If you were to ask anyone in the ton about the Lady with a Fan, even an errand boy could give you an answer. That's the name Anastasia Bridgerton had built for herself to protect her family after their father's passing. As the oldest sister and twin...
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The carriage ride back was eerily quiet. Violet and Daphne exchanged awkward glances as they looked back at the girl, worry and confusion coating their eyes.
Anastasia was calm on the surface, yet her mind brewed a storm. Her ears rang the sound of harsh thumps, echoing from her heart with every passing minute. She sat in the corner, placing as much distance as possible between her and any form of life, struggling to soothe her mind and body to no avail. Her arm gently supported her chin as she gazed out into the darkness, unable to think of anything but him.
His touch, his breath, his warmth, his lips... they lingered on her body, within the depths of her heart, unable to erase it despite her persistence.
Her life was perfectly satisfactory before. She took care of the family, managed the business, handled affairs, and attended parties. It was a perfectly monochrome life, and though not the most enjoyable, it made things easier. Yet, he just had to come in. He just had to ruin it all by stringing her along in his antics, boggling her mind and distracting her body from what had to be done. And the worst part was that she found herself enjoying every moment of it.
He let her see colours she could never find with anyone else, and she loved every single one of them.
I should have stopped him. I should have held strong to my beliefs.
Why didn't I?
Rather...
Why did I get swayed in the first place?
Perhaps it was his charm. Anastasia had to admit the man had quite a charisma. Or perhaps it was his smile. The subtle quirk of his lips, that always pull right first, before breaking into a blinding ray of sunshine. It could be his wit. He was the first man capable of keeping her on her toes. Or... it could be his eyes.
His beautiful brown eyes that twinkled in the sun, almost always revealing a new layer of colour as the day passed. They would melt into golden rays, circling an eclipse. And when evening comes, they display the warmth of sunset, wrapping her in a cacoon of comfort.
Truly, he was so beautiful...
A tight pinch on her thigh awoke her from her stupor as the girl blinked furtively with crimson cheeks.
Am I crazy?!
"Anastasia dearest, are you quite well?", Violet asked, concerned by her daughter's abnormal behaviour.
"I-I am fine, mama", She blurted out, covering her cheeks with the shadow of her hair.
Daphne looked at her sister in worry, wondering if her head was doing alright. Though she did have her own worries to deal with at the moment.
