After delaying it as long as she could, Isabel Asturias is ready to make her debut onto the marriage market. Like every other mama in town, Lady Asturias hopes to gain an audience for her daughter with the season's most eligible bachelor, the Viscou...
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Isabel did not see Benedict for four days. She only received one letter from him during that time, the day after their families crossed paths in the park. It juxtaposed his strong desire to make his love for her publicly official and his belief that he could not do so while Anthony and his family were in the crossfire.
Isabel would go to the brook and solemnly admire the gardenias, hoping that the boy who had won her heart would show up to make her feel less blue. But he never appeared, nor did any of the Bridgertons.
One afternoon at tea time, while Isabel was aimlessly stirring her tea and letting it get cold, another letter arrived. This one was addressed to the head of the household.
"Thank you," Sofia told the man who handed her the envelope. She examined the wax seal before carefully opening it. Isabel tried not to seem bothered that the letter was not for her.
"The Bridgertons are hosting a ball tomorrow night," her mother told her as she read over the letter. "The theme is harmony." She lowered the piece of paper. "I wonder how that should translate into a dress."
"Don't be daft, mama."
Her mom did not react to that, merely continued with her
"Well, I suppose we must go. Will you be wearing Bridgerton blue?" Sofia said with a smirk.
"Mama!"
✣ ✣ ✣
"Sorry we're late—"
Isabel was not as late as she thought, for no other guests had arrived besides the Sharmas.
"Oh."
Eloise was the first one to corner Isabel in her dazed state before she could even greet her hosts.
"You cannot fathom how glad I am that you are here!" Eloise rushed out. "You have greatly increased the proportion of intelligent ladies compared to the buffoons I have for brothers."
"Hey!" Benedict pouted as he approached the two ladies.
He was distracted from his sister's disparaging comment when he took in Isabel standing in front of him.
"What a wonderful deep blue dress," he said to Isabel. "Of all the gowns you've worn this season, I think this color suits you most of all." While his sister was distracted, he stepped closer to Isa and said in a low voice, "Perhaps you might like to wear light blue next?"
Isabel rolled her eyes. Before she could reply with a sly comment, someone else cut through the air with a more curt statement.
"Well, if this is all over," Eloise said, gesturing to the empty ballroom, "I shall go read in my room." As she started to leave, Anthony stopped her.
"Wait, sister." He turned to look at the rest of the family with a twinkle in his eye. "There shall be dancing," he proclaimed.
His siblings looked confused at his statement, as did his mother as he walked towards the back of the ballroom. He turned his gaze upwards to the balcony where he knew his younger siblings were watching.
