You… are Lady Whistledown.
-Colin, I-- -Do not try to deny it.
I heard you with the printer.
To think I ran after you because I was worried about you,
terrified that your carriage driver had abducted you to this part of town.
When, in truth,
you knew exactly what you were doing because it was you who printed tonight.
-I did not print tonight's edition. -But every other one?
Is it not you who has been Lady Whistledown all along?
All of the lies… you have told me.
All of the things you have written about me and my family.
-Colin, please. -I knew something was wrong.
Stupidly, I blamed myself as if…
as if I was undeserving of your love.
But you are the one that is at fault.
I will never forgive you.
Get your Whistledown! Whistledown!
-Oh! -Here you are, sir.
Whistledown!
At last!
Dearest Gentle Reader,
if you thought that revealing my true identity would stifle me,
guess again.
Well, I never!
I fear no reproach, as now you know I write to you
from one of the most reputable houses in Mayfair.
Certainly, no house is perfect.
Though, there are some that purport to be.
Take, for example, Bridgerton House, with its shining reputation.
This author must question what really goes on behind closed doors.
Can we read it?
No.
It is known that Lady Violet Bridgerton
praises love matches above all else.
But does love excuse
why several of her children have had rather rushed engagements?
Perhaps the family confuses love with lust.
And then there is the fact that there are so many Bridgerton children.
Has one ever wondered why so many?
This author certainly has.
Perhaps because a few of them may be of dubious parentage.
The lies she writes!
Whistledown is here.
I fear we already have it, Mrs. Wilson.
Another Whistledown.
Oh, Gregory, let me see it!
Very well.
Oh, thank goodness.
Dearest Gentle Reader…
it seems someone has been impersonating me,
and so I can no longer sit idly by.
This author is not interested in judging what one does out of desperation.
But gossip as I might, I always tell the truth,
and I cannot tolerate a lie.
Cressida Cowper, this author is not.
If she were me, surely she would have reported
on the great debt Lord Blackburn refused to repay
to Lord Samson this week.
Or the fact that Mrs. Newham
unceremoniously dismissed her maid yesterday
for the simple act of asking for a day off.
And I will not even mention the small cruelties
Mr. Davidson's wife endures daily.
Except, I suppose, I just did.
I say this all to remind you that this author,
the true Lady Whistledown, is always paying attention.
Something that I believe Miss Cowper
should try to do a little more.
You will stay in here until Aunt Joanna arrives to collect you.
Until then, you are not to leave this room.
Yours Truly, Lady Whistledown.
It is a good thing Miss Cowper's Whistledown spectacle has been settled,
so now everyone can be focused on our upcoming nuptials.
I want every eye in the ton focused on you.
How many eyes exactly do you think there are in the ton?
Double the amount of people, I would imagine.
Do you know, since Penelope got engaged, Prudence has not called me a blinkard
or a dunderhead or an anserine fool once.
I am starting to think I am clever.
-You are, my love. -No. I'm--
I am saying there is something wrong with her.
It is true.
Whenever I try to grasp her hand these days,
she does not swat it away with nearly the same gusto.
The most elaborate wedding breakfast Mayfair has yet to see.
It will be our triumph, Penelope.
-Are you not excited? -Excuse me, Mama.
Are you a devotee of Whistledown again?
It is a particularly good issue.
Perhaps I should read it, then. I could use a distraction.
- Good day. - Good day, Penelope.
Ah. Uh, I will be
reading this… over there.
Over there.
Pen, you have done it. Cressida is entirely discredited.
I never thought I would say this, but I'm so glad to see you printing again.
Eloise, he knows.
Colin. He followed me last night.
How is his condition?
He is furious.
We're to be married this week if he will still have me,
but I doubt he will even speak to me.
Eloise, I do not know what to do.
I cannot help you with this, Pen.
I am so grateful for everything you have done for me,
but already, I feel in the middle between you and Colin.
-Perhaps I always have been. -That is not true.
-You did meet Colin first. -That was a silly infatuation.
Which… turned into a real friendship over time, but…
you were the truest friend I have ever known, El.
