Contrite & Convicted

Harmony Part I

Harmony Part I

His head swelled at the newest Whistledown article. The blasted author once again has placed him in unthinkable positions.

This author was at first, convicted. This author may traffic in chatter and speculation, dear reader, but misinformation? NEVER. For there seemed to be no outstanding news to be labeled as striking after the glorious wedding of Katherine Sharma and Viscount Lawrence Bane. Her dress was a stunning one, with satin and silk. Once befitting a diamond of the season now to fit the elegance of another.

No, my dear readers, this author found the scandal once more with the Bridgertons. Rumor runs rampant in a rumor mill, and what once was hidden knowledge is now...open.

Explanations of why the Bridgerton's seem to have disappeared once again..

The youngest twin of the Bridgertons has been deemed unattractive for any suitable young ladies. With a defect we soon find Ester Bridgerton's heart in mortal terror. Was that alcohol we smelled on her breath at the royal wedding? With another child on the way?

I could state the Bridgertons should accept enough offspring, to be enough.

But we must not forget it was Her Majesty who claimed Ester Bridgerton (Once Sloehigh) to be an attractive bride. Can the Queen detect defects? One must question the next decision our dear Queen might make.

Allow this author to hope for her Majesty's sake as well as the Bridgertons, that an official explanation emerges quickly. Less the ton are run away with their tawdry imaginings.

............

His heart rammed against his chest, with each beat a steady reminder. Whistledown had gone far enough before, but exceeded the line with this article. People had been crowding him at the gentlemen's club, hounding his brother at school and for good reason. The ton crowded their carriages whenever they would appear in public. They shouted out profanities to his wife in the street and their staff had decreased in numbers much to his mother's chagrin.

He heard someone mention it was a disease that could spread.

How fickle, the ton must be! To think so low.

Anthony and Ester had not seen each other in a week. It had been a week since Whistledown posted her most recent article.One that rocked his whole family to the core. He tried to speak with Ester but she had once again been hidden away in her room.

It was as if it was earlier this season, everything repeating. A boring cycle they found themselves in, and one he dreaded to be in.

Anthony three days ago went into Ester's room and when she was not there, Mar had told him she was out on a walk and wished to not be disturbed. It frustrated him that she shut him out, but if he was honest with himself, he didn't know what he would say if they talked about it.

That scared him more than the gossip.

*********

ESTER'S POV

"You're sure he will be alright here?" Ester said, holding Benedict's hand tight. Benedict nodded to his sister in law.

"Yes, Mar assured me, this man would help." Ester nodded and watched the white trim door in front of her. Waiting for her last hope to walk through the door and let her hopes ring out to dry and send her out the door with nothing left.