𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐒 | anthony bridgerton

𝐯. the diamond

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

"Good evening your majesty, such a lovely soiree." Lady Cowper complimented feverishly as she and her daughters curtseyed before Queen Charlotte.

It was the night of the Queen's ball and as expected, it was grand. Everyone was in their finest attire, the Cowper's included. Lady Cowper and Cressida had once again chosen the pale blue silk that they had earlier but in a far more elaborate style which came off as tacky rather than particularly elegant.

"Yes." Queen Charlotte replied, nodding in acknowledgment to the women before turning her straight face to the girl on her mother's left. "Miss Catherine, your gown is in fact as lovely as you promised. Lilac is a favourite shade of mine, it suits you."

Catherine was in fact wearing a lilac dress with sheer sleeves that reached just above her elbows and a tiara of roses as she did so often. The pearls around her neck only enhanced the effect of her ethereality that night.

"Thank you, your majesty. My personal favourite shade is any one of green." Catherine said with a small smile, feeling the hard stares of her mother and sister at the almost familiar interaction between her and the Queen. "Although I do not believe it would ever suit me as it does you."

"Take the compliment girl as I take yours. In fact, I quite agree. My favourite necklace is one of emeralds in fact." The Queen said curtly, her lips quirking ever so slightly upwards at Catherine's words. "Now go, I'm sure you have many a suitor desperate for a space on your dance card."

At that, the three women curtseyed and were lead away from their place before the Queen, their space quickly being taken up by the Featheringtons whose interaction was far shorter than their own.

"What have you done?" Cressida hissed as both she and her mother pulled the girl into a corner away from the dance floor.

"Pardon?"

"You have bewitched the Queen somehow, I'm sure of it." Her sister scoffed, glaring at Catherine. "She hardly ever speaks to anyone, let alone a first season debutante."

"Lady Danbury introduced me to her yesterday evening." Catherine said slowly, attempting to keep her calm. "She merely remembers me from a conversation we had yesterday."

Cressida had nothing to say to that, she merely opened and closed her mouth like some sort of frustrated fish.

"Now I am going to go get myself a drink." Catherine said, nodding to her mother and sister. "Do enjoy the night, I expect I shall see you in the carriage when it is time to return home."

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

"Anyone here you have not yet rejected?" Benedict jested as he walked beside his older brother into the thick of the ballroom.

"You are the artist." Anthony stated with a sort of bored tone. "Do you see anyone remotely inspiring? We shall have our diamond tonight and I shall have a wife."

"On the topic of inspiration, Cat looks stunning tonight and she's right by the drinks. Au Revoir my rake of a brother." Benedict said, immediately leaving his brother side and walking through the dancers towards a girl in a lilac dress whose back was turned.

Anthony's interest had piqued at that but he had no time to look as he had to follow his mother and sister to where they stood before the Queen.

"Lady Bridgerton. Miss Bridgerton." The Queen greeted, a smile on her face as she spotted the family. "Such a shame your presentation at court was so rudely interrupted."