It is wrong...to love you? ~ E. Bridgerton

~ Once ~

Isabela sat uncomfortably in her large bed. It was late at night. She could make out the figures of trees dancing with the wind. Her chambers were cold, dark, almost frightening. She could not find it within herself to sleep. Those wondering thoughts to the blue-eyed girl were not the reason she could not rest, no. It was those drowning memories of her father's gentle hands and her mother's melodic voice, her brother's small hands held hers as she closed her eyes.

Her bed sheets were not providing warmth, they were the kind her mother had the maids lay on her sleeping body when she was twelve. The kind that were made from the softest of wool and the silkiest cotton. The color resembled the one that adorned her chambers back in Spain: deep emerald green. The smell of apples ran through the air, the same smell her father would bring into their home when he returned from the orchards behind the castle. She was cornered.

She stood from her spot in the expensive bed. Quickly changing herself into clothing that is not approved of in society. A pair of riding trousers, a loose long-sleeve cotton shirt, and the pair of boots her father had gotten her from Italy. With silent action, she swiftly left her chambers, her loyal dog following her footsteps. The two quickly left the large house and entered the stables in the matter of minutes.

Within the next ten minutes, Isabela saddled up her horse, Noble, and hopped on the saddle. The Palomino horse was swift with his movements as they gallopped away from Buckingham House, Isabela's dog following them not far behind.

~

Just a mile away, Anthony Bridgerton saddled up his horse. His restlessness was getting the best of him, scaring away any ounce of sleep he could muster up. Daphne's situation was weighing on his shoulders far to much. He disliked the Duke, he was unfit and a plain out rake. He would not allow for him to be near Daphne.

As he mounted his horse he could see Eloise and Benedict speaking to each other on the swings their father had built for them, he smiled to himself. He continued his way to the back of the garden, making his way towards the field behind the Square. After a few minutes he sped up his horse, galloping away from the not so busy town.

Although he loved taking care of his family, he often grew tired of the overwhelming responsibilities of being the man of the house. Ho loved taking care of his siblings and his mother, but truth to be told he just wished to run away and be with his lover, though things were not going pretty well with said lover.

As the horse's galloping grew stronger and faster he caught sight of a Palomino horse galloping not to far in front of him, a dog following close by. The rider wore a cape, though he oculd clearly see the long hair the flew outside of the cape.

He followed after the rider, intrigued by the beautiful horse and the night owl who rode their horse at a fast speed. He knew it was a woman, but who in their right mind would let a lady gallop at such speed in the middle of the night, unaccompanied.

"Miss!" he yelled out as he sped up his horse.

Isabela's ears perked up at the voice, she turned her head and saw a dark horse with a man galloping towards her, she recognized the voice but failed to put a face to it. She pressed her noble horse to be faster, afrenaline running through her body.

"Stop! I mean no harm!" the man yelled out once again, he just wished to help the young lady. "I am Anthony Bridgerton! Please Miss, I must know you are well!" he exclaimed, his distress was clear through his voice.

The last name clicked into Isabela's brain immediately, she ordered her horse to slow his run allowing Anthony to finally be able to catch up with her. Her breath mirrored her horse's, fast and short, catching their breath's after having ran for some moments.