My Maggie,

VII

The Nighthower girls sat in the drawing, Ophelia sat by the piano, her fingers dancing over the keys as the sunlight beamed in. Young Angelic glided her pencil along her sketch pad as the sketched the scene surrounding them. Gilbert had left a little earlier to see if he could continue his apprenticeship, though he promised he would return before the courting hours were over, claiming he would never miss this, quote 'shit show'. He had a point, the last suitor to grace the Nighthowers drawing room was Lord Burbrook, and after Ophelia had declined his proposal, he had the audacity to kneel before Margret, to which she simply replied with a scoff before Tobias escorted him out. 

Margret sat beside her eldest brother staring at the oak grandfather clock that stood in the far side of the room. The hands ticking one, by one. 

"How much longer must we endure this?" she questioned to her brother. 

"However much time we have left, I assure you Mags I wish it were less." 

The pair sat side by side, Tobias looking over his farther papers, studying them, analysing. Margret snapped her gaze to the copy of Jane Eyre beside her. As her fingertips opened the book to her place, they door jarred open once again, revealing Benedict Bridgerton, a bouquet of roses in his hand as his gaze snapped to the eldest daughter who had stood from the piano, silence consumed them. 

Benedict broke his intense gaze and looked toward the rest of the family. 

"Lady Nighthower, Tobias," he addressed with a nod of his head. 

"Benedict how lovely it is to see you my boy," Elizabeth responded before shifting her gaze to his right hand. "My what a lovely bouquet you have there."

"Why thank you Lady Nighthower."

"Please call me Eliza," she insisted.

He simply offered a curt nod before walking over to Ophelia. 

"Good day Ophelia." His hands nervously fidgeting, but Margret saw the happiness that consumed her sisters face when the Bridgerton boy entered. 

"Good day Benedict." She whispered in return, that normal gentle smile replaced with a wide toothy grin. 

The pair sat on the piano stool whispering a low conversation to one another. 

All Nighthowers averted their gaze to offer some form of privacy. All except the youngest, who simply turned her sketch pad to a fresh page and began to draw the outlines of the pair. 

"They would be quite the match." Murmered Tobias to his sister. 

"They would be quite sweet." 

The door once again opened revealing a suitor, Margret simply returned to her book, assuming it was for her sister, as most of the gentleman have been but looked up when a short stab from her brothers elbow broke her focus. Glancing up her eyes caught sight of William Butler, and his gaze was set on Margret. 

Meanwhile over at the Bridgerton manor, not one suitor had lined themselves up for Daphne, instead the only suitor had called was Lord Burbrook and his rat-like features. Colin sat beside his sister Eloise both sharing nervous glances at the sister, who was blankly staring at the door, wishing and hoping for anyone suitable. 

"This is just sad."

"Hush Eloise," Hyacinth interjected, "however true it may be keep it to yourself."

Colin watched his sibling with a solemn expression. He stood from the seat that her perched and made his way toward the door, despite the calls of his name from his family he kept walking, out of the door and across the square, all the way to the Featherington manor. 

The classic black door that he could see his reflection in. The door flung open revealing a surprised looking Matilda Featherington. He never really knew Matilda, she was always away when he had called to speak too Penelope if he needed her advice, always with a friend of hers. However when they did interact both found it to be polite interaction and easy conversation. 

"Colin," Matilda said, surprise in tone, "please come in." She stepped back allowing Colin to enter their entrance hall and make his way to the common room. As he entered he was greeted with thousands of scattered flowers and chocolates and about twelve men all surrounding the Featherington guest, Miss Marina Thompson.  Colin wouldn't deny, the girl is beautiful however he felt she was placid and always seemed distracted and disinterested, atleast that was what he had gathered when they were talking at the ball last night, before he decided he needed fresh air and saw the girl he had seen at the Presentation. And once again his mind drifted to the beautiful girl in the green ball gown. How she looked when she concentrated, how her hair blew in the wind, and the small simple smile that she held when they locked eyes. 

He awkwardly shuffled into the room, over to wear Penelope sat with a bored expression. Her eyes perked up as she was the Bridgerton boy approaching, "Colin" the girl exclaimed.

"Good day Penelope," he said standing in front of her. Portia watched with utter hope and joy at the interaction. "I came to ask you a question?" 

Penelope heart was thumping from beneath her yellow frock, "Of course Colin." 

"Will you-"

"Yes!" 

"-occupy Daphne for a day"

A wave of disappointment flowed through the youngest Featherington and her mother. 

"Daphne?"

"It appears my brother has scared them all off, and I worry for her, she doesn't have many friends and needs a distraction? Perhaps a promenade?" 

She swallowed a gulp before nodding, "of course ill come over when we stop welcoming suitors Colin." 

"Thank you Penelope, I owe you one, perhaps at the next you could save me a dance?"

That brought the butterflies fluttering back to Penelope stomach.

"Of course Colin." 

He offered her a classic smile before nodding at the rest of the Featherington ladies and leaving the room, Matilda mirroring his shadow. 

As they entered the corridor, Matilda ignored the gentle calls of her mother and reached over to grab her hat and coat. 

"Where are you going Miss Matilda? Don't you have suitors to occupy?" 

"Please," she scoffed, "I have seen everyone I wish to see, plus everyone in that room is swooning over Marina. No I am meeting my friend for a promenade."

"Going to gossip of all the suitors you bashed away?" 

"Please," she responded, "Margret and I have much more pressing issues to discuss then men."

"Margret Nighthower?" he questioned, intriguing intensifying in his tone.

She smirked at his sudden intriguing whilst opening the door, Colin following closely behind. 

"Maybe," she playfully toned, "why do you ask?" 

He regained his posture and began his journey across the square to his home. 

"Curiosity," he replied, "good day Matilda." 

"Good day Colin."