AUTHORS NOTE AT BOTTOM WITH IMPORTANT INFO!

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Chapter Eighteen - The Busy Few Weeks and a Park Promenade

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Lady Whistledown's

SOCIETY PAPERS

The frenzy of competition. The thrilling delight of hazarding your all. I am referring not to the lure of London's luxurious gaming halls but to a gamble with far higher stakes.

Matrimony.

For once that particular wager is placed, it cannot easily be undone. A fact which, I am sure, is met with both regret and sheer relief.

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I stood beside Prudence and watch with a smile as a small circle of young debutatne's surround her, each of them hoping to find out more about the seemingly out-of-nowhere match and the impending wedding.

"Now, there shall be 12 courses, and I shall sing between each one," Prudence announces, looking around at the group with a smile.

Prudence lets out a shriek of laughter as she puts her hand out for the other ladies to see. She pulls her hand back towards her, obviously protective of the ring, when one lady tries to touch it. "Mm. Don't touch. You can look at it."

"It is a rather beautiful ring, Prudence," I say, looking at the pretty ruby ring that now sat on her finger curtsey of Lord Featherington.

Prudence hums in agreement, pulling her hand back to right in front of her face as she moved it around in the sunlight. "It is rather sparkly."

I chuckle and bid her farewell before continuing down the pathway, stopping every few steps to greet someone else.

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I share another giggle with Hyacinth as she continues to whisper to me the prank she was planning against Gregory.

"I am looking forward to seeing it in person, Hyacinth," I say, sitting back in my seat and sending her a warm smile.

"You shall be the first person I tell when it happens," Hyacinth promises.

Across the room, Anthony stood in front of a mirror adjusting and fiddling with this wedding coat, talking with the tailor who nods his head and takes the coat from Anthony, and leaving the room, no doubt rushing off to his workplace to add all the necessary adjustments that were being critically called out by the groom to be.

"There is plenty of time to adjust it to your liking," Lady Bridgerton says, watching her son with a soft smile. "The wedding is not for another month."

Anthony lets out a little sigh as he turns away from the mirror, "there is still much to do."

"Will Miss Edwina be coming to live with us?" Gregory asks, setting his book down for a brief moment and leaning forward to look towards his mother and brother.

"Indeed," Lady Bridgerton says, "after the wedding, she shall be the lady of the house and responsible for you all.

"May the Lord help her," Colin notes, looking around the room as he takes a bite of his fruit.

Anthony pauses his picking of fruit and looks towards his mother, his eyes sharp. "Which reminds me, our carriages must still be polished to a shine and the horses' manes braided. We should bring out the finest silver. The Queen might be hosting everything at the palace, but we still must be ready to entertain here."

"What of us, Brother?" Benedict added, stretching out for a moment. "Should we also be polished and braided for the big day?"

"Come now, Benedict... poor Anthony is already stressed enough as it is for the wedding," I say, smiling over towards the man, "let's not make it any worse on him."

"Thank you, Florence," Anthony said, glancing over at me and flashing me a quick smile. "Yet another reason why you are my favorite sibling."

"She isn't even related to us?" Gregory whined, looking at his brother with wide eyes.

"She's around here often enough that she could pass as a Bridgerton," Eloise commented, not bothering to look up from her book.

"-and yes, we will all be on display," Anthony continued, looking towards his brother unimpressed with his joking tone. "Perhaps you might even scrub your hand for the occasion?"

"I have been occupied at the Academy," Benedict defended, looking down at his hands for a moment.

"Anthony! You know that Benedict is hard at work at the Royal Academy of Art," I say, standing up and gently swatting his arm, "be nice."

Anthony huffs and rolls his eyes as he continued to grab his food. Benedict shot me a quick wink before looking back toward his brother.

"What about Miss Edwina's sister?" Gregory asked.

"What about her?" Anthony said, quickly putting his plate down and looking over at his brother, his eyes widening at the mere mention of Kate Sharma.

