,wallflower' • BRIDGERTON

chapter 5

【5】

I stood in my room, standing in front of my bed which laid two dresses upon it. One was an all royal blue dress that had silver embroidered in it and it had puffed sleeves. The other dress that laid on the bed was red and white, it had gold trimmings and puffed sleeves.

I had to choose between the two, it was the evening time and I had to attend another ball.

I sighed rubbing my temples. I looked over towards my open door. "Benedict!" I shouted, beginning to fuss with the plain white dress I had on. A silence rolled by and I heard footsteps coming into my bedroom. "Yes?" He said. I stepped back and looked at the dresses at a farther angle.

"I don't know which dress to wear. It's either I take a step or I go a mile." I said before I let a puff of air leave my mouth. I crossed my arms and watched Benedict enter my field of vision. He walked up to my bed and examined the dresses with a tilt of his head.

He hummed before grabbing the red dress and holding it in front of me.

"There you are." He said. I grimaced. "Don't you think the red is a bit... much?" I said, tilting my head. Benedict grins.

"I think that is the entire point. Don't you want to stand out amongst the rest? You are the Queen's ruby." He said, I quickly shook my head. "No, I mustn't. I shouldn't make a fool of myself." I said, about to grab the blue dress before Benedict grabs the dress and backs away from me.

"You asked for my opinion and I have provided it for you. Now, wear the dress." He said, taking the blue dress and leaving my bed chambers. I sighed before looking at the red dress I now had to wear. Well, I guess it wouldn't be so bad.

✑

We rode a carriage all the way to a well kept building, the outside of the house was covered in lanterns and red roses. Colin was on my arm as, Benedict, Anthony, Mrs. Bridgerton and Daphne walked into the spacious dimly lit ballroom.

As soon as we were inside the Duke was spotted approaching Daphne, asking to dance. They immediately left us and everyone in the ballroom looked at me.

"You look a bit like royalty." Colin said, looking at the ruby crown on my head. I scoffed before I saw Lord Davenport approaching me with a smile. He held out a hand. "Miss Buckingham, will you allow me the pleasure of a dance?" He said.

I softly smiled before nodding my head. I let go of Colin and grabbed Lord Davenport's hand. He led me over to the dance floor which only had so many people on it.

"Your dress." He said before he twirled me around and my back was up against his chest. "It's red."

I nodded my head. "I love your observations, Lord Davenport." I said in a snarky but jester fashion. He hummed before twirling me around. "I always thought you looked better in other colors... like blue." He commented which made my eyebrows furrow.

"Well, I thought you would have liked the gown." I said, as we stood in front of one another. We rose one hand before each other—hovering it above one another's. We walked around one another in a circle. "It's not that I don't like it, it's just I would prefer a different kind of color on you. Red represents lust... desire." He says. What he had said made my face paint with a sourness.