"You can't scare away every man who shows up at my door!"
"I can damn well try." He kept his tone quiet as he stepped closer to her. "You have no idea of the grip you have on me Hanford and I'll be damned if you fall in love with someone who isn't m...
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To say Jasper was quickly growing tired of making appearances at grand events with his sister was an understatement. He adored the gleam of delight in her eyes every time but he hated the onlookers. Not the stares of the men ogling his sister, no, he despised the ones from the men looking at him. He knew of his reputable ways, the whispers of his love for lightskirts. He heard the rumors, dealt with the stares, handled the cheeky flirts, and he'd had enough. So when he opted not to attend another ball on his sister's arm, only one member of his family wasn't surprised. The only person to know his secret was the one who hadn't made a snide remark about him for not chaperoning her. Jedidiah sneered unhappily at his son, now being forced to court her when he had initially planned not to attend either.
"Will you both stop with the theatrics?" Aurora rolled her eyes. Jedidiah and Jasper were locked in a heated staring battle, neither of them backing down. "You forget I could always accompany Daphne and Violet." Her suggestion captured their attention, both men blinking rapidly in hopes of refreshing their eyes. "Or, I could always attend alone?" She doubted they'd ever agree to it but she didn't see the harm in going alone.
"Bailey!" Jedidiah shouted in response to her suggestions. The short stoutly man barged into the office, his arms firmly by his side as he waited to be directed. "Call upon a Bridgerton. Inform them Aurora needs accompaniment for this evening." Aurora discreetly crossed her fingers as she hoped to see the one brother she pined for. She cheerfully kissed her father's cheek before rushing after Bailey, her blonde curls bouncing around her shoulders and her pink gown flitting around her legs. Her handmaiden Stella followed her out to the gravel entryway where the family's carriage was parked, fussing to herself as the blonde risked wrinkling her gown. Edmund assisted Stella in helping the blonde into the carriage, sharing a secret smile after their hands accidentally brushed.
Seated as comfortably as she was able, Aurora waited anxiously for her companion. Her stomach lurched as she saw a male approaching the carriage, her lips twitching downwards as she caught sight of the flat hair. With his face blank, Anthony Bridgerton seated himself across from the Hanford girl. He waited for the carriage to pull away from her home before meeting her eye.
"You don't need to look so disappointed." He joked, though his face remained impassive. "I was the last to be ready so here I am."
"Thank you for being here Anthony." She was grateful he had stepped in. "Father and Jasper opted out of attending this ball with me."
"I wish I was so lucky as to have that option." He retorted.
She gave him a small smile. "Eloise mentioned that your Mother is trying to secure each of you a bride."
"So she keeps trying." The last thing Anthony wanted was a wife of his own but his Mother was vying hard to find him one. "Luckily for the rest of us, she's caught up with Colin's wooed ways and Daphne's prospects."
