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Jun 18, 2021 14:45:24 GMT
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Post by lennie2 on Apr 28, 2021 14:04:18 GMT
Families of the ton often gathered in the park for picnics. When the evening was not going to offer any large gatherings mothers ensured the day would result in possibly better prospects. Penelope would never claim her prospects were very good but at least the daytime picnics were nicer than the balls, the balls left her so obviously left out from the dancefloor. When the sun was shining on London the ton found its way outside. Unmarried ladies enjoyed chaperoned walks and brought their needlework with them. Even if it was not a ball it was still a show of how very available for marriage you were.
Her mother had had a tent set up and a basket of food prepared and laid out on a soft blanket for the day. Hopefully she would soon spot Eloise in the park and rather than spending the day with her mother she could perhaps get permission to spend a bit of it with her friend. So far she had had little luck in getting away from her mother. Penelope listened with half an ear as Portia spoke while scanning the park meticulously, barking orders at the three sisters on how to behave.
Apparently the food, however, was only for show, judging by the scatching look Portia had sent in Penelope's direction as the latter reached for one of the biscuits. With an apology and regretful look to her mother Penelope pulled back, folding her hands into her lap, eyes cast down. She didn't notice the added presence to their small group before her sisters began to laugh, it was that very particular giggle both Prudence and Philipa had practiced and they both believed would attract more suitors. So far Penelope would say it had not been successful.
Had she not recognised the voice perhaps Penelope would not have bothered to look up. It was not the Bridgerton she had hoped to see but nonetheless she let a warm smile blossom onto her lips as her gaze met Benedict's. "Mr Bridgerton, I hope you're well," she greeted him kindly, her voice full of friendly warmth. She ignored the scoff from one of her sisters, Philipa by the sound of it, and ignored Prudence's glare and her mother's surprised glee. Out of all her family's reactions her mother was undoubtedly the most ridiculous.
The jealousy and the glee, it was all ridiculous. First of all, Benedict would never be interested in marrying her, judging by the way Whistledown wrote about him he simply was not interested in marrying period. Penelope was simply Eloise's friend who he would occasionally dance with and Penelope would remain grateful neither of them every acknowledged how the reason either Bendict or his brothers asked her to dance was because Violet Bridgerton made them ask her. Though perhaps most importantly Penelope knew she could never marry a Bridgerton other than the one she already was in love with, she knew in her logical mind she would not marry Colin either, most likely she would not marry at all, but she would never marry Benedict.
"I would be delighted," she replied, Benedict was not Eloise but, he was better company than that which her mother would be if she said anything but yes to his offer. Standing she brushed her hands over her skirts to smooth out the fabric before ensuring her bonnet was secure on her head. She offered Benedict another warm smile, "shall we?" |
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Post by lennie2 on Apr 16, 2021 18:37:07 GMT
Since entering into society Penelope had grown used to being overlooked. It was not just her though, her sisters often found themselves standing to the side. But whereas Philipa and Prudence seemed to stick together, happily giggling and smiling with their arms linked together as they flirted their way through the grand ballrooms Penelope separated herself from the other two Featherington girls. She shrunk to the back of the room, free to observe and watch all that took place without most having noticed she was attending the social event in the first place.
It seemed only a matter of time before Philipa and Prudence would find a suitor willing to marry them. At the very least it seemed their mama was willing to believe so. It was not lost to Penelope how Portia Featherington seemed to favour spending her efforts pushing the elder two of her girls towards the men of the ton as she sighed and looked at Penelope with a disappointed gaze. If her mother only knew what Penelope had managed to accomplish in her life, if she knew Penelope was Lady Whistledown she would surely doubt everything which she had ever known. But even so, Penelope had a feeling her success would not be seen as such by her mother, no she was sure if Portia knew it would be her concerns of how Lady Whistledown could damage the chances Penelope and her sisters ever had to marry more than anything else that would become known.
