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It appears that all is not well in Mayfair. This author regrets to inform her readers that the pleasures of the season must be enjoyed with considerably more caution than before.
Members of our esteemed Bon Ton must now employ guards when escorting their wives and daughters to soirées and balls. A group of scoundrels has been plaguing our fair city, stealing away young ladies and then demanding payment from their families.
Miss Margaret Goring was stolen away at a ball last Saturday. Her absence went unnoticed by her family for some time. A letter was sent to her father the next morning requesting a high sum for her safe return.
Once Mr. Goring paid the kidnappers, his daughter was returned no worse for wear with only the family sapphires missing.
Miss Goring is not the only such lady to have been taken straight from a ball or a carriage, just the most recent. One would think that the Bow Street Runners would make this case be a priority.
“Ridiculous!” Eloise shouted as she read the latest Whistledown. “Why must we be the ones who suffer the consequences of the actions of men?”
Penelope hummed while taking a bite of a biscuit. Violet Bridgerton rubbed a hand across her temple.
“Eloise, for the last time. Do not argue about this. If you want to visit the bookshop, you are going to be accompanied by one of your brothers.”
“But why must I be punished?”
“It is not a punishment! It is a precaution!” Violet said, clearly exasperated with her daughter.
“After what happened to Miss Goring and Lady Maxwell," Violet shuddered. “I can’t imagine something like that happening to one of my girls.”
Eloise rolled her eyes. “Nothing that horrid happened to them. I saw Margaret Goring at Rotten Row. She said the men just left her locked in a room alone, but that they were awfully rude.”
Anthony strode into the room, paper in hand. “She may not have been bodily harmed, but her reputation is still ruined.”
“For something she had no control over?” Eloise asked. “That hardly seems fair.”
“That is the way of things,” Anthony said brusquely. “Which is why you must not leave the home without being accompanied by myself or Benedict.”
“Or Colin?” Eloise added.
Anthony’s jaw worked. He was still upset over Colin’s sudden engagement to Marina Thompson.
Penelope’s heart broke a little more as the thought crossed her mind again. She remembered the garden party where they announced the engagement. Colin standing tall, smiling brightly, Marina in her bright gown looking radiant and blending in with Penelope’s family in a way that she never did.
Penelope fisted her hands in her orange dress. She wished she could simply stop loving Colin Bridgerton. Wished she could forget it, but she couldn’t. She also couldn’t convince Marina to tell Colin the truth about why she was so desperate to marry him.
Hopefully there would still be time to talk to her cousin about her scheme. Maybe she could delay the wedding so it would be too obvious that Marina was pregnant before they made it down the aisle.
“Did I hear my name?” the man she was thinking of asked as he strode into the room casually. Anthony avoided looking at him and read from his paper.
“Penelope and I are unable to go anywhere now without a male escort,” Eloise scoffed.
“With good reason,” Colin added. “These kidnappers are becoming bold. Did you hear they took Miss Regina Lindsay in broad daylight from Trafalgar Square? I heard about it while I was escorting Miss Thompson to Gunter’s today.”
Penelope fought back the overwhelming urge to be sick at the thought of Colin courting Marina. She thought of him smiling fondly at her and of Marina laughing at Colin’s jests and wanted them both to choke.
Violet gasped. “Goodness! I have half a mind to keep my girls in the house until these men are apprehended.”
“Ugh, Colin! Why would you tell her that?” Eloise moaned.
Colin smirked. “Don’t worry, Eloise. They only take young ladies from very wealthy families.” He paused before furrowing his brows. “Oh wait.”
Eloise stood to chase him and Colin laughed, evading her.
Penelope smiled and rolled her eyes at her friend’s antics. “I suppose I should return home now,” she said to Eloise.
Violet straightened in her seat. “You must have one of the footmen escort you home. I will hear no argument on the matter.”
“I will escort Penelope home,” Colin said, to her dismay. He pushed Eloise away from him.
“There is no need to trouble yourself, Colin,” Penelope said quickly. “A footman will do fine.”
Colin frowned at her. “I feel as though we haven’t spoken much lately, Pen.” He held out his arm. “Allow me.”
Penelope sighed and realized that she didn’t have much recourse unless she wanted to cause a scene. She gave Colin a tight smile and nodded.
Penelope said her goodbyes to the family and left. Once they were outside the Bridgerton house, Penelope spoke.
“You don’t actually have to accompany me, Colin.”
Colin blanched, clearly offended. “I meant what I said, Penelope. I wanted to speak to you. Also, it isn’t safe until the authorities capture those men.”
Penelope hummed, but said nothing.
“I was hoping that it would have been you who joined me and Miss Thompson to Gunther’s today. Instead, we were forced to endure Philippa’s company.”
Penelope gave him what she hoped was a sympathetic smile. “I’m sorry, but I had already promised Eloise that we would spend the day together.”
In truth, once she heard her mama mention that Penelope might be the one to chaperone Marina and Colin, she did everything she could to get out of it.
Unrequited love was one thing, but she refused to watch him court her cousin any longer. It was torture.
Colin looked at her with that sad expression on his face. “Is something wrong, Pen? I feel like you’re avoiding me.”
“No, of course not,” Penelope said far too quickly. “You’re engaged. Naturally, your attentions lay with your fiancee.”
She smiled as if every word wasn’t a dagger in her own heart.
“Just because I’m engaged to Miss Thompson doesn’t mean that we can no longer be friends, Pen.”
Penelope nodded as though that were true. Colin may not have realized it now, but that was exactly what that meant.
