- This page is about the book character. For the Netflix character, see Portia Featherington
Portia Featherington is the mother of Penelope Bridgerton, and a long-time neighbor of the Bridgerton family.
History[]
1813[]
At Lady Danbury's ball, Portia notices Simon Basset, and introduces all three of her daughters, Prudence, Philippa, and Penelope, to him. She says that her husband died three years before, and was friends with Simon's father. She boasts about Prudence and Philippa, but ignores Penelope. 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 says the two have to marry because someone could've seen them. Anthony threatens Portia, saying his mother and Kate's mother will not speak, and she would be the only one who would. Upset but intimidated, Portia says that they could've been seen by anyone in the house. Violet realizes this, and tells Anthony. Anthony finally agrees to marry Kate, and Violet drags Portia away while Anthony stays back to talk to Kate. Portia stays silent after their engagement, but she lets bits and pieces slip, not giving anything away.
1815[]
Portia attended Violet's masquerade ball with her three daughters.
1824[]
Portia is excited when Colin Bridgerton returns to London, and hopes he will marry her youngest daughter, Felicity, because Prudence and Philippa are now married, and Penelope has become a spinster. Penelope reminds her that Felicity wants to marry Geoffrey Albansdale, but Portia thinks Felicity could marry better. Portia is at Violet's birthday ball, and asks Francesca Stirling about Michael Stirling, wanting to also match him with Felicity.
Portia is having a weekly family meeting with her daughters and her sons-in-law when Colin and Penelope arrive at their house. Though she tries to pair Felicity with Colin, he quickly rejects it and tells Portia he wants a private moment with her and Penelope. Colin then asks her permission to marry her daughter. Portia thinks he wants to marry Felicity, but Colin corrects her and says he wants to marry Penelope, scolding Portia for thinking otherwise. Portia gives her blessing to Colin and Penelope's engagement. She and Violet planned the wedding together, and agreed to move the wedding up, at Colin's request.
Personality[]
Unlike the Bridgertons, the Featheringtons are a family in name only. 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.
Relationships[]
Romantic[]
Portia's husband died some years before her daughters made their debut. She rarely mentions him, often only to boast about having a connection to a noble family to draw attention to herself. Her marriage was only for good standing, and she never loved him.
Familial[]
Daughters[]
Portia has four daughters. Her eldest two, Prudence and Philippa, were the ones she constantly boasted about after their debut. She often exaggerated their talents, hoping to get titled and wealthy men to marry them. They both married men with wealth that would be able to provide for Portia. Though neither man was particularly popular or bright, Portia still overtly boasted about both Prudence and Philippa to elevate her own status within the ton.
Portia's third daughter, Penelope, was often ignored by her mother, until she caught the attention of, and married Colin Bridgerton.
Portia's fourth daughter, Felicity, was a teenager and not yet out in society.
Friendships[]
Professional[]
Notes and Trivia[]
- Araminta Gunningworth once stole Portia's lady's maid, promising the maid higher wages. However, after a fortnight, the lady's maid begged Portia to re-hire her, as Araminta required the maid to do the work of three people: scullery maid, upstairs maid and cook. She also forced the maid to polish 300 pairs of shoes.[1]
- When Portia's family had settled a dowry upon her, one-fourth of the funds were set aside for her own personal account, making her independently wealthy.[2]
Appearances[]
| Bridgerton Books | |||||
| #01 | "The Duke and I" | #04 | "Romancing Mister Bridgerton" | #07 | "It's In His Kiss" |
| #02 | "The Viscount Who Loved Me" | #05 | "To Sir Phillip, With Love" | #08 | "On The Way To The Wedding" |
| #03 | "An Offer from a Gentleman" | #06 | "When He Was Wicked" | #09 | "The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After" |
- ↑ An Offer from a Gentleman, Chapter 8 & 15
- ↑ Romancing Mister Bridgerton, Chapter 1