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"Gregory, what happened to your arm?" I ask, sitting down in a seat across from him as I look at his arm, which was placed into a sling.
"Oh, do tell it again," Benedict said, grinning as he looked at his brother.
Gregory, who was trying to use a fork to stab a piece of fruit one-handed, only sighed as he glared at his brother.
Benedict leaned forward slowly toward him, a faux look of interest appearing on his face. "Was it worth the glimpse of the balloon? Hmm?"
From the other side of Greogy, Hyacinth tried, and failed, to stifle her laughter as she looked toward her brother.
Gregory rolled his eyes as he sighed. "I fell off the roof before I could even see it."
Benedict pointed as he patted his brother's injured arm. "Aww."
Leaving forward, I grabbed Benedict's shoulder and dragged him back. "Stop hitting your brother when he is injured, or I will make sure you are stuck dancing with every debutante at the next ball... all night."
Benedict gasps as he dramatically reaches for his heart. "Dearest Florence, you would do that to me?"
I raise an eyebrow and nod. "I would, dear Benedict."
"Tell me one more time what the Queen said to you, dearest," Lady Bridgerton says, filling up her teacup and moving to sit beside Francesca, who was fiddling with some thread.
"Oh, again Mama?" She drawled, looking toward her mother.
"'She was splendid. She sparkled. Brava.'" Eloise declared, looking up from her book and toward her mama with feigned elation.
"I ask because it is important," Lady Bridgerton defends. "If the Queen has truly granted Francesca her favor, she shall have her pick of suitors. It changes everything."
"Who shall you dance with first, sister?' Hyacinth asks, leaning over the edge of the couch to look at her.
"Perhaps I shall go... alphabetically," Francesca declares, slightly terrified at the idea of being the season's apparent diamond.
I chuckle as I look at Benedict's newspaper over his shoulder, my eyebrows furrowed as I read a small section of it. "This... this is what interests you?"
Benedict scoffs as he looks over at me. "I'll have you know-"
"Morning family," Colin greets, stepping into the room and starting over toward the table.