“I was wondering,” Colin began. “Do you think Miss Thompson would like to travel for our honeymoon?”
Penelope didn’t want to cry, but if she was forced to discuss the man she loved and her cousin’s impending honeymoon, she probably would. She was also aware that Marina’s hidden condition would likely impede any traveling they might want to do.
“I do not know, Colin,” she replied. “Have you asked her?”
Colin frowned. “I have tried, but she evades the question. I wasn’t sure if it was out of a dislike of travel or perhaps some sort of demure debutante tactic you are all taught.”
Penelope gave a genuine laugh. “You have discovered our secret! On page 32 of the debutante handbook, there are explicit instructions on avoiding questions about traveling with future husbands.”
“I knew it!” Colin said, raising a fist in the air. “What chapter does it discuss how to bat your eyes and drop your fan so that a man might pick it up and introduce himself to you?”
“That warrants several chapters. There are many ways to drop your fan. I prefer the method which causes the gentleman to accidentally step on it so that he might feel compelled to purchase me a new one that looks better than whatever horrid disaster my mother gave me.”
Colin threw his head back and laughed. Penelope smiled as she watched him. Locking the sights and sounds deep in her heart to remember years later, when she was older and he was married to Marina and she no longer had him.
Sooner than she would have liked, they were at her doorstep.
“Thank you for the escort, Colin,” Penelope said as she broke away.
Colin smiled softly and nodded. “Anything for you, Pen.”
Penelope paused on the doorstep and watched him walk across the street for a moment.
Then she went inside, escaped her mother’s questions, her sister’s taunts and Marina’s questioning looks, and rushed to her room.
It was late when Penelope finally snuck out of her room. She had managed to avoid her family most of the evening. Her mother’s snide comments at dinner had caused her to leave the table without eating.
Oh good, Portia said. If you restrict yourself, perhaps you can find a man willing to overlook your other flaws.
She cried herself into an uneasy sleep before waking in the middle of the night. Penelope headed to the kitchens to find a small morsel to hold her over until breakfast.
Penelope was about to rummage through the larder when she heard voices just outside the door in the garden.
Penelope often gathered her best gossip from listening to the servants when they didn’t know that she was there. She crept closer to the door, but the voices she heard were unfamiliar to her.
“We could try and sneak in one of the rooms,” one man said.
“Don’t ya think that’s a bit dangerous?” another said.
“There’s hardly any staff here. This lot’s as poor as paupers.”
“Then why are we wasting our time?”
“Because the girl is promised to the family across the way and they’re richer than half the city.”
Penelope listened to this conversation, confused. What were these men talking about? They seemed to be discussing her family and wanting to sneak into her house.
Were they burglars wanting to steal something from her house? Whatever issues Penelope might have with her family, she had an aversion to them acting as though they had a right to their things.
Penelope quickly looked around the kitchen for some sort of weapon. She noticed one of the cooks’ frying pans and snatched it up quickly, holding it like the sacred weapon it was.
Penelope looked down at the pan and felt rather foolish. She was simply a girl in her nightgown and these were two grown men.
But if something were to happen and she woke the entire household, her mother would find some way to make this her fault as well.
Besides, there were only two of them. And she had a pan.
Penelope pushed open the back door slowly; she could barely see the two men in the dim moonlight. They stood a few yards away, still arguing. Penelope thought she might be able to simply sneak up on them and maybe hit one on the head with her pan and the other might flee.
But the moment she stepped out onto the stone step, they caught sight of her and turned quickly. The two men were rather unremarkable looking. If she saw either of them on the street, neither would warrant a second glance. They looked at each other and then back to her.
“Well, that’s lucky, innit?” one said.
They took a step towards her.
“Not another step!” Penelope said, voice shaking. “Or I’ll—I’ll bash you!”
The taller of the two with blond hair and a flat cap had the audacity to laugh at her.
“We’re not going to hurt you, miss. Why don’t you just come with us willingly and make this easy, alright?”
Penelope’s brows furrowed. “No.” She raised the pan high above her head and took a step forward in a moment of bravery that had no known origin. Unfortunately, she stepped on the hem of her nightgown and fell, in a rather undignified manner, onto the stone path below.
The frying pan made a loud clamor as it hit the ground and one of the men quickly took it out of her reach.
Penelope had tried to catch herself as she fell, but failed and instead landed flat on her face. She was a bit dizzy and felt herself being pulled up by her arms. Penelope tried to push herself away from him, but found that her head was throbbing.
“Oh fuck me,” the blonde man muttered. “She’s gonna have a shiner on her.”
“Well,” the other man replied. “It’s not our fault.”
“No one’s going to buy that. The only reason Bow Street is draggin’ their feet is because none of these ladies are hurt when we give them back.”
The men continued to argue, but Penelope slipped from consciousness and heard none of it.
When Colin joined his family for breakfast, there was already a commotion.
“Children, upstairs!” Anthony commanded. Gregory and Hyacinth followed their governess upstairs while cutting glances back to their brother.
“Eloise, you as well. Colin, my study.”
Eloise grumbled about being lumped in with the children, but obeyed their brother. Colin followed Anthony into the study where Benedict and his mother were waiting. His family looked worried and Colin immediately began to panic.
“What’s going on?” Colin asked. His mind immediately went to his sisters residing outside of London. “Daphne? Francesca?”
“The family is fine,” his mother quickly assured him.
“We received a missive this morning, Colin,” Anthony said in a tone that was uncharacteristically sympathetic. “The men who have been kidnapping young women in Mayfair seem to have stolen Miss Thompson.”