It was torture not being by your side this season.
I could not bear the thought of losing you completely.
Either of you.
I understand.
It's my mess with Colin, not yours. Forgive me.
I wish you luck.
Hm.
You are rather lucky Lady Whistledown decided to publish when she did.
Thank you. The… gall of that Cowper chit.
Crisis averted, no doubt.
Though, now I must avert the next one.
Do you think it possible for me to acquire an audience with the queen this week?
Mm.
-I fear her spirits are low. -Mm.
I cannot recommend that you speak with Her Majesty
about Francesca and Lord Kilmartin just now.
She is not pleased that Whistledown has eluded her once more.
Perhaps Francesca was right.
I should've approached her at the ball when we had the chance.
You have done nothing wrong.
We are always trying with all our might,
but the weight of the world cannot always be upon our shoulders.
You do not sound like yourself.
Forgive me.
Uh, perhaps I can convince Her Majesty some--
That is not necessary.
You know, something you and your brother have in common
is a very kind urge to constantly help others.
Hm.
But I hope you know that my care for you is not contingent on your aid.
I am here for you, Agatha.
Always.
Even when there are no unmarried children left to help.
Thank you, Violet.
That means a great deal to me.
Hmm.
How long have you known?
I saw you leaving a private room with Penelope last night
shortly before I found her.
-I had been trying to make her tell you. -You should've told me yourself.
You should've told me you were in love with my best friend
before you tripped into the drawing room engaged!
I did not know… until last year.
And I was too brokenhearted to speak of it.
I have been trying to make her tell you.
And then I thought, w…
why break your heart as well?
Her sheet has been fair this year.
Certainly sharp and biting,
but she has not written anything withering about anyone.
Of if she has, they have deserved it.
Are you forgetting what she wrote about me at the start of the season?
Of course, that was not so good.
Have you already forgiven her?
I want to.
Do you think you can?
I think you should consider yourself
uncommonly lucky… you have never been in love.
Here we are.
Uh…
In here for the wedding breakfast?
Do you think it too small?
How many people are we inviting?
Well, let me show you how we'll lay it out.
Mm. Oh…
Well, I was thinking, this really is my very, very favorite…
Colin…
will you at least look at me?
My mother was curious about our not seeing each other recently,
and I did not want to arouse suspicions.
Are you going to call off the wedding?
I am a man of honor.
And we were… intimate.
Perhaps that was another part of your planned entrapment.
I did not mean to entrap you, Colin. I love you.
What will this marriage be?
That depends.
I noticed there was no Whistledown this morning.
Are you going to stop publishing?
I…
I do not know.
Let us get through this wedding,
and then we will decide what this marriage will be.
And we shall have a quartet over here, or perhaps even a quintet.
Um… I-- I shall see if our young people
require refreshments for this… rather long tour.
Mm.
It is good to see Mr. Bridgerton here today.
Yes.
An engaged couple should want
to spend time together before their wedding, should they not?
I assure you, Lady Bridgerton, I do not know the reason.
I do not either.
Sir.
You had a caller while you were out.
She left a note.
Thank you.
"Please, let me explain. Tilley."
I had meant to…
speak to you about my situation with Paul first privately.
But then we were caught, as it were.
And what is the situation, exactly?
Mr. Suarez and I have a relationship not unlike the one I share with you.
Friendly, casual,
occasionally intimate.
And Mr. Suarez also likes to be intimate with men.
He thought perhaps the two of you shared a…
moment.
I have known men like Mr. Suarez,
but I myself have never felt tempted… before.
Are you tempted by every woman you meet?
I am not.
This world of ours, as far as we know it,
spans thousands of miles… encompassing however many millions of people,
and yet we are all bred to believe
that the only persons worth conversing with are the thousand or so
who inhabit a few square miles around Grosvenor Square.
You know, we preen, and we promenade.
We leave calling cards, and we marry.
We play by all the rules.
And rarely do we question the meaning of any of it for a moment.
There is so much in society that is unnatural.
But a feeling between two people,
whatever their sex… is the most natural thing in the world.
