CHAPTER 11. CHAMPANGE AND WHISKEY

I sit in front of the mirror, and she approaches me from behind. "Are you alright, dearest?"

I snap out of my gaze, putting on a fake smile, as I fix my hair.

"Of course, Mama." I tell her, looking at her through the mirror. "Why would I not be?"

"Did you talk to Prince Louis?" She asks me, and I stop fixing my hair.

"I did." I reply, emotionless.

"And, what did you say to him, dear?" she asks, softy, and I turn to face her, sighing.

"I told him, I was not going to marry him, and he should not waste mine and his own time, pursuing something that is clearly not going to go anywhere." I reply.

"Darling—" She tries to say.

"What, Mama?" I snap, standing up. "What are you going to tell me that is supposed to make any of this better? What could you possibly say that will not make me feel the way I am feeling right now?"

She rushes forwards, and wraps her arms around me, and I grab her hands, sobbing.

"My sweet girl." She says, sadly. "It will not hurt after sometime." She tells me, as she supports me against her.

I wipe my tears, and look at her, as she puts her hand on my cheek.

"If you want to stay home, you should." She tells me. "Whatever you prefer, just tell me, and I will do it."

"I would like to go, Mama." I reply. "If I shall not, I would like to hide away in here all the time."

As we all know, there is nothing this author loves more than a scandal, and tonight's soiree promises more than its fair share, courtesy of the recently widowed Lady Trowbridge. Some may call her celebrations too provocative, and I would caution any young lady from getting caught up in the sensual nature of her fêtes. For one scandalous move between an unwed couple, a wayward touch, or heaven forbid, a kiss, would banish any young lady from society in a trail of ruin.

Mama, as she downs another champagne, as she sees Daphne dancing with the Prince. She just found out about the ruse, and was not very worried about both her daughter, making her find comfort in the glasses that kept coming.

I look around the room, meeting the very brown eyes I wished to avoid. I avert my gaze, and it looks like he was about to come over, so I rush away.

I find Colin, his hand also holding a glass, and stand beside him.

"What happened to you, Sister?" He asks, teasingly. "You look about ready to murder someone."

"With how this night is going, I just might, dear Brother." I tell him, as I snatch his champagne, and drink it all in one go.

"Heavens, Sister, do you wish for Mother to bury me alive?!" He asks in disbelief.

"I wouldn't be as opposed to the idea, as you would like to think." I tell him, turning to look at Prince Louis, who was now surrounded by girls.

"Oh, I see." Colin teases.

"What?" I ask him, sharply, not in the mood for his jokes. "What, daresay, do you see, Colin?"

"You, my dearest Sister, are jealous" He replies, a smirk on his face.

"Jealous?!" I ask, in disbelief, with a scoff. "What could I possibly be jealous of?"

"Of the girls who look like, if they could, they would just pick Prince Louis up, and run away with him." He continues teasing me.

"I am not jealous." I reply, sternly. "I have no reason to be."

"Come now, Diana." He tells me. "You can not lie to your favorite Brother."

"You are not my favorite Brother, Colin." I tell him.

"There you go lying to me again, Sister." He replies, and I roll my eyes. "If you wish to talk to him, just go ahead and do."

"I do not wish to talk to him." I reply, annoyed. "I wish nothing to do with him."

"We both know that is not true." He tells me, as I watch a girl practically drag Prince Louis to the dance floor.

Our eyes meet for a second, and I sharply turn to Colin.

"I know you have a flask of whiskey stashed away in your pockets, I want it." I tell him.

"How did you know that?" He asks, surprised.

"I just know." I reply. "Give it to me."

"I can not." He tells me. "Mother will throw me out of the house."

"Mother, does not need to know, Brother." I say, looking at him, desperately. "I just do not want to feel this pain in my stomach, like I did something wrong, when he was the one who lied. Please, Brother."

He sighs, and looks around, guiding me towards an empty room. He pulls out the flask.

"Do not drink too fast, Diana." He tells me, carefully, slowly extending the flask towards me. "It will make you stumble."

"I know, Colin." I reply, as I take the flask form his hand. "This is not the first time I've had whiskey."

"Wait, what?!" He asks, but I do not answer, talking large gulps form the flask, until Colin grabs it from my hands. "I told you to drink it slowly!"

"When have I ever done what you tell me?" I ask him, as I smile, and taking the flask form him, and hiding it in my purse, making my way out of the room.

"Diana! Wait—" I hear him tell me, but I pay it no mind, as I join the party.

I see a waiter, with glasses of champagne on a tray going around, and pick one up, downing it in one go, and picking another one.

"Miss Bridgerton." Lord Weatherby greets, and I turn around, coming face to face with him, a drunken smile on my face. "I was hoping to run into you."

"Well, here I am, My Lord." I reply, giggling.

"Would you care for a dance?" He asks me, offering me his hand.

"Why only one?" I reply, taking his hand, and letting him drag me towards the dance floor. "You shall have as many dances as you like."

He puts his hands on my waist, a little too low, but I was to drunk to notice, as we started to dance. I saw drunkenly, and after a song he notices.

"Are you feeling alright, Miss Bridgerton?" He asks, and I just giggle.

"I am feeling quite well, My Lord." I reply, laughing.

"Perhaps we should go to someplace quite." He tells me, but I don't listen, too busy spinning around, as he guides me to the back garden.

As I notice my surroundings, I begin to sober up, and try to push him off.

"I believe we should not be out her, Lord Weatherby." I tell him, extremely uncomfortable. "We should go back."

"Now, why should we go back, Miss Bridgerton?" He asks me, a devious look on his face. "When I can do whatever I whish with you here."

I push him, off and he tries to grab me.

"No!" I yell, but he gabs my arm.

Suddenly, he is off of me, and on the ground, groaning.

"I do believe the lady said no." Prince Louis tells him, as I let out a breath of relief.

My knees give out, but Prince Louis catches me, balancing me on my feet.

"Are you alright?" He asks me, and I move away from his hold.

"No!" I yell. "I am not okay!" I put my hand in my hair. "Why is all of this happening to me?!" I turn to him, tears on my face. "Before I met you, everything was simple, but you had to make me like you, did you not?! And I, like a fool did! You made me look so stupid, do you know how it felt to think I actually knew who you were?!"

"If I had told you who I was—" He says.

"It wouldn't have made any difference!" I shout at him.

"How could I have know that?" He questions, softly, as I let out a shaky breath.

"Yes." I tell him, in a whisper. "You could not have. But after you got to know me, you should have know it would not made a difference to me."

"I know, and I apologize for that." He replies. "Please, forgive me."

I pull out the flask, speaking as I open it.

"How can I forgive you? I do not even know you." I tell him, sadly, as I turn around, and making my way back to the party, emptying the drink, as I walk.

HOW DRAMATIC IS DIANA? I LOVE CRUSHING HOPE AND DREAMS

ALSO, PLEASE CHECK OUT NEW BRIDGERTON FANFIC BY IT IS GOING TO BE AMAZINGGGG!!! SHOW SOME LOVE!!