Chapter Eight - Off to the Races

______________________

"Ready?"

"Of course," I loop my arm with Frederick's as we start towards the entrance of the race.

"Philippa!" I race over to her and engulf her in a hug, "it is so wonderful to see you! It feels as though it has been forever since we were last able to see each other! Mr Finch, how wonderful to see you again as well. Oh, I heard all about the upcoming wedding, are you not so excited! I do love weddings!"

Philippa chuckles and nods her head dreamily, "I do..."

By now we have gathered a small group of girls around us, each of them excited to hear about the latest wedding that is set to take place.

"It will be an intimate ceremony," Philippa explains to us, "but Mr Finch said he wished for nothing to distract from his bride, if you can believe it."

Prudence scoffs as she walks past, "I certainly cannot. Can you, Penelope?"

Philippa's face falls slightly as she overhears her sister's words, the joy dissipating from her face.

"Pay Prudence no mind, Philippa," I say, leaning in closer to her and lowering my voice, "she is merely envious that you have found your match and she has yet to... she means well... underneath it all."

Philippa nods as a small smile reappears on her face. "I have been meaning to ask if you wanted to join us for the wedding. You are one of my closest friends."

"It would be my pleasure to attend your wedding, Philippa," I say, offering her a gracious smile. "I cannot wait!"

______________________

"Oh, is that Kate and your old school friend- oh, what was his name?" I purse my lips as I try to remember the man's name, watching as he and Kate walk past us and towards the stands.

"Dorset- Thomas Dorset... I do wonder what he is doing back here?" Frederick mutters, raising his brows in confusion. "I shall need to catch up with him soon, I suppose."

"Windsor! Over here!"

"Bridgerton's!" Frederick booms happily, starting over to were Anthony, Benedict, and Colin were standing.

"How wonderful to see you all again! Colin, you must tell me about your trip! I heard that it was quite an adventure," I say, smiling over at him.

He eagerly nods and promises to tell me all about it the next time that I travel over to Bridgerton House.

"Bridgerton's!"

Everyone looks over towards the voice and immediately smiles when we all see that it is Will.

"Mr Mondrich," Benedict greets, "it appears retirement suits you well."

"If only he were retired," his wife, Alice, says cheekily.

"Are you planning another foray into the ring, Mr Mondrich?" Colin asks.

"Into business, in fact," Will says, "I am opening a gentlemen's club. Set to rival even the select haunts on St. James's, if we are fortunate."

"You do know that we have all been members of White's since birth," Anthony says, motioning to him and his brothers.

"I as well," Frederick says, tipping his head in agreement.

"Our grand opening is tomorrow night," Will continues, seemingly undeterred by their words, "you're all of course invited to-"

"Apologies," Anthony says quickly, whipping his head back to the group from wherever he had been looking a few moments ago. "If you will excuse me."

"Tell me, Mr Mondrich," Benedict says, "I wouldn't mind some stimulation."

"I as well," Frederick adds in, nodding his head as he steps closer.

Will's face lights up and he quickly beings to chat about the business.

"I'm going to go catch up with a few people, but I shall see you when the race starts?" I whisper, peering up towards Frederick and watching as he nods in agreement.

______________________

"Is the Queen attending the races today?" Violet asks, peering over towards the roped-off area that was filled with footmen. "I have yet to see her."

"I have no idea..." I mutter, glancing behind me and raising a brow at the sight. "I'm not quite sure... I'm sure that Frederick would know, though."

"Frederick would know what?" Frederick asks, stepping beside me and offering Violet a quick smile.

"Ah, there you are, we were just wondering if the Queen is going to attend today's race," I say.

"I do not believe so," Frederick says, "but she does tend to change her mind whenever she pleases, so it is possible that she may attend."

"Shall we find our seats, Your Graces?" Violet asks, "perhaps we can get away from this horrid heat we seem to find ourselves in."

"That sound's lovely, Lady Bridgerton," I chirp, looping my arm with Fredericks and starting off towards the stands.

"You do know that Charlotte offered us seats in the Royal Box, right?" Frederick mutters.

"Yes, but I think that it would be good to be around some friends..." I muse, "and this allows you to talk to your old school friend!"

Frederick falters, glancing back at the Royal Box, "but... the Royal Box has more shade- wait! Darling! Don't leave without me!"

______________________

"Is that Anthony? Sitting beside Kate?" I peer over one lady to get a better look before sitting back down and turning to look at Lady Danbury with an incredulous gaze, "do we need to separate them?

"I should hope not..." Lady Danbury says, glancing over at them with a raised brow, "I should hope to think that Miss Sharma knows how good this match is for her sister... the Diamond of the Season marrying the most eligible bachelor."

"Your Graces," Lady Bridgeton says, sitting down beside me and offering Frederick and I a small nod of the head and a warm smile. "It seems as though Gregory and Hyacinth are locked into a rather heated game of marbles against the Glendale child ... a game so heated, in fact, that they decided to not watch the race."

"Glendale? I should go see them when the race is over. Lord Glendale was a good friend of my fathers," Frederick says before turning back to the track and muttering to himself. He had been getting ready to place a bet but was still trying to decide on which horse to bet for.

I look over at Lady Bridgerton and Lady Danbury, biting my lip for a moment before suddenly blurting out. "Lady Glendale... has she ever... well... has she ever come across as cross with you?"

"She has always been the epitome of respectful," Lady Bridgerton says.

"Have you experienced otherwise, Your Grace?" Lady Danbury asks.

