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All of her children were married. All of them had weddings and parties and kids. She had seen them all part away from her, had seen them all at the church, with the light of the sun hitting them as they look at their lovers eyes, so here she was looking at her youngest child, the look of eternal happiness in her dear child Hyacinth as she walks down the aisle of the church, a church filled of blue and white flowers, was as beautiful of a moment that Violet keeps repeating in her head.
She saw the same look of happiness on every one of her kids in their wedding, all but Eloise. Since her return from Scotland, Eloise had grown separated from the family, well not all her family, but she had undoubtedly grown distant from Violet. She had noticed the way Eloise would not be in the drawing room if it were only the two of them, she had also noticed the way she would avoid her eyes and avoid her words, she would only talk to Benedict or Francesca, not even Daphne could get much of a conversation out of her. It was like she wasn't part of the family, like she was but a maid following them around, only speaking when spoken to, and even then, she would barely talk. Eloise would spend most of her time away from the house, in either Lady Debling's house, previously Cressida Cowper, or with one of her two favorite siblings, or in her room. She would only come out to eat or to deliver mail. Violet had tried for years to connect with her once again, but it was a fruitless endeavor. Eloise was lost in her mind, and Violet could do nothing but watch and wish she could talk to her or wait for someone to make her daughter speak.
As the days go on and her children have all but left her house, she looks at Eloise– her spinster daughter. While Violet did not care for the societal problems of a spinster, she was still immensely sad that her dear child had not found what all her siblings had. A lover. Someone whom you see the beauties of the world and share the miseries of it. Someone who may be there for Eloise, even when she separates from her family.
Violet wanted nothing more than for that romantic life to appear to her daughter. One day, when Daphne was over, Violet confessed her many worries regarding Eloise, and Daphne would try to calm her. "She is but a fool, Mama; she has condemned herself to that life. You should not have to worry over her self-inflicted wound," was all her oldest daughter had told her. Violet should have followed Daphne’s words and not worried over something Eloise has chosen for herself, but Violet was still worried. Like any mother would.
So one day, as she conversed with Anthony, she let her worries for Eloise slip. Anthony, while understanding of her worries, had also tried to get her not to worry. "She has chosen this life, Mama. We can only hope she never regrets it." Violet supposes she can only hope for her daughter to grow happy in her decisions. To never wish for a man once she can’t get one.
But even when she had tried to stop worrying, it had slipped once again when talking to Benedict. Unlike his other two siblings, Benedict did not seem worried nor empathetic over her worries, but he looked sad. At first, Violet had thought he also shared her sadness over Eloise never experiencing love, but instead, Benedict seems to pity his mother. "Eloise, she is, um— happy with her life, Mama. You must not worry, as Eloise has— more than enough love in her life. She just doesn't show it like the rest of us." While she is aware that Eloise was different in her approach to life, it was not something that could excuse her loneliness or her distance from her family. Violet would love her children madly till the day she perished, but you can't compare a mother's love to a lover’s love. Eloise needs the love of another outside of her family. Surely, Benedict knows that family love is not enough for a person. Surely, he should know that a lover brings out the best in someone. Maybe with a lover, Eloise would come back to her family.
In her worries, she once again told someone, Kate, of Benedict's words and her concerns over Eloise needing more than family love. With the calmness that characterizes her as of late, Kate tries to argue in Benedict's and Eloise’s place. "I understand that the love of your family is not everything in the world, but we cannot judge nor deny Eloise’s wishes to not be with someone. I can see her point; I, too, once wished to be a sprinter forever. Perhaps Eloise would find the one, or perhaps she would have to do with her family love— and perhaps of her friend." This, in a sense, calms Violet. Kate was right, even Kate once wished to be forever a spinster. Maybe Eloise would grow not to want to be one like Kate. Perhaps someone would eventually come and help Eloise get out of her thoughts and childish endeavors.
When Violet's birthday came, she wished for two things. One was for all her children and her families to come over to the Aubrey state and spend a week in celebration. The second one was for Eloise to finally talk to her. The first one was, surprisingly, easier than the second one. She only had to coordinate 6 married couples, about 10 grandchildren, 2 pregnant women, and her grieving child Francesca to come from Scotland with her cousin in law. While a tedious process, it was all worth it when everyone was now sitting at the big table, minus the children seated at another table. With this environment, she hoped her second wish would come true. Eloise was surrounded by her favorite siblings, Francesca and Benedict, and even if she never said anything, Violet knows Eloise loves the company of all her siblings.
Sometimes in the Bridgerton house, she would watch as Eloise entertains herself with all the things her siblings like. She would play the piano, not close to the level of Francesca or even Gregory; she would draw like Benedict; she would climb trees like Gregory; she would secretly try and do embroidery like Daphne; she had taken to learning accounting and numbers to support her brother Anthony. So many things had Eloise done that made Violet understand that she also wished to come to her family. The most apparent one is when Eloise stood in front of Violet and Edmund's portrait, "a beautiful portrayal of their love" that was what Edmund used to say. Violet almost cried, looking as Eloise becomes trapped in her thoughts looking at the painting, unaware for minutes that Violet was watching her from afar, nearly breaking her stalking when she noticed Eloise was also crying. When Violet tried to talk to her, Eloise had run from the house to the Debling state, like she always did.
But this week would be the perfect time for Eloise to reconnect with them. She wouldn't escape, at least Violet hoped so, and she was in a safe environment with her favorite siblings, whom Violet suspects know precisely what is keeping Eloise away from her family.
"So what are you up to, Eloise?" As clever as always, Daphne had somehow figured out Violet’s plan. While Violet hoped for Eloise to come forward and talk naturally, Daphne seemed to take the brute force approach and corner Eloise into talking. Violet secretly hopes this may work.
Everyone went quiet after Daphne’s words, all of them becoming old mamas waiting anxiously for gossip to come forward. Eloise stopped eating and the conversation she was having with Michaela, Francesca's cousin-in-law.
"Currently, eating." Eloise immediately adopted a defensive approach to Daphne’s words. Trying to protect herself.
"I'm talking about your life, not what you are doing currently," Daphne combats back. Everyone was looking from one to the other, waiting anxiously as to who would start attacking first. Violet only hopes Simon will be able to stop Daphne.
"Well, I've been reading a lot, but I'm sure that’s a hard concept for you," Eloise says.
"Just because you have nothing to do and read all day. Doesn't make you any better than me, Eloise," Daphne goes from cornering Eloise to complete attacks. Maybe Violet should interfere; she doesn't want Eloise to retract to herself and run away.
"What Eloise is trying to say—"
"Eloise, don't talk to Daphne like that. She was merely being polite and asking about your life. No need to get angry." Anthony cuts Violet off by accident, creating an even bigger fight. Violet should have put more thought into this plan.
"You can't be serious, Ant. She is the one attacking me; she clearly wants to mock me," Eloise angrily replies to Anthony. Violet makes eye contact with Kate, she also seems to be ready to act when things escalate.
"I was simply asking for your life, Eloise. If you consider your life a joke, that's on you," Daphne replies in a false state of calm. It is time for Violet to try and deescalate this again.
"Daphne, that is very rude—"
"We all know where that conversation was going, Daphne. You wanted me to say I'm still an unmarried bitch, so that you can make my life to be oh so sad because poor Eloise can't get pregnant 5 times!" Eloise screams over her as she stands from her seat and punches the table. This is beyond de-escalating.
