emeralds and diamonds ♔ bridgerton

Part 4

"the queen has called upon you for tea, the bridgertons have invited you for a meal, countess cowper has invited you for a day in the square, you need to stop by the modiste, duke archibald has asked to be your escort to the royal races, and your mother needs you to sign those papers regarding the inheritance." anne just kept going on and on about my plans for my day.

i clipped my earrings in, "tell the queen i'll meet with her for tea after the races, i'll go to the bridgertons for dinner, i'll go to the square tomorrow then i will stop by the modiste, and yes i will have duke archibald be my escort to the races."

i stood up from my vanity and walked over to the door, "oh and-" anne's voice was cut off by a gasp which i didn't even realize came from me. there was a line of suitors going from inside the drawing room all the way outside.

i plastered a smile onto my face, "good morning." was being a diamond going to be this demanding?

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duke archibald reached his hand out to let me out of my carriage, "hello lady victoria." he was a handsome fellow. tall with hair as black as the deepest point in night. his eyes were blue, with little spots of green. his jawline was so sharp it could kill.

"hello duke archibald." i said with a smile. the best part about being with him at the royal races meant we could talk with other people. in the drawing room i was stuck talking with those boring gentlemen.

the carriage rolled away behind me, "i hope the weather last night didn't make you change your mind on staying her in london." last night there was a terrible storm. it made my night quite boring, i stayed in my room reading by the window. anne and i had a small dinner in my room.

"nothing could make me change my mind about traveling here, not even the rain making my nights so boring." from what i've learned is that men love it when you give them a situation they can change. they love it when they can change your entire day just with their presence.

"well if you ever get lonely during a storm, you know where you can find me." he grinned looking down at me as we walked through the grassy fields.

we made small talk, moving from person to person as the pair of us made our way to the seating area for the race. i bet on highflyer since the weather conditions would give him an advantage. archibald, of course, bid on cosmo who did better when it was cooler. and since today it was hotter, highflyer will win.

we were sitting in our seats, waiting for the match to start when suddenly colin bridgerton stood in front of us, "rather hot day today isn't it?"

"yes it is, lady howard would you like a refreshment?" archibald stood up as he questioned me.

"yes i would like that." i replied and he walked off giving colin the chance to come sit next to me.

"you know you don't have to shoo off my suitors if you want to come talk to me." i leaned over and basically whispered.

"this way it's just more fun."

"i hear your coming to dinner tonight." he said as we looked at the horses getting warmed up.

"yep, after tea with the queen." wow, my schedule was really busy today.

"i guess being a diamond is just too hard." he teased.

"it just means i have to be more than perfect while juggling trying to get married, my accounts, and my own personal business."

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benedict watched as victoria walked around with duke archibald as they had their arms linked. how everyone they talked to seemed to love all her stories.