Lingering touches | Eloise Bridgerton

Chapter 2

Eloise

"Mama, must I go to today's picnic?" I already know the answer but it doesn't hurt to try, "Yes dear whole family is going." She starts to play with my hair "I think a half up half down will look lovely on you Eloise, what do you think? She gives a me questioning look through the reflection of the mirror. "Whatever you think mother." I end the conversation.

Not only do I have to go but Silas now comes to these things now and is at my home almost everyday to have a chat with my brothers but he always ends up disrupting my peace. He agitates me to my bones, he causes an uneasy feeling in my stomach so for me personally his presence is not welcome.

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"Mama might I go promenade with Penelope?" I sit up before waving to pen, "Yes dear but be back shortly," she doesn't spare me a glance she is too busy talking to Lady Danbury. "Hello pen, " I link my arm with hers "Hello Eloise, how was your sister on this fine, fine morning?" She grins, teasing me. I told her how insufferable my dear sister has been, all she ever talks about is Silas, and the Duke. "She keeps talking about Silas, I do not know what she sees in him?" I question "Well she certainly cannot be happy about you and Silas," I'm shocked, what does me and Silas have to do with any of this?

"What do you mean she can't be happy with me and Silas?" I stop walking and so does she, she fully rotates her body to look at me with a serious face.

"Eloise, you and Silas are always bickering-" I only nod and let her continue "and most people would see that as a sibling relationship, but you and Silas you guys are always to close to each other, and whispering to each other-" I have no Idea where this conversation is going but I can tell i am not going to like it "And a lot of people have mistaking that as you guys um-flirting..." she says the last word with caution.

"WHAT!" I scream, everyone around us pauses and stares at me first a couple of seconds and than goes back to what they were doing. I turn to my family's canopy and see my mom ushering me back over her with her hands and with an angry face. Great now she's mad that I have embarrassed myself. "Sorry Pen, I have to go," I wave goodbye and walk back to rejoin my family.

"Eloise, what did I tell you about raising your voice!" I only grin before voicing my response "Aren't you raising your voice right now now? I would say you are being hypocritical mother." She's taken back before she forms words "Eloise do not get smart with me or so help me god."

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Silas did not attend today's picnic thank god, but he is now at my house. He is seated between me and Daphne at he dining table, my brother invited him to stay for dinner. "Eloise have you met any suitable men yet?" Silas whispers in my ear "No, none of the men in Mayfair are worthy of my time, including you." I grin as he pretends to be hurt. "So Silas do you like the cow?' Daphne raises her brows before she shoots daggers at me, "Oh yes it was cooked perfectly I have already eaten all of mine." Silas says before taking his fork and reaching it into my plate before taking my last piece of sirloin.

"That was my last piece!" I am in Awe, "Well I was still hungry," he only shrugs before turning back to Daphne and starting a conversation. I didn't even realize what I was doing before I did it, I took a handful of mash potatoes and shoved it in his face. My mother and Daphne gasp,  my other siblings are frozen in shock. Silas turns to me and I see the potatoes dripping from his face. I can't hold it back any longer before I bust out laughing, my belly starts to ache and I see Silas's face and I knew I had to get out of there.

I try to run, aggressively pushing my chair backwards and standing up. Before I could get more than five steps in I feel Silas arm wrap around my waist, forcefully sitting me back down in my chair. He grabs mashed potatoes off his plate and mushes it all in my hair, I feel it drip down to my eyes and he starts laugh, and I laugh with him. I grab onto his arm tightly, I'm laughing so hard that I am physically in pain but immediately stop once I hear my mother shouting.

"Eloise Bridgerton! Go to the baths right now!" Damn he got me in trouble again. I look up at him his eyes slightly watering from laughing. "I should probably head home and clean up, thank you for the meal it was delicious." He walks out.

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I am dolled up again in a Light blue dress with diamonds in the pattern of flowers on it, Daphne sill gets the family diamonds but I guess this is better than the pearls. This ball is outside but I noticed that Daphne is missing. I am brought back from my thoughts when my mother speaks to me, "Oh look Eloise theres Silas you can go apologize to him." I look up to see him weaving through the crowd, the warm light from the lanterns above us making him look more gorgeous than ever-WAIT! What am I saying, he's a rude idiot. "But Mama he did it to me too." She doesn't seem to care she just nudges me lightly and I walk.

"My mama is making me apologize for last night," I say curtly and he gives me a smirk. "Is it really an apology if it's forced?" I shake my head "This is not a real apology because I am not sorry that you were being an idiot." He keeps smiling and I get that feeling in my stomach again. "Well then I request a dance, and if you accept I will tell your mother that you gave me the most heartfelt apology." Are you kidding me, I have to dance with him. I turn to my mother and see her glare at me and I turn back. I grab his hand and he takes me to the platform that everyone is dancing on.

I see Daphne walk back, hand in hand with the Duke! When did that happen? They join us on the dance floor and the music starts. "When did Daphne and the Duke happen?" Silas furrows his brows, is he jealous? "I do not know, after the last ball she absolutely hated him,"  I nearly stumble while trying to keep track with him.  "Come on sweets, you know how to dance don't you?" He's teasing now "sweets?" I wonder where that name came from. "You know how you're just so sweet to everyone," I can hear the sarcasm in his voice. "Oh look the dance is over!" I lie abandoning him halfway through the dance. Everyone was too busy watching Daphne and the Duke to even notice, even my mama.