❛ the game of love is complicated, but love is not complicated ❜
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
THE NUMEROUS POLISHED MIRRORS MULTIPLIED THE LIGHT OF THE FRESH DUSTED ORNATE CHANDELIERS THAT HUNG FROM THE CEILING. A lavish white rose canopy covered the inside of the entire elegant London estate, along with stunning marble statues. Valerie smoothed her hair with a white-gloved hand as she stood beside her sister waiting for this mother to arrive at the top of the stairs to allow for her sister to make a grand entrance.
She was in dire need of champagne. There were too many ladies to greet with false pleasantries, to many dances to be forced to endure and far too many men to avoid.
"Daph are you sure that you wish to go through with this." Calliope asked her sister as she put a few pieces of hair back in her intricate updo.
"Yes, Calliope." Daphne said dismissively. "I am merely following your words of advice."
"My advice was not meant to inspire you to toy with another man's heart." Calliope muttered, fixing the positioning of her sister's necklace. "I may have been too emphatic with my encouragement, dear sister."
Daphne waved her sister's hands away as she looked forward in confidence. "My intent is not to hurt another, but even if this doesn't turn the duke's head I will at the very least have a Prince."
"Is that what you want sister?" Calliope asked as she gently tilted her sister's chin so that she was looking up at her. "To be a princess based on a lie and deceit."
"If my plan work then nobody should get hurt apart from Simon."
"You should never use someone else's feelings to get your own way." Calliope sighed deeply as she spotted their mother walking towards them. "But if this the path you wish to follow, then I will stand beside you even if I don't entirely agree with your methods."
"Are you feeling all right, dearest?" Violet asked as she greeted her two daughters.
"Exceptionally." Daphne said bluntly as she turned towards the doors, giving the footman a look that indicated they should open the doors.
Lady Bridgerton sent her eldest daughter a concerned look, but Calliope just rolled her eyes because she knew that sister was about to truly earn her title of the diamond of the season. The gown she wore was adorned with the finest silks and lace that the modiste provides, allowing her to turn the heads of the duke and the prince, but also all the ton.
