⚘twenty⚘

I step out onto the terrace. I am surprised to see Miss Sharma taking tea there.

"Good afternoon, Miss Sharma," I greet.

"Good afternoon, Mrs Bridgerton," Miss Sharma greets. "Would you care to join me for tea?"

I smile. "I would very much like to."

I sit down beside Miss Sharma, and she pours me a cup of tea.

"Might I ask you a question?" Miss Sharma asks.

"Of course," I tell her.

"What is it like to marry into the Bridgerton family?" Miss Sharma asks.

I laugh happily. "It is incredible. I never had much of a family growing up so marrying into this one has been a blessing."

"The whole family seems rather close," Miss Sharma states.

I nod my head. "Whoever marries into this family gains the love of all of them."

Eloise steps out onto the terrace book in hand. She smiles at Miss Sharma and me.

"You must not let the game of pall-mall dismay you. Antagonism is, I'm afraid, what you must expect," Eloise tells Miss Sharma. Eloise sits down on a sofa to read.

"Can I ask you something, Miss Eloise?" Miss Sharma questions.

"Did I purposely make the third wicket two inches narrower than last year? Yes," Eloise tells her. Miss Sharma laughs lightly. "Anything."

"I fear I may have upset the viscount during our game," Miss Sharma confesses.

"Ah. You were near our father's grave?" Eloise says. "Well, then his mood was not on your account. He rarely goes near if he can help it." Eloise stands up. "Can I ask you something? Was it your choice you never married? My brothers tell me I have a habit of being rather direct. But everyone tells me it is fate worse than death to end up a spinster. But you seem perfectly content with your situation."

Miss Sharma laughs lightly. "You must know, it is hardly ideal. The world is not exactly welcoming to an unmarried woman. There seems to be no place in society for us, except at the edge of things.

"That rather seems to be society's flaw, not a woman's," Eloise reasons.

"Indeed, it does," Miss Sharma agrees.

Eloise heads off to read her book somewhere else. I turn to Miss Sharma.

"I do not wish to pry," I tell her. "But... was it your choice? To never marry?"

Miss Sharma nods. "I put my sister first. Her happiness is what matters to me."

I nod my head. "I understand. Though I do not have any siblings of my own. My cousin Penelope means a lot to me. I would run any man out of town if they hurt her." Miss Sharma laughs. "But once Miss Edwina is married, have you thought about your own life? If you will marry?"

"I will go back to India," Miss Sharma tells me.

"Oh," I say, a little surprised. "Would you not wish to spend time with your future nieces and nephews."

"Of course, I will," Miss Sharma insists. "But I can do so by visiting from India."

I nod my head. "I can tell you have made up your mind."

Daphne and I sit in William's nursery. He and Augie are on the floor crawling around playing with toys. I smile widely.

"A year ago, I never would have imagined this is where our lives would lead us," I confess.

"Neither would I," Daphne admits. "But I am rather glad you married Benedict."

"So am I," I tell her with a laugh.

Daphne smiles. "Now even our sons will be the best of friends."

"I wish the world luck when those two come of age," I tease.

I sit at the dining table with the whole of the Bridgerton family, the Sharmas, and Lady Danbury. Something seems off with Benedict.

"This room is exceptionally well-lit," Benedict says as he stares at a sconce. "Have you noticed, Love?" He asks me. "The twinkle of the candles, it is as... It's as if... we sit among the stars."

"What is wrong with you?" Eloise asks.

"I was just telling Benedict how brilliant the stars were in Greece," Colin states.

"Are you enjoying your time here, Miss Edwina?" Daphne asks.

"I am, very much," Miss Edwina informs her. "The buzz of the city is thrilling indeed, but I quite enjoy the peace of the country."

"As do I," Anthony agrees. "Though I dare say. It is not quite so peaceful with my entire family in residence."

Miss Edwina chuckles. "I understand, my lord. Certainly, I cannot compare my family with your seven brothers and sisters, but my sister and I were known to be a handful growing up too."

"Mm. I can imagine," Anthony says as he stares at Miss Sharma.

"But Kate always has had my best interests at heart," Miss Edwina assures. "She bears a heavy responsibility for our family."

"That sounds remarkably similar to you, Anthony. Much familial responsibility to bear, indeed," Daphne states.

Benedict sighs. 

"It was a revelation. Made all the better by the knowledge that I may have been the only Briton to see it in decades," Colin tells Eloise.

Benedict begins to moan as he indulges in his dinner. He goes to reach for his glass and knocks it over. I gasp in shock. Benedict simply laughs as he covers his face with his hands.

