Виконт, который меня любил

СЕРИАЛ NETFLIX

Держитесь, ну же. Прошу.

Держитесь.

- Милорд!

- Дорогу!

Боже, Кейт!

Срочно пошлите за хирургом!

У нее рана на затылке.

Я зажал рукой, нужно ее зашить.

- Мисс Шарма, вы меня слышите?

- Она дрожит. Одеяло!

Не мешайте работать.

Что случилось?

Говорят, здесь мисс Шарма.

Что с ней?

Не знаю.

Ты в порядке?

Это моя вина.

Это я во всём виноват.

Энтони.

Энтони.

Куда она подевалась?

Уже неделю ни строчки.

Обычно выходило

по два фельетона, а то и по три.

Может, она уже всё сказала

об этой радикалистке,

Элоизе Бриджертон.

Эй ты, есть свежий выпуск

бульварной писанины?

Сегодня нет, сэр. Возьмете газету?

Безобразие.

Надеюсь, к моей свадьбе

Уислдаун снова возьмется за перо.

Возможно, она взяла паузу,

чтобы не писать

о столь заурядном событии.

Или ей надоело разрушать чужие жизни.

Мама, я уже неделю хочу

навестить Элоизу.

Тебе не место в том доме.

Ты меня поняла?

Как обстоят дела

с мистером Бриджертоном?

Уже скоро. Мы встречаемся сегодня.

Отлично. Не пришла ли пора

потратить часть наших заработков?

Сундуки переполнены.

Думаю, мне не помешает

пара новых ружей.

Я имела в виду какое-то торжество.

Варли.

Мы решили устроить бал.

Отличная идея.

Наконец-то! В честь нашей помолвки?

В честь всей нашей семьи.

Варли, мне нужны роскошь,

блеск, золото. Всё самое лучшее.

Назовём это событие

«Бал у Фэзерингтонов».

Как оригинально.

Я немедленно разошлю приглашения, мэм.

Как быть с семействами

Бриджертон и Шарма?

Учитывая положение их дел.

Было бы забавно

снова увидеть их вместе.

Скандалы всем по вкусу.

Но мисс Шарма еще не очнулась

после падения с лошади.

Может, не стоит сейчас

высмеивать ее семью?

Пригласим их всех.

Скорее всего они всё равно не придут.

Пусть все посмотрят

на наше процветание.

После столь трагичного года.

Думаю, на этот раз розы и сирень.

Для поднятия настроения.

Спасибо, миссис Уилсон.

Снова отправляешь цветы Шарма?

Ужасно, когда у постели больного

стоят несвежие цветы.

Мы не пойдем на бал у Фэзерингтонов?

Даже не знаю.

Приглашение - хороший знак.

Сегодня во время прогулки

меня проигнорировали. Дважды.

Хорошо хоть леди Уислдаун

не пишет об этом.

Похоже, она теперь вообще не пишет.

Верно, Эл?

Элоиза,

возможно, прогулка с Пенелопой

поможет тебе развеяться.

Пенелопе точно не нужно

быть замеченной в подобном обществе.

Ее семья понимает

серьезность положения.

Как и ты. Признай.

Почему я не в курсе,

что уволилось трое слуг?

Я должен знать о подобных вещах.

Не только мы пострадали

от дурной репутации.

Колин. Ты ничего не хочешь мне сказать?

- Я не слежу за прислугой.

- А что с нашими счетами?

Похоже, за ними тоже не следишь.

Я два дня проверял бухгалтерию

и заметил, что ты взял крупную сумму.

Зачем?

Если хочешь знать, я инвестирую

в предприятие лорда Фэзерингтона.

Вот почему у нас столько проблем.

Управление делами вас не заботит.

Брат, ему 21 год.

Мы не можем сами принимать решения?

Займись мазней.

Ты тоже помалкивай

после всего, что натворила.

Я могу идти?

Мне тоже пора.

Не волнуйся, брат.

Я уведомлю тебя

обо всех своих передвижениях.

- Меня ждет моя мазня.

- А меня - чтение.

У меня урок латыни.

Как она?

Не знаю. Я не…

Ты не навестил ее? Прошла уже неделя…

Я же сказал, что был занят!

Я не стану лгать, Энтони.

Я переживаю за тебя.

У меня нет на это времени.

Что ж…

Возможно, стоит его найти.

Мисс Элоиза. Вам кое-что передали.

- Не нужно…

- Это может вас заинтересовать.

Я буду снаружи.

Вы ее получили.

Почему сразу не сказали?

К чему была вся эта ложь?

К чему притворяться, когда вы знали,

что настоящая леди Уислдаун печатается

в этой типографии?

Я не мог сказать.

Ведь она следила за мной.

Зачем я вынужденно

разорвал наши отношения?

Чтобы она не видела нас вместе.

И не написала о вас плохого.

С этим вы не успели.

Я должен извиниться, мисс Бриджертон.

За всё.

Уислдаун больше здесь не печатается.

- Но вы заслужили знать правду.

- И не только.

Похоже, она больше не пишет.

Сейчас идеальный момент,

чтобы найти ее.

Она потеряла бдительность.

Вы знаете ее методы,

я изобретательна.

Вместе мы ее разоблачим.

Выкладывайте всё.

Рукописи присылали рано утром.

- Обычно дважды в неделю.

- Где конверты?

О нет.

Они были зашиты в шелк.

Я очень рада получить сегодня

ваше приглашение, Ваше Величество.

Я думала, вы не хотите меня видеть

в свете последних событий.

Да.

У меня тут было время на раздумья.

Теперь не надо переживать

из-за леди Уислдаун.

А с вами можно рассчитывать

на интересную беседу.

Я так и не узнала истинную причину,

по которой виконт и его невеста

так и не вернулись к алтарю.

Это как-то связано с радикализмом

сестры лорда Бриджертона?

Не знаю, мэм. Сейчас все наши мысли

сосредоточены на старшей мисс Шарма,

в надежде на ее восстановление

после падения.

Конечно.

Я пришлю пару ожерелий

в качестве знака внимания.

- Вы так добры.

- О чём речь.

Как думаете, в этом сезоне

нас ждут еще свадьбы?

Может, лорд Файф

и та мрачная девица,

возомнившая себя арфисткой?

Не слышала об их намерениях.

У леди Уислдаун была монополия

на подобные предположения, не так ли?

Возможно, всем нам пойдет на пользу,

если мы найдем новые интересы.

Не лезь в это, Уилл.

Займись лучше баром.

Напитки сами не нальются.

Где именно находятся ваши шахты?

Я не называю точные данные.

Во избежание появления конкурентов.

Мондрич!

Рад вас здесь видеть.

Это ведь его заведение.

Похоже, лорд решил,

что это его личный офис

для обделывания делишек.

Довольно неудачный выбор слов,

не находите?

Мистер Бриджертон,

не верьте ни единому его слову.

- Перед вами аферист.

- Позвольте, Мондрич!

Похоже, у них это семейное.

Меня угораздило

связаться с его покойным кузеном,

чьим бесчестным действиям

я по ошибке попустительствовал.

Вы сами подумайте.

Фэзерингтоны устраивают

самый роскошный бал сезона.

- А ведь пару месяцев назад…

- Оставьте.

Фэзерингтоны - уважаемая семья,

чье имя было несправедливо запятнано.

На вашем месте

я был бы осторожнее с обвинениями.

Вы вряд ли можете себе позволить

и дальше отваживать гостей.

Предлагаю найти другое место

для обсуждения наших дел.

Колин Бриджертон заглотил наживку.

Вы позволили мне вернуться

в мои покои.

Но это не дает вам право

сюда врываться.

Прошу прощения.

Что ж, подготовка к балу

идет полным ходом.

Золотые цветы,

золотые напитки, золото повсюду.

Вы не любите золото?

Бриджертон в деле.

Похоже, мы обобрали все общество.

Как же так?

Мы действовали эффективно.

Отличная команда.

Всегда можно навестить

богатые семьи в провинции.

Таких немного наберется.

Тем временем здешние семьи скоро начнут

ждать отдачи от инвестиций.

И в итоге весь наш план развалится.

Разве у вас нет отходных путей, милорд?

Мы уедем из Лондона.

Отправимся в Америку.

Я на это не пойду.

Вам нравится быть успешной здесь?

Только представьте,

каково это в новом городе.

Море возможностей разбогатеть.

И всё это у наших ног.

Порша, нас ждет еще больший успех

вдали от этого захолустного городишки

с его обществом.

В Америке нет королевской семьи.

Так станьте их королевой.

Подумайте об этом.

Кстати…

Я очень люблю золото.

Не делай этого, сестра.

Не оставляй меня. Мы должны…

Прошу.

Эдвина.

Мама! Леди Данбери! Сюда!

- Что?

- Она очнулась!

Слава богу. Пошлите за доктором.

Кейт.

Ты всё помнишь?

Я помню, что поехала верхом в парк.

И падение.

Мама, Эдвина, простите меня.

Отдохни. Тебе нельзя перенапрягаться.

Лорд Бриджертон навещал меня?

Это он спас вас в парке.

Настоящий джентльмен.

Это он принес вас сюда пару дней назад.

А с тех пор?

Понятно.

Ты права.

Мне нужен отдых.

Я скоро присоединюсь к вам в гостиной.

Энтони.

- Очнулась?

- Горничная передала миссис Уилсон.

Даже подумать страшно.

Найти кого-то в таком состоянии.

Того,

кого ты любишь.

Мне жаль.

Мне так жаль,

что именно ты был с отцом в тот день.

Тебе столько всего пришлось

пережить в последующие дни.

Если бы я могла изменить…

Как бы я хотела

вернуться назад и всё изменить.

Я думаю об этом

каждую ночь перед отходом ко сну

и каждый день, открывая глаза.

От этих мыслей не избавиться.

Не думаю, что я могу навестить ее.

Потеря Эдмунда была

самым трудным периодом в моей жизни.

Боль, которую я испытала…

…не поддается описанию.

Но лишь в одной мысли

я находила некое подобие утешения.

Я знала,

что всё равно выбрала бы жизнь с ним.

Всегда и не раздумывая.

И я бы снова пережила

всю ту боль, что накрыла меня.

Потому что настоящая любовь того стоит.

Несмотря ни на что.

Не теряй ее, Энтони.

Ты не можешь ее потерять.

Мадемуазель Бриджертон!

Почему вы сегодня одна?

Я думала, вас не интересует мода.

Я здесь не за этим.

Я пришла вывести вас на чистую воду.

Простите?

Вы работали на нее, верно?

Леди Уислдаун?

Боже!

Какая же вы выдумщица!

Сначала я думала,

вы и есть она. Но ошиблась.

А тут вспомнила про ваших рассыльных,

вечно разносящих пакеты.

Идеальная сеть для доставки рукописей

в типографию, не привлекая внимания.

Не понимаю, о чём это вы.

«Мадам Делакруа немолода,

но, по крайне мере, искусна».

Уислдаун скупа на комплименты.

Немногие леди сочтут это за комплимент.

- После этого ваши дела пошли в гору…

- Мисс Элоиза!

С моей стороны было бы глупо связаться

со столь скандальной личностью.

Так же как с вашей стороны глупо

тут разнюхивать,

когда мне известно,

что она о вас написала.

Разве не так?

Мадам Делакруа, оденьте нас

в золото с головы до ног.

Эл.

Встретимся на улице.

Нам нельзя быть на людях,

но удели мне секунду.

- Элоиза…

- Тео всё же печатал Уислдаун.

Он мне всё рассказал.

Я думала, ты оставила поиски.

Тебе мало слов Уислдаун?

Ты меня не слушаешь! Я найду ее!

Не кричи на меня!

Прости, я…

Все узнают,

что ты с ним говорила. С Тео.

Ходят слухи о твоей связи

с простолюдином.

Неужели ты не слышала?

Кто? Кто это говорит?

Слуги.

Они слышат это в домах, где служат.

Филиппа об этом спрашивала.

- Я же была осторожна. Ты уверена?

- Леди Уислдаун оказала тебе услугу.

Узнай она это и опубликуй, тогда…

У твоей семьи

и так серьезные неприятности.

Ты слишком долго была ей одержима.

Сначала обожала ее, потом ненавидела.

Довольно. Я больше не могу

об этом слышать.

Скандал, связанный с тобой,

скоро забудется.

Я жду того дня,

когда между нами всё будет по-прежнему.

Бриджертон. Тесса. Можно к вам?

В тесноте да не в обиде.

Мистер Бриджертон будет рад компании,

пока я и моя копия

не ополчились на него.

А…

Сюда.

Блестяще.

