Chapter Text
Chapter One: Actions and Consequences
Viscount Anthony Bridgerton is sipping from his flask and walking around the Featherington Gardens during their ball. I was to marry Edwina Sharma but I fell in love with her sister Kate, Edwina had the good sense to leave me at the altar. Two days later, she and her family including Kate were sent to Prussia for Edwina to see if she can marry a Prince. Kate told me she was ashamed of what happened with us and left. I would have been able to go after her if I did not have a title but that’s that. I look over where Colin is talking with his idiotic friends. They are really dumb. Colin needs better friends. I see Penelope Featherington standing back from them. She’s a good girl, even a cunning one if you take into account the Whistledown business. She doesn't know I know but I had her researched and I know it’s her. I wish Colin would open his eyes to how she feels about him. She saved him from being a cuckold. She would be a good wife to him. I mean she would be a good wife to any lucky man.
“I would never court, Penelope Featherington. Not in your wildest fantasies Fife. I mean, my God, have you seen her? I would maybe consider her for a Mistress, or I’d tell her that so I could do what I wanted.” Colin kept going. “She is entirely too large to be anything but a mistress or a whore. Wonder what brothel she will end up at.” I looked directly at Penelope and her body looked like it took literal blows as she heard what he was saying. I know that look anywhere, she’s just had her entire world view shattered. She takes off for the garden and I go after her. Colin never stopped talking, just smirked when he saw her run by. That little shit, why would he do that?
I find her in the back of the garden sitting on a bench bent over screaming into the skirts of her gown. She sounded how I did when Kate left. I walked over and picked her up and sat back down with her in my lap.
“It is alright, Penelope. It will be alright. Go ahead and cry, I will not leave.” I said, trying to calm her. After she cried for a bit of time, she took a deep breath and looked up at me.
“Oh, my Goodness! My Lord, I……I…….I am sorry, Sir.” She said with a tinge of panic in her voice.
“Penelope, it is alright. I heard him,” I said. “On behalf of the family, I apologize for my fatwitted brother. God knows he owes you more than he realizes.”
“My Lord, owe me?” She asked me, looking anywhere but at me.
“You are Whistledown are you not?” I asked. I already knew the answer but I wanted to see what she would say.
She took a deep breath and said, “Yes I am. I am too tired and frankly too devastated to lie. Eloise knows, she found out tonight and she destroyed my room. I was only down here looking for her when I heard Colin. He glanced at me, he knew I was there. I had hoped I had hidden my feelings for him, but I clearly had not. I just never expected him to be so cruel.”
“Absolutely not! You will NOT write this off, Penelope. Even if all that was true, what he said was cruel and not something a gentleman would do. I’m not sure where we went wrong with him but we clearly did.” Anthony was still seething. How dare Colin do this!
“No, Lord Bridgerton, he is entitled to his emotions but I never thought he thought so little of me that he would do this. I never thought he found me laughable. He told me earlier he would always be there for me and that I was special. I do not understand but now, I am ruined. What with this, Cousin Jack’s scheme, Marina’s proposed entrapment and how my mother makes me dress, what prospects at marriage do I have? None.” Penelope spat out. “I had hoped I would find a marriage with a tolerable and kind Lord this season since my Mama gave me an ultimatum, but after this I detail my ruin, I have made arrangements to become a spinster in the country.”
“Penelope, why do you have to write about this? “, I took a deep breath hating what I was about to say, “You have more than enough with the scandal of me and the Sharma sisters. Colin need not hurt your prospects unless you allow him to.” It was the least I could do for her, after what she has given to my family.
“My Lord, if he had said it to me, or to you and Benedict and I overheard, I would not be ruined, but you saw as well as I did that he was speaking not just to a crowd, but a crowd of the most gossip hungry Lords in the Ton.” She said while tears fell down her face. “It would be telling if I did not write about it. That and I will need the money from the pamphlet, I should have enough to help my mother and sisters and then to buy a cottage. I have a solicitor that will help me. I will not finalize plans for a while, but I will most assuredly be gone by the start of the next season. If I promise to leave you a forwarding address, can you let me know why Colin said what he said? I would like to know why he hates me so much.” She then stopped talking, as she was crying too much by that point to keep going. I hugged her and tried to comfort her. I hugged her to my chest and stroked down her back.
