Things We Have in Common

Chapter 6 - Second and Last

To survive the seasons, you must change with them.
- Christopher Ferreiras
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warning: there is spice in this

.....Im am terribly sorry for your lost Francesca, I understand how much you loved him and I am sure it is difficult in this time. Please, if you need anything at all, I am here.
A letter from Elizabeth to her dear friend Francesca Bridgerton after the lost of her husband

I woke up to the sound of birds outside my window. I stretched and sat up. I have never woke up this happy before and I enjoy it a lot.

    Downstairs everyone is busting to eat breakfast and head outside for the day. It was lovely with the perfect breeze. The clouds we're rightly placed in the sky.

    "Id say, you and Martin would make quite a match Lizzy." My mother stated patting my shoulder. I scoffed, "Hardly." Daniel laughed.

    "I wouldn't be laughing to much brother, your smitten with Eloise." He stopped and shoved the next bite in his mouth. Ashton must have heard the conversation, "Thats too bad for Daniel. Miss Bridgerton is clearly courting with Sir Phillip." I stayed quiet. They don't know. It will stay that way.

    Ashton and Joy sat down at the table. I took another bite of eggs but stopped midway when someone approached me from behind, "Good morning Johnstons." Eloise. She put her hands on my shoulders. I felt butterflies. Benedict, Gregory, and Hyacinth were with her.

    "Its a fine day isn't it?" Benedict added. Dan put a hand on his shoulder, "Fine day indeed." I stood up next to both of them, "What shall we do?" Anthony and Kate walked in next, "I say we introduce them all to a game of Pall Mall." Ashton stood up, "It is no introduction, we are pros." He smiled. My brother smiled so everyone could see. Daniel bent down into my ear, "Someone has taken our brother again." I giggled and looked at Eloise. We smiled at each other and I could have shattered into a million pieces.

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     In the field, Anthony and Ashton set up the course. We all choose our colors. I grabbed a light blue one. Eloise stood beside me and whispered, "Be careful, Anthony always has silly tricks up his sleeve, but he will be more focused on beating Kate," I looked over at the happy couple.

   She glanced at Benedict, "He doesn't know what he doing half the time, so he is possible to beat but your lucky Colins not here, he has won every game I have played with him. Gregory and Hyacinth also are somewhat beginners so they should be easy to beat." I looked over at them, arguing about how to properly hold the mallet.

    "Now tell me your families secrets." She questioned, I quickly filled her in, "Ashton is very competitive, Joy will give up after a while, Dan is a professional I swear he has a whole book on the arts of Pall Mall somewhere. Thomas is also quite new." She nodded and stood with a smirk on her face, I bumped lightly into her. 

    "What secrets do you have Eloise?" She got closer to me, "Only ours." Before I could say anything she started over towards Benedict, Daniel walked over to me, "I will beat you." I threatened him with my mallet last game, surely I could beat him.

     "Lets begin!" Kate shouted. We went in alphabetical order beginning with Anthony, then Ashton. Benedict swung to hard and hit spot into Anthonys ankle. Eloise told me to go first, I hit mine and it went right through. Hers did as well tapping mine.

     The game lasted an hour, with a solid tie with Anthony and Ashton. After, we had lunch in our dining room. Eloise sat beside me, we snuck small smiles at each other, but I could feel someone else's gaze on me, only every time I looked around, no one was watching.