Chapter Text
“It was a pleasure to know you, Miss Bridgerton.”
With those words, it felt like his heart was torn into tiny little pieces and each piece escaping his chest scattering across the Bridgerton floor with each step he took. It took everything in him to hold his composure in the way a prince, like himself, has been taught to his entire life. As soon as it felt like his steps were ordered and he’d finally have someone he could potentially grow to love for the rest of his life, it was snatched away just as quickly. Daphne Bridgerton was perfection. Her beauty was unmatched in comparison to the other debutants throwing themselves, or rather falling, into his direction. She would've been just what Prussia needed and she already had the approval of his family, especially Queen Charlotte. It seemed to be written in the stars until she fell for none other than The Duke of Hastings. Honestly, he couldn’t be upset. He loved the thought of her and he loved that she was loved by his family and wanted by the gentlemen in the Ton. He loved what they had the potential to be. But he didn’t love her. It's better that she was honest instead of going into a forever loveless marriage because of his status as prince. Most debutants would have chosen this option.
This quite unfortunate situation is why the Prince is currently doing the most un-prince-like thing of sitting in a random alleyway just outside of the town. He had to duck, dodge, and slip away from his personal valet. While he understood the need to have them, it can be overwhelming at times like this when he just wants to be alone.
The Bourbon he was drinking on burned his throat with every sip, but he kept going. It made him feel a bit better. His mind didn’t wander to Daphne and The Duke of Hastings as much or the fact that he disappointed his family by not fighting harder. He knew he’d face questions when he got back to the palace, but that didn’t even worry his mind at the moment. It was nice just people watching in his black cloak that covered his face and disguised his identity.
Apparently, he wasn’t the only one with the idea of hiding their appearance. Just as he set his bottle of Bourbon down beside him on top of the pebbled stone of the walkway, a bustling woman bumped into him. The cloak covered up the majority of her hair but a few strands of her lovely fiery hair couldn’t help but escape their means of confinement. She held on to her bag tightly, but the items inside sprawled on the concrete after their collision.
When Penelope finally glanced up into the eyes of the wall she ran into. Blue met green. The morning sky met the beauty of nature.
“Oh my, Your highness, please accept my apology. I didn't mean to run into you.” Penelope stuttered out in a slightly panicked fashion. The last person she ever expected to run into so late was the Prince of Prussia. It was shocking really. In the back of her mind the thought passed briefly as to why he would be in such a part of town by himself in the first place. It’s almost more scandalous than her doing it. He’s the prince for Heaven’s sake!
“Miss, it’s surely okay and not your fault at all. I should have been paying more attention as well.” He spoke quickly while attempting to wipe away the Bourbon that coated his pant leg after the accident. Ever the gentleman as he placed the blame on their precarious situation entirely on himself. As he paid closer attention to the women in front of him, a glint of remembrance shined in his beautiful eyes that reminded Penelope of the green floors that covered the Valvidian rainforest that she read about in her favorite travel guide. “Wait, aren't you Miss Daphne’s Bridgerton’s sister's friend? You're always by Miss Eloise at the balls, right?” He tried to explain while linking together where exactly he’d seen her.
“No, your highness! You must be mistaken.”
“Surely, I am not. What are you doing in this part of town and by yourself?”
“I could be asking you the same question Prince.” Penelope sassed back. She hurried up and put her hand over her mouth, shocked that she spoke to the prince in that manner. Their eyes pored into one another’s, almost studying every aspect of each other’s face. He was shocked as well. No one ever had the courage to talk to him like that. Usually they just laughed and agreed with whatever he said. They were too scared to do so. She was different.
“Well, if that is it your highness, I’ll be on my way.” Penelope hurriedly gathered all her items off the cold ground. Trying to place each item back into her satchel even though some were coated with the wetness of the ground from yesterday’s rainfall. She readjusted her cloak and tried to get away as fast as her legs would carry her. The prince reached and grabbed her hand just before she could get too far. All propriety escaped him before he could reel it back in.
“Wait, don’t go!” But it was too late she had slipped out of his grip and kept going until she blended into the crowd of people before them. Only mistakenly leaving behind an original copy of Lady Whistledown that was dated two days ahead of time.
~~~
The atmosphere of the ton was rumbling. News had traveled to every family in the society that the prince is giving a ball. Mamas were running to Madam Delacroix in hopes for their daughter to look exceptional in the presence of the Prince. Debutants across London were primped, prepped, and prodded. Lady maids were forced to work tirelessly to ensure their debutants were the picture of perfection. Anything less would not be accepted by the mamas of The Ton. Of course the Featheringtons were included in the mass of people trying to woo the prince. Well not all of the Featheringtons of course.
“Prudence and Philippa stop all of your bickering. Not a hair should be out of place. And Penelope get your Lady’s maid to tie your corset a smidge tighter. If you can still breathe it’s not tight enough.” Portia paced between her daughters.
Penelope turned her face and her pale blue eyes rolled involuntarily. Her mother had been more flustered than usual with Lady Whistledown exposing her role in trying to help Marina trap Colin. Their family’s name had been ruined. Of course, Penelope didn’t feel as bad as she should. She did what she needed to save Colin.
