Penelope’s scandal sheet is not only a way for her to express herself in a society that is extremely restrictive for women, but it’s also a way for her to earn her own money. During season 2, Penelope learns that keeping Lady Whistledown a secret is much harder than she initially thought it would be. Not only is her closest friend Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie) obsessed with uncovering the truth about her, but she isn’t the only one. Queen Charlotte, played by Golda Rosheuvel, is busy with her own search for the woman behind the pen. The investigation forces Penelope to get creative about how she moves her drafts to the print shop that publishes Lady Whistledown.
Before the twist at the end of Bridgerton season 3, only a few people had figured out the true identity of Lady Whistledown. Penelope goes through extreme lengths to conceal her identity and, for the most part, it has worked in her favor. But it could never last, and while only two people knew her secret in Bridgerton season 2, more uncover the truth of Lady Whistledown in season 3.
Madame Delacroix
The First One To Discover The Truth
Madame Genevieve Delacroix (Kathryn Drysdale) is the first person to know that Penelope is Lady Whistledown. She is the modiste where most of the women of the Ton go to have dresses made for the various events of the social season. After she sees Penelope going to the print shop in town, Penelope recruits Madame Delacroix to help her deliver her scandal sheets to the printers, because she has packages going in and out of her shop every day.
In Bridgerton season 1, Eloise accused Madame Delacroix of being Lady Whistledown. Since both Penelope and Madame Delacroix have something to protect about their identities and have businesses to run, their partnership works well for both of them.
Eloise Bridgerton
Penelope Reveals The Secret In Order To Save Her Friend
Eloise has been determined to discover the true identity of Lady Whistledown since Bridgerton season 1. Her search for Lady Whistledown eventually leads her to find Theo Sharpe, a print shop apprentice who introduces her to the early women’s liberation movements in London. Lady Whistledown reveals her involvement with political radicals after Queen Charlotte assumes that Eloise is Lady Whistledown.
Eloise’s discovery that Penelope is Lady Whistledown felt like a betrayal after the writer hurt the entire Bridgerton family’s reputation with what she published. Even though Penelope thought it was the only way to save Eloise from Queen Charlotte, it may have destroyed their friendship.
Colin Bridgerton
A Discovery That Breaks His Heart After Everything Lady Whistledown Said
In the books, Colin Bridgerton is the first person to discover that Penelope is Lady Whistledown. That doesn’t happen until the fourth book Romancing Mister Bridgerton, which was adapted for season 3. At the end of episode 6, Colin follows Penelope to the printer as she attempts to reveal Cressida Cowper’s deceit of the Ton by publishing another Whistledown paper. He confronts her as she leaves the printers.
Colin is outraged and heartbroken. Lady Whistledown had written terrible things about himself and, more importantly, his family, and to discover that his love had been his enemy all along is devastating. In the books, Penelope retires her literary alter ego when Colin finds out, but the series has taken a different turn.
Cressida Cowper
She Uses Her Own Intelligence To Discover Lady Whistledown’s True Identity
Thanks to her fortuitous meeting with the printer’s apprentice who gives her identifying information about Penelope, Cressida Cowper shows remarkably uncharacteristic intelligence to work out that she is Lady Whistledown. Naturally, Cressida blackmails Penelope and Colin (initially for £10,000) in an attempt to steal the wealth required to flee her family and set up her own life.
Ultimately, Cressida’s discovery amounts to nothing when Penelope takes her power back in the last episode of season 3. And while Cressida’s attempted extortion is unforgivable, she is a victim of society as much as Penelope. Her act of betrayal is one of desperation and opportunism.
Portia Featherington
The Truth Heals Their Mother-Daughter Relationship
When Cressida blackmails Penelope, she’s forced to reveal the truth of her secret identity to her mother. Portia would appear to be a valuable ally, given her ability to deceive and live a double life, but she’s helpless to assist Penelope.
She actually takes the news that Penelope is Lady Whistledown surprisingly well, even when she confronts her daughter for writing about her own family. Ultimately, Penelope is able to reveal the part her mother played in making her feel isolated, and their relationship heals.
Lady Danbury
A Powerful Woman Who Knows Everything
As the Bridgerton season 3 finale brings Lady Whistledown’s story to a climax, a surprising revelation retrospectively changes Penelope’s deception of the Ton. Lady Danbury quietly confesses to her that she knew Penelope was Lady Whistledown. It’s not revealed when Danbury worked out her secret, but it fits with the Ton’s most powerful figure.
Lady Danbury is an observer and a powerful social manipulator. Relationships are forged on her recommendations, and she is both the Queen’s confidante and the only person who actively influences her. Her discovering Penelope’s secret through mere observation powers works well to emphasize exactly how wide-reaching her influence in Bridgerton is.