"Oh, this isn't going to end well," Benedict whispers loudly before hell comes loose.
"Eloise! Do not speak like a common criminal! We have not raised you to be like this," Anthony’s loud and angry voice reacts to Eloise's very crude remarks. Maybe using all her children to help Eloise was a bad idea. She should have known Anthony and Daphne lack the patience to help Eloise.
"There is nothing wrong with having 5 kids!" Daphne focuses on the personal attack first as she screams and stands up just as Eloise is doing.
"You guys act like rabbits!" Eloise reclaims.
With Anthony, Daphne, and Eloise screaming nonsense to each other, Violet sees her other children and their partners. Francesca seems to be cowering with Michaela as she covers her ears from all the screaming, Kate is patiently waiting for her turn to stop this while Simon seems to have given up on that same thing, Gregory and Lucy stay quiet at the end of the table all the wiser to join, Benedict is trying to find a moment to enter the conversation while Sophie the pregnant woman she is right now is all but eating like nothing is happening, Colin is also trying to join the conversation but Penelope seems to be stoping him, Hyacinth is watching carefully probably also wanting to join the argument while her husband is just enjoying the food, and all the grandchildren are eating in their respective table, either choosing to ignore the conversation or not caring enough. Violet should have joined the table with her grandchildren instead of her children, maybe then she could have waited till the end of dinner to try and get information off of Eloise.
"If you choose to be a spinster, why are you so mad about us commenting on it?!" Daphne screams at Eloise.
"Because it is not my choice!" Eloise screams. She immediately goes to cover her mouth, a shocked expression in her eyes. Violet all but twists her head to look at her daughter. What does she mean it is not her choice?
Everyone goes unnaturally quiet, no one daring to say or do anything in the face of such a revelation, all but sharing the same shock as the person that said the thing to begin with. Violet can see the tears starting to fall from her daughter's eyes and knows this is the moment she would start running. Violet stands up, ready to run if Eloise runs too.
"What do you mean, Eloise?" Daphne is the first to get over the initial shock.
"You don't understand." Eloise starts to back away slowly.
"What do you mean, Eloise?" She remarks again.
"You guys would never understand." Eloise keeps walking, sobbing in between her words as tears keep falling. "You guys have it so easy. I would never be like you guys. We- we are- we could never get married. Under the light of the sun, I would never be kissed, not even a hand can touch mine in the eyes of others. We— we would never be you." Everyone stares as Eloise is now in the doorway, shocked at Eloise’s confession.
"Eloise, don't leave," Benedict finally joins the argument, standing up and walking towards Eloise. Violet was supposed to do that. She was supposed to walk towards Eloise if the moment presented itself, yet she is stuck in place, shocked to the bone with Eloise’s confessions. She wants to marry someone, but they can't. Eloise is in love. She is madly in love and cannot show it, nor tell her family.
"No!" Eloise tries to push Benedict away. "I knew this was a bad idea! I knew you guys couldn't be happy and leave me alone," Eloise cries in the arms of Benedict, having given up trying to push him away.
"Eloise... what is it that you are talking about?" Anthony pulls his dad’s voice, the one that reminds Violet of Edmund's voice, the sweet tone of a worried father.
"Nothing!— Nothing, just forget about it. Forget about me." Eloise finally succeeds in pushing Benedict and runs from the room. Everyone was still in shock over the conversation.
Violet finally snaps out of it and goes to follow Eloise. She knows she would run away from the state, not even trusting her room to hide in, so she runs outside. She catches Eloise as she is about to ask for a carriage.
"Eloise, wait!" Violet screams, her desperation coming out clearly. She can't hide that she is immensely worried and desperate for her daughter's words.
As Eloise turns towards her, she sees the tears coming down her face, her light blue dress making her tear-filled eyes look as sad as a rainy night in the streets, making your whole clothes wet and uncomfortable, and your body sick. Violet couldn't stand watching her daughter's eyes like that.
"Eloise, please let's talk." Violet finally makes it to the steps of the house, nothing but 6 steps away from Eloise.
"I cannot, mama—" she sobs, "you would not understand." The tears and sobs of her daughter cut deep into Violet’s chest. How could she ever not understand love? Violets would surely understand such passionate love.
"Eloise, I would never not trust you." Her hands feel cold as she touches the wet and freezing cheeks of her daughter. Oh, how Violet remembers holding onto Eloise like this. When she was a child and wanted nothing but to be wild with her brothers, Violet would hold her back by her cheeks and try to calm her down.
"No, Mama— I've felt it all." Eloise pulls her hands away from her face, disappointment filling Violet as she has once again been rejected by Eloise. "All you have said— I've felt it all. Their touch burns my skin, I can barely talk when I'm around them, their laugh is an angelic chorus in my brain, and their smile is the eternal light of my days. I spend my times at home brooding and mopping over the wish to hear their voice, and when I'm with them is like the days are eternal and yet never long enough... Behind the curtains of privacy, I have felt all that you have always wished for me— yet I could never own them. The love you have all but burn into my brain would never see the light of the sun, would never be spoken about, I would forever be a spinster, and she would forever be a widow."
Violet can barely understand it all. Eloise sobs and cries in between her quick and painful words, and it all makes Violet confused with sadness. Eloise shall never feel like this, love was meant to be her salvation from her lonely life, not the cause of it.
"My child, there is always a way," Violet cries with her daughter, tears falling freely as she sees her broken daughter. Violet wishes more than anything to know how to comfort Eloise.
"You are not listening, Mama!—" Eloise cries out. "I carry the Bridgerton passionate love, yet I could never be able to show it. I am but a secret."
Violet holds onto Eloise, hoping the hug will help Eloise, as she cries in her arms, wetting her cloth shoulder with tears, but Violet does not care. She must be here for her daughter.
"If they have rejected you dear, it would be alright," Violet kiss her forehead "more would come dear, you would find love again."
Eloise quickly and violently pulls. Violet stumbles a bit but recovers. Her daughter is holding herself, arms wrapped around one another as her cries become more vocal, more yarring.
"She loves me, Mama—" she? "My love is reciprocated, but the ton would turn against me. You would turn against me."
"She?" Violet can hear the sounds of the carriage, it's close by. "Eloise, explain yourself. Have you made a mistake? Have you claimed a woman?"
"I cannot, Mama—" she sobs. "I need time, Mama, I'm sorry."
When the carriage arrives, Violet watches with tears as Eloise gets in without looking at her. The rider looks towards Violet, asking if he should do as Eloise says or stay in the state. Violet is very confused. What could her daughter mean? Had her daughter just claimed such a thing? As much as Violet wants to know, she has learned to let Eloise live her life and to support her wishes, so with pain in her heart, she nods towards the driver and lets them leave under Eloise’s wishes.
"Come back, Eloise," She shouts as the rider is getting ready to leave. "I love you."
It was all she could think to say to her, all she could think of as she saw the carriage leave the state, into the trees and dirt roads of the countryside. Eloise leaving into an unknown place. Her child finally goes away from her family to an unknown place where Violet cannot protect or take care of her. Violet can only hope she leaves towards her lover, whoever that may be.
"She would be back." Violet turns towards the door, looking at Francesca.
"I hope she does." Violet wipes her tears as she moves toward the doorway. Francesca quickly took her arm, like they were promenading through a park.
"She will. She just needs to get her mind sorted out." Francesca pats her arm, reassuring her that her words are right.
