- This page is about the Netflix character. For the book character, see Prudence Huxley
Prudence Dankworth (née Featherington) is the eldest Featherington daughter.
History[]
1813 Social Season[]
Prudence had been unsuccessful in securing her husband during her first two years after her debut, so she was preparing for a third try. Prudence, along with her two younger sisters, were presented in front of the queen. They had difficulty walking, as their mother had strapped them all very tightly into corsets. This led to Prudence fainting in front of the queen, starting the season on the wrong foot. Despite this, Lady Featherington was determined to find husbands for her daughters and hastened to introduce them to Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings, when she saw him at an event. This was not helped by the arrival of Marina Thompson, a very attractive distant cousin of theirs. The morning after the ball, a slew of callers arrived at the Featherington house, but they were all there to see Marina.[1]
When the Featherington sisters learned Marina was pregnant, they wondered why Marina was being kept away from them, secluded in her own room. Their mother told them her condition was catching.[2]
When Prince Friedrich came to town, Prudence gossiped with her sister about his presence.[3]
Prudence went to a party thrown by Lady Trowbridge with her parents and sisters. She helped console Philippa when a suitor she liked, Albion Finch, was scared off by their father.[4]
Philippa and Prudence sat in the room as their mother confronted their father over the modiste's bill not being paid.[5]
When Marina became engaged to Colin Bridgerton, Prudence and Philippa were excited and wanted Colin to introduce them to his friends. They were also jealous that she got go to the modiste for new garments.[6]
When news broke that Marina was pregnant and had been since before her arrival, the engagement was quickly called off. The Featheringtons were left shrouded in scandal. Despite this, Lady Featherington took her daughters to the queen's luncheon, to which they'd received an invitation before the scandal. They weren't at the luncheon for long before Brimsley came and told them on the queen's behalf that they had to leave.[7]
Lady Featherington managed to swing an invitation to an upcoming ball for herself and her daughters. But because they had no credit at the modiste, Lady Featherington said they'd have to wear dresses they'd worn before. Prudence said she would rather not go than do that. However, Lord Featherington came home with his winnings from a rigged fight, which gave them the money to buy new dresses for the ball.
After the ball, Prudence was annoyed by Philippa's continuous gushing over Mr. Finch. However, this quickly stopped when they arrived home to a somber mood. They learned that Lord Featherington had died and the Bow Street Runners had questions.
After Marina accepted her fate and accepted Philip Crane's proposal, the Featheringtons saw her off to her new life.[8]
1814 Social Season[]
After her father's death, Prudence's mother struggled to make ends meet while waiting for the heir to arrive. She also wanted to find matches for Prudence and Penelope quickly so the heir wouldn't try to have input on that.
Prudence was heard singing while Penelope hid money under the floorboards. She entered Penelope's room and questioned why it was so quiet. She accused Penelope of being boring and found a letter that Penelope had been writing to Colin. She told her mother about it and made fun of Penelope.
After the queen's ball, the family returned home to meet Jack Featherington, the heir to their father's estate. He said he'd paid Philippa's dowry and had Portia's things moved out of what was now his bedchamber.[9]
Philippa's Wedding[]
As they started planning Philippa's wedding, Prudence quickly became annoyed by the wedding talk. She later attended the wedding, which was small, with only their immediate family attending.[10]
Seducing Jack[]
Portia began to fret over Jack's interest in Cressida Cowper, fearing that him getting married would lead to her and her daughters being put out onto the streets. She decided to find someone malleable to match with Jack, someone she could manipulate. She realized Prudence was the perfect candidate and quickly got Prudence to agree. To help with the seduction, Portia took Prudence to Genevieve to have the bust of her dress lowered and when Genevieve refused to lower it past what was proper, she took Prudence to a different modiste. Then she coached Prudence in how to seduce Jack, though Jack ignored all of Prudence's attempts and simply said he'd invited the Cowpers over for dinner. At the dinner, Portia tried to draw Jack's attention off Cressida and onto Prudence, but her efforts failed and Jack made plans to promenade with Cressida later in the week.[11]
Despite Jack's interest in Cressida, Portia still wanted Prudence to try to seduce him. When Prudence wasn't aggressive or quick enough, Portia forced a situation where they would be alone together and then led a crowd to find them, forcing Jack to offer his hand to Prudence to preserve her honor.
Prudence told Penelope she was excited to be engaged and wondered if Lady Whistledown would write about it. Penelope was shocked at her enthusiasm, but Prudence believed she was just jealous.[12]
Prudence eagerly shared the news of her wedding and the plans for it with the other young ladies. While Prudence was at the modiste getting her trousseau, she expressed that she was upset that Edwina and Anthony's wedding would overshadow her own.
At the lake, Prudence rode in a boat with Jack and called attention to herself.