As the music faded and the dance they shared came to an end Penelope offerd a smile, warm and kind brightening up her face, "the pleasure was all mine," she insisted, her tone of voice matching the warmth in her smile as she spoke, and her countenance seemed to have brightened, "thank you, I believe it may have made this night a little less insufferable." |
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Post by lennie2 on Apr 11, 2021 10:59:22 GMT
Penelope acknowledged his agreement with a nod, lips pressed together to avoid showing off a slightly smug smile. Her commentary would have probably have given her a bigger reaction had she been in the company of Eloise, or even Colin, but this was about as big as she could expect from Anthony. She had to agree though, it would've made sense for them to speak of the one person they actually had in common, yet that thought seemed terrifying. "I don't know if Eloise would like her best friend and older brother discussing her when she is not present," Penelope contemplated, "and she has an awful tendency to find things out, it wouldn't surprise me if she does find out who Lady Whistledown is before anyone else."
She was sure Cressida had long since left what had happened behind her, in fact she was probably telling stories about how she had begged Anthony to dance with Penelope instead when he asked her. Penelope didn't care. Well she did, she absolutely cared, but she knew what had happened and for her that was enough, really. "Thank you," she smiled softly, responding to his light bow with a small curtsey. Penelope knew very well the signals it would send if she danced with him again, and while no one would ever believe he would show the slightest bit of interest in her, it wouldn't be appropriate. She continued to smile, "I am certain my evening will have turned around for the better, Lord Bridgerton." |
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Post by lennie2 on Apr 8, 2021 18:08:46 GMT
If anyone knew how and when, or even if, Lady Whistledown would ever want to reveal her identity it would be Penelope, for reasons which were obvious to no one except herself. On certain days she considered whether or not she would like the credit for her accomplishments. Because even though some members of the ton may resent her for what she was writing, there was a part of Penelope who would want people to know it was her. If her mother knew then maybe she'd be forced to acknowledge Penelope was successful in something in her life.
"Did you assume you would be speaking to me about any women?" Penelope questioned in surprise, she offered him a slight smile, a hint of mischievous intent in her eyes. While she had not expected their conversation at all the least expected topic felt like it'd be women. Perhaps even weirder since the woman they were discussing was her, even though Anthony didn't know that... if he did the conversation they were having would have been so much more difficult. |
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Post by lennie2 on Apr 6, 2021 18:16:29 GMT
Penelope knew she was not the only person of the ton who enjoyed gossip. She was fairly certain she did not even enjoy it half as much as many other people she spent a lot of time with did. It was always assumed the women of upper society spent their days gossiping amongst themselves, and yet Penelope was willing to bet a box of her favourite chocolates that men spent just as much time talking behind people's backs.
It was just most people Penelope knew would never say their opinions outloud, no they'd simply whisper behind people's backs or share hushed words at the market. She said what she thought of people, sure it was either only in the company of close friends and even so her words were hardly scathing. The only time her words seemed sharp enough was when she wrote her columns, Lady Whistledown could express herself in ways Penelope Featherington just wasn't able to.
The redhead offered a smile, glancing around the room for a moment she narrowed her eyes lightly in contemplation. "It might become easier with practice," she said, pursing her lips in thought, "for example, I believe Miss Lowes and Miss Finley may come to blows over Mr Reed soon if those looks they are giving each other is anything to go by." She said casually, her tone indicating nothing, as if Penelope simply had made a remark about the weather they were having. |
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Post by lennie2 on Apr 3, 2021 15:48:50 GMT
Penelope nodded, ensuring she kept her smile from growing smug as he agreed with her, they both knew the circles they ran in and scandal seemed to tempt their peers every other Wednesday. She tried to be fair when she wrote about things that happened, it was never her intention to ruin anyone of her peers. Maybe she did not mince her words quite as much when it came to Cressida and her followers, maybe her own feelings for Cressida poisoned her words ever so slightly. But when it came to people who were kind it was never Penelope's intention to harm or hurt them in any way.