"You know," she looks away from her mother's eyes. Maybe guilty over knowing such a secret, maybe trying not to give away all she knows about the secret Eloise seems to have.
"I do," Francesca states, barely above a whisper.
"Is it true?" Violet asks, still confused over her conversation with Eloise. Violet had heard rumors of this, whispers of these forbidden behaviors, but she had never thought much of them, never questioned if they were good or bad, just accepted them as whispers. Never did she imagine that these small rumors would appear on her front steps. Never did she imagine her daughter was part of these small rumors.
"How much did she tell you?" Violet looks at her in shock, not even sure she has processed all that Eloise has said.
"She is in love." That's the easiest way Violet can put it. Eloise was in love. Who may she be in love with? That was a question she had no answers to. "A love I didn't expect."
"That's all you need to know," Francesca smiles. "She is in love."
"Is she in danger?" Violet asks, worried about her child. Concern that maybe Eloise has gotten herself into a dire situation.
"I would like to say no, to stop your worries, but unfortunately, yes. Eloise is doing as Eloise always does, going against society." Francesca stops her steps. "She is doing something society would not agree with."
"I do not know if I fully understand this." Francesca shakes her head and keeps quiet like she always does. Violet is now coming to appreciate her daughter's peaceful presence, especially as she hears the argument happening in the drawing room, where they probably move the argument away from the table and into the couches.
"You know something, Benedict. Speak up!" Anthony screams at Benedict as Violet enters the drawing room. Francesca quickly left to hold Michaela, who was standing in a corner of the room, accompanied by the in-laws and Gregory, who seemed not to want to participate in his siblings' fight.
"I would never betray my sister’s trust!"
"Benedict, this is no time to take the high moral ground," Daphne interrupts. "Eloise could be in danger for all we know."
"She would be fine! She has been for the past years—" Benedict spills.
"Years?" Daphne questions.
Eloise has been in love for years. Violet should be happy, but with this new information, it only pains her more. How long has Eloise been holding to a secret lover?
"I said nothing," Benedict tries to retract.
"Has Eloise been seeing someone for years?!" Anthony screams. Violet decides to make herself known now, choosing to keep the information to herself, not fully understanding it herself, and not wanting to say the wrong thing. She half hopes she has heard Eloise wrong.
"And she would tell us when she wants." Violet walks between the arguing siblings and to the table with tea. She needs this to calm down.
"She cannot keep such a big secret away from the family!" Colin joins.
"Weren't you the one who never told us you were courting Penelope and just showed up engaged?" Hyacinth quickly replies.
"Yes, but it all came to light. A sign that we should just talk," Colin tries to argue with his little sister.
"Well, I think we all deserve the right to have secrets," Hyacinth proclaims.
"I agree with Hyacinth," Benedict joins Hyacinth on the two-person sofa. "I think Eloise deserves the right to have a secret relationship."
"So you agree she is in a relationship?!" Daphne jumps back into her argument.
"I never said anything," Benedict slightly giggles. Violet appreciates the lighthearted side of Benedict in this conversation. She appreciates he has been a confidant for her daughter, god knows Eloise needs that support, the support to hold a secret love.
"I can't believe Eloise is meeting someone! The impropriety! She has been seeing a man unchaperoned!" Anthony rubs his eyes. Oh, how Violet wishes it was that simple of a thing. "Of all of us, I never worried for Eloise to do something like that."
"Isn't being unchaperoned and improper like our whole motto?" Hyacinth tries to argue. Benedict slightly choked as Anthony lost his last nerve.
"No! Just because all of you seem to lack propriety doesn't mean it's okay to be improper!"
"Well, I think Eloise is the very person I would have assumed to be this improper," Daphne joins her mother to get tea. "She has always been against the ton and all rules of manners."
That was right, Violet supposes Eloise has always been one to bend the rules, to go against everything society, and Violet herself, had expected of her. She presumed it is fitting that Eloise managed to be involved in something the ton deans improper and forbidden.
"Didn't Anthony catch you, in an improper manner, with Simon?" Hyacinth whispers, almost as if trying to keep it to herself.
"That is not the same!" Benedict choked once again at Daphne’s embarrassment.
"Enough!" Anthony stops her siblings, "This is a serious matter. I do not know what could be keeping Eloise from marrying, but it stops now! I need to meet the man who has dishonored our family."
Violet would like that to be the truth, for Eloise to just simply marry, oh how easy would that be. How anti-Eloise that would have been. Violet can almost laugh. Her daughter never fails to surprise her. She has fallen in love with a woman, a lady.
Benedict just giggles, almost to himself, "Well, good luck with that." Violet stares at him, now understanding where his demeanor is coming from. Eloise could not marry a man, as there is no man, and she cannot marry— a lady, a fellow woman, probably a friend. Didn't Eloise mention that her lover was widowed?
"I mean, shouldn't the question be. Who is this man?" Hyacinth asks.
Who is it that Eloise is in love with? She does not associate with many women, nor like the presence of most women. All the girls at the balls are younger than her, and all the girls her age have become women and have had children. Eloise did not have many friends, Violet never imagined that in the short list of friends there would be a lover.
"I thought you were on Eloise’s side," Benedict lightly hits her shoulder.
"Well, I am. But I'm still curious. I've never seen her interested in anything but her books and Lady Debling." She rubs her arm in fake pain over the slight hit.
Lady Debling— oh, god. Didn't Lady Debling recently turn—
"Oh god," everyone turns to Daphne. "What if it was Lord Debling?"
Everyone stays quiet. Lord Debling had died 2 years ago during an expedition, leaving his pregnant wife a widow. Eloise had spent months hiding in the Debling state, no one could get to her, even less when the child was born. It was as if Eloise couldn't leave the state; she stayed there unmoved, just comforting her friend.
It is Lady Debling, the widow, the one Eloise cannot part away from, the one that has stolen her heart. Eloise’s lover had been in her face all these years, and she had never noticed. The way she has always cared for Cressida had been weird to Violet. Such opposing friends with such a strong bond, she questioned it but never believed it to be more. Why would she? They were but girls being friends. But now that Violet thinks, why wouldn't she? They were always together. Eloise would not stop talking about her upon her return from Scotland. And when the baby was born, Eloise had not even sent letters to her family. She had hermit herself in the Debling state, taking care of Cressida. Being there for Cressida like the just deceased Lord Debling should have been, Eloise had become the lord of the house upon his death. Eloise was not a friend to Cressida, she was a lover.
"Oh god," Benedict laughs. "Love this theory, keep them going."
"Maybe it's a servant," Gregory charms in from the other corner, where the in-laws and Francesca seem to be hiding away from the argument.
"I don't think Eloise would let a lack of title and money stop her from marrying someone," Colin charms in.
She definitely wouldn't. She barely seems to care about the tons hate over her current relationship, caring more about how her mama would react, how Violet would react.
"But it is the only option," Anthony starts to pace in an oval shape around the center of the drawing room. "It would explain her position. She cannot marry a simple commoner, she is either ashamed of him or believes we would disagree on him, he must work for the Debling household, explaining why we have never seen her talk to him or interact with him, and would explain how she has been seeing him for years without problem."
That story would be much better, Violet thinks. But love never chooses the easy route, only the route you would be the happiest with, never the easy one.
