It was the night of the Bridgerton ball. Carriages lined the streets of Mayfair carrying the wealthiest and most powerful members in London waiting for their turn to ascend the steps into Bridgerton House for what was expected to be the most highly anticipated ball of the season.

Despite, as Whistledown had written in her column that very morning, that the ton, as a collective, had the attention span of a newt, people still whispered amongst themselves of the delicious scandal that had hit the Bridgerton family not once, but twice, last season. Everyone worked themselves into a frenzy to see how the new viscountess handled the night and more than a few wished to see her fail.

Kate understood this for weeks now and she would not let the knowledge intimidate her. She refused to. Clutching tightly on Anthony's arm as they stood at the front of the receiving line, with her head held high, Kate smiled widely and greeted each lady and gentleman with congeniality that was more than a little forced.

Edwina stood beside her sister and the other Bridgertons and smiled just as forcefully. They were united as a family now. And the ton either needed to accept it or leave.

***

Edwina drank deep from her glass of lemonade. It was perfectly sweet and cool to relieve the crush of the evening. Nearly five hundred people attended, most milling around the edges of the ballroom floor catching up with one another as most families recently returned from their country seats this past week. Some men had abandoned their wives and charges and made a beeline for the card room, which billowed out with cigar smoke whenever someone opened the door.

Edwina, herself, had just stepped off the dance floor with Lord Lumley. He complimented her on her ballgown, which was a bright sunny yellow. When she had picked out the fabric two weeks ago, Kate had looked at her askance and reminded her how Penelope Featherington had worn the same shade and was called an "overripe citrus fruit" the next day by Lady Whistledown. But, the color suited Edwina's dark hair and skin as it would never have with Penelope's creamy pale skin and red hair.

Edwina wanted to make a statement this season. No more dainty pastel ballgowns. She wanted to be adventurous and if it meant picking loud colors for her ballgowns then so be it. She would take advantage of every opportunity allowed to her.

Eloise sidled up next to Edwina with a glass of lemonade of her own. Eloise was dressed in a light blue gown that was embroidered with fine white lace along the edges and looked rather pretty on the taller girl.

"I do not know how many more of these I can take," Eloise sighed in anguish.

"This is only the second ball of the season," Edwina replied. The Featheringtons threw a ball earlier in the week as Lady Featherington had declared that since she ended the last season with a ball, she shall open the new one with one too. Lady Danbury was displeased with the announcement as the older lady was known to open every season with one of her glamorous conservatory balls. She conceded to Lady Featherington, much to Edwina's surprise, and set her ball for three days hence.

Eloise groaned. "Do not remind me." She looked at the clock on the mantle. It was nearly midnight, early in the evening yet.

Edwina followed her gaze. "Is there somewhere you need to be?"

"Yes. No. Damn."

Edwina's eyes widened in surprise at the curse.

"I promised Anthony–" Eloise muttered.

"Promised him what?"

Eloise gave Edwina a calculating look before looping her arm through hers and pulling her towards an empty alcove.

"There is a meeting tonight. One of the speakers is an advocate of Wollstonecraft."

"The writer of A Vindication of the Rights of Woman?"

Eloise nodded sharply. "Precisely. And, I need to be there to hear her speak."

"But, you promised Anthony no more radical meetings."

Eloise grumbled. "They're not radicals. They are just...passionate about the topics they speak on. And, they are working to better society for everyone, not just the rich and powerful."

"Are you going to attend?" Edwina asked.

"I would like to," Eloise began, tapping one foot impatiently, before stopping abruptly, her eyes assessing Edwina. "If our family asks, will you tell them that I am unwell and have retired early?"

"No, no, no, I can't lie to everyone about your whereabouts," Edwina hissed. She also could not, with good conscience, let Eloise leave. Eloise would be a young woman, unchaperoned, in the dark of night wandering the streets of London. "No, absolutely not. Take me with you."

"What?" Eloise's blue eyes snapped onto Edwina's face in surprise.

Edwina was shocked at her own words. She wanted adventure, but this was beyond the pale. However, a voice niggling her in the back of her mind said that someone needed to watch out for Eloise. And as her elder of about three months, Edwina was her best option. If she didn't go with her, Edwina was sure Eloise would sneak out anyway. At least by doing this, she could keep an eye on Eloise and drag her home if it became too dangerous.

Have I gone mad? Edwina thought.

"Have you gone mad?" Eloise echoed eerily just a tad too loud. People turned to look at them.

"I won't tell anyone if you let me come with you."

Eloise looked at her as if seeing Edwina for the first time. There was a hint of approval in her eyes. "Fine, but what will we tell the others?"

Edwina thought for a second. "I will tell Kate that I am feeling the strain of the evening and that you decided to keep me company in my room for the rest of the night. She will understand." Edwina hated the idea of lying to her sister, but there would be no other way. "But, what if they come up to check on us?"

Eloise shook her head. "Not likely. By the time the ball ends, they will be dead on their feet. Anthony and Kate will be lucky to make it to their beds. It is always like this."

***

"Do you actually believe this will work?" Edwina asked as she looked down dubiously at the lump of pillows Eloise had stuffed under her bedclothes. "It doesn't look like me at all. It looks like a pile of pillows."

"Trust me. No one will be the wiser. I've done this plenty of times."

"Plenty of times? How often do you sneak out of the house, Eloise Bridgerton?" Edwina scolded.

Eloise waved her hand dismissively. "Enough times to know that this," she pointed to the lumpy bed, "works and I haven't been caught yet. So, are you coming? Or, do I have to bind and gag you until morning?"

"I'm coming." Edwina wondered if she had lost her mind. Lying to Kate and running out in the middle of the night (unchaperoned, no less!) to attend a radical meeting. She had desired adventure, but this might have been a bit too much. But, she could not back down now and look like a coward before Eloise, who by her tone, seemed to do these kinds of things all the time. Edwina would certainly look at the younger Bridgerton sister differently now.

Eloise broke into a cheeky grin. "Fantastic! You won't regret it."

Edwina followed Eloise down the darkened hallway towards the staff stairwell. Music and laughter from the ball below echoed off the walls. Eloise said that there was no time to change their clothes as the assembly was set to start at midnight, so both girls grabbed their cloaks and changed out of their dancing slippers into something a bit more substantial.

Edwina followed Eloise down the stairs, holding her breath in anticipation at being caught, but Eloise had reassured her that none of the servants would be in this part of the house for the night as they were either all busy in the kitchens or serving drinks on the main floor.

Eloise proved to be right when both girls emerged from the side entrance of Bridgerton House and ran down the street past all the waiting carriages of the ton. Eloise raised an arm and hailed down a hackney.

Both girls clambered into the cab. Eloise took a moment to adjust the hood of her cloak over her head, casting her features in shadow and indicated for Edwina to do the same.

"Bloomsbury!" Eloise called out. "And hurry!"