chapter forty one - a not so romantic honeymoon

The next morning Aurora awoke bright and early to witness the sun rise before breakfast. Having not had the opportunity to explore the gardens to the extent that she would have liked last night, the new Viscountess was excited to experience the beauty of the Bridgerton's' gardens.

Taking her time to dress, along with the help of her ladies' maid, Aurora observed herself in the mirror. She felt different to how she had two days ago. Indeed, she felt like a true woman. There was a new radiance surrounding her that made her feel... powerful. She found she rather liked it.

And Aurora would not be the only one to notice. Her maid had also picked up on the chance and found it most interesting.

Heading down to breakfast, Aurora briefly grabbed some bread rolls and an apple before heading out into the garden. The servants seemed surprised that she had not chosen to take a formal breakfast, however, she was their new mistress and so they had no choice but to attempt her ways.

And so, some two hours later, Aurora found herself admiring the statues in the water garden.

'Eleanor would adore this place,' she thought. 'She has such a keen eye for the beautiful things in this world.'

The young Viscountess had not, for some years, delved into the art of poetry. Indeed, her last works were that published in her writings book. But something about this magnificent place left her with an absolute desire to write.

Therefore, it was most lucky that she had with her her journal and fountain pen. She had anticipated using them to document some of the flowers or the animals thriving in the gardens.

Instead she found herself scribbling away, page after page, about every topic one might imagine. For her mind was not bound by the garden. No, in actuality several of the poems she wrote explored much deeper topics: war, poverty, astronomy. The garden became her muse.

Due to a lack of any kind of device upon which she might be able to tell the time, Aurora remained in the garden until surprisingly late. It was no earlier than six in the evening by the time she had returned to the house. This made the Viscountess feel a little guilty, for she had meant to spend at least some of the day completing her new duties.

'Oh well,' she told herself, 'this is my honeymoon after all.'

***

Hidden away in his fathers: old study, Anthony Bridgerton was sat drawing up plan for his new venture. Titled , he had already produced several pages worth of documents into the subject and had read approximately half of the papers given to him by Lord Halifax - who was to be his partner in the endeavour.

Halifax had been decent enough to provide him with a great deal of information surrounding the venture, for it was, after all, a matter of great complexity.

Opening up another of the leather bound papers, Anthony glanced his eyes over the large black writing enscrawled on the front page.

OPERATION BLACK SWAN: THE COLLECTION OF INDIGO DYE BY THE HONOURABLE EIC.

DOCUMENT TWEVLE: TRANSPORTATION

He flicked through the pages of the document and sighed. Nothing seemed less appealing to him than the prospect of having to read about trade routes, but alas, there was nothing else to do.

'You could always go and talk to your wife', came a voice nagging at him from inside his head. It must have been his conscience. No wonder he hadn't heard from it in so long.

Exhausted at the prospect of analysing the documents set before him, Anthony stretched and got up from the chair. A sudden cramp attack his leg, goodness! He must have been there for far longer than he had realised.

He reached into the pocket of his jacket and pulled out his father's watch.

5.50

He frowned at the time. Surely he had not been cooped up in the study for that long! Regardless, it seemed to be an ideal time to take dinner.

With this thought in mind, the Viscount headed to the dining room. Once there he was unpleasantly surprised to find his wife bounding down the corridor, however it appeared that she was yet to notice his presence and - with any luck - he might be able to make an escape before she-

"Husband?" Her voice came out cold, "well, this is a rather disagreeable situation. I had anticipated eating alone."

Another was surprised at her cool voice. Since when had she become so inhospitable toward him?

He sighed before speaking.

"I had rather hoped for the same."

She pondered for a moment. "Perhaps we might eat alone together then. You'll excuse me, but I am really quite ravenous. I'd rather not be made to wait. I'm sure if we eat at opposite ends of the table all will be well."

She barely gave him a chance to respond but instead wandered into the room.

"I suppose that is an adequate solution to a most irksome problem."

Aurora Bridgerton had to suppress a chuckle at his comment. She hated how funny she found the whole scenario. His new found coldness toward her was ridiculous and she certainly wished to uncover the source of it. However, there was something tantalising about it. Something that made eye - burn?

Seated about as far away from each other as was physically possible, the two spent the first course of the meal in complete silence and it seemed it might continue that way in perpetuity until Aurora finally decided she had had enough.

"I trust you enjoyed your day locked in the study?" It was hard for Anthony to miss the sarcasm in her voice. It was

Regardless, Anthony was more than willing to play along. clear that she did not care in the slightest whether or not he had enjoyed his day.

"Indeed," he contemplated mentioning his new venture, "I will not be spending much time with you over the coming months. I have something more important to devote my time to."

Aurora's facade fell as she looked at him in hurt.

"Pray, may I know what it is? This important subject which prevents my husband from being able to spend more than five minutes in my company?"

He hesitated, "it is a business venture," there was a pause as Anthony attempted to cut a particularly tough section of beef. "Regarding my present..." he struggled to find the word.

"Selfishness? Childish behaviour! Chauvinistic rudeness?" She suggested.

"Aurora!" the Viscount reprimanded.

"Oh! So you do still remember my name, I wasn't sure." Came her snarky response as she popped an olive in her mouth.

"I will not take this insolence from my own wife. You will soon discover that I am doing this for your own benefit?"

The girl could not help but scoff at his ridiculous comment. "Ah yes? What could be more beneficial for me than to be neglected by my own husband!"

"Stop with the sarcasm!"

Aurora thought - for a second- that the corners of his lip had twisted up. Surely he could not find the whole affair amusing!

"Make me."

*****

My dear readers,

I am proud to say that I wrote this chapter whilst simultaneously listening to a lecture on Sanskrit and helping one of my elder brothers write an essay on the Tudors. Indeed, it would seem I am quite the multitasker!

Honestly though, I do wish he'd learn to write these things by himself!

For those whose do not know about the East India Company, here is a little bit of information:

They were an English stock company founded to trade across India and the subcontinent. It has become notorious for its mistreatment of those native to the countries Britain colonised and we do not look upon this section of our history with fondness.

So that clears up everything - essentially, Anthony's new business venture is going to prove catastrophic.

Yours truly,

Lady Valentina of the House Riviera, third of her name and owner of several cats