XVII. TRUST & FORGIVENESS

CHAPTER 17. TRUST AND FORGIVENESS

pastimes in the country?" Mama asks Miss Thompson.

"I enjoyed riding above all else, my lady." Miss Thompson replies.

"Please, you must call me Violet now." Mama tells her. "Remember?"

"Miss Thompson is such a proper young lady, is she not?" Lady Featherington cuts in, and Louis and I share a look.

"Have you traveled at all beyond England, Miss Thompson?" Mama asks. "It has long been Colin's greatest ambition to travel the world."

"Never." Miss Thompson answers, genuinely. "Though it is now a great ambition of mine as well."

"I am sensing a honeymoon in foreign parts." Lady Featherington interjects. "What think you, Lord Bridgerton?"

"I would not like to speculate." Anthony tells her, politely.

"Yes, indeed. I believe a honeymoon in foreign parts would be just the thing." Lady Featherington continues. "Mr. Bridgerton, you might even make the most of this fine weather we've been having if you choose to marry sooner rather than later."

"Colin is still very young." Anthony cuts in. "I believe a lengthier engagement would be prudent, excellent weather notwithstanding."

I laugh in my glass, as Louis, who was sitting next to Anthony, leaned back, so that his smile could not be seen.

"Mother, have I told you Miss Thompson is very accomplished at needlework?" Colin changes the topic. "She is quite brilliant. Puts my sisters to shame."

"I can assure you, that is not true." Miss Thompson tells us.

"You have not seen my sister Daphne's embroidery." Colin tells her. "In all honesty, it is like a battlefield."

"Prince Louis, have you had a chance to meet our second oldest daughter, Philippa?" Lady Featherington asks Louis.

"No, I do not believe I have." Louis answers, with a polite smile, as I stab my fork into my meal.

"She could not stop taking about His Majesty." Lady Featherington continues.

"Oh." Louis lets out, awkwardly, as he meets my eyes, and I just give him a unbothered look, like I was not even listening. "I'm sure she is lovely."

"How about she shows us all her talents at the piano forte, after our meal?" Lady Featherington suggests.

massaging it. Prudence was singing, as Philippa played the piano.

I look at Louis, who was giving me look, as if to say, 'I told you so'. I give him a look that says, 'shut up', and he laughs, as I lean back into the sofa, hoping to escape the song. I sigh, and look at Louis, with pleading eyes, and he takes pity on me, as he stands up, making his way to Mama.

"Lady Bridgerton, would it be alright, if Diana and I went for a walk?" He asks Mama, as I look hopeful.

"Of course, Your Majesty." Mama replies, and I nearly burst from the joy. "But, I do believe, you shall need a chaperone." She turns to Anthony. "Anthony would-"

"It is alright, Mama." I cut in. "Benedict would like to chaperone us."

"I would?" He asks, and I give him a look. "I would."

"Come on, Brother." I tell him, as drag both of them out of the Featherington residence.

the matteerrrrrr beeeeeee!!!" Benedict sings loudly, completely off key,, as Louis and I both laugh, walking further away for the house.

"I do believe, that is quite enough, Brother." I tell him, as he swings his arm around my shoulder, with Louis on my other side. "Quite a show."

"Let him finish the song, Diana." Louis tells me, as I roll my eyes.

"Now, that is a man, who appreciates good humor." Benedict tells us, pointing at Louis, as they they both smile. "You need not be so uptight all the time, Diana."

"Let loose sometimes, will you?" Louis asks me.

"Oh, is that is?" I ask them, scoffing in disbelief. "I'm uptight, and you both have an unreal bound over humor?"

"It seems so." Louis tells me, and I let out a huff.

"As, His Majesty said." Benedict adds, as I roll my eyes.

"Please, no need for formalities." Louis tells him. "After all, we do have a bound."

"You hear that, Diana." Benedict tells me, turning to Louis, as he pushes me aside, and moves towards Louis. "Tell me, you're a Prince, a rather intelligent lad, good-looking, whatever did you see in my sister?"