Chapter Sixteen - Ice Cream

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"Thank you for the ice cream," I say, smiling over at Frederick as I take another bite. The cold dessert was a nice surprise on a rather warm day.

"It was no problem at all... I will admit I was... well, excited that you agreed to come with me," Frederick chuckled. "It feels like it's been ages since we were last able to see each other-"

This time it was my turn to chuckle. "We promenaded this morning... and the morning before that, then the morning before that one, and the morning before that one, oh! That reminded me, thank you for the flowers... they are simply stunning- and rather expensive looking."

Frederick blushed and took another bite of his ice cream, "it's rather a nice treat on such a hot day wouldn't you think? The ice cream."

"Ooh, a chance of subject I see," I giggle and lean forward slightly in my seat before lowering my voice and looking towards him with sincerity. "But really, the flowers were beautiful."

Frederick blushed once more before clearing his throat and looking at me with an endearing gaze. "Of course, beautiful flowers for a beautiful woman..."

"You are too kind, Your Grace," I mutter, looking down as I feel my face heat up.

"I speak nothing but the truth," Frederick declares, smiling over at me as he takes yet another bite of his ice cream.

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"I think that it was a rather successful outing, don't you think so?" Frederick asked, glancing over toward me as we walked along the sidewalk.

"It certainly was a delicious one," I say, nodding my head in agreement. "Thank you again for having me."

"It was my pleasure," Frederick assured, "thank you for joining me, I know that you must be overwhelmed with callers all the time."

"Surprisingly not... with Daphne being the season's 'diamond' I have had a relatively calm season thus far..." I confess, "it's been rather nice."

Frederick hums and glances over at me with a raised brow, the disbelief clear. "Really? I would have assumed that you would be overwhelmed with callers... after all, the Queen did call you, what was it again? 'Stunning'? 'Beautiful'?"

"Please..." I chuckle at his words, trying- and failing- to fight the faint blush that appears across my face.

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"What would you think your life would look like in a few years' time?" Frederick asks, glancing over at me over the day's newspaper. He had invited himself over the next morning for breakfast and seemed rather comfortable sitting beside me at the table.

Mama sat a few seats down, trying- and failing- to disguise as she listened into our conversation, taking what she had to believe were inconspicuous bites of her breakfast. Every so often she would glance over towards us before quickly looking away and taking a sip of her tea, hiding her grin behind the rim of the porcelain teacup.

I paused, fork midway to my mouth, and looked at him with wide eyes. "W-wh... what?"

Frederick blushed and glanced over at me, "I just meant what you do think your life would look like in a few years? Would you want to be married? Or have children?"

"I suppose so... in all honesty, I never really thought about the future," I confess quietly, putting down my fork and looking over at him. "I am always far too concerned about the present and what is going to happen today."

Frederick hummed and nodded his head in understanding.

"I think that I would like to be married, though... hopefully to someone who is... pleasant?" I continue, "as for the idea of children... I don't know... I mean, one day I think that it would be good, but..."

Frederick put down his newspaper and looked over at me, the curiosity clear through his eyes. "But what?"

"I'm far too caught up in what's happening today to think about children... that's all," I say.

Frederick, thankfully, doesn't push any further and just nods his head. "Which is completely understandable."

I nod my head. "Understandable."

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"Do you think that Daphne and the Duke will ever marry?" I glance over toward Cressida, watching with renewed interest as she snickers.

"I have no idea, Flore," Cressida says, flipping the page of the latest Whistledown. "If the Duke knows what's good for him, he'll leave her..."

"I'm sure that Daphne hasn't done anything wrong by him," I chuckle and look back towards my teacup, "it would be nice- to marry, I mean. To get all dressed up and have a day all to you and your marriage... I am rather excited for it- if it ever happens for me, I mean."

Cressida scoffs and all but throws her gossip column to the side as she looks at me, "Florence you are going to get married! I mean, have you seen the gazes that the Duke sends your way... it is as if you two have a love story written eons ago! If you two never marry that I don't think that I will ever find a suitable suitor..."

"Cress, don't do that, I'm sure that even if the Duke and I were to never marry you would still find your match. As for the whole 'love story written eons ago' I don't know if I would quite agree with that... I mean, it doesn't mean that we are going to marry. Not every love story ends with a happy ending, you know."

"Your's will," Cressida assures, "I'm certain that it will."

I chuckle and pick up the day's gossip column, opening it up and beginning to read it over. "I love your passion, Cress."

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A few hours later I had left Cressida and Lady Cowper at Cowper House and started towards the Featherington House, where I had promised to meet Prudence and Philippa.

"Florence Huntingdon," the footman announces, bowing his head before exiting the room and closing the door behind him.

I offer a clearly stressed Lady Featherington and a rather bored-looking Lord Featherington a small curtsy and smile. "Lady Featherington... Lord Featherington, lovely to see you both."

"Florence, come over here," Prudence hissed, waving me over to the table where she and Philippa were sitting.

Lady Featherington sighed and waved me off from her spot as she quietly hissed towards her husband, while Lord Featherington sighed in greeting and mindlessly flipped his newspaper.

"Can you believe it?" Philippa leans over towards me and sighs dreamily, "he is so handsome... and smart..."

"The man gets you flowers once and you are suddenly head over heels for him," Penelope shakes her head in disbelief as she continues to read on the bench by the window. "It is worrying that you are so easily swayed, Philippa."

"Penelope!" Lady Featherington twists in her seat to send her younger daughter a rather scathing look, "do not diminish your sister's excitement! This is an exciting time for us all... now, be happy for Philippa."

Penelope grumbles something under her breath before turning her attention back towards her book, not bothering to hide her disgust at her sister's words.

"-is he not the most wonderful man?"

"I'm sure that he is lovely," I assure, taking a sip of my tea and nodding along with Philippa. "You seem rather taken by him... what about you, Prudence? Have you managed to catch anyone's attention?"

Prudence shifts uncomfortably in her seat and she takes a sip of her tea. "No."

"There is still time.. the season is not yet over,' I say, offering her a small smile.

"I am three seasons in and I am yet to find my match..." Prudence grumbles, "I don't know why! I sing, play the pianoforte very pretty, and can sew..."

I bite my lip and shrug, knowing deep down that the chances of her finding her match were slim, to say the least. "There is still time?"

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-T