Paint them a pretty picture

So, tasked by the viscount with finding out what exactly it is that is happening, I make my way over to the Bridgerton house so that I might talk to Daphne. Of course that is not what happens, Daphne sits playing the piano whilst Benedict and Colin both bother me from either side, as Lady Bridgerton speaks.

"Shall we be able to count on the duke for the Crawford ball? And what of the Ramsbury ball? And what of the grand picnic?" She continues asking and I feel almost sorry for Daphne as she continues to answer each of her mother's questions. "And shall he call today?"

"Are we sure that everyone was not simply eyeing a tear in her dress?" Colin laughs, raising an eyebrow as he turns to his mother who gives him a heavily displeased look.

"It shall have been more likely a misstep on the dance floor, I am sure." Benedict grins and raises both his eyebrows as he gains the same disapproving look. "What think you, Delilah? Since you were also on the dance floor that evening?"

"I think that if anything, they shall have been eyeing my brother. He is not at all a talented dancer, quite embarrassing for him actually."

"Cannot possibly be as embarrassing as dancing with Anthony." He teases, Colin joining in with the japes until their mother tells them they must be quiet. "I am merely saying! Anthony does not dance for anybody and there is a reason for such!"

"I did not see you even dare near the dance floor, I believe that says more of you than anyone." I laugh a little, that is when Eloise bursts through the door with purpose and volume.

"How does a lady come to be with child?"

Daphne presses a wrong key on the piano which echoes throughout the room and she then pauses, tilting her head as she glances at Eloise, a confused look on her face as though she realises this is a good point raised by her sister. Colin snorts and Benedict's eyes widen, Hyacinth poking her head out and Lady Bridgerton scoffing in shock before she eventually forces herself to say something. "Eloise! What a question!"

"It is only a question, mama. I thought one must be married but apparently that is not even a requirement!" She continues to exclaim, Lady Bridgerton glancing at her with the same look she has given both of her sons earlier, until eloise sighs and slumps back on the sofa. "How, if not marriage?"

"You do not at all need to be married. Remember that, delilah." Benedict nudges his elbow into my side, suggestively smirking as Eloise just glares at him. "What? I shall not be the one to tell you, sister."

She desperately looks at me for assistance but I shake my head also. "I do believe your mama shall have my head if I encourage such an improper topic of conversation."

"Oh!" Eloise cries out, frustrated and throws her arms into the air, shaking her head. "It is ever so unfair."

"It is, it is." Colin slaps his hands against his thighs and pushes himself to his feet, projecting so the entire room can hear him. "Shall we take our sticks out?" As he mother snaps her head to look at him, he grins widely, well aware of what he has said. "A round of fencing, mama. Do you wish to join us Delilah?"

"Last time I was promised fencing, it was a ruse." But I do rise and follow the pair of them from the room where they move to sit out in the garden. "It shocks me each and everyday how clueless mamas love to keep their daughters. It does not make much sense to me."

"It most certainly does not. I must say, Delilah, I am surprised at how much you appear to know. You are the daughter of a Duke, I should have thought you should be more so sheltered than even Daphne."  Benedict sits down on one of the rope swings that hangs from the large tree, and I take the next one, which leaves Colin to just stand there.

"I may be the daughter of a duke but I am not the daughter of a duchess so to speak, and that is what matters. My mother died before I could meet her and so I never had her guidance. My father did not care for me since I was a girl and so it did not matter to him where I was or who with. I should not admit this to the pair of you, no one shall marry me if they are aware of these facts." I sigh a little as I think of my formative years. I am still in them, really. After Simon was sent away and I was rejected because I was not the boy that my father so wanted, I was left to my own devices really. "My father had many women over, he had more and more as he got older and realised that he was desperate for another heir, so I was left more and more and well... I learnt things I perhaps should not have done. Daphne is lucky in a way, I suppose. That she has people who wish to protect her virtue from such things and such men. I did not have anyone attempting to defend me."

"I shall defend you." Colin shrugs, leaning back against the tree, closing one eye so that he might block out the sun and look at me properly. "I shall box anyone who looks at you."

"Boxing, colin, really? You have never once won a boxing match, it is simply not your forte." Benedict comments, teasing his brother.

"And what shall you do? Paint them a pretty picture so that they shall leave?"

As the pair begin to bicker, I see that there is a sudden line of suitors arriving at the Bridgerton household. I gaze through the window to see there are callers now filling the room we were previously in, with flowers and gifts and grins on their faces. Daphne seems overjoyed as I watch her squeal and smile, her mother seemingly as confused as I am. This does not make so much sense... if Daphne is so overjoyed by the prospect of other callers then why is she accepting my brother courting her? If she is as infatuated with my brother as they seem to want to present she is, he is a Duke, why should men like Lord Hardy and Lord Ambrose pose any kind of temptation against a duke? It does not make any sense.

That is when Anthony rushes into the room. He looks angry, Lord brooke trailing behind him. As he confronts his mother and his sister, he removes his jacket and throws it down onto the settee as he begins pacing. I feel my heart beat a little quicker as he rolls his sleeves up to reveal his forearms, standing with them propped on his waist as his face turns red and he continues to talk. I cannot begin to tear my eyes away from him, having to shake my head to do so when I hear Colin calling me.

"-Delilah?"

"Yes, sorry. What is it you said?"

"What is it you are so caught up by?" Benedict stands, and Colin straightens himself so that they can follow my eyeline through the window. They look at each other, suddenly grinning. "You are looking at Anthony? That is why you have not yet reacted to any of my suggestions, because I am not the brother you are so interested in?

"That is not true. I despise your brother, I was merely trying to figure out why it is that Daphne has callers if she is being courted by my own brother." I am quick to mak an excuse despite the fact I can feel my cheeks burning red. I do not know why they do such, what I say is true, I despise Anthony. Do I not?