⚘thirty four⚘

                                    

                                          
I stand outside the drawing room with Aunt Featherington. She has her ear pressed to the barely open door. Prudence and Philippa are walking towards us.
"Move more slowly!" Philippa protests. "I must not rush as I am with child." 
"Pfft. You do not know that for certain," Prudence states.
"Uh, I threw up all night," Philippa states.
"Is pregnancy sickness not associated with the morning?" Prudence questions. She stops beside Aunt Featherington. "What is it? My housekeeper said that Varley said it was urgent. I was sleeping." 
"Shh. Look." Aunt Featherington points to the door. "Your sister has a caller."
Lord Debling sits beside Pen on the sofa. He is holding a potted plant. "I have brought you a plant so that you might continue to enjoy nature from your windowsill."
Penelope smiles as she takes the plant. "Thank you. What is it?"
My cousins move out of the way as Lord Debling spots us.
"Why her?" Prudence questions. 
"She must have blackmailed him," Philippa offers. 
"Or trapped him in a closet," Prudence offers.
"Or she truly did charm him," I offer.
Philippa ignores me. "Think she used a potion like the one Varley gave us?" 
"We know what she did. She used Colin Bridgerton's help," Aunt Featherington states. "Many people would do much worse to be connected to the Bridgertons. I shall have to pick up Mr. Bridgerton's mantle of assistance."
Aunt Featherington bursts into the drawing room. "Lord Debling. My other daughters and niece just happened to drop by, and they wish to say good day." 
"Good day," Lord Debling greets.
Pen smiles widely. "Good day." 
"We are so pleased to have you. So often, my Penelope is sat at that window, reading," Aunt Featherington says. "And now, here she is, in the room. And we have you to thank for that." 
"Is that so?" Lord Debling questions. "Is there a reason you like that window so much? Is the settee particularly comfortable?"
Pen chuckles. "Not particularly. I suppose I mostly just enjoy the view. But I have grown rather tired of it. And I am very glad to be here with you."
I sit in the drawing room with Pen after Lord Debling leaves.
"It seems your lessons from Colin have paid off," I state.
Pen smiles slightly. "It would appear so."
"Lord Debling is quite the catch," I state.
Pen nods her head. "He is."
"You do not seem happy about this," I state.
"I am," Pen insists.
"If Lord Debling is not who you desire then all you need to do is say so, Pen," I assure her.
"I like Lord Debling," Pen tells me. "He is nice and charming and passionate."
I smile slightly. "Okay."
Dearest Gentle Reader. A question. What is the primary force that guides us along our paths? Is it our minds or our hearts? When heart and head are in conflict, every choice may feel like agony. One person in whom thought and feeling are united is Her Majesty Queen Charlotte. After their meeting at the Hawkins ball, it seems the queen's sparkler, Miss Francesca Bridgerton, may indeed be poised to become the new Marquess Samadani. Of course, whatever maketh our collective hearts swell may yet make them break. The season is still early and oft has a mind of its own.