The Wrong Mr Bridgerton

Chapter 6

Miss Penelope Featherington enters the Lady Danbury ball, escorted by her mother Lady Featherington, Cousin Jack and sister's Prudence and Phillipa Featherington.
Pen wears a beautiful pale blue dress, that complemented her hair, jewellery and her bright eyes.
Lady Portia Featherington, known for her unshakable plans when it came to her daughter's attire. But with her being courted, she thought maybe let Penelope choose her own dress for a change. It was Cousin Jack after all that would, indeed, provide for herself and her young girls.
Penelope somehow managed to convince her own mother to let her choose her own fabric from Madam Delacroix.
It was some of her best work to date. Penelope looked rather nervous as she entered the dance hall. Her fingers intertwined in front of her, rubbing the nerves away, as much as she could.

Madame Delacroix, new her secret. Pen smacked herself for not being discreet enough while collecting her hard earned pay from the printers. It was good though, having a confidant who knew her secret. Gen was a charming lady who truly believed a woman's business, was her own. Knowing Lady Whistledown was beneficial to Gen's business too. It was a keen colab, to be sure.

She looked down at her dress, it was rather beautiful. Madame Delacroix definitely knew her trade. The blue fabric shimmered in the light and the cut accentuate her full breast shape. Her eyes remained at the floor, getting up that ounce of courage to look at the faces around her. She took a deep breath. One of the faces caught her eye.

Benedict darted for her the second he noticed her. She smiled as he walked towards her "Miss Featherington, you must allow me to have your first dance"
"I would be delighted, Mr Bridgerton"
Benedict wrote his name against the first dance, then Lord Fife stood next to Benedict "May I be honoured with your second?"
Lord Fife gave Benedict a disapproving look as he scribbled on her sheet.
Pen was starting to feel overwhelmed. Anthony took note of her discomfort, putting his arm out "Miss Featherington, a turn around the room?"
Without answering she linked his arm and the started to walk slowly. She mumbled "Thank you"
"You are welcome. Besides I quite like being your knight in shining armour"

"Are you saying I need saving, my lord?"

"No, I would rather think you could save yourself" he looked down at her, waiting for her to see he was being honest. Her cheeks started to flush, which in return made him feel nervous all of a sudden. So he continued "but I didn't like the idea of you being trapped between any other gentlemen" he gave her arm a squeeze.

"Did you ask Benedict to dance with me?"

Anthony looked surprised "I did not"

"Oh!" She felt nervous again. All the attention was rather overwhelming. She looked down at her feet as she walked, only to notice black shiny shoes in front of her. Pen's eye slowly moved up. Colin was looking unmistakably shy

"Miss Featherington, may I have a private moment"

"I am due a dance with Benedict"

"Benedict?" His question, sounding wrong from his lips, why did he ask her to dance.

"Ah" Colin reached for her dance card filling out his name on two spaces. Leaving one for Anthony who would obviously want a dance with his Pen. HIS Pen, why would he think that, she was not property.

Benedict walked between his brother, arm gestured out to Pen. Although if he was going to have a shed of honesty, to his actions, it was only. He was unsure. What box does Miss Penelope now belong. They were close before he left, but now she seemed so distant. He couldn't wrack his brain around it.

"Miss Featherington" Pen accepted and made her way to the floor, eyes on her. For the first time in her life, she felt as though she had some power. Cressida looked uneasy and frightfully pale at the edge of the room.