If you did not feel anything with Mr. Suarez,
then let us, you and I, continue on our own.
But you should know…
my staff are very discreet.
Yes.
-Ma'am. -Mm?
Lord Anderson has come to call.
Oh. Um…
Very well.
Ah.
Lady Bridgerton, it is good to see you.
You as well, Lord Anderson.
It has been some time.
Too much time.
Uh, would you like some cake? Tea?
Oh, I would be delighted.
-Uh… -Ah.
-How are you? -Oh, I-- I am, uh…
Well… Francesca is keeping her distance from me at the moment.
Did I tell you that she and Lord Kilmartin have been secretly engaged?
I did not hear.
-Congratulations. -Thank you.
Though, we are waiting on the blessing of the queen before announcing it.
It is a wait that may be rather lengthy, unfortunately.
You know, Aristotle says,
"Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet."
Mm.
Lady Bridgerton,
once Francesca and Lord Kilmartin's affairs are in order,
do you think perhaps the two of us
could explore something together?
I am not uninterested in exploration.
But I will not know if I am ready for that
until after the affairs are… in order.
Especially because I am not the only one whose affairs need ordering.
Hm.
We received a letter back from Aunt Joanna.
She will have left today to come and fetch you.
I imagine she will be here in a week or two.
Mama, please.
You must put an end to this.
There is nothing I can do.
Your father has threatened to send me to the countryside as well if I intervene.
If I too am banished, there is no hope of ever bringing you back to society.
But we did this together.
I did tell you to avoid that Bridgerton girl.
Had you listened, I doubt any of this would have occurred.
Why did we have to write such cruel things about the Bridgertons, Mama?
Could we not have picked another family?
The Bridgertons so often feature in Whistledown
that it would've been strange not to mention them.
And certainly, it didn't hurt bringing them down a peg.
Why is that your concern now?
Perhaps I was wrong to turn on Eloise.
She is the one person who has ever shown me true friendship.
And where is she to comfort you now?
Have I not raised you to know that,
in this world, it is every person for themselves?
Especially amongst women.
Yes, you have.
You would be wise not to forget it.
I realize it is tradition to drink,
but if the stag gets too drunk the night before its wedding,
it runs the risk of being shot.
Then keep up with me, so there might be other, slower targets.
I do not think any of us can keep up with you tonight.
Mm.
-I thought you were not much of a drinker. -No, I am not.
But in my defense, your mother does not like me.
-No, our mother does not not like you. -What? I shall handle this.
Lord Kilmartin, our mother adores… you.
But… our mother also has an obsession with great love stories.
What should he do? Give the man some practical advice.
Frankly, you might consider doing something foolish.
- Something bold. Declare yourself. - Mm. Mm-hmm.
Throw rocks? Throw rocks at Francesca's window tonight.
No.
Your problem is you are trying much too hard to be respectful.
Bold?
Well, if I am to be bold… I shall need some time to think about it.
Oh.
I think perhaps I shall go home as well.
It is strange to be drinking in another man's club.
No. Stay.
Mrs. Mondrich and I have had our social calendar full this week.
I am… spent. I shall see you tomorrow, bright and early.
Mm. Mm.
Come.
Perhaps that is our cue.
You go. I could use a moment on my own.
Is everything well?
Is everything well with you?
Mm?
I had hoped you might come by the night before your wedding.
Genevieve, Colin found out.
Oh, dear.
He does not know about your involvement.
Well, that is good.
But how are you?
I'm relieved… in a way.
It has been painful carrying this secret.
But he hates me for it.
And he has every right to.
I am about to be married to the man I love, and…
I do not know that I am worthy of him.
You have made some ill-considered choices in your time.
You were a girl who did not know her own power.
-But does that justify it? -No.
There is no going back to the past.
All one can do is be true to one's choices
and look forward.
Will you keep publishing?
I have held back this week, for Colin's sake.
But I tried giving it up
before he found out, and… I felt like I was losing a part of myself.
There is no such thing as true love
without first embracing your true self.
Happy wedding eve.
Mm!
What are you doing out here?
-I was-- -No. In fact, do not answer that.
