XIII. TRUST & DECENCY

CHAPTER 13. TRUST AND DECENCY

, sister, to be in love?" Hyacinth asks, as all of the girls of the household, make our way down the stairs.

I had a terrible headache from the night before, and I press my head in my palm.

"Imagine leaping off a cliff and shattering on the ground." Eloise comments. "A fair analogy?"

"How would you know what love feels like?" I ask her, and she gives me a fake smile.

"How would you?" She questions back.

"I am afraid I cannot find the words, dear Hyacinth." Daphne answers, as we reach the bottom. "Though, Diana, I believe you will know what love feels like soon enough." She tells me, and I roll my eyes. "And, Eloise, next season."

"You think I am to follow in your footsteps?" Eloise asks. "Can there be a more dreadful fate?"

"You do know that I am setting the standard for your future matches, yes?" Daphne asks her, annoyed. "You should be grateful."

"The only thing I am grateful for is that I am not you, nor will I ever be." Eloise replies.

"Can you both not talk so loud?" I ask them. "It hurts my head."

"Miss Daphne, His Royal Highness Prince Friedrich is here for you." The doorman announces.

room, reading my book at my window seat. I was very much indulged in it, but I get disturbed by the sound of a rock hitting the widow I was sitting next to.

I ignore it, thinking it was just the wind, but it happens again, so I put my book down, and look down.

There, standing with a couple of rocks in his hand, was not other than the Prince of the United Kingdom. I scoff in disbelief, and I open the window.

"Whatever do you think you are doing here in the middle of the night?!" I whisper-shout.

"Come down." He whispers, smiling.

"No!" I tell him.

"Yes!" He replies.

"No!" I say.

"Yes!" He says. "You realize I could stand here all night and do this?"

I roll my eyes, shutting the with, and making my way out of the room, slowly waling out of the servants exit.

I see him standing a few feet away, and walk towards him.

"With all due respect, Your Highness, have you entirely lost your mind?" I whisper at him.

"Just yesterday, you were drunk out of your mind." He replies. "Do not tell me you are scared of sneaking out at night."

"If anyone is to see us—" I try to say.

"I assure you, Miss Bridgerton, no one shall see us." He tells me.

"I still do not know whatever it is that you want, at this ungodly hour, Your Highness." I tell him.

"Your Highness?" He asks, amused. "I thought you were to call me by my name."

"You called me Miss Bridgerton." I point out.

"Very well, Diana." He tells me, a huge smile on his face, as he offers me his hand. "Are you ready for an adventure?"

"No." I answer immediately.

"I came all this way." He tells me.

"Then you can go all the way back, I do not care." I reply.

"Let us look at this another way." He tells me. "Last night, I saved you from the temper of you family, and some might say you owe me a favor."

"Oh, do I now?" I ask him, in disbelief.

"I seem to think so." He tells me.

"Fine." I give in, and he beams, as I start to walk towards his carriage. "But, if anyone shall see you, I shall blame it on you, Louis."

I look back at him, to see him grinning.

"What are you grinning like an idiot for?" I ask him, as he follows me.

"That was the first time you have ever called me Louis." He replies.

the Buckingham Palace?" I question, confused.

"You will see." He tells me, simply, smiling.

"I am really confused." I tell him, as he steps out of the carriage, and offers me his hand. I hesitate.

"Don't you trust me?" He asks me, and I slowly take his hand.