“Penelope, I promise, but I do not think it will matter in the end. He has been drinking a lot tonight.” Even that excuse sounded hollow in my head. Colin was a boy and he clearly wanted to hurt Penelope. I did not know why but I was determined to protect her. I picked her up and sat her on her feet. I took off my cravat, waistcoat and rolled up my sleeves. I then sat down and grabbed her hand to bring her to my lap. I hugged her and held her until her tears dried up. I was just petting her back at this point. She sat up and grabbed my hand.
“Lord Bridgerton, I do not wish to write about you and the Sharmas. For several reasons, one I do not feel they were being truthful with you and since I could not uncover the reasons I did not publish. As you know, I strive to always tell the truth. Two, there is no way I could do so now. I could never repay your genuine kindness to me by writing out that Miss Kate Sharma jilted you. I can write it so you are not at fault. Also, and I can not say this enough, Colin was overheard by a lot of people. At the very least, this will take some heat off of you. I can not and will not disparage your good name because of this. There might be some backlash for Colin, but nothing like you would face.” She said, She looked depressed. “Tomorrow, I will send the article to my printer that will bring about my ruin. I will be lucky to get out of here before my mother signs a contract for me with Lord Winfrey.”
“He is a brute, Penelope! You can not. Why ever you wrote about Eloise, is no reason to set yourself up to be killed!” I was fuming. I could not imagine her married to such a murderer. He had murdered his other 6 wives. “You deserve to be loved, Penelope!”
“He is offering quite a bit, I have most of my things packed, well I did before Eloise destroyed my room, but I can repack them. If I am quick, I can drop off the article, get to the solicitor, and get out of the Ton before Mama notices.” Penelope said plainly. “That is my only hope.”
“Surely, you would not leave…..” I started to say.
“Mama has already begun talking to Lord Winfrey, Lord Bridgerton, she gave me until tonight to find another match or at least a courting prospect. I had hoped that Cousin Jack’s scheme would stop her in her place, but once she finds out about Colin, well she would drug me if that’s what it took to get me married. He promised her that he would allow her to stay here and would pay 15,000 dowries for both my sisters. I just have to give him an heir. She has been getting excited about all of this.” She sounded so down. “I would just throw myself into the Thames but with my bad luck, I would probably not die.” She was not jesting. She was serious.
I grabbed her and hugged her fiercely. I did not even realize I was crying. “You can not give up! Please do not give up. Promise me! You are too bright to give up!” I could not imagine her being gone! What on Earth? I was starting to panic. My breath was coming in shallow gasps. I was seeing black spots. I could not breathe.
“Lord Bridgerton, please stop. ANTHONY! Stop!” She cried and then she kissed me. It was a quick spark that helped me be more present. I started to return her kiss and she returned mine, it was really nice. I went to grab her waist and I stopped moving. I was kissing Penelope!
“Forgive me, Lord Brigerton! I……I…….am not sure what came over me.” She said shakily. “I just wanted you to stop. I am so sorry.” She then took a deep breath. “My Lor…”
“Just call me Anthony already. I think we have fully passed my honorific, don't you?”
“Yes, my…Anthony. I want to tell you why I outed Eloise like I did. The Queen thought she was Lady Whistledown. I tried to go to the Queen and confess but she wouldn’t see me. Her man, Brimsley, told me that the Queen did not have time for friends of Eloise, just confessing to help her. I begged Eloise to stop and to stay out of Bloomsbury but she refused to listen. She wanted to see Theo, my printer's apprentice, and would not stop. I told her to stop talking to the Queen. When I could not get Eloise to listen and I could not get the Queen to listen, I panicked and on the way home wrote that. The Queen would have taken your title, Anthony, all of your family's wealth. It was the only way I could save you all.” She stopped talking then because she was crying so much. “She refused to listen, destroyed my room and, just like Colin, she said something that tore me to little tiny pieces. I am just trying my best. If my family starves, so do I. I did not know what else to do.”
