⚘nineteen⚘

We all know the great lengths a young lady will go in pursuit of a proposal. And apparently, she will travel great distances too. Lord Anthony Bridgerton appears to be inching ever so closer to selecting his viscountess, and to that end has invited our diamond to join him for an excursion at his ancestral home, Aubrey Hall.

Country air indeed clears the mind and invigorates the body. Might this be the final gust that pushes the viscount over the precipice of a proposal? Of course, the luckless souls remaining in town will have to find new diversions in the absence of their most precious of stones.

Benedict and I are staying at Aubrey Hall with his family. His mother is hosting a ball and of course Benedict and I have decided to come along early to help. Anthony has also decided to invite Miss Edwina, Lady Mary, Miss Sharma, and Lady Danbury. I suppose things are moving forward between him and Miss Edwina.

Daphne walks into the drawing room holding baby Augie.

"Sister!" Fran says with a gasp.

"Oh, I am so pleased you were able to come," Lady Bridgerton tells Daphne.

"As if I would allow dear Augie to miss out on watching his mother win this little family tradition," Daphne reasons. "Second year in a row, if I might add."

"Charming words from a duchess," Benedict teases.

"A duchess who is still a Bridgerton," Daphne argues.

"Oh, come and see the baby, Eloise," Fran tells her.

"Why? Has he changed since I saw him last?" Eloise asks.

"He's grown at least an inch, haven't you?" Daphne says. "Who's that, then?"

Lady Bridgerton laughs happily as she takes Augie into her arms. "Oh, my lovely. Here we go. Yes. There we are." Lady Bridgerton goes to hand Augie over to Eloise. "There we go."

Augie begins to cry the moment Eloise takes hold of him.

"Do not mind your Auntie Eloise," Colin says as he takes hold of Augie. "She's too busy reading to notice anything else, as usual."

"Is it not nap time? Perhaps Uncle Colin will lull you to sleep with his many tales from his travels," Eloise says.

"Yes. I seem to be missing the peace and solitude of the Greek isles already," Colin says.

"Enjoying your brief respite from the ferocious packs of marriage-minded young ladies, Brother?" Daphne asks Anthony.

"Quite the opposite, Sister. I have invited one such young lady and her family to join us today," Anthony informs her.

"Anthony has invited a young lady to Aubrey Hall?" Daphne asks in disbelief.

"Yes, and she is quite lovely," Lady Bridgerton tells her.

"My word! Well, I cannot wait to meet the woman who has captured your heart. Tell me, what is she like?" Daphne says.

"Miss Edwina is the picture of grace, beauty, and charm. Unfortunately, she has a most annoying sister who has styled herself as something of a gatekeeper," Anthony informs her. Daphne looks to her siblings. "I'm afraid you must all help me win over both sisters, if I am to find my bride."

"And now you appeal for help. My, you must be smitten by this miss," Daphne reasons.

"Or the sister is a formidable obstacle, indeed," Benedict offers.

"Fear not, Anthony. Seeing as though you were such a help to me last season, it would only be fair of me to return the favor," Daphne assures him.

"Is that a promise or a threat?" Anthony asks.

Daphne smiles. "Hmm."

We all stand out front of Aubrey Hall as the carriage containing the Sharma family and Lady Danbury arrives.

Lady Danbury is the first to step out with a smile on her face. "Now, the only reason to endure such a journey is to see my great-godson," Lady Danbury says. Lady Bridgerton hands Augie to her. "Hello."

"Well, it is a joy to see you as well, Lady Danbury," Daphne tells her.

Lady Danbury laughs. "Oh, Your Grace."

"Lady Mary," Lady Bridgerton greets. "So pleased to have you."

"Thank you for having us," Lady Mary says. "This is my daughter Edwina, you remember."

"Lovely to see you. I do," Lady Bridgerton says.

"And, of course, Kate, my eldest," Lady Mary introduces.

I listen to Lady Mary and Miss Edwina talk about their travels here. Miss Edwina assures she has never seen the English countryside before and is excited for her stay.

"Well, now, you must be weary from your travels," Lady Bridgerton says. "Mrs. Wilson. Please show our guests to their rooms so they might get refreshed."

"And ready for battle," Eloise says.

I smile widely. "Mm, indeed."

"What can you mean?" Miss Sharma asks.

"Do not mind Eloise. She's always so spirited in the country," Lady Bridgerton says.

"Then we have that in common," Miss Edwina tells Eloise with a smile.

Daphne and I are showing Miss Sharma and Miss Edwina the back garden, placing some of the wickets for Pall-mall. Daphne places hers rather close to the base of a sculpture.

"This will teach Colin," Daphne insists.

"Last time, he put a wicket behind the goat barn," I tell the Sharmas.

"What exactly are the rules of this game?" Miss Sharma asks.

"Pall-mall is less about the rules, more about the goal," Daphne explains.

"Which is, of course, to hit your ball through each wicket," I add.

"The first player to send their ball through the last wicket wins. Simple enough," Daphne says.

"Though, if you are feeling devilish, you can use your turn to knock an opponent's ball as far away from their next wicket as you would like," I offer.

"Why waste a turn if the point is to get one's own ball through the wicket?" Miss Edwina asks.

"To infuriate your opponent, I gather?" Miss Sharma reasons.

Daphne smiles. "Precisely. It is a poor player who plays the game, and a wise one who plays their opponent."

"I believe I shall rather enjoy this game," Miss Sharma says.

"Right. Oh. Now, Benedict is a solid shot, and I am not just saying that because I am his wife, but he avoids conflict," I explain.

"Colin is crafty. He will strike when he thinks you are least suspecting it, so always be suspecting it," Daphne informs the Sharmas.

"Eloise concentrates entirely on defeating her older brothers. The hope is that she gets so absorbed by them that she forgets about you," I explain.

"I, of course, am a complete enigma who will divulge none of my secrets," Daphne states. "And, well, then there is Anthony."

"Let me guess. A most ruthless, cutthroat player," Miss Sharma says.