One Shots - REQUESTS OPEN

Chapter 74 Anthony Bridgerton

"Good Evening Lady Bridgerton" I said nodding my head lightly she looked down at me with a smile.

"Shannon it has been so long since I saw you last how are you? I am sorry for what happened with your Mother and Father" Lady Violet Bridgerton said taking my hand. I nodded while taking a shaky breath.

"I am well, it has been almost a year...my Aunt is taking care of me very well, she has joined me for the season" I said pointing my hand towards my Aunt and her husband who were dancing.

"Oh well that is good, you should join us tomorrow at the ball, at the Hastings estate. I would like to hear what you have been doing for the past year, I cannot believe it has really been that long...I miss your Mother dearly, Anthony and the boys missed you very much" she finished placing a drink in my hand while sipping on her own.

"I have missed them also" I whispered uncertainty filling my body as I looked around the familiar faces of the ton, looking for anyone that resembled Violet's oldest son but eventually came up empty turning back to her.

"If you are looking for Anthony he is not here, I'm sure he will grace us with his presence later in the night, but Eloise and Daph are just over there" she said pointing towards her eldest daughter I smiled thanking her bowing again I moved away heading towards her daughters.

"Duchess" I instantly said bowing Daphne looked at me shocked before pulling me towards her.

"Shannon!" Eloise said quite loudly earning a few shocked faces.

"El please" I said hugging her lightly.

"Are you well? You look so different" Duchess Daphne said quickly I chuckled.

"I am as well as I can be, your Mother has invited me to the ball tomorrow, I hope you do not mine. I still have not met your husband Daph I must be introduced, and yes I look quite different I guess" I said flattening my dark red dress with the palms of my gloved hands.

"It's quite different seeing you in this colour" Colin said from behind me I turned hugging him.

"Yes well my Auntie designed it herself" I said quietly.

"Don't worry, it suits you very well" Benedict said beside his younger brother he pulled me forward towards the dance floor.

"Are you well young Shannon?" Benedict asked, I nodded.

"You are the fifth person to ask me that in only half an hour my Lord" I teased he smirked turning me.

"It's been a long year, as we all know...my brother" he began but stopped.

"You know how we left it?" I asked he looked down at me nodding.

"He misses you, I know that, then your parents" he began I shook my head.

"My heart is not my concern, but is it my Aunts...she wants me wed, she believes I am too old...I am not yet 21" I rambled until he shook his head moving me off the dance floor and outside.

"You cannot marry, I have read your letters between each other...I know they may have stopped a few months ago but please just wait for him to see you please" Benedict said I looked to the floor and then back at him.

"This is why I chose to come back Ben, I love him my heart aches for him. It has in the past and it always will, even if right now it is broken" I said wiping a tear from my cheek. Benedict raised his hand to my cheek.

"The ball tomorrow I shall make sure he is there I promise, now enjoy your first night back" he said hugging me again he left I sighed leaning over the large balcony with a sigh.