One evening, as they sat at home, Prudence got upset, saying she wanted to show off her fiancé, but they hadn't been invited to anything. Penelope suggested that the engagement had put them back on the outs.[13]
Anthony and Edwina's Wedding[]
Wanting to draw people's attention to Jack's mines in order to persuade them to invest, Portia had Mrs. Varley put one of Jack's counterfeit necklaces on Prudence's neck for her to show off. Prudence complained about the weight, but Portia simply said it was heavy because it was valuable.
Prudence attended Anthony and Edwina's wedding with her mother, sister, and Jack. After the wedding was abruptly called off in the middle of the ceremony, Prudence and the other guests were all moved out to the gardens, where Prudence became entranced by a living statue, stopping to mimic the statue's movements.[14]
Return to Good Standing[]
As Jack started to make deals with the men of the ton, the Featherington family returned to good standing. They promenaded one day and were surprised to see the Bridgertons out in public so soon after their own scandal.[15]
Featherington Ball[]
With all the money Jack had conned out of the ton, Portia decided to throw an elaborate ball. Mrs. Varley asked about the Bridgertons and Sharmas. Philippa and Prudence liked the idea of the drama of it all. Portia said to invite both families, though she was certain they wouldn't come. At the ball, Prudence stood with her mother and sister to watch the fireworks her mother had arranged.[16]
1815 Social Season[]
After a summer spent in the countryside, the Featheringtons returned to Mayfair, including the newlywed Prudence with her husband, Harry Dankworth. Portia told her daughters that their aunt Petunia had died, leaving them a fortune that allowed them to live well in society again.
Prudence and Philippa were shocked later when they learned that Jack had allegedly left a note stating that the firstborn son of one of Portia's daughters would inherit the title and the estate. As they started talking about changes they'd made, Portia sent them home to start working on producing an heir.[17]
Prudence and Philippa both wanted to produce the first heir, but Prudence was more concerned with showing off her husband than coupling with him while Philippa spent more time thinking about how she'd change the house once she was the lady of the house. Prudence even admitted she and Harry had only been together once, on their wedding night. At a ball, Portia confronted both of them and learned that Philippa and Albion had never actually had sex at all, due to a misunderstanding of what they were meant to do, while Prudence and Harry hadn't done it a second time because Prudence didn't enjoy it. Portia sent them both home to do their duties to produce an heir, which they did.[18] Wanting to guarantee a male heir, Prudence and Philippa drank a potion prepared by Mrs. Varley, who said her own mother had used it to have five boys. The drink didn't taste bad, but they immediately rushed for the chamber pot after drinking it.
At the hot air balloon debut, Prudence and Harry hid behind a tent and began kissing. When Prudence noticed someone watching, she pushed Harry off her, causing him to loosen the rope holding the hot air balloon, releasing it. Several men had to take hold of the ropes and pull to keep it from hitting Penelope.
Later, at the Innovations Ball, Prudence, Philippa, and Portia were bewildered to see Penelope dancing with Lord Debling. Philippa said she felt sick. Prudence did as well, but Philippa really meant it, as she ran out. Portia thought they stopped taking the potion and Prudence confirmed that they had.[19]
Prudence grew tired of Philippa boasting about her pregnancy, but Harry said it was probably for the best that they hadn't produced a child, as they took up a lot of time. She wondered if they should give up. Then she mentioned she had pains in her chest, which Philippa informed her was a sure sign of pregnancy. Prudence went to Portia to tell her, but Portia was too distracted by Lord Debling leaving without proposing to Penelope to register what she'd said.[20]
Prudence and Philippa were both shocked when they learned that Penelope was engaged to Colin. Later, when the queen offered a monetary reward to anyone who helped unmask Lady Whistledown, Philippa suggested checking the parish registry, not realizing it wouldn't be that simple. While they talked about that, Portia came in and said they needed to start treating Penelope better and she'd be attending the betrothal party with Penelope without them so they could think about how they'd change their behavior toward their sister.[21]
As Portia began to plan Penelope's wedding, Prudence lamented that she was getting much nicer things than Prudence had, though Prudence blamed her show of emotion on her pregnancy.[22] Prudence's jealousy continued as the wedding planning continued and the others started to notice a chance in Prudence, as she was nicer to those around her. After Penelope's wedding, Prudence said that Penelope made an exceptionally fine bride, a comment she assured Penelope was genuine.[23]
Prudence and Philippa decided to throw a ball, which Harry and Albion supported. Since they were unable to afford a lot, they worried that what Mrs. Varley put together wouldn't have all the things they wanted. But when the two couples entered, they were delighted to see everything they'd asked for. They thanked Portia, believing she must have paid for everything.
The queen came to the ball and prompted Penelope to address the crowd and identify herself as Lady Whistledown. After her speech, couples started to dance, including Harry and Prudence.