Colin’s mind immediately stalled. “What?”
Anthony handed him the note.
To the Bridgerton family. We have your son's fiancee. She is unharmed and will remain so provided you pay the sum of £500 within 48 hours. Further instructions to follow. Do not involve Bow Street.
Colin’s eyes narrowed on the note. His jaw clenched. How dare they? Taking a frightened young lady from the street and demanding payment. The Featheringtons must be beside themselves with worry.
Colin cursed quietly. “Well, obviously we should pay it. Should we not? Luckily, these men never harmed Miss Goring or Miss Lindsay.”
Colin paced the room. “Further instructions to follow. So we’re just meant to wait? Ridiculous. Miss Thompson must be terrified.”
Violet glanced out the window of the study. “It is strange that there has been no news from the Featheringtons. If Miss Thompson had gone missing, why have we not heard anything? Surely, they would have been looking for her.”
“Why did they send the note here?” Benedict asked. He and Anthony exchanged a look that Colin couldn’t decipher.
“Because the Featheringtons are broke,” Anthony said brusquely.
Colin frowned. He wondered if the Featheringtons would pay for Miss Thompson’s release if they did have the money.
“Perhaps they’ve also received a note,” Colin said. “We should visit.”
Anthony and Violet agreed and the three of them crossed the square while Benedict stayed at Bridgerton house in case more ransom notes came.
The housekeeper seemed rather surprised to see them all on the front steps so early.
“Lady Featherington is in the drawing room,” she said. “Lord Featherington is…indisposed.”
Colin rolled his eyes at her veiled euphemism and marched past the woman, intent on finding out exactly why they had not alerted the authorities to the disappearance of Miss Thompson when he stepped in the drawing room to see—Miss Thompson.
Colin had to look twice to confirm that it was actually her. But it was. She sat prettily upon the settee in a pink dress surrounded by Philippa and Prudence Featherington. Lady Featherington sat across from them, eying the trio rather curiously.
She stood and smiled uneasily.
“Lord Bridgerton, Lady Bridgerton, Mr. Bridgerton. To what do we owe the pleasure?”
Colin glanced at Anthony and his mother. They were all rather confused. Colin opened his mouth to speak, but wasn’t quite sure what he should say. Instead, Anthony spoke.
“Lady Featherington, has Miss Thompson been at home all evening?”
Miss Thompson bristled at the comment. Lady Featherington narrowed her eyes.
“Lord Bridgerton, what are you implying?”
“I didn’t mean—” Anthony began. “We received this missive—”
He held the letter for Lady Featherington who read it, glancing from Miss Thompson back to the Bridgertons. She shook her head.
“Miss Thompson has not left the house since she and Mr. Bridgerton’s outing yesterday afternoon. Perhaps these men have taken the wrong woman.”
Colin frowned. He was relieved that his fiancée was not the one taken, but now that meant that some girl out there was gone from her family and they didn’t even know where she was.
There was a pounding at the front door and the housekeeper went to answer. Quick bootsteps followed and Benedict burst into the room.
His eyes darted around the room. He did not seem surprised to see Miss Thompson sitting in the room and appeared to be looking for someone else entirely.
He was panting, out of breath. “We received another note.”
Anthony stepped forward and took the note, opening the folded paper to see a lock of golden red hair lying on its surface.
The room went very quiet.
Prudence stood and peered over Anthony’s shoulder. “That’s Penelope’s color,” she said conversationally. “She has that very particular—”
“Where is Penelope?” Violet asked. Her voice was controlled, but there was a slight edge to it.
Portia opened her mouth. Closed it. She glanced at her two daughters and niece in the room.
“She—” Portia began. “She was in her room last night, most of the night.”
“Where is she now?” Anthony asked, still keeping his eyes on the lock of red hair.
Nobody answered because nobody knew.
Colin had not moved. He was still looking at that lock of hair in Anthony’s palm. Something was happening in his chest that he did not have a name for yet.
“Go check her room,” he said quietly.
Philippa ran upstairs to check Penelope’s room and returned to say that she was not in her room.
“Does a maid not wake her for breakfast?” Violet asked.
Portia was silent for a moment. “She was…pouting last night. I merely thought it was a continuation.”
“When was the last time you saw Penelope?” Anthony asked.
“She retired early. At dinner.”
“If she was taken, how would they have gotten her?” Benedict asked.
“The cook said the back door was open this morning,” the housekeeper said.
Everyone was arguing around him, but Colin was standing very still. He could hear their voices, register what they were saying, but it was almost like he wasn’t in his own body.
The only thing he could think about was Penelope.
Colin just saw Penelope yesterday. He walked her across the square to her doorstep so she would be safe. She laughed and smiled at him and he felt like he could conquer the world, and now because some idiot thought she was his fiancée, she was in danger. It was his fault. He wasn’t able to protect her.
“Well, obviously we will pay them still. Penelope is important to our family,” Anthony said as Colin came back to reality.
“What?” Colin asked.
“What do you mean ‘what’?” Anthony snapped.
“Why would we pay them?”
“It’s a ransom,” Anthony reiterated, appalled. “You were fine paying when it was Miss Thompson, now you suddenly don’t think Penelope is worth paying for?”
Colin scoffed. “I believe these men do not deserve to get rewarded for kidnapping my friend.”
“Then what do you suggest?” Anthony asked.
“I suggest we get your pistols.”
Anthony blinked. “You want to duel them?”
