What Time Has Done

Part II

Castillon Household- The same night as Lady Danbury's Ball

"So. You are to tell me everything!" Josephine bounces down onto the edge of my bed.

"Your eyes are in perfect health are they not? Surely you saw everything already, as we were very near the middle of the dance floor," I laugh.

"Oh you are no fun at all sister!" She huffs, clearly displeased at my failure to spill the deepest darkest secrets of the night (of which there are none).

"I assure you, there was nothing more of note anyway". I pull the covers of my bed down slightly, trying to indicate I was ready for the night's end.

"But observing is not nearly as fun as hearing it directly," she tries again.

"Surely not in the case of Lady Whistledown".

"Hearing something from a scandal sheet when I could hear it from my own sister is not the preferred method of communication. Besides, her publication is hours away, I want to know now!" She smiles. "Though I am glad to hear you at least know of Lady Whistledown. The details on which I am to catch you up are not too far gone".

"Are you the mysterious lady sister?" I ask, teasing, but desperate to change the subject.

"No. Though how desperate am I to meet her one day! I have so many questions to ask; the first and foremost being how she has managed to escape the public eye for so long, in her true appearance that is. Every single eye and ear of the ton is on the lookout for her, and yet no one sees her".

I nod as she rambles, only half listening. I now had to consider the likelihood of Mr. Bridgerton and I being mentioned in the next gossip column and that was not the most exciting opportunity. My return home was stressful enough, with an anxious mama at my heels, wondering who would be the lucky winner of my dowry. Though, if I am to be honest, it is not as if I never had plans to marry. Considering that idea is not something I could easily declare and not be all but dead to society for it, it was drummed out of me quite early on. I am not opposed to the idea, I suppose I just had other things I was looking to accomplish first.

"Emmeline! Are you even listening to me?"

"Sorry Jo, what were you saying?"

"I was wondering when you acquired a sense of humour, as you most definitely made Mr. Bridgerton laugh this evening". She wiggles her eyebrows at me, looking rather proud of herself for noticing such a thing.

"Your surprise wounds me dear Jo. I believed it fairly obvious that I was the funniest sibling".

"Oh please, Madeline has more humour hidden in her left pinky finger than you have in your entire body," she snorts as if it were truth, turning herself to stare at the ceiling and lay sprawled across my bed.

"How dare you!" I proclaim, grabbing one of my pillows, "My honour has been tarnished, now we must duel!" I throw the pillow down atop her, causing a series of giggles.

"If that is what you so desire, then fight on!" Josephine calls back, grabbing the pillow out of my hands and smacking my arm with it.

Bridgerton Household- the morning after Lady Danbury's ball

Benedict crumples up yet another sheet from his sketchbook and tosses it unceremoniously into the bin. Nothing seemed right. Drawing hands had become impossible and he could not put a finger onto why. Perhaps it was a momentary spell of creative lack, but he never knew. A soft knock breaks him out of his melancholy trance.

"Come in!" He calls whoever might be out in the hall.

"Ah brother, there you are". It was Colin.

"But Colin I have so many more questions!" And Hyacinth.