Later, Prudence gave birth to their first child, a girl.[24]
Personality[]
Ferociously storming the marriage mart for a third season, Prudence is already considered "on the shelf." Perhaps it's because the eldest Featherington girl has not one nice bone in her body - though never she, nor her mother, would ever admit it.
Relationships[]
Romantic[]
Jack Featherington[]
Her mother convinced her to win over Jack Featherington, their fourth cousin, in order for them to become wealthy again by marriage. Her mother even resorted to having her daughter be caught alone with Jack in order for them to have no choice but to marry. Their engagement ended up breaking off as Jack Featherington was planning on going to America after being exposed as a grifter.
Harry Dankworth[]
After four seasons as a debutante, Prudence finally found a husband in a man named Harry Dankworth. They met in the countryside during the off-season. They were married sometime before the Featheringtons returned to London for the 1815 season.[17] Since Prudence married below her social status and Harry married above his, Prudence feels she holds more power in the relationship.[25] They seem to be very much attracted to one another, with Harry doting on her. They even once tried to have sexual intercourse during the hot air balloon launch, to conceive a son to become the next Lord Featherington.[19] They ended up having a daughter.[24]
Familial[]
Portia Featherington[]
Portia Featherington is Prudence’s mother. She is eager to find Prudence a match, especially after her husband's death. She arranged for Prudence to marry Jack to keep her and the rest of them secure, even setting up a misunderstanding to put him on the spot so he'd have to marry her. When Jack wishes to call off the engagement to pursue Cressida Cowper instead for her money, Portia refuses, as it would embarrass Prudence.
Philippa Finch[]
Philippa is Prudence's younger sister. They are both seen to be eager to find a good match in the 1813 social season, and eager to do what it takes to secure such a match. However, Prudence is heavily implied to be envious when Philippa secures a match before she does, often glaring jealously at Philippa and Albion Finch, Philippa's suitor, when they are together.
Penelope Bridgerton[]
Penelope is Prudence's youngest sister. Prudence makes fun of her habits to read and write.[9] Prudence accuses Penelope of being jealous when she is engaged to Jack.[12] When Penelope became engaged to Colin, Prudence was jealous that their mother was planning an elaborate wedding.[23]
Professional[]
Career[]
Notes and Trivia[]
- Prudence is not very intelligent, which has been shown on several occasions.
- Prudence said she would be "putrefied" if Philippa managed to marry Albion Finch, instead of "petrified."[9]
- Portia and Mrs. Varley are aware of her lack of intelligence. Portia was concerned that once Jack Featherington found a wife, she and her daughters would be cast onto the streets. Portia said finding a wife for Jack who is malleable and stupid enough to not know any better, and does not know how to manage a household would give them the best chance of staying in their home. As soon as Prudence walked through the door, Portia and Mrs. Varley instantly realized she fit this criteria.[11]
- She does not sing well[6], but she is completely unaware of this and believes that she is good at singing. While dining with the Cowpers, she repeatedly offered to sing to attract Jack's attention.[11]
Gallery[]
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A more complete gallery with pictures of Prudence Dankworth (Netflix) can be found here. |
Memorable Quotes[]
- Prudence: I will be perfectly putrefied if Philippa does manage to marry Finch.
- Penelope: Petrified. Word is petrified.[9]
- Prudence: But I want to be out with my husband showing him off, not in bed! And it flattens my hair![18]
- Prudence: What is it? My housekeeper said that Varley said it was urgent. I was sleeping.[20]
- Prudence: Clearly you are having a girl. That is the reason you are so lacking in sparkle lately.
- Philippa: What do you mean?
- Prudence: It is said baby girls steal one's beauty.[22]
- Philippa: If we use our minds to read, there may not be enough wits left for the baby.
- Prudence: Mama must've read a great deal when she was pregnant with you, then.[21]
- Philippa: How many eyes exactly do you think there are in the ton?
- Prudence: Double the amount of people, I would imagine.[23]
Appearances[]
| Bridgerton, Season 1 | |||||
| #01 | "Diamond of the First Water" | #04 | "An Affair of Honor" | #07 | "Oceans Apart" |
| #02 | "Shock and Delight" | #05 | "The Duke and I" | #08 | "After the Rain" |
| #03 | "Art of the Swoon" | #06 | "Swish" | ||
| Bridgerton, Season 2 | |||||
| #01 | "Capital R Rake" | #04 | "Victory" | #07 | "Harmony" |
| #02 | "Off to the Races" | #05 | "An Unthinkable Fate" | #08 | "The Viscount Who Loved Me" |
| #03 | "A Bee in Your Bonnet" | #06 | "The Choice" | ||
| Bridgerton, Season 3 | |||||
| #01 | "Out of the Shadows" | #04 | "Old Friends" | #07 | "Joining of Hands" |
| #02 | "How Bright the Moon" | #05 | "Tick Tock" | #08 | "Into the Light" |
| #03 | "Forces of Nature" | #06 | "Romancing Mister Bridgerton" | ||
References
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