CALISTA / Bridgerton

NINE

CHAPTER NINE - AWKWARD DINNERS WITH A DUKE
Edited 28/08/2022

She sighed in content as she reached the Bridgerton House early in the morning, she was tired and wanted to rest. She snuck into the house, causing not a stir in sight as she gently took her shoes off, tiptoeing her way up the grand staircase. When she reached her room, she was surprised to see her sister awake, sitting up on their shared bed waiting for her to come home.

"Daphne, you frightened me." She gasped as the lowly lit candle created a shadow on her sisters face.  Daphne furrowed her brows, constantly confused about her eldest sister. Calista was a woman without a constant mood, she felt as though her sister was almost a hypocrite, acting the part in society but doing what she wanted in the evening. Daphne didn't like it, she had decided to keep her sister's secret but how long could she go on without asking the questions she needed to know.

"You were with him again, weren't you?" Daphne sneered slightly at the thought of her sister and that man, the man who had loved her sister for years.

"What would you like me to say, sister?" Calista sighed, taking her coat off and placing it lightly over the velvet chair sitting in the corner. She heard her sister's movement leaving the bed and slowly approaching her. Daphne stood in front of her sister, blocking her view of everything in sight. Suddenly, she hugged Calista and this shocked her because she could tell Daphne was struggling to come to terms with what she had told her the other night.

"I adore you, Calista. Unfortunately, I'm confused. Please shed some light, it's driving me mad. You won't marry a man and yet you give yourself freely to him." Daphne whispered, her sister stroked her hair that was wavy with the constant up-do. That night Calista explained to the best of her ability, answering most of Daphne's questions, not wanting to take her innocent mind away from her.

"If I hadn't been forced to leave London, I would have married Arthur in a heartbeat but he is my right person at the wrong time. The timing will never be right for us and I have accepted that. Arthur will realise this soon enough, he wasn't isolated for years like me."

She had tried her best to explain the ways of a man and woman but failed miserably, she wanted her sister to stay innocent forever.

Their mother had invited the Duke of Hastings to dine with them the following evening, a surprise that shocked both Anthony and Daphne, it was almost unorthodox for him to be invited since Calista had no intention of marrying herself off just for the sake of marrying. They were rushing all afternoon when the news had reached him that the Duke would be in their presence.

"Haven't you heard what we're talking about. For all we know, Whistledown may be some interloper living in Bloomsbury, of all places." Eloise exclaimed at the dinner table in the evening. The adults and children all dined at the same table as usual, creating a playful atmosphere.

Calista had been quickly squished into the seat next to the Duke of Hastings by her older brother, in fear that Daphne and him would become too close. She enjoyed the sight of the Duke, finally realising that he was the humoured man caused by her hunger at Lady Danbury's ball a few evenings ago.

"What should be so terrible about Bloomsbury?That people there actually work for a living?" Benedict enquired.

"She does seem to be someone with access." Daphne said, cutting into her steak.

"Who knows if Whistledown is even a she?" Colin joined in the conversation, sipping his red wine in laughter along beside his brothers stirring conversation which Calista or Eloise would surely argue differently.

The Duke of Hastings was amazingly amused at their family conversations, he was never one to experience love like what he saw with the Bridgerton's, it was wholesome to witness.

Calista scoffed at her twin, Colin's words.

"Because she is simply too good
to be anyone but a man?" She cried out in disbelief and faux shock.

"Well, I think it rather obvious that the writer is Lady Danbury."

"Lady Danbury enjoys sharing her insults with society directly. She would never bother herself
writing them all down." Calista laughed.

"Could it be Lady Featherington?" Colin asked.

"No!" Everyone at the table burst out into laughter, Lady Whistledown never has a good word to say about the Featherington's.

"Imagine the absolute scandal." Calista nudged Daphne who was seated beside her and her sister smiled at the thought.

"You must forgive this rather unruly debate, Your Grace." Violet turned to the Duke of Hastings, sparking up conversation with the man beside Calista who raised her eyebrow at her mother. She was surely up to something. She carried on as if she was deep in thought, eating- like usual.

"Nonsense. I find it entertaining. All of you at one table, even the children."

"Well, I realize it may be unfashionable,
but we like each other. Most of the time. You should join us more often, Your Grace. Perhaps when we travel to our country seat. You would be most welcome." Violet smiled at the young Duke, of course it was her plan to set Daphne up with him, it always was about securing the girls- mostly Daphne.

"We find ourselves seated
beside each other, Miss Bridgerton." The Duke's voice brought her out of her day dream, turning her head to bore into his eyes once more, it was a delight to say the least.

"I'd like to think you're happy about that." She smirked slightly, remembering how he had first approached her and complemented her immediately. She frowned, remembering that Arthur had taken her away from the budding conversation with the Duke, she didn't even know his name!

"Perhaps, Miss Bridgerton you are correct."

"Why has my mother invited you to dinner? I assume she is trying to play matchmaker regarding my sister. I am aware of your friendship with my eldest brother. If that were not enough, I am also aware of the things a certain writer has recently written of you. You are a rake - through and through." She rhymed off, lowering her voice so that only he could her hear warning tone. She had heard stories about the Duke, he was very sexually experienced from town gossip. She couldn't let Daphne court a man such as himself, no matter the title. Yes, Calista Bridgerton was a hypocrite but a very low-key, good one.

He was taken aback with her confidence, yet again. He had never met a woman with so much radiance. She could fuel the sun, she could sail the high seas, she was incredible even when she was slandering him to his face.

"Dually n-noted, Miss Bridgerton." He said with no facial expression, attempting to seem calm and collected near the woman who had ignited a fire within him, unknowingly.

"I'm glad we are on the same page, Your Grace."

"Are you attending The Vauxhall Ball?" He inquired, drawing attention from a few others of his sudden interest in the eldest daughter. He wondered if he could see her there, the excitement of her fashion was indeed an event within itself. He wouldn't say that he enjoyed her company, she had a personality which was the true Diamond of this season.

"I may, I may not." She lightly answered. He lightly smiled at her flamboyant nature, she was a compl maze, she wasn't like any other woman he had met- she wasn't needy nor desperate.

"If I do attend, I have no doubt that you shall notice me first, Your Grace."