Season's Feather

Chapter Three

Across the way in the Featherington house, Lady Featherington in all her glory sits with her copy of Lady Whistledown. She reads it over, sipping just a bit of her tea. "I should not be surprised if this Whistledown is revealed to be Violet Bridgerton herself. These pages certainly report on the Viscountess's family with much indulgence indeed."

Across from her sits Lady Cowper. "The pages report nothing but the truth, Lady Featherington. Daphne has bloomed exquisitely. The sooner she is taken from the market, the better for the other ladies. Even one prone to hysterics. In front of the queen." She says. She takes a sip of her cup of tea, her eyes staring deeply at Lady Featherington's frame.

Lady Featherington turns to the window of the drawing room to Prudence fanning herself and Philipa with a stack of cards presenting different gentlemen of the Ton. Penelope sits by herself, a book in her hands.

"Ladies! Hurry with your miniatures before our guests arrive. And Peneople put down that book at once. You shall confuse your thoughts." Lady Featherington reprimands.

Penelope looks up for a moment studying her sisters, but sighs to herself and looks back down at the book. Her mother had looked back over at her maid.

"So tell me about this cousin." Lady Cowper begins, "Joining you for the entire season?"

Lady Featherington nods. "She is a distant cousin of my husband. With no close female relative to sponsor her debut, Lord Featherington directed me to take her in. For charity." She explains.

Lady Cowper nods her head at once, rather overdramatically, "You are known to be quite charitable." She compliments.

Lady Featherington nods her head in splendor, "Precisely what this new rumoronger should have published! Instead of erroneously specifying I shall have only three young ladies under my care this year. She knows nothing." She spouts.

Penelope, having somewhat listened in, stands up, her face lighting up in hope as she addresses her mother. "Unless you shall like to have only three ladies under your care. I shall gladly sit this season out." She pleads.

Penelope's mother however soundly dismisses it turning to Lady Cowper, "Penelope is quite nervous. This will be her first season."

"I am not nervous mama-" Penelope argued.

Prudence cut her off, "What she is, is two stones heavier than she ought to be."

Penelope sends a sharp glare to her sister. But, Prudence and Philipa just laugh at the insult, with no care, whatsoever.

"The blemishes on her face are quite difficult to conceal. Perhaps some arsenic and lead might help?" Philipa asks, continuing her sister's insults.

Penelope ignores this, however, still trying to convince her mother to let her sit aside this season. "Mama, you should allow me to delay only a year, just as Lady Bridgerton has done for Eloise, I may remain dedicated to my studies, perhaps-"

"The answer is no, Penelope." Lady Featherington concludes.

However, Lady Cowper seems to argue with Penelope's side, "You may wish to listen to her, my lady. Shepherding four young ladies through these endless rounds of affairs at the same time. Can you imagine the competition?"

"Oh, how much competition can this cousin provoke? She came of age on a farm. She has a mere four-figure dowry. As for her appearance, well...let us hope Miss Thompson is more presentable than the legions of unkempt animals she spent her entire life tending to back home." Lady Featherington explains.