Colin rolled his eyes. “No. Of course not. Do you know how ridiculous you and Simon looked in that field pretending you were going to duel each other? Let’s take ten paces, turn around, shoot and pretend honor is restored!” Colin laughed mirthlessly. “No. I’m going to kill them.”
The Bridgertons and Featheringtons both stared at Colin as if he had lost his mind. Really, he was thinking clearer than he ever had before.
Anthony tried to take control of the situation.
“We will have to wait for them to tell us where to leave the money.”
“Absolutely not,” Colin cut him off. “We’re not waiting for anything. We find out where they are. Who they are.”
He didn’t wait for anyone’s replies as he walked towards the front door. The only thing he could think about was Penelope. Penelope, who had never harmed anyone in her life. Sweet, kind, funny Penelope sitting alone with dangerous men, in the dark, terrified.
Penelope was absolutely furious, cold, and hungry.
The room smelled of damp. She was only clad in her nightgown and these men refused to give her anything more than stale bread, which she refused to eat. She wasn’t that desperate yet. She banged on the locked door, and when they shouted at her, she banged louder.
She finally grew tired of pounding on the wood and turned to survey the room. It was small. Dark. Almost a closet. It wasn’t well lit, but the rays of sunlight creeping in through slats in the roof told her that it was day.
She could hear voices and shouts, but they sounded far off. Gulls cried overhead and Penelope thought she heard the sound of water. She knew if she screamed, it would likely be for naught. With her ear flat against the wood, Penelope listened carefully.
The floor beneath her feet felt almost as if it was moving. The air smelled like fish and something else that she couldn’t quite place. Awful, really. Penelope crossed her arms across her breasts and wished that she was dressed in something other than her nightgown. This entire situation was rather undignified.
She sighed and walked back to the door. Her shouting and banging hadn’t worked. She should have known that it wouldn’t. Penelope was smarter than that.
“I don’t know what you’re expecting,” she called through the door in a calm voice. “My family has no money. They won’t pay a ransom.”
There was silence for a moment, and she worried that she was sitting there talking to herself when she finally heard one of them speak.
“We know,” one said. “That’s why we’ve sent the ransom to your betrothed's family.”
Penelope’s brows furrowed. Betrothed?
“I am not engaged!” she said indignantly.
“You’re not going to convince us, love,” the other man said. “Arnold here has seen you several times with your beau.”
“Yep,” Arnold said. “And Jim’s looked into the Bridgertons’ finances. They’re rich as kings. I’m sure they’ll pay.”
Penelope stood there for a moment with her mouth hanging open. Quite amazed as to how they could have come to such a conclusion.
“I’m not engaged to any Bridgerton!”
Neither Arnold nor Jim decided to reply to her that time.
“Idiots,” Penelope muttered beneath her breath.
Penelope began pacing as it was clear the men were not going to speak to her any longer. She must think of a way out of this. The Bridgertons were not going to pay for her because she was not betrothed to any of them and her own family was broke. And then Penleope would have to write about her own ruin in Whistledown.
It has come to this author’s attention that the criminal element of London cannot tell the difference between a Bridgerton fiancée and a mere houseguest.
Anthony was still following Colin. Colin didn’t know why; his brother wasn’t providing any help. He just kept saying things like calm down, Colin or we should wait at home, Colin and where are you going, Colin?
Really, his brother was useless. If he wasn’t going to give Colin his pistols, he had no use for him.
“Why are we going to the Gorings?” Anthony asked.
“Because,” Colin said through grit teeth. “Margaret Goring was the last woman stolen before Penelope. She might have information on the men who took her. Information that can help us find Pen.”
“If she knew something useful, don’t you think the Bow Street Runners would have found them by now?”
“Half a dozen women have been stolen. The Bow Street Runners are either incompetent or corrupt.”
Colin’s curt tone shocked Anthony into silence. Colin had no patience for his brother at the moment. He thought of any of his siblings, Anthony would be the one to understand Colin’s haste. Anthony had always been the sibling everyone said was rash and impulsive. Now he seemed practically benign when matters were urgent.
Anthony, who was not usually one to follow anyone, kept pace with Colin and ceased asking him to stop or slow.
The Goring townhouse was quiet. They were still in the midst of their own scandal. Colin knocked loudly on the door and waited for an answer while tapping his foot.
“Stand still, brother,” Anthony hissed. “You won’t get answers if you’re acting like a madman.”
Colin tried to keep himself calm, but every moment wasted was a moment that Penelope was in the grip of those beasts.
The butler answered the door and seemed confused by their request to see Miss Goring. They were shown to the drawing room and her parents were already waiting.
“What is this about?” Mr. Goring asked.
“Mr. Goring,” Anthony began. “Another young lady has been taken and we’re trying to find information about the men who took her. We just wanted to ask your daughter a few questions.”
Mr. and Mrs. Goring looked at each other. Colin resisted the urge to impart upon them, loudly, just how important this was when Mrs. Goring finally said, “If Margaret agrees.”
Margaret Goring came into the room, her face still white, eyes sunken in as if she hadn’t slept. Her fingers fidgeted with her dress.
“Another girl?” she asked, glancing between Colin and Anthony. “Who?”
“Penelope Featherington,” Anthony replied.
Margaret nodded. “I don’t know how I can help.”
Colin inhaled. “I just need to know about what happened.”
Margaret nodded. “I just stepped away from the ball for a moment. It was stifling in that ballroom. They slipped a bag over my head and said if I screamed, they would kill me. I was terrified.”
A tear slipped down her cheek.
