Romancing Mister Bridgerton

Penelope knows that attending the musicale put on by daughters of the Smythe-Smith family will be a painful experience, as the girls are compelled to perform even though most of them have no musical ear. Penelope attends, however, because she understands the humiliation of the one girl among them who understands that the performance is not of good quality. Though Felicity protests, Penelope chooses to sit near the front and look encouraging, ensuring that someone like Cressida Twombley, who would make cruel comments, doesn’t take that place.

Eloise observes that Lady Whistledown doesn’t pick on the Smythe-Smith girls. Lady Danbury agrees, saying that Lady Whistledown never chooses to hurt the feelings of the vulnerable. Lady Danbury suggests that she, too, was once that humiliated girl put on display. Penelope feels a sense of connection to Lady Danbury but also realizes that Lady Danbury “seem[s] determined to light a fire under Penelope’s well-ordered and often boring life” (109). Lady Danbury’s earlier words echo in her head like a dare: “There’s more to you than meets the eye” (111). Still, Penelope is glad that she has been able to blend into the shadows at social events, not forced to be on display.