worried about becoming a spinster at the ripe age of one and twenty after his brother’s disparagement of her at the end of last season which Lady Whistledown reported in her gossip rag. His words of “I would never dream of courting Penelope Featherington. Not in your wildest fantasies Fife.” Still gave him nightmares.
He couldn’t help but cringe at the memory of the whole breakfast table reading the gossip sheet the day after his brother Colin left on his current grand tour. Eloise seemed put out at Colin’s statement and the fact that the gossipmonger shared the news. Miss Featherington’s chances at finding a husband were already at risk because of her family’s poor standing and her mother’s horrific taste. While his sister Eloise embraced spinsterhood and the idea that Penelope would join her. It made for some awkward conversations.
Anthony determined that it was time to quit brooding for the afternoon and review his correspondence. So far he had found letters from his solicitor, Colin’s updated itinerary, a letter from Francesca updating him on her studies in Bath even though she had already arrived at Aubrey Hall.
He also found a letter with a seal that he did not recognize. His curiosity won out and he opened it as he was intrigued by the beautiful script.
Dear Viscount Bridgerton,
I have been apprehensive in reaching out to you but found that the reward far outweighed the risk. Due to my unusual career I have bore witness to much of the ton’s activities. Many thrilling, some unscrupulous, the best illicit.
To be frank the most interesting things I witness are the illicit. From the mundane and conventional. Which I find dull. These activities don’t interest me as the ladies who partake do not seem to enjoy themselves very much.
I want a taste of the more exotic fruits.
The activities that seduce me are where the line between pleasure and pain seem to blur. In some instances the line is completely erased.
Carnal pleasure that can be achieved through pain sounds interesting to me. Does it to you? Does the opportunity to tease and torment the Queen’s most hunted woman sound like something you would enjoy?
When seeking out these types of affairs it is best to seek out a connoisseur. You being a capital R “Rake” would be just the type of expert I need. Now I understand that you may be apprehensive to agree to being my guide so I will sweeten the pot.
In my dealings I have found some documents that prove that your partner Mr. Mark Jameson has entangled some of your business endeavors with an unscrupulous gentlemen. The same gentlemen that are responsible for the demise of Lord Archibald Featherington.
Let me be clear. I do not wish to disclose these documents. I would prefer you cease your business with Mr. Jameson and agree to be my guide in these carnal pursuits.
If you are the man I think you are then you will want to meet me before you agree. I trust that no matter what you decide you will keep my identity private.
Lest you forget that I have the means to ensure your destruction.
We can meet in two days time after everyone has retired for the evening at the gazebo on your country estate. You can confirm your agreement by leaving a missive with your butler. He has instructions for it’s delivery.
Hopefully yours,
Lady Whistledown
Fuck! Could this actually be real? Anthony immediately asked Benedict to join him in the study as it was time for their usual nightcap nobody would be the wiser.
Benedict walked into Anthony’s study already annoyed by his older brother. He couldn’t figure out what could be so urgent that he had to be physically dragged and the door locked behind them. Without uttering a word. Anthony poured them each a three finger whiskey. Drinking his in a single gulp. Grimacing and the pouring himself a second glass before handing Benedict his.
“What the hell Anthony? I don’t think I have ever seen you drink like this.” Benedict was visibly shaken and worried about their siblings who were away from Aubrey Hall.
Before he had a chance to say anything else Anthony handed him a missive.
Benedict reads it carefully. His eyes widen. Shifting his gaze between the letter and Anthony unable to believe what he just read. He downs his drink and hands the glass back for his older brother to serve him another.
Anthony can’t help but laugh as he hands his younger brother and dearest friend the refreshed glass.
“So?” Ant asks him and Benedict replies. “What the hell? Lady Whistledown?” They sit in silence while the younger Bridgerton rereads the letter.
Benedict finally breaks the silence. “Let’s talk to Granger and see if he will give you any indication on who Whistledown is.” He gets up and gestures for Anthony to follow. They wander in silence through the servants’ quarters until they arrive at the Butler’s private door.
*****************************************************************
Anthony knocks and straightens his coat while they wait. The butler opens the door in his nightshirt and a pair of hastily put on breeches.
“I have been expecting you sir.” Stepping aside to let the brothers in.
“You have been expecting us?” Anthony asks surprised.
“Yes. Sir. You are here to ask me for the identity of the person who gave me the missive. I will not be providing it.”