Думаю, это ваша лучшая работа.

Пожалуй, мы все заслужили выпить.

Я рад вашему прогрессу, Бриджертон.

Многие в Академии думали,

вы по выпивке, не по живописи.

С чего они это взяли?

Учитывая то, как вас приняли.

Учитывая участие… Сами знаете.

Руперт.

Просветите меня, пожалуйста. О чём?..

Ваш брат пожертвовал

Академии крупную сумму.

Это обеспечило вам место.

Я думал, вы знаете.

Лорд Бриджертон.

Я рад, что вы пришли в себя.

Я слышала, это вы нашли меня

и привезли домой.

Я благодарен

нашей первой гонке в парке.

Если бы не тот судьбоносный момент,

кто знает, что еще могло случиться?

Спасибо за цветы.

У вас что-то еще, милорд?

Я приходил к вам.

На следующее утро.

Чтобы принести извинения.

Вы заслуживаете гораздо большего.

Я позволил себе вольность. Я…

Я не хотел,

чтобы всё так получилось, так что…

- Я хотел извиниться.

- Я слышала.

Выходите за меня.

Мисс Шарма.

- Прошу…

- Что вы делаете? Нет.

Милорд, ничего этого не нужно.

Кейт.

Я возвращаюсь в Индию.

Как только улажу проблемы с сестрой,

я вернусь в Индию. Всё решено.

А финансовые дела вашей семьи?

Леди Данбери так добра,

что поддержит маму и сестру

еще один сезон.

Очевидно, что я тут не помощник.

Вы убегаете.

Прошу, уйдите.

Уйдите!

Может, это другая модистка.

Она закрыла салон после похвалы

леди Уислдаун в адрес мадам Делакруа.

- Значит, она что-то скрывает.

- Возможно. Но она довольно хитра.

Она не признается в том, что замешана.

Это еще один тупик.

Оставьте.

Простите.

Я…

Это абсурд.

- Я бы никогда…

- Нет. Всё это… Это абсурдно.

Это не может так продолжаться.

- Это была ваша идея.

- Знаю.

Я…

Да, это так.

Простите, что отняла у вас время.

Неужели?

Может, вы всё бросаете

по другой причине?

О нас уже говорят, Тео.

Обычно меня это не волнует.

Но вы мне не безразличны.

Если мы продолжим встречаться,

я не прощу себе,

если вы пострадаете от последствий.

Я должен был догадаться.

Вы ничем не отличаетесь

от всех прочих леди.

Ничего, мисс Бриджертон.

Вы заглянули в мой мир,

чтобы оценить незаслуженные привилегии,

положенные вам по рождению.

Возвращайтесь к своей жизни.

А я - к своей.

Мне жаль, что я не смог

помочь вам ее найти.

Удачи.

Тео.

Кейт!

- Тебе нельзя вставать.

- Я чувствую себя гораздо лучше.

За неделю в постели

я отдохнула за все эти годы.

Это был очень напряженный сезон.

Эдвина,

знаю, мне будет непросто

вернуть твое доверие.

Но я готова продолжать попытки,

сколько бы времени это ни заняло.

Когда тебе нездоровилось,

я хотела одного - чтобы ты поправилась.

А теперь у меня появились вопросы.

Между тобой и виконтом

всё время что-то было?

Ты врала мне с самого начала?

Я врала себе.

Возможно…

…между нами что-то было, но…

Я поняла это,

когда было слишком поздно.

Но почему ты сразу же мне не сказала?

Зачем тянула,

пока я сама не прозрела? Как дура.

Я отрицала свои чувства.

- Но…

- Они были слишком сильны.

Узнав о твоем падении,

я думала лишь о том,

что я тебя совсем не знаю.

Как и ты сама.

Кейт, мне надоело играть роль.

Я хочу по-настоящему узнать себя.

И тебя тоже.

Ведь я не уверена,

что мне нравились те,

кого мы обе играли.

Представим новых себя

на сегодняшнем балу у Фэзерингтонов?

Сестренка…

Сделай это не ради меня.

Что бы ты ни предприняла,

надеюсь, ты сделаешь это,

будучи верна самой себе.

А не ради кого-то еще.

Похоже, у тебя разбито сердце.

Что ты об этом знаешь?

Не знаю, согласен.

Но я прочувствовал это в живописи.

В портрете Гейнсборо.

Или в небе Тёрнера.

А что чувствуется

в полотне Бриджертона?

Разочарование.

- Отсутствие вдохновения.

- Дела в Академии неважно?

Я самозванец, Эл.

Оказывается, Энтони купил мне место.

Это не значит,

что тебя бы не взяли просто так.

Я тоже чувствую себя самозванкой.

На балах. Разряженная в пух и прах.

Притворяясь кем-то другим.

Я правда не хочу идти

на этот ужасный бал.

Хоть там и будет Пен.

Теперь даже она

крайне невысокого обо мне мнения.

Нужен спутник?

Что? Конечно же нет.

Знаешь… Я как раз свободен.

Парочка самозванцев?

Брат.

Грегори.

Уже поздно.

Мне не спится.

Что-то не так?

С латынью.

Учитель ругается.

Считает меня тупым.

Прости, что побеспокоил.

- Зря я…

- Грегори, стой.

Иди сюда.

Иди сюда.

Учитель латыни не считает тебя глупым.

Просто он меня боится.

Я слишком многого прошу

от него и от тебя.

Вообще от всех.

Я хоть немного на него похож?

Или это ты в него?

Я про отца.

Он был…

Мы оба на него похожи.

У него была моя серьезность.

И твоя любовь к розыгрышам.

Правда?

Однажды он налил клей

в ботинки Бенедикта.

Хотел бы я его разыграть.

Я тоже.

Нужно чаще о нём говорить, верно?

Я почти ничего о нём не знаю.

Это потому, что я слишком запоздал

со многими вещами.

Он лучший из всех, кого я знал.

Да, он любил посмеяться, но…

Он был храбрецом. Не боялся бороться.

Не только за свою семью.

Но и за всё остальное.

Дорогая.

Как ты себя чувствуешь?

Хорошо. Я в порядке.

Вижу, ты еще не одета для бала.

Мне нужно собрать все вещи.

Я еще не решила, пойду ли я на бал.

Кейт.

Надеюсь, ты возвращаешься

в Индию не потому,

что хочешь сбежать от трудностей.

Мне это знакомо.

Уверяю тебя, это неверный выбор.

- Мне больно видеть тебя такой.

- Я сама виновата, мама.

- Во всём случившемся.

- Эдвина тебя простила. Как и я.

А вот я себя не простила.

Я должна была помочь ей.

Помочь нашей семье. А в итоге…

Ты не должна была

заниматься Эдвиной в одиночку.

Это моя вина.

- Ты оплакивала отца.

- Как и ты.

А ведь ты уже потеряла мать. Кейт…

Ты воспитала меня как родную.

Ты всегда относилась к нам одинаково.

Я всем обязана тебе.

Ты ничем мне не обязана.

Тебе не нужно было

завоевывать место в семье.

Я полюбила тебя с нашего знакомства.

Любовь - это не то,

за что ты кому-то обязан.

Ты вошла в мою жизнь как дочь.

И только так я тебя и воспринимаю.

Я…

Мне больно видеть, что ты не веришь,

что заслуживаешь всей любви в мире.

Он хотел предложить мне выйти за него.

Виконт.

- Что?

- Я не могла этого допустить, мама.

Им двигало чувство долга.

Какое-то ненужное благородство

после того, как мы…

Он не любит меня, мама.

И я…

Я не могла этого допустить.

Моя дорогая.

Блистательно.

Не так ли?

Пусть это станет затравкой

нашей с Джеком свадьбы.

Может, сегодня он наконец-то

со мной потанцует?

Нет, если у него есть

хоть капля разума.

Я сейчас упаду в обморок.

Этот бал - мое главное достижение.

Ваше Величество.

Я не справлюсь.

Прости, мама. Я снова тебя разочарую.

Меня разочарует, если ты начнешь

прислушиваться к их мнению.

Ты не такая.

Я не хочу,

чтобы ты снова что-то от меня скрывала.

Соберись.

Ты держалась весь сезон.

Будет жаль сейчас сдаться.

Прошу.

Я готова.

Файф заперся с дамой в кладовке.

На 20 минут. Подумать только.

Пен.

Эл.

Наслаждаешься вечером?

Я тоже.

Ты была права.

Насчет Тео.

Было ошибкой втягивать его в это.

Я последовала совету

и покончила с этим.

Ему это не понравилось,

но так было нужно.

- Элоиза…

- Спасибо за заботу обо мне.

Ты настоящий друг.

- Так поиски леди…

- С ними покончено.

Навсегда.

Теперь мы можем поговорить о другом.

Например, о лорде Файфе.

Говорят, он надолго уединился

с мисс Горинг.

Страшно подумать.

Где ты это слышала?

Вон мисс Горинг, у стола с лимонадом.

Подкладывает в лиф салфетки.

И мы знаем, ради кого. Глянь.

Какая наблюдательность.

Я рада, что ты решила прийти.

Не хочу пропустить последний вечер

с тобой перед отъездом.

Что скажешь?

Потанцуем?

- С кем?

- Вдвоем.

Они не могут

сказать о нас ничего нового.

Ты была на волоске от смерти.

Разве это не повод?

Вы понимаете, что моей репутации конец?

Мне нравится привлекать внимание.

А мне нравится

ваше прекрасное ожерелье.

Подарок лорда Фэзерингтона?

Целых 17 рубинов.

Ревнуете, мистер Бриджертон?

Оно прекрасно.

- Вот только застежка сломана.

- Правда?

Позволите починить?

Наш камердинер смыслит

в ювелирном деле.

Это же не предлог,

чтобы навестить меня, не так ли?

Идем со мной.

Колин, будет скандал, если нас здесь…

Нет никаких шахт в Джорджии.

Твой кузен, лорд Фэзерингтон…

Мне жаль расстраивать тебя, Пен,

но я навел справки.

Думаю, он банальный мошенник.

Что? О чём ты говоришь?

Если я прав, то это ожерелье…

- Пенелопа? Мистер Бриджертон?

- Что это значит?

Это значит…

…что эти камни - фальшивка,

сделанная из стекла.

Как и вы.

Как вы смеете

использовать этих бедных леди,

когда их муж и отец не может

их защитить?

Лишь из уважения к их репутации

я решаю это дело с глаза на глаз.

Но я жду, что вы вернете все средства,

что вам удалось собрать.

И немедленно покинете город.

Мама?

Я разберусь с этим.

И очень благодарна мистеру Бриджертону.

Медлить больше нельзя.

Деньги в сундуке.

Дождемся окончания бала и в путь

на первом же корабле в Америку.

Завтра? Но это слишком скоро, милорд.

Как же мои девочки?

- Потом за ними пришлем.

- Потом? Когда это?

Пусть едут с нами.

Хотя их будет нелегко уговорить

на ночной побег в южные штаты.

В каком-то смысле

это будет облегчением.

Мне не придется

вынужденно жениться на Пруденс.

У нас появятся новые виды на будущее.

Да?

Нужно вернуться к гостям.

- Колин.

- Ты в порядке?

- Думаю, да.

- Хорошо.

Тогда пошли танцевать.

Я часами прокручивал в голове ту речь.

Если твой кузен не вернет деньги

и бросит вас одних,

я скажу ему кое-что еще.

Колин, ты был великолепен.

Спасибо, что заботишься о нас.

Я всегда буду

заботиться о тебе, Пенелопа.

Ты для меня очень важна.

Как и ты. Для меня.

Ты не сможешь избегать его весь вечер.

Да и не стоит пытаться.

По крайней мере, не ради меня.

Будь сестрой, которую я знаю.

Будь веселой и смелой.

Дай волю своим чувствам.

Не бойся прислушаться к голосу сердца.

Ты слишком долго его игнорировала.

Всё это время

ты всю себя посвящала заботе обо мне.

Пришло время подумать о себе.

Лорд Бриджертон.

Мисс Шарма.

Я как раз собирался уйти.

Нам нужно по-прежнему

избегать друг друга, чтобы…

Возможно, не нужно.

Возможно, наблюдатели будут

снисходительны ко мне.

Я танцевала

через пару дней

после тяжелой травмы головы.

Возможно, мне нужно дружеское плечо.

Чья-то поддержка.

Возможно, вы просто оказались рядом.

- Сколько?

- Три.

Пригласите меня на танец?

В последний раз?

Вы примите приглашение?

Хотите остановиться?

Просто смотрите на меня.

Нам ни до кого нет дела.

Какой скандал.

