Bridgerton Spoilers: What Happens to Penelope in the Books?

The Netflix series Bridgerton has taken some pretty radical departures from the historical romance novels on which it's based. However, it's likely that Season 3 of Bridgerton will have kept at least the broad strokes of Penelope's story from Julia Quinn's book Romancing Mister Bridgerton.

Here's a basic idea of Penelope's romance from the book (spoilers start now!)

1. Penelope 'goes on the shelf'. While being officially labeled a spinster is meant to be a tragedy, for Penelope Featherington it's actually a blessing. It means that her mother stops constantly trying to make her marriageable by forcing her to wear horribly bright, ruffled clothes. Penelope is free to make her own decisions and pursue her writing more freely. The lack of stress, more understated outfits, and freedom to speak her mind make Penelope braver and more visible than ever before.

2. She gives up on Colin. This is one that we hope to see on the television show. After pining after her next-door neighbor for years, Penelope overhears his stated lack of interest and resolves to stop thinking about him. In true Romance Novel fashion, this is exactly when Colin starts to take notice of the wallflower-next-door. (In the books, Colin's declaration that he isn't into Penelope is much less cruel than it is in the show – he makes the statement in private to his brothers because they won't stop teasing him.)

3. A bounty is put on Lady Whistledown. When it is announced that the reward for unmasking the gossip columnist is one thousand pounds, Colin comes to Penelope with the fear that his sister Eloise might be the culprit. In an attempt to claim the prize, Cressida Twombley (née Cowper) declares that she is actually Lady Whistledown, much to Penelope's outrage.

4. Colin discovers the truth. After seeing Penelope duck into a sketchy church, Colin follows her and discovers that she's making a drop of a Lady Whistledown column. He confronts her, and they have a fight in his carriage, which turns into… well, not a fight. (It's kissing, you guys!!)

5. They get engaged. They have to now, because of all of the not-fighting (kissing!!!!) Penelope's secret causes tension between the pair, but their passion for each other keeps growing and they get married.

6. Cressida Cowper uncovers the secret of Lady Whistledown, and she attempts to blackmail Penelope. Instead, Colin announces Penelope's identity at a ball, managing to control the narrative enough to make her the toast of London.

7. Colin and Penelope are happily married. She becomes a novelist, while he writes travelogues. Hurrah!