"Will she come to live with us, too?" Gregory clarified.

"Oh, I do hope so," Eloise said, finally lowering her book and looking around the room with a hopeful smile. "It would be a boon to have another intelligent woman in the house besides Florence."

"Another?" Benedict said, looking over at his sister with a cheeky smile, "mm. You're overcounting."

I let out another little scoff and gently hit his arm, "be nice to your sister, Benedict."

"Thank you, Florence," Eloise huffed, raising her book back up as she sent a final glare to her brother.

"Eloise," Lady Bridgerton said, turning to look at her daughter with a hopeful smile. "I shall need your help today. There is the- the dinner to plan with Lady Danbury to welcome the Sharma's into the family. And then the engagement ball next week-"

Eloise let out a little chuckle as she put down her book and grabbed her plate, rushing towards Benedict and I as she let out a little chuckle.

"I am sorry, Mama, but, uh... I am attending a lecture this afternoon. Flowering arranging. I was just telling Florence about it. Penelope's mama is forcing her to go, and you have wanted me to find more ladylike pursuits."

Lady Bridgerton looked over to me with a shocked expression, her head cocking to the side as if she were silently asking me if what her daughter said was true.

I blink back at her for a few seconds before slowly nodding my head, "...yes. I think I remember you telling me about the lecture... I was so busy planning for... something that it must have slipped my mind."

"For how long have you cared about flower arranging?" Benedict asked, his lips turning upwards as he continued to tease his little sister.

"Yes... do tell, after all, I did just lie to you mama about it for you," I add in, grabbing a piece of fruit and taking a bite.

"I am an open-minded woman. I can care about many things," Eloise snapped, looking over towards her brother and sending him a sickly sweet smile.

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"Madame Delacroix! How wonderful to see you again!"

"Your Grace! How wonderful to see you again! Are you in need of new dresses?" Madame Delacroix asks, glancing away from Lady Sharma as she watches me walk through the door.

I nod my head and let out a little chuckle. "Indeed I am."

"I do not know why Miss Edwina's betrothal is so special," Prudence huffs, "she's quite overshadowed my happy news."

"A fact we may well be glad of," Lady Featherington says, "put those silks down. Cotton will do for your trousseau. Oh, Your Grace! We did not see you there... um, how have you been? Such fine weather we've been having lately, yes?"

I hum and look outside for a moment before turning back towards the two, "it has... not that I have been complaining, of course. How has the wedding planning been coming along for you both? It is rather exciting, is it not? Three weddings this season! Philippa, Miss Edwina, and Prudence! I have been over the moon about it since they were announced! Oh, I cannot wait to see your grown, Prudence. I am sure that it will be as... unique as you are!"

"Oh, yes," Prudence is quick to pull me into a deep conversation about all the choices she has made- and is still planning on making- with her dress, leaving her mother behind to pick out whatever fabrics they needed. "-and the train will be so long that it can't even fit in the building! I want the Ton to be talking about it for as long as possible! We already have a guest list figured out- don't worry, though! You and the Duke are already included on it, I made sure myself that you both were written down!"

I let out a little chuckle as I continue to listen to her ramble on about her forthcoming nuptials. "Oh! I cannot wait! Not much longer now!"

"Your Grace?" Madame Delacroix pokes her head around the corner and offers me a smile. "Have you chosen the fabrics for your dresses?"

I quickly bid Prudence and Lady Featherington goodbye, before rushing over towards Madame Delacroix, "Oh, yes! I was thinking these... or perhaps these... but I did rather like this red fabric as well..."

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"NEWTON! Oh, how are you, my boy?" I am quick to bend down and offer the dog a few pets before standing up and smiling over at Anthony and Edwina. "And look at the happy couple... congratulations to you both. I am sure that you have heard this a thousand times, but you will make a wonderful Viscountess, Edwina."

Edwina chuckles and bows her head, "thank you, Your Grace. It is an honor to see you- and to hear that from you."

