Chapter Twenty-Five - The Hastings Ball

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Lady Whistledown's

SOCIETY PAPERS

The fastest courtship upon record occurred during the markedly wet season of 1804, when Miss Mary Leopold secured a betrothal over a plate of sugared almonds and licorice in just four and a half minutes.

Of course, Miss Leopold and her new husband would leave London mere hours after their wedding. Reason unknown.

Of all that I have imparted to you, dear reader, there is but one bit of wisdom you must heed most.

One can never know the truth of a marriage hiding behind closed doors. Beware indeed, blushing newlyweds. You know not the future that awaits. Will there be hardship... or indignity?

Or will one's future see the rarest accomplishment of all, a true love match?

As for which of these fates await the eager matches of the season of 1813, only two things will tell... time, and, as always, this author.

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"You are going to the Hastings ball, yes?" I ask, turning towards Cressida with a raised brow.

"Of course," Cressida says, chuckling lightly as she pulls a roll of fabric towards her, "how about this color?"

"It does go well with your complexion," I offer, "perhaps with some of your light blue flowers in your hair- oh, and your light blue ribbon as well!"

Cressida looks over the fabric before nodding her head, "I think it would go rather well with them... especially since the Hastings ball is a rather selective theme..."

Cressida practically shudders at the mention of the officially unofficial dress code: light blue or light purple.

"I think it's rather nice," I muse, looking up at a few other rolls of fabric with a raised brow, "all of us coming together once more before the season ends..."

"Well," Cressida sighs and puts the fabric to the side for Madame Delacroix to create a dress out of, "I for one am looking forwards to your summer ball. I am certain that it will be the ball of the summer!"

"If I can get it all ready in time, that is," I joke, "how about this fabric?"

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"-move forward from there?"

"Daphne!" I smile as I walk over to her, unraveling my arm from Frederick's and offering her a beaming smile. "You look wonderful today! Are you out shopping for your ball... I cannot wait to attend! I am certain that it will be the event of the season!"

"Yes, she's been going on about it for the past few days now," Frederick says, smiling over at me before leaning towards Mama and whispering to her, rather loudly, "and I have been forced to hear about every detail that she's been planning for our summer ball."

I feign a gasp and gently hit him on the shoulder, "you seemed so excited to help me pick the decorations earlier!"

Frederick let out a playful sigh and chuckled as he looked over at me. "Yes, well, as marvelous as it was to pick between eggshell or... of what was it, again?"

"Oh, never mind that," I say, waving him off and turning my attention back towards Daphne, "oh you must tell me, how is planning going?"

Daphne lets out a small chuckle, "Florence, how lovely to see you... and Frederick, you are looking well."

"As well as I can be with her practically bounding off the walls at home," Frederick whispers, nudging his head towards me, a faint smile appearing across his face.

"Oh, you simply must tell me every-"

"Your Grace?"

All five of us turn towards the voice, eyebrows raised in confusion. Almost immediately, Lady Bridgerton's face morphs into one of silent fury as she watches Lady Featherington approach our little group.

"I do hope you are finding everything you need for Friday's ball," Lady Featherington says, "it will certainly be the event of the season. Of course, my young ladies will have to hear about the wondrous festivities the next day, seeing how they did not receive an invitation. Prudence, in particular, is in tears about it. Is she not, Mrs Varley?"

When Mrs Varley takes more than a moment to register what Lady Featherington has said, she gets a quick nudge in the ribs by way of Lady Featherington's elbow.

"Oh! U- uh... A- absolute watering pot, that one," Mrs Varley says, nodding her head feverishly in agreement.

"Then perhaps you might explain to your young ladies, Lady Featherington, how they ended up in such an unfortunate situation, and who exactly put them there." Lady Bridgerton snapped, staring down Lady Featherington with a steely look.

Daphne, who could sense the tension between the two families, quickly stepped forward with a pleasant smile. "Or perhaps we can make room."

Lady Bridgerton shifts her gaze away from Lady Featherington and looks at her daughter in shock, while Lady Featherington's face brightens ever so slightly at the Duchesses' words.

"I certainly would have no problem extending my invitation," Daphne continues, "as I am sure all of us would like to forgive the errors of the past and move forward. Yes, Mama?"

Lady Bridgerton looks at her daughter with a small, semi-strained smile, before nodding her head, "if that is what you wish."

As she listens to Daphne's words, a smile appears across Lady Featherington's face, "how wonderful!"

"Apologies, ma'am, um, but it seems a carriage has arrived back at the house. A Mr Crane is there." Mrs Varley informs, stepping back beside Lady Featherington.

At Mrs Varley's words, Daphne whips her head around, abandoning the blue flowers that she had begun to look at, and turning her attention towards Mrs Varley and Lady Featherington.

"I beg your pardon, but did you say 'Crane'?" Daphne asked, taking a step forward with wide eyes. "Would that be a Sir George Crane?"

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For, while those who have been successful in the year's marriage market look forward to flaunting their perfect, joyous unions... others shudder at the thought of spending one last night before the discerning eyes of the Ton.

As they know indeed, just what the evening signifies, that their time is officially up.

And yet, to those who may still find themselves out of both choices and hope, fear not. For who knows when and where one's fortunes may change?

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"The Featheringtons," Cressida gasped, peering over my shoulder and watching with wide eyes as Lady Featherington guides her daughters in. "What are they doi-"

"The Duchess invited them," I reply simply, glancing over my shoulder and watching as Philippa is all but shoved towards Mr Finch by her mother.

"Last ball of the season and they are still wearing those atrocious colors," Cressida shudders and turns her head away from them.

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If there is to ever be a grander finish to a season than the one provided by the Duke and Duchess of Hastings this year, this author will need to feast upon her own words.

