CHAPTER 6. ROUGE AND APOLOGIES

This author has often thought the heart a most curious of instruments, heeding neither reason nor rank. For what possible explanation might Miss Daphne Bridgerton have for entertaining the suit of a mere baron when she seems to have secured a duke? Could the debutante's mind not be the only thing amiss?

And what of Miss Diana Bridgerton, who has yet to be seen again, with a certain Mister Barnes. And, I do not know about you, dear readers, but I find it about time that we find out something about the unknow Mister Barnes. I do believe it would bring delight to some, while horror to others.

as she approaches me, in front of the mirror. "I believe this dress would be most suitable for the grand picnic."

"Thank you, Elle." I tell her, as I step into the dress, and she buttons up the back.

"You look a little pale, Miss." She tells me.

"It might just be lack of sleep, Elle." I tell her, as I sigh, and pick up two books to take with me to the picnic.

"You must not stay up late reading, Miss. It is not good for your health." She tells me, but I just turn to her and smile.

"I know, but it seems the books scream at me." I tell her, showing her the books. "'Just one more chapter, Diana, just one more'."

Elle smiles, as she shakes her head.

"I shall fetch some rouge for that pale skin of your, Miss." She tells me, and I just give her a smile.

Let it be known, dear reader, that if this bizarre behavior portends yet another scandal, then be sure that I shall uncover it, for there is nothing like an excursion into nature to lift the spirits and loosen the tongue.

hear a voice say, while I was sitting on a bench reading, while Daphne was away promenading with the Duke, and the rest of my family were enjoying the picnic. "If it isn't the Bridgerton, who has been so into her books, that she forgot to meet me all throughout last week."

"Isabelle." I greet her with a smile, and gesture for her to sit down. "Please accept my sincerest apologies, friend. I was rather busy with the debut, and if I am not wrong, you were too, so I should think, it is not all my fault."

"As far as apologies go, that was absolutely terrible." She tells me, and I laugh.

"I suppose you have made an influence on me in that matter." I reply.

"So, what is this I hear?" She asks. "You are courting with Mister Barnes, about whom, I shall add, nobody seems to know anything."

"It is hardly courting, Isabelle." I tells her. "We have danced a few times, and he has not shown any interest other than that."

"Well, Lady Whistledown seems to think you both will be married at the end of the season." She says.

"Lady Whistledown, is not always correct, my dearest friend." I say. "But, enough about me. Tell me, have you been courting anyone?"

"There might have been a Lord, or two." She answers, and I smile, but she waves me off. "But they were fools, couldn't tell me the capital of England, if I asked."

"Shame." I tell her. "Men take education so lightly, while us women dream of one day going to university."

"Isabelle!" Lady Keith calls Isabelle, and we both turn to her, as she motions Isabelle to her.

"Well, Mama want to introduce me to another suitor." She tells me, getting up. "Do hope this one can tell me the difference between Britain and the United Kingdom."

"I would not hold my breath." I tell her laughing. "Not many people know."

She walks off, and I stand up, walking back to my family, with my head in my book, once again.

I slowly walk, as I turn the page, but suddenly I was stopped by a hand grabbing my arm.

"Did you wish to fall off, Miss Bridgerton?" Mister Barnes asks, an amused grin on his face, as I look in front of me, confused, only to find myself at the very edge of the lake. And I quickly take a step back. "I should think not."

"Well, it seems you save me from falling once again, Mister Barnes." I tell her, as we start to walk down the path. "How ever could I thank you?"

"Do not fret." He tells me. "You shall make it up to me by accompanying me to Gunter's Tea Shop."

"I would be delighted to." I reply, smiling, but the smile drops, as I see Lord Berbrooke angrily making his way to my family's tent.

I worriedly follow him, Mister Barnes following, as Daphne and the Duke join us.

"Bridgerton!" Lord Berbrooke yells, holding a letter. "I bring cheerful news, Bridgertons. I have taken matters in my own hands and sought a special license for my wedding to Miss Bridgerton."

"There is to be no wedding." Anthony tells him, angrily. "I told you. The arrangement is canceled."

"Lord Berbrooke, you look in a great deal of pain." Mama tells him. "Shall we continue this in a more private location?"

"I require no further conversation." He refuses. "Though, perhaps I am finally speaking to the true head of the Bridgerton house." He says to Mama, and turns to Anthony. "For if it were you, I imagine you would have instructed your sister to take better care than to encourage certain attentions while alone with me on the Dark Walk at Vauxhall. Of course, mere hearsay of such a scandal could wreak havoc on even the most influential of families. And of course, the suitors of your other daughter might back away, after news of this." He continues, looking at me. "What would someone like, say, Lady Whistledown do with such unseemly information?"

"Is that a threat?" Anthony asks.

"It is certainly not." Lord Berbrooke replies. "Because in three days, I am to marry. I have the diamond of the season. I have the very best the ton has to offer. I have a Bridgerton. And I shall save her, as well as your entire family, from the ruin which you could not protect them. I look forward to the union of our great families. Bridgerton." He tells Anthony, and turns to the Duke. "Hastings."

He walks away, and I worriedly turn to Mister Barnes, as my family makes their way to the carriage.

"Please, Mister Barnes, you must not say anything about what happened here." I tell him. "I beg of you."

"Do not worry, Miss Bridgerton." He tells me. "I shall not repeat a word."

"Thank you." I tell him, and join my family.

challenge to Berbrooke straight away." Anthony tells us, as him, Mama, Daphne and I were sitting in a carriage.

"Anthony..." Mama says, from beside him.

"I assure you I've been properly trained in the manner." Anthony says.

"You are not to duel with Lord Berbrooke." Mama cuts him off. "Do you understand me? I do not care what kind of training you think you may have. It is illegal, not to mention positively horrific."

"Gentlemen are left with no other choice, Mother." Anthony replies. "When a young woman, let alone one's sister, is rumored to be dishonored, the consequences shall be deadly!"

"It is no solution." Daphne interjects, as I was comforting her, my hand on her shoulder. "Should Lord Berbrooke decide to make good on his threat before you shoot him dead, brother, what happens then? He may decide to open his tiny mouth at any moment, and then I shall be ruined... as will we all." She sighs, and looks outside the window, sadly. "I must marry Nigel Berbrooke. It is the only choice."

AMY ADAMS │

ADELAIDE KANE │