CHAPTER 4. LIGHTS AND COPY

It has reached my ears that Mr. Colin Bridgerton shall be awarded the year's grand prize when he sweeps Miss Thompson off her pretty little slippered feet. In other news, a most peculiar suitor for Miss Daphne Bridgerton has emerged.

asks, as we enter the Oprah house.

"Lady Bridgerton!" Lady Danbury call out. "Do join us."

Mama drags both of us to her and the Queen.

"Your Majesty, good evening." Mama greets her. "You must remember my daughter, Daphne and Diana."

"Yes." The Queen replies, bored. "She made quite an impression... however fleeting it may have been."

She then walks off, leaving us with Lady Danbury.

"I would like to welcome you both

to my box this evening." She tells us, and Mama tries to say something, but gets cut off. "I insist."

We all make our way to Lady Danbury's box. Daphne and I sit at the front, while Mama and Lady Danbury sit at the back, and unknown to us, they both were having a rather important conversation, that we couldn't hear.

"The duke is quite fond of gooseberry pie." Lady Danbury tells Lady Bridgerton.

"The very dish my cook is renowned for." Lady Bridgerton replies, with a smile.

"And you also might want to invite a Mister Louis Barnes." Lady Danbury tells her. "He has taken a rather keen interest in reading, since Miss Diana's last visit."

we're talking about?" Anthony asks. "For all we know, Whistledown may be some interloper living in Bloomsbury, of all places."

"What should be so terrible about Bloomsbury?" Benedict asks.

"That people there actually work for a living?" I ask Anthony, sarcastically.

We were all sitting and having dinner, with Mama sitting at the head to the table, on her left, was the Duke, next to whom, was Daphne. On her right, was Mister Barnes, and I was sitting next to him.

"She does seem to be someone with access." Daphne adds.

"Who knows if Whistledown is even a she?" Colin asks.

"Fair point." Benedict adds.

"There is that chauvinist comment I was waiting for." I tell them.

"Because she is simply too good to be anyone but a man?" Eloise backs me up, and Benedict mocks her words.

"Well, I think it rather obvious that the writer is Lady Danbury." Francesca tells us, and I laugh.

"Oh, no." I tell her. "Lady Danbury enjoys sharing her insults with society directly. She would never bother herself writing them all down."

"Could it be Lady Featherington?" Hyacinth asks.

"No!" We all answer at the same time.

"You have yet to read what Whistledown writes of the Featheringtons, little sister." I tell her.

"You must forgive this rather unruly debate, Your Grace, Mister Barnes." Mama tells the Duke.

"Nonsense." The Duke waves it off. "I find it entertaining."

"It is nice to see all of you at one table, even the children." Mister Barnes tells her.

"Well, I realize it may be unfashionable, but we like each other." Mama replies.

"Most of the time." I add, with a smile.

"You both should join us more often, Your Grace, Mister Barnes." She tells them. Perhaps when we travel to our country seat. You would be most welcome."

"Gregory!" Hyacinth tells. "Would you stop tossing peas at me?

"Those peas were already there." Gregory replies. "You cannot tell me what to do. I am older."

"And I'm taller."

I let out a little laugh at their banter.

"Children..." Mama scolds, as Daphne and the Duke get into a heated conversation.

"So, I noticed you like to read, Miss Bridgerton." Mister Barnes says.

"What gave it away, Mister Barnes." I ask, with a smile, which he returns.

"I just finished reading Delphine, by Germaine De Staël." He tells me.

"Well, it might just be a wild coincidence, but that is the very same book I took from Lady Danbury's library." I reply.

"Hm, must be fate telling us, that we have things in common." He tells me, with a cheeky smile.

"Or, it might just be, that Lady Danbury had more than one copy, and was feeling rather bored." I reply, with a smirk.

