Chapter Twenty-Three - The Queen's Luncheon

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"Your Majesty," I fall into a curtsy before standing back up and smiling at her. "It is lovely to see you."

"You as well," the Queen says, looking me over with a careful eye, "I must say, I didn't think that we would see you... especially with my luncheon being so soon after your wedding."

"A little over a week, I think," Frederick says, "Florence and I could not think of a better event to re-enter into society as a married couple."

"Mmm, and Frederick, how are you?" The Queen asks, "is married life treating you well?"

"It is, Your Majesty," Frederick says, nodding his head at her and smiling fondly. "Did you receive that gift that we sent you?"

"Oh yes, I do rather enjoy watching the roses bloom... a rather pretty sight to wake up to in the morning," the Queen notes. She turns her attention onto me and looks me over with a careful eye. "Like with the Duchess of Hastings, I have 100 guineas wagered on their being a Windsor heir within the year... are you yet with child, dear."

"Hopefully soon," I say, "Frederick and I both want to have a family... whenever that comes, is up to... well-"

The Queen let out a little hum before nodding her head and walking off.

"Mr Grandville, how wonderful to see you again.. and Mrs Grandville, you are looking lovely as always," I greet.

"Duchess, it is wonderful to see you," Mrs Granville says, "my husband has been hoping to have the honor of painting you and the Duke of Windsor's portrait if you chose to have one, that is."

I let out a little giggle before nodding my head, "we shall see, but if we do, we know who to send for... if you'll excuse me, I must go check in on an old friend of mine."

Mrs Grandville nods her head and waves at me before turning to her husband, who had just started up a conversation with Benedict.

"I am hosting a party and I would very much love for you to attend," Lady Danbury says, marching up to me with a knowing glint in her eye.

"Lady Danbury," I greet, "it is good to see you too."

"What kind of party is this that I hear of," Frederick asks, slipping next to me and playfully needing me in the side.

"A special soiree with the married ladies of the Ton," Lady Danbury says, practically waving Frederick off. "Of which you, and the Duchess of Hastings, are the newest members."

"Well, I would be honored to attend your soiree, Lady Danbury," I say.

"That's wond- what is..." Lady Danbury looks over my shoulder and raises an eyebrow in interest.

"Is that?" Frederick mutters, looking at the newest attendees of the luncheon with wide eyes.

"Yes, it seems that it is," I whisper back, watching as the Featheringtons get all but dismissed by the Queen.

"The audacity," one married lady says, watching the Featherington's enter with an arched brow.

"After they tried to entrap poor Mr Bridgerton into marriage with a woman with child," Lady Cowper loudly whispers to Cressida, scoffing as she continues to watch them in contempt.

"My dear Lady Bridgerton," Lady Featherington says, reaching for Violet's hand in an attempt to rekindle whatever friendship they had. "Is this not a dreadful circumstance for us both to have been so duped by that scheming hussy? To think that Miss Thompson would take advantage of my kindness after I opened my home to her. You must believe I had no idea of-"

Violet doesn't even bother with a response, opting to turn and walk away from Lady Featherington entirely.

Lady Featherington falters as she meekly glances around, hoping to find someone that would pity her and the circumstances that she found herself and her family in. When she saw no one doing this, and instead noticed the sharp gazes the rest of the partygoers were sending her, she shrunk back.

"At this rate, I wouldn't be surprised if the Queen kicks them out herself," Mama whispered to me, "the drama that this entire thing has caused is far too much to be brought to this luncheon."

"It seems as though that will happen- look," I tilt my head as I watch one of the Queen's footmen- Brimsley, I think his name was- take step towards the Featheringtons.

"Lady Featheringon, I must ask you to leave," Brimsley says gazing at her as if she were nothing more than a bug beneath his shoe.

Lady Featherington's face falls as she looks at the man defensively. "But I have an invitation."

"Not anymore," Brimsely retorts simply, "I am sure you wish to avoid any further unpleasantness."

Lady Featherington's chin wobbles as she continues to gaze at the man. Slowly she nods her head and swiftly turns back around, leading her daughters out of the party and back to the- hopeful- safety of their home. As they pass, Philippa and Prudence's gazes fall to the ground in embarrassment as they pass a rather large crowd of people towards the entrance. As she left, Penelope's gaze stayed solely on Elosie, who was standing near the entrance and offering her a reassuring gaze.

Beside me, Cressida snickers and leans in toward her mother with a vicious smile. "That should teach them."

Lady Cowper says nothing in return but snickers alongside her daughter.

On the other side of Cressida and Lady Cowper, Daphne speaks up, seemingly letting loose on the mother-daughter duo. "Teach them what, Miss Cowper? Judging not, lest we too be judged?"

Lady Cowper's gaze falls to the floor as Daphne passes her and stars towards the maze hedge, her chin trembling as she passes Frederick and I.

I unloop my arm from Frederick's and take a step forwards, glancing back at my family and Frederick momentarily, "I'll be back in a moment."

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"I will admit," I call out, stepping into one of the small openings within the maze with a small smile on my face, "that the last time we were in a maze like this, it did not end particularly well."

Daphne lets out a strained chuckle, wiping away her tears as she turns to look at me, "well, luckily for us, Lord Berbrooke is most likely off chasing after some other poor debutante in some other town, hopefully far, far, away from here."

"We can hope," I whisper, watching as she takes another deep breath and turns to look back at the statue. "Whatever is the matter, Daphne?"

"It is nothing... I ju- nothing." Daphne shakes her head once more and continues to look either at the stature or at the ground.

"Florence."

I turn at the sound of my name and smile when I see Lady Bridgerton standing at the opening of the alcove.

"I can take it from here," she assures, offering me a reassuring smile before starting forwards.

I nod my head, looking back at Daphne once more before starting out of the maze and back toward the party.

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Walking back out into the party, I take in a breath before starting back into the crowd to find Frederick or some other familiar person.

"Florence!" Cressida all but grabs me and drags me over towards her, her eyes bright with excitement as she begins to chatter away about all that had happened since I had left the party only a few minutes ago. "-and don't even get me started on Lord Bindley... he offered to promenade with me two mornings ago and never showed up! I heard that he was at Mary's house across town!"

"Well... I hope that you are not looking at Lord Bindly as a potential suitor then, Cress... he certainly doesn't seem like a proper husband," I mutter, looking around and watching as the countless other luncheon guests continue to mindlessly mingle with each other.

"On the brighter side, I think that Lord Wetherby is interested," Cressida boasts, "I mean, he is not nearly as high up as the Duke, but he is respectable..."

"That's good, Cress!" I say, offering her an encouraging smile and nod of my head. "I'm sure that he's a great man!"

"I do hope... the end of the season is coming up rather quickly and I have yet to even find a proper caller that Mama or Papa see as good enough.." Cressida mutters.

"Well, there is always next season. I mean, not everyone needs to get married their first season... it does put a rather large amount of pressure on us to find a suitable match," I confess, reassuringly patting her arm before listening to her ramble on about another potential suitor she has- not that she believes it will go anywhere.

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-T