The Immortal Story - Bridgerton

The Next Morning

"Mamma Agatha! Look, we are all the talk of Lady Whistledown!" Carlotta burst into the drawing room, waving a letter triumphantly.

"Here she goes again," muttered Antoinette, barely glancing up.

"This means the Ton loves us or something!" Carlotta exclaimed, bouncing on her toes.

"Carlotta, cease your running in the house," Agatha commanded, snatching the letter from her. She scanned it quickly. "This definitely doesn't mean they love you. They aren't speaking ill of Antoinette and Estoria," she gestured towards them, "but they are about you," she finished, pointing at Carlotta.

"My first hater!" Carlotta said, continuing to jump up and down in excitement.

"Calm yourself, Lottie," Antoinette said, rolling her eyes.

"Language," Agatha scolded.

"English," Antoinette deadpanned, then turned back to Carlotta. "I, for one, hate the Ton thinking I'm with that peasant."

"Amos is a fine young man and would be honored to take your hand," Agatha replied, dismissing Antoinette's tone.

"Look at me, Mamma," Antoinette spun around, her dress flaring out. "My sisters and I are the fairest in the land, yet you want to hand me off to a servant. I'm a lady, for heaven's sake."

"A lady without virtue," Carlotta laughed.

"A lady nonetheless," Antoinette shot back, smirking. "Where were you when I got dragged away? Found a concubine? Better yet, became one?"

Carlotta pulled a face. "Ha ha, hilarious. For your information, I did meet someone."

"Here? In Britain?" Antoinette asked, genuinely surprised.

Carlotta nodded. "She was very sweet and even apologized after I knocked her down."

"I hope you're not referring to Miss Hawthorne," Agatha interjected, rising with her cane. "She is very much engaged, and you wouldn't want to ruin that for her, would you?"

"But Mamma—" Carlotta began.

"Would you?" Agatha asked sternly, prompting a reluctant nod from Carlotta. "Good. It seems we'll have a visitor soon that I'm not quite fond of. Much to prepare so do keep busy" she added, eyeing Estoria, who had been quietly gazing out the window, before leaving the room.

"This is so unfair," Carlotta sighed, flopping onto the couch. "We had a connection. I felt it, she felt it, even the ground felt it."

"What?" Antoinette asked, bewildered.

"Inside joke," Carlotta explained, flinging her arms out. "It's not fair that both of you can be with who you want..."

"You think I want to be with a lap dog?" Antoinette scoffed. "I'd rather endure another of Mamma's piano lessons."

"I think you definitely want to shag him. Right, Tori?"

"I most certainly do not," Antoinette retorted. "I don't, Tor. I'm serious."

"What?" Estoria asked, snapping out of her reverie.

"Were you even listening?" Carlotta asked.

"Lady Whistledown, courting, running from the Prince," Estoria responded absently.

"Yes! I'm a whore!" Carlotta declared, jumping up and down again.

"And you're happy about it?" Antoinette scoffed.

"Well, yes! This means no man will call upon me."

"No, dear. It means they'll call more, but only in the night," Antoinette said, patting Carlotta's shoulder. "You've just made yourself a target. Good luck."