"At times, yes," I confess.

Lady Danbury hums, looking the track over for a moment before turning back towards me. "It was well known that Lady Glendale, then just a young Miss Aberdeen, was rather determined to be the next Duchess of Windsor. More determined than Miss Cowper seemed to be when she went after that Prince."

"I heard that she had a rather nasty temper... still has it, too." Lady Bridgerton whispers. "Apparently the Glendale house has gone through double the number of maids in the past month than any other home... all scared away by that wife."

I rack my brain for the young girl's face, my brow furrowing when I can't seem to think of anything. "Why don't I remember any Aberdeen?"

"After it was revealed that you and the Duke were to be married, she slid back into the shadows of society," Lady Danbury says, pausing and glancing over at me for a second before winking. "At least, that is what Lady Whistledown had reported. She got married to the old Lord Glendale not much later... had the heir Glendale almost immediately after the wedding."

We all fall silent at her words, sitting back in our seats and looking out onto the track. After a few minutes, Lady Bridgerton lets out a quiet hum and gently motions towards the front of the stands.

"It seems your guest has caught the attention of the Viscount, Lady Danbury," Lady Bridgerton says lightly, glancing over to Lady Danbury and chuckling.

"It would seem so," Lady Danbury agrees, "I was just talking with the Duchess about it before you arrived. You do understand, Lady Bridgerton, that as Miss Edwina's sponsor, I should like to remain neutral until she has made her choice."

"Of course."

"But," Lady Danbury continues, glancing over her shoulder before leaning a little bit closer to Lady Bridgerton, "as your friend, I will tell you. There may be an obstacle in your son's path. The elder sister seems set against the match. It seems Miss Edwina desires a love match, something the Viscount clearly does not."

Lady Bridgerton falls silent at her words, leaning back ever so slightly in her seat. "I see."

"Perhaps her mind can be changed," Lady Danbury says.

"Perhaps so can the Viscount's," Lady Bridgerton adds on.

Lady Danbury says nothing in return, opting to hum as she turns back to the race track, her eyes continuing to sift and glance over at the sisters and the Viscount every few seconds.

______________________

"Which horse did you end up betting on?" I ask, glancing over at Frederick as he watches the race intently, his hands clenched by his side.

"High Flyer," he mutters, "although I am worried that Nectar will pull ahead and take the lead... and potentially the entire race."

"He seems to be doing well," I muse, watching the horse with a raised brow. "Be confident in your choice, Frederick. I'm sure that you have bet correctly."

"One can only hope," Frederick mutters back.

______________________

"Come now... come now... YES! YES!"

Frederick roared with cheers of triumph as Nectar crosses the finish line a mere split second before High Flyer.

"WE'VE DONE IT FLORENCE!" Frederick roars, turning towards me and smashing his lips onto mine. "WHAT A WIN!"

I throw my head back and laugh as he wraps his arms around me and spins me around. "Frederick!"

"Oh!" Frederick gently places me back down and looks towards the track, "we should go greet the new winner! Come along, Florence!"

He grand my hand and quickly leads me down to the track, where we meet up with Anthony and Edwina. Kate and Mr Dorset we're a few feet behind, locked into a conversation.

"Bridgerton! Did you too bet on dear old Nectar?" Frederick asks, grinning at his old friend and patting him on the back. "What a win we have both achieved today!"

"Ah- well, I haven't bet on Nectar this race, unfortunately," Anthony mutters, sighing. "But next time I shall have to... think my choices over a little bit more carefully, I suppose."

He turns back towards Edwina and the two quickly start up a conversation about Nectar, each of them reaching up and gently petting the dark brown horse.

Kate spins away from Mr Dorset and storms over to Edwina, her face the epitome of the calm within the storm.

"This is not going to be good," I mutter, gently nudging Frederick and motioning towards the scene that was unfolding in front of us.

Before Kate even had a chance to say anything to her sister, Edwina turned to her with a sorrowful gaze.

"Kate, it is dreadful," she cries, "they say Nectar is to be sent to the knacker's yard."

Kate doesn't seem to register, or rather doesn't care for the fate of the horse, as she looks down at Edwina with a steely gaze. "We are leaving."

Anthony scoffs as he looks at Kate, "I've heard of a sore loser, Miss Sharma, but never a sore winner."

"Do not speak to me or my sister ever again," Kate says.

Edwina looks to her sister with wide, confused eyes. "What has happened?"

"It seems a second game was afoot today," Kate says, "and Lord Bridgerton made certain I play the fool."

Kate glances back to Mr Dorset, who only gazes back at her and the rest of the group with apologetic eyes, before turning back towards Edwina with an unwavering expression. "Let us go."

Edwina pauses, staring at her sister's slowly retreating back before looking towards Anthony. The to stare at each other for a few seconds before Edwina tears her gaze away and starts after her sister.

"Oh, Anthony... when will you learn?" I sigh, stepping beside Anthony and resting a hand on his shoulder.

Anthony sighs and pulls his shoulder away from my hand, stalking off into the crowd.

I sigh and start off towards Frederick, who was locked into a rather passionate conversation with Nectar's owner and rider.

"Shall we go and collect our winnings, darling?" I peer over towards him and loop our arms together.

"What a wonderful idea!" Frederick says, nodding his head in farewell before leading me through the dense crowds and towards the betting tent.

_______

who is the mysterious Lady Glendale? but, more importantly, will she be the first foe Florence has to face... or will Florence be able to win the woman over?

don't forget to comment and vote!

-T