Juliette was so consumed by the conflict unsettling her bones that she failed to notice Lord Blackwood in front of her. The sight of his dapper appearance was the reasoning behind the smile blossoming upon her face. Black curls fell against his forehead, casting feathery kisses upon the skin. The fabric of his tailcoat was a rich velour, the deep blue colour of its nature brought out the faintest resemblance of the ocean in his stormy grey eyes.
Once again, Juliette found herself lost at sea, blindly navigating treacherous water. The sensation was inescapable.
"Miss Villeneuve, it is truly lovely seeing you again," Lord Blackwood greeted.
"Lord Blackwood, I must say, I was beginning to fear you weren't coming," Juliette revealed, her voice was faint against the orchestra music.
He released a soft chortle. "And miss an enchanting evening with you? I would be a fool."
"I'm glad you came." The confession was far from a lie. She truly was happy.
"As am I," He mused. He outstretched his arm, propping his palm upwards. "A dance, Miss Villeneuve?"
A delicate giggle fell from her lips. She spoke, her voice light and laced with glee, "I would be a fool to decline."
Her gloved hand reached for his palm, accepting his offer. Lord Blackwood sent her a dazzling grin, before leading her towards the dancing ladies and gentlemen. The skirts of the women's dresses twisted at the ankle, billowing as they twirled. Colourful fabrics and velour tailcoats mixed so seamlessly, creating a beautiful and lively watercolour painting, a masterpiece.
As they danced, hand in hand, Juliette became free. The turmoil of her heart and mind ceased, even for the briefest of moments. Juliette's worries melted away, allowing her to live carelessly, to dance. She forgot about Anthony, letting him rest in the back of her thoughts. Free. She became a victim to the beautiful melodies of the orchestra as she became truly immersed in the flow.
Lord Blackwood twirled her. The skirt of her dress rippled around her ankles, under attack from the quick and spirited movements. To their left, Daphne and the Duke danced. Juliette caught Daphne's gaze, sending her a joyous grin, in which the Bridgerton girl was quick to return. However, their interaction was curt, as she was spun again, tearing their gaze abruptly apart.
She was pulled close to his chest, as shallow breaths fell from their mouths. Breathing in sync, their hearts touched. The smell of pine clouded her senses, she leaned into the odour. The scent tugged at her chest.
Juliette and Lord Blackwood gawked at one another, delving into one another's soul. Unknownst to her, as she stared into the eyes of Lord Blackwood, a pair of bitter eyes followed her movements, filled to the brim with envy.
Their closeness was fleeting as she was spun again to the beat. The sudden movement caused her heart to jump.
A happy giggle fell from her lips at the vivacious movements. "Lord Blackwood!—"
"Reginald," He whispered with haste, pulling her close once again. His gorgeous eyes which depicted a perfect storm never strayed from hers. The soft breathy words barely met her ears, nearly cloaked by the spirited orchestra tunes. Her brows furrowed, unsure of what he meant. Before she could respond, he continued, his voice rich as chocolate, "My name, please call me by my name—Reginald."
"Reginald?" She questioned, playing with how it felt upon her tongue. The smoothness graced her mouth like the finest caramels.
"Oh, I am quite aware, it's not the most handsome of names, but it was my grandfather's," He blubbered, a nervous smile fighting to surface on his plush lips. "But, you may call me Lord Blackwood if you prefer, I shall understand—"
YOU ARE READING
DEAR JULIETTE ▹ Anthony Bridgerton
Fanfiction"My final letters, were they read? Or were they written in vain?" Although born in France, Juliette Villeneuve often spent her childhood summers in London. With the passing of each summer, her adoration for a certain Bridgerton boy grew. During thei...
