Bridgerton fans know how to find meaning in the tiniest details, from the patterns of bees and butterflies to the game of Ballmore that theoretically represents the order of the show's seasons. Sunderland's depiction of Regency England is so complex and brilliant that there's something truly rewarding about seeing it so close up. As Luke Newton (who plays Colin) recently told Bustle, "The fans have their finger on the pulse. Sometimes I'm like, 'Have they read the script?'"
But alas, it's impossible to pick up on every detail on the first or second viewing - and for many viewers, a very important detail has been hidden in plain sight.
a sneaky pen name
Viewers on X (formerly Twitter) realized that Penelope's alter ego "Lady Whistledown" gave her name special meaning. "Just realized Penelope's nickname (Pen) is a nod to her Lady Whistle," one user wrote.
Another netizen said: "Her nickname is Pen, her name is Penelope, and Mrs. Whistle Tang uses Pen, oh hahaha."
Likewise, one fan on Reddit wondered if they were "the last people on earth to realize the double meaning of Penelope's name." Not only do writers use a "pen," but a pen name (or the author's alias) is often referred to as a "pseudonym." Of course, writers of this era did not use ballpoint pens, but quill pens made of feathers. Featherington!
As one follower on Instagram mused: "You're telling me her name is actually Pen Feather but no one knows she's an anonymous gossip columnist?"
But in fact, many commentators saw the light at the time. "Omg I didn't notice this until now! It makes sense though," one viewer wrote.
The surprising origin story of Lady Whistledown
If you're just connecting now, don't worry - you're obviously not alone! In fact, Bridgerton author Julia Quinn never intended for Penelope's name to be an elaborate Easter egg for readers (or viewers) to discover.
As Quinn recalled in an essay on her website, she didn't even know who Lady Whistledown was when she wrote The Duke and I ( Bridgerton's first novel). "I figured this out when I started writing the next book in the series, The Viscount Who Loved Me , and then frantically reread The Duke and I to make sure I didn't write anything that would cancel my candidacy content of human qualifications,” she wrote.
So while Penelope's name could be a clue about her alter ego, it's not necessarily meant to be a clue - rather, it seems to be a fortuitous twist of fate.
