A Refresher On What Is Going On With The Featherington Family Going Into Season 2 Of Bridgerton

While the Bridgerton clan were front and center in the first season of the hit Netflix series "Bridgerton," they weren't the only family the show focused on. Of course, they had a neighboring family with their own set of problems much different from the Bridgertons. Unbeknownst to them, they also had a star in the family, but viewers (and only viewers) didn't learn that until the season came to a close.

When the first episode of "Bridgerton" opened, both the Bridgerton women and the neighboring Featherington women were getting ready for a debutante ball with Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) of England, letting the eligible men in their social circle, known as the Ton, know which women would be available for courting that season (via Vulture). While Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevore) was the only one of the Bridgerton girls to make their debut, all three Featherington sisters were presented to society, but didn't have much luck with suitors. Still, finding the right mate for the Featherington daughters wasn't the only concern the family had during Season 1.

Lady Portia Featherington (Polly Walker) is not very pleased when a distant cousin arrives to stay with the family, and seems to be getting the attention of London's eligible men rather than her three daughters. While Philippa (Harriet Cains) and Prudence Featherington (Bessie Carter) have no interest in making friends with their cousin, Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) does, and it is eventually revealed that Marina (Ruby Barker) arrived at the home pregnant and was desperate to either find a way to abort or reach her baby's father (via Entertainment Daily). When an attempt to end the pregnancy didn't work, Marina finally told her story.

She had fallen in love with a boy she met at church, but he had gone off to Spain to fight in a war. Meanwhile, Marina had not heard from him. Since Portia wanted Marina to find a husband and pass the baby off as his, she wrote a fake letter from Marina's beau in which he broke up with her. This prompted Marina to listen to Portia and try to find another man. She nearly wed Colin Featherington (Luke Newton), but then Philip Crane, her lover's brother, arrives to tell her that George was killed. He offers to marry her instead, taking her off of Lady Featherington's hands.

While Lady Portia Featherington spent money like she had a never-ending supply, but that turned out to be the furthest thing from the truth. It turned out that Lord Archibald Featherington (Ben Miller) had a gambling problem, leading the family to become nearly broke. When he tried to make what he owed on bad bets and then some by placing money on a boxing match he was assured would make him his fortune, bookies came looking for him and took everything, including the deed to his house, leaving his wife and daughters wondering what to do next (via Screen Rant). After all, how can they afford dresses for all the social season balls now with no money?

To make matters worse for the women in his family, Lord Featherington is also killed, which is where things leave off in Season 1, making their fate in Season 2 something fans can't wait to see.

Throughout all the goings on with the Bridgertons, the Featheringtons, and their friends, one thing remained a constant, and that was the regular publication of a pamphlet — which was clearly a precursor to the tabloid journalism we see today — where societal secrets and gossip are revealed by a woman calling herself Lady Whistledown (voiced by Julie Andrews as she narrates the plot). However, this is a pen name, with no one knowing who is spilling these secrets (via Screen Rant). Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie) makes it her mission to learn who Lady Whistledown really is, but she ultimately has no luck.

Little does she know that her own BFF, Penelope Featherington, who she affectionately refers to as Pen, has been writing those pamphlets. The audience learned the truth as Season 1 came to a close, but Lady Whistledown remains a mystery in the "Bridgerton" universe as Season 2 debuts. Penelope also has a massive crush on Colin Bridgerton, which makes her life all the more intriguing.