"Interesting theory, brother," Benedict giggles a bit. "Just know when Eloise comes to us with the correct information, I would stand by her regardless of what you think." The giggles stop, and Benedict gets serious when speaking his last words. He stands and goes to grab Sophie and his kid to leave the drawing room. Everyone was watching him, knowing he could give the correct information about the situation but choosing to leave instead.
"I don't like it when he knows something we don't," Colin states as Benedict is out of the room.
"I understand him, I too wouldn't break Eloise trust," Penelope makes herself know in this situation.
"You know?" Colin asks, a bit hurt by his wife’s obvious knowledge of the situation.
"She is Lady Whistledown and Eloise’s friend. Of course she knows Colin," Hyacinth states it, as if claiming something apparent to everyone, which it was.
Violet watches as her children start to talk about the subject in a lighthearted way, moving away from the seriousness of Eloise’s situation. Violet cannot move away from it, she cannot join in the laughs and jokes. She is extremely worried. Eloise seems to be in such a dangerous situation, a woman for a lover, something forbidden in their society. Violet can only sit as her family all enjoy their time together, all but her dear Eloise, who must be in the Debling state, talking to her secret lover, talking to Cressida Debling. Hiding away from her family’s pressure and from the dangers of the ton. Hiding her lover away from her family.
"Do not worry, Mama," Daphne stops her from spiraling in worry, "She will be fine. She has us all," she whispers as she looks at the family, all of them ignoring them as they pay attention to Anthony's and Hyacinth's argument over who may be Eloise type.
"I say it's a hard man, someone with a strong opinion and an even stronger will. Someone who would stand tall and firm. As if he is above it all," Hyacinth claims.
"That's highly specific," Gregory charms in.
"Call it a woman’s intuition," Hyacinth claims happily.
"I say she would go for a soft man, someone who would agree with her, lack of strong opinions. Someone who would go along with her. Someone weak enough to not come forward about their courtship, a weak man," Anthony claims angrily, as if he is already imagining the disappointment of a man.
How wrong her son Anthony is. Eloise has chosen someone so strong. Strong enough to keep this ordeal going, someone so strong to be able to hide this intense love. Violet can only assume Eloise is fine and well, all thanks to Cressida.
"You lack creativity, brother. Where is the romance? Where is the tension? She needs someone who disagrees with her," her romantic child, Hyacinth, argues.
Violet smiles. Her children seem to be ready to open their arms to whoever Eloise has chosen to love. She hopes they would stay this open when the truth gets revealed.
Eloise didn't appear the next day. They all sat and anxiously waited for the sound of the carriage coming into the state, but nothing. Violet had even seen Anthony stay late in the night waiting for Eloise, and Daphne wake up early to also wait. Everyone seemed to be worried, Benedict had tried to calm them all down, going as far as stopping Colin from storming into the Debling state to search for Eloise and her secret lover.
With Eloise away, Violet could do nothing more than worry and think. Violet had never paid mind to the whispers of these forbidden relationships. She had believed them impossible and for them to just be rumors. But sitting here with her daughter's words in her mind, she cannot deny that love like that exists. Her daughter sounded so in love that it brought tears to Violet’s eyes. All that she had been hoping for her daughter to find had been in her household already. She remembers the many times Cressida had been in their house, she would watch as Eloise and her sit in the backyard smiling and laughing like there was no tomorrow. Violet had found it lovely, even comparing her friendship with Lady Danbury to Eloise and Cressida. Oh, how wrong had she been. But now, she can only hope her daughter will return from her lover’s arms to the arms of her family.
In the second day, in the beginnings of the night, when all the children are asleep and most of the staff have left their duties, they heard the sounds of the wheels hit the gravel, the sounds of the horse as it walked towards the house. Violet all but sprinted towards the entrance, Colin and Hyacinth following behind her.
Violet watched as the carriage stopped in front of the house, her steps stopping with it. She waited for what felt like hours, but it was only a couple of minutes. After all the time it took for all her children and a couple of her children-in-law to join them, Eloise finally opened the door of the carriage.
Eloise seems to be wearing a different dress, a simple green dress that Violet has never seen before. Eloise’s face is strong and determined as she gets off the carriage and acknowledges all her family with a slight nod before turning around. Everyone waits impatiently as the person in the carriage also gets out. Eloise seems to be arguing with them, begging them to come out. Everyone gasps as Eloise pulls out a little blonde boy, not more than 2 years old, asleep in her arms.
"By the queen’s dogs, she has a secret child!" Gregory screams as everyone is shocked.
Violet was about to laugh. That would have been an interesting turn of events. But in a way, Violet does wonder if the child could be considered a secret love child, as Eloise is helping Cressida, her secret lover, raise the child. By the queen’s dogs, Eloise has been with child.
"Relax, that's just Cressida's son." Hyacinth stops everyone's train of thought.
"By the queen’s dogs, she stole a child!" Gregory once again screams.
His screams quiet down as everyone sees Eloise help Cressida get off the carriage, while everyone is shocked over this company, Eloise and Cressida seem to be in their world, arguing over who gets to hold the little kid, Cressida seems to win as Eloise hands the sleeping child, who quickly grabs to her hair and shakes his head in his mother chest, both of them giggling at his behavior. Violet is happy. Her daughter seemed so happy like this, in a parental role with her friend and lover. Happy, like she hasn't been for a while with her family.
They all wait patiently as Eloise seems to talk in whispers with Cressida, not acknowledging her family anymore. But with a little push from Cressida, Eloise finally turns to her family. The original determination seems to have faded. Violet questions if it was ever there before. She starts to walk towards them, Cressida staying behind with her son, talking to the driver.
"Excuse the hour. I seemed to have lost track of time," Eloise nervously states.
"You have to be joking," Daphne responds, shock in her voice. "We want an explanation, Eloise, not an apology."
"Before we get into that, I want to ask a favor." Eloise looks back at the carriage and Cressida. "Promise me that if things don't end well, you will at least let me take the carriage." She turns back to address them, her tone begging for this request to be answered.
"Of course, sweetie." Violet tries to smile. "It's okay. You would be able to leave if that's what you want. But I have already accepted you with open arms." Everyone looks confused at Violet, unaware that she already knows it all.
Eloise smiles wildly, her eyes filling up with unshed tears at her mother's reassurance, and turns to Cressida.
"They said yes, you can stop bargaining," Eloise screams at Cressida. She seems to stop arguing with the driver and point towards a distant place before turning to the family.
"Excuse my intrusion, dowager Bridgerton, lord and lady Bridgerton, duke and Duchess of Hasting—"
"Cressida, it's okay. You don't have to acknowledge all of them," Eloise interrupts Cressida's speech.
"Unlike you, I'm polite, Eloise ," Cressida retorts, a mad and defiant expression on her face.
"Not right now, Cressida ," Eloise turned away from her. Violet smiles. She is enjoying this new couple.
"Excuse me," Cressida turns to them.
"Gosh," Benedict interrupts, screaming to get everyone's attention away from this weird interaction between the friends. "Let's just go inside and talk about it, before I want to burn my eyes," he whispers the last part to himself, but does not seem to realize everyone heard him.
"Yes, of course," Eloise starts. "I brought Cressida and little Alfred, as moral support," she states before holding onto Cressida's arm and walking into the house. Everyone soon followed behind them.