Так вот почему

не состоялась свадьба ее сестры?

Что вы, дитя, нет.

Та свадьба не состоялась лишь потому,

что я передумала.

Каким-то образом леди Уислдаун

упустила этот факт.

Думаю, они прекрасно смотрятся вместе.

Бесспорно.

Не так ли?

Не так ли?

- Да, Ваше Величество.

- Конечно.

Да, Ваше Величество.

Тогда почему больше никто не танцует?

Мисс Эдвина,

я уже говорила вам о своем племяннике?

Он принц.

Холостой.

Внимание. Прошу всех в сад.

У меня для вас сюрприз.

Элоиза.

Откуда у тебя столько денег?

- Почему ты роешься в моих вещах?

- Ответь мне.

Это не твое дело.

Не мое дело. Понятно.

А в чём заключается твое дело, Пен?

Слушая от тебя все эти сплетни,

я вдруг поняла.

Я никогда не обращала внимания.

Возможно, ты и раньше так говорила.

Но именно сегодня я тебя услышала.

Это было так знакомо.

Твои слова.

Не только тема или содержание.

А сам строй.

Ты говорила будто по писаному.

Как думаешь, почему?

Ты слишком часто читала Уислдаун.

Ее голос звучит в твоей голове, Элоиза.

Поначалу я тоже так подумала.

А потом вспомнила,

что ты вечно стоишь у стены.

Собирая все эти обрывки

сплетен и слухов.

Когда я сказала, что не хочу

стать бриллиантом этого сезона,

Уислдаун тут же от всего открестилась.

А еще ты была в числе немногих,

знавших о беременности мисс Томпсон.

Ты же не…

А еще твои слова о том, что ходят слухи

обо мне и Тео.

Будь это правдой,

Уислдаун давно бы об этом написала.

Поэтому ты выбрала мадам Делакруа.

Ведь я уже перестала на нее думать.

Потому что это было личное.

Элоиза, прости меня.

Мне так жаль. Ты во всём права.

- Я пыталась тебя защитить.

- Неужели?

Написав обо мне в последнем фельетоне?

Рассказав всему миру о том,

что я доверила тебе?

Только так можно было

убедить королеву, что это не ты.

Ты хотела спасти

одного человека - себя.

Чтобы и дальше зарабатывать

за счет других.

За счет мисс Томпсон.

За счет моего брата.

Всей моей семьи. Всей твоей семьи.

Я разорвала дружбу с Тео из-за тебя!

Одну из моих немногих радостей!

Из-за твоих эгоистичных игр!

Ты не представляешь,

как тяжело было скрывать это от тебя,

ото всех всё это время!

Уислдаун - всё, что у меня было.

И я отказалась от нее.

С ней покончено.

Я написала то, что должна была.

И отказалась от нее. Ради тебя.

Я тебя даже не знаю.

Я смотрю на тебя

и испытываю к тебе лишь жалость.

Сидишь тут в этой комнате,

строчишь свои сплетни,

портишь всем жизнь,

потому что в реальности

ты боишься постоять сама за себя.

Браво, Пенелопа.

А еще притворялась серой мышкой.

Я хоть что-то сделала.

А ты способна

лишь разглагольствовать о действиях.

У тебя такие амбиции, столько планов.

А я взяла и сделала что-то.

Тебя ведь это бесит, верно?

И кто ты после этого?

Я больше никогда не хочу

видеть тебя или говорить с тобой.

Прошу сюда.

Сейчас начнется настоящий праздник.

Коль нам суждено уехать,

так хотя бы мы устроили

запоминающееся прощание.

Я устроила запоминающееся прощание.

Для вас.

Я приказала горничным

собрать ваши вещи. Самое необходимое.

И сумму, достаточную

на билет в Америку.

Подальше от нас.

- Я думал, мы уедем вместе.

- Нет.

Уезжаете вы. Один.

- Порша…

- Не смейте ко мне прикасаться.

Порша, мы команда.

Блестящая команда.

У меня уже есть команда.

Три юные леди.

Да, они бывают своевольны и невыносимы.

Но они мои дети.

И мне очевидно,

что вам до них дела нет.

Вот и езжайте подальше

со своим любимцем. Самим собой.

Вся эта схема была

не только моей, но и вашей идеей.

Скорее даже вашей.

Думаете, кто-то поверит,

что такому блестящему джентльмену

понадобилась помощь женщины?

Которая сама же пала жертвой,

вложив последние крохи

в эту самую затею?

Всё это задокументировано, милорд.

Я оставлю себе крупную сумму,

чтобы обеспечить себя и дочерей.

А еще миссис Варли подделала

для меня подпись на документе,

по которому, как только

одна из моих дочерей родит сына,

он станет наследником всего.

Варли - настоящий каллиграф.

Общество, конечно же, будет в ярости,

узнав, что вы сбежали

со всеми деньгами,

что вы из них вытянули.

Попробуйте объяснить им,

пока они все в сборе…

Вы ужасно вероломны.

Я мать.

Вы уезжаете с тем же, с чем приехали.

Ни с чем.

Вы не видели Элоизу?

Элоиза Бриджертон?

Пенелопа Фэзерингтон?

Вы забавно смотрелись во время танца.

- Ухаживаете за ней, Бриджертон?

- Рехнулись?

Мне и в голову не придет

ухаживать за Пенелопой.

Не выдумывайте, Файф.

Я решил бросить Академию.

Что?

- С чего это?

- Я знаю о твоем пожертвовании.

Ты пытался помочь. По-своему.

Возможно, ты видел очевидное.

Что я ни на что не годен.

Брось, говоришь как я.

Если хочешь рисовать, рисуй.

Это один из многих твоих талантов.

Главный из них - ты видишь то,

что нужно другим,

когда они сами того не видят.

Я не сразу его разглядел.

Но, благодаря тебе, я прозрел.

Приятного вечера, брат.

Вы всё еще планируете

вернуться в Индию?

Я получила благословение

сестры и матери.

А королева соблаговолила

спасти наши семьи от позора.

Вы очень любите свою семью.

Так же, как и вы любите свою.

Я боялся потерять вас.

Поэтому не мог тогда навестить вас.

Я не мог заставить себя…

Я люблю вас.

С той самой утренней гонки в парке.

Я любил вас в каждом танце,

каждой прогулке, каждой встрече

и в каждой разлуке.

Можете не принимать это,

не позволять. Зная вас, так и будет.

Но вы знаете это.

В глубине души.

Вы должны чувствовать это. Как и я.

Я люблю вас.

- Не знаю, что сказать.

- Не надо говорить.

Не думаю, что можно еще что-то сказать.

Разве что я тоже вас люблю.

Мы должны найти гармонию в жизни.

Знаю, я не идеален.

Но я умоляю вас не отвергать меня,

ведь я не представляю жизни без вас.

Поэтому я хочу жениться на вас.

Вы же знаете, что не будет ни дня,

когда вы не будете меня раздражать.

Обещаете, Катани Шарма?

Да.

Да, обещаю.

Что ж.

Похоже, мы наконец-то

в чём-то единодушны.

Полагаю, это так.

Говорят,

молчание могущественнее слов.

Никто не знает это лучше меня.

Вы были правы

насчет лорда Фэзерингтона.

Я должен извиниться за свое поведение.

Так я завоевал его доверие.

Эта победа мне не по вкусу.

Нет.

Но вам тоже стоит за нее выпить.

Я сказал им,

что здесь достойный хозяин,

подающий отличную выпивку.

Они решили зайти.

Я ваш должник, мистер Мондрич.

Спасибо.

Закатай рукава, Уилл.

У нас клиенты.

В тишине можно найти истину.

Нужно лишь прислушаться.

Знаю, всегда будут времена,

когда необходимо молчание.

Но бывают случаи,

когда оно противопоказано.

Дражайший читатель, вы решили,

что я оставила перо.

Но вы ошибались.

Вам уже следовало бы уяснить,

что ваша покорная слуга не может

долго хранить молчание.

Искренне ваша,

леди Уислдаун.

Виконтесса.

Сегодня вы превзошли сами себя.

Вы же знаете,

как важны для меня мои обязанности.

Тогда начнем сначала,

раз уж вы так рьяно исполняете

свой долг.

Сейчас наш долг -

встретиться с твоей семьей,

пока они не решили, что мы их избегаем.

Вы только посмотрите!

Вот ты и пошел.

Их не было полгода.

И мы ждем их уже шесть часов.

Для молодоженов это один миг.

А вот и они.

Да.

Как раз вовремя.

Может, начнем игру?

Хочешь покончить

с неизбежным поражением, брат?

Мы готовы,

оставили тебе молоток смерти.

- Он мой!

- Мой!

- Неважно.

- Будь верен розовому, Энтони.

Ты так мило краснеешь,

когда держишь его в руках.

- Кто начинает?

- Ньютон!

Похоже, он.

- Ньютон!

- Ньютон!

Полагаю, это было начало игры.

- Он перехватил твой ход.

- Вовсе нет.

- Он твой.

- Наш. В рамках брака.

Не припомню подобных договоренностей.

Это между тобой и Ньютоном.

Он меня не слушается.

Думаешь, я слушаюсь?

Полагаю, они выходят из игры.

- Нет!

- Ни за что!

Если только мы не решим уединиться?

И признать поражение?

Ни за что.

ПАМЯТИ КЭРОЛ ПРЕНТИС

Перевод субтитров: Ксения Гребеникова

МОДИСТКА

В ПАМЯТЬ О КЭРОЛ ПРЕНТИС

ПО МОТИВАМ РОМАНОВ ДЖУЛИИ КУИНН

[dramatic music plays]

[thunder rumbling]

[grunts]

[panting]

Stay with me. Come on, now.

Come on, now.

Stay with me.

-My lord!

-[Anthony] Make room!

Oh my God! Kate!

Call the surgeon at once!

She has a cut on the back of her head.

I kept pressure on it,

but it needs stitching.

-Miss Sharma? Can you hear me?

-She needs more blankets. She's shivering!

Allow me to get to work.

What happened?

My valet saw you carry Miss Sharma inside.

Is she all right?

I do not know.

Are you all right?

[softly] It's my fault.

It is all my fault.

[breathes deeply]

Anthony.

[echoing] Anthony.

[fading] Anthony.

[heartbeat thumping]

Where is she?

It's been a week since she last published.

There should've been at least

two issues by now, if not three.

Perhaps she had nothing more to say

about that radical ruffian,

Eloise Bridgerton.

[both chuckle snidely]

You there. What've you done

with our scandal sheet?

Nothing today, sir.

Would you like a newspaper?

[cane taps]

Nonsense.

[Prudence] I do hope

Whistledown picks up her pen again

in time to write about

my forthcoming nuptials.

Perhaps she rested her pen

so she did not have to write

about such an uninteresting affair.

Or perhaps she was done

ruining the lives of others.

Mama, I wish to visit Eloise.

It has been a week.

You will not set foot into that household.

Do you understand me?

So, where are we with, uh, Mr. Bridgerton?

We are close.

I'm set to meet with him this afternoon.

Very well. Do you not think it time

for us to spend some of our earnings?

Our coffers are overflowing.

Well, I suppose

I could use a larger gun cabinet.

I was thinking more

of some kind of celebration.

Varley.

Lord Featherington and I

would like to give a ball.

-[gasps]

-[Jack] Excellent idea.

So that we may finally

celebrate our engagement?

So that we may finally

celebrate all of us.

Varley, I want luster and glitter

and gold. I want the best of everything.

And we will call it

"The Featherington Ball."

How original.

I will have invitations

sent out straight away, ma'am.

Now… [clears throat] …what about

the Bridgertons and the Sharmas?

Considering the state of their households.

It would be titillating to see

those two families in one place again.

Everyone does love a touch of drama.

Everyone knows Miss Sharma

is yet to awaken from her accident.

Perhaps we shouldn't make jest

of her family at a time like this?

Invite them all. They likely

will not come, of course, poor souls,

but let everyone be allowed

to finally see how well we're doing.

[scoffs]

After such a tragic year.

I was thinking…

[continues indistinctly]

[indistinct chatter]

Roses and lilacs,

I think, this time. Cheerful.

Thank you, Mrs. Wilson.

Are you sending flowers

to the Sharmas again?

There's nothing worse than rotting flowers

when someone is unwell.

We're not attending

this Featherington Ball, are we?

Oh, I do not know. I suppose

it is a good thing we were invited.

On my walk this morning

I was given the cut direct. Twice.

At least Lady Whistledown

does not seem to be writing about it.

She does not seem to be writing

at all anymore. Is that not right, El?

