Chapter Six - The Queen's Ball

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Formed under pressure, desire by many, yet possessed only by a fortunate few, there is nothing on earth quite so envied as a diamond.

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"Your Majesty, an honor as always," I say, falling into a deep curtsy and offering Charlotte a smile. Beside me, Frederick bows his head before standing back up and offering Charlotte the same small smile.

"How wonderful to see you both in attendance," Charlotte says, "I am glad that you were able to step away from your work to attend my ball, Frederick."

Frederick, like a child getting chastised by their parents, turns a faint shade of pink and lowers his head. "I will always make time for you, Your Majesty."

"Hm," Charlotte purses her lips but we both see a small smile appears across her face.

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Might our Queen finally extinguish the fevered speculation and bestow the highest of honors to a most fortunate young lady tonight?

With so many futures at risk, I suspect this author is not the only one waiting with bated breath.

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"Cressida! Lady Cowper!"

"Florence!" Cressida offers me a rare smile and a small curtsy.

"Your Grace, an honor to see you tonight," Lady Cowper says politely, "you must come to Cowper House again and visit. Cressida was just telling me how lovely it was to see you again."

I nod at her words before offering them both a beaming grin. "Of course, Lady Cowper."

Cressida lets out a little hum as she glances around the room, grabbing my arm and pulling me over to a more secluded corner of the room. Behind us a few of her little followers linger, chatting away merrily with each other about who they were going to dance with that night and who had called on them that morning.

"Eloise Bridgerton," Cressida says, smiling at the duo as she steps in front of them, a smile plastering onto her face. "The diamond. Perhaps now you might stop spending time with insipid wallflowers all evening and refine your circle of friends. I may have an opening-"

"I would rather die," Eloise declares, looking over at Cressida with disgust.

Penelope gasps into her cup, spitting out her drink as she fights back her laughter.

Cressida's face falls into her well-known sneer as she watches Eloise and Penelope rush off somewhere else.

"Cressida?" I gently nudge her and motion to her mother, who was calling for her from across the dance floor. "Your mama wants you."

Cressida sighs and looks away from wherever Eloise and Penelope had disappeared to, letting the irritation and shock slide off her face and quickly morphing her expression into one of calmness and judgment- the perfect mix for Cressida.

"I shall see you later then?" Cressida asks, glancing over at me.

"Of course," I assure, squeezing her hand and offering her a small smile. "I must go find Frederick anyways."

She nods her head before starting off back towards her mother, her two other friends- whose names I had not bothered to learn- following close behind her.

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"How did know I would find you two out here?" I ask, smiling as I walk up to the field and see Eloise and Penelope giggling as they lied next to each other in the grass, their hands clasped together.

"Your Grace!" Penelope was quick to sit up and brush off her dress. "I- I- I am sor-"

"There is no need to be stressed, Pen," I assure, chuckling when I watch her let out a sigh of relief. "I thought that I would come and check on you both... I know Cressida can come off as-"

"A vulgar debutante?" Eloise offers, sitting up and looking over at me with a raised brow.

I sigh and offer her a small apologetic smile, "I was going to say determined, but I do see how some could see her as a little harsh at times-"

Eloise scoffed, crossing her arms and all but glaring at me. "At times!"

"-but," I continue, "I know that she is just as sweet and hardheaded as you both are. She is merely focused on finding herself a suitor- which is the same goal that every young lady out there is trying to achieve... and I know that does not explain or dismiss her actions towards you both, but I just wanted to come out here and apologize if her words hurt either of you."

They both fall silent as they turn towards each other, silently conversing with their eyes before they both turn back towards me.

"Why are you friends with her?" Penelope asks.

"Cressida is- as hard as it may be to see- a nice and caring girl underneath the sneers and snide comments. It just takes time and persistence to see it."

She nods her head and offers me a minuscule smile.

"I should get going," I say, glancing back towards the castle, "I don't want to miss the Queen crowning the season's new diamond, and I am sure that your mothers will be looking for you both soon."

They both nod and watch as I turn back around and start back towards the castle, humming to myself softly as I nod towards one of the footmen who steps forward and opens one of the intricately designed doors.

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After arriving back to the ball, I quickly found myself locked into a conversation with Lady Cowper, but, sadly, our chat is quickly cut short by the sound of fanfare, which causes the entire room to fall silent.

"Your presence is noted," Charlotte announces from her position in the middle of the room, her eyes sweeping the attendees with a smile, "and you Queen most appreciative. Allow it to now be my honor to present to you the season's diamond."

The room breaks out into a quiet hush.

Mama's eagerly reach for their daughters as they all look to the Queen in anticipation. Each of their eyes shining with hope that it would be their daughter's name announced as the most eligible debutante of the season.

All the season's eligible gentlemen stand a little straighter, eager to get a look at the most eligible debutante of the season- each hoping to have a chance to woo her.

The Queen's eyes scan the room before pausing, "Miss Edwina Sharma."

All the attendee's gasp and mutter, turning in their spots to catch a glimpse of the season's diamond. As they clear a small pathway for her to walk through- escorted by Brimsley, they break out into a light applause.

"You look at her the way I look at a finished painting, Brother," Benedict says from behind me.

"Every man needs a muse, does he not?" Anthony replies.

Edwina stops in front of the Queen and falls into a low curtsy, standing back up only when the Queen reaches for her chin. Charlotte gazes down at the young girl for a moment before looking back up and scanning the handful of gentlemen that had already lined up to meet the new diamond.

"Viscount Bridgerton," Charlotte says, "have you yet met my new incomparable?"

"I am most grateful for the introduction, Your Majesty," Anthony says politely, bowing his head to Charlotte before turning to look at Edwina. "I only hope I shall be afforded the pleasure of a dance."

He reaches his hand out and offers Edwina a charming smile, his brow slightly raised.

Edwina looks away from Anthony and turns back to look at the Queen, who nods at her in encouragement, before turning back towards Anthony and gently placing her hand in his and stepping onto the dance floor.

"What a pair they make indeed," Frederick whispers to me, looking at Anthony and Edwina with a raised brow.

'I do hope that she can stand up for herself," I mutter in return, "she shall certainly need it if she is to marry Anthony."

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Color, clarity, carat, cut.

At long last, the Queen has named her most precious stone.

While this author finds Miss Edwina Sharma to be an exceptional young lady, it is about time I used these pages of record for something else.

A shift.

Is the entire practice of naming a diamond not... well, rather ridiculous? Should a woman not be valued for so much more than her dancing skills or her comportment? Should we not value a woman instead for her candor, her character, her true accomplishments?

Perhaps if the Queen abandoned this absurdity that is the diamond, we would all see that a woman can be so much more.

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-T