Wooing Lady Whistledown - A Bridgerton Story

Chapter 7: Let Them Be

The next morning, Penelope informed Portia of Eloise's visit. Portia was most concerned about the excitement over a visitor taking away from Phillipa's engagement, and of course that London would hear of the intimate details of the family's situation through Eloise's eyes when she returned. But otherwise, the Featherington matriarch welcomed Eloise into the home politely, determined even more to have her new life respected by the Londoners when Eloise returned to tell of her visit. When breakfast was served, the dining table was set with an extra chair that had been almost certainly meant for Patrick, were he to arrive for his hat so early, but which Eloise assigned to herself gladly.

Eloise and Penelope had not talked of the former's request the night before. As far as Penelope was concerned, it had been a childish request of a friend who did not want her to move so far away. Eloise convinced herself of the same. There were far more interesting things to discuss, anyways.

Penelope was truly shocked that her mother was able to finish her plate with the relentless rapidity with which she battered poor Eloise with questions. Eloise had been appointed, without her knowledge, the representative of the entire city of London, and was thus made responsible for answering Lady Featherington's every query about home. Eloise did not plan on being run out of Bath for rudeness (though the image of her grabbing her too-long skirt to run as fast as she can away from a mob lead by Portia Featherington played on a loop in her mind) and thus answered questions for as long as she could with polite coolness.

Portia asked after the rest of the Bridgerton family, the Hastings, and the goings-on of the fortunate and unfortunate matches of the social season until she devolved into inquiries on the state of Madame Delacoix's shop, which she proclaimed must be in a terrible state without the three Featherington girls to dress. Eloise nodded politely to all of her hostess's comments of questionable taste, to Penelope's relief.

"And what of Whistledown?" Portia asked finally, finding a topic she was disinterested in enough to start on her second cup of tea.

Penelope turned to Eloise, next to whom she was seated, and found a winning smile in the place of the half-hearted grin that had been on Eloise's face for the past quarter hour.

"Well, Lady Featherington, I do not want to spoil my great reveal, but I have been getting much closer in my investigation. Alright, I will give you just one clue into what I have been thinking--"

Eloise's excited run-on was interrupted by Portia's waving her hand while she finished a mouthful of tea. "No, no, I mean has she published anything since we have been away."

Eloise's face fell, much more in annoyance than disappointment. "No, I am afraid she has not. But that has not stopped my inquiries, of course-"

Before Eloise could get anything else out, Lady Featherington called for the plates to be moved from the table, ending the conversation before Eloise could gain the momentum to take control of the room. She excused herself immediately after, no doubt preparing for Patrick's impending arrival, instructing her daughters to take care to entertain their guest.

"I would rather like to hear about your investigation, Eloise." managed Phillipa through her last mouthful of scone.

"You won't even be living in London after you're married, why does Whistledown matter?" Prudence asked her sister.

Phillipa answered in the way of a non-committal shrug, looking again to Eloise.

"Well I am an investigator, and I mustn't give too much away if I am to preserve the variables I have set out to interrogate." said Eloise, ignoring Penelope's stifled laugh at the girl's serious look barely covering up her excitement. "But I will give you a hint, if you insist."