[2] The Queen Mother of Württemberg | A. Bridgerton

Chapter 11

And then there was Charlotte.
The bane of his existence.
And the object of his desires.
All at once.

Kensington Palace, London

The drawing room at Kensington Palace was lively with the hum of conversation. The Queen Mother of Württemberg sat near the window, a delicate porcelain cup in hand, though she had yet to take a sip. She was supposed to be visiting with her brothers and sisters before they all prepared for the Queen's luncheon in honor of the Grand Duke of Russia. Yet, despite the bustle around her, her thoughts were far away, carried off to a world of her own making.

The Viscount.

His image had taken root in her mind, an uninvited but not unwelcome presence. She thought of the way he looked at her—not as a Queen or a Princess, but as simply her. The way his voice softened when he spoke to her, each word laced with understanding and warmth. The way he held her during her moments of vulnerability, offering not just comfort but something deeper, something unspoken. It was maddening, this hold he had over her thoughts.

Across the room, the Prince Regent stood near the fireplace, pacing back and forth as he spoke. Or rather, complained.

"Do you know the burden of it all?" George grumbled, throwing his hands into the air dramatically. "The endless demands, the ceaseless scrutiny? Being Prince Regent is not merely a title—it's a life sentence!"

His voice rose with every word, though it was clear his audience wasn't as engaged as he hoped. Charlotte caught herself nodding absently, though she hadn't heard a word of what he was saying. Her mind was too preoccupied with the memory of the Viscount's touch, his nearness, the brief yet electric moments they had shared.

"Sister," George said, his voice cutting through her reverie. "Are you even listening?"

"Hmm?" She blinked and looked up, feigning innocence. "Of course, Brother."

He frowned, clearly unconvinced, but before he could press her further, Augusta interrupted.

"No offense, George," Augusta said with a sigh. "But do you ever talk about anything other than your predicament as Prince Regent?"

"I am trying to share the immense pressures of my position," George stopped mid-step, his mouth agape in indignation. "And you dismiss me so flippantly?"

"Flippantly?" Edward drawled from where he lounged on the settee. "You're lucky we haven't fallen asleep. You've said all this before."

"Ignore him," Frederick added, not even bothering to look up from the book he was pretending to read.

"Ignoring him was a conscious choice," William added.

"Unbelievable," George muttered, shaking his head. He turned to Charlotte, his eyes narrowing. "And what about you? Were you ignoring me too?"

"I—uh—well, no..." Charlotte hesitated, caught off guard.

"She was," Ernest said with a smirk. "Don't let her fool you."

"I wasn't ignoring him," Charlotte protested, though her flushed cheeks betrayed her. "I just... got distracted."

"Distracted by what?" Adolphus asked, raising a brow.

The Queen Mother of Württemberg opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. What could she say? That her mind was filled with thoughts of a certain Viscount? Absolutely not.

"What of the rest of you?" George, clearly exasperated, turned his attention to the rest of the room. "Were any of you listening?"

"I was..." Sophia said innocently, then added with a sly smile. "...until you started repeating yourself."