Midnight Rain:

Chapter 73: Wedding Bell Disaster: Part 2:

Kate closed the door behind her, pacing as she tried to calm her rushed breathing. She took off the bangles that she hated at that moment, tossing them onto the floor out of frustration. She turned from frustratingly angry to sitting on the floor and beginning to cry

"Does this have anything to do with your dinner with the Sheffields the other evening?" Violet asked as the Bridgertons joined James, his aunt, and Elijah into the room where James had been getting ready prior.

"Or perhaps some even greater issue has come to pass that we must discuss, James?" Evelina asked, keeping her arm interlocked with her husband as James sighed, pacing a bit.

"Miss Edwina is merely agitated. She will come to her senses." Benedict tried to say to his mother as Lady Florence fanned herself as Daphne stood next to her.

"Miss Edwina does seem to have a delicate constitution." Colin tried to help as Elijah moved to light a cigarette for himself.

"Perhaps fresh air will be just the thing," Anthony said, looking at his wife, who tended to go outside when she needed to breathe and calm her nerves.

"Flask." Benedict nudged Colin, whispering to him.

"Perhaps the archbishop's talk of lifelong covenants overwhelmed her," Eloise spoke up, sitting in the seat next to where Elijah stood to the side, lighting his cigarette.

James turned to look at the crowded room while Benedict offered them the flask but looked down as Violet gave him a glare.

"Perhaps she realized that marriage is, in fact, a prison for women..." Eloise continued as Evelina chuckled a bit.

"Only when it depends on the gentleman they marry. Some women are not so blessed with the privilege of such a darling husband." Evelina smiled, looking at Anthony, who smiled at her.

The two seemed to be in their own little happy world while James was contemplating his whole life at the moment.

"Ugh. Must you always be so... you?" Colin scoffed at Eloise.

"How else should I be? Married and silent?" Eloise scoffed as Elijah looked at her before looking down.

"Perhaps she decided she must change into a different dress," Gregory said, standing behind the chair that Eloise was sitting on.

"Could be a possibility, Gregory." Evelina nodded, looking at the younger boy.

"That is absurd. She looked beautiful." Hyacinth scoffed at Gregory while she stood next to Evelina.

"Perhaps we should allow Lord Hanover a little respite," Anthony spoke up, stopping his siblings from going back and forth.

"Hanover, is that what you need?" Benedict asked his friend.

James just sighed, moving his hands from his face as he was gaining the worst headache in his life. He looked up, glaring over at Daphne and Lady Florence.

"Precisely," James said to Benedict before leaving the room.

"What?" Daphne asked as she saw her mother look at her.

"You know something..." Violet sighed as Lady Florence rubbed her temples.

"I do not." Daphne refused, glancing quickly at Lady Florence.

"Daphne, you may be a duchess, but you are still my daughter. Tell me what you know." Violet demanded as Lady Florence sighed.

"She knows that my poor nephew is an idiot." Lady Florence sighed, shaking her head.