"Who is your secret lover?" Hyacinth wastes no time as they all have gathered in the drawing room, most of them sitting down. Violet is sitting right across from where Eloise is standing, addressing all of her family, while Cressida sits with little Alfred in her arms in a seat right behind Eloise, observing all the family. Violet feels slightly intimidated by Cressida's intense eyes on all of them, but something underneath her eyes screams that she too is worried. Her hands keep playing with the little boy sleeping in her lap. Violet half-wishes she could grab him from her to enjoy her new grandchild.
"Who must we force you to marry?" Daphne charms in also impatient.
"Have you been compromised?" Colin says almost at the same time as Daphne.
"Who is the weak man?" Anthony says it right at the same time as Colin.
"Would we have to duel him?" Gregory charms in right after her brothers, not telling Eloise speak.
"Let the woman speak first," Benedict tries to defend her.
"Is that actually Cressida's child? Or did you have an illegitimate child and give it to her?" Hyacinth speaks, ignoring Benedict's words.
"Did you have a thing with Lord Debling?" Michaela tries to charm in, finding this rather funny than a serious accusation.
Behind Eloise, Cressida chokes on her saliva over all these accusations. Violet starts to worry over all her family’s wild theories, they have all turned to crazy theorists over the slight possibility of drama. It speaks volumes of the type of relationships all of her children have gotten into, that they all believe some wild ideas to be entirely reasonable. Perhaps she cannot blame them; with their track record, it is entirely possible that Eloise got into some wild romantic story, which she did.
"Please, let us hear Eloise’s story," Kate charms in, saying what Violet was about to tell.
"I— you guys thought I was compromised by lord Debling?" Eloise looks pained and horrified.
"So you are compromised!" Anthony screams, mad over whoever man has compromised his sister. He can't keep doing this.
"No!" Eloise screams angrily, but then Benedict coughs. "Okay, in a way, yes, but no."
Violet is quiet. While she was aware Eloise had a lover, she did not come to think of the fact she was compromised. She doesn't even want to imagine the how of the compromising, but instead, she feels slightly bad about being unable to be there for Eloise. She had already failed Daphne, she didn't want to fail Eloise too.
"Eloise, you have us all confused," Daphne charms in.
"Eloise, get to the point," Cressida speaks, softer and lighter than Violet has ever heard from her. Eloise turns to Cressida, and a bright smile fills her face. Violet can see something in Eloise’s eyes. She had seen this look before, at Hyacinth’s wedding– the look of eternal happiness.
"Yes, of course," Eloise turns away from her and to her family once again. "Since my return from Scotland, I realized I was in love with someone." Violet is shocked. Eloise had been in courtship for years, and Violet had never noticed. "I did not believe my feeling reciprocated, especially after the terrible things I did, but upon coming back and a long time I patched up things with— my lover. Unfortunately, that wasn't the only problem." Eloise looks into Violet’s eyes, almost begging with her eyes as she seems to be debating what she is about to say. Violet wants nothing more than to assure Eloise that she loves her regardless of all of this. "I have fallen in love with someone most of you guys may not agree with."
Violet would make all her children agree with Eloise if she had to. There would be no hate towards Eloise over this secret relationship. She would make sure all her kids accepted her, otherwise, they would not have a mother.
"The— the problem is, well, society does not agree with our love." Eloise looks away from them into Cressida. A small smile on her face, encouraging her to continue, Violet appreciates Cressida's support.
"What do you mean, Eloise?" Daphne questions, trying to figure out what this forbidden love could be.
"The— umm- the person— my suitor— well, more like I'm the suitor— no, actually the other person is my suitor— gosh how do I explain this?" Eloise looks once again at Cressida. "Screw it."
Eloise walks towards Cressida, the latter having a confused look on her face, which was quickly taken by Eloise’s hands, pulling her into a passionate kiss. Violet stares in disbelief as her daughter, her dear daughter, gives a passionate kiss to her female friend. While she was aware of all of this, it's still slightly shocking to see it play in front of her, especially in such a drastic and unexpected way. Violet had expected a confession, not a recreation of the crime. Oh lord, of all the things Eloise could have done.
She turns to everyone else, it seems most of her children and in-laws don't know how to react. They all watch as the passionate kiss finishes, Eloise going back to give a small peck to Cressida, a smile on both of their faces. Eloise gives 3 small kisses to Cressida's forehead before turning to address her family. This surprises Violet. The whole ordeal is surprising to Violet. Her daughter has turned up to have a secret lover who was her married best friend, and she had hidden it from all of them for years in fear of the dangers. But the small gesture of the 3 kisses on the forehead was what surprised Violet the most; it was exactly what Edmund would do to her. After all the passionate kisses, he wouldn't want to separate, and he would give her 3 small pecks on the forehead. She wondered if Eloise remembered this gesture from her father or if she did it out of instinct. Something deep within her filled with the same love Edmund had for Violet. She can't stop the tears from coming out, her beautiful daughter had such a beautiful love, something so similar to Violet’s own love. She can't help but cry more as her daughter sees her, panic in her eyes as she believes Violet is rejecting her. Oh, how much has Violet failed Eloise? She should have known Violet would love her eternally.
Violet would never reject Eloise, especially not over something such as love, a pure love. So in her overwhelming emotions, she jumps to hug Eloise, entrapping her in a hard hug. Eloise is shocked at first. She doesn't respond to the hug, but when time has passed, she hugs Violet back, tears once again in her shoulder, as the sobs from Eloise are muffled by Violet’s light blue dress. The action was so childish; Eloise once again crying in Violet’s arms, it was magnificent. It was all that Violet had wished her daughter would do once again. She had been so distant, but now, as all the emotions have come out and all the worries have been lifted, Eloise can go back to being her sweet child. Her happy, sweet child.
“Well, that was a turn of events.” Hyacinth inturropts the movement.
Eloise separates from her mother, ready to acknowledge her siblings. Violet turns; she doesn’t know what to expect. Her children were accepting and generous, but she does not think all of them have ever witnessed a relationship such as the one Eloise is in. She herself had never witnessed it either.
“Eloise,’’ Anthony follows after Hyacinth, his voice barely above a whisper. He stands up and starts to walk towards Eloise, not very far away from Violet. “Certainly there was more believable ways to escape a marriage.”
Everyone is quiet. Anthony doesn’t believe in this; how can he not believe in this?. Violet should have known his son would be blinded by his ideas.
“Are you shitting me Anthony?” Eloise, half angry, half sobbing, answers her brother.
“I did not believe you capable of taking advantage of someone like that,” his angry voice carrying. “Why would you use your widow friend to get off your problems?”
“Anthony, maybe it is better you sit down,’’ Kate interrupts, calmly trying to deescalate the situation with her husband.
“But Kate, she–”
“Do not, Anthony!” Eloise pushes him slightly. “I knew you all would not understand!” She starts to pace around. “I love Cressida; I have loved her for years! I am just like you. I am but another Bridgerton in love. Is that not what you all wanted?! You all always felt bad for poor spinster Eloise. But I would be married if I could! I would be wed to Cressida had that been an option. She wouldn’t be Lady Debling, she would be my wife; she would be a Bridgerton. Same as Kate! Same as Sophie, and Lucy and Penelope!. I am not conducting some elaborate scheme to get off an engagement with a man; the core idea of being with a man disgusts me. I am not taking advantage of Cressida. I love her, and you better respect that, because I would have never even implied that of you and Kate, so you should not speak ill of my love.”
Quietness once again. Now, there is no doubt that Eloise is with Cressida, or as much as one can be together when one cannot be open about their relationship.