As she spoke, I spiraled. If I had not been so entangled with Sienna I would have noticed Colin nearly got cuckolded last year. If I had not been hell bent on one upping Kate, I would have noticed Eloise was consorting with revolutionaries that could get us all kicked out of the Ton and relieved of our money. The only thing of Father’s I had and the stupid girl would have had us lose it! And to destroy Penelope’s things? The nerve.
“Penelope, Miss…..I can not. I can not thank you…..I just do not…….oh for Christ sake. Thank you, I can not begin to thank you.” I stuttered out. I felt her hand on mine and looked down. She had taken off her gloves and was clutching my hand with one hand and drawing circles on told of that hand with the other.
“It’s okay, Anthony. Just breathe. Listen to my voice. You are in the Featherington Gardens. I am holding your hand.” She said so shyly. “You are alright. I am sorry I have to write about Colin but he and your family will weather it. I promise you. I will not be writing about you and Kate. I just want you to know that Kate is an absolute idiot. To have had you and to give you up? You are kind, so good with Gregory and Hyacinth, you are fair and indulgent with your other siblings. I will never understand her.” She was so earnest and her eyes were shining. Kate had never looked at me like that. Sienna hadn’t either. Why was little Penelope Featherington bringing me such calm? I just didn't understand but I also could not allow her to be ruined.
“Little Pretty Penny thank you,” I said softly, “It means everything to me that you said that. I know you are kind, truthful to a fault, loyal and witty. I can not understand why Colin said what he did, you did not deserve it. You deserve to be happy.” I had forgotten father’s nickname for her until right now. She is beautiful. If her mother was not such a fucking idiot she would not be in the position for Colin’s words to ruin. She would have been named Diamond and married to some lucky bastard. “Wait, Penny how will you write the column tonight and get it printed by tomorrow morning? It’s already quite late.”
She squirmed and lowered her eyes, “I um, that is to say, I either have a trusted footman deliver it or I hire a hack dressed as a maid and go deliver it myself.” She was flushed and a lovely red color on her cheeks and going down her neck. And then it hit me what she said.
“You do what? In a hired hack? Have you lost your mind?” I am mad now. A hired hack? What if something had happened to her? What if she was seen by a Lord? I was pacing back and forth in front of her.
“Well, My Lord,” she hissed at me, “We can not afford an unmarked carriage and we can not keep a lot of staff. I am not dumb enough to trust many in my family’s employ as it is. I have not been seen, I have not been accosted. I tend to use the same drivers. I am careful. I disguise myself, I disguise my voice. For Christ Sake, Anthony, I am not one of your siblings!” Her eyes flashed and were bluer than a minute ago. Her hair looked like fire falling onto her shoulders as she ripped her hair pins out. “Please do not treat me like I am. Please, I can not bear it tonight.”
“I am well aware you are not my sister, Penelope. That has nothing to do with this. You. Are. Putting. Yourself. AT. RISK! I could not bear it if anything happened to you. My mother could not bear it either. You need to be safe! Can’t one of my footmen or my valet even take it?” I was struggling to put together a rational thought.
“As I am well aware I will not be publishing anything other than what I am writing tonight, no. If I was going to continue I would. I can not express how touched I am by your gesture. I do not typically have people that care where I am. Truly, thank you.” She said. “My maid will be going with me and she will go with me tomorrow. Please do not fret.”
I stared at her while she said that and I started thinking of a plan. “Penny, do you truly want to leave? I mean, would you want to stay here?”
“My wants do not play into this, Anthony. I really must make haste to get this all accomplished.” She said, resigned to her fate. She turned to leave and I stopped her by putting my hand on her arm. I turned her around to face me.
“It matters a lot, Penelope. Answer the question.” I huffed out, I for sure had a plan now and she was not cooperating.
“Fine, Anthony, yes I would stay. I hate the balls, the eyes of the hungry mama’s, I hate being treated differently by everyone but I do not know the country. As much as it is a dream, it is also terrifying as I would have no protector. I can not and will not be the spinster daughter taking care of my mother. I am well aware I will not marry and I will not be a mother.” With that she started to sob again. I grabbed her and pulled her to me. I starting soothing her again. That’s when I heard a something behind me. I looked up and it was her Lady’s Maid. Her eyes widened but she quickly composed herself.