His words about the Queen caused her blood to run a little colder; Penelope had not counted on making an indirect enemy of the Queen. She had never thought the columns she wrote simply to blow off steam would ever grow so popular or ever catch the attention of the Queen. But they had, and somewhere along the lines of her writing the Queen had grown less favourable towards what she chose to put in writing. "Perhaps that is why they would like to do so on their own terms?" Penelope countered, "if Whistledown would need to answer to the ton and the Queen it would seem reasonable they wish to do so on their own terms and when they wish to do so, considering it does bring with the Queen being rather displeased."
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Post by lennie2 on Mar 29, 2021 16:42:38 GMT
Penelope could tell he spent some time contemplating her words and she hoped she had not offended him. As Lewis mulled over her words it gave Penelope enough time to doubt them. The last thing she wanted to do was to have her words make him feel bad. Not even in the writing she did was her intention to hurt people, even when she wrote about people like Cressida Cowper Penelope tried her best not to let petty feelings cause her to be cruel.
Deciding whether or not she really should tell Lewis wasn't as straight forward and Penelope had expected it would be. It had become obvious enough the ton was not in the slightest bit observant, especially when it came ot her. Yet, she wasn't sure she wanted to prescribe Lewis to the same list of oblivious individuals, it seemed cruel after the kindness he had shown her during the evening. So really, her hesitation was nothing if not a show of respect and Penelope furrowed her brow, pressing her tongue against the back of her teeth.
"I watch people a lot," Penelope finally admitted, frowning the moment the words left her lips, it sounded more threatening than it did like entertainment, "I mean, my dance card is not very often full but my mama, she means well of course, but she believes if I stand around the side of the dance floor a gentleman or two will become interested, and so I do, and it's very difficult not to notice things quite a lot of the time," Penelope sighed, now she just sounded utterly pathetic instead. |
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Post by lennie2 on Mar 28, 2021 19:46:03 GMT
Penelope smiled warmly as he admitted she was correct, she had of course believed herself to be hower it was nice to hear someone else say it once in a while. She was used to kind words from friends, and less kind words from her own family. But Lewis was not family nor was he really a friend so perhaps that was why his words warmed at her heart even more. "Thank you, for saying that, I believe not very many gentlemen would be capable of admitting a woman can be right," Penelope said, her comments more scatching towards the other men of the ton than a young lady's words should have ever been.
She knew it was cynical and therefore something her mother would never approve of but to a degree Penelope had ceased to care whether or not her words were found to be offensive to the men. Of course she would never voice her opinions outloud to most of them, she'd make a sly comment and share a secret laugh in the corner of a ballroom with Colin or Eloise but not more than that. Though perhaps that was because Penelope could not assure she would be able to make her way through a sentence such like it in the company of anyone else without stuttering and tripping over the words. It actually surprised her just how well she was able to string together a comprehensive sentence in Lewis's company.
"I didn't think you meant my company," Penelope assured him, offering a supportive smile, her hand squeezing his a little firmer, not many people would have asked her to dance or tried to hide the fact that they did not care for her presence so it was nice to hear someone insist they were at the very least neutral to her presence, "in fact there are nights where I wish I could rather spend my time in the comfort of my own room than prancing around one of these grand halls," she smiled, pausing before she continued, "would you like to hear how I make it a little more bearable?"
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Post by lennie2 on Mar 27, 2021 23:26:46 GMT
Penelope was certain it was a joke, but at least it was funny. For the first time Lewis seemed to be relaxing more into the dance they shared, only just becoming more comfortable. Even, or perhaps especially, Penelope had noticed how Lewis never seemed to be completely comfortable at the balls he attended. It was a feeling which Penelope knew too well and she could not help but feel a sense of pride that she had seemingly eased his nerves if only for a moment.
