𝐁𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐈𝐑𝐄 | ᵇʳⁱᵈᵍᵉʳᵗᵒⁿ

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LORD RHODES SAT IN HIS ARMCHAIR inside the Rhodes Family drawing room. His brother-in-law stood across the room, leaning against the hearth; his wife sat on the couch, eating her favorite biscuits. The youngest in the room, her eyes on the slowly ticking clock. With each tick the more her heart sank.

     "No one's coming." Cornelia sighed in defeat.

     "Give it time, dear." Amelia told her niece, a mouth full of food. "No man wishes to appear eager." She picked the crumbs from her dress.

     Moments later, the door opened and in came their footman, a swarm of chatter behind him. "Callers for Miss Cornelia." He stepped aside, allowing the flood of men to enter, all making beelines for Cornelia and her father.

     Amelia watched her niece with a content smile. Watching Cornelia's joy, gave her joy. Cornelia could not believe her eyes. Not a single man looked familiar to her, and yet they were here. Some had flowers, some had only brought themselves. It did not matter to Cornelia what they brought, she was just happy they had come.

     Hours passed, though it only felt like minutes to the youngest Rhodes, and by the time the last of the men exited the home, Cornelia was beaming, yet her heart was left yearning. The one man she wished to show, never did.

     "That went beautifully." Amelia dusted the biscuit crumbs from her dress. "Get changed, my dear." The aunt instructed her niece. "We're overdue for a promenade."

     The two women walked side by side around Grosvenor Square. Currently, they had stopped as Lady Hendricks spoke with a passing couple.

     Cornelia, who had been wrapped up in her thoughts, bored out of her mind from the current conversation, was suddenly snapped out of her daze. Why, you might ask? Well, the alluring Anthony Bridgerton, of course!

     Her cheeks warmed at just the sight of him, her heartbeat fluttering as he turned in their direction, and her palms began to sweat as he made eye contact with her.

     He seemed to be walking their way. Every step closer he took, the harder her heart beat. "Cornelia." Anthony addressed her.

     "Lord Bridgerton." She smiled, trying her best to not sound so eager to hear his voice.

     "My mother would like to extend an invitation to you for dinner tomorrow night."

     "Is that so?" Lady Hendricks, having heard everything, inserted herself. The conversing couple suddenly gone from her side.

     Anthony nodded shortly, his face as void of emotions as ever. "Just Cornelia, I'm afraid."

     "Tell your mother she'll be there." The lady smiled. Cornelia felt her heart skip a beat or two. Dinner with the Bridgerton's? Alone? It was more than her little heart could handle.

     Anthony bowed without another word, before leaving the two women to their promenade around the square. Cornelia couldn't help the dazed smile that graced her fair features. Amelia smiled at her niece. "Fancy the Viscount, do you?"