Portia Featherington (books)

*This page is about the book character. For the Netflix character, see Portia Featherington*

## Familial Information

### Children

* Prudence Featherington
* Philippa Berbrooke
* Penelope Bridgerton
* Felicity Albansdale

### Grand-children

* Agatha Bridgerton
* Thomas Bridgerton
* Jane Bridgerton
* George Bridgerton

### Others

* Aunt Georgette †
* Robert Huxley *(son-in-law)*
* Nigel Berbrooke *(son-in-law)*
* Colin Bridgerton *(son-in-law)*
* Geoffrey Albansdale *(son-in-law)*

**Portia Featherington** is the mother of Penelope Bridgerton, and a long-time neighbor of the Bridgerton family.

## History

### 1813

Penelope makes her debut, joining Portia's first two daughters, Prudence and Philippa, who are in their second seasons. Portia insists on her daughters wearing bright-colored dresses, mainly yellow and orange, and their choice of outfits are frequently skewered in the new Lady Whistledown gossip column. At Lady Danbury's ball, Portia notices Simon Basset, and introduces all three of her daughters to him. She mentions that her husband died three years before, and was friends with Simon's father. She boasts about Prudence and Philippa, but ignores Penelope, something Simon notices. Lady Danbury eventually comes over and sends Portia and her daughters away.

### 1814

Portia attended the Bridgerton country house party at Aubrey Hall with all three of her daughters. She was with Violet Bridgerton and Mary Sheffield when they caught Anthony Bridgerton and Kate Sheffield in a compromising position in the gardens. Portia is secretly thrilled to be one of the few witnessing the scandal, but pretends to be shocked. Anthony realizes that Portia will gossip, and threatens her into silence. Miffed at being hushed up, Portia says that they could've been seen by anyone in the house. Violet realizes this, and tells Anthony as much. Anthony finally agrees to marry Kate, and tells Violet to leave with Portia, and Violet drags Portia away while Anthony stays back to talk to Kate. Though Portia tries not to cower, she keeps silent about the incident after Anthony and Kate announce their engagement. She can't resist for long, and let bits and pieces slip out to let the ton guess that the most wealthy viscount was forced into marriage. Her gossip quickly becomes inane after the ton witnesses the affection between Anthony and Kate in public, and believe they are a love match.

### 1817

Portia is mentioned in a Lady Whistledown column due to her rivalry with Araminta Gunningworth, the Countess of Penwood. Araminta convinced a lady's maid of the Featherington household to come and work for her, but the maid came back to Portia's house a fortnight later and begged for her job back because Araminta was making her do the work of a scullery maid, upstairs maid, and cook. Portia took back the maid, and Araminta was furious. She publicly picked fights with Portia, but Portia just laughed Araminta off, since she had stolen the maid away from her first.

### 1824

With Prudence and Philippa married and Penelope seemingly becoming a spinster, Portia turns her attentions to getting her youngest daughter, Felicity, married off. When Colin Bridgerton returns to England, Portia hopes that Felicity will marry him, even though Felicity is interested in Geoffrey Albansdale. Colin instead comes and asks Portia for permission to marry Penelope. Portia gives her approval and achieves what she always hoped for — a daughter married to a Bridgerton, and a connection to the powerful family of the ton.

## Personality

Unlike the Bridgertons, the Featheringtons are a family in name only. Portia did not love her husband, and though she loves her daughters, she only sees them as a way of furthering her own status. The Featherington family is not as rich as the Bridgerton family, but they are well off. What Portia craves, though, is the prestigious status of the Bridgertons in the ton. For this reason, she hopes that one of her daughters will marry one of the Bridgerton brothers. Portia is a notorious gossip, seeking to gain fame among the ton by being the first to disclose any scandal that she hears or sees.

## Appearances

 **#02** | "The Viscount Who Loved Me"
 **#03** | "An Offer from a Gentleman"