It is clear I found you in the midst of some… secret dealings.
I do not wish to know.
And what "secret dealings" have I found you in the midst of,
all alone the night before our wedding?
What right do you have to ask me that?
After all the secrets you have kept, all of the things you have written
over the years, all of the damage you have done.
You are right.
I realize how much damage I have done, and I am so, so sorry for it.
What were you thinking… when you wrote about Eloise?
I was trying to protect her. I realize now how misguided I was.
And when you wrote about Miss Thompson?
-Exposing her as you did. Ruining her. -I thought I was protecting you.
-Then you should've told me to my face. -I know.
Or do you not respect me enough?
It is clear you do not,
after what you've written about me this year,
that I hardly know myself.
What were you thinking then?
I was thinking
that I simply wanted the Colin I know back.
Not this stoic man you returned as,
acting as if you care for no one and need nothing.
It's you.
Kind and feeling, occasionally excitable, good-hearted man who I love.
I should have told you myself. There are so many things I should've done myself.
And now, with the confidence
you've helped me find this year, I am finally able to.
So, then, you do not need Whistledown anymore.
I do not need to hide behind Whistledown anymore,
but I am not saying there is not any value in it.
Do you know what is most humiliating?
I let you talk so much about my journal as if I were to be this… great writer.
When all this time,
you have been a published writer renowned across Mayfair.
Colin, I meant everything I said about your writing.
You are putting yourself in danger being out here tonight.
You've been putting yourself in danger living this double life all along.
-I have been careful. -You have been foolish.
-Colin, I can take of myself. -Then what good am I to you?
Colin, I love you!
I love you.
Stay still.
I shall see you tomorrow.
Oi!
- I know. I said so. - Yes.
Ah, there you are. We were debating going to bed.
It is very late, Colin.
Kate! Ha!
Where've you been?
What am I, chopped liver?
What are you both doing here? I didn't think I'd see you until tomorrow.
Your mother called us in early.
Thought you'd want marital advice.
She really does know everything.
What is going on with you and Penelope?
All is well between us.
The smell of fermented fruit emanating from your person would indicate otherwise.
It was celebratory.
Two glasses is celebratory. One whole bottle is a cry for help.
I do not wish to unburden myself to you two, with your perfect marriage.
Oh. You think our marriage is perfect?
Is it not?
We are more than happy now, but it took us time to get here.
Time to get down the aisle, certainly.
You and Penelope have been close for years.
Well, yes, but… I am no longer sure I truly know her.
What happened?
It is not our business what happened.
Every one of us has secrets
or have made mistakes once or twice in our lives.
Surely, there is a reason
Penelope has been so dear to you for so long.
Does whatever new information you have learned truly negate all that?
Then you cannot let one mistake define your entire relationship.
Marriage takes hard work.
But it is work that is worth it.
Our marriage is not hard work.
You are wearisome tonight.
Or perhaps it is the hour.
I will see you at the church tomorrow.
Good night.
I drank a whole bottle before my wedding, the second wedding,
and it was deeply celebratory.
Three raw eggs in the morning.
It is not your footman's fault.
I slipped in.
The night you escaped… nearly escaped,
I had no concept of what you were running from.
I was ten years old.
All I knew of the world outside our home
was that it was dangerous for a young lady.
And I thought, if I could get you to stay a little longer,
perhaps I could give myself time to prove myself to you.
To our father, you mean.
I mean to you.
I've heard you make comments disparaging the girl you once were.
But you were resolute, even then.
I mean, the simple act of dreaming to run away?
You had something in you all along,
a kind of courage I never dreamed of having.
I have wished so many times that I had stood up to him.
For you. For myself.
You are not the only one
that was made to feel that they had been found wanting.
Why did you never tell me
any of that before?
Because I was not only in awe of you,
I was afraid of you.
The fearsome creature I created.
Perhaps I have subconsciously taken notes from our father.
You are nothing like him.
Except the cane.
Though yours is far more stylish.
Do not come for my cane.
I suppose you got all the good joints in the family.
I have been hard on you.
At last, my life is full of joy.