Eloise, uh,

perhaps a stroll with Penelope

might help clear your mind.

The last thing Penelope needs is to be

seen consorting with the likes of me.

The Featheringtons know

how bad this is. And you do too.

Even if you refuse to admit.

No one informed me that we have lost

three staff in the last month.

These are precisely

the things I must know about.

We are not the only ones affected

by our ill reputation of late, Anthony.

Colin. Would you care

to inform me about anything?

-I do not take note of staff changes.

-[Anthony] What about our accounts?

You do not seem

to take note of them either,

since I spent

the last two days balancing our books,

only to discover that you

have taken out a rather large sum.

Whatever for?

If you must know, I was exploring

an investment with Lord Featherington.

This is just what makes

the difficulties in this household.

No one gives any thought

as to how it must be managed.

He is one and 20, Brother.

Is no one allowed

to make their own decisions?

You, keep doodling.

And do not ask me

to speak of your activities.

I wouldn't know where to begin.

May I be excused?

[Colin] I must go too.

But do not worry, Brother.

I shall send you notice

of every step I take today.

-Yes. Doodling awaits, I suppose.

-I do have so much to read.

I have my Latin.

How is she?

I do not know. I have not--

You have not been to see her?

It has been a week--

Have I not made it clear I've been busy?

I would be lying if I said

I was not worried about you, Anthony.

I do not have time for this.

Well…

perhaps you might wish to make time.

[exhales softly]

[sighs]

Miss Eloise. A package for you.

-Oh, I do not want any--

-You might want this one.

I'll be outside.

You got my note.

Why did you not tell me sooner?

Why did you continue lying to me?

Carrying on with me,

when you knew, this entire time

that the real Lady Whistledown

has been using this very shop

to print her scandal sheet.

I couldn't tell you.

Not when she was still watching me.

Why do you think I ended things with you,

despite wanting to do the very opposite?

I did not want her

to see the two of us together.

I didn't want her to write cruelly of you.

A little late for that.

I owe you an apology, Miss Bridgerton.

For everything.

Whistledown has now

taken her business elsewhere.

-Thought you deserve to know the truth.

-I deserve more than that.

She seems to have stopped writing at all.

Which is why now is

the perfect time to find her,

when she is unsuspecting,

and with your knowledge of her methods

and my endeavors, I'm sure

together we can finally unmask her.

[clears throat]

I must know everything you know.

The manuscripts came early mornings.

Twice a week, usually.

-You have the wrapping they came in?

-Never came in wrapping.

They came sewn into silks.

[Lady Danbury] I was pleased to receive

your invitation today, Your Majesty.

I had thought you might

not wish to see me after

the, uh, events of late.

Yes.

I seem to have some time on my hands

without Lady Whistledown

to keep me occupied.

I thought you might offer me

some stimulating conversation.

Ah.

I never did learn the true reason

why the viscount and his bride

did not walk back down the aisle together.

Did it have anything to do

with Lord Bridgerton's

political radical of a sister?

I would not know, ma'am.

We have all been busy

keeping the elder Miss Sharma in mind

until, as we hope,

she recovers… from her fall.

Of course.

I shall send a few necklaces

to express my sympathies.

-That is kind of you.

-It's not a problem.

Do you believe anyone else

is bound for the aisle this season?

What about Lord Fife

and that dour child

who fancies herself a harpist?

I am unaware of such a match.

Lady Whistledown had a monopoly

on such, uh, speculations, did she not?

Eh, perhaps it would do us all some good

to find new interests.

[sniffs]

Mind your business, Will.

And by "your business,"

I mean this bar. It needs tending.

So, then, where are these mines, exactly?

[Jack] I hesitate

to say the exact location.

I would not want

other prospectors taking over nearby.

Mondrich!

Pleasure seeing you here.

Well, it is his bar.

Seems the lord is treating it

more like his private office

for conducting his schemes.

[chuckles] "Schemes" is a rather

unpleasant word, don't you think?

Mr. Bridgerton, you cannot be

entertaining any of this in earnest.

-The man is a swindler.

-I beg your pardon, Mondrich.

It is a trait he seems to share

with his late cousin,

someone I myself became involved with

and whose unscrupulous actions

I once mistakenly condoned.

Perhaps you may be able

to see it for yourself.

The Featheringtons,

giving the most lavish ball of the season.

-Quite a celebration for a family who--

-Leave them out of it.

The Featheringtons are a fine family

whose reputation

has been most unfairly traduced.

I would be very careful

of the accusations you make in future,

as it hardly seems you can afford

to drive away any more patrons.

Perhaps we might find another place

to conduct our business, Featherington?

Colin Bridgerton has taken the bait.

You may have allowed me

to move into my bedchamber,

but that does not mean

you can just burst in unannounced.

My apologies.

Well, the ball

is coming together delightfully.

Gold flowers,

gold drinks, gold everywhere.

Do you not like gold?

Now that Mr. Bridgerton is in,

it seems we have

well-nigh exhausted the entire ton.

-But how can that be?

-We've been efficient. An excellent team.

Well, we can always make trips to visit

the wealthy families in the countryside.

The wealthy families in the countryside

are few and far between.

Meanwhile, the families here

will begin asking for a return

on their investments before long.

And then, well,

this whole thing falls apart.

Do not tell me you have

no plan of escape, my lord.

We leave London.

Travel to the Americas.

[scoffs]

I will do no such thing.

[Jack] You like being on top here, yes?

Well, then imagine

how good it will feel to be in a new city.

Endless opportunity, endless wealth,

for us to secure together.

Portia, we could be an even better team

without the restrictions

of this godforsaken society.

You do know that America has no royalty.

You could be their queen.

[quietly] Think about it.

[exhales sharply]

[Jack] Oh, and,

I do very much like gold.

[exhales sharply]

You must not do this, Didi.

You must not leave me like this.

We have to…

Please.

[Kate] Edwina.

[gasps, sobs]

Mama! Lady Danbury! Make haste!

[sobbing softly] Oh…

-Dearest?

-She is awake!

-Oh!

-Thank heavens. Send for the doctor.

-[Edwina chuckles]

-Kate.

Do you remember?

I remember riding in the park.

And the fall.

Oh, Mama, Edwina, I am so sorry.

You must rest, Didi.

Do not strain yourself.

Did Lord Bridgerton come to see me?

[Lady Danbury hesitates] He…

He rescued you in the park.

Gallantly, in fact.

He brought you back here several days ago.

[Mary chuckles lightly]

And since?

I see.

You are right.

I must rest.

[footsteps approaching]

I will join the family

in the drawing room momentarily.

Anthony.

-She's awake?

-Mrs. Wilson heard from one of the maids.

[Violet chuckles softly]

[inhales]

[Anthony breathing shakily]

It is… unthinkable.

Finding someone like that.

Someone

you love.

[sobbing softly] I am sorry.

I am so sorry that it was you

who was with your father that day.

And I am… sorry

for everything that happened

in the days that followed.

If I could go back and change things--

You have no idea

how much I wish I could change everything.

It is what I think about every night

before I close my eyes,

and then again every morning

before I open them.

It will never go away.

[Anthony sniffles]

I do not think that I can see her.

[exhales deeply]

Losing Edmund was

the most difficult time of my life.

And the pain that I felt…

beyond description.

But there is one thing that has given me

at least some modicum of solace.

It's knowing

that I would still choose

the life I led with him,

each and every time.

And I would undoubtedly feel

the same pain I felt

all over again if I had to

because real, true love is worth it.

No matter what.

[sighs softly]

[Violet] Do not lose her, Anthony.

You cannot lose her.

[breathes shakily]

[indistinct chatter]

[shopkeepers bell chimes]

-Mademoiselle Bridgerton.

-Ah.

What are you doing here on your own?

I thought you did not care for vêtements.

I am not here for dresses.

I should, however, like to dress you down.

Excuse-moi?

You worked with her, did you not?

Lady Whistledown?

[exhales, chuckles]

Mon Dieu! You have a fantastical mind.

[Eloise chuckles dryly]

I thought you were her at one point.

That proved to be wrong.

But I do realize you have boys

taking packages in and out all day long,

which puts you

in the most perfect position

to direct her issues to the printer

without raising a single eyebrow.

I don't know what you are talking about.

[clears throat]

"Madame Delacroix is old,

but at least she is capable."

Not often Whistledown

throws out a compliment.

I do not know many ladies who'd consider

being called "old" a compliment.

-Your business prospered after she wrote--

-Miss Eloise.

It would be foolish of me to be engaged

with such a scandalous person.

As foolish as it is for you

to be poking around like this

when I know what Whistledown

recently wrote of you.

No?

Madame Delacroix,

we would like to be gilded.

El.

Meet me outside.

I realize you are not to be seen with me,

but spare me just one moment.

The print shop where Theo works

was, in fact, Whistledown's.

He has told me everything.

Eloise, I thought you had quit your hunt.

Were Whistledown's words not enough?

You are not listening to me!

I am going to find her now!

Do not scream at me!

I am-- I'm sorry. I--

People know you…

you have been speaking to him. Theo.

There's been gossip about you

and a man from the lower classes.

You had to have heard people talking.

Who? Who is talking?

Servants.

Those who have heard it from their houses.

My sister asked me about it the other day.

I thought I had been discreet.

Are you quite sure?

Lady Whistledown has done you a favor.

If she were to find out about this

and write about it, then…

Your family are already

in a great deal of trouble.

You've been consumed

by thoughts of her for far too long.

First, you love her.

Then you hate her. It is enough.

I do not want to hear about it anymore.

This scandal of yours will soon pass.

I look forward to the day

when things'll return

to how they used to be between us.

[knocking]

Bridgerton. Tessa. Mind if I join you?

The more the merrier.

Mr. Bridgerton will be happy

to have you here

before the two "me's" gang up on him.

The…

-Uh, just--

-Mm-hmm.

-It's remarkable.

-[chuckles]

I should think it your best work to date.

Well, perhaps we have all earned a drink.

I am glad to see

you blossoming, Bridgerton.

I think many of us at the Academy

assumed you'd be all drink and no paint.

Why ever would they assume that?

Considering your acceptance.

How it was based on, well, you know…

Rupert.

What-- Enlighten me.

Please. Wha--

Your brother's

large donation to the Academy.

It's what secured your place.

I thought you knew.

[footsteps approaching]

Lord Bridgerton.

I'm glad to see you're awake.

I hear it was you who found me

and brought me home safe.

I suppose I must be grateful

for our very first race in the park.

If it were not for that fateful moment,

who knows what else could have happened?

Hmm.

Thank you for the flowers.

Was there something else, my lord?

I called on you.

The morning after.

I called on you to apologize.

You deserved so much more than that.

I took liberties. I…

I did not want it to happen like that, so…

-I came to apologize.

-Yes, you already said--

And to ask you to marry me.

Uh--

[Anthony] Miss Sharma.

-I'm here, and I'm asking--

-What are you doing?

No. My lord, I do not need you

to ask me anything at all.

Kate. I…

I am returning to India. [exhales]

The moment

I resolve matters with my sister,

I am returning to India. It is decided.

[Kate inhales deeply]

And your family's financial affairs?

Lady Danbury has offered to sponsor

my mother and sister for another season.

I am certain they will do

perfectly well on their own,

as it is clear I am of no help.

You are running away.

Please go.

Go!

Then perhaps

it could be the other modiste.

The other modiste

was driven out of business in part

by Lady Whistledown

praising Madame Delacroix.

So she must be hiding something.

Perhaps. But she is quite crafty.

If Madame Delacroix is involved,

she will never admit it.

Yet another clue

that will only lead nowhere.

Oh. [chuckles] Do not bother yourself.

Forgive me.

I--

[chuckles softly]

This is absurd.

-I would never--

-No, this whole thing, it is absurd. I--

We cannot continue to meet like this.

-This was your idea.

-I know.

I… [clears throat]

I know it was.

And I am sorry for wasting your time.

[Theo] Are you?

Or are you suddenly dropping

out of this hunt for other reasons?

People are already talking about us, Theo.

And, no, I do not normally care

what other people think, but, yes,

I care about you.

And if we continue on like this,

I could not live with myself

if you are the one

who has to face the consequences.

I should have known.

That you could not be

any different from all other ladies.

[inhales deeply]

It's all right, Miss Bridgerton.

You dipped your toe into my waters,

trying to make yourself feel better

about the unearned

advantages of your birth.

Now you can go back to your life,

and I can go back to mine.

I'm sorry I couldn't help you

find your writer.

Best of luck.

Theo.

[door opens and shuts]

Kate!

-You should not be up on your own.

-I am feeling much improved.

