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London, England - 1813
Rebekah was already waiting with her arms crossed and a foot tapping against the floor, for Betty when she snuck back home from their neighbor's house to prepare for Trowbridge Ball. She tutted, shaking her head with disdain. "Did I not make myself clear?" She asked as Betty scurried into her bedroom, casting her eyes down to the floor. "Lost for words, are you?"
"Mama, there is still plenty of time to prepare-"
"I do not care! I am your mother, when I give you an order, you do as I say!" Rebekah argued with her daughter. She looked out the window, over to the Bridgerton house. "You have been distracted all season! There is no reason for you to be... dillydallying over there." She said as she drew the curtains closed. "Now, I expect you to start getting prepared for the ball. Theodore is going to meet us outside, so you need to be ready promptly by six o'clock. And not a second later!"
As Rebekah left, Poppy trudged in, a brand new ballgown in hand. Betty rolled her eyes as she reopened the curtains her mother had just closed, drawing some light back into the room. She paused at the window, looking out into her neighbor's window.
Poppy moved untie the ribbons in Betty's hair, but she slapped her maid's hands away. "Just give me a moment. Please, Poppy." She begged her. The maid bowed her head, moving to the corner.
Betty closed her eyes, drowning herself in the silence. It was beginning to grow harder and harder to keep her head afloat. She was struggling to manage the constant battle roaring between her head and her heart.
After a few minutes, she turned back to her maid, nodding to her that she was ready to begin. Poppy got work untying her dress and corset before replacing it with a new one. She repinned Betty's hair, neatly tying up her curls into a braided bun.
As they got ready in silence, Betty's mind raced with thoughts. Eventually those thoughts came out into words, and she bared her soul to Poppy as she tried to tie up the back of her dress. She paced back and forth with Poppy closely following behind.
"I do not feel anything towards him, Poppy! The more I speak with him, the more I want to bash my head against the wall. His voice is so monotone and he laughs like a hyena. Everytime we pass by a window, he checks himself in the reflection! Worst of all, he puts his elbows on the dinner table! Like an animal, Poppy! How did it take this long for me to notice?!" Betty turned sharply once again, "Oh, I do not feel well. I cannot go to this ball tonight!"
Poppy reached out, pulling the girl out of her pacing and promptly sat her down. She kept one hand entwined with Betty's as the other reached up to feel her forehead. She hummed and nodded her head before moving her hand down to Betty's cheek, then to her neck. "Oh, oh my. This is not good at all..." Poppy tutted and shook her head. "I'm afraid..." She trailed off with a sigh, looking off into the distance.
