It is wrong...to love you? ~ E. Bridgerton

~ Ocho ~

"Miss Featherington has arrived, Miss Eloise," a butler spoke as he stepped into the library, Eloise looked up from her new book and nodded. Standing up and heading down the stairs to meet with her friend.

"Pen, hi," she smiled as she slung her arms around the redhead, welcoming her with a hug and a smile.

"Good morning, El," her smile radiated across the room, "did you see what Whistledown wrote of last night's ball?" her sly smile showed and Eloise rolled her eyes.

"I do not wish to speak of whatever it is that my brother and the Princess have 'sparking up' between them," she rubbed her hand across her face, Penelope smiled, "it is already insufferable to have Benedict speak constantly of her, now it is even more insufferable to have Whistledown write of her," she let out a groan, "must Whistledown only focus on gossip?" She led the two of them towards the door, leading them out towards the gardens.

"I believe Whistledown is quite smart," the taller girl looked down at her, confused by her words, "her words captivate her audience quite well, I could just imagine the money she makes,"

"Well that is because she is a clever writer, she is knowledgeable of her audience and pays some mind to her surroundings," her steps sloppy as she dragged her feet on the ground, enjoying her time in normal shoes and not having to go through the pain of wearing heels or proper shoe wear, "however I wonder how it would help society if she were to touch on more important subjects, such as women having rights, and perhaps opening higher education for women of all ages," she let go of Penelope's arm, using her hands to prove a point of her wording as she walked in front of Penelope, walking backward to face her friend.

"Eloise, you will fall," the shorter girl warned but Eloise shrugged her off.

"I am more than capable of walking backward, Pen, I am not a child-" Just as she finished her sentence, she was sent flying back due to a small boulder she had not noticed.

Her body fell back and she landed on her hands, pain shooting up her wrists. She let out a groan, feeling pain travel up her spine as her hips ached from the harsh fall. "Eloise!" Benedict ran up to her, kneeling beside her as he tried to contain his smile. Isabela arrived a second later, kneeling on the other side of Eloise, not caring for her expensive dress.

"Are you alright?" her voice trapped Eloise in a trance, her mind being plagued by the pain that was shooting up from her wrists and hips, but that was overcome by the scent of mint and lavender.

"Sister, are you alright?" her brother asked, his smile was laced with concern as the girl took longer than he anticipated to answer. Isabela placed her hand on Eloise's shoulder, urging the girl to break out of her trance and look at the royal's hand before turning to Benedict.

"I simply fell, brother, I did not get trampled by a carriage," her sassy voice made the three of them smile, Penelope sharing a smile with the Princess while they all stood.

"What caused you to take such a fall, Miss Bridgerton?" Her voice was soft as always, and her eyes filled with concern, although both Benedict and Penelope shared quiet laughs as the scene of Eloise's fall replayed in their minds.

Blue eyes looked up to meet the dark coffee-brown eyes, Eloise's usually rampant mind came to a halt. Isabela's eyes, which she oh so adored, stared down at her. While the two other companions laughed, her eyes held the same amount of balanced concern and amusement. It did not make Eloise feel foolish for taking a fall, but instead urged her to position herself in the comforting cradle the Princess's arms would offer.

Wait, what?

"A rock," her simple voice and wide-eyed stare confused Isabela, yet the blue-eyed girl simply stood, ignoring the shooting pain that traveled up her spine.