|| Lumax Oneshots ||

| Bridgerton au 2 |

Sorry i've been gone again 😭 i was in ireland for a while and then i've been prettyyy lazy
thank you @Silberlein for kicking my ass back into gear 🙏🏽

  The crunch of leaves added a smooth base to the orchestra of late night birds chirping, and the humming of the breeze that created soft ripples in the circular fountain placed perfectly in the middle of the grove of cherry blossom trees and tall walls of shrubs.

  The aura of the night made all of the emotions I was feeling mix into one hazy fog of sadness. Or maybe this sadness could be interpreted as extreme indifference.

  I could only assume that the duke would follow me, and i was right of course.

  "Lady Maxine, are you. . .alright?" The duke walked up behind me, and while he did keep a respectable distance away from me, i knew from the tone of his voice he wanted nothing but to be next to me.

  The feeling was undeniably mutual.

  "he was terrible to me. in most all ways you can imagine." I sniffled, my voice coming out strained. "so why does it feel like my heart just might burst from my chest?" A slow tear fell from my cheek. I flashed a hateful look at the thing as it fell onto the cool stone path.

  "Because you're in grieving, Max." That was the first he has called me by my nickname, but my head was too cloudy to take enough notice. "Because you are too caring not to let even the most vile people in."

  The Duke always did have a way with words.

  I turned to face the Duke, Lucas is he felt we were now on a first name basis, legs shaking from the cold—i refuse to believe otherwise.

  "Might I approach you, my lady?" He started hesitantly, his eyes sparkling like the richest wine imaginable.

  "You shouldn't have to ask, my lord." I wiped another stray tear. He took a step long enough to close the distance between us.

  "For this, my lady, there are no words to give you enough of the comfort you deserve, but I will say this." The duke took a deep, thoughtful breath and took both my hands in his. "You, Lady Maxine Mayfield, are and will forever be as resilient and witty as ever. And to as far as my knowledge takes me, nothing has the power to change that."

  Invisible forces pulled at the corners of my quivering lips, and a light blush lightly flushed my tear stained cheeks. I tried to muster some witty remark as I usually would have, but nothing but a small giggle escaped my lips.

  Did I seriously just giggle? At a moment such as this? Oh lord.

  "Maxine, oh Maxine!" My mother's voice interrupted what was a blissful and secluded moment, bringing me back to my tragic reality. William was dead.

  My mother must have already decided to disregard the fact that I was alone at night with The Duke of York, because she didn't act like he was there. "Oh, sweetheart, we must catch the carriage. William has. . .Oh god." Fat tears streaked her cheeks, ruining her painted face.

  Did she want to get back home for William, or because the thought of the people of The Ton seeing her tear stricken, disarrayed appearance was a worse fate than her step sons?

  "I. . ." I glanced at the duke, who offered an approving nod. "Alright, Mama, let's go." I let go of the dukes hand and followed her out of the garden, leaving my blissful and secluded oases, equipped with my own admirably dreamy possible suitor, behind.

a/n: vote and comment <33