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Assistant: Title: Heartbreaks in the Dark
        Author: LillyMouse LillyMouse 
        Chapter: 11/23 
        Summary: Bridgerton Modern AU: Dive into the chaos where Anthony Bridgerton falls hopelessly in love with Penelope Featherington, who's just starting to get over Colin—the king of obliviousness. Meanwhile, Anthony morphs into a possessive, lovesick fool.So in short:Anthony witnesses Penelope's "warrior goddess" moment and it's all downhill from there.Penelope, freshly un-pined from Colin, now has Anthony pining after her. It's a whole mess.Eloise might be developing a bit of a drinking problem (just because I find drunk Eloise so funny).Colin remains blissfully unaware of everything, as usual.Anthony's possessiveness turns him into, well, a bit of a nightmare.Guaranteed HEA because I can't handle anything else. This will end well for Pen and Ant, at least. 
  Warnings:
 PSA: This is a Penthony fic. If that’s not your jam, just scroll on by!
        Contents: Chapter 11
    

    

        
          
          
            We’re going to a party 🍸💃😈!
          
        

      
        
          Thank you all for being so amazing! Every comment and kudos fills me with so much joy—you're really making my day!
            
            (See the end of the chapter for  more notes.)
            
      
  

  
  
    
    
  May 2024

  All Eyes on the Dance Floor

  Anthony

  The soft hum of the gala surrounds Anthony Bridgerton, but it’s all just background noise, like the buzz of irrelevant conversation that barely reaches his ears. His focus, as always, is locked on Penelope Featherington. She’s standing not far off, the soft glow of the chandeliers catching the rich emerald of her dress, making her look every bit as captivating as she feels to him. She’s smiling, chatting with Eloise, but Anthony can see the tension beneath that smile. He’s attuned to her now in ways he can’t explain, and he knows when she’s forcing it.

  He glances her way again, just in time to see Colin stroll over. Of course. His timing is impeccable as usual. A flash of irritation rises in Anthony’s chest as Colin greets Penelope, the easy grin on his face unmistakable. Anthony’s jaw tightens. Penelope had scolded Colin for his too-friendly hands a few days ago, and while his younger brother seems to be keeping a respectful distance this time, it’s still not enough to ease the simmering frustration Anthony feels every time Colin is near her.

  Benedict’s laughter echoes in his head, mocking him for what he calls his “unreasonable possessiveness.” But this isn’t just some petty jealousy. Not now. Not when Penelope’s attention is finally shifting away from Colin. Not when the hiccup of a boyfriend is finally out of the picture. And not when, for the first time, Anthony is certain she’s noticing him. Really noticing him.

  She’s been flirting with him, he’s sure of it. The way her breath catches when he steps too close, the faint blush that rises on her cheeks when she catches him staring—it’s undeniable. And Anthony has been pushing the boundaries, coming closer than he should, testing the waters, wanting to see how far she’d let him go. She teased him back, her words playful, her eyes full of something that ignites a fire in him.

  Anthony exhales slowly, his grip on his glass tightening. He knows the moment to make his move has come. If he waits any longer, someone else—Colin, or anyone for that matter—could sweep her away. And that... that would be unbearable. It needs to be tonight.

  His heart pounds in his chest as he starts walking toward them, the noise of the gala dulling to a distant hum. With each step, his resolve hardens. Colin greets him with a cheerful grin as if nothing is amiss, as if he hasn’t just planted himself in Anthony’s way.

  “Anthony! Didn’t see you there. Penelope and I were just catching up,” Colin says, completely oblivious to the storm brewing in Anthony’s chest.

  Anthony barely acknowledges him. His eyes are on Penelope, and for a brief, electric moment, something flickers between them. It’s unspoken, undefined, but it sends a jolt through him. Penelope looks at him, her expression unreadable, and it only stokes the turmoil inside him.

  “Penelope,” Anthony says, his voice calm, but the intensity beneath it unmistakable, “would you care for a dance?”

  Her eyes widen, surprise flashing across her face. She glances at Colin, who—still grinning like an idiot—laughs. “I’ve been hogging her, haven’t I?” he says, stepping aside with an easy chuckle. “Go on, Pen, have a dance with my serious brother.”

  Anthony extends his hand, and when Penelope places her hand in his, something sharp and electric pulses through him. As they move toward the dance floor, he pulls her close, closer than what’s appropriate, closer than what’s safe. But at this moment, he doesn’t care. The possessiveness he’s been trying to suppress flares up, stronger than ever,

  For a moment, it’s just them, swaying to the music, and Anthony feels like he might lose control. She’s so close, and all he can think about is how badly he wants to kiss her. But he can’t. Not jet.
 