“They kept me locked in a dark room. It smelled dreadful there. I was so frightened that I would never see my mama or papa again.”
Margaret clenched a handkerchief to her face as tears ran down her cheeks. Mrs. Goring embraced her daughter and soothed her with calming words. Colin exhaled, frustrated.
“Do you remember anything else? Anything they said? How long did it take you to get from the ball to where you were kept?”
“Colin!” Anthony hissed beneath his breath.
Mrs. Goring glared at Colin.
Anthony sat in a chair near Margaret and cleared his throat. Colin watched his brother attempt diplomacy with the focused expression of a man defusing something explosive. “Miss Goring, Is there anything else you can tell us? Any sort of small detail about where you were kept that might tell us something about where you were?”
She thought for a moment.
“It felt like the floor was moving,” she said finally. “I know that was silly. I thought perhaps I was just delirious from the horrid smell or fear of dying. But every time I tried to walk, I stumbled.”
Mr. Goring stepped forward. “I think you’re done. Margaret has been through enough trauma.”
Colin opened his mouth to argue, but Anthony pulled him away and spoke over him.
“Thank you very much for your time, Mr. Goring, Miss Goring.”
Once they were out on the street, Colin shook off his brother.
“We should have asked more questions,” Colin said.
“She was too frightened,” Anthony replied. “We weren’t going to get much out of her.”
“And how do you think Penelope is?” Colin practically shouted. Anthony stared at him a moment without reply.
“Lady Maxwell,” Colin said finally. “We should go visit her next. She is not a silly debutante. She might have more answers.”
Colin started walking and Anthony stood for a moment before following.
“Why were you not this incensed when you thought it was Miss Thompson who was taken?”
Colin did not reply because he did not have an answer. When he thought Marina was the one stolen, he was angry. But it had been the same generic anger that he had for any of the women who were taken.
But Penelope was different. Penelope’s kidnapping caused ice to run through his veins and something dreadful to take root in his soul. If something were to happen to her—
No. He would not think of that. He was going to find her.
Penelope had been sitting in this room for some time. She was still cold. Still hungry. And was becoming increasingly indignant. Her face was starting to hurt as well. She remembered falling when she thought Jim and Arnold were burglars. When she touched her fingers to the skin of her cheeks, it stung slightly.
So on top of everything else, she would have a bruise for her mother to criticize. Wonderful.
It was clear that because of her friendship with the Bridgertons, her kidnappers had mistaken her for a fiancée. But waiting on the Bridgertons to rescue her or pay her ransom was not a viable plan since she held no attachment to them.
Her own family would not pay either. It was clear that she had only herself to rely on. (Honestly, the story of her life.)
Penelope inspected the room. There was only a chair and a door. There were no windows to climb through. There were slats in the roof that could be pried apart, but even if Penelope stood on the chair, she could not reach them.
Her only option was the door. And the door was locked and guarded by two men who refused to speak to her.
Penelope knocked on the door.
“Excuse me,” she said loudly. No reply. She knocked again and mustered her sweetest voice.
“I need to use the chamberpot.”
No reply.
“Please,” she said again. “I really need the chamberpot.”
There was another beat of silence before she heard Arnold say, “You were supposed to put one in there.”
“I thought you did,” Jim replied.
“Bloody hell.”
Penelope managed a few sniffles that she thought sounded very realistic.
“Alright,” Arnold said lowly. “You open the door. I’ll put the pot in and then we close back quick like. Got it?”
“Got it.”
“We’re opening the door, Miss. No funny business.”
The door creaked open and Penelope saw the two men standing in the doorway. They were larger than she remembered.
The blonde man, who she now knew was Arnold, was the largest and he stood closest to the door. But Penelope was short and quick and had made a habit of sneaking through the streets of Bloomsbury in the recent months so slipping between the two men into the space beyond them turned out to be easier than she anticipated.
She felt almost giddy as she heard them curse and give chase to her. Penelope noticed that the room around her was completely wood, but it also appeared as though she were underground. There were narrow steps that led upstairs and she quickly darted towards them.
Penelope ran up the steps, pushed open the door and was greeted with the rush of wind, the shriek of gulls and the stench of the Thames. Penelope froze, completely shocked by her surroundings.
She was…on a barge…in the river.
It explained the smell. In the distance she could see dockhands working. The barge she was on was kept apart from all the other vessels which explained why no one would have heard her shouts.
Penelope was in such a state that she didn’t realize Arnold had picked her up like a parcel until she was in his arms. She tried to flail against him but it was useless.
He dropped her back in the small berth below deck as though she weighed nothing and Jim kicked the chamberpot inside before slamming and locking the door once again.
Colin and Anthony sat in the richly lavish Maxwell home across from Lord and Lady Maxwell. Lady Maxwell was no older than Anthony while her husband could easily be mistaken for Methuselah.
When the pair first wed years ago, everyone assumed that it was simply an arranged match for security or an heir. The young woman was pitied, but it became apparent that the unlikely couple were a love match.
Even now Lady Maxwell clung to her husband’s wrinkled hand as she recounted her ordeal. Although she was much less prone to hysterics than Miss Goring.
“After dear Gerald paid my ransom, the two men blindfolded me and took me in a carriage to Hyde Park where the exchange was to happen.”
“I was to place the money in a hollowed out tree near the Serpentine,” Lord Maxwell croaked. “While Fanny was left across the park.”
Lady Maxwell thought for a moment. “The carriage ride was about thirty minutes and was rather steep near the end.”
