wildest dreams | BRIDGERTON

𝟎𝟔 | 𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐨𝐧

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐈𝐗

The doors were pulled open simultaneously to reveal Adeline and her brother. The whole room filled with gasps of shock and chatter of gossip. By this time tomorrow Adeline Carrington would have made every newspapers headline, including Lady Whistledown. She took a deep steady breath, wanting to reach back and grip onto her brother, to tell him she had changed her mind. But her feet did otherwise. She took slow but graceful steps towards where the Queen lounged on her throne. The room was fairly big, and yet there still seemed to be a crowd. Luckily it was a tough crowd as they were all families from well backgrounds. Adeline faced forward the entire time until she came to a stop in front of her Majesty. She bowed her head down, her knees bending into a flawless curtsy. She could hear people still talking in the background however she was pretty sure her rapidly beating heart was heard above all. She was pretty sure it would fall right from her chest and onto the floor if this wouldn't be over soon. Her hair fell in it's natural tight curls, framing her beautifully tanned face. Adeline felt a silk gloved hand lift her chin up ever so slightly. Her eyes nearly went wide as the Queen smiled down at her. Well... it wasn't exactly a smile. It only last for a split second.
"Perfection Lady Carrington." A gorgeous smile broke out onto her face as her eyes shone. The Queen's smile grew a little at the sparkle in her eye. It was no surprise that Adeline Carrington had received a compliment from the Queen. Despite how everyone judged her for how she behaved and the activities she participated in her beauty was compared to none, as was her grace and elegance. The Queen pressed a kiss to her forehead before making her way back to her throne. Adeline took a few steps back towards her brother, he bowed his head while she curtsied once again before they both turned to make their way out of the room. Upon walking out Adeline glanced around the room. She noticed a few girls sending glares her way. One blonde girl in particular.

She caught Eloise Bridgerton's eye - one of her closest friends - and sent her a warm smile.

Eloise had always looked up to Adeline - wanting to be like her in ways none of the other girls of the ton did. She sometimes wished she had grown up with a grandfather like Adeline had - someone who taught her everything about engineering and mechanics. Adeline moved her eyes across to the eldest Bridgerton, Anthony. She grinned at him as her eyes sparkled once again. He seemed to be lost in his own world but then sent her a bow and smile indicating he had noticed her and wasn't ignoring her. Anthony Bridgerton was not yet married. And he seemed to have very many suitors of girls lined up and yet even though he was the oldest out of the trio of brothers, he had not yet settled down. Perhaps he too was like Adeline and wished for something more in life? But then again, he was a man, and men could do anything they wished.

Her eyes moved back in front as they exited the room, the large doors shutting behind them once again. A large sigh of relief left her lips before she let out an airy chuckle.

"You did it," Sebastian smiled down at her, a look of pride in his eyes.
"Of course I did." She waved him off playfully. "Now we must wait to see what Lady Whistledown is to publish tomorrow morning."

Fashionable London was positively addicted to Lady Whistledown's Society Papers. The mysterious newspaper had arrived on the doorstep of every member of the ton three months earlier. For two weeks it was delivered unbidden every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. And then, on the third Monday, butlers across London waited in vain for the pack of paperboys who normally delivered Whistledown, only to discover that instead of free delivery, they were selling the gossip sheet for the outrageous price of five pennies a paper.

"Now - I do believe myself and grandfather were going to work on a new grandfather clock this afternoon."

⚜️

"Now Adeline dear hand me-" before he could finish she had handed her grandfather the tool he required.

"Oh-" he took it with a smile before going back to his work as she fixed the small gears together. "Thank you. And could you pass me-" she handed him the screwdriver without tearing her eyes away from her own work, however a small smirk grew on her lips.
"Just like your mother - just like your mother." He muttered happily.

"Is there anything that isn't similar between myself and mother?" Adeline eventually asked after a gap of silence.

"Pardon?"

"I mean - every single day I must hear how much I look like mother and how similar I am to her. Sometimes I wish that I had a trait of my own. Is that stupid of me?" She put what she was doing down, turning to face the old man.
"Well, I suppose you can't sing like your mother could." The two laughed at the comment.

"Well I suppose you are right there." She giggled.
"Your mother was never able to play the violin or piano such as yourself I admit. You picked your first instrument up when you were six. And then took it seriously when you turned eight and now I have never met someone who can play more magnificent." He told her, making her heart warm.
"I remember trying to teach mother when I was eleven. She certainly was quite terrible." Adeline chuckled softly, her face adorning a look of happiness as she looked back upon the fond memory.
"In the recent years you've learn how to bake." Her grandfather carried on. "There's much to you Adeline that you didn't inherit from your mother. You can cook and play instruments because you've worked hard for it. You work hard to reach impressive goals."

"Thank you." She reached forward to pull him in for a hug.
"Careful now, don't want to go breaking an old man's bones." She laughed loudly, pulling away. Her smile then fell as she thought about the next few months.

"I know that look - that's your anxious look." He pointed out.

"I'm kind of regretting agreeing to wed for Sebastian's sake. What if I don't find someone who will respect my wishes to carry on with my studies? I don't want to be like the other ladies in the ton. I do not wish to look pretty all day and spend all my life raising children or entertaining dinner parties." She explained, sitting down on a wooden stool close to her.

"Well... I'm sure Sebastian won't push your into a marriage you so badly disagree with." Grandfather offered her some comfort.
"You do not know how desperate he is for me to marry. He intends to use my wedding as a publicity stunt for the Carrington name." Adeline rolled her eyes.
"And yet you agreed despite knowing this - because you love and care for your family. You're a smart girl Adeline, don't let any man belittle you."

"You always have a way with words grandfather." Adeline complimented him kindly, showing her admiration towards him.
"You are too kind my dear - but I can tell you that both yourself and your mother definitely got that from me." Both of them chuckled before carrying on with their work.