  Penelope

  Penelope Featherington smiled politely, her eyes pointed on Colin as he spoke. His voice, once a constant in her life, now felt like background noise—a familiar tune she no longer felt the urge to hum along to. She’d moved past the chapter of her life that involved longing for Colin Bridgerton, accepting with a surprising calm that he would never see her as anything more than his friend. And that was fine. 

  But where Colin had once consumed her thoughts, someone else now plagued her mind—and her body. Anthony. His presence lingered on the edge of her awareness, a heavy, simmering heat that was impossible to ignore. Penelope could feel his gaze from across the room, even as she tried her best to focus on Colin’s latest anecdote. Her pulse quickened in response, though it had nothing to do with the gala or the glittering company around them.

  There was something about the way Anthony looked at her lately. It was different. Intense. Heated. As if he were seeing her—truly seeing her—for the first time. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something unspoken hung between them, a tension she couldn’t quite name but that made her skin tingle in a way she didn’t want to admit. It was maddening, this awareness of him that refused to fade, even when he wasn’t nearby.

  This was Anthony Bridgerton. His reputation with women was well-known, and Penelope had witnessed firsthand how effortlessly he navigated his many fleeting affairs with practised charm. He was the kind of man who took what he wanted and moved on, never staying in one place for long. Surely, she was no different to him than any of the others—just another passing fancy.

  And yet, she wouldn’t mind being a small part of his fleeting world. She wasn’t foolish enough to expect some grand romance from Anthony; she wasn’t that naive. But a brief indulgence? A moment of surrender to the fire that seemed to burn between them? That, she wouldn’t mind at all.
 
  Her traitorous thoughts were interrupted by a shift in the atmosphere around her. She didn’t need to turn to know he was there. Anthony. His presence loomed beside her, and even before he spoke, she felt her heart skip a beat, her skin prickling with awareness. There was something about him tonight—something commanding, magnetic—that drew her in before she even met his gaze.

  “Penelope, would you care for a dance?” he asked, though it was less of a question and more of a challenge.

  Penelope’s breath caught in her throat as she looked at him. The fire in his eyes sent a rush of heat through her, a burning intensity that made her stomach flip in the most unsettling way. He wanted her. The realisation hit her like a physical force, and she could feel her resolve wavering, cracking under the weight of it.

  Colin, oblivious as ever, chuckled and stepped back, completely missing the charged moment between her and Anthony. “Go on, Pen, have a dance with my serious brother.”

  Without a word, she placed her hand in Anthony’s, feeling the warmth of his skin against hers, and the instant their fingers touched, it was like a spark igniting between them. Her heart raced as he led her onto the dance floor, and though she tried to keep her composure, the feel of his hand on her waist and the possessive grip with which he pulled her close unravelled her.

  As they began to move, Penelope’s mind whirled. The heat of his body, the way he held her as though daring the entire room to watch—it was intoxicating. Dangerous. 

  Anthony’s hand tightened slightly on her waist, his thumb brushing against the fabric of her dress in a way that sent shivers down her spine. She could feel the raw, unspoken desire in the way he held her, in the way his eyes never left hers. He wanted her, and she allowed herself to want him back—recklessly, fully, without hesitation.

  She wasn’t going to fool herself into thinking this would be anything more than what it was. She wasn’t hoping for declarations of love or promises of forever. But tonight—if just for tonight—she would let herself indulge in the moment.

  If Anthony Bridgerton wanted her, she wasn’t going to say no.
 
  Colin

  Colin Bridgerton moved through the gala with his usual carefree smile, enjoying the flow of conversation as he mingled from group to group. He’d spent so much time travelling lately, and it was always nice to be back among familiar faces. But tonight, something felt different. Or rather, someone did.

  His gaze landed on Penelope across the room, standing with Eloise, looking as lovely as ever. But Colin paused, a slight frown forming on his face. Something seemed… off. He hadn’t seen much of Pen lately, and when they did cross paths, she felt distant, as though she was pulling away. It bothered him more than he cared to admit. 

  Pen had always been a constant in his life—his best friend, the one person who’d always been there for him, no matter what. But now, there was a strange feeling bubbling up inside him, something he hadn’t noticed before. Maybe it was the way she looked tonight, the way her dress hugged her figure in a way that made his heart skip. Or maybe it was the fact that he was finally seeing her, not just as Penelope, his old friend, but as something more. Something he couldn’t quite define.

  Determined to clear the air, Colin pushed through the crowd toward her. Maybe he was overthinking. Maybe nothing had changed. But the thought of Penelope being distant, of her slipping away, didn’t sit well with him.

  “Pen!” he called out, his smile brightening as he reached her. She turned toward him, offering a polite smile, but it didn’t have the warmth he was used to. There was a reserve in her that threw him off.

  “I’ve been looking for you all night,” Colin said, trying to keep his tone light. “You’ve been avoiding me, haven’t you?”

