in quite deep// featherington oc

five

Dearest gentle reader, it is often said that those who marry in haste must repent at leisure, a sentiment that is clearly shared by Miss Daphne Bridgerton, who has apparently rejected not one, not two, but three proposals already this week. Some believe she is showing admirable forethought in her deliberations, but I would venture a different conjecture, that she, like this author, is still waiting on the only suitor of note.

Pen and I are waiting for the post to arrive. Since Marina is still locked in her room Penelope and I have been searching the mail every day for a letter from Spain. I know the chance of Sir George returning for Marina are small but I can still hope. Should Marina's father know I cannot imagine that he would not force Sir George to do the correct thing and marry Marina.

"Post has arrived!"

I smile at Penelope as we rush down the stairs.

"Some prince is coming to London," Prudence tells Philippa.

Philippa gasps. "Then I shall wear my most brilliant dress of all."

"Something must hold his interest, as it will certainly not be your conversation," Prudence remarks.

Penelope shuffles through the letters on the try that a servant holds. She frowns, not finding any letter. We head to tell Marina the news.

"Anything?" Marina questions. Penelope and I shake our heads. Marina throws herself down on the bed. "How long does it take for a letter to arrive from Spain?"

"Sir George is with the front line. It must be difficult to get letters in and out," I reason.

"You must be patient. If your love is as great as your previous letters state, surely he will write back to you soon. Or perhaps, even better, he's already making his way back to you here to come and take you home," Pen says.

Mama burst through the door followed by Mrs Varley. "Penelope Featherington! What did I tell you about cavorting with the expectant?"

"Marina has been in here for ages, Mama!" Pen says.

"Out. Out." Mama pulls Pen away from Marina. "Out!" She turns to me. "You as well Patience."

Pen and I watch from the door.

"You cannot hide me away forever," Marina states.

"No, I cannot, which is why you are to reenter society at once and find yourself a husband," Mama tells her.

"I do not want..." Marina starts.

Mama cuts her off, "What you want became immaterial long ago. You shall wed, and you shall do it as soon as possible. You are to be fitted for a new wardrobe. It's about time you dressed in the family colors anyway."

"Poor Miss Thompson," I remark. "For Mama to treat her as such."

"It is not far what mama is doing to her," Penelope states.

I shake my head. "It is not. No one should be punished for finding love."

I find Pen by the refreshment table. I smile at her.

"You look beautiful Pen," I tell her. "I do not believe I told you that before we left this evening."

Pen smiles. "Thank you for the dress."

It may not have been a blue or green dress but I was able to get a pink gown of mine altered for Pen. Mama said it was too plain for a ball. Pen had smiled at the comment. While Philippa wears a feathered frock and Prudence wears a heavily embellished orange frock, Pen locks elegant in the simple pink design.

"I would rather have gotten you into a blue or green but I am lucky Mama let you leave the house in such simple pink silk," I reason.

"I am grateful for the dress, sister," Pen tells me. "I do not feel so... so yellow."

"Mama insisting yellow is a happy color is not lost on me Pen," I assure her. "It would seem any color but yellow makes you happy."