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2024-12-30
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Indisposed

Summary:

Eloise Bridgerton waits on pins and needles to come face-to-face with her former best friend, Penelope Featherington. When she finally does, she gets the shock of her life.

OR

The one where Pen returns to London at the beginning of S3 married to Lord Fife and Eloise and Colin can’t handle it.

⚠️ If Pen and Fife aren’t your ship, then skip. K? Thanks! ⚠️

Notes:

This popped into my head during a three hour drive home from the beach.

Story assumes that Fife asked Colin about Pen because he wanted her for himself and used the off-season to woo her. (And woo her, he did…. Right into his bed. 😉)

Just a one-shot Drabble for now. Hope you enjoy!

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Work Text:

Eloise Bridgerton was nervous.  

 

She was about to come face-to-face with her former best friend for the first time since their falling out at the Featherington ball last year.

 

She’d returned to town a week ago, but had yet to see Penelope despite knowing for certain her family had arrived around the same time.  Eloise had expected to run into Penelope during one of her frequent trips to the modiste with her mother and Francesca, but she’d only managed to get a glimpse of Lady Featherington and Prudence as she was out and about.  And, unfortunately (or fortunately?) Penelope was unable to attend the post-presentation luncheon due to being indisposed.  She only knew that because Colin, who had returned from his tour that very day, asked after Penelope only to be told as such by her mother.

 

So, now, here Eloise stood in Lady Danbury’s ballroom awaiting the inevitable.  She’d purposely attached herself to Cressida’s side in the hope that it would deter Penelope from seeking her out and begging for forgiveness.  No one knew what happened between them last season and her claims of growing apart would fail to hold up if Penelope walked in looking like a kicked puppy.  

 

The time away from her friend had been difficult at first, but eventually became easier as Eloise was able to distract herself from the feelings of betrayal Penelope’s secret wrought on her.  Eloise was grateful for the extra time to process her emotions, as Penelope also declined to attend Anthony and Kate’s wedding due to visiting a sick aunt in the country.  At first Eloise had doubted the veracity of the statement, but her mother and sisters confirmed it when they (regrettably) showed up.  Penelope was in Cornwall, they’d said, and not due to return until the start of the season.

 

Well, it was the start of the season and time was up.  

 

So where the bloody hell was she? 

 

~z~

 

When the Featherington family was announced, Penelope was nowhere in sight.  The only people who came down the staircase were her mother, sisters, and their husbands.  While Phillipa and Mr. Finch ogled the decorations, Prudence seemed to hold onto Mr. Dankworth for dear life to minimize the chance that he would change his mind about having married her and run for the hills.  Lady Featherington’s expression challenged anyone to question their right to be there.  Despite Cousin Jack’s apparently less-than-scrupulous dealings, Penelope’s mother had somehow managed to save face and their reputations.  Eloise was surprised, though, to see a hint of smugness buried beneath the icy glare, as if she knew a secret no one else did.  What was that about?

 

Eloise found out fairly quickly what that was about when the entire ballroom went completely still as Lord and Lady Fife were announced.

 

Her questions about when exactly the rakish lord had gotten married were drowned out by the rush of blood in her ears at the sight of her former best friend on his arm.  

 

Penelope, dressed in a green gown that did wonders for her complexion with her hair loose around her shoulders, was quite visibly with child. 

 

But that wasn’t what caught Eloise’s attention.  

 

Rather it was the adoring way the two of them gazed at each other as they stood at the top of the stairs, like they were the only two people in the world and the rest of them didn’t matter.

 

~z~

 

Eloise’s surprise was surpassed only by Colin’s, who looked as if he was going to be ill all over the floor.  Clearly, he was not thinking straight, or he would not have stopped talking  to his mates mid-conversation and immediately rushed toward the staircase.

 

Fortunately, Anthony and her new sister, Kate, managed to head him off at the pass with smiles on their faces, making it look like they’d been intending to meet him the whole time.  If there was a time that her eldest brother’s ability to hide his emotions under a calm facade came in useful, it was now.  

 

Similarly, felt her mother and sister sidle up to her.  They quickly occupied the free space to her left and Francesca reached out to hold her hand.  The gesture looked sweet and innocent to anyone watching - maybe even a little touching - but it was far from that.  Francesca was squeezing her hand so hard that Eloise thought she’d break her fingers.  When Eloise whimpered in pain and acquiescence, Francesca only smiled politely and demurely.  She was far more like Anthony than anyone gave her credit for, that was for sure.

 

The entire ton watched as the Fife’s descended the stairs, some with more amusement than others, as Eloise was certain she saw Benedict smirk as he took a drink from the flask in his breast pocket that he didn’t know she knew he had.   Always willing to stir up mischief but also the most level-headed of all of them in a lot of ways, it was Benedict who attempted to greet them first.  However, Penelope’s mother was having none of it and expertly waylaid him by asking about his painting before he could reach them.  Benedict was unable to hide his surprise at her inquiry and immediately succumbed to her subtle but effective machination.  

 

When they were finally greeted, it was by Penelope’s sisters and their husbands, all of whom had bright smiles on their faces.  The gentlemen shook Lord Fife’s hand heartily as Prudence and Phillipa fawned over the sister they’d largely ignored for years.  When Lady Featherington abruptly cut off her conversation with Benedict and joined them, happily laying a loving arm over Penelope’s shoulders, Eloise nearly choked on her tongue. 

