Chapter Text
I tucked Anthony’s book into Eliot’s bag, smiling and shaking my head slightly at the reminder of the day he gave it to me for safe keeping. I made sure there were plenty of things on top of it, just in case, and closed it back, grabbing it to take it downstairs.
I could hear Eliot’s giggle coming from the entryway as I made my way down the stairs. As I came down the last few steps, Colin and Eliot came into view, both with big smiles on their faces. Colin leaned forwards, letting Eliot lean backwards and then brought him back up again; the tiny Lord red-faced and giggling as he straightened up. His hands went up to pat Colin on the face, so excited he didn’t know how to contain it.
“You boys ready?” I asked, hating to break up the moment but knowing everyone was waiting for us. Violet would be ready to get her hands on Eliot and Anthony ready to get his hands on his book that had been stored away in our home for safe keeping.
Colin readjusted Eliot, holding him in his right arm so he could take the bag with his left, not allowing me to carry anything on our short walk across the square. As per usual.
As we made our way to Bridgerton house, I couldn’t help but wonder how chaotic today would be. With so many Bridgertons together it was always a guarantee, but tonight they decided was going to be a game night. A ‘Forfeits’ game night.
‘Forfeits’ was usually a game of its own, but the Bridgertons loved to make their own rules for all games. A player would offer up a personal item, something they like, and would have to complete some sort of a challenge. At the end, the loser lost their item and would have to do something to get it back. Almost certainly something embarrassing, especially with the Bridgertons. Tonight, every game would have that attached to it. So, along with Eliot’s things, the bag Colin was carrying had a few extra things of ours in it.
It seemed the normal chaos of Bridgerton house was in full swing. I could hear footsteps running around upstairs; surely Gregory and Hyacinth playing a game of their own in the excitement of what was to come.
The sound of the pianoforte was coming from the drawing room, though it was certainly not Francesca playing. She was still in Scotland, for one.
The sour notes, if you could even call them notes, were being loudly played and the sound of hands banging roughly against the keys made me guess it was little Edmund. Kate had been stuck at the piano many a time with him, the little one loving to slap the keys and make ‘music’ for as long as someone would leave him there. I wasn’t quite sure if it was a love of music or a love of hitting things that was growing in him; I suppose only time would tell. Francesca was his blood, but so was Anthony, so it could develop either way.
As if she had been waiting at the window, Violet came walking quickly, almost jogging, over to take Eliot.
“Oh, Darling, I missed you!” She cooed, the smile on her face getting bigger as he reached his little hands out to her. She hugged him like she hadn’t seen just yesterday, one of her hands playing with his hair.
Colin chuckled. “It’s lovely to see you, too, mother.” He shook his head, his now free arm going around my shoulders, tucking me into his side.
She looked over at us, smiling. “It’s always good to see the two of you, as well, but being a grandmother comes first, I’m afraid.”
I just giggled, not put out by her pushing us to the side at all. I was not unbiased, but I was of the belief that our son was the loveliest child there ever was, little Edmund just barely behind him.
I looked over at my husband, shaking his head at his mother, probably remembering when she reacted the same exact way yesterday, and held out my hand. “I’ll take that bag, love.”
He shook his head. “It’s fine, I’ll take it to the drawing room.”
I kept my hand out. “I have some things I need to take to the nursery, first. I think I can handle a bag, Colin.”
He sighed, handing it to me, begrudgingly. “I try to do something nice, and what do I get?” He asked jokingly.
I rolled my eyes and shook my head, making my way up the main stairs. “Do not be dramatic, my love. It may rub off on Eliot.”
I could hear him chuckle as I turned the corner at the top of the stairs. My first stop was the nursery, as I said, taking out a few toys and things for Eliot. My second was Anthony’s office. I walked up to the door and knocked, getting no response.
I walked in anyway, looking around to see if I saw Anthony, but not finding him. I walked over to his desk, as messy as he mentioned it was the day he visited our house to give me his new book, and placed said book in the bottom left drawer before closing it right back, leaving the room quickly. The last thing I needed was for someone to catch me and ask what I was doing in there.
I could hear what sounded like arguing as I came back down the stairs, the first of what would be many, I’m sure. I walked into the drawing room, setting my bag down by the sofa Colin was sitting on and sat next to him, trying to catch up to what was being argued about.
