Flawless My Dear ( English version )

Chapter 9

That night was quiet except for Portia Featherington. 

Colin Bridgerton had officially asked her If he could court her daughter, but she didn't know if she should tell Penelope. She knew better than anyone that she might think he was doing it out of pity, so after hours of pondering, she decided to let him court her without Portia saying a word about what had happened so that she would keep her mind and heart open, especially her heart.

Portia went through a similar situation when she was young and let the love of her life slip away unwittingly because of her foolish head.

It was a more than decent hour for Penelope to get out of bed but she didn't until they came looking for her. Namely Eloise Bridgerton, who was announced by Varley, to whom Penelope joined, put on something decent to greet her and told her to let her in.

"Penelope," she observed, looking at her appearance. "Something makes me think you didn't have a good night," Eloise confessed.

"The truth is that I had a hard time falling asleep. Everything inside me was spinning like a car wheel."

"I need to know something," she said desperately.

"Eloise," taking a deep breath.

"I need to know why you had to give me away in such a dastardly way," she confessed. "The possible answers are killing me, and I can't deal with it. I need answers."

"The Queen thought it was you, but if Lady Whistledown attacked Eloise Bridgerton in such a way, I was sure that idea would be put out of her mind. I didn't mean to hurt you on purpose, I only wanted to," almost in tears, "I wanted to keep you safe," she finally said.

What happened next left them both speechless, for by the time they realised it, they were in each other's arms, crying on each other's shoulders as if a storm had just landed in the room.

"I'm so sorry, I can never forgive myself," Eloise stopped her.

"Don't tell me anything, it doesn't matter anymore," she said, wiping her tears. "When I found out what was happening to you, I just wanted to run here to tell you that you weren't alone, that you had me, but I needed those answers first." Penelope nodded. "What are you going to do now?" asked Eloise.

"I think it's time for me to retire. If I want to focus on getting married, I can't carry everything at once. And Lady Whistledown is taking up all my time that I don't have now," confessed Penelope.

"Speaking of which..." she said, moving about the room, "my mother has asked me to give you an errand."

"What's it about?"

"In a couple of days we're going out to the country for a family and she's asked me If you can come along " Eloise announced.

"I'll have to tell my mother and see if we can."

"You misunderstand" Eloise shook her head "The invitation is for you alone Pen".

"Me in Aubrey Hall by myself? I don't think that's appropriate," she said thoughtfully.

"Oh, come on, it's just going to be us; I mean the women," Eloise encouraged her.

"Then I'll gladly accept your mother's invitation, Eloise," she squeezed her hands.

Felicity entered the room with a piece of paper in her hand. "Invitation to the ball at Lord James Penelope's residence. Apparently, Lord Fife's is not going to take place," her sister announced.