A Ring Of Bright Light: Eloise bridgerton x FemOC

Perfect Stranger

"A Diamond knows how to dance."
"A Diamond knows when to nod."
"A Diamond knows if to smile."

When her elder brother Anthony married, Eloise knew the burden of marriage would fall next to her. The entire situation with Kate had bought her a year and a winter at Aubrey house was something even Whistledown could not penetrate.

She knew the weight of her name, of the responsibilities that wrapped around her like smoke. The towering legacy of her father, sisters, brothers...of their family now trailing as she prepared to marry also. Anthony had set it up, a young, wealthy and respectable Count from the northern coastal region.

Count Arthur Brennan.

The family had hands in agriculture, supplying cattle to 80% of the tons across England. Though they had yet to meet, Daphne had assured her of his worth and good looks as though that would sway her any further from the inevitable truth.

She expected difficulties. Gossip, growing pains, resistance from the ton who would have preferred a representative from their family to be wed in her place. Though she found it increasingly harder to dispute them. She had focused on the future, her mother, the family and simply moving forward. She had pushed against the curve for long enough, the impending arrival of Penelope and Collins first child was a testament to that. Eloise simply had to take the bullet now.
Unfortunately.

"Are you always so silent when you're concentrating?" Arthur chuckled, leading her delicately across the room.

"Doesn't do well for them to know I am a bad dancer," she sighed as she glared down at her feet.

"I've never heard of a ton who could not dance." The gentleman, her husband to be quoted, bemusement settling deep into his features as he watched the frustration vibrate and ricocheted from his bride.

"I simply preferred books over tap shoes."

"Ah, well that at the very least may help us."

"How so?" Eloise asked, finally looking up towards her dance partner, blowing an unregulated strand of hair away from her eyes. The tingles of ashen locks create a mesh filter against her view.

Arthur grinned, as the woman's face finally appeared to him unobscured. "Dancing and reading are quite similar," slowing their movements the Count took a step back to take in the princess properly. The way gluttonous creatures stared at prey or children dreamed of chocolates - Eloise struggled to distinguish between the two. "You simply have lose yourself in it."

"Follow my lead." Arthur breathed leaning in against her ear, "just because we are forced to be here, does not mean we cannot obtain any joy from it."

Eloise almost let out a smile at the observation, at the very least her brother had found her someone with a working pair of eyes and brain. Which was more than could be said for many of the people gathered in the ballroom around them. She was half sure Lady Downling would go blind with anguish should they dance a moment longer. Her daughter had been the prime pick for the upcoming season before Eloise had agreed to meet the count.

"Here," Arthur pulled Eloise close, situating hands where they needed to be. Guiding her through the process, as any gentle person would.

"You will step on my feet," Eloise protested and tried to step out of the grasp.

"Put your feet on mine."

"What?" Eloise blurted out, surprised by the demand.

"If you're worried I'll step on your toes then just put them atop mine. It will also help you with footwork and knowing where to place your feet."

For a moment, she thought about it and then, hesitantly, recently there were moments Eloise found herself on the verge of what could only be referred to as complete and utter madness. Though she had to admit, she was intrigued.