Colin nodded as he took in everything she said.
“There was also the stench of fish,” Lady Maxwell said. “It was nauseating. It is particularly worse because I am with child again.”
She rubbed her flat stomach and smiled ruefully. “At least, my kidnapping confirmed it. I can never abide the smell of fish when I am pregnant.”
Anthony smiled cordially. “Congratulations, Lord and Lady Maxwell.”
The pair nodded. Lady Maxwell gazed lovingly at her antique husband.
Colin went still as his mind raced.
“Thank you, Lady Maxwell. You have been enormously helpful.”
Colin stood and left, leaving Anthony to say their goodbyes.
Colin was already on the street donning his gloves when Anthony rushed out of the home.
“Colin, what are you—”
“Wapping,” Colin cut him off.
“What?” Anthony said before shaking his head. “You cannot possibly know—”
“The floors were moving,” Colin said. “Fish. The stench. The thirty minute downhill ride to Hyde park. Wapping, Anthony. Are you coming or not?”
Penelope knew there was no hope for escape. At least not physically. She could not overpower these men. She could not outrun them. And if she could, where would she go? She was on the docks in her nightgown!
So she plopped herself beside the door and talked.
Normally, Penelope was the type to listen instead of talk, but these men were not the talking type either, so it was up to Penelope to fill the silence.
“I feel as though I should stress to you that the Bridgertons are not going to pay for my release,” she said. “I say that not as self-pity. But as fact. I am not engaged to Colin Bridgerton. We are friends and that is all.”
“I saw the way that man looked at you when he walked you home. You expect me to believe that?”
“Do not engage with her, Arnold!”
“I am just a friend of his sister’s, and the only reason he was walking me home is because you two imbeciles have been stealing women! I’ve walked across that square dozens of times by myself.”
There was a beat of silence.
“Well, that’s not safe.” Jim said.
“Yeah,” Arnold agreed. “Even before we had our great idea, it’s never been safe for a young girl in the city alone. You should have always been accompanied.”
Penelope’s mouth dropped, but then she shook her head quickly.
“That’s not the point,” she argued. “The point is that once they discover that Colin’s actual fiancée is safe, they will have no motivation to pay you.”
“Nah,” Jim said. “I think they will.”
Penelope silently mouthed his words back to the closed door like the mature society lady she was.
“We do research,” Arnold said. “We’ve watched the two of you. We know he’s engaged. Who else could it be?”
“Marina Thompson!” Penelope said, annoyed.
“Who?”
“Tall girl. Dark curly hair. Beautiful.”
There was a bit of silence.
“Oh, I’ve seen her.”
“Right. Delicate thing. Looks like she can’t stand to be near him.”
Penelope frowned at the description. She had hoped that Marina could at least muster the ability to pretend she held affection for Colin.
But Penelope had her own problems to sort out at the moment. Marina’s feelings towards Colin were not her business. She can feel terrible about that later. Now she needed to focus.
“Doesn’t matter,” Arnold said. “They’ll pay.”
Penelope sighed and went quiet. She wasn’t winning an argument against these men. She was still hungry and her favorite nightgown was now filthy.
Eventually these men would realize that no one was paying for her and let her go.
She was almost certain of it.
Colin was pacing on the docks. Anthony’s insistence on doing things a certain way was making things take far too long.
Once he convinced Anthony that Penelope was likely being kept in Wapping on the Thames, Anthony wanted to go back to Bridgerton house to fetch Benedict. By that point Simon and Daphne had arrived as they heard the news of Colin’s fiancée being kidnapped and returned from Clyvedon. Anthony had agreed that pistols were needed but refused to let Colin carry one.
“You’re going to kill someone,” Anthony said when he demanded to know why.
“Isn’t that the point?”
“Not unless necessary.”
Instead, Anthony and Simon carried the pistols. The four men walked down the docks, inspecting each vessel.
“How are we supposed to figure out which boat is the one she’s being kept on?” Benedict asked.
Colin was quiet for a moment.
“Margaret Goring said she could hear men in the distance. None of these women had their mouths bound, so their screams were never a concern. We should look for a vessel moored alone.”
Colin kept up a brisk pace until he saw one in the distance. A flat barge, docked alone.
“There,” he said pointing. He marched towards it, almost at a jog, but slowed when he came upon a dockhand leaving a merchant vessel.
“You there,” he said, startling the man. “What can you tell me about that barge?”
The man glanced down at the barge and then back to the finely dressed men in front of him. He looked as if he might ask for a bribe but something in Colin’s eyes made him think better of it.
“It’s always there,” the man said. “Don't leave. Sometimes men go on or off. But always just the same two. I think they pay the Thames River Police a hefty sum to leave them be.”
Colin nodded and set off again towards the lone barge.
“You never mentioned your brother was quite so terrifying,” Simon said quietly to Anthony.
“I didn’t know,” Anthony said.
The wind blew a chilled air in from the Thames but Colin didn’t feel it beneath his coat or his rage. Gulls screeched overhead, but the only sound was the thundering of his heart in his ears.
He had to find Penelope. She had to be on this vessel. If she wasn’t here, Colin wasn’t sure what he would do.
A man lingered on the gangplank, smoking a cigarette.
“Wait, Colin!” Anthony began. He wanted to think of a plan, of a procedure. But there was no time for any of that. Colin only wanted to break the man’s legs.
When the man saw Colin, his eyes went wide and that was all the proof Colin needed that he found his mark.