“Miss Penelope, you must come to the house. It is an emergency. I am sorry to intrude.” Rae said softly. She looked down and did not look at either of us.
“Oh, Rae, I am sorry. Let me come with you. I am sorry if I worried you.” Penelope exclaimed. “Is mother asking for me?”
“No it’s not that. Miss Penelope, I must insist we go inside now.” Rae said acting odd.
“Rae, what is going on?” I asked. She was acting strange and I wanted Penny to be safe at least.
“My Lady and I have to make haste. Lord Featherington left. He took a lot of money and had fake mines. I heard her Ladyship was looking for the contract with Lord Winfrey. She intends to sign it with him tomorrow. She already sent Thomas with the letter. My Lady we MUST go. Now. I know you still have to, ummm….” Rae trailed off.
“Rae, I already know she is Whistledown. I think I might have another solution. Rae, can you go over there where you can still see us but not hear us? I wish to give Miss Penelope another option.” I said frankly. Rae walked over to where I pointed and waited. I took a breath and then looked at Penny.
“Penny, what if we leave in 2 hours for Gretna Green? I have no desire for a big Viscount wedding. I have no desire to even have a small one. I need to be married if that makes sense. You ARE Lady Whistledown. You could write it in such a way that the Ton would think it was romantic.” I said, “Both of us have broken hearts, Penelope, but you know what I am going through and I you in that regard. I would like children. I will need an heir. But more importantly I need someone I can trust. I believe I can trust you.” As I spoke, I realized this was something I needed to do. Something I wanted to do. Penny would make a great Viscountess. I noticed she had dropped her mouth while I was talking and was still standing there like a statue. “Penny?”
She startled and then said, “Anthony, My Lord, what? Elope with me? I…..I well, I would like children, as many as God feels I can handle, but my Lord, what of love? Won’t Lady Bridgerton expect you to marry for love? Plus Eloise hates me and so does Colin. Would that not cause problems in your family?” She looked so concerned. She’s perfect for us.
“I want two hours so I can talk with them both and then leave. I will tell them I have estate business, they will not question it because it’s not abnormal. Please, Penny we can make a good life together. Please.” I was so low before you, practically begging, but something told me this was the best decision I could make. Plus, on the business side of things, having Whistledown would be a boon. “I want you to be my Viscountess Penny. You.” While I was speaking she drifted closer to me, never taking her eyes off of mine. She still looked so shocked.
She swallowed several times, blinked and then said, “Yes. I will go with you to Gretna Green. I will be ready in two hours from now.” She then stood on her tip toes and kissed my cheek. “Rae, is two hours enough?” She called.
“Yes, Miss Penelope.”
“Good then we will meet you, where in two hours?” Penny asked.
“Be in the back of the garden here and I will be our in my unmarked carriage from my Bachelor Lodgings. It is black and gray on the outside. I will go now, this back area leads to a small walkway through to my stables. I will meet with Colin and Eloise, together, something tells me that is the best course of action with them both.” I said.
“Alright Anthony, Rae and I will make haste. I will need to drop off the article. If we come back married and I do not publish this everyone will know it is me. I would like to talk to you on the way about continuing or the future. After tonight, I am not sure I want to keep it up.” She said. That surprised me since she has a gift for writing.
“We will discuss it. You are too talented a writer to give up.” I was shocked she would want to, but we needed to get a move on and we will for sure discuss it later. “I am going now. I will see you in two hours right here.” I took her hand in mine and lifted it to my mouth and gave her a lingering kiss. She blushed such a pretty shade of red, and it was spreading down her neck to her rather large breasts. I had never noticed that before. I mean she is my little sister’s best friend.
She stepped back and looked at my face and then said, “I will make haste, my Lor…Anthony. Thank you.” With that she left to go see her tasks. I walked to our stables and had my most trusted driver, Nigel, go get my unmarked carriage and to bring it back hidden behind our stables.
Then I took a deep breath, walked into my house, then had Humboldt get Colin and Eloise to come to my study. I called for James, my new Valet, and then I quietly told him to get me items together in a bag for travel. I then walked into my study and poured myself a drink. One problem is taken care of and as Colin opened my door, I realized problem number two and three were about to be taken care of. I had a carriage to catch and miles to cover.