Work Text:
It was only a fortnight, Eloise Bridgerton realized.
It has been a month since a terrible storm came to the ton and the incident in her room where she cried her heart out. As she stood at the balcony of Lady Danbury’s mansion, she began to reminisce the days that she encountered and experienced love for the very first time in her life. It was beautiful and clumsy yet so her as she recalled their story. A soft chuckle came out of her in response of all the things that has happened.
The moon shined a silver glow that Eloise could appreciate for the first time. Looking back, the golden light of the soiree that her mother forced her to come contrasted the light outside. The music and voices of the people enjoying the night were ringing her ear. She envied the ton for being so oblivious of the happiness that she found with the commonfolk. It might have been just two weeks of her running away from her real life however for Eloise Bridgerton, it was the most glorious two weeks of her life.
A sigh came out of her mouth.
Feeling the cold breeze, a thought came in her mind as she remembered the warmth she craved when she was with him. Feeling his hand although rough to touch, made her stomach warm and her cheeks blush. It was the first time that she touched him without any gloves and if she could describe it, it was almost heavenly. However, as much as she love their first interaction when he touched on her, it was the last time as well.
Eloise Bridgerton could only blame herself.
It was her decision to end it with him. It was she who went away and left her heart at the printshop. Ever since that night, she took it upon herself to remember that it was her fault for being so easy to manipulate because of her naivety. This is the reason why every day felt like every Monday stuck in an endless February.
After much consideration, Eloise Bridgerton could only conclude one thing. She is in love with the Printer’s apprentice. She loves him like a writer who just finished the best novel he could do. She loves him as if he’s the source of her happiness. It was almost ruinous for her to come up with these thoughts but it was the truth.
The truth is that Eloise Bridgerton loves Theo Sharpe and it’s ruining her life.
Looking over, she saw Penelope and Colin whispering and giggling inside the golden glow of the soiree. Truth to be told, she is still angry with her former best friend who is the reason of her giving up one of the best thing in her life. She is angry of her for making her give up Theo. A part of her is also envious because of the fact that Penelope fell in love with someone from the Ton. They had a chance and meanwhile, Eloise had her heart taken by someone who would ruin her and her family.
If she ever dived down and let herself let go of all the rules of the ton in exchange for her true desire and love, it would be a form of treason.
Eloise Bridgerton looked back and saw the lights from the town. She wished to see the printshop even if it was miles away from her. During this time, she knew that the printer’s apprentice would still be working in order to accomplish the papers to be released tomorrow morning. If she was not naïve enough nor believed her former best friend’s life, she wondered if she would have been planning tonight to sneak up to see him?
Her questions led her to wonder the biggest regret of her life, she wondered if she would have kissed him?
She felt one of her heart strings broke as she recalled his face filled with hurt and regret when she backed out from the almost kiss, they shared in their last night. It made her want to kill herself during that time for being so stupid and a coward.
Another realization hits her, the almost kiss that they did not share ruined her.
Eloise shook her head. She did her best not to think about it even more. To be quite frank, during this season, she did her best to learn the ways of the Ton. Befriending Cressida, the only person who gave her the attention and a helping hand after Eloise’s ruinous scandal in Lady Whistledown’s column, it was hard. She did her best to find a good husband this season and yet none of them could compare to the Printer’s apprentice.
Even if they were rich, intellectual or handsome. Eloise knew that her heart is set to another. Eloise added that to the reasons why Theo Sharpe ruined her life.
It was a damning feeling to realize how utterly she is helpless. Looking up, she sees the moon being covered by the clouds casting a shadow over them all. It was like her life. The moment she casted Theo aside, her life became a shadowy land with no source of light.
No one is here to blame except her.
Eloise hated it. She hated everything that is happening.
As the moonlight shined once more as soon as the clouds floated away, she realized that there is still hope. Light can triumph against darkness. She can also come out of the darkness and light her way just like how the moon did once the clouds were gone.
With newly found courage and realization, she slowly went her way inside the soiree. She passed her family who did not even notice her figure running away from everyone. Her determined steps took her outside of the party and finally seen an abandoned horse.
Eloise Bridgerton is a skilled lady. She knew that but none of her family except Benedict truly knew her. One of her skills is she can ride a horse as well as her eldest brother. She is a good shot as well and a good fencer. It was one of her secrets that only she shared with her brother, Benedict who became her teacher.
As she got up on the horse. She clicked her tongue so that she could ride off away from the mansion and finally go towards the printer’s shop in Bloomsbury. Her dress a bit muddy in the first two inches because of the wet dirt in the barn were not noticed. All she could think about is her need to fight for her heart.
There is always a way, she thought.
Eloise rode as fast as she can towards the town. No man or woman can stop her from fighting for what she believes to be her only source of happiness. It is true that she is the only person to be blamed for her despair, however, she will not deny herself if there is a way to rectify her life.
It was a fast travel. She knew the way because her heart memorized the path towards him. The moment she saw the printer shop with the windows still emitting the golden yellowish hue that she knew so well, for the first time in weeks, Eloise smiled.
She took care of the horse as she tight the rope to a post nearby. Her foot steps began to lead her towards the entrance of the print shop. With a heavy and nervous heart, she opened the door.
