Chapter Sixteen - The 'Flowers' of the Bridgerton 'Hearts and Flowers' Ball

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Lady Whistledown's

SOCIETY PAPERS

If the Ancient Greeks were members of the Ton, they might have added to their Olympic pentathlon one additional event.

The hosting of a country visit.

This, of course, is the week of Lady Bridgerton's annual Hearts and Flowers Ball, the year's most coveted invitation in the country, and no event better designed to show the might and mettle of its host.

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"Are you sure that there is nothing that I can do, Lady Bridgerton?" I ask, watching as Daphne, Lady Bridgerton, and Mrs Colson all rush about the house.

"I assure you Florence, we are more than prepared for the ball... if you could, though, would you go and see what seems to be making all of the guests late... if that is even possible, seeing as no one is here on time," Lady Bridgerton says, letting out a little huff as she looks around.

I bite back my chuckle and nod my head before starting out of the room.

"Oh, and could you try and wrangle up all of my children please!" Lady Bridgerton calls, "they seem to have disappeared somewhere in the house."

I don't bother to try and hold back my laughter, nodding my head at her as I start out of the room. "Of course, Lady Bridgerton."

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"Cressida! How lovely to see you! And your gown, it is magnificent!" I say, looking down at her bright pink gown. "Is it from Madame Delacroix?"

"Oh, no..." Cressida says, looking down at the gown with a smile. "Mama and I visited the new modiste- the one that has just arrived from Vienna. Her gown designs are simply magnificent!"

"They certainly seem to be!" I chuckle.

"Oh! Florence! Join me?" Lady Bridgerton asks, stepping over towards me and offering me a hopeful smile. "I am hoping to introduce Eloise and Penelope to a few of the young ladies and if you were to join me they may be more... open to the idea if they see that it is not just me talking to them... so it is not as... imposing?"

I chuckle and nod my head, beginning to walk alongside her toward where Penelope, Colin, and Eloise were standing.

"Eloise, Penelope," Lady Bridgerton calls, stepping up to them with a smile. Colin is quick to bow his head and shuffle backward, out of sight from his mother, who was far too engrossed with her daughter to even see him.

Lady Bridgerton chuckles as she wraps an arm around Eloise and Penelope, leading them towards the tent of young ladies. "I think you will find me have much to offer the young ladies today, right Florence."

I nod my head as I begin to walk alongside the trio, "right indeed. I met some of my closest friends at parties similar to this one."

"Yes, well, if you met your friends here, then I would think it would be best for me to leave... those you consider friends are rather horr-"

"Eloise Bridgerton!" Lady Violet hissed, looking over to me with wide eyes, "you must forgive her, Your Grace... Eloise means nothing ill against your friends."

I chuckle and wave her off, "all is well, Lady Bridgerton. I can understand why Eloise feels the way she does, and it can certainly be justified."

"Exactly! No harm done, mother," Eloise exclaims happily, nodding her head along with me while looking at her mother in hope. "Yes, and well, Pen is a young lady, and we do have so much to catch up on, so-"

Eloise's words are quickly cut short by Lady Bridgerton, who stopped walking and sighs, "Eloise... I hope you will behave yourself this week. We... we are hosts."

Eloise nods her head at her mother's words, a grimace of a smile appearing on her face.

At her daughter's agreement, Lady Bridgerton continues to stroll towards the tent, "perhaps you and Penelope might like to spend some time with the other young ladies in attendance. Hmm? Or at the very least, there will be some good gossip to absorb."

"Would not dream of doing anything different, Lady Bridgerton," Penelope says softly, glancing back towards Lady Bridgerton before being gently shoved forwards toward the small group of young ladies.

Eloise chuckles awkwardly as she nods to the other young ladies, while Penelope seems to do slightly better, making pleasant conversation with the young lady next to her.

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I take another sip of my drink, moving to tilt my body slightly closer to the table of young ladies. They had been chatting for a long while about the eligible gentleman they had been interested in this season, much to Eloise's displeasure.

"I quite like Lord Westbridge, though his hand certainly do wander when he dances," one young lady, Miss Eaton, says.

"At least he is young," another, Miss Mary Ann Hallewell, chimes in, "my mama has fixed on Sir Derryworth for me. His breath is excruciating."

Elosie lets out a huff as she throws her hands up in the air. "Why do you not just say no, then?"

"To our mamas?" Miss Eaton says in wonder, her eyes growing wide in horror at the thought of it.

"I do not think it is that simple, El," Penelope says, turning to look at her friend with an understanding look.

