Chapter Six - The Vauxhall Celebration

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Lady Whistledown's

SOCIETY PAPER

Be it shame or slander, seduction or smear, there is but one thing that humbled even the most highly-regarded membered 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 one former diamond's recent fall from grace turn out to be the most damning scandal of all?

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"Oh, Henry! Please!"

I had been begging Henry to take me to the Vauxhall Celebration for a few days now and since the actual day of the celebration is here, I had been annoying Henry for practically the entire day.

"This is potentially a once-in-a-lifetime event! You cannot seriously sit here and tell me that you cannot see the importance that it holds!" I say, sitting down next to him. "Mama has already agreed to go, and since father is out of the country for business, you are the one who can take me."

"FINE!" He roared, throwing down his paper and glaring at me, "I will take you and mama as long as you leave me alone for the rest of the day!"

"You are the best, brother!" I say, kissing his cheek before rushing out of the room to tell mama.

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"Oh, look! It's already so lively!" I say, pointing at the already busy dance floor.

"I'm sure that you'll be up there, dear," Mama said, "don't worry. I heard a little rumor that both the Duke of Hastings and the Duke of Windsor will be in attendance... perhaps he will dance with you?"

"Perhaps... mama, I'm going to go see Cressida," I say, "she's talking with Collin and Penelope, just over there."

"I'll follow you... perhaps I will see Portia here... I heard that Cressida's father is chaperoning her tonight," mama said, following behind me as I walked over to the trio.

"I am to escort Miss Featherington to the floor," Collin's eyes shifted from Cressida's to Penelope's.

Collin and Penelope, both boasting rather large smiles, made their way onto the floor leaving Cressida and her small group of acquaintances behind.

"Oh, Cress, what happened?"

"I asked Mister Bridgerton to dance with me but he seems to have plans with Miss Featherington," Cressida says stiffly, glancing over at me and smiling for a second. "You look nice though, Flore."

"Thank you, Cress. As do you... I love your hair," I look at her hair in wonder, it had been pulled into a simple-looking updo that, no doubt, took hours to do.

"Thank you, Flore..."

"Come on, why don't we go get some refreshments?" I loop my arm in hers and walk towards the refreshments table, getting us both a cup of lemonade.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, a most extraordinary event is about to take place," the announcer said, standing on the stage and eagerly ushering us towards him. "Right this way! Come! Come!"

"Renny," Henry appeared beside me and nodded his head in the direction of mama. "Come along."

I nodded my head and looked over at Cressida, who was looking slightly more friendly than she had before. "I'll see you later, Cress."

She nodded her head and sent me a smile. "Thank you for making me feel better, Flore."

Anytime."

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

We all let out a collective gasp as the lights above us all began to glow, lighting up the celebration even further. Like a tidal wave, we all begin to clap and cheer for the marvelous achievement.

"I told you this would be fun," I glance over at Henry, who merely nods his head in agreement, still looking up at the floating lights in wonder.

"Bridgerton!" Henry looked over at Anthony with a wide grin, which faltered when he saw his friend's thunderous expression. "What is wrong?"

As soon as Anthony was going to open his mouth, Daphne rushed past the duo, pushing them aside as she raced into the gardens.

"Daphne! Wait- Daphne!" I take off after her and race into the dimly lit gardens, panting and having to hold up my dress. "Daphne, please!"

"Just go away, Florence!" Daphne threw her hands up in the air as she turned to look at me. "Just go away! I cannot- I... I cannot do this!"

Daphne started to gasp for breath as the tears ran down her face. "I cannot..."

"Oh, Daphne..." I take a step forwards and wrap my arms around her. "It'll be okay... whatever is the matter, Daph. Surely it isn't that bad..."

"Anthony arranged for me to marry Nigel Berbrooke..." Daphne cried.

"Oh... Daphne," I wrap her into a hug as she tries her best to hold herself together.

"Whatever are you doing?"

We both whip our heads toward the sudden disruption and grimace when we see Berbrooke saunter toward us. His face pulled into a look of false concern.

"Nigel, not now,' Daphne says, wrapping herself from my arms and turning away from his gaze.

"'Nigel?' Are we to drop the honorific so soon?" Berbrooke continued to walk towards us, "I suppose as your husband-"

"You will never be my husband," Daphne says, turning around and looking at him for the first time since he arrived. "I will never marry you. My brother, he- he made a mistake."

"Do you think yourself better than me?" Berbrooke asked, creeping forwards with an irritated looking forming on his face.

"It'd be best for you to leave," Daphne replies calmly.

"You should be thanking me," Berbrooke said, puffing out his chest as if he were some sort of hero.

"Daphne, let's just go..." I grab her hand and look at her with fear. "I'm sure that your brother will talk to you about-"

"Oh, hush you idiotic fool!" Berbrooke roared, turning his attention towards me, "you have no clue as to the situation your friend finds herself in. Didn't your parents ever teach you not to meddle in things that don't involve you?"

"Go, Florence..." Daphne gently pushed me towards the exit behind her, "I'll be fine... just go."

I hesitated, looking at her for a moment before turning and beginning to walk away.

"I'm your last hope," Berbrooke continued, "no one wants you, Miss Bridgerton."

"What are you doing?" Daphne demanded.

Berbrooke just chuckled, "you'll find out."