He scoffs while Benedict laughs at this unexpected response. “The individual swore me to secrecy before they gave me the letter. You will understand once you meet with them as to why I am keeping my word.”
Anthony’s eyes softened. “What if I threatened you?” Granger laughs. “They said you would make the jest because you are too honorable to actually follow through with it. They also said you would not answer today. That I should wait until tomorrow. I see that your hands are empty. Am I to assume that I can go back to sleep?”
“Goodnight Granger. We will see you in the morning. Thank you.” The brothers leave looking at each other communicating only confusion and a small amount of fear.
*****************************************************************
They return to the study and sit down with their drinks. “Who would Granger protect like that?” Benedict wonders out loud. Anthony nods in agreement. “I really only have to meet this person and not disclose their identity. I can do that.”
His younger brother looks at him and says. “This might be the distraction you need after the Sharma scandal.” Anthony glares at him and says. “Thank you for the reminder.”
Benedict ignores the sarcasm and asks. “Will you tell me who they are?”
Anthony ponders the question he doesn’t usually keep secrets from his younger brother. Of all the siblings they are the closest. “No.” Benedict nods his head. “Good choice. Brother. I will see you tomorrow. Goodnight.” He leaves closing the door behind him.
He sits at his desk a while longer holding the letter in his hand rereading it. He is not adverse to exploring the more adventurous moors but questions if he would find it enjoyable with this anonymous author.
He find himself slowly unbuttoning his breeches remembering some of his previous jaunts. The shape and curves of a body undulating under him. Anthony pulls out his hardening member stroking it slowly gliding his hand over the tip coating his hand with his precum and spreading it around his cock.
Stroking it up and down. Clutching the base as he remembers the sound of a harlot’s cries as he reddens her bottom with a riding crop. Striking just hard enough to get their bottom to ripple and then soothing it with the small gentle caress of his hand.
His strokes increase in speed as his bollocks tighten he uses his other hand to cup them. He begins to pant at the idea of having the woman that has the ton in a chokehold beholden to him for her pleasure. His abdomen clenches and his thighs tighten as ropes of his spend land on his lap. Panting and stroking himself gently as he comes down from his peak. Now he has to figure out a way back to his chambers without running into anybody.
*****************************************************************
Upstairs tucked in one of the guest room beds Penelope Featherington clutches and releases the sheets as she worries over blackmailing the Viscount into becoming her lover. Will he laugh when he finds out who she is? Will he kick her out of Aubrey Hall and send her back to London and her mother?
Oh! That sounds absolutely terrible. Her mother would be so ashamed. Maybe even send her to Cornwall! What if he tells Violet Bridgerton? She has been more of a mother to her than her own.
She pulls up her nightdress and begins to circle her clit as she considers that he might say yes. Imagining that it is his roughened touch. Penelope pinches a nipple trying not to cry out and wake anybody up. She then plunges two fingers in to her wet heat moving her thumb to her clit. Thrusting in and out imagining that it is Anthony suckling on her breast. Closing her eyes to better picture him between her legs. Her toes curl as her orgasm hits her.
It is not the same kind of release she used to get. She needs more now and hopefully she will have it. Penelope gets up and cleans her hands with the water in the basin on the table and goes back to sleep. Thinking…what is done is done. There is not turning back.
*****************************************************************
Anthony is trying to keep a close eye on his butler not knowing that Granger and Penelope have already agreed on how she would retrieve the Viscount’s response. After taking the missive Granger drops it and kicks it under a closet door before anybody sees him. Penelope is able to retrieve it later that day while pretending that nothing is amiss.
Dear Lady Whistledown,
We will meet as you have requested. I promise to keep your identity secret and trust that you will destroy the documents. We will have to be discreet in our meetings and can work that out tomorrow.
I can only hope that the brave Lady can endure the pain to reach the pleasure.
Sincerely and hopefully yours.
Viscount Anthony Bridgerton
*****************************************************************
The following day everybody ate their meals, played pall mall, and had tea as if it was any other day. By the time evening fell Penelope was nervous and decided to sneak out to the gazebo much earlier than their appointed time. She retired to Eloise’s room to spend time with her friend and then pretended to want to go to bed early. Knowing that Eloise would not rejoin the family. She stood in the gazebo with her hair down in a Bridgerton maid’s uniform. It was surprisingly easy to get her hands on one as the staff at Aubrey Hall were quite devoted to the little red head. They knew that she understood them because she was not like the Bridgerton Family. Yes. She was technically part of the peerage. But the Featherington family was considered new money. Her grandfather had received the title and her father practically squandered it. Plus all of the other scandals that had befallen them and none her doing.