"If that were not enough, I am also aware of the things a certain writer has recently written of you." Daphne says, a little loudly then intended, and all eyes turn to her and the Duke. "Presumptuous? Clearly. Arrogant? Most definitely. You are a rake... through and through. Tell me I'm wrong."

"Who is to refrain from thinking about whom again?" The Duke retorts.

"I assure you. I am anything but interested in you." Daphne tells him.

"Good." The Duke nods.

"Quite." Daphne replies, and Mister Barnes and I share an amused look.

"And I anything but interested in you, the eldest sister of my oldest friend, yet another recent subject of a certain writer." The Duke tells her. "Chaste, neat, desperate."

"I shall have you know..." Daphne starts to say.

"To marry, that is." The Duke cuts her off. "Tell me I am wrong."

"Hastings, I'm so glad you decided to join us this evening." Anthony interjects, to save our dear sister. "It was most spontaneous of you."

"Not at all." The Duke tells him. "With Lady Danbury accepting your dear mother's gracious invitation on my behalf... Well, however could I have declined?"

I hide a laugh, at Mama and Lady Danbury's transparent attempts to get the Duke to court Daphne.

"You must stay for dessert." Mama tells the Duke. "It's gooseberry pie, Your Grace."

"Ah! Lovely!" The Duke replies.

Be it shame or slander, seduction or smear, there is but one thing that humbles even the most highly-regarded members of our dear ton... a scandal! Well, dear reader, it should seem that all of Grosvenor Square has been left to ponder a rather scandalous question, indeed. Might two former diamond's recent fall from grace turn out to be the most damning scandal of all?

I tell him, our arms linked, as we walked around. "I want to dance."

"Then so find a gentleman." He tells me.

"This party is full of men, but there are hardly any gentlemen here." I tell him. "You do not wish for your sister to be stuck dancing with a man who has wandering hands, now do you?"

"No, I do not." He tells me, and I smile. "So I have a simple solution. Don't dance."

"Come now, brother." I say. "When was the last time I asked anything of you?"

He sighs, and I make a innocent face.

"Fine." He gives in, and I squeal. "One dance." I smile and drag him to the dance floor. "But you have to tell Colin I'm a better brother than he is."

"I already do, brother." I tell him, as we start to dance. "He does not seem to believe me."

"Well, then, you'll just have to try harder, little sister." He replies, as I laugh.

As the dance comes to an end, he spins me out, making me land in another's arms.

"Miss Bridgerton." Mister Barnes says. "You look stunning."

"Mister Barnes." I greet. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance again."

He spins me, and pulls me close.

"The pleasure is all mine, Miss Bridgerton." He tells me, as we sway slowly to the music.

"Ladies and gentlemen, a most extraordinary event is about to take place." Someone announces. "Right this way! Come! Come!"

Mister Barnes turns towards me, extending his hand.

"Shall we?" He asks, and I take his hand.

"We shall." I tell him, and we follow the crowd.

"It is with great privilege I present Vauxhall's newest spectacle of illumination." The same person continues. "Feast your eyes above and allow all that is radiant to overwhelm you!"

We all look up, and the sky lights up with hundreds of lantern like things.

I look up, and let out a small laugh.

"Oh, is this not the most beautiful thing you have ever seen?" I ask Mister Barnes.

"It is second to only one." He tells me, and I laugh a little at his words.

"Oh, how I would just love to lay under these lights." I say. "It would be the most amazing thing ever."

"Maybe one day you will lay under these lights, Miss Bridgerton." He replies, and I look at him, and smile.

For those not in attendance at the Vauxhall celebration, you missed the most remarkable coup of the season. It appears Miss Daphne Bridgerton has captured the interest of the newly returned Duke of Hastings.

And as for Miss Diana Bridgerton, she was seen staring into the eyes of the mysterious Mister Louis Barnes, under the lights.

How the two young miss secured their newfound suitors is yet to be determined. Yet, if anyone shall reveal the circumstances of this match, it is I. Yours truly, Lady Whistledown.