CALISTA / Bridgerton

SEVEN

CHAPTER SEVEN - HUSH
(06/03/2021)
Edited: 24/08/2022

She folded her arms together in an attempt to keep herself calm, it was a difficult challenge but she succeeded, almost.

"You have got to be joking me." She scoffed at Anthony's attempt to marry Daphne off with Lord Berbrooke, a slimy and disgraceful gentleman who apparently was very eligible in Society to court Daphne. Anthony had frightened suitors away with his cold demeanour and there was only one left- that horrible man.

"Calista. Not now." He urged his sister to be quiet as he stood beside her mother who was secretly praying that other suitors would come and save her daughter.

"I'm doing this for you, Daphne. He is weathly, he has no debts, doesn't gamble, he's never been seen at a brothel. You would be comfortable." He pleading with Daphne.

"Have you lost your fucking mind?" Calista raised her voice.

"More suitors will come Anthony, we must keep our minds open." Their mother disagreed. Even Violet hated the sight of Lord Berbrooke. There was something off about him, he didn't look like a respectable man, people often referred to him as a simple-minded man due to his lack of feelings for people.

"How is Lord Ramsey?" Colin came in to the drawing room and changed the conversation, everyone at the ball had witnessed the two dancing, just one dance. Their chemistry was apparent in the air at the Ball. Arthur once lost without his lover.

"I did not care to ask. I only danced with him once, you already know that." She informed her twin, lying through her teeth, as he stood beside her.

"Won't you just marry him and get it over with." Colin rolled his eyes. Her mother and brothers knew of their past relationship, no matter how frowned upon it was, she was still loved and respected within the family, not completely. It was almost as if Calista had gotten away with being a light skirt, however, if anyone else found out -

She would tarnish alone with nobody but herself to blame.

"I find Lord Ramsey pleasing, don't you?" Daphne fawned over the young Lord, like everyone else with his charming looks and his wealth. Calista frowned at her sister's statement.

"No, and neither should you. If our dear brother wasn't so protective over you, this house would be full of gifts and flowers." Calista snapped, her head whipped around to stare her brother down. There was no fear to be seen in his eyes and he scoffed at his young sister, she would not scare him.

"You will let Daphne have the choice. Stop babying her." She demanded, almost stomping her foot to make her point very clear amongst the faces in the room.

"What happened to you when I wasn't strict with you?" He asked, knowing she would not answer. Secrets were never meant to be shared, she had rehearsed that sentence in her head daily. Her heart was not meant to be open, at all but it would have to be in order to have some sort of comfortable life.

She had let a man touch her, being unmarried which was almost completely dishonourable within society and surely would be damned if anyone found out.

"Enough with the secrets." Daphne demanded.

The younger sister was truly tired of the constant secrets that was Calista's past. The snide digs that her sister didn't even know the meaning of, the rolling eyes of her brother when Lord Ramsey would be brought up in conversation or the way the brothers treated her as though she would not break, she was not gentle or delicate as Daphne once had thought.

"When you are older, you shall understand." Calista sighed, kissing her sisters forehead in a soothing way.

"Why aren't you all bothered about Calista's future? You are all over mines like a bloody rash." Daphne stormed out, leaving her mother and siblings.

"Well that's a lie, mama's trying to get me to marry Lord Ramsey all the bloody time." Calista mumbled as she followed suit in search for her sister. She located her sister out in the swing that had been made by their father many years ago for his daughters to have fun and play together in peace. She saw tears flood down Daphne's face, she was angry and confused at everyone wanting the very best.

"Daph, come on. Come inside, I'll make you warm milk."

"I don't understand it all, it's very confusing." Her sister called out to her. Calista rushed to her side and kneeled down in front of her.

"Let me tell you a secret but it should never leave your mouth, so you hear me? Or we shall both be damned for eternity." Daphne nodded a few times as her sister brought her mouth up to Daphne's ear and solemnly whispered the words that should never be repeated to anyone out with her family.

Her eyes widened.

Her sister was more woman than she ever thought she was.