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One of Eloise Bridgerton’s pet peeve is receiving a letter with a smudged area filled with ink. It can vex her so easily to the point of insanity. She knows it is a sign that there is something that the writer is trying to remove in the content.
She held in her hand the letter that came from the printer’s apprentice. In it was a hand written letter filled with the thoughts of the man that she is in love with. Although they have never mentioned it in person nor in letter but Eloise Bridgerton knew in the bottom of her heart that she is in love with Theo Sharpe. Albeit, he just sent a letter with a smudged part and now, a part of Eloise is anxious as to what is the reason for this error. Add to her horror the fact that he wanted to talk to her soon in private and face to face.
It is a common idea that it would be scandalous if a lady like Eloise Bridgerton will ever be with a commoner like Theo Sharpe. He is a man with no land nor title but for Eloise, he is greater than any eligible bachelor in the ton. He has an honest job, a skilled writer and printer, a person with great principles in life, and the most charming wit that made Eloise Bridgerton’s toes curl whenever they are in heated discussion.
If you know Eloise Bridgerton, you would know how she loves a heated debate. Let alone a man who can ignite the passion inside her while can make her smile or laugh so easily. All of these things, Theo Sharpe can just do in every single moment with no falter nor worry.
Currently, the lady is riding a carriage early in the morning just so she could visit the apprentice and confront to him about the smudge in his letter. It is troublesome for her to intrude in the wee hours of the morning but this can’t wait. She received the letter last night and read it almost a hundredth time, trying to decipher the smudge area of the letter.
“Apologies, can we go faster?” Eloise shouted so that her footman can hear her.
“We are almost there, my lady.” John replied, he could see that the lady is in distress as he saw her grip the letter that the printer gave to him for her. Although he did not read the letter, he can already assume that this will be a long morning for him.
“Thank you, John!”
One last time, she looked at the letter and wondered the reason why the apprentice wanted to see her as soon as she can. Is it to talk once more about the next assembly or stop her from her plans to include him in the next soiree in the ton, or worst, break up with her because of their illicit affair.
They have an affair. This was true for Eloise as they have been sharing private moments with one another in the printshop. During these sweet moments, Eloise and Theo are mostly talking about one another, discuss about the recent issues in the society, but mostly engaged in a heated kiss and embrace that is quite thrilling and magnetic for her.
Alas, Eloise has arrived at the print shop. With no one to stop her, even beating John to open the door of the carriage, she went down with a surprised John. She handed him the money for his services with no small talk as she began to walk with great strides towards the print shop. It was till dark but she could see light inside the store.
John looked at the lady like a woman in an important mission. He gulped as he saw a quick look at her heated gaze towards the shop. One thing or another, the footman knew that the printer's apprentice is in big trouble. Eloise looks as if she will devour him with big argument.
Eloise Bridgerton knew that Theo Sharpe is awake, and she will know the full content of that letter.
She did not even knock but opened the door. It creaked ever so slightly but with her quick moves, Eloise Bridgerton is immediately face to face with a surprised Theo Sharpe. In an instant, she saw him wearing his linen shirt without the vest this time. His hair is neatly done but her eyes immediately went on his chest which she could see clearly because of the buttons undone. It was too early for her to drop by which is probably the reason why he is in this state.
“Eloise?” He blinked, as if not believing that the lady visited him this early.
“Why do you want to talk?” Eloise immediately closed the door and shown to him the letter on her hand.
Theo gulped at seeing the letter because of her firm grip. He never intended for this to happen. Knowing the lady, she must have been so anxious at his remarks to meet him soon.
“Are you breaking up with me?” Eloise added, looking very stoic as if doing her best not to show any sign of weakness in front of him.
This question made Theo jump in action as he immediately dropped the papers on his hands to the nearest table and walked towards her.
“What? No!” He replied as he immediately faced her. “I would never.”
Realizing that she was holding her breath, she finally took one after hearing him confirming that he is not planning to break up with her.
“Then what is this smudge?” She asked, showing him the letter.
Dearest Eloise,
Is it possible for a human being to crave the presence of another one this much? I have been fantasizing and day dreaming you almost every single moment since your last visit. I could not help as if a part of me is missing just because of our blasted distance.
However, your letters and notes in the book that you have sent is a lifesaver. It is the only way I could reach out to for every moment that I miss you. Reading your letters are the ones that keeps me from going to your estate just to see you.
I have been dreaming of a future between us, can you believe it? You and I together almost every single day. Your face will be the sight that I will see first thing in the morning and the last thing I’ll see in the night. Your touch and kisses will be my drugs every day as we live together soon.