I give her a wave of my hand and offer her a welcome smile. "Of course. Now, tell me, has Anthony managed to charm poor old Newton into liking him yet?"

Edwina spares Anthony a glance before leaning close to me and giggling, "I am afraid not, Your Grace..."

I sigh and lean away, glancing over at Anthony and clicking my tongue in disappointment, "Anthony, Anthony, Anthony... how disappointing for you."

"Don't you have eager mama's to greet?" Anthony snaps, rolling his eyes at me but smiling nonetheless.

I offer him a mock gasp, placing my hand over my heart, "Anthony... that hurts."

"Anthony! Edwina! Your Grace! How wonderful to see you all," Lady Bridgerton says breathlessly, offering us all a warm smile.

"Lady Bridgerton, always a pleasure to see you," I greet.

"What a handsome couple they make," Edwina notes, watching as her sister and Mr Dorest walk past.

Violet chuckles as she too watches on, a smile on her face.

Anthony glares at the sight, his jaw tensing for a moment before he turns to Edwina with a raised brow. "Pardon me?"

"Mr Dorset and my sister," Edwina continues, "I noticed that he was quite smitten with her the last time they met. Perhaps he will convince her to stay in England, after all."

"She barely knows the gentleman," Anthony counters, his gazes not lingering away from the couple in question.

"Not did I you, at first," Edwina confesses, "but love moves swiftly, does it not?"

"Miss Edwina, you must tell me your favorite colors," Lady Bridgerton proclaims, turning to her soon-to-be daughter-in-law and reaching for her hands. "So I may plan to incorporate them in the ornamentation for your engagement ball."

Edwina chuckles and offers her a warm smile, "you are too kind, Lady Bridgerton. I am certain your taste is superb."

"It would be my honor, Miss Edwina. This marriage offers a chance to honor both Bridgerton and Sharma families now that we are to be joined. Is that not so, Anthony?"

"Absolutely," Anthony declares, snapping his gaze towards his mother and nodding.

I raise an eyebrow at him, causing him to glance over at me and roll his eyes in return, before I quickly bid them farewell and start down the hill, closer to the designated walkway where I was to meet up with some old friends.

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"Penelope! Wonderful to see you again..." I fall silent as we both look towards Prudence, who was calling out to anyone that would spare her a glance. "Prudence seems... excited about the news of her engagement."

"Yes, she has not let the family forget about it," Penelope joked, gazing at her sister for a moment before looking over at me.

"Your sister seems... happy," Colin noted, strolling over to us and glancing back over at Prudence with an amused chuckle.

"That is one way of putting it," Penelope says.

"The new Lord Featherington seems an interesting fellow," Colin continued, his eyes wandering over towards the man in question, who looked like he would rather be doing anything but rowing the boat. "A man of commerce, is he not?"

"Yes. He has ruby minds in America," Penelope notes, "they're flourishing, I hear."

Colin nods his head as he turns to look at Penelope, "perhaps I should introduce myself. After all, everyone else is finding some purpose to their lives. Anthony is to be married. Benedict has his artistic pursuits. And, well, here I am... feeding the ducks."

"Who are most grateful, I am sure," I quipped, sending a wink and a smile to Colin.

He smirks in return and nods his head, "someone must do it, I suppose."

"You have a good deal of time and plentiful opportunities to make your mark," Penelope adds thoughtfully.

"As Eloise would no doubt remind me," Colin said.

"Where is your sister?" Penelope asks, looking around for her dark-haired friend. "I have not seen her out today."

Colin hummed in agreement, "I have not seen her out today. She mentioned something about flower arranging with you today, in fact, Pen."

I look over at Pen with a furrowed brow, knowing that the two of them are almost never far apart from each other. "Yes, she was rather adamant that you two were to go to the lecture together. I will admit though, I have missed her scathing remarks about the Ton, especially on a day like today."

Penelope seemed to pale at the mention of her name and began to frantically nod her head, letting out a weak chuckle. "Indeed, I am meeting her later."

