[2] The Queen Mother of Württemberg | A. Bridgerton

Chapter 6

The Warmth of Aubrey Hall

We all know the great length's a young lady will go in pursuit of a proposal. And apparently, she will travel great distances too.

Lord Anthony Bridgerton appears to be inching ever so closer to selecting his Viscountess and to that end has invited our diamond to join him for an excursion at his ancestral home, Aubrey Hall.

Country air indeed clears the mind and invigorates the body. Might this be the final gust that pushes the Viscount over the precipice of a proposal?

However, it seems the country air at Aubrey Hall will be a touch more regal this season. The Viscount Bridgerton has extended a most intriguing invitation. None other than Her Majesty The Queen Mother of Württemberg, along with her esteemed family, has been beckoned to join the Bridgertons and the Sharmas at their grand country estate.

One must wonder—what could possibly compel a royal of such stature to accept an invitation to mingle with the ton?

Is our dear Queen Mother of Wüttemberg here to evaluate the ton's chosen gem, to ensure she is fit for a title beyond mere diamond?

Or, dare I suggest, are there ulterior motives at play? Motives known only to two particular souls, who might be reliving the past as they chart the course of their futures?

Of course, the luckless souls remaining in town will have to find new diversions in the absence of their most precious of stones.

Aubrey Hall, Kent

The carriage rolled steadily along the countryside road, the rhythmic clatter of wheels over gravel doing little to calm Charlotte's racing heart. She sat stiffly, her gloved hands twisting nervously in her lap, as she gazed out the window at the familiar scenery. Aubrey Hall loomed ever closer with each passing mile, and with it, memories she had long buried began to resurface.

Across from her, Anton and Amalia were seated quietly, their excitement barely contained as they looked out the windows, pointing out the changing landscape. They were oblivious to their mother's anxiety, caught up in the thrill of a new adventure. Seated beside them were Olivia and Evelyn, their devoted caretakers, whose calm presence usually reassured Charlotte. But today, even their composed demeanor could not ease the tension that knotted in her chest.

Olivia, ever perceptive, noticed the faraway look in the Queen Mother's eyes and the slight tremor in her hands. Leaning forward, she placed a gentle hand on Charlotte's arm.

"Your Majesty, everything will be alright," she said softly, her tone soothing. "There is no need to be anxious. Lord Bridgerton extended this invitation himself, and I am certain he is looking forward to your visit."

"I appreciate your kindness, Olivia," she forced a smile, grateful for Olivia's attempt to comfort her, but the words did little to ease the turmoil within her. "But I cannot shake the feeling that I am intruding on a private moment. This is supposed to be the Viscount's time with Miss Edwina, and I fear my presence might disrupt what should be a peaceful courtship."

"Your Majesty, if the Viscount wished for privacy, he would not have invited you. He specifically asked for you and the children to come, and that means he wants you there," Evelyn, who had been quietly observing, chimed in, her voice steady and reassuring. "Whatever his reasons, I believe they are genuine. You need not worry about what others might think."

"Perhaps you're right," she murmured, more to herself than to them. "But it has been fourteen years since I last set foot at Aubrey Hall. So much has changed... I have changed. What if..."