Lady Whistledown POV
The fastest courtship upon record occurred during the markedly wet season of 1804, when Miss Mary Leopold secured a betrothal over a plate
of sugared almonds and licorice in just four and a half minutes. Of course, Miss Leopold and her new husband would leave London mere hours after their wedding. Reason unknown. Of all that I have imparted to you, dear reader, there is but one bit of wisdom you must heed most. One can never know the truth of a marriage hiding behind closed doors. Beware indeed, blushing newlyweds. You know not the future that awaits. Will there be hardship... or indignity? Or will one's future see
the rarest accomplishment of all, a true love match? As for which of these fates await the eager matches of the season of 1813, only two things will tell... Time, and, as always, this author.
Adelaide POV
Eloise had forced me to spend the morning with her investigating people at the moment we were harassing Benedict
"Then where did you meet her?" I question
"About town." he states
"At her shop?" Eloise questions
"Should you not be off somewhere, getting ready to attend your very first ball?" he questions
"What other places might Madame Delacroix frequent besides her shop?" Eloise asks
"Many places, Eloise for her many interests." he states
"You mean her many secrets." I scoff
"You should be careful, Benedict. Madame Delacroix may not be who you think she is. And consorting with her, well, there may be consequences." Eloise says
"I would have expected this from anyone but you two. You think just because Madame Delacroix has a paid occupation, or because she does not reside within Grosvenor Square, she's different. Is that it? That she is somehow less deserving of my attention because she is not whom polite society deems appropriate?" he states
"That is not what we're saying at all." I state
"Then what are ya'll saying?" he asks and I look away
"You are right. We should prepare for our sister's ball." Eloise says and I nod wanting to get away from the awkward conversation
"Perhaps you should." he says smirking. Later that day I had been roped into shopping with daphne and Lady Bridgerton it seems the Bridgertons were passing me around like a cake today
"The duke and I are going our separate ways. It is for the best, truly." Daphne says and Lady Bridgerton grabs here
"I know I do not always say the right things. And then the things I do say, well... They are not always what you wish to hear I am only able to offer you what I know. However difficult forgiving someone may be, it is necessary to move forward." she states and Daphne shakes her head
"That is not up to me, Mama. The duke is choosing to nurture some grudge against his father instead of allowing himself any... any kind of happiness. However am I supposed to forgive that? However are we supposed to move forward from there?" Daphne says and Lady Bridgerton turns to look at me
"What about you Adelaide? What do you think of the Duke?" she asks and I feel myself pale
"Your Grace?" Lady Featherington says thankfully interrupting the conversation "I do hope you are finding everything you need for Friday's ball. It will certainly be the event of the season. Of course, my young ladies will have to hear about the wondrous festivities the next day, seeing how they did not receive an invitation. Prudence, in particular,
is in tears about it." Lady Featherington says and I roll my eyes in annoyance.
"Is she not, Mrs. Varley?" Lady Featherington says nudging her maid
"Oh! Uh... A... Absolute watering pot, that one." Mrs Varley says unenthusiastically
"Perhaps you might explain to your young ladies, Lady Featherington, how they ended up in such an unfortunate situation, and who exactly put them there." lady Bridgerton says harshly
"Or perhaps we can make room. I certainly would have no problem extending my invitation, as I am sure all of us would like to forgive the errors of the past and move forward. Yes, Daphne? Lady Bridgerton?" I ask and Daphne swallows looking at her mum who looks at me with wide eyes
"If that is what you wish." Lady Bridgerton states
"How wonderful!" Lady Featherington says almost jumping up and down like a child
"Apologies, ma'am, but a carriage has arrived back at the house. A Mr. Crane is there." Mrs Varley says touching Lady Featheringtons shoulder
"I beg your pardon, but did you say "Crane"? Would that be a Sir George Crane?" I ask getting closer towards them. And the maid nods
"I must go with them" I state to Lady Bridgerton and she looks at me with worry
"Would you like us to go with you?" she asks and I shake my head
"I should be ok" I say before I walk with Lady Featherington. When we finally arrive back into the house I see a man standing there looking stressed
"Mr. Crane, how delightful to make your acquaintance. I had no idea a soldier such as yourself was coming to town. And, well, Miss Thompson has not received any correspondence from you in quite some time." Lady Featherington states and I look at the man who looks confused
"Nor would I have expected her to, my lady." he states
"I beg your pardon?" I ask moving around Lady Featherington to look at Marina
"That man is not who you believe him to be, Lady Featherington. It is not George, but his brother, Sir Phillip." Marina states
"I have come bearing grim news today. My brother George died on the battlefield... several weeks ago, and, uh..." Phillip begins but Marina walks out and I feel my feet following her before my brain has a chance to react
"Marina? Marina, please, wait." I yell after her not sure how to run any faster in my heels
"He was writing to me... George... to tell me he loved me... to tell me we could run away together and marry and have our child. Sir Phillip found this half-written letter amongst George's belongings after he, um... If it were not for your recent inquiries, Sir Phillip never would have known I was here, and I never would have known George... He loved me. All this time, he loved me. I thought him a villain, but he was not. He had a perfectly reasonable explanation for not writing back to me. And I was wrong." She says and she begins to break down crying I give her a gentle smile before I walk towards her and wrap her into a hug. I felt defeated as I walked home that night.
