Chapter Text
After the unfortunate events that she got involved with at her mama’s ball; her best friend Eloise’s discovery of her nom de plume, and Colin’s disparaging words on her towards his friends, Penelope Featherington had enough afflictions to bear with her fragile and torn heart. As if the poor plight of her family’s financial state and their plummeting reputation is not enough, Penelope had to face the loss of not just one, but two of her dearest, if not only, friends from the esteemed Bridgerton family.
Throughout her seasons, she was able to relent and face the hardships of being the ton’s wallflower as she finds consolation at the company of her childhood friend Eloise and her long-time love Colin, Eloise’s older brother. But now that there is irreparable damage to her friendships with the two, Penelope could no longer find any reason to enjoy being at the center (or at the edge) of high society.
And so, after a careful consideration and an extensive persuasion to her mother; the dowager baroness Portia Featherington, Penelope, the youngest of the redheads, had decided to move away from London and settle down in Scotland, away from the country and the hurtful memories England had only gave the young lady.
All of her savings and investments made from her Whistledown money are more than enough to help her sort out at least a nice and accommodating residence in one of the rural villages in Scotland, and also to provide her mother and eldest sister Prudence for one more season in London. Penelope had made arrangements with her solicitor to have her family’s provision done discreetly without letting her mother and sister know that it is coming from her secret funds. Penelope had come to terms that she might have to end the legacy of Lady Whistledown, now that she will no longer be part of high society, but decided that she will publish at least one or two more issues to announce the closure of her sought-after gossip sheet. This, she will do once she reaches the comfort of her new home.
“Are you certain about this decision, Penelope?” Portia asks her youngest as all of the latter’s luggages had been boarded on their family carriage. It was the day Penelope would leave London to take her journey for Scotland.
“Yes, mama. Leaving England would be the best recourse for me to do. I am ruined, never will a gentleman be interested in taking my hand for marriage. After everything that Whistledown had published..” Even though it was all her doing, Penelope’s voice croaked slightly at the mention of herself being the center of gossip on her latest Whistledown issue. She had made it known what Colin had said to Fife and his friends. She had decided that publishing the third Bridgerton’s words would be her constant reminder that her feelings and affections for the man would never be returned. No matter how long she waits and hopes for.
“I hope you well, my child. I may not be the best mother for you and your sisters. But do know, I only wanted what I truly think what’s best for the three of you. Hopefully, your sister Prudence will get to be married off this season. Until then, you must take care of yourself.” There was regret in Portia’s voice as she looked sadly at her youngest daughter.
True to her words, she was never really a good example of a mother for Penelope and her sisters. Her choice of outlandish colors and garments had made no help for her daughters in getting prospects at the marriage mart. But she truly loves them all the same in her very own way. She had realized too late that she never gave Penelope enough attention and care contrary to her two eldest, Prudence and Philippa, making her guilty as what had come down to her youngest’s reputation. Though she had constantly reminded her daughter that there will be nothing to come out of her friendship with the Bridgerton boy, she could not fully restrain Penelope as the latter is very close friends with the family across their street. At the same time, she had long hoped for that one of her daughters will be married to any of the Bridgerton boys, through the connection Penelope had made with the esteemed family. But all that hope had burst like a bubble with all the consecutive scandals that transpired between the two families, starting from Colin’s broken engagement with Miss Marina Thompson up to the former’s discovery of the fraudulent investment scam orchestrated by Cousin Jack.
And now, as Penelope had expressed and begged her to let her leave and spend her life away from London, Portia could not find any reason to decline. She knows it would be a nice change of scenery, as to bring Penelope peace and save her from further ruination at the eyes of the judgmental ton. Maybe it was for the best, she thought. Penelope might still have a chance to meet a decent man that will ask her hand for marriage. With all these thoughts, the dowager baroness finally relents and now bids her youngest a safe journey to Scotland.
“Thank you, mama. I’ll write you a letter once I arrive at my destination.” With that, Penelope boards on their family carriage and Briarly, their family butler instructs the coachman to the young lady’s stop.
“Is Pen also going to Aubrey Hall with us for the off-season?” Hyacinth asks her family as they are all in the main drawing room waiting for their servants to finish packing up their luggages.
As the London season ended, it was time for the high noble aristocrats to travel back to their country estates to spend the off-season months. The Bridgertons were just the same, they were off to Aubrey Hall, their ancestral home in Kent, that afternoon once Anthony was done with his work and everything was ready to be closed up at the Bridgerton House. It was then that the youngest Bridgerton noticed their favorite Featherington taking off on a carriage as she stared at the street from their windows.
“No. She will not be, and will never be.” Eloise bitterly and angrily answers her youngest sibling.
“Eloise!” Violet calls out her second daughter’s name as calmly as she can muster. She, along with her eldest sons Anthony and Benedict, noticed the changed demeanor of Eloise since the last ball they attended. Surely, there must have been something happened between her and Penelope as a slight mention of the Featherington name irks her rambunctious daughter so much, and a lack of the redhead’s presence during their afternoon tea time at their house confirms it so.
“I’m afraid not, dear. With circumstances as of late, it seems an invitation for Penelope will be ought for naught. But why have you asked, Hyacinth?” Violet turns to ask her youngest.
“Well, I saw her board their carriage with some luggages. But it was only her, Lady Featherington stayed as the carriage left.”
Hyacinth’s statement made curious looks on both Eloise and Violet. Though they did not voice out their concerns, they were left thinking to themselves as to where Penelope Featherington might be off to. It is unusual for the redhead to travel far without the company of her family, the only exception is when she joins in on the Bridgertons’ outings.
Violet hummed as she tried to think of a response that would satiate Hyacinth’s inquisitiveness. “Hmm.. It is possible her mother might follow in the next days or so, surely once Lady Featherington is finished closing up their home for the off-season.” Violet smilingly says. Though it was to her knowledge that the Featherington’s country estate was no more, as it was sold off to cover the family debts. She can only hope that her favorite redhead who she treats just as her own daughter, Penelope, will just be off to a relative somewhere in Cornwall.