"Benedict, dear, you alarm our guests," Lady Bridgerton tells him.

"It's quite all right, Lady Bridgerton," Miss Sharma assures.

"Perhaps..." Lady Bridgerton says.

I narrow my eyes at Benedict. He simply smiles at me.

Lady Danbury clinks a knife into her glass. "...it is time for a toast."

"A good idea," Lady Bridgerton agrees. "To cheer our guests."

"Or to tend to other pressing matters," Lady Danbury offers.

Everyone looks to Anthony knowing that Lady Danbury means for him to take the opportunity to propose.

"My... I believe my sister and I have grown rather weary," Miss Sharma says to Lady Bridgerton.

Anthony interrupts, "A toast. Yes." He clears his throat as he stands up. "My sincere gratitude to the Sharmas for joining us. It has been splendid having you here to witness what is now my second annual loss at pall-mall." Everyone laughs. "Not to be repeated, I assure you. And my special gratitude to Miss Edwina. It has certainly been a privilege to truly make your acquaintance these past days. In fact, I believe there is a question I would like to ask you." Everyone holds a breath. "I should like to, uh... I should like to ask you to please refrain from telling anyone back in London about yesterday's loss. I fear the harm to my reputation would simply be too great." A few chuckle awkwardly. "Um... To the pleasant days ahead."

Everyone holds their glass up. "Pleasant days. Hear!"

I try my hardest to help Benedict to our bedchamber.

"Please dear," I plead. "One foot in front of the other."

Benedict laughs. "You're very beautiful." He wraps his arms tightly around me smashing his face against mine. "Even when you're mad."

Colin walks past Benedict and me.

"Where do you think you're going?" I ask Colin.

"To my room," Colin tells me.

I shake my head. "No. Not after whatever the hell it is you have done to my husband." I push Benedict into his brother's arms. "Get him away from me until he straightens up."

I head to check on Benedict. He has yet to come to bed. I assume because he has yet to sober up. As I make my way towards his old room, I pass Colin.

"You're still up," Colin says.

"Because my husband never came to bed," I tell him.

Colin sighs. "He is probably off painting."

I grab onto Colin's arm. "You are responsible for this mess. You will help me get him to bed."

Colin and I make it to Benedict's old room. Inside he is stood behind an easel painting with his fingers. Though I am still mad at him I must admit even his finger painting is beautiful.

"Are you still up?" Colin asks. He walks closer to Benedict making a face. "Ugh. You may wish to bathe before you see Mother in the morning."

"It's magical, Brother." Benedict grabs Colin's face and kisses his cheek. "You were right." Benedict wraps his arms around me pulling me towards his painting. "I've allowed my doubts to plague me for too long. The Royal Academy Schools are not the arbiters of taste. The world is!"

"You are a fatwit," I state.

Eloise comes into the room a paper in hand. "Benedict, something has apparently arrived for you. A letter from London."

Benedict grabs the letter from Eloise and opens it hastily. "I have a place." Benedict laughs. "The Royal Schools have accepted me as a student. I got in!" Benedict grabs onto me, holding me tightly.

"I thought they were not the arbiters of taste?" Colin teases.

"They must see great promise in my work." Benedict rushes to the window and throws it open. "Oh my! You shall all bear witness to my talents!"

"Are you trying to fall out the window?" I rush to grab Benedict pulling him down onto the sofa below the window. "Shh! It's the middle of the night!"

"He will be as insufferable now as you," Eloise states.

"Me?" Colin asks.

"If I must hear one more tale of your extraordinary adventures from Greece..." Eloise starts. "Tell me, Brother, if you loved it there so much, why did you ever return home?"

"Well... Do you ever hear from her? Miss Thompson?" Colin asks. "Are you ladies not always writing letters?"

Eloise scoffs. "I'd have thought your travels banished Miss Thompson... Lady Crane, rather, from your mind completely."

"Funny how distance is no match for memory, is it not?" Colin says.

"She lives not far from here, you know," I inform him.

"I am honored to accept your acceptance," Benedict says.

I turn to Colin. "How much longer is this going to last?"

"Well, devil if I know," Colin tells me.

I narrow my eyes at him. "At least help me get him to bed."

An artist must be free to follow their muse. But it appears the ton has fallen prey to the fickleness of fashion. For how else might one explain the tawdry, dare I say vulgar, gown sported lately by Miss Cressida Cowper? Mayfair's newest modiste has one thing, and one thing only, going for her. She is new. Whereas Madame Delacroix might be old, but at least she is capable. Of course, not everyone can always get things so right. Though I suppose, for some, it may be simply too late to change course and undo any damage.