My Maggie,

XIII

"MARGRET!" Angelica yelled from the bottom of the staircase, her yell echoing through the entrance of the house. "Coming." Margret yelled back from her bedroom. She let her eyes roam over herself in the mirror once more. The Mauve gown curved and cinched in the waist in a modest and elegant cut and her hair framing her face and flowing down the back of the gown. With a deep sigh she turned and walked out of her bedroom and down the stairs to her family. Ophelia was looking at the hallway mirror frantically trying to smooth out the imaginary crinkles in her dress. 

"You look lovely darling," Elizabeth tried to soothe her eldest daughter.

"Is it too yellow?"

"Darling its lovely," Elizabeth reassured before noticing the final arrival of the family, "ah there you are Margret, you look lovely darling."

"You do sister, now lets go before were late, I have some business to discuss with Anthony."

Margret offered a sarcastic gasp, "really? business? how unlike you Tobias." 

A amused grin slipped onto Tobias face. "Shut up and lets go, before we have to admit Ophelia." He stated opening the front door and disappearing into Grovernors square. 

The sound of heels colliding with the cobblestone beauty rang through the silent square, shadows pooling around the Nighthowers from the streetlamp above, until they finally came to halt at the forest green door of the Bridgerton residence. Tobias gripped around the knocker and let his hand fall three times against the wooden door. 

Next to Tobias stood an anxious looking Ophelia who despite the nerves graced a large warm smile as the door swung open. Behind them stood Angelica and Elizabeth until finally shoved at the back was Margret and Gilbert each wearing a similar bored expression. 

"Fifty quid says Ophelia will asskiss Violet."

"I aint taken that bet Gil, trust me Ophelias nose will be so far up her ass if we pull it out in two weeks we will have a diamond brother." 

To that Gilbert let out a snort as the green door sun open. Though nether two siblings seemed to notice. 

"Ah Benedict," Tobias greeted, "lovely to see you."

"You too Tobias," Benedict responded with a nod, "you look beautiful this evening Ophelia, obviously not as beautiful as your mother, Miss Nighthower that gown looks lovely."

"Why thank you Benedict, always the gentleman." 

He offered a smile before stepping back silently welcoming the family in. 

They travelled down the corridor and into a well lite drawing room, fire roaring and the sounds of the piano echoing through. "Elizabeth darling." Gushed Violet Bridgerton upon her friends arrival. Daphnes fingers stopped playing the piano as she rushed over to Ophelia. Meanwhile Margret and Gilbert were stuck in the corridor waiting for passage to enter the room. 

Colin sat beside Anthony and Eloise wishing for the night to be over, he didn't want to spend the evening here, he wanted to go and plan his next adventure, go somewhere he'd never heard of, see things that he didn't know existed, instead he must sit through the pleasantries and duties set out during the season. Eventually everyone shifted out of the doorway allowing Gilbert and Margret to finally enter the room. Colins eyes drifted away from the bright flames infront of him and immediately latched onto the girl he seemed to always look at. The eyes he always seemed out. 

The second her foot entered the room she felt his gaze, Margret always felt different when he was looking at her, she's oblivious to stares normally, after all being a Nighthower often meant catching gazes, yet when he stares its like a million eyes are watching every move she makes, she can't breathe, she can't think, its as if she forgets everything. It all blurs. Her eyes melted into the pool of brown looking at her, a small simple smile graced her lips. Perhaps this night won't be so bad after all. 

Margret felt an elbow nudge her side snapping her eyes away from the mysterious boy who she now knew to be a Bridgerton and to her brother who just nodded his head to a sofa before walking toward. She followed after her brother still feeling those eyes tracking her every move. Don't look Margret, she kept telling herself, straining to resist taking a glance at the Bridgerton boy. She sat beside her brother staring at the flames. Zoning out the pleasantries being exchanged. 

"Oh and little Margret," Violet said suddenly appearing infront of Margret. Both Nighthower siblings stood from the sofa with a smile. "Might I say you have grown into fine young woman."

"Why thank you Lady Bridgerton," Margret said unsure of how to respond, "your house is lovely." 

A quite chuckle fell from Gilberts lips as he registered her awkwardness. 

"And Gilbert," Violet said diverting her attentions to the second son, "how's Mr Simms?"

"Lovely Ma'am he believes I will soon enough be ready to work in practice alongside him. He is a good man."

"Indeed he is." Agreed Bridgerton. "Well its been years since we all got together. I think it may have been Angelica christening."

"Probably cause I don't know any of these people." Angelica stated. Leaving the two youngest Bridgerton to laugh. After all only Elizabeth went to their christening as the rest of the Nighthowers got chicken pox.

"Well lets fix that shall we my dear." Violet stated, "Over there is Anthony my first born and the new viscount. The there's Benedict who your obviously equated with. Colin was next, the Daphne and Eloise, Francesca is over their by the window seat, then the youngest, Gregory and Hyacinth."  She listed them all so quickly it was impossible to determine which was which. 

"Ah." Was all Angelica could say before she awkwardly plodded off and out the room. 

"Where is she going?"

"Lavatory, she's been desperate since before we left." Margret responded. 

A puzzled look graced Lady Bridgerton's face, "She um, likes to go to lavortys of different places, she's its exciting for a change of scenery." Gilbert elaborated. 

"Right." Was all Violet responded with before going over to the gin trolley in the corner leaving the two Nighthower siblings to chuckle amongst themselves. 

Colin heard the noise and his attention was immediatly diverted from Tobias and Anthony and over to the brunette girl, her smile wide. She felt his gaze immediately, the goosebumps rose and her heartbeat rang faster. Their eyes drifted back to one another, a silent duel of who would break their stare first. Moment passed and not one of their gaze shifted in the slightest. Fixated on one another. As if time itself froze.  

"Dinner is ready Lady Bridgerton." A maid said from the doorway of the drawing room.

"Thank you Sophie." Violet responded with a smile to the girl, "shall we?"