Falling for Penelope Featherington

2 ~ Morning with Mr Williams

Penelope took a deep breath as she looked out the window. The past few months had definitely been the most difficult. Ever since the night of the ball —or as she had been calling it, "the worst night ever"—She had stop talking to the most important people in her life.

Granted her silence with Eloise hadn't exactly been her choice. She had tried to reach out. But after their fight... Eloise had discovered her secret. The secret that had been plaguing her for the past two years... that she was, or rather, is Lady Whistledown. Anyway, after their fight, Eloise had in fact stopped talking to her. All letters went unanswered. Walks throughout the Ton had stopped. But the most painful, was that during those very few moments, when the two had bumped into each other, Eloise had completely ignored her. She was as the lady had claimed, "dead to her."

Then there was her relationship with Colin. The one she had desperately wanted to hold onto after her fight, was not in great shape either. Of course this one was mostly one sided, and her doing. For on the same night she and Eloise had their altercation, she had overheard something that not only haunted her nightmares, but broke her heart. She had been running throughout her family's party, looking for Eloise to apologize, when she had come across Colin Bridgerton talking to a group of gentlemen. She was just going to walk away when she heard her name mentioned.

"Are you courting the girl, Bridgerton?" One of the men had said.
"Are you mad?" Colin had said with a laugh. "I would never dream of courting Penelope Featherington. Not in your wildest fantasies..."

And that was it. That was the moment, when Colin Bridgerton—the sweetest and kindest man of the ton, the one who had just stood up for her and her family moments before, the one man who had given her even a second of attention, the love of her life, her friend— became like every one else and hurt her.

However, the last couple of days had been great. While away, before the season began, Pen had met this young man. Sir Jacob Williams. He was sweet and kind. A lot like Colin in that respect. But he was also very generous, particularly when it came to her. She smiled softly to herself as she played with the bracelet he had given her. Perhaps he was just what she needed to get over her troubles. And who knows, perhaps they would get married. Not that that was in the foreseeable future. But she couldn't help but hope.

"Penelope. Lord Williams is here." Portia Featherington, her mother, said cheerfully as she called her from the hall. Another positive thing coming from her time with Jacob, her mother was actually happy and proud of her.

"I'll be right down!" Penelope called back shutting her book and quickly putting her supplies away. She then double checked herself in the mirror before taking a deep breath and going down to the drawing room.

Pen smiled when she saw Jacob. He was a handsome young man. Blonded and blue eyed. Pretty tall. Of course, she was already short so his height didn't make a difference.  He was decently built, which was definitely a point in his favor. And most importantly he we wellspoken and kind.

"Sorry to have kept you waiting, Lord Williams. I was just finishing my book." Penelope explained before hearing a cough from her mama.

"A beautiful young lady and a smart one too!" Jacob said looking at her with a smile and in awe. She couldn't help but smile and blush in return to his compliments.

"Thank you." She said softly as she took her new usual seat, which was right next to him.

"What book may I ask was this?" Jacob asked curious as he looked at her adoringly.

"Just a little poetry booklet." She said brushing the question away out of embarrassment. But she was rather surprised when he began to quote a poem from her booklet, instead of brushing it off like so many men do.

"You know Lord Byron?" Penelope asked with an excited little smile. Ignoring her mother's eye roll.

"Of course. He is one of my favorites."

"And mine as well!"

"Well. Isn't this nice..." Portia said with a grin, although Pen could tell she was lying through her teeth. "My dear Lord Williams. Will you be attending the Bridgerton ball tonight? It's to celebrate the beginning of a new season."

"Uh. I'm sure Lord Williams will have much more important things to do, Mama." Penelope said awfully quickly. She had almost forgotten about tonight's ball. She was dreading it already. No matter what she did or say, she could not find a way out of going. Her first encounter with the Bridgertons was going to be awkward and nerve racking as is. Especially since she foolishly made the announcement of Jacob Williams liking her in the last Whistledown issue.

"None sense. It sounds like a wonderful idea." Jacob said with a grin as he looked at Penelope, once again in awe.

"It. It does?" Pen said looking at him rather surprised that he'd agree to go. "What about what Lady Whistledown wrote about you? About us?"

"Well. All the more reason for us to go." He said taking her hands in his, trying to hid it from her mother. "Proof that we are not intimidated by her. Or anyone in this Ton."

"But are you so certain? I mean what. What if..." Penelope then lost her train of thought, for Jacob was now caressing her cheek, comforting her the only way he knew how. Lord, did he know how to calm her nerves.

"Everything will be fine." He said confidently as he looked at her with the admiration she had grown so fondly for. "Besides. It could be fun."

Pen smiled as she looked into his eyes. She then blushed and quickly looked away. Thinking of someone she shouldn't have. "Alright."

Jacob chuckled before kissing her hand. "Well. Then I guess I must unfortunately, take my leave now." He said standing up.

"What? Already?" Penelope said nervously as she looked him and stood up too. Ever since her loss of friends she had gotten nervous to lose anyone else. Especially Williams.

"Yes..." He said continuing to hold her hand before realizing how improper it was. "After all, it does takes a while to get a suit you know."

"Oh. Right. Yes. yes of course..." Pen said with a smile and a blush.

"Would you do me the honor and walk me out?" Jacob asked with a smile as he offered her his arm.

"I would love to." She said taking his arm and walking with him to the door.

He opened the door before turning to face her. She swore there was a glow about him. "Thank you for your time, Pen."

Penelope smile and nodded as she tried her best not to get upset by the nickname. It was after all what both Bridgertons had called her.

"Are you alright?" Jacob asked clearly concerned as he took her hand affectionately. She couldn't help but genuinely smile at their hands before sighing when he let go. Stupid propriety.

"I just, will miss you is all." Pen said to him, looking at her hands nervously.
She couldn't help but smile when he held them again.

"Hey. I promise. It won't be for long." The gentleman said trying to comfort her again. He clearly hated when she got upset, or put herself down. Thankfully the moments were getting rarer. "After a couple of parties and balls, I am all yours!"

"Admittedly, I do look forward to that." Penelope said with a little laugh as she looked back up to her suitor. He was the man who could make her smile now and a he couldn't seem to get enough of it. Thankfully, she might never have to go without.

"As do I..." Jacob said standing rather close to her. She normally would have felt uncomfortable by the distance, but with him. Well, she couldn't help but get lost in his loving gaze. And she knew that he felt it too. He had after all, declared it so.

It wasn't until the sound of a loud door slam that the two finally remembered where they were.

"Hope you have a good day. Penelope." Jacob said with a bow before kissing her hand and then slowly letting go of it. She smiled at him as she subconsciously began to touch where his lips had been. "Good day, Jacob."

And with that. He was off.

It wasn't until he had turned the corner that Penelope had realized who had exactly slammed the door.

"Colin?"