And I've been afraid you would take it away from me.
Any joy I am after,
I deeply hope you are a large part of.
Hm.
I do need to speak to the footmen. They need to mind the visitors.
Hm.
Come. We have a wedding to attend.
Are you ready for your dress?
Yes, Varley.
You're going to be the most beautiful bride.
Mm.
What has happened here?
Your Majesty, I turned my ankle chasing after a delivery boy.
I see. And what did you discover?
He told me…
Well, he does not know who Whistledown is,
but he says most of his buyers live in Mayfair.
So he thinks… well, Lady Whistledown must live there as well.
Thank you.
We will look into it.
Your Majesty.
I have thought long and hard
on the conundrum of finding your author
and have drawn the conclusion
that perhaps Lady Whistledown
is not a lady at all.
You see, Your Majesty,
Lady Whistledown is a nom de plume,
which leads me to believe that she might be a man…
Oh, that is Lady Barragan, whose luncheon, do not forget, we failed to attend.
And now she will want us to attend her next one… even more.
Mm-hmm.
I love weddings.
Hm.
Ours was perfect.
Here we go.
Are you ready?
Dearly beloved,
we are gathered here in the sight of God and this congregation
to join together this man
and this woman in holy matrimony.
Wilt thou have this woman to be thy wedded wife,
to live together in the holy estate of matrimony?
Wilt thou forsake all others, keeping thee only unto her,
so long as ye both shall live?
I, Colin Bridgerton…
…take thee, Penelope Featherington,
to be my wedded wife,
to have and to hold.
I, Penelope Featherington,
take thee, Colin Bridgerton,
to be my wedded husband,
to have and to hold.
With this ring, I thee wed.
With my body, I thee worship.
And by the joining of hands, I now pronounce
that they be man and wife together,
in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.
Amen.
Mama, you have outdone yourself.
Mm. Do you like it?
It is truly… magnificent.
Congratulations, Penelope.
You do make… an exceptionally fine bride.
Oh.
Would you like to say how you really feel now?
That is how I really feel.
Thank you.
It was the most beautiful wedding.
Thank you, Hyacinth.
And Penelope looked stunning. Why do you look so vacant?
-This is, uh-- -Quite a wedding breakfast.
Marcus and I entered together but were quickly separated
by the sheer volume of guests.
Are you feeling in better spirits?
I am.
Making peace is a relief.
Perhaps you should try it.
That is my intention.
Hm.
Is all well with you?
I saw you crying at the ceremony.
Simply tears at losing another friend to marriage.
Or maybe it was dust.
Which brother or sister do you like the best?
Gregory, clearly.
Oh. Well, fair enough.
But I know there is room enough in your heart for the rest of us.
Love is not finite, Eloise.
The friendship you have with Penelope is a lucky thing.
As is the one you have with Colin.
A lot of dust in here too.
Excuse me. I am going to find some champagne.
-Your tea, miss. -I need your help.
-We'd love very much to see you. -We shall certainly try to be there.
-Yes, of course. Enjoy the party. -Wonderful.
-Thank you. -Thank you.
Mr. and Mrs. Mondrich?
Yes.
-When was your last letter from Edwina? -There was one waiting when we returned.
She writes that her new husband
is not only a reader but has cultivated in her
a love for the outdoors.
-Your sister? -Shocking, I know.
She has even been riding with him.
I am so envious.
You cannot imagine how charming our town in India is.
It has been so long since I have ridden there.
Well, I should like to see it.
In fact, I should like to see it soon.
Before our child comes.
-Now? -Mm.
Of course I want to go over with you, one day.
-But the journey takes months. -Yeah, and if we go now,
we will have time to prepare for the birth there.
Look, I know how much you love our life here.
You have made yourself completely a part of our family.
But I cannot help but feel that something is missing.
What about your mother?
She would be missing the birth of her grandchild.
Our child… will always be a Bridgerton.
But I should like them to know that they are a Sharma as well,
know their history.
And it is important for me to know it so we can share that history
with our child, together.
Mother will understand that.
And we will return.
Please do not make me love you more.
