Romancing Mister Bridgerton

Penelope recalls that Tuesday is the day of the family meeting, and every member of her family is gathered in the parlor. Her mother thinks that Colin is there to call on Felicity. Penelope tries not to feel hurt by her mother’s disregard for her. Portia tries to bring Felicity and Colin together, while Penelope’s sisters understand that Colin wants to ask for Penelope’s hand. Colin finally snaps at Mrs. Featherington, and Penelope enjoys his small burst of temper. Colin asks for permission to marry Penelope and, when Portia expresses her disbelief, advises her to treat his future wife with more respect. Colin praises Penelope before her mother; Penelope, gratefully, recalls Lady Danbury’s words about being more than one seems. Finally, Mrs. Featherington hugs her daughter. Penelope feels “that she [i]s about to embark upon the adventure of her life” (230).

Eloise is sorry that Lady Whistledown has retired because she wants to know what Lady Whistledown would say about Colin and Penelope’s marriage. Penelope now worries about being detected. Penelope inquires about the ink stains on Eloise’s fingers, but Eloise is evasive. They discuss her engagement, and Penelope admits that she is glad to be done being a wallflower. Eloise remarks that Penelope is “getting [her] happy ending” (235). Eloise feels guilty because she’s always taken solace in Penelope being fellow a spinster. Colin joins them, requesting food, and jokes about eloping. He is still surprised at how his feelings for Penelope have developed with such suddenness and strength. He wonders if these feelings are love.

Colin walks to Hastings House to visit his sister, Daphne, the Duchess of Hastings. Daphne married Simon, the Duke of Hastings; they have four children. Daphne and Colin discuss Colin’s engagement ball that evening, and then Colin asks Daphne how to know if one is in love. Daphne doesn’t know since falling in love is different for everyone. With Simon, “[she] just…knew” (253). She tells Colin not to imagine that love is static or transformative: “Love grows and changes every day. And it isn’t like some thunderbolt from the sky, instantly transforming you into a different man” (254). Colin worries that he doesn’t love Penelope as she deserves, but Daphne assures him that he is marrying the right person.

Penelope notices the speculation over why Colin would choose someone like Penelope for his wife. However, she is happy to be marrying Colin. At the ball, she and Eloise chat about Cressida and Lady Whistledown. Colin joins them, and then newsboys enter the room, distributing Lady Whistledown’s final column.

Colin is not known for his temper, but he feels anger now. He is furious with Penelope when he reads the column—the same one he saw in the envelope she hid in the church—which refutes Cressida Twombley’s claim to be Lady Whistledown. Eloise and Lady Danbury are delighted. Colin is hurt because Penelope didn’t tell him that she planned to publish after all: “They were a team now, and she had acted without him” (265). He is afraid that she is putting her future at risk.

Anthony makes a toast, and Colin and Penelope dance. Penelope wants to cry but knows that she has to appear happy. She wants to explain that she simply cannot let Cressida take credit for her life’s work; however, she did ask her publisher to defer the printing for a few days, but he released the column early without her consent. 

After their dance, Colin takes Penelope to his bedroom in Bridgerton House. Colin is still upset over how people might treat Penelope if her secret gets out. Penelope responds, “This is my life’s work. This is all I have to show for my life, and if I can’t take the credit for it, I’ll be damned if someone else will” (275). Colin is struck with jealousy that Penelope has a life’s work and he doesn’t. He realizes that he loves her.

Penelope agrees to stay with Colin, knowing that he’s not going to lash out or hurt her: “He was, for all his rakish and mischievous ways, for all his jokes and teasing and sly humor, a good and noble man” (278). She knows that she will be a good and noble husband. They have sex, and it is a moving experience for both. Colin is worried that Penelope might not like parts of the sexual experience, but she assures him that she does because she is with him. He marvels that he now sees something different when he looks at her: “This was love. And he was going to hold on with both hands” (290).

Colin persuades his mother and Penelope’s mother to hold the wedding earlier than planned. Gossip rages around London over Lady Whistledown’s last column. Penelope senses that Colin is still upset with her and fears that he is ashamed of her. They love each other, but she dreamed that he would be delighted and proud of her once he learned her secret identity. She assures him that Lady Whistledown is in retirement, and Colin is relieved. He insists that he isn’t ashamed but can’t bring himself to admit he’s jealous. After their wedding, Penelope suggests a honeymoon trip, but Colin says that they need to stay in town to contain the damage in case her secret is discovered.