“Ignore him, Eloise.” Kate stands, and she approaches them, tying her arm to her husband’s. “I believe you guys do a beautiful couple,” Kate smiles at Eloise, she calms down slightly and returns the favor, take it Eloise can barely smile and it looks like a painfull but polite smile.
“Wow,” Hyacinth starts, “We were not that far off with our theories, though. Eloise did shag with someone in the Debling state,” Cressida coughs, “It appears we just missed the target by phew centimeters.”
“I still cannot believe you guys thought I bedded Alfred,” Eloise says in disgust.
“In our defense, you were rather vague as to who your lover was. So our theories may have detached themselves from reality.” Daphne charms in, still shocked at the revelation, her tone of voice as if she is approaching a cat, ready to flee.
“Cressida? Really?’’ Colin inturropts, seemingly finally snapping off his shockness. “Surely you have meet more favorable ladies.”
“Colin!” Violet snaps at him. She would not have her sons be disrespectful to Eloise’s lover and guest for the night.
“Could say the same to your wife,” Cressida snaps at him. “I read your novel, it left more to be desired. I’m sure Lady Whistledown can find a more accomplished man. One who doesn’t believe his immature adventures of travellling are nothing but boring travel tales no one wanted to listen to much less read of. Even I can entertain people more with no tales of travel.”
A loud laugh fills the room, Benedict unable to stop his loud and crackling laugh as Cressida humiliates her son Colin.
“She got you with that brother!” Benedict says, hanging from his shoulders.
“Benedict, be quiet,” Eloise stops him. Violet looks away from the brothers to Eloise. She sees as Eloise joins Cressida, the sleeping child in her arms waking up from the screaming and laughing.
“It is okay, Eloise,” Cressida tries to stop Eloise from grabbing onto the child, fighting back as she rocks him with her legs. “I got this.”
“I told you, you didn’t need to come. He would be grumpy in the day.” Eloise continues to try and hold onto the child, Cressida firmly but delicately holding onto him, but Eloise holds onto his small hand as the little boy seems to go back to slumber.
“You could barely walk off the room, Eloise. Had I not forced you, you wouldn’t be here.”
“Gross, I do not need to know you guys share a room.” Both of them turn to the family; apparently, they had forgotten they had an audience. Had Benedict not inturropted, they would have continued in their bubble. Violet can only smile. Her daughter has someone to get lost in.
“It is not fair,” Daphne protested. “I thought you hated kids. You always refuse to take care of mine.”
“That’s because I do not like you ,” Eloise snarks at Daphne. “Little Alfred is a nice kid.”
“She barely likes Alfred,” Cressida intervenes. “She seems to be allergic to him when he can’t stop crying.” Daphne laughs at this, Cressida following behind her. Violet would have never seen this happening, her daughter sharing a conversation with her enemy, over Eloises lack of maternal love for kids.
“That’s because he has strong vocal cords!” She tries to fight back, sounding like a kid trying to blame the problem on their sibling. But in her intent to excuse herself, her words came out loud, stirring little Alfred.
“sh” Cressida tolds her.
“I am sorry,” Eloise whispers, caressing Alfred’s hair.
“I think it is better we save this conversation for tomorrow.” Violet inturroprs. While she would very much like to get all the details over this couple and the new integrations to the Bridgerton family, she understands the problems of dealing with a grumpy kid who did not sleep enough at night. “Otherwise, little Alfred may not let us converse tomorrow.”
Eloise turns to her mother, a thankful smile on her face. When was the last time Eloise had done this? Violet does not know.
“Yes, it is quite a long trip back; he may wake up on the way.” Cressida takes to stands up, Eloise helping her.
“Oh dear,” VIolet stopped them. “I did not mean to kick you out. You must stay here.”
Cressida looked confused at Eloise, who also seemed to share the confusion. They do not seem to believe Violet had accepted them so quickly, nor that she would even offer for Cressida to stay here with the whole family. Violet has messed up. She had failed in her role and let Eloise think she would not be accepted, that whoever Eloise chose to love would not be accepted. This ends today.
“Oh, well,” Cressida continues, the more polite of the two, with Eloise still flabbergasted. “Thank you, Mrs Bridgerton.”
“Where should she stay?” Hyacinth questiosn.
Violet stays quiet. She had not thought of that. On the one hand, they are lovers and seem to share a bed often, but on the other hand–
“In separate rooms,” Anthony inturropts. “It is not proper for the unwed to share bed.”
“How do you suppose they wed, brother?” Benedict snarks at him.
“It is not a matter of the action, Benedict, but of the principle.” Anthony turns to Cressida and Eloise. “Eloise has not even asked for Lady Debling’s hand.”
“Nonsense, brother,” Daphne joins. “It is clear Cressida is the one who should ask for Eloise’s hand–”
“Hey! Why not me?” Eloise asks, offended, her arms crossed to look like a child throwing a tantrum.
“Cressida seems to be the man of the relationship,” Hyacinth jumps into the conversation, Cressida quietly laughing as she is still holding the child.
“The whole point of our relationship is that there is no man !” Eloise screams, throwing her hands at the ceiling to emphasize her point. Everyone tries not to laugh too loud, but it still stirs up Alfred a bit.
“Dear,” Cressida whispers to Eloise’s ear, Violet only being able to hear as she is standing right next to Eloise. “Let it go. You know that’s true.”
“I still don’t agree with it.” She turns madly to Cressida, who only seems to be smiling.
“Stop, I cannot take this,” Benedict whispers a scream. “Be gone now! Go to your chambers and excuse me from this corniness.”
They all laugh as they leave the room. One by one, the whole siblings and in-laws leave the room. Anthony gives them a look, one of a protective father who is mad rather than an unsupportive one, Kate having to drag him out of the room. When it came for Daphne to leave, she smiled at the both of them as she told Cressida how beautiful Alfred was, Eloise smiling proudly as if he was truly her child. When it was only Eloise, Cressida, and Violet alone, she could not stop her words.
“I am glad you have found someone, Eloise.” She smiles at her. Eloise was getting tears once again.
“I am sorry, Mama.”
“There is nothing to be sorry about,” She says as she gives Eloise a small kiss on her forehead, Eloise smiling through it all. When she turns to Cressida, she goes to try and do the same gesture to Alfred, “May I?” When Cressida nodded, Violet made the same gesture she did for Eloise to Alfred, accepting him as one of her own. The look in Cressida’s eyes was of pure happiness, someone who had finally received something they had missed their entire life. The sadness and happiness made Violet’s own eyes start to water a bit, but she held down the tears and gave Cressida the smile she always gives her children, a mother’s smile. Cressida seems to fold at it. Violet wonders if she would have to prove to Cressida too that she is loved, the same thing she has to do for Eloise.
“So we can sleep in my room, right?” Eloise asks as Violet is in the doorway.
“He cannot stop two lovers,” were her last words as she left to her room. She may finally be able to catch sleep, having finally resolved her biggest worry. Eloise is back.
Morning in the Bridgerton house was not for the weak. Especially when it was the whole Bridgerton family staying in one place, especially when almost all her children have children of their own now. So Violet understood Cressida as she stood there, child in arms, not knowing what to do or who to talk to.
“They can be rather overwhelming sometimes.” She stands next to Cressida, hoping to spark a conversation with her.
“I am not rather used to so many voices in the morning,” She shily responds.
