Take My Hand [Bridgerton]

[09. A Dance]

Winnie stared out one of the windows that lit up her bedroom, brown eyes methodically swaying with the trees as the wind lightly brushed through their soaked leaves. It was rather glum outside and it had started to rain moments before she left the Modiste earlier that afternoon. Thankfully, it did not seem like it was going to storm and as the sky darkened steadily, the rain seemed to calm. The ebbing of the rain and the non-probability of a storm was in Winnie's favor, of course. She was terrified of storms, or rather, the memories that came with them, and there was another ball tonight. She would rather ride out her phobia comfortably at home, than flinch, jump, and panic elsewhere during the party while lightning struck and the sky thundered. She would end up embarrassing herself in front of the Ton.

"The rain shall stop by the time you leave the house, Miss," Anna walked into the room after knocking once. "Even now, it's only a fine mist."

"I am glad of it," Winnie sighed and ran her gloved palms over the beaded bodice of her purple dress, trying to soothe her nerves. She turned away from the window to face her lady's maid and asked, "Did Vincent mention when the Bridgertons are to arrive?"

Anna frowned slightly. "Did your father not tell you, Miss?" Winnie gulped nervously and shook her head. "Lord Bridgerton met with Lord Sheffield today. Together they arranged for Lady Danbury to escort you to the ball tonight, and a few others throughout the season."

Winnie's heart started to race uncomfortably in her chest and she felt sweat bead at the nape of her neck. She had ruined it all; her relationship with the Bridgertons, her reputation, and George's future. That's not even to mention how furious her papa must be with her!

Stupid, stupid, stupid, her mind yelled at her.

If Lord Bridgerton hadn't loathed her before, surely he wished to see her suffer now. For good reason, of course. She had thought that they had left off on a good note after their argument, but it seems that she assumed wrongly. She was sure that she would never be able to spend time with Daphne and Eloise again, and even Lady Bridgerton must be so disgusted with her.

Feeling rather faint, Winnie sat down at the end of her bed, her chest heaving with each choked breath. Anna took pity on her and grabbed her hands, squeezing them tightly to ground her as she sat by her side, breathing evenly so Winnie could copy her breath pattern to calm down.

"Winnie, everything is well," Anna soothed her. "According to Vincent, the conversation was polite and even friendly. Lord Bridgerton simply told your father that there were some balls that he would need to put all his attention on Daphne for the evening, and would hate for you to not be looked after properly. It was Lord Bridgerton himself that suggested Lady Danbury escort you. He settled everything himself."

"Did he?" came Winnie's shaky reply, catching her breath now that the coping skills Anna taught her were starting to work and her panic was starting to go away.