-

The sun has risen. The morning has come. Everyone in the Bennet household was starting to get up one by one. The maids and servants started working. Arthur and Thomas were out on their weekly walk with their father while the ladies in the house were preparing themselves for the day.

"Sister, did you read the latest Whistledown?" Elena sighed in annoyance, hearing that name.

"I think I've read enough of this Whistledown, Isabella." She looked at her sister through the mirror.

"Trust me, you'll want to hear this. Your dear friend, Daphne was seen dancing twice with your other good friend, the Duke of Hastings at the ball that you didn't attend last night. Mother's still upset by the way."

Elena turned around to face her sister. "Well I've known the 2 long enough to know that they would make quite the pair." She answered, ignoring the last sentence.

Their attention was caught when they heard tapping sounds coming from the window. Elena knew who it was already. She made her way towards her window and opened it. Looking down, she sees the Lord Bridgerton in front of the gate, waving at her with a smile.

She waved back and headed downstairs with her sister following her from behind.

"Is that Benedict Bridgerton again? That's like the 3rd time you're seeing each other this week."

"Well turns out we have a lot in common, sister."

From the kitchen, Lady Bennet noticed her two daughters coming down the stairs in such rush making her curious. Elena saw that one of her servants had already prepared her coat.

"Going somewhere, Elena?" Lady Bennet asked stepping into the main hall.

"On a promenade..." She answered while her servant helped her put on her coat. "...With Lord Bridgerton." She finished her sentence and quickly got out of the house leaving her mother a little frustrated.

-

"He is smiling. The Duke rarely smiles." Lady Danbury said making Lady Bridgerton giggle. They both sat on a bench in the park watching from afar Simon and Daphne converse.

"Daphne has an excellent sense of humour." Lady Bridgerton replied.

"She will need it. Life as a duchess will have many demands. Hosting balls, greeting foreign dignitaries. Daphne will not merely be in society, she will be leading it."

"I have prepared her quite well, Lady Danbury."

-

During the same time, Benedict and Elena walk arm in arm in the exact same park.

"I heard you have quite the complicated relationship with your mother." Benedict stated to the distracted girl who was brought back to her senses.

"How do you know?" Elena asked.

"I see your eldest brother many times at clubs. We talk a lot sometimes. Do you want to talk about it?"

She looked ahead of her and sighed before speaking. "All she really thinks about, is herself. Her goal right now, at the moment is to find me a husband. Yet she doesn't take a second to ask me about my feelings. Every time I get callers, I feel like I'm a different person. She forces me to change my entire personality so that society would accept me. But I can't marry someone to who I have to hide my true self." She paused for a moment and then continued.

"I want to marry for love, Benedict. I want to marry someone who loves me for who I am and yet my mother can't understand that."

I can be that someone, Elena. Benedict thought while deeply admiring her.

-

"Eight balls." Daphne said but Simon opposed.

"Eight balls." She repeated. "You do want our plan to succeed, do you not?"

"The purpose of this arrangement is to keep the marriage-minded mothers of the ton at bay, not hurl myself directly into the lion's den."

"The purpose of this arrangement is to ensure I marry my very first season."

"I shall grant you four."

"Six balls."

"Five."

"Six. And you must send flowers. Today. Expensive ones."

"Fine, but I shall see about the flowers."

They walked in silence for a few moments until Simon noticed two familiar figures walking towards. "Is that not your brother and my friend walking towards us, arm in arm.

Daphne looked ahead and saw them too. "I suppose your right, your grace."

When all 4 of them came close enough, they stopped in front of each other. They stood there awkwardly and not saying anything.

After a few moments of silence, Elena decided to break it. "Daphne. We must have tea together, one day."

"I would love that, Elena. How about we say next week at the famous tea shop?" She suggested.

"Already in my calendar."

-

Penelope strolled along the streets with her 2 good friends while listening to them complain.

"Penelope?" Isabella called. "You've been awfully quiet listening to Eloise talk. Are you well?" She asked, worried for her friend.

Penelope who's in between her friends grabs their arms. "I know someone with child."

"Is it your mama?" Eloise guessed. "Is she not advanced in age?"

"I mean I suppose your father should still want a boy—-" Isabella started talking but Penelope cut her off.

