Unexpected Love

Bloomsbury

Anthony POV

Bloomsbury Printing Shop

"Wait here." I order Benedict as the footman opens the carriage door and I step out the carriage and walk towards the printing shop.

"Anthony stop." Benedict says grabbing my arm.

I yank my arm from his hold and turn to face him, "I told you to wait inside the carriage."

"And you're a fool to think I would sit by and let you do something idiotic that you'll regret once you have calmed yourself." Benedict fires back, "Now we are going to calmly walk in and ask if Eloise is there or if she visited today."

I glare at Benedict who glares back at me neither of us breaking eye contact.

"Please Anthony if we want to find Eloise we need to remain calm especially for mother." Benedict says and I reluctantly nodded.

"Very well will do things your way." I give in Benedict smiles in relief, "But if the workers are not cooperative then we do things my way." I added and walked inside before Benedict could reply.

I walk in and see a black haired boy behind the front desk his back facing me he turns around once he hears the bell door and he looked to be the same age as Eloise.

"This must be the man that Lady Whistledown talked about the improper company that Eloise was unchaperoned with."

Benedict POV

"Anthony." I said as I follow him and see him glaring at the boy behind the desk. He looks at us bewildered before smiling at us, but it was a fake smile.

"Hello how can I help you gentleman." The printer asked.

Before I could answer Anthony answers first.

"My brother and I are looking for our younger sister." Anthony said and the printer brows furrowed, "Has lady by the named Eloise Bridgerton come to the store today?" Anthony asked as he walks towards the front desk.

The printer's eyes widened at the mention of Eloise name and then glares at Anthony.

He walks around the desk and faces Anthony, "I have not heard of her nor has a lady come to the store today. None of the ton women will want to be seen here and I'm sure that would include your sister."

I place my hand on Anthony shoulder and pull him back before he does something dumb, "Thank you for your help we will now be leav-

I am interrupted by Anthony pushing me aside and shoving the printer boy hard against the wall. Anthony roughly grabbed the worker white collar of shirt.

"Anthony let go of him!" I exclaimed trying to pull him away, but he turned and roughly pushed me away and turns his attention back to the printer boy and slams the printer boy against the wall again.

"I will not stand by and listen to you lie to my brother and I face. Stop pretending that you do not know our sister. Now I'll ask again and this time you will tell us the truth. Has our sister come here today." Anthony asked growling in anger.

"No, she has not she stopped coming here because people were beginning to talk about her coming here." He tells us looking at Anthony with fear in his eyes.

"Do you have any idea where she might be?" I questioned hoping he'll have a lead for us to start looking.

"ANSWER MY BROTHER QUESTION!" Anthony yelled lifting the printer boy from the floor.

"Anthony enough!" I exclaimed successfully managing to pull Anthony away from him and keeping my hand on his shoulder in case he attacks the printer boy again.

"I do not have any clue where she may be but perhaps the friend she is writing letters to may know." He reveals to us, and we look at him in shock by this unexpected news.

He looks at us in confusion, "Did you not know about her friend?"

"Eloise was writing to someone?" Anthony and I asked in unison and he nods.

"Who is the friend she was writing to?" Anthony asked.

"I have no clue. I only know this because before Eloise stopped coming here. She dropped a letter just as she was about to leave, and I handed the letter back to her and the look of relief on her face when I gave her back the letter made me curious who wrote to her, so I asked her. She never told me the person name only that it is a friend she has been writing letters too since the end of last year season. That is all I know nothing else." He tells us.

Anthony shoves my hand away from his shoulder and existed the store leaving me along with the printer boy.

"We appreciate the help, and I am sorry for my brother's behavior. He does not behave this way but we are all just deeply worried about Eloise whereabouts." I tell him and turn around to leave the store.

"Wait."

I stop and turn around and see the concern on his face for the first time since we arrived here.

"Once you... you found her can you tell me, please." He asked and my eyes softened as the concern he has for Eloise.

"Of course, and if you have an idea where she might be please tell us." I tell him and he nods.

"Thank you-"

"Theo." He introduces himself.

"Thank you, Theo for the help as well as being friends with Eloise." I tell him with a small smile before walking out the shop I get inside the carriage and see Anthony clenching his hand as he looked out the window lost.

The footman closes the door, and we stayed silent as the carriage began moving.

"I had no idea she had a friend she was writing to." Anthony said breaking the silence between us.

"Neither did I brother." I tell him gently patting his shoulder feeling disappointed that I failed to notice Eloise writing letters to a friend and that she did not tell me who her new friend is.

We sat in silence as the carriage took us back home.