Eloise Bridgerton finally is face to face with Theo Sharpe as the door opened. She stood in the middle of the room near the printer. She noticed his brown locks were longer almost pass his ears. His brown orbs looking at her with disbelief and surprise, mirroring her own. She finally took a step inside and closed the door for their privacy.
Eloise cursed herself as she never thought how she would talk to him.
“Eloise?” His voice that she dreamt so many times after his absence from her life, “What are you--- Why are you here?”
“Theo” she says his name. For the longest time, his name felt like a taboo to her. She could not say anything afterwards.
“If you are here to explain yourself for what happened between us, there is no need” Theo began to rumble. His eyes strained to look at the lady who looks as if she was Selene, the Goddess of the Moon herself with her silver dress. If he dares to look at her, Theo knew that his heart would finally give up and all the efforts, albeit a failure, will be nothing but a distant memory. His life would revolve again to the lady.
Eloise heard Theo ramble on about how he understood her finally after all these days they were apart. She heard him mention about forgiving her and there is no need for them to explain themselves. However, Eloise did not paid any attention to his words. She could tell that he was feeling the same based on how he did his best to not look at her.
Her feet began to walk all on their own as if she was drawn to him like magnets and metal.
In a flash, Eloise Bridgerton stood in front of Theo Sharpe. Her lips parted as she looked at his lips which are now frozen in place because of the sudden proximity.
“What are you doing?” He says, almost a whisper.
Theo Sharpe has read about mermaids and sirens that can easily seduce men at sea to their deaths. Right now, he felt like he was one of those men who are dangerously close to end their life in exchange for a small moment of passion and love. He could not help but notice her eyes lingering from his eyes to his lips. It was a futile mistake for him to look at her parted lips. It was the almost the same situation which led them to end their relationship weeks ago.
Eloise touched Theo’s cheek as tender as she can as if one wrong move, she’ll break him. It has been a weeks since she touched him and right now, all she could feel is warmth. A warmth that she wanted to explore. It started on her hand the moment of impact on his skin. As if it has a life of its own, the warmth travelled to her arm, her stomach and her head, hazing the logic inside her mind.
“I do not understand” Theo says, looking at her eyes, trying to find answers on those dark grey eyes. Unconsciously, he tilted his head as he leaned towards her touch. He was talking earlier about their situation and from his expectation, he knew that there should be an exchange of words between them. Knowing Eloise Bridgerton, she is a lady filled with thoughts that he loves so much.
However right now, Eloise is a lady of action.
It was the damn truth. Right now, Eloise is acting based on her desire and heart. The evidence is the fact that it was she who tiptoed so that she could raise herself up. She closed her eyes as she finally leaned in and kissed Theo Sharpe.
No words were exchanged as Eloise felt Theo’s lips on hers. It was the most glorious feeling in the world, almost heaven like. If there is an adjective in the world that could describe the feeling of kissing the man you love, Eloise wanted to learn it however for now, a heaven like kiss would be enough.
Theo Sharpe was shocked the moment she seen her leaned in for a kiss. His hands automatically travelled to her waist to steady herself. A single second passed and all the thoughts in his mind mushed away. Finally closing his eyes, he kissed her back.
There they were, kissing in the middle of the printer shop. Eloise’s arms wrapped around his neck as her body is next to his. Meanwhile, Theo’s left arm is wrapped around her waist, pushing her body towards his while his free hand is supporting the back part of her neck. Both are hungry for each other.
Theo and Eloise forgot the despair and sadness they felt for the past few days they were apart from one another. All they could think is the pleasure of kissing the one you love. It was a like a dance between them. Their lips pushing and pulling as if they are made for each other. Eloise Bridgerton heard about the concept called soulmates, and she knew she found hers the moment she felt his lips on hers.
She no longer needs to say any words to him. The problem with explaining her true feelings to him were gone because she made him feel her heart instead. Theo felt all the sadness and yearning that mirrored his from her. He never wanted to let go from this kiss, and he wished for time to stop as their lips were intertwined with one another.
The moment they needed to breath, they pulled apart from one another. Irises were wide as pools of desire filled with just one kiss. Chests heaving as they did their best to catch their breath. Eloise’s hands are gripping hard on his linen shirt. His scent filled her that was almost intoxicating to take in.
“I---I” Theo mumbled, lost for words. His mind is still dazed because of her kiss. He wanted to ask questions however, she stopped him when he felt her fingertip touch his lips, an attempt to shut him off.
“Later” Eloise says as if a promise. For a lady that has read a lot of books, her mind has gone haywire as her vocabulary can only be expressed in the simplest manner after kissing him. She concludes that Theo Sharpe’s lips can make her forget almost about everything, “We can talk later.”.
Theo sees her gaze go from his eyes to his lips. He mirrored this act as he nodded in agreement. If Eloise told him to stab himself in exchange for a kiss, he would do it whole heartedly. He was down bad for her. He realizes that Eloise Bridgerton owns him. He is hers with just a single kiss.
Both leaned in at the same time as they began the dance of a lover’s kiss once more. Sadness and yearning finally purged out of their hearts as they shared their second kiss of the night. They could die tomorrow but they do not care one bit because, damn the world if it would mean that they would not be able to share another kiss. They knew each other for only two short weeks from last season but they knew that it was not just that. Love bloomed between them that they would die protecting it from the world.
It was not just a fortnight, Eloise thought as they kissed by the moonlight that shined from the window glass.