daylight | b. bridgerton

xii | promenade, pavilion

Sunday morning rolled around normal as always. The Somersets had attended church along with the rest of the ton, and now they promenaded in the park. It was a good pastime spent with society before they had disappeared from them to go to mass later. Vivienne walked with Catherine, per usual, strolling along the river.

"Anyways," Catherine said, "what do you think, Viv?"

Vivienne's head snapped back to her. "I'm sorry?"

"What do you think?" Catherine repeated, "About the latest Whistledown?"

"Oh, right," she replied, her only thoughts were of last night. "It was fine."

Catherine glanced at her friend, wary. "Fine? Even the duke of Dorset's wheat scandal?"

"Mhm, I do not like him very much anyways."

"And what of what she has written about you and the duke of Essex?"

"Mhm."

Catherine stopped walking, and Vivienne noticed only when she was three paces ahead. "Cat?"

"I made that last part up," Catherine said suspiciously. She sighed when she saw Vivienne's guilty look, staring down at the ground. "Are you alright Vi? You feel absent today."

Vivienne nodded. "I am sorry, I am just stressed."

Cat walked over to her. "I understand, I know how much the marquess is pushing you with the duke, and how suffocating that must feel. If you ever need anyone to talk about anything, please, please come to me."

She smiled, genuinely at Cat. "Thank you," she said, and they continued their walk. "How do you know about the duke?"

Catherine became sheepish. "Well... Ambrose told me a bit about it. But to be fair, you did dance with only him last ball."

"Ah," Vivienne acknowledged, still shocked about her and Ambrose. They were now unofficially officially courting. "I hope Ambrose is treating you well."

"Very," she blushed. "Not surprising though, because he has an awesome sister."

"I hope you know that if he messes things up with you, I will not hesitate to choose you over him."

Catherine laughed. "Means a lot, Vi," they walked a few more paces, before she stopped dead in her tracks. "Oh God," she breathed.

Vivienne immediately looked concerned. "What's wrong?"

Cat pointed in front of them, past the Viscount Severn, and directly where Ambrose and the duke were talking to each other, coming straight towards them.

"Oh God is right," Vivienne agreed, but probably for a different reason.

Ambrose's face lit up when he saw them. "Vivy! Fancy seeing you here. Afternoon, Miss Spencer."

"Brosie," she narrowed her eyes suspiciously, as she glanced at his companion. "Hello, your grace."

"Lady Vivienne," greeted the duke, with a kind smile. "Lovely to see you. Would you two care to join us?"

Catherine was already pulling Vivienne to turn around with them. She walked in line with Ambrose, which Vivienne looked on fondly, as she began walking with the duke.

"You look very nice, Lady Vivienne, how are you this afternoon?"

"Thank you, your grace," she said. "I am doing very well. How are you?"

"Wonderful, now that I am walking with you," he paused, before quickly amending, "Not to say walking with your brother was bad, it is just to say that walking with you is a particular highlight."