Thankfully, in the Bridgerton house you would never have to wait long.
“Penelope!” Hyacinth turned towards me, a determined look on her face. “Tell Anthony we must play Blind Man’s Bluff! We haven’t played in ages!”
I raised an eyebrow at her. “What makes you think he’d listen to me?”
She huffed, knowing it was true.
I smiled, hating to lose was a trait every Bridgerton had. The youngest ones had certainly not been spared. “Why don’t we play at Aubrey Hall?” I asked, trying to placate her. “There’s much more room there and less of a chance someone breaks something and ends the game early.”
She nodded, a pout still on her face.
Blind Man’s Bluff was a fun game, to be sure, but it was also dangerous for the players and fragile surroundings. One player would have a cloth tied across their eyes so they couldn’t see and moved around to try to catch one of the other players who were allowed their sight. They then had to try to guess who they caught. If they got it right, the person they caught now had to go on the hunt. If they got it wrong... well, it depended on what the Bridgertons felt like that day. Sometimes they just had to keep playing until they caught someone and got it right. Sometimes you had to do something inevitably embarrassing.
Playing it indoors was certainly not advised, so it was usually played while at Aubrey Hall in the usual Pall Mall field. Plenty of room for everyone to run around and look silly.
Eliot crawled over to me from Violet’s feet at the sofa across from me, icing on his face. I shook my head with a smile. My little bottomless pit. He was not yet a year old and was still feeding from my breast, but that didn’t mean everyone didn’t love letting him taste things that were safe for him to eat, Violet and Colin being the one that did it the most.
Anthony walked in, a spring in his step that was only brought forth by his competitive spirit. He locked eyes with me for a quick second and looked away, his eyes finding Eliot on the floor.
“How’s the little Lord doing today?” Anthony asked, crouching down to greet him.
I smiled. “He’s doing good. Already trying to eat all the food, it seems.”
Anthony snorted. “No big surprise there. He is Colin’s son, after all.”
Colin just smiled, not phased. He loved any comparison to his son. Eliot looked so much like me, but there were some qualities that would certainly let you know who his father was. His stomach that always seemed to have space was one of them.
I looked over at Colin, smiling at the happiness there. “Colin?”
He looked back over at me, smile still in place. “Yes, love?”
I made an apologetic face. “Eliot’s sitting on my feet. Would you mind getting me some water, please?”
He chuckled. “Of course. I’ll be right back.” He kissed my cheek and walked off.
I glanced around, making sure no one was paying attention before leaning down towards Eliot and Anthony. “I put your book in the bottom left drawer of your desk in your office. If you have a chance to sneak it back into our bag before we leave, I’ll take it back with me.”
Anthony nodded as I sat back up, not saying anything. Not wanting to get caught.
He stood up just as Colin was coming back, almost falling over when Eliot started swinging his small wooden horse around, knocking it against the back of Anthony’s knee.
“First day walking, brother?” Colin joked as he sat back down, handing me the glass. I kissed his cheek as a thank you, him smiling in return.
Anthony let out a fake laugh as he walked over to grab Edmund, who had finally noticed his father was in the room and was reaching for him from Kate’s lap. “You know, you don’t have to try to get your son to take me out. I’m fairly certain your wife has enough money to keep you comfortable for the rest of your days.”
Edmund made a noise, as if agreeing with his father, and Anthony looked down at him and nodded. “Tell him.” Anthony said, pointing towards Colin.
Edmund just smiled, reaching one hand up to Anthony’s face and the other down to Kate, who took it with a gentle smile on her face. She stood up so she was closer to him and brought his hand to her mouth, giving it a kiss. He looked over at her and squealed, leaning towards her so she would pick him up again. She laughed, grabbing him as he wrapped his arms around her neck and buried his sweet face into her hair.
Anthony smiled, kissing his head and then Kate on the cheek. “Now that everyone’s here, I’ll be right back.” He said, starting to walk towards the door.
“Where are you going?” Benedict asked from his place in his chair, shuffling a deck of cards.
Anthony just shook his head. “I need to grab something. I’ll be back quickly, brother. Try not to miss me too much.”
Benedict snorted into his drink, rolling his eyes.
I couldn’t help but laugh a bit. At the exchange but also at Anthony being so excited to go get his new book. Seeing how happy he was made me glad I helped him with this. It was the little things in life, I suppose.