Midnight Rain:

Chapter 17: The Most Convenient Proposal:

That night.

"You wish to ask for the blessing to ask my sister to marry her?" George asked as the men stepped into the drawing room while the women and children talked in the grand drawing room.

"Indeed..." Anthony nodded, nervously sipping his whiskey.

"Well, then, you have my blessing." George shrugged, not putting much thought into it or even questioning Anthony. He just said yes.

"Thank you, Your Highness." Anthony bowed his head to him.

"Very well..." George said when Benedict and James exchanged a look, while James seemed like he wanted to get swallowed up by his chair. 

It was always tense when his father was around—always reminded that he was only recognized because of his mother. That he would never be the heir that George or the crown wanted.

"I wanted to thank you again for inviting us to the palace, Your Majesty... It is very grand, as I remember it from your gracious invitation last season." Violet complimented, sipping her tea since she recalled the invitations last season when the queen's nephew, Prince Frederick of Prussia, was courting her daughter, Daphne, briefly.

"Yes... Of course, it is grand." Charlotte smiled, sipping her tea, while she watched Evelina sit with the youngest Bridgertons, who were thrilled to be invited to the palace.

"It is time to enter the dining hall, Your Majesty," Brimsley said, walking back into the room.

"Of course... Come now. My cooks have prepared the best for such an evening." Charlotte smiled, standing up as she was the first to leave the room.

In the grand dining hall, Charlotte sat on one end of the table, and George sat on the opposite side, where his father used to sit before he was kept away in the west end of the palace. Evelina sat on the side with her mother, sitting across from Violet. Anthony sat next to her, and the rest of the Bridgerton siblings and James sat at the long dining table.

Charlotte tapped her glass just before the dessert was to be handed out when she looked at Anthony. "I believe you wished to say something, Lord Bridgerton?" She persisted, making Evelina hide her small smile when Anthony finished his long sip of wine before clearing his throat.

"Oh, yes... Of course, Your Majesty." Anthony said, placing his napkin on the table that was on his lap and standing up. "I know it seems quite quick, but... I-I... I feel as though I have finally found someone who could challenge me in a way that makes me want to be a better man. And not just for my duty as a viscount." Anthony smiled as he looked around at his family and the royal family.

Hyacinth smiled, leaning her hands on her chin. This was so romantic to Hyacinth. Violet smiled, wondering what Anthony was doing. Benedict and James seemed a bit surprised. Eloise and Francesca exchanged a surprised look. And Gregory was still eating the delicious meal that tasted far more expensive than he had ever eaten. Charlotte beamed with pride, while George seemed to be in his own world.

"I would like to ask you, Your Highness, if you would do me the honor of being my viscountess?" Anthony asked as a servant pushed out his chair to let Anthony knee in front of her with the substitute ring until he could get his mother's betrothal ring out in the country.

"I would love to marry you, my lord..." Evelina smiled, accepting the proposal as the room cheered.

Anthony took off her white glove, placing the ring on her finger, while Evelina smiled, looking at the simple yet beautiful ring as she told him she would love.

"I shall begin the preparations for the most grand wedding the ton has ever seen." Charlotte smiled when Anthony moved to sit back in his seat while Evelina glanced at the ring.

Everything was going to plan.

~637 words~