Bridgerton: early years

The prank war at Aubrey Hall.

A/N: I unfortunately uploaded my draft's but not to worry here is the real story. Please vote and leave lots of comments

Setting: Aubrey Hall, Summer 1809

The drawing room was filled with the warm, golden light of the afternoon sun, creating a cozy ambiance that belied the mischief brewing within its walls. Francesca sat at the piano, her fingers dancing over the keys, playing a jaunty tune that seemed to tease the very air. Meanwhile, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the distinct scent of impending chaos.

Penelope and Eloise nestled into a plush window seat, heads bent close as they plotted their latest scheme—an elaborate retelling of Robin Hood.

"Did you know he could shoot an arrow through a coin?" Penelope exclaimed, her eyes wide with wonder.

"I know; I just read it," Eloise replied, nonchalantly flipping the page of her book, clearly unimpressed by Pen's enthusiasm.

"Really? You should try aiming for something smaller, like Colin's brain," Anthony interjected.

Eloise snorted. "Good luck with that! He has the coordination of a one-legged goose! I still feel sorry for that gardener."

"Hey! I thought we agreed never to speak of the gardener," Colin huffed, dropping the remains of his biscuit with exaggerated flair.

"Poor gardener," Penelope giggled. "What did he ever do to you?"

"Let's just say he now has a very healthy fear of archery," Colin retorted, crossing his arms dramatically "But calling me a goose was entirely uncalled for." 

"A goose!" Pen echoed, giggling. "You're much too handsome for that comparison, Colin."

"Charming and handsome," Colin said, puffing out his chest. "A veritable paragon of virtue."

"Paragon of virtue? You're more like a mischief-maker," Eloise quipped, rolling her eyes dramatically.

Just then, Eloise turned her teasing toward Benedict, who was across the room, his pencil furiously scratching at paper. "That looks... awful," she said, feigning horror.

 Benedict, who had been furiously sketching in a corner, looked up, eyebrows raised. "If only you all could focus on something other than my artistic talents," he muttered, clearly unamused.

Anthony, who had been brooding in the other corner like a storm cloud, only daring to make a whitty comment or to broke his silence with a gruff, "I'm bored."

"Then let's play more pall-mall!" Francesca suggested, her fingers pausing mid-melody.

"Not again! We've played three times already!" Anthony groaned, dramatically rolling his eyes.

"Fine, how about a prank war?" Penelope suggested, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

The room fell silent, confusion etched on everyone's faces.

"A what?" Colin asked, raising an eyebrow.

"A prank war!" Pen reiterated, practically bouncing in her seat. "We come up with clever tricks to play on each other!"

Benedict leaned back, a smirk forming. "Like the time I put a mouse in Colin's—"

"Thanks for that lovely reminder," Colin said, grimacing "but lets not revive it shall we" the last thing he wanted people to know was that he once had a mouse... well you know.

"Aw, are you afraid Penelope will judge you?" Eloise teased, leaning closer. "Well, joke's on you; she already does" she said smacking the book in his face.