"I think that sounds like an excellent idea," Penelope declared with a warm smile, "after all, how can they have anything against it if you argue on the importance social events have in the profession," she continued. While Penelope was not jealous of the added pressure of these social gatherings having such an impact on his career she couldn't help but feel jealous of the fact that he had one.
Though maybe Penelope did have a career, just not in the same way as a man ever could, just not in a way she could take credit for. Lady Whistledown had a career because in the eyes of the ton Lady Whistledown could be a man regardless of the title used. Even those who suspected a woman behind the moniker would not have suspected it to be Penelope Featherington of all people. So while Lewis had to suffer through dancing and polite conversation he was a man and he had his career. |
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Post by lennie2 on Mar 26, 2021 18:23:48 GMT
She was finding it nice to dance with Lewis, even if her toes were in some kind of danger every time he took a step. Penelope had resigned herself to the fact she would not be spending her nights on the edge of the dance floor. Dancing with Lewis was better than doing that, standing around trying to still look happy to be there. Before he had asked her she had been half ready to begin pleading with her mother to let her go home; she didn't have much faith it would've worked.
Penelope, of course, had no experience of medical school, or university for that matter, however she still could not imagine there would be a switch in curriculums to teach burgeoning surgeons to dance. But she laughed lightly, her laugh bordering on trained politeness, the one her mama had made her practice for hours; Penelope was quite sure Portia Featherington could hear her actual laugh across any room and would appear in seconds to scold her on chasing away prospective suitors. While Penelope had resigned herself to not being the diamond of the season, or the one anyone noticed most of the time, her mother had not accepted that.
"If you do I believe it'd be interesting to see if they are open to widening their curriculum," the redhead mused, she didn't have a lot of faith, or perhaps it was the part of her hoping there was more to dream about when she imagined herself getting the opportunity to study further than having to dance more. |
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Post by lennie2 on Mar 25, 2021 17:37:28 GMT
Penelope hoped he didn't feel too bothered by trodding on her toes, it genuinely had not been that bad, it was still better than not being asked at all. She didn't mind how they fell out of tempo for a brief moment, Penelope subtly bringing them back in without comment as they once more fell into step within the crowd.
His discomfort was obvious, Penelope was sure anyone who took a look would've been able to notice it. It was a feeling she knew far too well and didn't need immortalising in words. She promised herself when she stumbled upon the opportunity to publish her rants about polite society she would not be cruel for no reason. People like Cressida were entertained by cruelty, and if she stooped to her level then Penelope would be no better herself. Besides, it was hardly good gossip for a gossip column that a surgeon stepped on toes of the girl in the horrid yellow dress.
She smiled softly as the dance brought them closer together, nodding at his words, "It's alright," she insisted once again, "would it not be fair to say you have spent more focus on obtaining a professional skill set for your work rather than perfecting the steps to whichever dance the ton fancies at the moment?" |
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Post by lennie2 on Mar 23, 2021 19:05:22 GMT
When she had been a little girl Penelope had dreamed about the fanciful balls she would one day attend. She had pretended to dance around her room and imagined enchanting conversations with handsome boys asking her to dance with them. As an adult she found that her fantasies were far better than the reality of the balls. It wasn't to say the balls were in any way bad, simply to say the imaginations of a little girl put a little too much pressure on reality. Besides, her mother had always told her she had a good imagination, though the older she got the less sure Penelope was her mama actually meant it as something positive.
It wasn't that balls were terrible in any way, they were just not what Penelope had thought they would be. She had believed she would dance the nights away and instead she spent most of her time wishing she could be somewhere else. It felt, somehow, it would've been easier had she been allowed to put off entering society for another year, to do it with Eloise instead. She didn't think anyone would suddenly be lining up to dance with her but, at the very least she would have her best friend by her side, now a lot of balls just felt lonely despite the vast crowds attending them.