 

What on Earth had happened in the off-season? 

 

None of this made sense.

 

~z~

 

Francesca’s death grip on her hand prevented Eloise from taking any action, so all she could do was idly stand by and watch while her brother and his wife, with Colin reined in by Kate’s strong hold, approached the family.  They were, it seemed, the only Bridgerton’s besides perhaps her mother, who had a chance at figuring out what was going on.  Penelope’s mother was nothing if not grasping and was likely aware that any acquaintance with a lord of Anthony’s caliber has to reflect favorably upon them, so she didn’t attempt to waylay their greeting.  Instead, she facilitated it.  With glee.  As Penelope’s sisters eyed Colin as if he was a plague to be eradicated.

 

The exchange between Anthony, Kate and the new Lord and Lady Fife seemed amicable enough, but Eloise saw the way Penelope leaned into her new husband and allowed him to carry most of the conversation. When Colin stepped forward to speak, still in Kate’s grasp, Penelope immediately tensed and avoided eye contact.  Her sharp, “Good evening, Mr. Bridgerton,” followed by a request for her husband to take her for refreshments, left Colin completely dumbfounded.  At least until Fife leaned in, whispered something in his ear, and smirked as he pulled Penelope in the opposite direction.

 

Colin looked ready to commit murder and Anthony had to break character to physically manhandle him into the shadows on the outskirts of the ballroom.  

 

Eloise knew why she and Penelope were estranged, but had no idea what had transpired between Pen and Colin to make her treat him so coldly tonight.

 

She was going to find out though.

 

~z~

 

Eloise tried to wrench her hand free of Frannie’s, but it was no use.  So, Eloise looked over at her sister and asked, “Lemonade?”

 

“Yes.  Why not?” Francesca answered.  “Let us venture over there together. Shall we?”

 

Eloise cleared her throat.  “Yes.  Let’s.”  

 

Cressida, not wanting to be left out, of course, followed while their mother subtly took a roundabout route toward Colin, Anthony and Kate.

 

~z~

 

Upon reaching the refreshment table, Francesca deliberately tucked Eloise’s arm between her elbow and body.  She still gripped her hand with the strength of three men, though, as a precaution.  Like Eloise would deliberately do anything to embarrass the family? She is perfectly capable of keeping her cool without a chaperone.

 

Eloise and Francesca both picked up drinks with their free hands.  They were close enough that they could hear Lord Fife say, “Twenty more minutes and then you’re mine for the rest of the night,” to his wife.

 

While the words made Francesca sigh, they made Eloise want to vomit.  Without thinking, she blurted, “Really, Penelope? Him.”

 

The indulgent smile that had been gracing Penelope’s face immediately vanished.  She shifted to face her and said a clipped, frosty, “Miss Bridgerton,” but did not elaborate or defend her choice.  Rather, she looked past Eloise to Francesca and greeted her with a softer, more familiar, “Miss Bridgerton,” before following up with, “How was Bath?”

 

Eloise bristled as Penelope and Francesca carried on a conversation as if she wasn’t even there.  Why wasn’t Pen tossing her hopeful looks and apologizing for her deceit?  Why wasn’t she trying to win back her friendship and trust? 

 

“Pen,” Eloise interjected.  “May we speak for a moment?”  She needed to know who this person was who’d taken over the body of her friend.  

 

Former friend.

 

“We have nothing to discuss,” she replied before she looked up at her husband, who was still standing by her side.  “I am not feeling well.  Perhaps we could leave now?”

 

“Certainly, my love,” Lord Fife responded with a smile.  “I have just the cure for what ails you.”

 

Penelope blushed at his words and sat her drink on the table.  She swatted at her husband’s coat playfully before addressing her and her sister.  “It was lovely to see you both.  Do give your mother my regards.”

 

Then she took Reginald Fife’s arm and allowed him to lead her away without looking back.

 

Francesca held onto her until Penelope was well out of sight.  When she let go, Eloise rubbed her arm and massaged her aching fingers. Her sister chuckled at her and said, “That went well, don’t you think?”

 

“No. I do not think so, Francesca,” Eloise replied.  

 

Shrugging, she responded with.  “Well you did tell her you never wished to see or speak with her again.  What did you expect?”

 

“I…”  She didn’t know.  But she knew it wasn’t this.  

 

Francesca sighed, rested her hands on Eloise’s shoulders, and squeezed.  “When you ask for what you want, sister, you should not be surprised when you get it.”

 

Then Francesca walked away, leaving her alone with Cressida, who suggested pretending Penelope was dead to be an excellent way to get over the loss of her friendship.  

 

There were worse suggestions, she supposed.  Since it seemed like the Penelope Featherington she knew and loved like a sister was, for all intents and purposes, dead anyway, Eloise linked her arm with Cressida’s and agreed.  

What else could she do? 

Pen was most definitely indisposed. 

Notes:

That was fun, wasn’t it?

Let me know what you thought below!

(Boy was it hard to write Anthony married to Kate, but I thought she could keep Colin in line. Boy probably has a bruise or two!)