Bridgerton - A Girl To Remember

Chapter Twelve

Penelope's point of view

I squeeze myself into the lemon-coloured dress mama bought last week, it is surely two sizes too small, but all my dresses are. I assume she hopes I will fit into them one day, yet I am afraid I must disappoint her, I am not made for this society.

When my older sisters are ready as well, we make our way to the carriage. The ball of Lady Danbury is only a few minutes away, but mama would never allow us to walk. We arrive and my sisters nearly push me out of the carriage, I stumble out and mama yells,

"Penelope! Watch out! Your dress..." she sighs hopeless, and I do not reply. Looking down at the ground, I enter the massive room, crowded with young girls, all dressed at their best, trying to impress every man in the room. The gentlemen all wear suits and observe from afar, hoping to avoid the noisy mothers coming their way.

Eloise is not in the room yet and so I take my place, in the corner of the room, slowly turning invisible. Occasionally walking a little, knowing mama glances at me about twice the hour. I take a small bite from the lemon curd cookie matching my dress when the doors open and not just my head turns to the side;

The Bridgertons arrive. Eloise and Olivia are up front, behind them are Benedict and Colin, followed by Anthony and Lady Bridgerton. Both Eloise and Olivia make the crowd whisper, with their snow-white dresses and diamonds around their neck, it is hard not to look. Still, my eyes are focused on the one person making my cheeks go red. Colin is escorting his sister to the dance floor and swiftly after that, the music starts playing.

To make the men long for a dance with the two Bridgerton's, Olivia and Eloise dance with Colin and Benedict for two whole songs. I notice Eloise sighing and I smile down at the ground, I am far from surprised she does not like this. After she managed to shake off the young men who were wishing to talk to her, she gets to me and starts to ramble from the get-go,

"These shoes are horrible! I mean, how are we women supposed to gracefully dance when these painful things are supporting our feet?! Honestly, this ball is ridiculous! My dress is long and my head hurts from all the pins my maid pushed into my hair..."

"greetings Eloise.."

"hello Pen, have you been standing here long?"

"half an hour"

"Shall we dance together?"

"mama will get me killed, Eloise, and so will your mother.."

"that would get us free from all the upcoming activities from the ton.." the mischief in her eyes always makes me laugh,

"your cousin is stealing the spotlight" I look at Olivia, floating through the ballroom, moving gracefully and smiling politely. It is obvious to an observer like me, miss Bridgerton is not interested in any man this instance, her laughter appears a little fake and although she picked up the etiquette manners nicely, her eyes are searching around the room to find something more to her liking.

I dislike admitting it, but I do not think I have ever been more jealous of someone than her. Her shape is the definition of perfection, her eyes are ocean-like enough to drown in and her hair is nearly gold in the light of the chandler. According to Eloise, she is witty and has humour, not to mention her kindness towards others. However, I cannot help but wonder what secrets that pretty smile of her is covering...

Eloise waves at Olivia after she finished her fifth dance and she comes over to us, I straighten my back, afraid she will mock me,

"Olivia, you already met Penelope right?"

"yes, her mother introduced me to her, but we never got to talk.." the numb expression on my face disappears when she engages to speak to me,

"Eloise told me a great deal about you.." I nervously open the conversation,

"you have been gossiping about me cousin? Well, I know a few things about you too honestly, though it was Colin giving me the information.." she looks me in the eyes and the moment his name comes out of her mouth, my breath stocks,

"I see you two have something to talk about so, I will get us something to eat" Eloise awkwardly excuses herself and I gather the courage to ask Olivia a question,

"Colin, did he.. tell you good things about me?" she starts to giggle, and my eyes grow bigger, "did he not?"

"Penelope... I know, okay? I will not tell anyone but... I know" for a second I try to defend myself but, she is not making fun of me, she is sincere,

"how did you know?"

"that one look, the first time I met you... it was obvious"

"does everyone know?"

"oh no, please do not worry. 99 percent of the people here care about themselves and no one else..." I laugh,

"you will not tell him right?"

"I will not. I promise" she locks my eyes and I believe her,

"do you... do you think he may ever like me back?" I instantly regret asking and wish to take my words back, I curse under my breath, "of course he does not, he has 200 other girls to choose from Pen..."

"unfortunately, I cannot investigate his mind but, if I was a young man like him, and I would be surrounded by all these pretty girls... I would still pick you, Penelope. Now I must leave, turns out, portraying Cupido requires more work than I expected.." she leaves my side and for the rest of the evening a true smile is plastered on my face. Colin looks at me from across the room twice and the hope I had given up a long time ago is re-entering my mind. This season may not be too bad after all...

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NOTE: Sorry if this is not interesting again, I just find Colin and Penelope very cute together and hopefully I'll manage to make them a couple :). Oh and I can't believe this story already has 1K reads! thank you so muchh! Okay bye <3