She regretted telling him he couldn't have been as bad of a dancer as he thought as she felt his boot over her foot, only just suppressing a small yelp of pain. "Oh it's fine!" Penelope insisted quickly, pressing her lips together tightly to hide the grimace which threatened to cross her features. "Didn't even feel a thing," she tried to assure him, well aware of the fact she did not consider herself a very good liar on any other occasion than concealing her Whistledown identity. |
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Post by lennie2 on Mar 23, 2021 16:49:45 GMT
Penelope loved to dance, she just didn't get to do it very often. In no way would the redhead have considered herself an expert when it came to the art of dance, far from it most likely. But, she enjoyed it, and that alone was enough for her skill to be at the very least acceptable for a young lady. In fact, Penelope would wager there were at least a handful of other young, unmarried women whom she danced better than.
Following Lewis onto the dance floor she offered him a small smile of support. She didn't know if his own dancing skills were as horrid as he had warned her. What she did know was that she would not tell him if they were, the last thing any young woman should do was embarrass a gentleman without good reason. Penelope noted to herself how is steps began unsteady, leading her almost hesitantly in the dance. It got better as he seemingly grew at the very least slightly more comfortable to the music.
"I can assure you my toes have been spared," Penelope agreed as they were getting a few steps in, finding a rhythm with one another in the dance, "either you are not as bad of a dancer as you believe, or you do not speak high enough of yourself, Doctor." |
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Post by lennie2 on Mar 22, 2021 17:30:34 GMT
The last thing she wanted to do was chase away Lewis by praising Whistledown in his presence if he didn't like her. Penelope had learned not to take any serious criticism of her alter ego personally, no one actually knew that if they insulted Whistledown they technically insulted her; though not a lot of people seemed to care whether they insulted her or not. If she didn't want to to be discovered then she couldn't very well be spending too much time defending Whistledown, not after she had made sure to insult herself more than once as well to truly ensure no one suspected her. Then again, no one surely ever would, because after all, who would expect the poorly dressed redhead standing in a corner barely daring to speak to anyone at each and every ball?
But now, most of all, she didn't want to chase away the one gentleman who had actually asked her to dance. For whatever reason Lewis had asked her Penelope appreciated it, only if just for the reason that she loved to dance. When she stood in her corners she found herself imagining a full dance card, thinking that she would be asked to dance by an endless line of fine gentleman and earn an approving nod from her mama from across the room.
"I believe we shall," she agreed with him. The look she got from Portia was not approving as she took Lewis's offered arm with a small smile on her own lips. Ignoring the glare from her mama Penelope focused her attentiont to her partner for the dance. She found herself hoping that maybe his dancing was not quite as terrible as he had made it out to be, when it came down to it she was raather attached to her toes after all. |
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Post by lennie2 on Mar 22, 2021 16:20:13 GMT
Penelope nodded, she hadn't expected it of him if she was honest. Perhaps Anthony Bridgerton was the last person she would ever expect to do something for the purpose of appearing like the good guy in a gossip column. "Of course you didn't," she agreed, offering a small smile, "women think differently than men do on these things I would think, so I'm sure Miss Cowper is hoping someone will cause a bigger scandal before the next Whistledown edition comes out," Penelope couldn't help but think Cressida deserved what she'd write, it wouldn't make the blonde less cruel, but maybe it would knock her down a peg or two at least for a while.
"Do you think the Queen will be very cross once her identity is discovered?" Penelope asked, not even she imagined she would be able to keep her secret forever, and it was never her intention to insult the Queen, she simply wanted to show the ton how ridiculous they were. It wasn't the Queen that worried her most of course, though maybe it should've considered the power the regent held. But Penelope worried more about her friends, about Eloise and the rest of the Bridgerton family, of her own family. Feeling discomfort crawling down her spine Penelope cleared her throat, "I hope whoever they are they get to come forward on their own terms," she finally settled on, hoping it came off as concern for whoever Whistledown may have been rather than fear.
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