King of all rakes

As Anthony angrily bursts from the house, he spots me and quickly strides over. "Oh, here we go." Colin mutters. "I do believe I must excuse myself... coming, Benedict?" And so the pair of them retreat before Anthony arrives.

He stands on the spot in front of me expectantly. "Well?"

"Well what?"

"Well, what did Daphne say to you?"

"I have not had a chance yet to speak with her. She was practising the piano and then all of these callers arrived and so I had not a single opportunity." I sit on the swing, raising an eyebrow at him. "You looked rather irate in there. Are things not to your liking?"

"They certainly are not. Both mama and daphne insist that the duke has serious intentions, he sent flowers to the house this morning apparently. I simply do not understand." He scowls, taking a seat so forcefully on the swing by the side of me that I should not be surprised if it snapped underneath him. "You have spent the time out here entertaining my brothers rather than actually doing as I have asked?"

"You are aware that I do have other things in my life than a request you have made of me?" I am slightly outraged by him. "If I wish to talk with your brothers then I certainly shall be doing, viscount, for they are far better and wittier conversationalists than you could ever dream you shall be."

"Or than you shall be, for that matter. I am going to pay your brother a visit. I imagine I shall see you at the ball this evening."

"Only if you are lucky."

"I can only hope I am not." He stands and watches me for a moment, and I glance to see that he has not redressed properly yet, his arms still bare and as he clenches his fists, I do all I can not to blush. "Goodbye and good riddance, Lady Basset."

"And to you too." After that, I return to Lady Danbury's home, and I do nothing at all until it is time for the ball. Simon is on the arm of Lady Danbury and so I must walk myself in, the Bridgerton family closely behind us so that when we turn, simon and daphne are face to face.

"A dance, Miss Bridgerton?" Simon asks with a sincere look on his face as he holds his arm gently to her which she gratefully accepts, her hand clamping gently on top of his.

I am gentle as I edge round so that I might stand to the side of the two brothers, who instantly begin chattering with me. "Another day, another dance. You continue to look ravishing as ever." Benedict is the first to compliment me and Colin follows suit. "Oh, nice, Colin. Very original. Is penelope not here to bother you?"

Lady Danbury notices such, which causes her to narrow her eyes and then force a smile. "I suppose I shall have to ask someone else to accompany me to get a drink then." She glances between the two boys. "Benedict?"

"Hm?" His eyes go alert as he realises he was caught not listening, sighing quietly and reluctantly as Lady Danbury offers her arm and he must go to get her a drink.

When I turn to look to look for Colin, he is being dragged away by his own mother, leaving me once again with Anthony. "Honestly, anyone should begin to think you might actually like me if you continue to spend so much time stood around me."

"I have never heard a more outrageous suggestion to be completely honest! It is clear that it is you orchestrating all of this in order to force me to a dance with you."

"Now, I never said anything a dance. You have said that yourself." I raise an eyebrow and grin, enjoying taking this moment to mock him. "So now you are thinking about dancing with me, viscount? Do you absolutely lie in bed at night and dream of when you shall next be able to take me in your arms and mutter the numbers as you step on my toes?"

"Dream, my lady? That sounds more as though it should be classified as a nightmare and a positively awful one at that." He looks around the ballroom and scowls as he sees our siblings dancing together. "I spoke to him earlier. He said that he did not have any bad intentions for my sister. He assured me of such, in fact. But I still doubt he wishes to marry her. This is what confuses me so."

"It confuses me so as well. I am quite sure that he shall not marry her... it does not make any sense. He is a strange man and he has strange motives, I suppose."

"You may say I suppose as though it is no big event but this is my sister and my family name at risk. It is me who should suffer if there is something more at play here." He scowls a little as he looks and sees Nigel Berbrooke. "See, that is who she should be marrying. I have investigated into his lineage and his past, his hobbies and all of his activities and I have found nothing absurd or questionable. Your brother on the other hand is-"

"The king of rakes? Yes, he is. His personality does not redeem himself either. But surely you cannot ask her to marry Berbrooke of all people. He is a bumbling fool. Is there not a single other suitor that you should find acceptable?" He pretends to consider my point for a moment before he shakes his head. "The thought of my brother having marital relations with your sister repulsed you but the thought of her being with child with Berbrooke does not?"

"It... it is not about that. Daphne shall have to endure that no matter which lord she marries. It is more that it shall never occur with your brother in a proper way because he shall never marry her. And the only proper way is if he does marry her." He scowls and disappears for a moment. I watch for what he is doing until he returns with two glasses of whiskey. "Here. Drink that."

I take the glass from him, his kind actions overshadowed by the demanding nature of his words. I do not drink it instantly, nursing it instead. "The only proper way is within a marriage? Well I suppose you are as green as she is then?"

"Once again, my lady, your questions are out of line. I shall not be discussing my activities with someone such as yourself." He glares down at me, standing straight and nodding at the important men as they walk past once again. This time, they seem eager to escape him though. Most likely suitors that wished to call upon daphne but were scared away by his actions this morning. "You should be more careful of who hears you having these conversations with me. I should not wish for anyone to think I could possibly be involved with... you."

"I am sure my involvement with yourself should tarnish my reputation more than your involvement with me should. For remember that this is my first season, no one knows of who I am or how much I know, do they? And so they cannot base an opinion of you off of me for they know nothing of me. You, however... you only narrowly missed out on the title of the king of all rakes when my brother returned to town."