The most rested I have felt in years,

after a week in bed, in fact.

It has been a rather strenuous season.

Edwina, I know earning

your trust again will not be simple.

But I am willing to continue to try,

however long it might take.

When you were unwell,

all I cared about was you getting better.

But now that you are, I do have questions.

Was there always something

between you and the viscount?

Were you lying to me all along?

I was lying to myself.

Perhaps…

there was something between us, but

I truly did not know it

until it was too late.

But once you knew,

why did you not tell me?

Why wait for me

to put it together on my own like a fool?

I thought I could deny my feelings.

-But--

-They were too strong.

When I found out about your accident,

all I could think of

is how I do not even know you.

Nor do you know yourself.

Kate, I am done with playing a part.

I want to know myself, truly,

and to know who you are too.

Because I am unsure I like

the young ladies we've both been playing.

[Kate chuckles softly]

[exhales deeply]

Might we bring our new selves to this ball

the Featheringtons are giving tonight?

Oh, Bon…

I do not want you to attend for me.

Whatever action you now wish to take,

I only hope it is because

you are being truthful to yourself,

and not because of anyone else.

[Benedict sighs softly]

You seem to have

the melancholy of heartbreak about you.

What would you know about heartbreak?

[scoffs]

I would not, really.

[sighs] But I have felt it in paintings.

In a Gainsborough portrait or…

[sighs] …a Turner sky.

And what does one feel in a Bridgerton?

[chuckles lightly]

Disappointment.

-Lack of inspiration.

-Art Academy not going so well?

[chuckles]

I am an impostor, El.

Turns out Anthony himself

bought my seat at that table.

That does not mean you would not

have been accepted on your own.

I, too, know what it is like

to feel oneself an imposter.

Parading around ballrooms

in feathered frocks,

pretending to be someone I am not.

I truly do not want to go

to this dreadful ball tonight,

even if I know Pen will be there.

She finds me

quite foolish too, at present.

Would you like a companion?

What? Of course I would not.

Because… I am apparently free.

Impostor party of two?

[Eloise] Hmm.

[Benedict chuckles]

Brother.

Gregory.

Should you not be in bed?

I cannot sleep.

Is something wrong?

My Latin teacher believes so.

He yelled at me.

Thinks I am stupid.

[sighs] I am sorry for disturbing you.

-I shall--

-Gregory, wait.

Come here.

Come here.

Your Latin tutor

does not think you are stupid.

He thinks I am frightening.

[exhales]

I ask too much of him, and of you.

And of everyone, really.

Am I like him at all?

Or was he more like you?

Father.

He was, um…

He was like both of us, really.

He had my seriousness, perhaps.

He shared your love of a prank. [chuckles]

Did he?

He once put glue in Benedict's shoes.

[Gregory chuckles softly]

I wish I could have played a prank on him.

I wish so too.

[Anthony] We do not talk

about him enough, do we?

[Gregory] I do not know

much about him at all.

[Anthony] That is because

I have shown up far too late

for far too many things.

Your father was

the best man I've ever known.

He was good for a laugh, of course, but…

he was courageous,

and never afraid to fight.

Not just for his family,

but for everything else too.

[Mary] Dearest.

How are you feeling?

Oh. Well.

-Uh, I am feeling well.

-Oh.

I see you are not yet dressed

for the ball.

I have much to pack before I depart,

and I am still unsure

whether I would like to attend tonight.

Kate.

I hope your return to India

is not because of some eagerness

to flee what is difficult.

I know the feeling too well,

and I can tell you,

it is never the wise choice.

Oh…

-Oh, I hate seeing you like this.

-It is my fault, Mama.

-Everything that has happened.

-Edwina forgives you. I forgive you.

But I do not forgive myself.

I was supposed to help her.

To help our family, and instead--

It is not right that you were left

to guide Edwina alone.

That was my failing.

-You were grieving Appa.

-But so were you.

And after you had already

lost your mother too. Kate…

You took me in as your own.

And you never treated me any differently.

Everything I… I did, I owed it to you.

You owed me nothing.

Oh…

You never had to earn your place

in this family.

I loved you from the day I met you.

Oh, love is not something

that is ever owed.

You came into my life… as a daughter,

and I never saw you as anything else.

Oh, I--

It grieves me to think you do not believe

you deserve all of the love in the world.

[Kate breathes shakily, sniffles]

[exhales sharply]

[exhales sharply, sniffles]

He was going to ask me to marry him.

The viscount.

-What?

-And I could not allow it, Mama.

He was going to ask me

out of mere obligation,

some misguided notion

of duty after the two of us…

[sighs]

He does not love me, Mama.

Oh, and I…

[sniffles] I could not allow it.

[Mary] Oh…

[sighs sharply]

[softly] My darling, my darling…

[uptempo classical music playing]

Exquisite.

Is it not?

We might think it a foretaste

of my wedding to Cousin Jack, I suppose.

Might he finally dance with me tonight?

Not if he knows what is best for him.

[gasps] Oh, I shall swoon.

This ball is truly

my crowning achievement.

Your Majesty.

I-- I cannot do this tonight.

I am sorry, Mama.

I fear I must disappoint you yet again.

The only thing that'd

disappoint me is seeing you care

what anyone else thinks.

That would not be you.

I do not want you

keeping things from me ever again.

Now,

you have come thus far this season.

It would be

a shame for you to turn back now.

Steady.

And ready.

Fife had his lady friend

in a closet, apparently.

-For 20 minutes, if you can believe it.

-[chuckling softly]

Pen.

Ooh. El.

-Enjoying your evening?

-[groans softly]

Me neither. [chuckles]

You were correct… about Theo.

It was a mistake,

ever getting involved with him.

I took your advice,

and I extricated myself.

He did not take it well,

but I think it was the necessary choice.

-Eloise--

-Thank you… for protecting me.

You are a true friend.

-So your Lady Whistledown search--

-…is over. [chuckles]

She is gone for good. [clears throat]

I suppose now

we can finally speak of other things.

Perhaps we might speak of Lord Fife.

I hear he recently spent a good

deal of time with Miss Goring in a closet.

For what, I cannot imagine.

Wherever did you hear that?

Miss Goring is over there,

alongside the lemonade table,

secretly fixing tissue paper in her bosom.

Now we know who for. Look.

What a keen observation, Pen.

Mmm. [chuckles softly]

[indistinct murmuring]

I am glad you decided to come.

I could not miss out

on one last evening with you before I go.

[chuckles]

Then what do you say?

Might we take to the dance floor?

[classical dance tune playing]

-With whom?

-Ourselves.

They cannot possibly say anything

about us that we have not heard before.

And should your brush with death

not be our best social capital yet?

[Kate chuckling]

You realize you're dancing

with a ruined Bridgerton, Miss Cowper?

I enjoy keeping people alert.

And I enjoy

that beautiful necklace you are wearing.

A gift from Lord Featherington?

Seventeen rubies, in fact.

Do you grow jealous, Mr. Bridgerton?

Mmm, dazzling.

-Except the clasp is broken.

-[Cressida] Is it?

[Colin] Might I mend it for you?

The Bridgerton valet

has a way with jewelry.

You would not be making up

an excuse just to call on me, would you?

[chuckles lightly]

[sighs]

[Colin] Come with me.

Colin, it could be thought

quite scandalous for the two of us--

There are no gemstone mines in Georgia.

Your cousin, Lord Featherington,

I'm sorry to be the one

to tell you this, Pen, but,

well, I have looked into him.

I believe he is nothing

but a mere charlatan.

What? What are you saying?

I am saying,

if I am right, then this necklace--

-Penelope? Mr. Bridgerton?

-What is the meaning of this?

The meaning is…

[shards clattering]

…that this necklace

is a fraud, made of glass.

Just like you.

How dare you take advantage

of these poor ladies Featherington,

without a father

or a husband to protect them?

It is out of concern

for their reputation alone

that I will only address

this matter in private.

But I expect you to return

all of the funds you have collected,

and leave town at once.

Mama?

I'll deal with this.

Thank goodness for Mr. Bridgerton.

[sighs softly]

[Jack] We must accelerate our plans.

The money is packed into the chest.

We will finish the evening and catch

the first ship tomorrow to the Americas.

Tomorrow? But that's

much too soon, my lord.

And what about my young ladies?

-We shall send for them after.

-After? After what?

Well, they can come with us.

Although I am certain it will be hard

to convince them

of a midnight flit to the Southern states.

[sighs]

In some ways, this will be a relief.

I will no longer have to go through

with my proposed marriage to Prudence.

There will be other

possibilities for the future.

Yes?

We should return to the party.

[door opens]

[door shuts]

[classical dance tune playing]

-Colin.

-[Colin] Are you all right?

-I believe so.

-Good.

Because we are dancing.

Hmm.

I had been rehearsing

that speech in my mind for hours.

If your cousin does not return the money

and leave your family alone,

I will have another thing to say to him.

You were astonishing, Colin.

I cannot thank you enough

for looking after us.

I will always look after you, Penelope.

You are special to me.

As are you… to me.

-[song ends]

-[indistinct chatter and laughter]

[indistinct conversations]

You will not be able

to avoid him all night, Didi.

And you should not attempt to.

At least, not on my behalf.

Be the sister I know that you are.

Be funny and brave and feeling.

Be unafraid to follow your heart

after doing the exact opposite

for far too long.

You have spent so much

of your time shining your light on me.

It is time for you

to shine all on your own.

[exhales softly]

Lord Bridgerton.

Miss Sharma.

I was just on my way outside.

We should continue to keep

our distance between us, in light of the…

[sighs]

Perhaps we should not.

Perhaps the spectators

might take pity on me.

I was on the dance floor

days after a terrible injury to the head.

Perhaps I needed someone to steady me.

Make sure I was all right.

Perhaps you were the first person I found.

How many?

Three.

[exhales softly]

Are you going to ask me to dance?

One last time?

Are you going to say yes?

[classical rendition of

"Wrecking Ball" plays]

Do you want to stop?

Just keep looking at me.

No one else matters.

What a scandal.

Is that why

the sister's wedding was abandoned?

Oh, child, no.

That wedding did not happen

because I simply changed my mind.

A fact Lady Whistledown

must have somehow missed.

I think they look beautiful together.

Beautiful, indeed.

Do they not?

Do they not?

-Or course, Your Majesty.

-Indeed.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Then why is no one else dancing?

Miss Edwina,

have I yet told you about my nephew?

He is a prince.

And he is available.

Everyone, outside.

I have a surprise for you all.

[indistinct overlapping chatter]

[chuckles softly]

Eloise.

Where did you get all of this money?

What are you doing

going through my things?

Answer… me.

-It's none of your business.

-[scoffs lightly]

It's none of my business. I see.

And what exactly is your business, Pen?

Hearing you repeat

all that gossip tonight, it struck me,

because I have never heard you like that.

You might have said those things before,

but tonight was the first time I,

in fact, heard you say them.

It sounded so familiar.

Your words.

Not just the content or subject,

but the pattern.

It sounded written, almost.

Why do you think that is?

Because you have been reading

too much Whistledown.

Her voice,

it is echoing in your head, Eloise.

I thought so too, at first.

But then I also thought

about how you were

always clinging to that wall,

collecting all sorts of morsels of gossip.

How when I expressed my dislike

for the naming of the diamond

at the beginning of the season,

Whistledown disavowed

the whole thing shortly after.

How you were one of the only people

who could've known

about Miss Thompson's pregnancy.

You could not--

And then I thought about

how you said people have been talking

about me and Theo.

Only, if that were the case,

Whistledown would have

written about it weeks ago.

It is even why you chose

to work with Madame Delacroix.

Because she was someone

I had already dismissed.

Because this was personal.

[crying] Eloise, I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry.

You are right about all of it.

-I was trying to protect you.

-Is that what you were doing?!

By writing about me in your latest sheet?

By telling the entire world

about things I trusted you with?

Only to convince the queen it wasn't you.

It was the only way I could save you.

The only person you were

interested in saving was yourself.

All so you could keep making money,

at a cost to everyone else.

At a cost to Miss Thompson. To my brother.

To my entire family.

To your entire family.

I ended my friendship

with Theo because of you!

One of the only good things in my life,

all because of

your self-serving manipulation!

You have no idea how horrible

it has felt to keep this from you,

from everyone, for so long!

Whistledown has been

all I have had, and I have given it up.

I am done with it.

[sobbing] I wrote what I wrote,

and I gave it up for you.

I do not even know you.

I look at you now,

and all I feel is pity for you.

Sequestered here in this very room,

writing your secret little scandal sheet,

tarnishing everyone in town

because you are too scared

to stand up for yourself in reality.