“I wasn’t either.” Cressida looks confused, so Violet chooses to elaborate. “I was an only child, more like yourself. Edmund, on the other hand, had a few siblings.” Violet smiles, hoping for the younger one to sympathize with her.
“Even now, with little Alfred, the mornings are still rather quiet,” Cressida starts to rock the child in her arms. He seems to be watching the other children play, Violet doesn’t know if he wants to join or is overwhelmed by them. “Eloise, most of the time, is the only one talking to us in the morning.”
Violet can’t help but smile sadly at Cressida. She remembered how opposed she used to be to their friendship, sometimes, Violet would surprise herself speaking ill of her to Lady Danbury. Until one day, she called her out, ‘Can we blame a child for always being dirty when they are forced to play in the soil?’ Violet supposes you can’t, so she tries her best to understand the other girl. She had noticed how Eloise and her would act; you would think that they could not get along, yet they never separated. They are two people with the same character but different approaches to it. When Eloise was shy and kept her many opinions to herself and her family, Cressida seemed to thrive in a social environment, always being opinionated and always having the better opinion than others. Violet can agree in that sense she was exactly like Eloise, opinionated. So she smiles. What better person for her daughter than someone so similar yet so different than her?
Alfred starts to try and move away from Cressida, almost wanting to run towards the other children, who seem to be calling for him.
“Alfred, calm down,” Cressida whispers to the kid, but he only starts to fight back more and whine.
“Let him play. He would be fine,” Violet tries to encourage her.
“I’m just worried. He has never played with other kids,” Cressida states as she fights back to keep him in her arms.
“Oh, I take it he doesn’t have many cousins then,” Violet tries to pry.
“On the contrary, he has a lot,” Cressida states, looking around for something, or someone. “We just do not associate with either family.”
Violet stays quiet. She had seen how the Copwer family had distanced themselves from the ton, she had just never questioned if they had distanced themselves from Cressida too. She supposed that sending your daughter to the middle of nowhere, Wales, was a way to distance themselves once from their only child. But she does wonder about the Debling family; she had heard they were great and wealthy, but not much from there. She had met the previous lady Debling, but she was not in the same crowd as Violet.
“Do the Deblings not pay you mind?” Violet asks, now wanting to hear the story.
“They do.” Cressida keeps looking around with the more calm child now. “I just choose to ignore them.”
“Are they bad?” Violet hadn’t heard anything bad about them, but you never know what could happen behind closed doors.
“You can say that.” Cressida keeps looking, and when she doesn’t hear a response from Violet, she chooses to continue. “They weren’t supportive of Alfred, much less when he decided to marry me. They didn’t believe it wise to marry someone casted away by the ton.” Cressida stops and takes a small breath. “So after our weeding, they distant themselves from us. That is, until Alfred died. After that, they tried everything they could to kick me out of the house, try to take back the title and the state. Had I not had a boy, I would be in the streets now.” Cressida finally looks at Violet. While there is sadness in her eyes, there seems to be something more: appreciation, love . “Eloise helped me, though. She was the one who dealt with them, always trying to keep them away from the house and from kicking me out. And when Alfred was born, she was the one who dealt with all the papers and legalities so that little Alfred became Lord Debling. So that I could stay at my house.”
She had never heard of this. Violet had imagined that all Eloise had been doing in the Debling state was lend a shoulder to Cressida and have a perfect excuse to ignore her family. Yet her daughter has proven herself a knight in shining armor, Violet seems to posses another well respecter suitor within her family.
“What must you ladies be speaking off?”
Eloise had returned, and with that, Cressida’s smile had returned too, same with Alfred’s need to escape his mother and play with the other kids.
“Well, you certainly woke up energized, little man,” Eloise takes him from his mother’s arms. “What is it that you want?”
“I ‘lay,” His little finger points to the other kids.
“Oh– well, um– you should ask your mama.” Eloise pleads with her eyes to Cressida for help.
“Can I ‘lay?” He asks Elosie.
While both Eloise and Cressida seem to panic at the interaction, Violet can almost cry at this. Gosh, her daughter is making her cry more this week than she has in months. But it is so much for her to handle; all her children are in love and with such happy and healthy families. Eloise may not have carried a child, but she was now holding one who certainly looked at her as if she had birthed him.
“Oh dear– we have talked about this little man. I am godmother.” Eloise points at herself. “And she is mama,” she points at Cressida.
Cressida turns her worried face to Violet. Why must she be worried? She understands she is worried over him playing, but certainly it is not that strong of a worried to be looking at Violet like that. It hits Violet like rain on a sunny day, the reason they are so worried. They believe Violet would not agree to Alfred considering Eloise as his mama. Oh lord heavens, Violet really needs to change both of these women’s views on her. Of course, she would accept Alfred with open arms, he is as much a grandson as all her other grandsons, no matter who birthed him and no matter what blood he may have.
“Well, I do think you should let him play with his cousins, ” Violet says loudly and with a demure demeanor. Trying to appear natural over her confession, as to not make a deal out of it to the two women.
But of course, both of the women have taken to this hard. Their mouths open as they stare in disbelief at Violet, as if she had just announced she is the queen herself. Surely, it is not that surprising that Violet accepts another grandchild; with the number of kids her children are having, it does not hurt to have one more. Perhaps she is actually grateful Eloise may only bring one to the table; Violet is running out of memory to remember all her grandchildren’s names.
“I– I suppose he could play with his… cousins ?” Cressida is the first one to get out of shock. Her manners won over her surprise at the interaction.
“Yes, do not worry, he would be in good hands.” Violet goes to grab little Alfred from Eloise’s hands. She is so shocked that she doesn’t even seem to process that her mother is stealing the kid in her arms. “Uff, you are certainly one big boy,” Violet tries to tickle him as he puts him down, and he, of course, giggles at this.
With Alfred holding onto her hand, she moves toward the big group of her grandchildren, making sure that Alfred has the balance and coordination to walk correctly and may be able to stand while playing with his cousins. Once near them, she calls for the oldest of them.
“Augie dear,” She calms for her.
“Yes, grandma.” She stops playing with her cousin and jumps toward her grandma’s place.
“This is little Alfred.” Violet steps aside to show Alfred to Augie. He is, of course, quietly watching her. “He is of merely 2 in age, so I would like you to take care of him while he gets used to playing.’’
“Of course, grandma.” Augie goes to take Alfred’s hand, which he takes. “Hi, Alfred. Wanna play?” he looks at Augie weird, and then turns to Violet, almost as if asking if it is okay.
“Go on, kids. Have fun.” He smiles at her and starts walking with Augie into the crowd of all her other grandchildren, all but excited to have one more kid to play with.
“Can you all stop staring?”
While breaking fast, everyone could not seem to avoid looking at the newly added person on the table, while, of course, Eloise and Cressida had done nothing to show they were romantically together for fear of either the kids or the staff seeing them, it was plaster all over their faces and all over their actions. She had seen the way Eloise had put more fruits to Cressidas plate when the other one was chatting away with Michaela and Francesca, too focus on conversation to refilling her plate, she had also seen the way Cressida had stopped on multiple occasion Eloise from making a sassy comment or starting unnecessary fights with her siblings, as well as pass her a cloth when Eloise had gotten messy with her food. It was everything they did that just made it so obvious to Violet that they were a loving couple. They both worked in such synchrony that it is only acquired by two people who know everything about the other.
