The Queen slammed the paper on her table causing everyone in the room to jump. She stood up from her chair and huffed.

"We must send a letter to Anastasia this instant!"

-

"So what if I'm taking my time?!" Elena huffed.

"Every men I've encountered are all pigs. I mean some of them are very nice, don't get me wrong. But I just don't feel comfortable around them. And what if I do not wish to marry? I could easily survive on my own" She said putting down the paper.

Meanwhile, Miranda was doing Elena's hair and listening to her like the good maid she is.

"I don't know, Miranda. Am I going too far?" Elena asked while looking at her through the mirror.

"Of course not, my lady. I think it's wonderful that you're waiting for the right person. So, is it to your liking?"

Elena hadn't noticed that after all her rambling, Miranda has finished her hair. It was a well made braid coming down to her shoulder and it had small white flowers.

"Oh, Miranda. It is beautiful."

-

"Lady Bridgerton." Elena called, approaching the Bridgerton canapé with a basket full of peaches.

Benedict saw her and a smile appeared on his face. He got up from his seat and approached her. They walked towards Violet together.

"Please accept these peaches I grew in my backyard. I got the seeds from Russia and they're delicious." She held out the basket to her. "I have many fruit trees and I would love to offer you some more."

Lady Bridgerton didn't say anything at first but just eyed her. But her face soon turned into a soothing one and she kindly accepted the basket. "Thank you, my dear. I shall invite you over when I make my peach pie. Please, join us.

Benedict escorted Elena as they talked. "My mother doesn't know I'm here. I lied saying that I'll be looking for suitors."

Benedict laughed and shook his head. He showed her to her seat and helped her sit down.

After a few minutes of getting to know the family better, she sees Lord Berbrook with a bruised face walking towards the canapé with a paper in one hand.

"Incoming." She says to Benedict. He glances behind his shoulder and sees the exact same thing.

"I bring cheerful news, Bridgertons." Lady Bridgerton turned around and jumped at the sight of Lord Berbrook.

"I have taken matters in my own hands and sought a special license for my wedding to Miss Bridgerton."

"There is to be no wedding." Daphne said with Simon by her side.

"I told you. The arrangement is canceled." Anthony told him.

"Lord Berbrooke, you look in a great deal of pain. Shall we continue this in a more private location?" Lady Bridgerton offered.

"I require no further conversation. Though, perhaps I am finally speaking to the true head of the Bridgerton house. For if it were you..." Lord Berbrook gazed at Anthony. "...I imagine you would have instructed your sister to take better care than to encourage certain attentions while alone with me on the dark walk at Vauxhall. Of course, mere hearsay of such a scandal could wreak havoc on even the most influential of families. What would someone like, say, Lady Whistledown do with such unseemly information."

"Is that a threat?" Anthony angrily asked.

"It is certainly not. Because in three days, I am to marry. I have the diamond of the season." Berbrooke said.

"May I recall that your never-to-be wife has already turned down your proposal numerous times?" Elena snapped at him, stepping closer.

"You have no right in this Miss Bennet!" Berbrooke said.

"I am helping a friend out here so as a matter of fact, I do."

Lord Berbrooke stared at Elena for a moment before speaking again. "I do wonder why the marquess decided to present you to the public. Should've stayed hidden to hide your disgusting personality!"

About to punch him, Benedict lunges towards Berbrooke who takes a few steps back out of fear. Elena stops Benedict by grabbing his arm and pulling him away from Berbrooke.

"Lord Berbrooke I think it's time for you to leave." Lady Bridgerton said.

"Of course. I look forward to the union of our great families. Bridgerton, Hastings... Bennet." Berbrooke thrusts the paper to Anthony and leaves.

Elena does the same and started walking away without saying goodbye to anyone. Benedict notices that the girl is not by his side. He sees her and catches up to her.

"Miss Bennet." He calls but she keeps walking.

"Elena!" She finally stops and turns around. "You must not listen to what Lord Berbrooke says. You're very kind and heart warming, Elena." He tried to assure her.

"I do not worry. Good day, Benedict." She says and makes her way to her family's canapé.

-

It was late in the night, Eloise Bridgerton was sitting outside, on the swing in her backyard. She lights a small cigar and exhales a little smoke.