I do not think I can bear it.
-Absolutely lovely. All good wishes. -Thank you.
Penelope, are you enjoying yourself?
Very much.
Though it is all a little overwhelming. I…
Well, weddings are never for the bride and groom,
even when things are well between the couple.
Thank you.
For allowing me to work it out for myself.
Well, this wedding couldn't plan itself. I have not had time to meddle.
Whatever it is,
I know you will resolve it.
The important part is that you are married now.
-Could we-- -I--
Could we get away from here?
I have spent so long clinging to walls like this. I…
-I do not wish to do that any longer. -Where do you propose we go?
Perhaps…
to the center.
I do not think I have it in me to greet any more guests.
Then perhaps we could dance.
It is a wedding breakfast.
-The sun is still out. -I realize that.
But I should like to dance with my husband in the light of day.
If we can dance in a church, why not here?
Very well.
Would you like to dance?
Lord Kilmartin.
You do not mean it.
Why not?
I did not think you a dancer.
Perhaps not.
But perhaps we should both be more bold in declaring ourselves.
Lady Bridgerton.
Thank you so much for having me.
Oh, Lord Anderson, I am glad you have joined us.
And, uh, with your sister.
Ah. Yes.
All our affairs in order.
And you?
I do believe my affairs are very nearly coming together as well.
-He oversteps. -I think they move quite beautifully.
No. Not them.
Our family is happy and together.
Do not take that for granted.
Her Majesty the Queen.
Lady Featherington.
Your Majesty.
Everyone who is not a Bridgerton may go.
Now.
Penelope.
You are a Bridgerton now.
Someone in this room has something to hide.
And I shall not leave until they come forward
and reveal themselves.
The longer you delay, the greater my irritation.
Step forward.
Confess.
It is I.
I bear the secret.
You?
Yes.
I am engaged to Lord Kilmartin.
I have been humbled by Your Majesty's interest in my prospects,
perhaps so much so that I have not been bold enough in declaring myself.
But I love Lord Kilmartin.
And I plan to marry him.
With… Your Majesty's blessing,
of course.
That is no great mystery, Miss Francesca.
Your romantic sensibilities have been obvious for some time.
You do not need my blessing to marry.
But that… is not why I am here.
I speak of Whistledown.
I know she is in this room.
I was close last year.
Tantalizingly so.
And now, only when the Cowper girl publishes lies about this very family,
suddenly Whistledown rushes to print.
Surely, she suspected what Miss Cowper intended to publish.
That is what roused her from her hiding place. And why?
Clearly, because she is one of you.
Your Majesty.
I assure you if such a thing were happening in my home,
I would know of it,
and I would have put a stop to it a long time ago.
Very well.
Hold your tongue another night.
I shall loosen it soon enough.
I did not know if it'd help or hurt your family if I were to speak.
I am glad you stayed silent.
But surely, this is a signal of the right path forward.
That it is time for you to give up your column. Yes?
-Colin, I-- -She will find you, eventually.
And as long as you are Whistledown, forever this lie will hang over all of us.
Do you know what it is like
to have nowhere in the world you can truly be yourself?
You cannot possibly know because you are not a woman.
You have the choice to be any kind of person you wish to be,
while the only choice women have
is to conceal the parts of ourselves the world will not accept.
I am Whistledown.
I will not change that.
I cannot accept that.
Colin, it is our wedding night.
I shall sleep on the sofa tonight.
I will find our carriage.
It will be all right.
It will.
Mr. Bridgerton.
Benedict.
It is pleasant to see you again.
And to see both of you.
I have been thinking about your offer.
And?
Well…
Evening, ma'am.
Are you in need of directions?
No. I am here for my payment.
For the Whistledown that was printed here last week?
The one dropped off from the Cowper House?
No Whistledowns were printed here last week.
-Or the weeks before that. -Fine.
I've already tried three other printers. Surely, there cannot be so many more.
You're not her, though, are you?
I… I-- I've always wanted to meet her.
My boss at the last place that I worked used to print for her.
Said that she was a redhead, though.
Oh?
What else did he tell you?