,wallflower' • BRIDGERTON

chapter 13

【13】

We arrived at Queen's luncheon and it was absolutely gorgeous. There were pretty bonsai trees all over the fields and there were white tents pinned up everywhere and there were servers all around us, as well as people of the Ton.

Mrs. Bridgerton looked with an awe. "Oh is this not lovely? All of us together again." She said.

"Lovely, indeed. We should tempt scandal more often." Colin said sarcastically. I cleared my throat before watching people approach Daphne and now gracefully. I straightened my long sleeve red dress, given it will be winter soon the winds were chillier now. The winds blew through my hair that was half up and half down.

I suddenly saw women glancing their eyes over at the Vicount Bridgerton as well as Benedict. I smiled cheekily before looking over at Benedict who stood right in front of me. I leaned forward right next to his ear.

"The ladies of the ton have taking a liking to you, dear Benedict. I suppose you should satisfy Mrs. Bridgerton and marry." I whispered. "You first." He said, looking back at me with a cheeky grin. I rolled my eyes before he extended out his arm for me to take.

I wrapped my arm with his and we left the rest of the Bridgerton's to fend for ourselves. We suddenly saw the artist we got well acquainted with, and his wife. Well. We walked up to them and they greeted us with warm smiles.

"Ms. Buckingham, Bridgerton, long time no see. We have missed you." He said. I smiled. "We have been incredibly busy, right Benedict?" I said. He nodded his head. "Incredibly." He said. We were busy doing our... own things.

"We've missed you so. You two must join me for another drawing lesson. As I said, improvement is all a matter of practice." The man said to us before looking over at his wife. "At least, that is the excuse he gives for coming home with paint in all kinds of peculiar places." She says, eyeing him. She had to have known of his endeavors if she slept with Benedict.

Benedict giggles and I placed a hand over my mouth, nearly laughing. I suddenly looked up to see Miss Cowper laughing with a man not too far from me. Benedict looked with a distasteful expression, one I had never seen.

"Ah! Were you able to meet my friend Wetherby at my party? Come, I shall introduce you." The artiste before us said. Benedict grabbed my hand and I looked over at him with confusion. "No, thank you!" He said with a strained smile as he pulled me away from them both.

"I see my mother requires our presence. Good day!" He said as we left them. He puffed out air, I looked at him with concern. "Are you unwell?" I said. He shook his head. "No, I am quite alright. Just simply forgot Miss Cowper existed." He said.

I chuckled softly before wrapping my arm around his.

I suddenly saw the Queen approaching us both, we parted immediately and bowed. "Your Majesty." We both said. She smiled, her grin as sweet as gooseberry pie. "My ruby. Staying as quiet as a church mouse, I hear." She said.

I nodded my head. "Indeed, but my quietness will be torn asunder now that my father is in town, he means me to be married," I said. She hummed, raising an eyebrow. "Well, we do not listen to a man's words. Was he married or has he ever been married? If he has no experience in the matter... then he has no say." She said.

Her words made a warm feeling of confidence spread through my veins. I smiled warmly. I suddenly heard people whispering and we looked around to see what the ruckus was all about. We suddenly see Lady Featherington talking with Mrs. Bridgerton who was clearly ignoring her advances.

"What a tainted family. Lady Featherington has done nothing but disappoint me." The Queen said before I suddenly saw Mrs. Bridgerton walking away from the woman. The Queen's guard approached her, asking her to leave.