"Your Grace." I say as I nearly bump into Cole on his way out
"Addie" he responds fixing his cuffs
"Heading to Will's boxing match?" I questions and he nods
"Will you be accompanying me?" he asks and I shake my head
"No. Unfortunately I have much to do for the ball." I say and he laughs
"Sucks to be you" he whispers and I nod
"It does indeed" I say and he walks off. He's been acting strange ever since we found out Daphne and Simon weren't pregnant but I guess I should've seen it coming. I walked through the hallway until I heard something moving
"Daphne" I ask and she jumps back from the desk where she sits and I shake my head
"What are you doing?" I laugh but her face looks stone cold
"Come look at these Adel" Daphne says as she waves me over and I quickly walk around the desk
"What are these?" I ask looking through the mail
"Your Grace. Lady Waters" Lady Danburys voice comes through and this time both Daphne and I jump back
"Lady Danbury." I greet trying to pretend like we werent just looking through secret mail
"Did you forget we were to come and help with preparations for your ball? Your mama is waiting in the parlor." she says smiling
"We shall be there momentarily." i state but then Daphne stops her
"Lady Danbury? Did you know about these letters... the ones the duke seems to have written to his father as a boy?" Daphne asks and I turn to her with wide eyes she looks at me but then returns her attention to Lady Danbury
"I did. And now, apparently, so do you two." Lady Danbury says giving a small smile
"I had no idea... that Simon had trouble speaking as a child" I say outloud reading the letters and she lets out a sigh
"How could you have done? He worked so very hard to eliminate the difficulty. He was... Well, he was so very proud. It is why he wrote those letters in the first place. To keep his father informed of his progress." she says and I turn my attention to the still sealed letters
"The late duke never even deigned to read them." I whisper
"How could... What kind of father..." Daphne stutters and Lady Danbury gives us another sad smile
"One that not only expected but demanded perfection in his son. And when that was not achieved... Well... I shall leave it to you to imagine." Lady Danbury says now taking a seat
"Simon could not be any more different from a man such as that." Daphne states
"Of course. We know that to be true, Your Grace." Lady Danbury says smiling
"You helped him... overcome his... impediment." I say looking at her with awe
"I merely showed him what he was capable of all along. And if he needed some encouragement, a push from time to time, that was something I was happy to provide. But at the end of the day, the duke's triumph was his and his alone. It had to be." Lady Danbury says before she gets up from the room at leaves Daphne and I in silence. The next morning I sat at the table away from where Daphne and Simon were having a talk
"I thought you enjoyed breakfast in the morning room." Cole says looking confused as he walked into the room
"I wished for different scenery today. Plus I did not wish to be disturbed" I say
"I can go if you would like." he says almost stuttering
"No I did not mean you I meant Daphne and Simon" I say and the room turns silent as he stands there awkwardly
"You have already begun. Is something..." he says as he begins to sit down
"I'm going to Bridgerton House this morning. Dear Francesca has returned from Bath. It seems my entire family is gathering. Would you care to join me? I must admit, the Bridgerton boys will be excited for your arrival" I say and he smiles looking up
"Yes. Yes, I shall join you." he states and I feel relieved. When we arrive to the Bridgertons house all three of the Graces seemed to be a little awkward.
"Adelaide, Daphne" Francescar cries as she runs up to me I laugh as I hug her back at such a young age she was already nearly as tall as me.
"Francesca! Welcome home." I say lifting her up a little
"It is so wonderful to see you. And you, Your Graces. I thought four brothers enough, but returning to six is quite nice." she says
"Well technically only five" I say and Cole almost blushes
"Cole! When will I be able to visit Clyvedon?" the youngest Bridgerton runs up
"Wrong Duke" Daphne says and Cole laughs
"On behalf of Simon, You are welcome to visit at any time." he says and she begins pulling him towards the seat
"Now, come. Show me what you've been learning all summer." I say looking at Francesca and she jumps up and down before jumping on the piano and starting to play it. Honestly I never got into music myself but it was pleasant to see her turning out like Daphne.