The man turned and tried to run, but Colin was quick. He rushed forward and grabbed the man by his coat and slammed him to the ground. He wanted to pummel him, to destroy him. But he needed to find Penelope.
His brothers assured him that he had the man restrained. Colin rushed up the gangplank and into the barge, not waiting on someone to follow. He heard a voice call out to him but he didn't stop.
When Colin found the door to the hold, it was locked and Colin merely had to put his shoulder against it and hit hard for it to splinter beneath his weight.
He rushed below deck to find a fair man standing against a door, watching him with eyes that held no fear. He was a large man, but Colin had spent the entire day feeling as if he were being dragged through hell.
Colin did not stop. The man held up his hands as if he thought he might be able to placate Colin and calm the situation.
Colin did not hear whatever words came out of the man’s mouth, he merely connected his fist to the man’s face as hard as he could and watched the man crumple on the floor.
Colin took the keys from the man’s pocket and unlocked the door.
While Penelope had been talking to Arnold, Jim had stepped away for a moment and Penelope hoped she might convince Arnold to open the door for her. But it seemed that just when she was making a bit of headway into that conversation a dreadful commotion erupted above.
There was a great deal of shuffling and shouting from outside. Then she could hear stomping and then Arnold started to say something like, “Now, Listen I—” before he gave an oomph and Penelope heard the door shake again with the weight of something heavy.
She didn’t know what was happening and she was a little frightened. She backed up slowly against the far wall as she heard someone fumble with the keys to the door before the door itself creaked and opened violently.
In the doorway stood Colin Bridgerton. But this was not the Colin Bridgerton that Penelope knew. This man was a mess. His face was pale, his eyes were bloodshot, his hair was tussled, his clothes were disheveled and his face wore an expression of rage that she had never seen on the man before in her life.
“Colin,” she managed to choke out as she took a step forward.
Colin wasted no time. He crossed the room in two heavy strides, took her face in his hands, and kissed her.
Penelope had imagined her first kiss would be sweet, gentle and the stuff of every girl’s fantasies. But this was angry, possessive, and fiery.
He broke the kiss as abruptly as he started it and inspected her face. His eyes darkened as he saw the bruise along her cheek.
“They’ve hurt you,” he whispered, as he trailed a finger lightly along her cheekbone. “I should have killed them.”
Never did Penelope think she would hear such words from her sweet, gentle Colin, but it thrilled her.
“I fell,” she said quietly. It did little to appease him.
Penelope glanced at Arnold on the floor.
“They thought we were engaged,” she said. “I told them we were not. I’m glad he is not awake to have seen you kiss me. He would have been terribly smug.”
Colin simply looked at her for a moment before something cracked in the dark, brooding facade that burst into her room a moment ago. He chuckled softly before pulling her tight against his chest.
“God, Penelope,” he said into her hair. “I was so worried.”
It was then that Anthony, Benedict and Simon Basset burst into the room to see Arnold on the floor and as well as Colin and Penelope in their embrace.
“Penelope!” Benedict said. “We were half convinced that Colin was mad when he said you were here.”
She felt Colin’s hold tighten on her. Penelope looked out at the men.
“You all came?” she asked. She didn’t think they would even pay for her release. Nevermind that they would stage a rescue mission.
Anthony Bridgerton shrugged. “We’re mostly just here to make sure Colin didn’t murder anyone in his search for you. But I’m glad you’re safe.”
The viscount looked pointedly at his brother. “Now, Colin. You have found Miss Featherington, you must release her so we can return her to her mother.”
Colin rolled his eyes as he allowed Penelope to slip from his arms. “Yes, her mother who didn’t realize she was missing for half the morning.”
Penelope flinched.
“Sorry, Pen,” Colin muttered once he realized what he said.
“It’s alright,” She crossed her arms in front of her. Colin shrugged off his coat and draped it over her shoulders.
“We should take her to Bridgerton house,” Benedict suggested. “Eloise practically had to be locked in her room to keep her from joining us.”
Penelope smiled. “Yes, and your cook has the best eclairs, cucumber sandwiches, and roasted chicken.”
Colin sat in the drawing room surrounded by his family and the Featheringtons while they watched Penelope devour food while telling her story between bites.
Portia frowned when Penelope picked up another eclair and when she opened her mouth to say something, Colin shot her a glare and she shut it again.
Violet draped a blanket over Penelope’s shoulders and brought her pots of warm tea.
“I’m fine, really,” Penelope insisted as Eloise peered closer at the bruise on her face. Colin never knew his younger sister would have a potential to hover.
“At least Mayfair no longer has to worry about those awful men any longer,” Daphne said.
“Yes,” Simon said laughing. “If only Penelope had been the first girl stolen, it might have saved a lot of trouble.”
Miss Thompson was poised on a settee not far from Penelope and was looking rather green.
“Marina,” Lady Featherington said. “Are you ill?”
Miss Thompson looked at Penelope.
“Penelope, you smell of fish,” she said quietly. “It’s making me rather queasy.”
“Oh,” Penelope said quietly.
Eloise took a sniff of Penelope. “It’s not that strong.” But Marina was already rushing from the room.
Anthony mumbled something beneath his breath that Colin didn’t catch but he was far too focused on Penelope. He couldn’t help but hope she was feeling better, that she wasn’t too upset from her entire ordeal.
Daphne and Simon left for Hastings House. Anthony said he had matters to attend to and left. Violet and Lady Featherington left to attend to Marina.
Eventually, it was only Colin, Penelope, and Eloise left in the drawing room. Penelope had yet to cease eating.
“You were hungry,” Eloise remarked with a small laugh.