The staff had heard Colin and Eloise’s careless remarks. They saw the pity in Violet’s eyes. No matter how well intentioned pity was still pity. So they helped her without pause. Granger did not know the details about what she was asking of the viscount but he did know that she was Lady Whistledown. The much beloved butler thought it was hilarious that nobody had even come close to suspecting her. The only concern the butler had was that Anthony might not keep her secret.
*****************************************************************
She waited patiently listening for his footsteps and knew when he arrived. Turning around to face him. Penelope saw his expression change from dominance to complete and utter shock. She would have found it amusing if he had not called out loudly. “Penelope Fucking Featherington!”
Penelope had planned on keeping a calm demeanor but he shattered that in an instant. Her eyes went wide and she began to laugh while he stood there with his mouth open. The laughter bubbling over every time she looked at him until finally the tears in her eyes clouded her vision. Only then did she begin to calm down.
“Oh Anthony! You look like a statue. Go ahead ask me anything.” She pulled on the shawl she had draped over her shoulders. Something that she had brought to keep her hands busy. Penelope watched him take a seat all the while opening and closing his mouth unable to form any words. Worried that she would start laughing again Penelope brought out a bottle of wine pouring them two glasses. “Here. This might help.”
He took a sip and asked. “How did you get this out here?” Penelope eyed him carefully and he saw it. The change from Pen to Lady Whistledown. “Is that really what concerns you? Not what I have published or a better question would be about what I haven’t published. Why you? Why now? Anything I might know about a particular person?”
She straightened her shoulders. “Don’t you want to know why Kate really left? Or where Sienna is now? Why I reported what Colin said? How I found out? What about Eloise?” She pauses and takes another sip. “Really….the wine?” She tilts her head.
If there was one thing Anthony had learned to do when he became the Viscount was to have a sense of humor about his own mistakes although he didn’t normally share it with anybody. “Well it is a very good vintage from my private stock.”
He sipped the wine while she laughed with him. As it turns out he did have all those questions except Kate and Sienna. “I don’t need to know why she really left. What matters is that she did. And Sienna. That has been over for quite some time. I just hope she is doing well.”
They sat together and talked about everything else.
How did she start?
Does she have any help?
Why would she report this or that?
In the end he ran out of questions about her being Lady Whistledown.
“Now I want to know about your request?” He looked away embarrassed to be talking about this with her.
“Let me answer your question with a question.” He nodded for her to proceed. “Let’s assume you have participated in the activities I am interested in. Did you enjoy them?” Anthony gives her a warm smile but says nothing.
“I want to enjoy myself too. If I can still marry it will definitely be a dull and disappointing marriage. If I don’t marry. Well…then I won’t even have that opportunity.” She walks over to him and looks up. “I want to experience as much pleasure as I can Anthony. I deserve to know what my body is capable of feeling.” His eyes darkened with desire raking over her form. “Why me? And not Benedict?”
Penelope laughed but this time it sounded more like wind chimes on a summer day. “He is experienced but too sweet. I want a firm hand. No. That is incorrect. I need a strong hand.” It took all his self control to hold back the shudder that coursed through his body. He swallowed back a moan.
He cleared his throat in an attempt to clear his mind. “Let me lay out my conditions before we agree.” She was back to being Lady Whistledown. Nodding but ready to negotiate.
“There are at least seven lessons I can plan out for you. I need to know that you will submit to me without question. And before we begin you need to think of three words you can use to communicate whether you want me to continue or stop at any given time.”
“In pleasure with pain you will often say or scream no. But may still want me to continue. I need to know when you are getting close to your limit and when you want to push further. I also need to know when you want me to stop.”
She smiled at him. “You mean safe words?” His eyes widened and he nodded. “I have them ready. Quill for continue, parchment for nearing my limit, and Fire for stop.”
“Why those words?”
“My quill allows me to move forward, parchment can be easily destroyed, and fire burns.” She shrugged.
He walked up to her and kissed her before she realized what was happening. His warm lips pressing against hers and his tongue flicking to seek entrance. She had seen people kiss so she understood what was expected. Penelope opened her mouth and leaned into his hard frame. Their tongues danced until they needed to stop for air.
He stood back and saw the dazed expression in her eyes. “You will be the most diligent student.”