You are something, Penelope.

An insipid wallflower, indeed.

At least I did something.

All you ever do

is talk about doing something.

You've all these great ambitions,

these great plans,

but I am the one who did something great,

and you cannot stand it, can you?!

And what do you think that makes you?

I wish never to see or speak to you again.

[door slams]

Just over there.

The real celebrations will begin shortly.

Well, if we do have to leave,

at least we gave

a memorable farewell party.

I gave a memorable farewell party

for you.

I've instructed the maids

to pack up all your things.

Your essential things, at least,

with enough money to get you

on a boat back to America

and out of our lives.

[chuckles]

-I thought we were leaving together.

-No.

You are leaving. Alone.

-Portia--

-Never touch me again.

Portia, we are a team.

And an excellent one at that.

Oh, I already have a team.

They are three young ladies,

often nettling and contrary,

but they are mine.

And it is clear to me

that you do not care about them at all,

so I am sending you away

with your favorite person. Yourself.

This entire scheme

was as much your idea as mine.

If not more.

Do you honestly expect anyone to believe

that such a confident, well-spoken man

needed a woman to help inform his plan?

A woman who is a victim herself,

having invested the last dregs

of her money into this very scheme.

There is a record of it, my lord.

I will keep a large share of the money

to support myself and my young ladies,

and I had Mrs. Varley

forge a signature on a document

stating that as soon as

one of my girls has a son,

the estate shall pass to them.

Varley has excellent penmanship, you see.

The ton, of course, will be infuriated

to discover that you have run away

with all the money that you tricked

out of their trusting hands.

You are welcome to try to explain it

to them, now that they're all gathered--

You are cruel.

I am a mother.

And you are not leaving

any worse off than when you arrived.

With nothing.

[gasps, breathes shakily]

[sniffs]

Have you seen Eloise?

Eloise Bridgerton?

[laughter]

Penelope Featherington?

The way you were dancing with her

looked rather interesting.

-You courting the girl, Bridgerton?

-Ah. Are you mad?

I would never dream

of courting Penelope Featherington.

Not in your wildest fantasies, Fife.

[laughter]

[sobbing]

I've decided to leave the Academy.

What?

-Whatever for?

-I know about your donation, Brother.

You were trying to help

in your own misguided way,

perhaps because you sensed the truth,

which is that I'm simply not good enough.

Stop. You're beginning to sound like me.

If you want to paint, paint.

It is one of your many talents.

Chief among them, your natural gift

for seeing what others need,

even when they cannot see it themselves.

It's a gift that has taken me

far too long to recognize,

but I would not have done…

if it were not for you.

Enjoy the rest of your evening, Brother.

Are you still planning to leave for India?

I have my sister's blessing,

as well as my mother's.

And the queen herself has apparently

saved our families from utter ruin.

You love your family dearly.

As much as you love yours.

I was fearful of losing you.

It is why I could not visit you

after your accident.

I could not bring myself to--

I love you.

I've loved you from the moment

we raced each other in that park.

I've loved you at every dance,

on every walk,

every time we've been together,

and every time we've been apart.

You do not have to accept it or embrace it

or even allow it.

Knowing you, you probably will not.

But you must know it,

in your heart.

You must feel it because I do.

[softly] I love you.

-I do not know what to say.

-You do not have to say anything.

I do not think

there is anything else to say…

other than I love you too.

I want a life that suits us both.

I know I am imperfect,

but I will humble myself before you

because I cannot

imagine my life without you,

and that is why I wish to marry you.

You do know there will never be a day

where you do not vex me.

Is that a promise, Kathani Sharma?

-[fireworks popping]

-[Kate chuckles]

[gasps softly]

Yes.

Yes, it is a promise.

[Anthony] Well, then.

It seems the two of us are finally

seeing eye-to-eye on something.

I suppose we are.

[romantic music playing]

[streaming and popping]

[people exclaiming]

[Penelope] It has been said

that silence can wield

more power than words.

No one knows that better than me.

You were right

about the new Lord Featherington.

I must apologize

for how I acted the other day.

It was what I needed to do

in order to gain his trust.

A win I do not relish.

No.

Well, perhaps you should

pour yourself something as well.

[chattering]

I told them this place was run

by an honorable man

who serves a good drink.

They demanded to come.

I am in your debt now, Mr. Mondrich.

Thank you.

Roll your sleeves up, Will.

We have customers.

[Penelope] It is in silence

where one may find truth.

All one has to do, I suppose…

is listen for it.

-[explosion]

-[exclaiming]

[sobbing]

[Penelope] I know there will always

be times when silence is necessary.

And, of course, times when it is not.

[Lady Whistledown] Gentle reader,

you thought I was silenced,

but you thought wrong.

And if there is

one thing you should know by now,

it is that this author

cannot keep quiet for long.

Yours truly,

Lady Whistledown.

[both breathing heavily]

[Anthony] Mmm.

-Viscountess.

-[moans softly]

-You seem to have outdone yourself today.

-[laughs]

[Anthony groans]

You do know my duties

are particularly important to me.

-[Kate laughing]

-Perhaps you'd like to go again.

Seeing as you are so very

dutiful.

[Kate] Mmm.

Well, what would be dutiful

is meeting your family outside

before they realize we are ignoring them.

[Kate giggles]

[Kate] Mmm.

[buzzing]

[laughter]

-[laughing] Oh!

-Yes! Look at you!

-Yes! You're walking.

-[laughing] Ooh!

[Eloise] Away traveling for six months.

Now they take six hours

coming down the stairs.

Six is nothing when you are a newlywed.

Ah! Here they are.

[Violet] Yes.

And not a moment too soon.

[Violet laughs]

Perhaps we may begin playing?

Hoping to get

your inevitable defeat over with, Brother?

Right, we've all picked,

but left the mallet of death.

-[Kate] Oh, for me!

-For me! [groans]

-Never mind.

-Probably keep to pink, Anthony.

I rather think it will match the shade

of your embarrassment when you use it.

Now, who is to begin?

-[barks]

-Newton!

I suppose he is.

-Newton!

-Newton!

I presume that means

the game has finally started, then.

-You do know that was your turn he took.

-It absolutely was not.

-He is your dog.

-And yours through marriage.

I do not recall ever making

such an agreement.

Well, that is between you and him.

He does not listen to me.

You believe I do?

I suppose that means they are cutting out.

-No! We're not cutting out!

-No, not a chance!

Unless we want to take

this opportunity to return upstairs?

And admit defeat?

Never.

[uplifting music builds]

[chuckling lightly]

Stay with me. Come on, now.

Come on, now.

Stay with me.

-My lord!

-Make room!

Oh my God! Kate!

Call the surgeon at once!

She has a cut on the back of her head.

I kept pressure on it,

but it needs stitching.

-Miss Sharma? Can you hear me?

-She needs more blankets. She's shivering!

Allow me to get to work.

What happened?

My valet saw you carry Miss Sharma inside.

Is she all right?

I do not know.

Are you all right?

It's my fault.

It is all my fault.

Anthony.

Anthony.

Anthony.

Where is she?

It's been a week since she last published.

There should've been at least

two issues by now, if not three.

Perhaps she had nothing more to say

about that radical ruffian,

Eloise Bridgerton.

You there. What've you done

with our scandal sheet?

Nothing today, sir.

Would you like a newspaper?

Nonsense.

I do hope

Whistledown picks up her pen again

in time to write about

my forthcoming nuptials.

Perhaps she rested her pen

so she did not have to write

about such an uninteresting affair.

Or perhaps she was done

ruining the lives of others.

Mama, I wish to visit Eloise.

It has been a week.

You will not set foot into that household.

Do you understand me?

So, where are we with, uh, Mr. Bridgerton?

We are close.

I'm set to meet with him this afternoon.

Very well. Do you not think it time

for us to spend some of our earnings?

Our coffers are overflowing.

Well, I suppose

I could use a larger gun cabinet.

I was thinking more

of some kind of celebration.

Varley.

Lord Featherington and I

would like to give a ball.

-Excellent idea.

So that we may finally

celebrate our engagement?

So that we may finally

celebrate all of us.

Varley, I want luster and glitter

and gold. I want the best of everything.

And we will call it

"The Featherington Ball."

How original.

I will have invitations

sent out straight away, ma'am.

Now… …what about

the Bridgertons and the Sharmas?

Considering the state of their households.

It would be titillating to see

those two families in one place again.

Everyone does love a touch of drama.

Everyone knows Miss Sharma

is yet to awaken from her accident.

Perhaps we shouldn't make jest

of her family at a time like this?

Invite them all. They likely

will not come, of course, poor souls,

but let everyone be allowed

to finally see how well we're doing.

After such a tragic year.

I was thinking…

Roses and lilacs,

I think, this time. Cheerful.

Thank you, Mrs. Wilson.

Are you sending flowers

to the Sharmas again?

There's nothing worse than rotting flowers

when someone is unwell.

We're not attending

this Featherington Ball, are we?

Oh, I do not know. I suppose

it is a good thing we were invited.

On my walk this morning

I was given the cut direct. Twice.

At least Lady Whistledown

does not seem to be writing about it.

She does not seem to be writing

at all anymore. Is that not right, El?

Eloise, uh,

perhaps a stroll with Penelope

might help clear your mind.

The last thing Penelope needs is to be

seen consorting with the likes of me.

The Featheringtons know

how bad this is. And you do too.

Even if you refuse to admit.

No one informed me that we have lost

three staff in the last month.

These are precisely

the things I must know about.

We are not the only ones affected

by our ill reputation of late, Anthony.

Colin. Would you care

to inform me about anything?

-I do not take note of staff changes.

-What about our accounts?

You do not seem

to take note of them either,

since I spent

the last two days balancing our books,

only to discover that you

have taken out a rather large sum.

Whatever for?

If you must know, I was exploring

an investment with Lord Featherington.

This is just what makes

the difficulties in this household.

No one gives any thought

as to how it must be managed.

He is one and 20, Brother.

Is no one allowed

to make their own decisions?

You, keep doodling.

And do not ask me

to speak of your activities.

I wouldn't know where to begin.

May I be excused?

I must go too.

But do not worry, Brother.

I shall send you notice

of every step I take today.

-Yes. Doodling awaits, I suppose.

-I do have so much to read.

I have my Latin.

How is she?

I do not know. I have not--

You have not been to see her?

It has been a week--

Have I not made it clear I've been busy?

I would be lying if I said

I was not worried about you, Anthony.

I do not have time for this.

Well…

perhaps you might wish to make time.

Miss Eloise. A package for you.

-Oh, I do not want any--

-You might want this one.

I'll be outside.

You got my note.

Why did you not tell me sooner?

Why did you continue lying to me?

Carrying on with me,

when you knew, this entire time

that the real Lady Whistledown

has been using this very shop

to print her scandal sheet.

I couldn't tell you.

Not when she was still watching me.

Why do you think I ended things with you,

despite wanting to do the very opposite?

I did not want her

to see the two of us together.

I didn't want her to write cruelly of you.

A little late for that.

I owe you an apology, Miss Bridgerton.

For everything.

Whistledown has now

taken her business elsewhere.

-Thought you deserve to know the truth.

-I deserve more than that.

She seems to have stopped writing at all.

Which is why now is

the perfect time to find her,

when she is unsuspecting,

and with your knowledge of her methods

and my endeavors, I'm sure

together we can finally unmask her.

I must know everything you know.

The manuscripts came early mornings.

Twice a week, usually.

-You have the wrapping they came in?

-Never came in wrapping.

They came sewn into silks.

I was pleased to receive

your invitation today, Your Majesty.

I had thought you might

not wish to see me after

the, uh, events of late.

Yes.

I seem to have some time on my hands

without Lady Whistledown

to keep me occupied.

I thought you might offer me

some stimulating conversation.

Ah.

I never did learn the true reason

why the viscount and his bride

did not walk back down the aisle together.

Did it have anything to do

with Lord Bridgerton's

political radical of a sister?

I would not know, ma'am.

We have all been busy

keeping the elder Miss Sharma in mind

until, as we hope,

she recovers… from her fall.

Of course.

I shall send a few necklaces

to express my sympathies.

-That is kind of you.

-It's not a problem.

Do you believe anyone else

is bound for the aisle this season?

What about Lord Fife

and that dour child

who fancies herself a harpist?

I am unaware of such a match.

Lady Whistledown had a monopoly

on such, uh, speculations, did she not?

Eh, perhaps it would do us all some good

to find new interests.

Mind your business, Will.

And by "your business,"

I mean this bar. It needs tending.

So, then, where are these mines, exactly?