“Mama calm down. It’s not as if Penelope would have a chance with the Prince even if her corset started cutting off her circulation.” Prudence guffawed out loud with her obnoxious laugh. Philippa giggled a bit to herself.
“And you wouldn’t be able to get the Prince to spare a passing glance at you even if you were the last woman on the Earth. In fact, a hurt dog on the street could probably get his attention before you even if you were bleeding beside said dog.” Penelope let out smoothly with as much venom as she could muster.
She was a bit on edge as well. The Prince of all people had caught her while she was going outside of town to meet her publisher. She realized that she dropped the copy of what would have been the latest Lady Whistledown. Thankfully it was the unedited version instead of the copy that she needed. Now that every mama in the Ton were forcing their daughters to attend the ball, she hoped that he wouldn’t see her or pay attention to her. This is the last thing she needs right now.
Portia, Prudence, and Philips stared at one another and Penelope in shock. They barely paid attention to her but everyone knew how witty Penelope is. They just never expected it to come out so ruthlessly in that fashion.
“How dare you speak to your sister like that. Apologize immediately.” Portia called out. It took everything in her to not give a response to her mama that would surely lead to her having her books taken away indefinitely. It took physically biting her tongue to keep it in.
“I apologize Prudence.” Penelope said through her gritted teeth.
“Ok good! Now ladies gather yourselves with poise and head to the carriage, so we can arrive on time.”
The carriage ride to the palace wasn’t a long one; the only horrible thing about it was listening to Portia, Prudence, and Philipa’s ridiculous plans on all the ways they’d charm the Prince when they saw him. They’d laugh at all of his jokes and tell him of their ability to play the piano and sing.Two things neither of them are good at. Penelope couldn’t do anything but roll her eyes at their constant ridiculousness. She knew none of them had a chance with the prince especially with the state of their family name. If they thought the Queen would let that happen, they were all sadly mistaken. However, she’d let them feed into their delusions if it makes them feel better.
Carriages lined around the corner. Everyone trying to make their way into the ball. Mothers, daughters, and men were in their best gowns and attire. The women of the Ton looked as if they had been dipped into a Diamond mine. No one was without their absolute finest of fineries.
Penelope's eyes widened as she crossed the threshold into the palace. The ceiling was covered in gold. It twinkled almost like the Cygnus constellation in the night sky. The walls were covered in artwork. Originals from painters like Simon Vouet that for any one else, would be impossible to get their hands on.
In his paintings, bodies just seem to float on clouds, on air, and even on each other. Humans and animals could coexist with one another. They showed that different parts of animalistic nature could coexist with human nature. People were free and beautiful. It seemed like an interesting choice of art to be in the palace. Penelope expected something a little more refined and regal to match the rest of the interior of the palace.
Penelope spotted Eloise in a corner beside the pastries and mountains of fruit with her everlasting signature frown. She quickly approached the sulking girl in hopes of escaping her own mother. Penelope walked as quickly as she could while avoiding the dancing partners in the middle of the dancefloor. Of course Colin had found him a pretty debutant to waltz with. Penelope rolled her eyes at that thought.
“Pen I’m so glad you’re here. I almost couldn’t bare watching this wreckage of a show. He’s barely gotten a chance to get over Daphne, and he’s already throwing a ball to find his next potential wife. All they do in this society is find ways to treat women like cattle.” Eloise ranted on while sipping on her cider.
“It’s kind of sad honestly seeing how all the women of the Ton flock to this one man.”
“Right, I mean truly without his status as Prince. I bet there’s not an interesting bone in his body.”
“Exactly El, most of them are just in love with the idea of him without even knowing all the struggles being with him probably comes with. It’s a tad bit ridiculous honesty.”
“Well I’m glad to know you feel that way Miss Featherington. It’s always a joy learning about the opinions of the ladies in the Ton, especially yours that holds so much weight.” Prince Friedrich smiled with an amused and knowing glint in his eye.
Both Eloise and Penelope felt like they jumped 20 feet in the air. Eloise even almost dropped her cider as her hands shook a bit from the surprise she felt.
“O-oh your Highness, I apologize we didn’t know you were behind us.” Penelope squeaked out. That confidence she had to sass him in their first encounter quickly dissipated. It felt like the entire ton was staring in their direction. No one ever expected the Prince to be talking to Penelope of all people. They just didn’t see her beauty and genius just yet, but truly whether they see it or not doesn’t matter.
“Miss Featherington it would be an honor if you danced with me?” If Penelope truly had an option in this she’d run away. The idea of dancing with the Prince himself was absolutely frightening. She didn’t want to mess up nor did she want to talk to him about what he’d seen the other night. It’d be so easy for him to run back to the Queen and tell her of his suspicions. Plus, Pen had never been in the limelight, and she didn’t plan to start now and definitely not in this capacity. However, how often does one get to say that they Waltzed with the Prince.
Before she lost all of her nerve, she smiled and responded with a simple “Your highness, I’d be honored to.”