I couldn't help myself, the thought of Daphne potentially being hurt caused me to turn back around and race toward the garden. When I arrived back, I let out a gasp as I watched Berbrooke forcefully grab Daphne's arms. "Let go of her you little rat!"

Running back into the small clearing, I throw myself at him and shove him down to the grass. Earning myself a nice cut on the cheek because of the ring that Berbrooke had on his finger.

"Florence!" Daphne raced over to me and helped me back up, frantically looking me over before pulling me beside her.

Berbrooke stood back up and glared in my direction, before starting forwards, pushing Daphne out of the way and shoving me backward. I let out a gasp as I felt my body crash onto the hard paved pathway, my hands, on instinct, coming to feel the back of my head as I slowly rolled over and let out a pained groan.

"Florence! Oh my- are you hurt? Florence look at me! Are you bleeding?" Daphne rushed over to me and looked me over, feeling my head and trying to get a relative gauge for my state.

"I'm fine... just a bit dizzy, that's all," I say. I wave off her hands and let out a groan. "Just... let me lay here for a moment..."

Daphne bit her lip but nodded her head, looking around nervously before gasping. "Y- your Grace... I had no intention-"

"Of knocking the clump flat out? Well, I must say, I'm impressed."

"What are you doing out here?" Daphne asked, clutching her hand gingerly as she watched him.

He bent down and checked Berbrooke's pulse before standing back up, "avoiding certain people."

"People?"

"Mothers," the Duke clarifies, "they are people, I suppose."

"You are coming from the Dark Walk. It is merely a few steps away," Daphne notes.

The Duke chuckles as he looks at Daphne. "What would you know of the Dark-"

"The Dark Walk is merely a few steps away... and I am alone with two men and a friend who has just been attacked by-"

"You are only with one man. The other is-"

"I shall be compromised just the same," Daphne says, "do you have any idea what would happen if someone even suggested that I- I must go... come on, Florence, we must go, now."

She gently helps me up, wrapping an arm around my waist and pulling my arm around her shoulders to help carry me out.

"Marry me, Miss Bridgerton," Berbrooke muttered, drowsily coming to from the punch that Daphne had thrown at him.

"Now, as far as proposals go, that may be the least romantic of all," the Duke remarks.

"I suppose if someone were to find me here, it would be one way out of marrying him," Daphne says.

"That and he did just attack your friend... Florence, correct? Henry's sister?" The Duke asks, "if word of this get's out then Henry will hold no punches against Berbrooke. I mean, you cannot possibly be thinking of marrying him?"

"If I am unable to secure another offer, there may be no alternative," Daphne snaps, "unlike you, I cannot simply declare I do not wish to marry. I do not have such a privilege."

"Yes, I was quite surprised to learn you no longer have a line of suitors around every square in London," the Duke says cockily, "unlike your friend there... who seems to have caught the attention of yet another Duke... as well as every other man in London."

Daphne glances at me before turning her attention back towards the Duke, "I am in no need of your derision, sir."

"I do not mock you," the Duke says softly, "I am being sincere. I know of what this Lady Whistledown has written. Trust I possess as much contempt for the author as you do. She's all but issued a challenge to London's most ambitious mamas, encouraging, provoking them to-"

"Claim you as their prize?" Daphne finished, a knowing look on her face as she watched the Duke.

By now she had sat me down on a bench, checking over my head once more before stepping back towards her spot across from the Duke.

"Do not worry, Your Grace," Daphne assured mockingly, "I believe such a win would be promptly forfeited, indeed. Florence and I must go this way. You, through those trees."

Daphne turned and started back towards me when she was stopped by the Duke's voice.

"Perhaps there is an answer... to our collective Lady Whistledown issue..."

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After assuring both Daphne and the Duke that I was well enough to walk out of the gardens on my own, I picked myself up and dusted off my dress- with the help of Daphne- and started out of the gardens. Daphne had assured me that they would wait a few minutes before exiting after me, so as to not arouse any suspicion towards me.

"Florence!" Henry raced over towards me as soon as he spotted me, "what happened? Are you alright?"

"Darling, why do you have a cut on your face?" Mama exclaimed, bringing out a handkerchief and dabbing the blood away.

"I tripped when I was looking for Daphne in the garden... it must've just been a harder fall than I thought," I assured, "I'm okay... I promise."

Both Mama and Henry looked as though they didn't believe me, but, thankfully, they didn't push me any further. Walking beside me as we quickly found a spot to watch the final display of the night.

"Are you sure that you're alright?" Henry asked, glancing over at me and furrowing his eyebrows when he saw my cut cheek.

"I'm fine, Henry," I assure.

He falls silent but nods his head in defeat, "alight then... oh! The Duke of Windsor was looking for you earlier."

"Was he?" I muse, looking over at the crowd and smiling softly when I see Cressida dancing with a nice-looking man.

"He was quite worried when he realized that you seemed to be missing... he is deeply upset that he wasn't able to stay longer but he did promise to see you tomorrow."

"Dear, is that Daphne Bridgerton with the Duke of Hastings?" Mama asked, pointing both of us in the direction of the duo.

We both fall silent, watching as they pass with careful gazes before turning back toward Mama.

"I believe it is, mama," I mutter.

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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. How the young miss secured her newfound suitor is yet to be determined.

Yet, if anyone shall reveal the circumstances of this match, it is I.

Yours truly,

Lady Whistledown

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-T