I guess what I am trying to say is that____________________________. I know you hate smudges but I truly think it is better for us to speak soon. I must bring something to your attention in person. It is something that has been bugging me and a part of me could not even hide this any longer.
Irrevocably yours,
Theo Sharpe
“What is it?” Eloise demanded closing the distance between them. “What is it that you wanted to tell me? Do you have another lover?”
“No! I just wanted to tell----” Theo began to explain but got cut off in mid-sentence.
“Are you going to join the army?”
“No! I just----”
“Are you dying------”
“No..”
“Then tell me!”
“I LOVE YOU!” Theo unexpectedly confessed. “I love you, Eloise Bridgerton”.
Time seemed to stop for Eloise Bridgerton as she heard him finally say it to her. He spoke those words to her with so much passion that she was momentarily stunned in place.
“You are in love with me?”
“Yes” Theo sighed, “I’m sorry if I had to confess like this. I never meant to explode like that. I just---”
“Just what?” Eloise asked.
“I just wished you’d let me finish my sentence” Theo says with a huff. Although she could tell that he was getting annoyed with her but the energy between them right now is electric.
“Oh---”
“I’m sorry” Theo mutters so gently, “I should not have snapped at you. However, there are moments where I can’t help myself for feeling this fire inside of me that only you can bring. I confessed in the letter but decided to do it in person instead.”
“So the smudged part in the letter is you confessing that you are in love with me?” Eloise could not help but cup his cheeks with her hands. The man leaned into her touch as always as if he craves for her so much.
Theo nodded, as he grabbed her hand and kissed it so sweetly.
“I love you too, Theo.” Eloise confessed back.
A smile crept up on his face the moment he heard her say the words he only dreamt of her saying to him. “Am I dreaming?”.
This question made Eloise chuckle, “No, Theo. This is not a dream.”.
“Then tell me once more.” Theo looks at her eyes, his heart full of love and happiness.
Eloise nodded, “I love you, Theo Sharpe.”.
The man could no longer bear it, he leaned in and kiss her on the lips with a peck, “Again?”.
“I love you, Theo”, She says once more her eyes closed trying to feel his lips on hers while his hands are around her waist.
“Again.”
“I love you, Theo”
Eloise could feel his lips leave a trail of blazing kissing from her lips to her cheek and right now, savoring a sweet spot on her neck.
“Again, my lady”
“I----I love you” She says, trying not to moan but it seems that her confession has become a part moan as she continued to savor his kisses on her neck.
“With my name, Eloise.” He says as his strong hands grabbed her by the waist so he could have her sit on the nearest table.
“I love you so much, Theo” Eloise says once more as her hands are now exploring on his hair. Using it as if It was the only thing she could cling to life because of the delicious actions that the apprentice is doing to her neck.
"Good girl" Theo smirks, "Again."
"I---oh God," He sucks on her neck, "I love you"
The moment he heard her say it once more, he growled as he left her neck and began to kiss her once more on the lips. If Eloise is telling him that she loves him so much thru words then he can tell her how much he loves her thru his kisses. He wanted to make her feel his love to her so much that he wanted her to become insane because of his lips.
They continued their actions as if the very art of kissing is the only way for them to breathe and live. In the wee mornings inside the printshop, you can hear the gasp and moans of Eloise and Theo together as they kissed by the table. Her legs around his waist, while her hands are exploring his chest and hair. Meanwhile the apprentice continued to kiss her on the lips and neck as his hands are dangerously in her waist.
The moment they stopped is the time both realized the need to breathe.
As they try to catch their breath, Eloise could see Theo’s eyes are hungry for more and she knew in her heart that she is feeling the same but they both knew that this is not the time for that.
“I can’t believe we just did that” Theo joked.
This made Eloise chuckle as she struggles to catch her breath, “I feel the same.”
Theo could not help but look at Eloise’s state. Her lips were red and swollen, some parts of her neck are now red which is his fault and her chest breathing in and out as they both try to breathe normally. For Theo Sharpe, Eloise Bridgerton keeps on getting more beautiful and intoxicating.
“I love you, Eloise.” Theo says as he plants a peck on her lips, “With all my heart and mind, forever and always.”.
“I love you too, Theo. Forever and always”
They shared one more kiss in the beautiful morning in the printshop. They will forever cherish the first time they both confessed their love for one another. In a few years, they will laugh as they share this with their children on how they first confessed their feelings with one another. With Theo always jesting how Eloise was fuming during the first part of their confrontation. It was all because of a smudge letter.