Chapter Eleven - Prince Friedrich of Prussia

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Lady Whistledown's

SOCIETY PAPER

Dearest gentle reader,

It is often said that those who marry in haste must repent at leisure, a sentiment that is clearly shared by Miss Daphne Bridgerton, who has apparently rejected not one, not two, but three proposals already this week.

Some believe she is showing admirable forethought in her deliberations, but I would venture a different conjecture, that she, like this author, is still waiting on the only suitor of note.

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After a few hours of talking with Cressida and her mother, mama and I had to leave in order to make tea with Lady Featherington.

"You could just stay! We could go into town and go shopping together- oh! We could go to the modiste and pick out some fabric for our new dresses!" Cressida said, smiling over at me in an attempt to persuade me to stay.

"Cress, you know that I would love to do that, but mama simply wouldn't allow it," I sigh and pull her in for a quick hug. "I shall see you at tonight's ball though..."

"Oh fine, I suppose that I shall see you then," Cressida grumbled, grabbing the latest Whistledown and pulling it open as I left with mama.

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"Hello, Pen- oh!" I took a quick step back as I watched her race down the hallway.

"Oh! Florence, did you hear? Some Prince is coming to London," Prudence says, looking wide-eyed at me.

Philippa walks over towards with and gasps at the news, "then I shall have to wear my most brilliant dress of all."

"Something must hold his interest, and it will certainly not be your conversation," Prudence says, leaning in a making a face at her sister as we all make our way up the staircase and towards the drawing room.

They both break out into chuckles and continue to poke fun at each other the entire way, only stopping when they saw their mother sitting in the drawing room with mama. They were both so deeply caught up in a conversation that neither of them realized that we had entered the room.

"Let's just go to the other drawing room, yes?" Prudence whispered, grabbing mine and Philippa's hands before racing us down the hallway.

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We had arrived at the ball around an hour or so ago, and were quickly greeted by the sight of the Featherington's, who had arrived at nearly the same time as us. Mama and Lady Featherington greeted each other cordially and papa and Lord Featherington only grunted at each other.

Prudence and Philippa made sure to promise me that I would see them later when we were all at the party, and I nodded my head in agreement, before watching them head in.

Penelope quickly joined Eloise Bridgerton and the two began chattering quietly to each other as they rushed inside, followed closely by their maids.

Daphne smiled when she looked up from the crowd and spotted me enter the room, walking over to my side and offering me a warm smile.

"Florence, how are you?"

"I"m doing well, how are you, Daphne? You look wonderful, I love this dress on you," I say, looking down at her cream-colored gown and nodding my head in appreciation.

"This? Oh, I've been waiting for the right time to wear it for a while now... and it seemed like this ball would be the best," Daphne said, "but look at you! I think that you look the best out of anyone here! This blue looked wonderful on you!"

I giggle and wave her off, following her deeper into the party and standing beside a wall as she quickly changed topics.

"Florence! Oh, do you know what my mama said to me when I brought up matters of a proposal this morning?" Daphne asked, clearly still upset with the conversation that she had.

"No?"

"She said, that I 'must simply marry the man who feels like your dearest friend'... what know of advice is that! How can it be that simple? Really it was quite-"

"Are those real peacocks?" I ask, staring at the blue animals in wonder.

"What?" Daphne looks at me puzzled before sighing, "you were not listing to anything I just said were you?"

I shrugged guiltily, "I listened to the first half... oh my! Daphne! Look! They have a bird! That man is holding a bird!"

I was suddenly cut off by Simon, who appears beside Daphne with a raised brow. The two share a few hushed words before another suitor appears before the duo.

"Must I share your attention with every moon-eyed dandy, Miss Bridgerton?" Simon exclaims loudly.

"What is going on" Frederick mutters, glancing over at his friend before down at me.

"Who knows..." I whisper, "come on, why don't we dance?"

"That sounds like a fine idea, Miss Huntingdon," Frederick says, taking my hand and quickly entering the dance floor.

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After a few songs, the party was quickly swept up into a flurry of whispers, everyone moving to stand by the door in an attempt to see who had just entered the party.

"Your Majesty."

"Your Majesty."

I shared a look with Frederick before moving to stand off to the side, craning my neck to see who had just entered.

"It is another old family friend," Frederick whispered to me, "Friedrich... the Prince of Prussia. Apparently, his aunt, the Queen, is on a hunt to find him a suitable wife before he leaves."

"And you knew him, of course," I say.

"Yes, we played when we were little whenever his parents would bring him to London," Frederick said simply.

"Did you hear, Florence," Prudence whispered, suddenly appearing with Philippa behind her, leaning into my ear with an excited smile. "The Prince is from Prussia, and I dare say that I just caught his eye."

Philippa looks over at Prudence with a smile and nods her head, "I love Russia... I could swoon!"

"Prussia, Philippa, not Russia," I correct quietly, smiling when I see her blush slightly.

"Oh, o-of course! I knew that... I was merely... testing you! To make sure that you are listening," Philippa mumbled before quickly being dragged away by Prudence, who wanted to get a better look at the Prince.

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"Frederick!" the Prince bellowed, smiling warmly at Frederick as they pulled each other into a hug. "How have you been?"

"I have been good, dear Friedrich," Frederick replied, "how have your parents been? It's been far too long since I've last seen them."

"They are good... eager for me to find my bride..." Fredrich said, ignoring the new wave of whispers that started at his words.

"Friedrich... come along, we have more debutantes to meet," the Queen says, grabbing her nephew's hand and leading him down the line.

As they leave, I fall into a curtsy and Frederick nods his head in respect.

"Why did you not tell me that you knew him?" I hiss, looking up at Frederick with wide eyes.

"It wasn't an important conversation," Frederick says simply, "and it had been a few years since we had last seen each other."

"You are impossible... you do know that?" I ask, looking up at him and trying- but miserably failing- to force back my smile.

Frederick shrugged and guides me away from the crowds and back towards the dance floor, "may I have this dance, Miss Huntingdon?"

I playfully roll my eyes at him, but place my hand in his nonetheless, "of course, Your Grace."

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"You know... Frederick and Friedrich... very similar," I remark, glancing up at Frederick as we continue to dance.

"Yes... well, it always made for some interesting family holidays whenever we went together," Frederick confessed, smiling down at me and winking. "We always like to joke with our parents about mishearing whoever they were calling for... Frederick was called and Friedrich went, Friedrich was called and I went... it drove our mothers mad."

I chuckle and shake my head before looking back up at him, "you are an endless well of stories..."

"Perhaps one day I can tell them all to you..."

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-T