Penelope Featherington Quotes

Lady Whistledown (now in Pen's voice): It has been said that silence can wield more power than words. No one knows that better than me. 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. (back to the original voice): 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.

Penelope Featherington (to Eloise): 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?

Lady Whistledown: A march down the aisle may very well be the longest walk any young lady ever takes. It does not simply cover the length of the church, but rather, countless floors for dancing, and meandering paths for every afternoon promenade too. It is a wonder, then, that feet do not tire or, heaven forbid, trip under the scrutiny of all those attentive eyes keeping close watch, indeed.

Lady Whistledown: Duty. More than laws or faith, I have often thought it the bond that holds our fragile society together. Duty to rank and title. Fidelity to one's family name. It demands both utter obedience and total sacrifice. But what happens when such duty is in conflict with the heart's true desire? Why, then, there is the potential for a considerable scandal, indeed. The only question is, will the parties in question heed my warning? Or is it already too late to turn back to duty and away from desire?

Penelope Featherington (to Madame Delacroix): It is your job to be observant, is it not? To hide your clients' secrets with a well-draped piece of fabric or a cleverly embellished rosette, just as I too hide. Behind my pen.

Lady Whistledown: There are two things that lurk within the dark and shadowy places of our fair city. Vermin and secrets. I shall leave it to you, dear reader, as to which do the most harm.

Lady Whistledown: While this author finds Miss Edwina Sharma to be an exceptional young lady, it is about time I used these pages of record for something else. A shift. Is the entire practice of naming a diamond not... well, rather ridiculous? Should a woman not be valued for so much more than her dancing skills or her comportment? Should we not value a woman instead for her candor, her character, her true accomplishments? Perhaps if the queen abandoned this absurdity that is the diamond, we would all see that a woman can be so much more.

Eloise Bridgerton: Do you think that is why Cressida is so cruel?

Penelope Featherington: No. I think she just wears her hair too tight.

Penelope Featherington (to Eloise): No one truly notices me. I suppose that is what I like. When you're invisible, you have all the amusement you want without any of the expectations popularity brings. It frees you.