I hesitate

to say the exact location.

I would not want

other prospectors taking over nearby.

Mondrich!

Pleasure seeing you here.

Well, it is his bar.

Seems the lord is treating it

more like his private office

for conducting his schemes.

"Schemes" is a rather

unpleasant word, don't you think?

Mr. Bridgerton, you cannot be

entertaining any of this in earnest.

-The man is a swindler.

-I beg your pardon, Mondrich.

It is a trait he seems to share

with his late cousin,

someone I myself became involved with

and whose unscrupulous actions

I once mistakenly condoned.

Perhaps you may be able

to see it for yourself.

The Featheringtons,

giving the most lavish ball of the season.

-Quite a celebration for a family who--

-Leave them out of it.

The Featheringtons are a fine family

whose reputation

has been most unfairly traduced.

I would be very careful

of the accusations you make in future,

as it hardly seems you can afford

to drive away any more patrons.

Perhaps we might find another place

to conduct our business, Featherington?

Colin Bridgerton has taken the bait.

You may have allowed me

to move into my bedchamber,

but that does not mean

you can just burst in unannounced.

My apologies.

Well, the ball

is coming together delightfully.

Gold flowers,

gold drinks, gold everywhere.

Do you not like gold?

Now that Mr. Bridgerton is in,

it seems we have

well-nigh exhausted the entire ton.

-But how can that be?

-We've been efficient. An excellent team.

Well, we can always make trips to visit

the wealthy families in the countryside.

The wealthy families in the countryside

are few and far between.

Meanwhile, the families here

will begin asking for a return

on their investments before long.

And then, well,

this whole thing falls apart.

Do not tell me you have

no plan of escape, my lord.

We leave London.

Travel to the Americas.

I will do no such thing.

You like being on top here, yes?

Well, then imagine

how good it will feel to be in a new city.

Endless opportunity, endless wealth,

for us to secure together.

Portia, we could be an even better team

without the restrictions

of this godforsaken society.

You do know that America has no royalty.

You could be their queen.

Think about it.

Oh, and,

I do very much like gold.

You must not do this, Didi.

You must not leave me like this.

We have to…

Please.

Edwina.

Mama! Lady Danbury! Make haste!

Oh…

-Dearest?

-She is awake!

-Oh!

-Thank heavens. Send for the doctor.

-Kate.

Do you remember?

I remember riding in the park.

And the fall.

Oh, Mama, Edwina, I am so sorry.

You must rest, Didi.

Do not strain yourself.

Did Lord Bridgerton come to see me?

He…

He rescued you in the park.

Gallantly, in fact.

He brought you back here several days ago.

And since?

I see.

You are right.

I must rest.

I will join the family

in the drawing room momentarily.

Anthony.

-She's awake?

-Mrs. Wilson heard from one of the maids.

It is… unthinkable.

Finding someone like that.

Someone

you love.

I am sorry.

I am so sorry that it was you

who was with your father that day.

And I am… sorry

for everything that happened

in the days that followed.

If I could go back and change things--

You have no idea

how much I wish I could change everything.

It is what I think about every night

before I close my eyes,

and then again every morning

before I open them.

It will never go away.

I do not think that I can see her.

Losing Edmund was

the most difficult time of my life.

And the pain that I felt…

beyond description.

But there is one thing that has given me

at least some modicum of solace.

It's knowing

that I would still choose

the life I led with him,

each and every time.

And I would undoubtedly feel

the same pain I felt

all over again if I had to

because real, true love is worth it.

No matter what.

Do not lose her, Anthony.

You cannot lose her.

-Mademoiselle Bridgerton.

-Ah.

What are you doing here on your own?

I thought you did not care for vêtements.

I am not here for dresses.

I should, however, like to dress you down.

Excuse-moi?

You worked with her, did you not?

Lady Whistledown?

Mon Dieu! You have a fantastical mind.

I thought you were her at one point.

That proved to be wrong.

But I do realize you have boys

taking packages in and out all day long,

which puts you

in the most perfect position

to direct her issues to the printer

without raising a single eyebrow.

I don't know what you are talking about.

"Madame Delacroix is old,

but at least she is capable."

Not often Whistledown

throws out a compliment.

I do not know many ladies who'd consider

being called "old" a compliment.

-Your business prospered after she wrote--

-Miss Eloise.

It would be foolish of me to be engaged

with such a scandalous person.

As foolish as it is for you

to be poking around like this

when I know what Whistledown

recently wrote of you.

No?

Madame Delacroix,

we would like to be gilded.

El.

Meet me outside.

I realize you are not to be seen with me,

but spare me just one moment.

The print shop where Theo works

was, in fact, Whistledown's.

He has told me everything.

Eloise, I thought you had quit your hunt.

Were Whistledown's words not enough?

You are not listening to me!

I am going to find her now!

Do not scream at me!

I am-- I'm sorry. I--

People know you…

you have been speaking to him. Theo.

There's been gossip about you

and a man from the lower classes.

You had to have heard people talking.

Who? Who is talking?

Servants.

Those who have heard it from their houses.

My sister asked me about it the other day.

I thought I had been discreet.

Are you quite sure?

Lady Whistledown has done you a favor.

If she were to find out about this

and write about it, then…

Your family are already

in a great deal of trouble.

You've been consumed

by thoughts of her for far too long.

First, you love her.

Then you hate her. It is enough.

I do not want to hear about it anymore.

This scandal of yours will soon pass.

I look forward to the day

when things'll return

to how they used to be between us.

Bridgerton. Tessa. Mind if I join you?

The more the merrier.

Mr. Bridgerton will be happy

to have you here

before the two "me's" gang up on him.

The…

-Uh, just--

-Mm-hmm.

-It's remarkable.

I should think it your best work to date.

Well, perhaps we have all earned a drink.

I am glad to see

you blossoming, Bridgerton.

I think many of us at the Academy

assumed you'd be all drink and no paint.

Why ever would they assume that?

Considering your acceptance.

How it was based on, well, you know…

Rupert.

What-- Enlighten me.

Please. Wha--

Your brother's

large donation to the Academy.

It's what secured your place.

I thought you knew.

Lord Bridgerton.

I'm glad to see you're awake.

I hear it was you who found me

and brought me home safe.

I suppose I must be grateful

for our very first race in the park.

If it were not for that fateful moment,

who knows what else could have happened?

Hmm.

Thank you for the flowers.

Was there something else, my lord?

I called on you.

The morning after.

I called on you to apologize.

You deserved so much more than that.

I took liberties. I…

I did not want it to happen like that, so…

-I came to apologize.

-Yes, you already said--

And to ask you to marry me.

Uh--

Miss Sharma.

-I'm here, and I'm asking--

-What are you doing?

No. My lord, I do not need you

to ask me anything at all.

Kate. I…

I am returning to India.

The moment

I resolve matters with my sister,

I am returning to India. It is decided.

And your family's financial affairs?

Lady Danbury has offered to sponsor

my mother and sister for another season.

I am certain they will do

perfectly well on their own,

as it is clear I am of no help.

You are running away.

Please go.

Go!

Then perhaps

it could be the other modiste.

The other modiste

was driven out of business in part

by Lady Whistledown

praising Madame Delacroix.

So she must be hiding something.

Perhaps. But she is quite crafty.

If Madame Delacroix is involved,

she will never admit it.

Yet another clue

that will only lead nowhere.

Oh. Do not bother yourself.

Forgive me.

I--

This is absurd.

-I would never--

-No, this whole thing, it is absurd. I--

We cannot continue to meet like this.

-This was your idea.

-I know.

I…

I know it was.

And I am sorry for wasting your time.

Are you?

Or are you suddenly dropping

out of this hunt for other reasons?

People are already talking about us, Theo.

And, no, I do not normally care

what other people think, but, yes,

I care about you.

And if we continue on like this,

I could not live with myself

if you are the one

who has to face the consequences.

I should have known.

That you could not be

any different from all other ladies.

It's all right, Miss Bridgerton.

You dipped your toe into my waters,

trying to make yourself feel better

about the unearned

advantages of your birth.

Now you can go back to your life,

and I can go back to mine.

I'm sorry I couldn't help you

find your writer.

Best of luck.

Theo.

Kate!

-You should not be up on your own.

-I am feeling much improved.

The most rested I have felt in years,

after a week in bed, in fact.

It has been a rather strenuous season.

Edwina, I know earning

your trust again will not be simple.

But I am willing to continue to try,

however long it might take.

When you were unwell,

all I cared about was you getting better.

But now that you are, I do have questions.

Was there always something

between you and the viscount?

Were you lying to me all along?

I was lying to myself.

Perhaps…

there was something between us, but

I truly did not know it

until it was too late.

But once you knew,

why did you not tell me?

Why wait for me

to put it together on my own like a fool?

I thought I could deny my feelings.

-But--

-They were too strong.

When I found out about your accident,

all I could think of

is how I do not even know you.

Nor do you know yourself.

Kate, I am done with playing a part.

I want to know myself, truly,

and to know who you are too.

Because I am unsure I like

the young ladies we've both been playing.

Might we bring our new selves to this ball

the Featheringtons are giving tonight?

Oh, Bon…

I do not want you to attend for me.

Whatever action you now wish to take,

I only hope it is because

you are being truthful to yourself,

and not because of anyone else.

You seem to have

the melancholy of heartbreak about you.

What would you know about heartbreak?

I would not, really.

But I have felt it in paintings.

In a Gainsborough portrait or…

…a Turner sky.

And what does one feel in a Bridgerton?

Disappointment.

-Lack of inspiration.

-Art Academy not going so well?

I am an impostor, El.

Turns out Anthony himself

bought my seat at that table.

That does not mean you would not

have been accepted on your own.

I, too, know what it is like

to feel oneself an imposter.

Parading around ballrooms

in feathered frocks,

pretending to be someone I am not.

I truly do not want to go

to this dreadful ball tonight,

even if I know Pen will be there.

She finds me

quite foolish too, at present.

Would you like a companion?

What? Of course I would not.

Because… I am apparently free.

Impostor party of two?

Hmm.

Brother.

Gregory.

Should you not be in bed?

I cannot sleep.

Is something wrong?

My Latin teacher believes so.

He yelled at me.

Thinks I am stupid.

I am sorry for disturbing you.

-I shall--

-Gregory, wait.

Come here.

Come here.

Your Latin tutor

does not think you are stupid.

He thinks I am frightening.

I ask too much of him, and of you.

And of everyone, really.

Am I like him at all?

Or was he more like you?

Father.

He was, um…

He was like both of us, really.

He had my seriousness, perhaps.

He shared your love of a prank.

Did he?

He once put glue in Benedict's shoes.

I wish I could have played a prank on him.

I wish so too.

We do not talk

about him enough, do we?

I do not know

much about him at all.

That is because

I have shown up far too late

for far too many things.

Your father was

the best man I've ever known.

He was good for a laugh, of course, but…

he was courageous,

and never afraid to fight.

Not just for his family,

but for everything else too.

Dearest.

How are you feeling?

Oh. Well.

-Uh, I am feeling well.

-Oh.

I see you are not yet dressed

for the ball.

I have much to pack before I depart,

and I am still unsure

whether I would like to attend tonight.

Kate.

I hope your return to India

is not because of some eagerness

to flee what is difficult.

I know the feeling too well,

and I can tell you,

it is never the wise choice.

Oh…

-Oh, I hate seeing you like this.

-It is my fault, Mama.

-Everything that has happened.

-Edwina forgives you. I forgive you.

But I do not forgive myself.

I was supposed to help her.

To help our family, and instead--

It is not right that you were left

to guide Edwina alone.

That was my failing.

-You were grieving Appa.

-But so were you.

And after you had already

lost your mother too. Kate…

You took me in as your own.

And you never treated me any differently.

Everything I… I did, I owed it to you.

You owed me nothing.

Oh…

You never had to earn your place

in this family.

I loved you from the day I met you.

Oh, love is not something

that is ever owed.

You came into my life… as a daughter,

and I never saw you as anything else.

Oh, I--

It grieves me to think you do not believe

you deserve all of the love in the world.

He was going to ask me to marry him.

The viscount.

-What?

-And I could not allow it, Mama.

He was going to ask me

out of mere obligation,

some misguided notion

of duty after the two of us…

He does not love me, Mama.

Oh, and I…

I could not allow it.

Oh…

My darling, my darling…

Exquisite.

Is it not?

We might think it a foretaste

of my wedding to Cousin Jack, I suppose.

Might he finally dance with me tonight?

Not if he knows what is best for him.

Oh, I shall swoon.

This ball is truly

my crowning achievement.

Your Majesty.