“I had not eaten since tea yesterday,” Penelope replied.
“I will fetch you more sandwiches,” Eloise said before rushing off.
Penelope laughed. “She is certainly a mother hen.”
Colin smiled and moved to sit beside her. “Pen,” he said. “How are you feeling?”
Penelope smiled. “Better now that I’ve eaten.”
Colin moved to take her hand but then winced as a sharp pain shot through his knuckles.
Penelope took his hand in her own. “Are you well? Did you hurt yourself?”
“It will be fine,” Colin said, not wanting to have her focus on his own pain.
Penelope's fingers were gentle against his knuckles and Colin found he couldn't look away from her.
"You did it for me," she said quietly. It wasn't a question.
"Yes."
She looked up at him then. "Colin, you didn't have to—"
"I did," he said simply. "I very much did."
Penelope went quiet. Colin thought of everything he'd felt today. The ice in his veins when he saw that lock of hair, the way the world narrowed to a single point the moment he understood it was her. He thought of how he'd walked her to her door last night feeling like he could conquer the world.
He thought about how he hadn't understood any of it until today.
Colin opened his mouth to say something but before he could, Eloise returned with a tray of sandwiches, Miss Thompson following behind but lingering in the doorway. Her eyes bounced back and forth between Colin and Penelope.
“Mr. Bridgerton,” she said as Eloise fussed about Penelope. “Might I speak to you for a moment?”
Colin left Eloise and Penelope on the settee and stepped out into the hall with Miss Thompson. She bit her lip and looked uncomfortable.
“Recent events have made me realize that we might be…incompatible,” she said quietly.
“Oh,” Colin said quietly. He realized that she was calling off their engagement and he wasn’t upset about it. This was yet another sign that the entire thing was a mistake.
“Yes,” Miss Thompson said, shuffling on her feet. “I will speak to Lady Featherington. I’m certain she and your mother will understand.”
Colin nodded. Not quite sure what he should say. Marina met his gaze then.
“Thank you for saving Penelope. She has been a true friend to me.”
Colin smiled slightly. “To me as well.”
Lady Featherington came out then and bustled Marina out of the corridor, saying she needed to take her home and that she would have a maid bring Penelope proper attire to put on before she could cross the street.
When Colin entered the drawing room again, Eloise and Penelope were looking up at him curiously.
“Eloise, I must speak to Penelope for a moment,” Colin told his sister.
“I believe I am meant to be a chaperone,” Eloise said haughtily.
“Do I need a chaperone?” Penelope asked, eating another sandwich. “I’m well and truly ruined now.”
Eloise rolled her eyes. “Not according to our mama. If she discovered I’ve left you alone—”
“Please, Eloise,” Colin said. Eloise sighed and stood.
“I will not be far,” she said as she passed him and walked into the hall.
Colin took his seat beside Penelope again.
He looked at her face, which bore the reminders of her long ordeal. The bruise on her face, the circles beneath her eyes, her ruined nightgown.
“Miss Thompson ended our engagement,” he said abruptly. Penelope’s eyes widened.
“Oh, Colin,” she said. “Are you well? I’m so sor—”
Colin shook his head. “I’m fine,” he said, cutting her off. “Truly. I’ve spent this entire day coming to the realization that I’ve been engaged to the wrong woman.”
“Oh,” Penelope said in a small voice. Colin took her hand in his and tried not to wince at the pain.
“Pen, I don’t think I would have torn this city apart and terrorized Margaret Goring for Miss Thompson. The moment I realized that it was you who was missing, it was as though a piece of myself was missing as well. I don’t know how two criminal idiots were able to see what I couldn’t but—” Colin shrugged self-deprecatingly. “But there it is.”
“Colin,” Penelope said slowly, carefully. “You’ve had a very long and frightening day. And you’ve just ended your engagement. I don’t want you to say something that you’ll—”
“Penelope.”
“I just think that perhaps once you’ve had some rest—”
“Penelope, I’m in love with you,” Colin said simply. As though it were the easiest thing he had ever said. “I likely have been for some time without the good sense to realize it. I am sorry that it took two criminals and the worst day of our lives to make me see it, but I’m quite certain.”
She stared at him.
“Oh,” she said again.
“Is that all you have to say?” he asked with a slight smile.
Penelope laughed slightly. “I’ve loved you since we met.”
Colin smiled and exhaled slowly.
“Then it is settled,” he said.
“What is settled?”
“We shall marry.”
“Wh—what?” Penelope stammered. “But you’ve just ended an engagement. There will be talk.”
“There’s already talk, Penelope. You were kidnapped and I rescued you. I’m rather gallant and now you have to marry me.”
“You’re insufferable,” Penelope muttered.
“But you love me. You’ve already said so.”
Colin leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on Penelope’s lips. He lingered longer than he meant to and they were soon split apart by the shouts of his mother and the admonishments of Anthony and Eloise.
It appears that Mayfair may rest easy once more. The scoundrels responsible for the kidnapping of no fewer than six young ladies have been apprehended by Bow Street and will trouble our fine city no longer. This author understands that their capture was facilitated in no small part by one Mr. Colin Bridgerton, whose methods, while effective, were described by witnesses as somewhat alarming.
In other news, Mr. Bridgerton has wasted no time in announcing his courtship of Miss Penelope Featherington, neighbor and longtime friend of the Bridgerton family. Those who witnessed the events of that remarkable day find themselves entirely unsurprised.
Love, it seems, occasionally requires a push. Even if that push comes from criminals.