“Well, you cannot blame us, sister; we are all surprised,” Benedict charmly answers Eloise.
“Well, do not be,” Eloise barks at him.
“Eloise,” Cressida scolds her.
“They started,” Eloise complains.
“Perhaps we need a private conversation.” Violet signaled at the staff to abandon the place, which they swiftly did.
“Each pair gets one question, and that is it.” Eloise shows her siblings one finger to emphasize her point. They all grunted and complained about the stated rule. “Cressida and I would not answer to anything else, and we would like to be left alone.”
All the siblings turn to their partners, and they start to whisper and scheme what their one question should be. This goes on for around 5 minutes before Eloise stops them.
“Okay, we are starting with the less annoying one. Gregory, you must speak.” All her siblings complain.
“Me? Oh wow– I mean, I thought you would choose Francesca.”
“Michaela can be noisy.” Michaela all but gasps at the accusation while her daughter Francesca seems to giggle at this. Violet does wonder if the two of them are more than it looks–
“Are you going to ask or not, Gregory?” Eloise stops her train of thought.
“Did you kill Lord Debling for Cressida?”
“God heavens. No! Come on, Gregory, I thought you would be the easy one. Alfred did die during an expedition. He was a good man, indeed.” Eloise keeps quiet for a second, seemingly grieving Lord Debling. “Okay, next, Francesca.”
“Michaela wants to know if you and Cressida are trying for a sibling for Alfred,” Francesca says quietly, embarrassed and as if she does not want to ask that. Michaela, next to her, seems to be about to laugh.
“Tell her she disgusts me, and if she must know. No!. Gosh, I thought you guys would be calmer than everyone else,” Eloise screams in Michaela’s direction, the latter all but laughing. “Okay, next Hyacinth,”
“Really?” Hyacinth beams at the revelation.
“Yes, Hyacinth, now ask.”
“How did you confess to Cressida?” Ever the romantic, Hyacinth asks for something so innocent. Violet knows she is capable of asking more intrusive questions, so she is glad she decided to be a romantic today.
“After begging for forgiveness, Cressida had become my friend again. After her nuptials, Alfred all but left as quickly as he said yes. In that house, while we were alone, I could not deny my feelings anymore. So, while Cressida leaned over to help me with my dress, I stole a kiss. After some time, I told her of my feelings, which she returned.” Hyacinth melts at the prospect of such romantic moments. “Okay, next, unfortunately, Benedict.”
“Love you too, sister. Did Alfred ever catch you guys?... Let us say warming his bed for his return, perhaps?” Cressida nearly choked on her tea.
“Ignoring you innuendo. Alfred did know about me and Cressida, but he did not mind; he only asked me not to get his wife pregnant, which I, of course, did not do.” Eloise grimace at Benedict. “Well the next one is Daphne.”
“Yes! I’m better than Anthony and Colin.” Daphne smiles at her win. “How did either of you know you were attracted to another woman?”
Cressida, surprising everyone, was the one to answer this one. “I had never really felt for any man. They were all just a title or a wedding promise, I never saw any of them as attractive or interesting, I mean, I flirted with almost every man in this room and I did not feel anything for them. But I liked when the ladies found me interesting, when they would all attach themselves to me for the little attention I used to give them. And when Eloise appeared in my life, it was as if everything they ever said I should feel for a man, Eloise made me feel. Sometimes, I would stare into Eloise, wondering why such a beautiful and interesting girl would want to be near me. When she kissed me, it was as if life finally had answered my questions.” The quietness after that tender confession was warm, all of them understanding in some capacity what Cressida meant. They all turned to Eloise so that she may confess her love too.
“I thought her pretty,” Eloise answers, as if a simple thing.
“Lies! She came crying to me because, and I quote, ‘I find myself plagued by Cressida, it is as if her constant anger does nothing to me but burn me. My whole body reacts to the simple reminder of her presence. I am but a mad man writing in the walls her name. What must I be suffering from, brother?’ ” Benedict charms into mocking her sister. They all laugh, and Violet suspects it is because they have all said something similar.
“I told you that in confidence!” Eloise throws him a grape.
“I am sorry, sister, but I did not want Cressida to appear to be the only fool in love.” Benedict throws Eloise a grape back, and before a good war can start, Cressida grabs onto Eloise’s hand. Violet is thankful for the interruption, that is, until she sees Cressida also throwing a grape at Benedict. Eloise laughs at Benedict’s shock of being hit by Cressida.
“I believe I deserve my question.” Colin stops their little fight, Benedict with his grape in hand, ready to attack.
“You are right; we must continue,” Eloise tries to get serious, even putting her joined hands on the table. She looks like a kid trying to play being an adult. “Anthony, ask your question.”
“What?!—“ Colin protests.
“In your face, brother!” Anthony screams in happiness, pointing at his brother in mockery. Kate gives him a quick hit in the leg that everyone heard. “Anyways, yes— my question. Eloise, we must duel,” Michaela gasps. Everyone seems not to know what to say.
“That’s not even a question,” Eloise argues.
“Well, you have compromised Cressida, and as it appears she lacks a man figure, I must bear the responsibility and fight for her honor back,” Anthony puffs his chest. “And since you guys cannot marry, then a duel would be the other option.”
“Not a duel again,” Daphne shakes her head. “When must you learn, brother? Does do not work.”
Everyone nods their heads with Daphne.
“It is a thing of honor!” Anthony screams as he stands from the table to look at all of them. Kate pulls on his arm to sit him down.
“Sure, brother, we must duel after breaking fast,” Eloise says sarcastically, not believing or actually agreeing with her brother. “Anyways, unfortunately for our last person. Colin.”
“I am offended,” Colin touches his chest, like a lady being rejected. “Who is the man in the relationship?”
Everyone half laughs, including Cressida, who finds it funny how mad Eloise gets over this question; it is as if she would start stomping on the floor like a child.
“Our whole thing is that there is no man! How can you not understand the concept? We are two women in a relationship we do not have does role-“
“It is me,” Cressida states confidently as she places her cup of tea back on the table. They all stare at her, trying to piece together if she geniunley means this or if it’s a joke, but seeing as Cressida does not fold, they all come to the agreement.
“ Cressida ! We talked about this! Do not indulge them, they do not understand the complexities of our relationship. They only wish to see me as a damsel in distress,” Eloise pouts.
“Relax, sister, we all know how capable you are,” Benedict claims. “But clearly Cressida is more capable to provide… comfort,” everyone giggles. The batch of improper beings her children have become, always joking of things of this matter. Perhaps she should have wished for less passionate children, but who is she kidding? She loves her kids.
“Ha ha ha, very funny all of you.” Eloise melts into her chair, taking all the reading from her siblings, Cressida turning to give a kiss in her head to Eloise, who smirks at the gesture even in the light of being ridiculed by her siblings.
A happy couple. Eloise and Cressida are a happy and loving couple with a beautiful son. Violet would be lying if she said this was all she hoped for; she, of course, wished for Eloise to be loved and have a family, but she never imagined that love and family coming in the shape of Cressida Debling and her son Lord Debling. But now, as she stares at them, happily lounging with the whole family, enjoying the day as if they have always been part of the family, it makes Violet understand this is much better than what she had imagined. Eloise had not met her expectations, but that did not matter, as Eloise had found something much better than what Violet could hope. Praise there be to the Bridgerton genes, for all of the Bridgertons had been born to love, and Eloise was no exception.