I-- I cannot do this tonight.

I am sorry, Mama.

I fear I must disappoint you yet again.

The only thing that'd

disappoint me is seeing you care

what anyone else thinks.

That would not be you.

I do not want you

keeping things from me ever again.

Now,

you have come thus far this season.

It would be

a shame for you to turn back now.

Steady.

And ready.

Fife had his lady friend

in a closet, apparently.

-For 20 minutes, if you can believe it.

Pen.

Ooh. El.

-Enjoying your evening?

Me neither.

You were correct… about Theo.

It was a mistake,

ever getting involved with him.

I took your advice,

and I extricated myself.

He did not take it well,

but I think it was the necessary choice.

-Eloise--

-Thank you… for protecting me.

You are a true friend.

-So your Lady Whistledown search--

-…is over.

She is gone for good.

I suppose now

we can finally speak of other things.

Perhaps we might speak of Lord Fife.

I hear he recently spent a good

deal of time with Miss Goring in a closet.

For what, I cannot imagine.

Wherever did you hear that?

Miss Goring is over there,

alongside the lemonade table,

secretly fixing tissue paper in her bosom.

Now we know who for. Look.

What a keen observation, Pen.

Mmm.

I am glad you decided to come.

I could not miss out

on one last evening with you before I go.

Then what do you say?

Might we take to the dance floor?

-With whom?

-Ourselves.

They cannot possibly say anything

about us that we have not heard before.

And should your brush with death

not be our best social capital yet?

You realize you're dancing

with a ruined Bridgerton, Miss Cowper?

I enjoy keeping people alert.

And I enjoy

that beautiful necklace you are wearing.

A gift from Lord Featherington?

Seventeen rubies, in fact.

Do you grow jealous, Mr. Bridgerton?

Mmm, dazzling.

-Except the clasp is broken.

-Is it?

Might I mend it for you?

The Bridgerton valet

has a way with jewelry.

You would not be making up

an excuse just to call on me, would you?

Come with me.

Colin, it could be thought

quite scandalous for the two of us--

There are no gemstone mines in Georgia.

Your cousin, Lord Featherington,

I'm sorry to be the one

to tell you this, Pen, but,

well, I have looked into him.

I believe he is nothing

but a mere charlatan.

What? What are you saying?

I am saying,

if I am right, then this necklace--

-Penelope? Mr. Bridgerton?

-What is the meaning of this?

The meaning is…

…that this necklace

is a fraud, made of glass.

Just like you.

How dare you take advantage

of these poor ladies Featherington,

without a father

or a husband to protect them?

It is out of concern

for their reputation alone

that I will only address

this matter in private.

But I expect you to return

all of the funds you have collected,

and leave town at once.

Mama?

I'll deal with this.

Thank goodness for Mr. Bridgerton.

We must accelerate our plans.

The money is packed into the chest.

We will finish the evening and catch

the first ship tomorrow to the Americas.

Tomorrow? But that's

much too soon, my lord.

And what about my young ladies?

-We shall send for them after.

-After? After what?

Well, they can come with us.

Although I am certain it will be hard

to convince them

of a midnight flit to the Southern states.

In some ways, this will be a relief.

I will no longer have to go through

with my proposed marriage to Prudence.

There will be other

possibilities for the future.

Yes?

We should return to the party.

-Colin.

-Are you all right?

-I believe so.

-Good.

Because we are dancing.

Hmm.

I had been rehearsing

that speech in my mind for hours.

If your cousin does not return the money

and leave your family alone,

I will have another thing to say to him.

You were astonishing, Colin.

I cannot thank you enough

for looking after us.

I will always look after you, Penelope.

You are special to me.

As are you… to me.

You will not be able

to avoid him all night, Didi.

And you should not attempt to.

At least, not on my behalf.

Be the sister I know that you are.

Be funny and brave and feeling.

Be unafraid to follow your heart

after doing the exact opposite

for far too long.

You have spent so much

of your time shining your light on me.

It is time for you

to shine all on your own.

Lord Bridgerton.

Miss Sharma.

I was just on my way outside.

We should continue to keep

our distance between us, in light of the…

Perhaps we should not.

Perhaps the spectators

might take pity on me.

I was on the dance floor

days after a terrible injury to the head.

Perhaps I needed someone to steady me.

Make sure I was all right.

Perhaps you were the first person I found.

How many?

Three.

Are you going to ask me to dance?

One last time?

Are you going to say yes?

Do you want to stop?

Just keep looking at me.

No one else matters.

What a scandal.

Is that why

the sister's wedding was abandoned?

Oh, child, no.

That wedding did not happen

because I simply changed my mind.

A fact Lady Whistledown

must have somehow missed.

I think they look beautiful together.

Beautiful, indeed.

Do they not?

Do they not?

-Or course, Your Majesty.

-Indeed.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Then why is no one else dancing?

Miss Edwina,

have I yet told you about my nephew?

He is a prince.

And he is available.

Everyone, outside.

I have a surprise for you all.

Eloise.

Where did you get all of this money?

What are you doing

going through my things?

Answer… me.

-It's none of your business.

It's none of my business. I see.

And what exactly is your business, Pen?

Hearing you repeat

all that gossip tonight, it struck me,

because I have never heard you like that.

You might have said those things before,

but tonight was the first time I,

in fact, heard you say them.

It sounded so familiar.

Your words.

Not just the content or subject,

but the pattern.

It sounded written, almost.

Why do you think that is?

Because you have been reading

too much Whistledown.

Her voice,

it is echoing in your head, Eloise.

I thought so too, at first.

But then I also thought

about how you were

always clinging to that wall,

collecting all sorts of morsels of gossip.

How when I expressed my dislike

for the naming of the diamond

at the beginning of the season,

Whistledown disavowed

the whole thing shortly after.

How you were one of the only people

who could've known

about Miss Thompson's pregnancy.

You could not--

And then I thought about

how you said people have been talking

about me and Theo.

Only, if that were the case,

Whistledown would have

written about it weeks ago.

It is even why you chose

to work with Madame Delacroix.

Because she was someone

I had already dismissed.

Because this was personal.

Eloise, I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry.

You are right about all of it.

-I was trying to protect you.

-Is that what you were doing?!

By writing about me in your latest sheet?

By telling the entire world

about things I trusted you with?

Only to convince the queen it wasn't you.

It was the only way I could save you.

The only person you were

interested in saving was yourself.

All so you could keep making money,

at a cost to everyone else.

At a cost to Miss Thompson. To my brother.

To my entire family.

To your entire family.

I ended my friendship

with Theo because of you!

One of the only good things in my life,

all because of

your self-serving manipulation!

You have no idea how horrible

it has felt to keep this from you,

from everyone, for so long!

Whistledown has been

all I have had, and I have given it up.

I am done with it.

I wrote what I wrote,

and I gave it up for you.

I do not even know you.

I look at you now,

and all I feel is pity for you.

Sequestered here in this very room,

writing your secret little scandal sheet,

tarnishing everyone in town

because you are too scared

to stand up for yourself in reality.

You are something, Penelope.

An insipid wallflower, indeed.

At least I did something.

All you ever do

is talk about doing something.

You've all these great ambitions,

these great plans,

but I am the one who did something great,

and you cannot stand it, can you?!

And what do you think that makes you?

I wish never to see or speak to you again.

Just over there.

The real celebrations will begin shortly.

Well, if we do have to leave,

at least we gave

a memorable farewell party.

I gave a memorable farewell party

for you.

I've instructed the maids

to pack up all your things.

Your essential things, at least,

with enough money to get you

on a boat back to America

and out of our lives.

-I thought we were leaving together.

-No.

You are leaving. Alone.

-Portia--

-Never touch me again.

Portia, we are a team.

And an excellent one at that.

Oh, I already have a team.

They are three young ladies,

often nettling and contrary,

but they are mine.

And it is clear to me

that you do not care about them at all,

so I am sending you away

with your favorite person. Yourself.

This entire scheme

was as much your idea as mine.

If not more.

Do you honestly expect anyone to believe

that such a confident, well-spoken man

needed a woman to help inform his plan?

A woman who is a victim herself,

having invested the last dregs

of her money into this very scheme.

There is a record of it, my lord.

I will keep a large share of the money

to support myself and my young ladies,

and I had Mrs. Varley

forge a signature on a document

stating that as soon as

one of my girls has a son,

the estate shall pass to them.

Varley has excellent penmanship, you see.

The ton, of course, will be infuriated

to discover that you have run away

with all the money that you tricked

out of their trusting hands.

You are welcome to try to explain it

to them, now that they're all gathered--

You are cruel.

I am a mother.

And you are not leaving

any worse off than when you arrived.

With nothing.

Have you seen Eloise?

Eloise Bridgerton?

Penelope Featherington?

The way you were dancing with her

looked rather interesting.

-You courting the girl, Bridgerton?

-Ah. Are you mad?

I would never dream

of courting Penelope Featherington.

Not in your wildest fantasies, Fife.

I've decided to leave the Academy.

What?

-Whatever for?

-I know about your donation, Brother.

You were trying to help

in your own misguided way,

perhaps because you sensed the truth,

which is that I'm simply not good enough.

Stop. You're beginning to sound like me.

If you want to paint, paint.

It is one of your many talents.

Chief among them, your natural gift

for seeing what others need,

even when they cannot see it themselves.

It's a gift that has taken me

far too long to recognize,

but I would not have done…

if it were not for you.

Enjoy the rest of your evening, Brother.

Are you still planning to leave for India?

I have my sister's blessing,

as well as my mother's.

And the queen herself has apparently

saved our families from utter ruin.

You love your family dearly.

As much as you love yours.

I was fearful of losing you.

It is why I could not visit you

after your accident.

I could not bring myself to--

I love you.

I've loved you from the moment

we raced each other in that park.

I've loved you at every dance,

on every walk,

every time we've been together,

and every time we've been apart.

You do not have to accept it or embrace it

or even allow it.

Knowing you, you probably will not.

But you must know it,

in your heart.

You must feel it because I do.

I love you.

-I do not know what to say.

-You do not have to say anything.

I do not think

there is anything else to say…

other than I love you too.

I want a life that suits us both.

I know I am imperfect,

but I will humble myself before you

because I cannot

imagine my life without you,

and that is why I wish to marry you.

You do know there will never be a day

where you do not vex me.

Is that a promise, Kathani Sharma?

Yes.

Yes, it is a promise.

Well, then.

It seems the two of us are finally

seeing eye-to-eye on something.

I suppose we are.

It has been said

that silence can wield

more power than words.

No one knows that better than me.

You were right

about the new Lord Featherington.

I must apologize

for how I acted the other day.

It was what I needed to do

in order to gain his trust.

A win I do not relish.

No.

Well, perhaps you should

pour yourself something as well.

I told them this place was run

by an honorable man

who serves a good drink.

They demanded to come.

I am in your debt now, Mr. Mondrich.

Thank you.

Roll your sleeves up, Will.

We have customers.

It is in silence

where one may find truth.

All one has to do, I suppose…

is listen for it.

I know there will always

be times when silence is necessary.

And, of course, times when it is not.

Gentle reader,

you thought I was silenced,

but you thought wrong.

And if there is

one thing you should know by now,

it is that this author

cannot keep quiet for long.

Yours truly,

Lady Whistledown.

Mmm.

-Viscountess.

-You seem to have outdone yourself today.

You do know my duties

are particularly important to me.

-Perhaps you'd like to go again.

Seeing as you are so very

dutiful.

Mmm.

Well, what would be dutiful

is meeting your family outside

before they realize we are ignoring them.

Mmm.

-Oh!

-Yes! Look at you!

-Yes! You're walking.

-Ooh!

Away traveling for six months.

Now they take six hours

coming down the stairs.

Six is nothing when you are a newlywed.

Ah! Here they are.

Yes.

And not a moment too soon.

Perhaps we may begin playing?

Hoping to get

your inevitable defeat over with, Brother?

Right, we've all picked,

but left the mallet of death.

-Oh, for me!

-For me!

-Never mind.

-Probably keep to pink, Anthony.

I rather think it will match the shade

of your embarrassment when you use it.

Now, who is to begin?

-Newton!

I suppose he is.

-Newton!

-Newton!

I presume that means

the game has finally started, then.

-You do know that was your turn he took.

-It absolutely was not.

-He is your dog.

-And yours through marriage.

I do not recall ever making

such an agreement.

Well, that is between you and him.

He does not listen to me.

You believe I do?

I suppose that means they are cutting out.

-No! We're not cutting out!

-No, not a chance!

Unless we want to take

this opportunity to return upstairs?

And admit defeat?

Never.