Penelope Featherington Finally Gets the Great Love Story She Deserves (SPOILERS)
Updated June 13 2024, 10:19 a.m. ET
Warning: this article contains spoilers for Season 3 of Bridgerton and Julia Quinn's novel Romancing Mister Bridgerton.
On Netflix's hit Regency-era show Bridgerton, every character finds love whether they intend to or not. Audiences have watched wallflower Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) pine over sweet Bridgerton brother Colin (Luke Newton) since the show premiered in 2020.
In Season 3, the stars finally aligned and Colin saw Penelope as more than just a friend, and after a spicy carriage ride, the couple announced their engagement.
However, her Lady Whistledown secret threatened to destroy their relationship before it properly started — prompting many fans to wonder if they officially make it down the aisle.
Here is everything you need to know about who Penelope ends up with in Bridgerton.
Penelope's journey to her engagement to Colin was an emotional rollercoaster.
Throughout seasons 1 and 2 of Bridgerton, fans have watched Penelope secretly pine for middle Bridgerton brother Colin. Penelope did not reveal her crush to her best friend, Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jesse), in fear that it will ruin their friendship.
During Season 1, Penelope's feelings were unrequited when Colin wanted to marry her cousin, Marina Thompson.
However, Marina's feelings lay with another, and Colin broke off the engagement, leaving Penelope to wonder if he would turn to her at last. Instead, Colin decided to take a trip to Europe, leaving Penelope heartbroken.
During Season 2, it's revealed that Penelope wrote to Colin often on his travels, so upon his return, she was eager to see if his feelings for her had changed.
In a brief moment during Season 2, Colin and Penelope dance together, and he warns her family of a scam her cousin attempts to run on the wealthy families of Bridgerton. He also has a heart-to-heart with Marina, who informs him that Penelope truly cares for him.
Sadly, in one of the last moments of the season, Penelope overhears Colin talking to his male friends, who are teasing him about their dance. Colin says he would never court Penelope, and she flees crying.
Do Penelope and Colin get married in 'Bridgerton' Season 3?
Season 3 begins with Colin returning yet again from another trip galavanting across Europe — and it isn't long before he is helping Penelope court a suitor.
However, the veil is lifted from Colin's eyes when he sees Penelope being pursued by Lord Debling, prompting him to declare his love for Penelope (cue Pitbull's "Give Me Everything").
There is still one major issue for the couple: Penelope's secret identity as Lady Whistledown. Despite Cressida Cowper attempting to take credit for the gossip column, Penelope is unable to let her nom de plume go, and Colin catches her at the printer, putting their engagement in jeopardy.
While Colin grapples with his feelings for Penelope, he also must come to terms with her reveal as Lady Whistledown.
Colin and Penelope do make it down the aisle, but without resolving the major issues between them. During their wedding breakfast, the Queen arrives to confront the Bridgertons about the identity of Lady Whistledown, prompting Colin to ask Penelope to give up her columnist side hustle, something she is unwilling to do.
Add in Cressida's blackmail, and their marriage is off to a rocky start. However, after Penelope reveals her secret identity to the ton and the Queen gives her permission to keep writing, Colin accepts Penelope as Lady Whistledown.
"There is no separating you from Whistledown," Colin tells Penelope. "And after seeing you speak today, well, I would not want to... I think in truth I have been envious of you. Of your success. Of your bravery. And now I simply cannot believe that a woman with such bravery loves me."
As for the future Mr. and Mrs. Colin Bridgerton, they welcomed their first baby boy in Season 3 but fans can expect to see the couple welcome three more kids: Agatha, Thomas, Jane, and George. Let's hope we see a glimpse of their expanded family in Season 4!
Stream all three seasons of Bridgerton on Netflix now.