  Penelope let out a soft laugh, but it wasn’t the familiar, genuine sound he expected. “Not avoiding, just… busy.”

  Busy? Colin raised an eyebrow. Since when was Pen too busy for him? He studied her for a moment, really looking at her, and something shifted inside him. It wasn’t just that she looked beautiful tonight—she’d always been beautiful in her own way, though he hadn’t allowed himself to dwell on it. But now, standing this close, there was something more. A pull he couldn’t ignore, something deeper than the usual affection he felt for his friends. His heart thudded, and for the first time, he wondered if he’d been missing something all along.

  Before he could make sense of it, Anthony appeared, wearing his usual brooding expression. Colin greeted his brother with a grin, oblivious to the tension between them.

  “Anthony! Didn’t see you there. Penelope and I were just catching up,” Colin joked, laughing lightly. But Anthony didn’t return the smile. His eyes were locked on Penelope, his voice tight as he asked her to dance.

  Colin blinked in surprise but quickly shrugged it off. “I’ve been hogging her, haven’t I? GGo on, Pen, have a dance with my serious brother.”

  He stepped back, watching as they moved toward the dance floor. But something felt wrong. Why was Penelope acting so distant? And why was there this unfamiliar tug in his chest? Was he… jealous? No, that couldn’t be right. Could it?

  As he watched them dance, an unsettling feeling stirred inside him—a flicker of something he couldn’t yet name. Maybe he’d been blind to it for too long. Maybe Penelope wasn’t just the friend he’d always taken for granted. Maybe there was more to what he felt.

  And maybe it was time he stopped pretending he didn’t care.

  
  

  Benedict

  Benedict stood off to the side, watching the whole thing go down like a slow-motion car crash he’d seen coming miles away. He was smirking, sure, but inside? He was all nerves. This was it. Everything he’d been watching for months—the way Anthony completely lost it anytime Penelope was around—was finally coming to a head. And Pen? Well, Benedict wasn’t blind. He knew she had some kind of fire brewing for Anthony. It was just a matter of time.

  So when Anthony made his way across the room with that laser-focused look on his face, Benedict couldn’t help but mutter, “Here we go,” under his breath.

  Anthony practically bulldozed his way in, cutting Colin off mid-sentence, not that Colin noticed. Honestly, Colin could be so dense sometimes. Benedict almost laughed at how completely oblivious he was. Typical. And Eloise? She was right next to him, rambling on about some book she was obsessed with, not even glancing up to see the impending emotional disaster.

  “Do you think Pen’s ever read 
  
    The History of Wild Women
  
  ?” Eloise asked, grinning like it was the most important question of the night.

  Benedict blinked, barely processing what she was saying. “Uh, no, El. Probably not.”

  She frowned, like she was seriously offended on Penelope’s behalf. “She should. It’s got some excellent essays on female independence.”

  “Yeah, sure, sounds great,” he muttered, though his eyes never left Anthony and Penelope. They were dancing now, and d@mn, if Anthony didn’t pull her just a little too close. Penelope’s guard slipped for maybe half a second, but Benedict caught it. He could feel it in his gut—this was about to go sideways, and fast.

  “Eloise,” he said under his breath, still watching them like a hawk, “you might want to brace yourself. Things are about to get interesting.”

  Eloise didn’t even look up, still lost in her book world. “What are you on about, Ben? Nothing ever happens at these boring galas.”

  Benedict shook his head. God, she had no idea. His smirk faded as the tension between Anthony and Penelope practically buzzed in the air. 
  
    Oh, how wrong she is.
  
 
  Eloise

  Eloise Bridgerton couldn’t, for the life of her, understand why everyone bothered coming to these insufferable galas. They were always the same: suffocatingly crowded, full of the same people having the same, boring conversations. She sighed, scanning the sea of overly polished faces, wondering how anyone could stand to pretend they were actually having a good time. At least there was free champagne. That, and Penelope, of course.

  Speaking of Penelope, Eloise’s face brightened when she spotted her best friend, unfortunately stuck in conversation with Colin. Penelope looked a bit stiff, not her usual self. Probably tired. Eloise shrugged it off and started making her way over, eager to save her from whatever dull conversation Colin had her trapped in.

  On the way, she caught sight of Benedict standing off to the side, smirking like he was watching some kind of performance only he knew the punchline to. Eloise rolled her eyes. Benedict always acted like he had the inside scoop on everyone’s lives.

  “Oh, Ben,” she sighed dramatically as she sidled up next to him. “How much longer do we have to endure this dreadful gathering?”

  Benedict didn’t answer her right away. He was too busy watching something—or someone—across the room. Eloise followed his gaze just in time to see Anthony striding purposefully toward Colin and Penelope. He had that intense look on his face, the one he always got before doing something absurdly noble or unnecessarily dramatic.

