As expected, Lord Bradford and his son's arrival did not go unnoticed, nor did it escape the explosion of rumours concerning their late return. He stuck to his story - just business, he said - but like his daughters, some were not convinced his trip to Manchester was so innocent. Still, that did not hinder the jubilation of their friends and family to finally have them home.

A week after his return, a summer gala was held in Hyde Park, and Lord Bradford made it his aim to showcase his family as a united front. He gifted all his children with new clothes, as well as jewellery for his wife, and set off in a newly refurbished carriage to join in on the celebrations.

On their arrival, it took two seconds for them to be ambushed. Lady Bradford and her eldest daughter were immediately dragged away by Lady Danbury, who was playing matchmaker on Evelyn's behalf, leaving Lord Bradford, Aurelia and her brother, to deal with the intolerable Featheringtons.

"Lord Bradford," Portia gleamed, "welcome home."

"Thank you, Lady Featherington," He nodded his head, desiring to keep the discussion short.

Lucky for him, he was not the target for conversation. "Marcus," She chimed, her eyes swam over him, "my, you've grown. Doesn't he look like a proper young gentleman?"

Phillipa and Prudanced frantically agreed, their heads moving so fast that could have caused themselves brain damage.

"Thank you, Lady Featherington," Marcus smiled, trying to maintain his manners.

"Do you remember my daughters?" She asked, gesturing behind her. "Phillipa. Prudence. Say hello to Lord Bradford and his son."

"Hello, Lord Bradford." They chorused, before giggling. "Mr Bradford."

"Hello Aurelia," Penelope popped out from behind her older sisters and waved.

Out of kindness, she returned the gesture.

"Marcus, you must tell us all about Italy," Lady Feathering looped her arm through the eldest Bradford boy's and dragged him away from his family, "I hear they have the most wonderful cuisine."

Her three daughters followed, Penelope tripping over the hem of her dress as she went.

All Aurelia could do was laugh. "Poor Marcus. Please never push me on a man like that, Father. I'd rather die an old maid than of embarrassment."

"If you are going to foil my plans, Aurelia, you might as well go home," He sarcastically replied.

"Mama mention the Berbrookes to Evelyn this morning," She informed him, ignoring his taunt, "I thought she was going to faint."

"She's getting desperate," He nodded.

Aurelia had to agree. She'd heard stories about how the season turned mothers into crazed schemers, but she didn't realise to what extent. All reason fluttered away in the summer breeze. If Lady Bradford was really willing to shackle her eldest daughter to a Berbook, what chance did Aurelia have?

"I think Evelyn always had her eye on Lord Ashworth's son," Aurelia said, absent-mindedly.

Lord Bradford cleared his throat, as if he'd suddenly become uncomfortable with the conversation. "Why would you say that?"

"They were close friends growing up. She was devastated when we received the news he'd die," She answered, recalling the day the letter arrived from the Ashworths informing them of his death. Evelyn cried for days, weeks even, she still got teary-eyed if his name was ever brought up in discussion. "Maybe we should invite the Ashworths to dinner one evening? It's been such a long time since the two families have sat down together."

Lord Bradford shuck his head. "I don't think your mother would agree."

"Why not?" Aurelia asked, a delicate frown cut into her forehead.

"She didn't hold the family in the highest regard," He dismissed, hoping his daughter would lose interest in the topic.

"I thought she and Lady Ashworth were best friends growing up," Aurelia stated, confused by the sudden change of heart. "What caused her to..."

"Aurelia, please drop the subject," Her father instructed, his firm tone taking her by surprise. "Your mother has her reasons not to like the family, and we need to respect them."

His vague response irritated her, as he gave her yet another secret to add to the list of things he was already hiding. Lady Bradford, as cruel as she could be, would never simply just turn on a friend without reason. There was something else, something he wasn't telling her, and she was determined to figure it out.

"I think I will fetch some tea, father," She stated, regaining her composure, grasping for any escape, "please excuse me."

The apology danced in his throat, but it never made it out. Aurelia was too curious for her own good, and he worried that one day it would get her into a mess that he couldn't pull her out of. For her own sake, he wished she'd learn to understand that some things are best left unknown.

-----

The selection of teas and cakes was more than one could comprehend. Aurelia never knew there were so many flavours in the world, let alone that could be used for desserts. Yet, she was thankful for the distraction, anything beat dealing with her father when he was in a bad mood.

Just as she picked up a chocolate square and lifted it to her lips, a voice called out, "Aurelia Bradford?"

Mid bite, she turned to its source. At the end of the cake table, a man dressed in a cream suit, nearly matching the colour of his blond hair, stood smiling at her. Her eyes grew wide with recognition. "Roman?" She gasped, unsure if she could believe her eyes.

Now he could confirm it was truly her, he shorted the distance between them. Reaching out, he nearly pulled her into a hug, before realising it was not the proper place. She let out a small laugh, coming to the same conclusion. Instead, he lifted her hand and placed a small kiss on her knuckles.

"What are you doing here?" She asked.

"My family are in town for business," He replied. "I thought you were in Italy."

"We just moved back," She informed him, unable to wipe the ever-growing smile off her face. "How are you? It must have been...three years?"

"Nearly four," He corrected her, "not that I'm counting." Aurelia laughed at his joke. "You look lovely. London suits you."

Playfully narrowing her eyes, she replied, "I'm not entirely sure I should take that as a compliment."

Compared to the beauty of Italy, everything looked ugly.

"How are your family?" He inquired, pretending to be concerned with their wellbeing. Her parents had never been too keen on Roman, or any man that entered their daughter's life. The irony was not lost on her that now they were practically throwing gentleman suitors at her.

"I tolerate them," She replied, before searching for her siblings in the crowd. "Evelyn is over there with Athos."

Following her gaze, Roman's gaze landed on the pair in the distance. "Wow, he is not a baby anymore."

"Time flies at Oxford, apparently," She teased him.

"That, it does," He laughed in agreement, before scanning the surrounding area. "Are you here with anyone?"

"Just my family,"

"Then, it won't cause a scandal if I ask you to accompany me on a walk?" He wondered with a hopeful glow in his gaze.

Aurelia's face lit up like the sun. "Not in the slightest."

The pair strolled lap after lap around Hyde Park, side by side, discussing anything and everything that came to mind as they caught up on each other's lives. Four years apart lead to a lot of long conversations.

"University sounds like terrible fun," Aurelia sang, thoroughly enjoying hearing all his tales from school.

"It was," He said, "leaving was the hard part. I have responsibilities now."

"Ah yes, those dreadful things," Aurelia hummed, sharing his thoughts entirely. "They've turned my mama into a raving lunatic. I can't walk passed a gentleman now without her pointing out their marital status."

"Oh, that's what she is doing. I thought she was just poking fun at me." He chuckled. Even though she knew he was only teasing her, a small part of her worried that another man wouldn't have taken the act so light-heartedly.

Roman cleared his throat, pushing his apprehension aside and asked, "Would it be too bold of me to ask if your family are free for dinner tomorrow evening? I'm sure my parents and yours have a lot to talk about." After checking no one was earshot, he added in a low voice, "I wouldn't be opposed to carrying on from where we left off that summer, either."

As his breath reached her ear, stars shot down her spine. "As would I."

"Yaxley?" A voice called from further down the pathway. Aurelia tore her eyes from Roman, already aware of who they were about to land on.

"Bridgerton!" Roman sang in disbelief and the two friends embraced like they were long-lost brothers.

Of course, Anthony Bridgerton had to stick his foot in.