Burn with me ~ Bridgerton Apply fic ~

Chapter 17

Romancing the dense

The Rowlington family was already at the country home. Clara now having the job to manage decorations and the party it's self but luckily for her when she told Josephine she was in charge of the food and dessert the younger sister didn't argue.

Louis heard a soft knock on the door, it being one of the first of the early members to show up. He walked over and pulled it open to see Estella outside. "Miss Estella." He greeted with a small bow as he looked at her in the dark blue dress that drapped elegantly around her frame. She looked stunning.

"Lord Rowlington." She greeted politely as she gave him a quick bow. He waved his hand slightly at the formalities. "Please, you can call me Louis." He told her with a soft smile crossing his face as he looked at her. "Then I insist that you call me Stella " Estella said with a smile as she walked over the threshold of the house.

Louis closed the door behind her after she had walked into the house. Her eyes looking around at the flower arrangements, she turned back to face the man. "The decor looks wonderful, it's almost hard to believe that a man picked it." Her voice was laced with mirth so he laughed with the teasing jab.

"Alas I can not take the credit, my sisters have taken over the social scene, Clara with decorations, invitations, being charming. Josephine has taken over the cooking, music, dances anything to do with one of the arts she excels at." He spoke proudly of his sisters, Estella looking at him with soft eyes and a kind smile. She wasn't the type to easily fall in love with a man but there was something about Louis that had always seemed to pull her in even when she didn't notice, maybe it was because he was stoic but so very caring.

"Well then I would say it's in good hands." She spoke with a soft laugh, the sound of her laugh drawing a brighter smile on Louis' face. As he was about to make another comment the sound of footsteps caught there attention.

Josephine walking towards them, not having formally met Estella she looked a hint confused to see her there early. She carried a plate with three different treats on them. "I need tasters, Elmer left after I scolded him." She stared in a matter of fact tone as she held the plate out. With a endearing look Louis turned towards his sister. "Don't you have anyone else to taste your creations?"

"Like I have said Elmer ran like a child, Tommy has went for Charles and has yet to return, Clara is well... Clara. That leaves the two of you to try it." Josephine sighed as she once again offered the plate out. Estella smiled to see the girl so lively. "What do you have?" She asked curiously as she walked closer.

"Madeira cake, treacle tart and raspberry summer pudding." She said with her head held high at someone finally being of help. Since Estella approached the plate Louis followed suit.

The two trying the three treats displayed. A approving light in Estella's eyes. "Those are amazing." She said in surprise that a girl raised wealthy could be such a amazing cook when normally they were kept away from the kitchen. "Practically perfect, dear sister." Louis gave her a smile, laugh softly when he saw the jot that gleamed in her eyes at the approval. "Thank you!" She nods slightly, almost in a bowing manner before she dashed off back towards the kitchen.

Estella chuckled. "She is spirited." She commented. A rare laugh leaving Louis. "You should see her when she is mad, that is spirited." He joked only partly as the two walked further into the home, Louis giving her a bit of a tour as they went.

The two always seemed to enjoy each other's company when they go on their walks through the square, yet Louis was so clueless to how the girl felt and how he felt about her, yet it was so obvious in the way he smiled at her and how he looks at her with a affection that is so rare to see from him.

"So tell me, Louis," he looked towards her when she spoke his given name for the first time. He was sure she's the only one who has ever spoken it properly. "Why haven't you been out there courting?" She asked gently, trying to figure out if he had his eye on someone else. She would rather her heartbreak now then learn after getting so attached, yet he wouldn't invite her early if he was instead in someone else, right?

She hoped not.

Louis thought for a moment. "Well, I suppose with my father gone and my mother out of the family I have put most of my focus on my siblings, time seemed to slip away " he said with a soft hum, he hasn't thought of that.

The answer brought some ease to her as that meant he wasn't interested in any of the other young debutantes of the ton. "ah, I understand. You are very noble." She now spoke with a hint of a flirtatious tone in her voice and yet Louis didn't seem to notice the flirt yet he turned a shade of pink at the compliment. "Thank you, Stella." He gave her a smile.

Now it was her turn to just sort of look at him after hearing her name leave his lips, that's where her name belonged was with him. Yet it was becoming clearer and clearer to the woman that charming and potentially securing Louis Rowlington would be much more then originally thought, yet she wouldn't mind working on making him see how she felt.

She was certain even if he still seemed confused. Maybe it was the new responsibilities that had his attention captive or maybe he was just that emotionally dense?

But either way, whatever was true, one thing Estella knew for sure......

She was going to try to marry this man.

Seems all my chapters lately have been short but it's something, things might get slower feel awful, yay.