Before Colin had the chance to say another word, he is pulled away by another gentleman. Before he left, though, he made sure to send us both a charming smile and nod of the head.

"I hope you and Eloise have fun at 'flower arranging', Penelope," I say, grinning over at her for a moment before stepping away and starting over towards Frederick, who had sat down at a small table and grabbed a plate of sandwiches.

"Darling! I got us a few sandwiches to share, do you want one?"

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"Cressida, how wonderful to see you again!"

She pulls me into a hug before stepping back and offering me a tiny curtsy, "I feel as though our chances to meet are few and far between now, Flore."

I chuckle and shake my head at her, "we saw each other yesterday, Cress... and the day before that."

"Well... never mind that you still need to visit me more," Cressida playfully demanded.

"Cressida was just telling me this morning how excited she was to see you today, Your Grace," Lady Cowper added in, offering me a tiny smile and nod of the head.

I hum and look over at Cressida with a smile. "Well, I am glad that we were able to see each other."

"Oh... Lord Featherington is coming this way," Cressida mutters, her eyes narrowing at the sight of the man that she was once being called on so often.

A few seconds before he could reach us, Cressida let out a little huff and rushed over to her mama's, the two glancing over at Lord Featherington as they begin a hushed conversation.

I chuckle and start over to the two of them when I see Cressida wave me over, the three of us beginning a pleasant conversation with a few of the ladies around us.

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"I was wondering where you went," Frederick muttered, wrapping an arm around my waist and pulling me closer to him.

I chuckle and relax into his chest, sighing as we look out onto the calm water, "it seems like Cressida has demanded to see me more, which I am certainly not upset with. Eloise is not telling us the truth of her daily trips out of the Bridgerton house, and Colin is working on finding his way in the world."

"Oh really? Did dear Colin say how he was planning to- oh my..."

His sentence is cut off by a rather loud splash, which causes us both to let go of each other and rush over to the source of the noise.

"Whatever has happened?" I ask, looking over at Lady Bridgerton.

She shakes her head as she glances over at me, "I have no idea, Your Grace..."

Beside me, Frederick raises a brow and glances over at me in amusement, "is that-?"

"Are you hurt?" Edwina calls out from the dock.

"Not at all!" Mr Dorset replies, laughing as he wipes the water from his face. "The water is a rather welcome refreshment, is it not, Bridgerton?"

Anthony throws his water-soaked coat onto the dock as he looks down at his just-as-soaked shirt in irritation. After a few more seconds, he pulls himself out of the lake and attempts to wring out some of the excess water, offering many of the young debutantes (and even a few mamas) a chance to get an eyeful of the season's most eligible bachelor.

"I do think that Anthony has brought up a rather large portion of the lake with him," I note, grinning over at Frederick, "is that a fish I see, flopping about in his hair?"

"I cannot take you anywhere, can I?" Frederick chuckled, pulling me closer to him and wrapping an arm around me. "Come along, we have to go and meet with your mama and papa. I don't think that they would enjoy us being late... no matter how good- or entertaining, the reasoning is."

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Duty. More than laws or faith, I have often thought it the bond that holds our fragile society together.

Duty to rank and title. Fidelity to one's family name. It demands both utter obedience and total sacrifice.

But what happens when such duty is in conflict with the heart's true desire?

Why, then, there is the potential for a considerable scandal, indeed. The only question is, will the parties in question heed my warning? Or is it already too late to turn back to duty and away from desire?

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guys... there are only six chapters left until we reach the end of season two! after that we will just have to wait for season three to come out! i personally can't wait for it to be released, what about you guys?

i'm trying to space out the release so there's less of a gap between the end of this season and the release of the next... but we'll see how successful that plan is 😅.

on that note, i'm also trying to combine chapters together so that we can fit all eight seasons in one book when they're (hopefully) all released🤞! so that's one reason why most of the chapters have been getting longer and longer (and there's more time between uploads) as they go on.