"I do everything my mama says," another young lady, Miss Cordelia Patridge, says, looking around the table as she fans herself.

Eloise chuckles and adjusts her spot in her chair, "yet you still wonder why you're so miserable."

"Oh, I... I know how to find my happiness, Miss Bridgerton," Miss Patridge declares, "there is always Lady Whistledown."

The table breaks out into a soft chuckle as they glance around at each other.

"Though I doubt she'll publish anything of note this week," another young lady, Miss Weston, confesses.

"What can you mean?" Penelope asks, her head cocking to the side.

"We are all here, enjoying the countryside together," Miss Weston continues, "anything she might print, surely we will already know."

Penelope hums as she brings her glass up to her lips, "is that so?"

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"Did you know that Miss Marina Thompson- now known as Lady Crane lives not far from here?" Frederick asked me, sitting down in front of me and taking a sip of lemonade. "Colin told me before rushing off to who knows where."

"I did hear that the Cranes had a house in the country," I nod my head at his words, taking a sip from my own glass of lemonade. "I did not realize it was so close, though."

Frederick hummed and looked out at the various tents that surrounded us. "Anyways, Lord Glendale just came up to me and told me about the new investment he put into Lord Featherington's mines. He was all giddy about it, talked about the money he was expecting to gain out of it."

"Glendale? I did not know that they were here today," I muse, looking around with a raised brow. "Have you seen Lady Glendale..."

"No, not so far," Frederick says, "it is still rather early though..."

Frederick pauses when he sees me fiddle my hands together as I look around for the blonde lady.

"Flore... there is no need to worry," he assures, "the Glendale's are nothing to worry about. They are harmless."

I sigh and drop my hands, "I am just overthinking... of course, yes."

"I am going to join the rest of the men for the hunt later, how about you go with the Featheringtons? I know they were talking about how much they were hoping to see you. Perhaps this is a good time for you to catch up with the eldest daughter?" Frederick offers.

"That's a wonderful idea," I say, looking over at him and offering a small smile. "You seem to be filled with those lately."

He chuckles and presses a quick kiss on the side of my head, "I do try, darling."

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"I do think that it is your turn, Florence," Prudence announces, handing me the ball and stepping back with a smirk. "Although it will be rather hard for you to catch up to my score."

I chuckle and toss the ball for a few seconds as I glance over at her, "I will certainly try my best, Prudence."

I roll the ball and watch as it knocks over 6 of the 10 pins, causing Prudence to let out a groan of annoyance from her spot behind me.

"Why is it that you seem to be good at everything?" She asks, crossing her arms and watching as the maids bring me the ball and set the pins once more.

"-I believe that is what a Duchess must be, good at everything, I mean."

We both turn and offer Charlotte Glendale a pleasant smile as we watch her join us.

"How lovely to see you again, Your Grace..." she offers me a small curtsy before looking to Prudence, a sneer to compete with Cressida appearing across her face. "Prudence, right? I do think that I heard your mama asking for you... it seemed rather urgent. I'll take your place here until you come back, yes?"

She moved to step beside me and offered Prudence a sickly sweet smile, watching in amusement as the poor girl stuttered before sighing and strolling off to find her mama, sending me an apologetic look as she passed.

"How have you been, Your Grace?" Charlotte asked, taking the ball from the maid and mindlessly rolling it towards the pins, seemingly unbothered when it misses them.

"Fairly well, thank you. How have you been? Did the ride here treat you well?" I inquire.

She hummed, looking at the ball that had been returned to her hand for a moment before rolling it once more, not even bothering to look where it was going. "I've had better carriage rides, I will admit. The heat was rather unbearable. How about for you- oh, wait. You came here early... a special invitation by the Bridgertons, right?"

I nod my head as I reach out to take the ball from the maid. I line it up the best that I can before finally letting the ball go and watching as it rolls toward the pins.

"Another lucky turn, Your Grace," Charlotte hums, looking over at me with another smirk. "How wonderful."

Prudence hurries back over towards us, a beaming smile as she scurries up the stairs. "I am back!"

Charlotte lets out a little chuckle and drops the ball to the ground, "terrific. Wonderful game, Your Grace."

She starts down the steps back towards the more crowded lawn of people, pausing for a moment and looking back towards us with a raised brow. "I'll see you both at the ball, yes?"

Prudence and I both nod our heads and watch as she lets out a small smirk before turning back around and continuing down the stairs.

"Absolute horrid woman, she is," Prudence mutters, shuddering for a moment before turning back towards the game, "anyways... ready to be bested?"

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-T