Chapter Text
"I was so thrilled to hear about your Audrey's engagement to Lord Gillespie, they seem to be a marvellous match!" Lady Farrow exclaimed looking to Lady Strong, who was sipping her tea across from her.
"Oh it is positively joyous in our home this week, I cannot wait to plan the special day. It will be perfect for both of them!"
The other ladies around the table threw their congratulations towards the thrilled Mama as she soaked up the attention. Every Mother with a daughter on the marriage mart prays for the day to come where she will be showered with congratulations for a successful match. And a title will get you even more credit and definite jealousy from many.
The women sit and discuss their life updates for a little longer before the subject shifts from their own children to their favourite subject, other families.
"Has anybody seen the poor third Featherington girl?" Mrs Hampton asked as several sighed in commiseration for the girl.
"Still a torturously shy girl, even with a season under her belt," Lady Thomas joins in. "But I suppose if my Mama had forced me into ill fitting dresses in the most hideous citrus colours, I too would have tried to blend in with the walls to save me from unwanted jeers."
"Her mother parades those poor girls around as if she has dressed them in the latest fashion from the continent," Mrs Barlow remarks with a laugh.
"The little one definitely gets the shortest of the three short straws," Lady Porter adds. "I feel for the girl tremendously, although... she does seem to have every Bridgerton on side."
"Yes she has been friends with their second daughter, the outspoken one, since they were fresh out of leading strings."
"I suppose that is why the Bridgerton boys all dance with her," Lady Porter sighs. "Violet has always loved a charity case."
"I am not so sure about that Joanna," Lady Farrow cuts in with a slight frown. "I do not think there is anyone forcing young Colin to dance with her at every event. They spend a good amount of time together at these affairs."
"Pfft.. There is not a chance that a Bridgerton would court a Featherington, especially not after the scandal with the cousin last season!" Mrs Hampton exclaims.
"If you had said that at the beginning of the season I may have been in agreement but he has danced with her at every ball since he returned from abroad," Lady Farrow looks conspiratorially at the rest of the women. "The pair are always off giggling on the sidelines together, I often wonder if they are courting in secret and not telling anybody because of last year's scandal?"
"I think he is simply a charming boy who is not yet ready to settle down," Lady Porter laughs. "He uses the Featherington girl as a shield from Mamas like you and I looking to tie down a good one."
There were chuckles around the table.
"I suppose only time will tell," Lady Farrow says, silently judging her fellow ladies in their short sighted views of the young people in the Ton.
--
"Oi Bridgerton!" Benedict rolled his eyes as he turns away from the bar to find a collection of his least favourite acquaintances. There was a reason he had found himself spending most of his time at art club parties recently.
"Ah Gentlemen, how lovely to run into you this evening," Benedict plastered on his charming grin and headed over out of sheer politeness.
"Join us," one of the obnoxious lords whose name Benedict refused to recall pulled out a chair. Seeing no out at that moment he reluctantly sat.
"Bridgerton, we were just discussing the current happenings of the marriage mart and your brother's latest antics have come up," Lord Davies gave a sly grin. Benedict straightened upon hearing that his family was being discussed.
"Well, he has made it known to the whole of London that he is in the market for a wife Davies, it is common knowledge," Benedict rolled his eyes.
"Not the Viscount, your younger brother," Benedict was puzzled by this, Colin had been back from the continent for nearly two months now and as far as he knew Colin had not shown any interest in reentering the marriage mart after his unfortunate foray the previous season.
"I think you men must be mistaken..." he paused to work out how best to phrase what he wanted to say. "Colin is keeping to himself this season."
"Pfft, he has danced with the same woman at every ball," Lord Stanton raised his eyebrow in question.
"Sometimes several times!" Leon Michaels chimed in. Benedict could not help but think these men were worse than the gossiping Mamas. Always a nose in everybody else's business.
"I saw them sneak out into the gardens the other night at the Harrow Ball!" Stanton proclaimed.
"Who on earth are you talking about?!" Benedict gave up his act of nonchalance out of sheer exasperation.
"Why the youngest Featherington girl, I have to say I was surprised a Bridgerton would be interested in such a dull, dumpy thing," Benedict narrowed his eyes at Lord Stanton, not only were these men talking about his brother, they were insulting a lady that he and his family held in extremely high regard.
"Do not ev-" Benedict was cut off before he even got started.
"I think there is something worth seeing under those ghastly dresses the chit wears. Perhaps your brother has seen what the rest of us have been unable to!"
Benedict's grip on the glass was turning his knuckles white.
"There is definitely a fine set of b-" Lord Stanton did not get to finish what was definitely a most ungentlemanly remark because Benedict had swiftly slammed his glass on the table and thrown a satisfying punch directly into the Lord's jaw.
"Do not ever speak of Miss Featherington or any of my family again. If I hear you have it will not just be me you are dealing with," Benedict said in an uncharacteristically threatening manner turning away from the table and making his exit before he inevitably got physically thrown out.
He was seething, he was used to hearing men talk about women in vulgar ways but Penelope was his sister in all but blood. He still looked at her and saw the adorable, tiny, red faced girl that had followed his little, mud-covered brother back to their tent that day at the park before he had to go searching for the horse Colin had left behind.
"That bastard was about to talk about her assets, I cannot believe I need to associate with the likes of them," Benedict muttered to himself as he walked down the street to hail a hack to take him back home.
--
"How are the prospects looking this week Violet?" Agatha Danbury stood next to her friend on the balcony, overlooking the ballroom.
"I honestly do not think I can talk Anthony out of his harebrained scheme to find the most 'practical' wife," the Bridgerton matriarch sighed as she spotted her eldest at the edge of the dancefloor looking upon it as if he were perusing the stock before a horse auction.
"Hmm... he does seem to be set in his views but do not fret, he is a Bridgerton after-all. He might surprise you!" Agatha consoled her friend who was always on the look out for a love-match. "Now what about your intrepid explorer who has made his return?"
"What about Colin?" Violet looked confused at what the older woman was getting at.
"Why, him and Miss Featherington of course! I have seen them dance several times already this season and they spend so much of an evening in their own world."
The two looked around before spotting the bright yellow clad Featherington and, as was now common, Colin Bridgerton was there. Standing right next to her, hunched over, while they giggled away as if they were attending their own event for the evening. Violet smiled longingly at the pair.
"You know I have been dreaming about that since the moment I met Penelope, but I am becoming less certain my son will realise his feelings any time soon. My concern is it will be too late. Penelope is a wonderful young lady and someone will surely see her for the gem that she is sooner or later."
"Well, perhaps a little meddling could be on the cards for us this season, we have to keep life interesting afterall!"