"It is not Mama. It is a maid."

"Which one of your maids is married?" Eloise asked.

"She is not married." Penelope answered.

"How did she become with child if she's not married?" Isabella asked with a puzzled face.

"I do not know, but I will find out."

"You must!" Eloise exclaimed.

"Otherwise, how can we make sure it never happens to us? We have accomplishments to acquire." Isabella said worried.

-

In the Bennet's backyard, Elena practised her archery while her brothers fenced with wooden swords.

"Concentrate, Thomas!" Arthur told him after he has beaten him, again. It seems that Thomas was getting a little distracted lately.

"I'm sorry! It's just that my mind has been wandering off recently." Thomas rubbed his forehead.

"Perhaps you're thinking about Eloise Bridgerton a little too much." Elena teased, releasing another arrow. A small tint of pink appeared on Thomas' face.

"Lena, don't tease your brother." Arthur scolded at her.

Elena grabbed another arrow, placing it on her bow. She was about to release until Isabella came running into the backyard out of breath.

"How does a lady come to be with child?" Isabella nervously asked causing Elena to miss the target and hit a tree. She turned to her sister and walked towards her with a shocked face as her brothers did the same.

"Isabella, what a question." Arthur said.

"I thought one needed to be married and turns out it's not even a requirement!"

"Isabella that is more than enough!" Arthur scolded and went back to his swords while Thomas and Elena stood awkwardly beside their sister.

She looked at them suspiciously. "I take it the two of you know?"

"Do not look at me." Elena said avoiding eye contact.

"Have you ever visited a farm, Bella?" Thomas asked. Elena hit his chest as Isabella growled.

"I do hope you are not encouraging improper topics of conversation!" Arthur turned back to them.

"Not at all, Brother. In fact, I'm having tea with Daphne and Thomas is coming with me." Elena faked smiled.

"I am? And wasn't your tea date next week?" Thomas asked confused. Elena kicked her brother in the shin causing him to groan in pain.

"AAAaAaaahI am. I am." Thomas lied.

Elena grabbed his arm as they started walking out of the backyard. "You are to never open your mouth when we talk about serious topics with our baby sister."

-

At the ball, Simon enters with Lady Danbury holding onto his hand. They passed through the young ladies who were eyeing Simon head to toe. Behind them, The Bridgerton family enters. Daphne escorted by Anthony and Benedict, Colin walking behind them with their mother.

As Lady Bridgerton enters the ball room, she locks eye with Lady Bennet and they give each other both a deathly glare. They go back to their children and act like nothing happened.

"A dance, Miss Bridgerton?" Simon asked and Anthony tried to stop him.

"I shall need someone else to seek me a glass of ratafia, then." Lady Danbury said. "Lord Bridgerton..." She raised her arm. "Do me the honour?"

"Of course, Lady Danbury." Anthony shoots Simon a look before escorting Lady Danbury away.

Daphne takes Simon's arm and they head towards the dance floor.

Meanwhile, Benedict searches the room for the young Elena Bennet. He spots her quietly fighting with her mother. He shook his head and was about to leave until his mother grabbed his arm.

"Where are you going, dearest?" She asked her son, knowing that he wanted to go to Elena.

"To offer a dance to Miss Bennet." He answered looking at her weirdly. Lady Bridgerton let's go of his arm and he makes his way towards Elena.

"Again, mama. I do not wish to speak with Lord Matthews!" Elena whispered/ screamed to her mother.

"Mister Bennet, Lady Bennet, Miss Bennet, good evening." Benedict greeted. All 3 of them turned their heads to him. "I came here to ask you for a dance, Miss Bennet. Would you do me the honour?"

Elena smiled and nodded. Kindly taking his hand but was stopped when Anastasia grabbed her arm. Elena turned her head back confused to see her mother staring at Benedict, but in a very creepy way.

"Mama?" She called, trying to free her arm from her mother's hand.

Arthur cleared his throat and awkwardly chuckled. "Mother, let go of Lena's arm."

Lady Bennet finally let go. Benedict and Elena ran towards the dance floor as quickly as possible.

"Strange..." Elena said.

"My mother did the exact same thing." Benedict added.

-