emeralds and diamonds ♔ bridgerton

Part 2

music was playing, people were spinning around, and the candlelight was impeccable. "lady howard, a pleasure to see you made it." danbury walked in front of me.

i smiled, "you know i could never miss one of your parties." lady danbury visited france every summer, she stayed on the estate next to mine. my mother also knew her from when danbury spent some time at french court.

"look at you, you look more and more like your parents every time i see you." she set her hand right under my jaw.

we linked arms, heading farther into the party leaving anne alone. "so what kind of husband are you looking for?"

i laughed, "that's not the only reason i'm here danbury."

"what? you want to learn all of whistledown's newest scandals."

i looked down at her confused. who was lady whistledown and why was she in scandals so often? "you'll learn all about her." i may have said that last part out loud.

"well, i want a gentleman, who was a good face, great family, some one who will stay loyal to me at least through the engagement," growing up in france mainly every husband had a mistress that wasn't his wife. my mother got lucky because my father fell in love with her not long after they got married, "and smart of course." i finished off my list. of course, not every box had to be checked off.

"there's the duke of antwon, lord featherington, the bridgerton boys-" i cut her off after that, "the bridgerton boys? like colin bridgerton?" i met colin back on his europe trip, which i was sure he was still on because his list of destinations was long.

we both stopped, "you know the bridgertons? please don't tell me you have some sort of secret relationship with one of the boys." she whispered the last part so nobody would hear and then gossip.

"just colin, i met him when he stopped by france."

we started walking again when a tall guy walked up to us. his hair was golden, but had some dark strands in it. "lady danbury," he gave a slight head nod and then turned to me, "and you might be?"

"lady howard, lady victoria howard... of france." i set my hand out and he kissed it as i made a small dip down.

"this is viscount hereford," danbury leaned against her walking stick.

"a pleasure." i smiled letting go of danbury arm.

"may i take a spot on your dance card?" he asked and i raised my wrist.

"you'd be the first." see, i was 15 minutes into a party and already making my way through the marriage market.

the quadrille was the dance. lots of moving around the room which meant i would need a drink after this and my toes would be cramping for the next week after how many times my toes were stepped on. a dance like that would not be accepted in french court.

"i'm going to grab a refreshment." i said after the dance had finished.

"i can come with, if you please." he suggested. i really could not take anymore conversation with him.

"no, i wouldn't want to intrude on your chance to dance with the other ladies." i walked away, trying to keep a straight face so the mama's couldn't gossip about me being disrespectful.

i headed up the stairs to the drinks table. the stairs were of course, crowded. but one gentleman i passed looked a lot like colin, but not enough to be him. he had the same chocolate colored hair, with matching eyes. we made eye contact for just a few seconds but i looked onwards.

i looked down at the drink table, waiting for my drink to be poured. "well if it isn't lady howard!" i heard from behind me, a familiar voice.

"colin bridgerton!" i turned around "i heard you were here but didn't see you anywhere." and there he was, standing right in front of me.

i stepped out of the way of the beverage table. "you should've told me you were coming to london, i would've invited you to aubrey hall."

"i only found out a few weeks ago, i would've sent a letter if i only knew where in the world you were." i smiled.

the same gentleman, the one from the stairs, began to pass by colin and i. colin stopped him though, "benedict, this is lady victoria." it really wasn't a proper introduction, more could've been said of me.

i turned to him, "sir." giving him a slight head nod in his direction.

"lady victoria here was the first person to ever show me white roses, over in france."

"oh really, so you must travel to france often." benedict seemed to be questioning me, but not by asking a question.

"no i live there, primarily french court." i slightly smiled.

colin chimed in to flatter me once more, "victoria is one of the best dancers i've ever seen."

"oh you flatter me too much colin."

benedict seemed to shoot colin some sort of glare, but he didn't seem to intercept in correctly. it seemed like he was asking to be left alone. "i'll leave you two alone to get more aquatinted." he stepped away.

"may we take a small walk outside? i could really use the fresh air." i had made sure to see that people were outside when danbury and i walked around.

"i would like that." he flashed the fakest smile i had ever seen.

we took a step outside, near all the windows so everyone could see us, "you know you don't have to do this if you don't please. i can walk myself you know."

"that would be improper of me." i tried to keep in a laugh, but it didn't last long.

"what's so funny?" he looked down at me as i covered my lips with my hand.

———————————————————————-

she was laughing, at something that wasn't a joke, the french were weird.

those were benedict's exact thoughts. "you- you just admitted to not wanting to be here with me in the most kind way possible."

"you seem to make everything sound like your romancing someone." benedict kept looking down at her. sure she was beautiful, he had seen her dancing too and it was graceful as a butterfly, and she had to have come form a good family to be able to afford to come to london from france during this time of year: but was she looking for a husband? benedict didn't exactly want a wife just yet, but it may be nice to have someone around.

"peut etre que je le suis." victoria commented in french, saying "maybe i am"

his french wasn't necessarily his best language, he was much better in greek or italian, but if he had to speak french then so be it. "eh bien tu es tout à fait le charmeur."

"you know french?" she seemed almost shocked, guessing that most didn't know it outside of france.

"and greek and italian and i dabble in german." it was a staple in the bridgerton family to know as many languages as needed.

"don't we have quite the scholar."

the pair went on, connecting well. everything seemed to be going great until victoria's lady's maid came rushing out in front of them.

————————————————————————

anne rushed in front of benedict and i. "victoria, it's urgent that we get back to our lodgings as soon as possible."

"oh," i wondered what could be so important that could drag me away from this party so early. it had to have been at least an hour. "i'm so sorry m' lord."

"benedict, please call me benedict."

"benedict." i repeated.