  “What’s Anthony doing?” she asked, frowning.

  Benedict muttered something under his breath, but she didn’t catch it. His eyes were glued to the scene unfolding before them. Before she could press him, Anthony asked Penelope to dance, interrupting Colin mid-sentence. Colin, as usual, laughed it off, completely oblivious. Eloise narrowed her eyes. Well, this was new.

  “Do you think Pen’s ever read 
  
    The History of Wild Women
  
  ?” she asked, turning to Benedict, because really, this was a far more pressing matter.

  Benedict blinked, as if he hadn’t even registered what she was saying. “Uh, no, El. Probably not.”

  Eloise frowned. “She should. It’s got some excellent essays on female independence.”

  “Yeah, sure, sounds great,” he muttered, barely paying attention. His focus was still fixed on Anthony and Penelope, who were now on the dance floor. Something was off. Anthony had pulled Penelope just a little too close, and Penelope... well, she didn’t look like herself. Eloise squinted. Was Penelope blushing?

  Benedict’s muttering drew her attention again. “Eloise, you might want to brace yourself. Things are about to get interesting.”

  Eloise waved him off. “What are you on about, Ben? Nothing ever happens at these boring galas.”

  But Benedict just shook his head, that knowing look never leaving his face. Eloise didn’t get it. He was always acting like he knew something no one else did. She cast another glance toward the dance floor, noticing how intense Anthony looked, how Penelope seemed almost flustered. No, that couldn’t be right. Anthony and Penelope were just friends. Weren’t they?

  The more she watched, though, the more she realised something was definitely happening. Eloise’s frown deepened. What had she missed?

  Benedict’s smirk was evident, and that could only mean one thing: Eloise had missed a lot.
 
  Violet

  The gala is in full swing, and Violet Bridgerton watches from her perfectly chosen vantage point, a soft smile on her lips as she surveys her family. Nights like these bring her the most joy—seeing her children together, mingling and laughing. Getting along. For the most part, anyway.

  Her gaze drifts to Anthony, standing at the edge of the room, brooding as usual. He’s always carried the weight of responsibility, but tonight there’s something different. His focus is on Penelope Featherington.

  Violet has noticed it for a while—the way his gaze lingers on Penelope, the way his usual aloofness falters around her. At first, she thought it was nothing, but now, there’s a tension between them, a sharpness in Anthony that’s new. When she sees him cross the room toward Penelope, her smile fades slightly. Oh dear, he’s about to do something.

  Violet watches as he asks Penelope to dance. She’s seen Penelope grow up, watched her endure years of unrequited love for Colin. Now, it seems, she’s caught in something new and has no idea what’s brewing with Anthony—or maybe she does and doesn’t know how to handle it.

  As they start dancing, something flickers between them, and Violet’s chest tightens. Anthony is spiralling, completely lost to this girl, whether he realises it or not. But does Penelope know? Violet hides a smile, knowing her son won’t make this easy. What worries her isn’t whether Anthony cares for Penelope—it’s whether he’ll let himself have what he wants or push her away.

  With a soft sigh, Violet continues watching. She hopes Anthony won’t let his fear get in the way. He deserves happiness, even if he doesn’t believe it yet. Perhaps she should give him a nudge—or perhaps, this time, she’ll let it play out naturally.

  Still, Violet knows love when she sees it. And tonight, as she watches her son hold Penelope just a little too tightly, she knows—he’s falling fast. Love will win in the end.

  With a satisfied smile, she lifts her champagne to her lips. She’ll wait, but she won’t be surprised if there’s another Bridgerton wedding to plan before long.
 
  Hyacinth

  Hyacinth Bridgerton has never understood why people make such a fuss about these formal galas. They're all so stuffy, with people pretending to care about things they clearly don't. The only fun part is watching her family get all tangled up in their emotional drama.
She grins mischievously from her spot by the dessert table, watching the scene unfold. Anthony is making his way over to Penelope and Colin, and Hyacinth knows something's up. She’s seen the way Anthony’s been looking at Pen lately, all broody and intense. It’s so obvious. But of course, Colin, the oblivious oaf, is as clueless as ever.
  As Anthony reaches them, Hyacinth can barely contain her excitement. “Oh, this is going to be good,” she whispers to herself. She knows Anthony’s about to do something dramatic—he always does when he’s got that look on his face.

  And then he asks Penelope to dance.
Hyacinth nearly laughs out loud. This is better than any book she’s ever read. Eloise is standing nearby, completely clueless, of course, while Benedict is watching with his usual knowing smirk. But Hyacinth? She’s thrilled. This is exactly the kind of chaos she lives for.
  "Finally," she mutters, grabbing a second piece of cake and settling in for the show.

  
  

    
      
        
        
          next station: sm@t centralGod Help Me'
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