Midnight Rain:

Chapter 93: Another Week Later:

One week later.

"Roses and lilacs... I think, this time. Cheerful. Thank you, Mrs. Wilson." Violet said as Mrs. Wilson wrote down what flowers to get at the market to send to the Danbury House, since Kate had not woken up yet since her fall.

"Are you sending flowers to the Sharmas again?" Hyacinth asked her mother, standing at the table of sweets as a servant poured some more tea.

"There's nothing worse than rotting flowers when someone is unwell." Violet told her youngest daughter as she picked up a tea cup, before walking over to her other children.

"We're not attending this Featherington Ball, are we?" Benedict asked his mother, looking away from his sketchbook.

"Oh, I do not know. I suppose it is a good thing we were invited." Violet sighed, looking at the protrait of her and Edmund, before sitting next to Eloise. "On my walk this morning I was given the cut direct. Twice... At least Lady Whistledown does not seem to be writing about it." Violet sighed, looking at her children.

"She does not seem to be writing at all anymore. Is that not right, El?" Colin asked, not looking up from the paper he was reading.

Eloise just glanced up from her novel she was reading, not saying anything.

"Eloise, uh... perhaps a stroll with Penelope might help clear your mind." Violet smiled, turning to look at Eloise who sat to the left of her.

"The last thing Penelope needs is to be seen consorting with the likes of me." Eloise said with a hint of distraught in her tone. "The Featherington know how bad this is. And you do too. Even if you refuse to admit." Eloise scoffed, trying to focus on her book.

"No one has informed me that we have lost three staff in the last month." Anthony said, entering the drawing room as he was trying to fix his jacket. "These are precisely the things I must know about." He sighed as he looked at four of his siblings and his mother.

"We are not the only ones affected by our ill reputation of late, Anthony." Violet sighed at her son.

"And didn't the Queen not send replacement staff members? Surely to keep an eye on who told Lady Whistledown--" Benedict went to say.

"Colin. Would you care to inform me about anything?" Anthony asked with a scoff, interrupting Benedict's comment.

"I do not take note of staff changes." Colin shrugged, furrowing his brows.

"What about our accounts? You apparently do not seem to take note of them either, since I spent the last two days balancing our books, only to discover that you have taken out a rather large sum. Whatever for?" Anthony scolded his brother as everyone looked at Colin in a bit of confusion.

Colin hesitated, looking at his staring family. "If you must know, I was exploring an investment with Lord Featherington..." He tried to explain as Anthony scoffed.

"This is just what makes the difficulties in this household. No one gives any thought as to how it must be managed." Anthony scoffed, clenching his jaw.

"He is one and twenty, Brother." Benedict spat, looking at Anthony.

"Is no one in this family allowed to make their own decisions?" Eloise scoffed, looking at her eldest brother.

"You, keep doodling." Anthony spat at Benedict. "And do not ask me to speak of your activities. I wouldn't know where to begin." Anthony spat at Eloise.

Eloise scoffed to herself, closing her book. "May I be excused?" Eloise asked her mother with a sigh.

"I must go too." Colin sighed, folding his paper as he got up from his chair, too. "But do not worry, Brother. I shall send you notice of every step I take today..." He said to Anthony, tapping his chest with his paper.

"Yes. Doodling awaits, I suppose." Benedict added, following Eloise and Colin.

"I do have so much to read... unless I could go to the palace to join Evelina?" Hyacinth added, standing up when Violet shook her head at her daughter.

"I have my Latin." Gregory spoke up, getting up from his chair too.

And just like that it was only Anthony and Violet.

Anthony sighed, looking down as he squeezed his eyes shut. He was tired and upset.

"How is she?" Violet asked, causing Anthony to look up at her.

"I do not know. I have not--"

"You have not been to see her? It has been a week since she went to go stay with her mother..." Violet stood up, setting her teacup down.

"Have I not made it clear I've been busy?" Anthony scoffed at his mother.

Violet sighed, walking a few steps closer to him. "I would be lying if I said I was not worried about you, Anthony..." She sighed as he tried to keep a straight face.

"I do not have time for this." He said, trying to hold back his emotions.

"Well... perhaps you might wish to make time." She sighed as his face softened a bit. "I do not know what happened between the two of you... But she is your wife." Violet sighed, walking out of the room as Anthony sighed, looking down at his wedding ring.

He sniffled, trying not to cry.

Meanwhile, James stayed at the Chateau, away from his aunt and Elijah. Elijah had been trying to distract himself, by making his staff set up his Chateau in France, where he and Edwina would go at the end of the season, and Lady Mary, who he said could join them.

Then, at the Danbury house, Kate was still in her coma, according to the doctor. Lady Danbury, Lady Mary, and Edwina stayed by her bedside.

At the palace.

"Would you like some tea, my darling?" Queen Charlotte asked, walking out to the gardens to see Evelina sitting under a canopy, reading.

"I'm fine, thank you, Mama..." Evelina looked up, braving a smile.

"I cannot focus on my plan to take down that scribbling scoundrel when I know that you are sad..." Charlotte sighed, walking over to sit across from Evelina.

"I'm not sad, Mama... I... I cannot hurt him further." Evelina sighed, looking down at her shaking hands.

"So, you will stay here forever? I'm fine with that." Charlotte chuckled, giving her a small smile.

"I do not know, Mama... I just... I just couldn't stay and watch the hurt I was causing him and his family. I brought them to ruin..." Evelina sighed, when Charlotte leaned forward to grab her daughter's hand.

"Apparently, you were not the only one. You associated with those Sharmas and the scandalous wedding. And then, Miss Eloise. Who would have thought of her to associate with radicals?" Charlotte said, looking concerned as Evelina sighed, shutting her book.

"Eloise is just imaginative... She believes what Queen Elizabeth I believed in. Nothing more. She's empowered, like someone I know very well..." Evelina smiled at her mother. "And I wanted to help James... I invited Georgie to the wedding only to embarrass him in front of his father. I wanted to help fix what I messed up." Evelina sighed, looking down at her wedding ring.

"You did not mess up that wedding. They did that themselves. You cannot take the fall for something you did not do." Charlotte spat a bit. "You have always loved so hard and tried to make everything perfect. But you cannot help everyone, my darling... Only yourself and your family." Charlotte tried to reassure her. "Now, come... I have had the cooks prepare your favorites." Charlotte smiled, standing up when Evelina smiled, standing up with her mother.

"That means a lot, Mama." Evelina smiled, holding her mom's hand.

~season 2, episode 8: "The Viscount Who Loved Me"~

~1250 words~