Contrite & Convicted

Finale Part I

Ester sat amongst her family, amongst the turmoil that filled her mind and stood her ground.

She looked around the table and met the eyes of every individual who sat at the table before her.

Colin, a foolish boy who tried to make deals with a con artist and nearly cost himself and the rest of the family financial ruin.

Hyacinth, just longed to join the ton, longed to be her sister Daphne. A foolish notion, for she would find she could be her own diamond. Not everything needed to be comparable to Daphne.

Gregory, who currently looked towards his father's portrait. He longed for Anthony to buck up and fill the role he never had.

Benedict, a foolish artist. A brilliant one but the object of being a rake simply for the fear of public events, scandal and public opinion was beyond him. Who hated his brother for paying for appraisal for his artwork. Ben was better than that.

Violet—a still grieving widow who placed so much on her children's shoulders. Much more than they could bear. Fearing the tons inattention like they would surely die without the pack of wolves outside their very doors.

To Francesca—who was quiet, and alone. Despite the bustling house of Bridgertons Manor. She was also alone.

Eloise—defeated at the object of another ball, afraid of being married off and not allowed to express her feelings. With tunnel vision on finding Whistledown.

Then to her husband, Anthony. Withered and aged within the past year. Who could blame him? A potential annulment of marriage, a child who cannot hear or progress like his brother, a wife who constantly bickers with him, who can never seem to forgive him.

Then to herself....ashamed. What has she done? This family was so full of life...love...happiness and it was falling apart.

They say the mother is the heart of the home. The beacon of darkness. Had she been that? To them?

No. She'd been caught up in her own family of negativity. Her own mind of depression.

She felt a tear trickle down her cheek.

She wouldn't let it hold her down any longer. She refused.

She took a large gulp of wine—and slammed her hands down onto the table and dramatically rose to attention.

"That is quite enough!" The families eyes all motioned towards her, shocked and concerned all at once.

"Dear sister?" Colin asked, motioning with his eyes towards Anthony as if to say 'what did you do now?'

"We are Bridgertons for goodness sakes! We cannot allow ourselves to wallow in our pity any longer. We must solve this. Quickly now."

They all shared looks of confusion, towards Ester, towards each other.

"Es are you feeling quite well?" Violet whispered, hoping this wasn't a case of mad on their doorstep now.

"No I most certainty am not well—I wish for us to find peace. So we will find it. We will attend the ball and we will show we are a united force. No longer held together by whisperings and murmurs. We are Bridgertons for goodness sake. We shall not let this swallow us. So let us leave our troubles at the dinner table and move on."

There was a silence that could not be described as each of the family looked towards each other for guidance.

It was Violet who let out a giggle. Yes a giggle and began to cry.

"I too am tired of this depression." And Violet did the most un-Violet like thing and took a scoop of her carrots and flicked them at Eloise.

The children all screamed and Eloise beamed with joy. She grabbed a fistful of potatoes and flung them straight back at her mother.