"Eloise Bridgerton!" She hears her brother from behind and freezes. She turns around and sees Benedict glaring at her.

"Go on, then. Chastise me." She says and takes another drag.

"Spare one for me?" He makes her way on the second swing beside her. Eloise hands him the box and he lights his one cigar.

"Suppose I desire something different." Eloise states.

"How do you mean?" Benedict asks.

"Just different. I watch Daphne prepare for these balls with all of those dresses and the many suitors, and I am exhausted. Suppose I want a different life, Benedict. That I truly believe I am quite capable of something more, even when I am not allowed to have anything else."

"Then I would say- that you're not the only one." Benedict says, referring himself but also to Elena.

-

Around the same time, Elena sat on a branch of her tree, looking up at the beautiful stars.

"You always loved climbing on trees." Lord Bennet said from below. Elena looks down and sees her father starting to climb. He gets on the tree and sits beside her. "Do you want to tell me what's on your mind, flower?" He asked, removing a strand of hair from Elena's face.

She sighs, shaking her head trying to find the proper answer. "I can't sleep, Papa. This whole thing with finding a good suitor and getting married by the end of the season is exhausting." She rubs her face.

"I know, darling. I know." Lord Bennet brings Elena closer so she can put her head on his shoulder. "But you are the strongest girl I know. You will get through this and you have my support." He says while caressing her shoulder.

Out of nowhere, Elena decides to pop the big question. "Why did you send me away?"

Lord Bennet thinks for a moment. He didn't really know what to answer. "You want my honesty?" He asked and Elena nodded.

"We thought that it was what's best for you. You could've learned to be a proper lady, but you've always been one. You just needed some time. And me, I lost 3 years with you and I regret it so much."

Elena removed her head from his shoulder and stared at her father. "Do you really mean that?"

"With all my heart, Darling."

She rests her head back on his shoulder and sighs. She closes her eyes and inhales the cool breeze of the night. But another thing comes to her mind.

"You know, sometimes, I feel like I cannot breathe. I'm living a life I do not wish to live and I feel like there are better things other than wearing tight gowns, going to balls every night and marrying someone you do not necessarily love."

Lord Bennet chuckled at her confession. "I remember when I thought exactly the same thing. I did not like the idea of chasing women around for their beauty or popularity, no. I just wished to live a happy a life with someone I love and with my children. And I got it. And some day you will have your own life, my little flower."

Elena warmly smiles and gives her father a tight hug and stays. "I miss Lizzie..." Elena stated. "We would always have a girl-talk session whenever I'm feeling down. So thank you for being my Lizzie." She looked up at her father.

"Well, I'm an expert at girl-talk." He said and kissed Elena's head.

-

"You ate not one bite at tea, my dear! A young lady must be well fed if she is to bear children. Kippers on rye every morning worked wonders for me when I conceived my Nigel." Lady Berbrook smiles at Lady Bridgerton and leaves the drawing room with her maid.

After they have left, Lady Bridgerton turns to Rose. "What have you found out?"

Puzzled, Daphne walked towards them. "What is going on?"

"You could not think I'd ask that woman for tea without a thought for you, could you? The help hears everything, as we all know."

"She has heard a good deal, in fact. Lord Berbrooke has a boy by one of his maids that he refused to provide for." Rose said making Lady Bridgerton cover her mouth out of shock.

"Sent the maid and child away to live off scraps." She continued.

"Horrible man."

"Horrible enough for us to be rid of him, let us pray." Lady Bridgerton said.

"Well, he- He will only deny it. And who will believe a group of women over a man's word?"

"Perhaps no one. But they will if Lady Whistledown does. So whe shall who what women do. We shall talk."

-

-

It was a peaceful afternoon at the Bennet's house and everyone was doing their own thing individually. The silence in the house was filled with the beautiful melody of the cello that Elena was playing. She stopped playing when another Whistledown paper stood in front of her face.

"Turns out Lord Berbrooke is a pig." Isabella said from behind her.

"He has a son?!" Elena exclaimed turning around to face her. "And was he planning to do the same to Daphne?!"

"Suppose so, yes."