The Outburst of Love: A Bunch of Polin One-Shots

Beloved by the Bridgerton's: A Tale of Love and Acceptance

Penelope sat by the window seat of her family's drawing room, gazing wistfully at the white house across the street, home to her favorite family of the ton, the Bridgertons.

She had been best friends with Eloise, the second daughter, for as long as she could remember. But her heart belonged to Colin Bridgerton, the third son, whom she secretly adored. Despite her hopes, she never dared to believe he felt the same until he shocked her and his entire family with a heartfelt confession of love, leading to their engagement.

She shook the thought out of her head that he might love her and looked away from the window into the room. Her mother, Lady Portia Featherington, and her sisters, Prudence and Phillipa, were sitting on the sofa with Phillipa's husband, Albion Finch, across from them. Prudence turned to Portia as they talked about Penelope's recent engagement in disparaging tones.

"Mama, I daresay Mr. Bridgerton merely pities Penelope," Prudence remarked, her voice tinged with jealousy.

"Indeed, Prudence. Penelope has never gained the attention of suitors before. No one would see her as a suitable match," Portia agreed, her tone dismissive.

Phillipa chimed in, "Mr. Bridgerton will likely tire of her soon after the wedding. He couldn't possibly be in love with her."

Penelope, sitting by the window sill of the room, was trying to distract herself from all the hateful words that her mother and sisters were saying about her, as if she wasn't in the same room as them while they said wretched things about her. She looked down at the book that she had sitting in her lap and then glanced out the window again.

She was trying not to let the words get to her because, despite him taking so long to realize that he loved her, Colin did; he loved her. The final straw that made her crack was when she heard her mother say:

"Penelope couldn't get the focus of any suitor, let alone Bridgerton. I would not be surprised if he skips out on the wedding and leaves Penelope at the altar."

Immediately, she stood up from where she was seated.

"Mama, I am going to go over to the Bridgerton house to meet Eloise for tea."

The group looked at her as if they did not notice she was in the room.

"Penelope dear, I did not see you there. But very well then."

The group barely acknowledged her departure and went back to being lost in their conversation.

Penelope walked out of the room, trying to keep herself together, as she raced out of the Featherington home and off to Bridgerton house.

As she left the house, she could feel fat, wet tears starting to fall on her cheeks. She softly sobbed before knocking on the front door and being allowed into the house.

She was met in the foyer by Mrs. Wilson, the Bridgerton's housekeeper, who looked at her with concern after seeing the tears falling rapidly down Penelope's face.

" Miss Penelope, whatever is wrong?" She asked, but that just made Pen's tears fall even faster with heightened distress.

"Let's go take you to the drawing room; why don't we?"

Mrs. Wilson took her to the drawing room, where Bridgerton's were gathered for afternoon tea. Once they hit the doorway of the room, Mrs. Wilson gave her a small smile and left her.

As Penelope looked around the room through the tears in her eyes, she could see Bridgerton's bantering and chatting with each other. Eloise, Colin, and Benedict all sat on a sofa together laughing at whatever joke was just said. Lady Bridgerton sat on a chair with Francesca beside her in the next chair. Anthony Bridgerton and Viscountess Kate Bridgerton sat on a small love seat, while Dutchess Daphne Bassett née Bridgerton sat on a small sofa with her husband, the Duke of Hastings Simon Bassett, and their son Auggie. Meanwhile, the two youngest, Hyacinth and Gregory, sat at a table playing chess.