For it was this couple's memorable affair that brought another scandalous London season to a close.

As many now leave the city behind for greener pastures, some endings seem more permanent than others.

Of course, there are other endings that will offer new beginnings... however uncertain those new beginnings might be.

Not to worry though, it has been said that the Duke and Duchess of Windsor are expected to host the first ball of the summer season. A highly anticipated ball, indeed, considering that have yet to entertain callers at their home since their marriage. Although, with all the flutter surrounding the Duke and Duchess of Hastings, this author could see some understanding of why they decided to take a step back... at least for the moment.

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"This is certainly the most stunning ball of the season, Daphne," I compliment, looking around the setup with an impressed nod of the head. "And don't get me started on your flower arraignments! Simply stunning!"

"Ah yes, she has been going on about them for ages," Frederick nods, taking a sip of his drink and winking at me over the rim of the glass.

Daphne chuckles before glancing over at Simon, quickly averting her eyes once more and looking back at me. "You are too much, Florence."

"No, truly, it is stunning," I assure, "oh, I must go talk to Cressida, but I shall see you both on the dance floor soon?"

They both glance at each other before nodding their heads and smiling at me.

"Good."

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"I cannot believe that this is the first time that I able to have a proper conversation with you tonight," Cressida exclaimed, nodding her head at me politely before smiling warmly at me. It was a refreshing sight from the usual sneer that had adorned her face for most of the night.

"Well, I was simply enthralled by my conversation with Daphne- I mean, look at this, is it not simply stunning?" I wave my hand around the room and grin over at her. "I am hoping to do something similar for our ball this summer."

"I am looking forward to attending," Cressida notes, nodding her head at me before politely excusing herself to go and talk to another Lord that had caught her eye. "Oh, I shall see you again soon."

I nod, watching as she runs off after her, with her mother following close behind.

"This has been rather successful, do you think?" Frederick asks, sliding into the spot next to me and looking around at the ball with respect.

"I think that it has... although Daphne and Simon have yet to dance together," I say, watching as the newlywed couple continues to chat to their guests but never to each other.

"I'm sure that they will at some point," Frederick says simply, "oh, have you met James?"

With those five words, I am quickly whisked away towards one of Frederick's old 'family friends' who was stopping into town for a few weeks. The three of us quickly began a conversation that seemed to flow easily between us all.

James talked about his recent travels, which prompted me to potentially connect him and Colin. Their shared love for traveling made me think that they would get along amazingly. He was a few years younger than Frederick was, far closer to my age than Frederick's, which made him seem far more relatable to me than some of Frederick's other friends had.

"I do think that they are beginning their dance now," Frederick said, watching as Simon and Daphne took the floor in the final Waltz of the night.

The two, despite their rather steely gazes towards each other at the beginning of the ball, looked rather relaxed in the company of one another. The gazes never fell from each other as they gracefully spun around the checkered dance floor.

"Shall we join?" Frederick asked, glancing down at me with a raised brow.

I look over at him and grin, "I would love that."

Frederick offers his hand and swiftly guides me through the crowd of people and onto the edge of the floor. Within a few seconds, the two of us had, rather smoothly, inserted ourselves into the dance, along with a few other couples.

"Are you ready for yet another season?" Frederick asked, glancing down at me with a raised brow.

"As long as it isn't as... rumor-filled as this one was that I think that I shall enjoy it," I confess, "especially since I no longer have the stress of ensuring that I find a match."

"Ah yes," Frederick nods his head as a small smile appears across his face, "because you have found yourself married to the most wonderfully handsome man in London."

I stifle a giggle as I nod my head along with his words, "of course! Truly I do think that I have found the most handsome man in not only all of London, but all of the world!"

Frederick feigns shock as he fights back a smile. "Darling you are too kind."

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The small quartet comes to a rather abrupt pause as thunder rumbles overhead, causing all the guests to pause and look up towards the quickly darkening sky.

As soon as people began to realize that rain was soon to follow, we were already soaked with a sudden downpour.

"Florence!" Frederick was quick to pull me under a covering, the rest of the guests following soon after.

"Are you cold? You look pale, here... take my coat. We don't want you to get sick now, do we?" Frederick was quick to pull his jacket off and rest it on my shoulders, a small smile appearing on his face as he tried to wipe some of the rain off of my face.

"Daphne!" Simon reached for her hand with a small smile, trying to pull her into cover as the remaining guests raced for cover. When he realized that she wasn't moving, his smile only seemed to grow he looked at her closer, "Daphne!"

Daphne tilted her face upwards towards the clouds, a smile appearing on her face as she let out a laugh. For one of the first times in the entire night, she looked fully relaxed, she looked as though she was having fun.

Beside Frederick and I, Mr Finch chuckled and looked towards Philipp with an eager smile, reaching out for her hand, which she quickly offered him.

Before they could make their way back towards the dance floor, however, they were met with Lady Danbury's cane to their knees, making them jolt back with wide eyes. From behind them, Prudence lets out a bark of a laugh but quickly tries to cover it by letting out a little cough, her eyes still shining with amusement at what had just transpired.

"Everyone..." Lady Danbury didn't bother to look around at the guests that surrounded her, opting to watch the couple with a small smile. "I believe this evening is complete. We shall thank our gracious hosts for such a splendid soiree in the morning. Now, go."

Everyone looked around with wide eyes at her declaration, pausing as they debated whether or not to actually follow her instructions.

When she realized that no one was leaving, Lady Danbury glanced around her with a raised brow, unamused by their cluelessness. "Out. At once."

Slowly everyone began to filter out and back towards their carriages, each of them smiling wilder than the last as they began to happily chatter about the evening.

"What a splendid ending to a rather wonderful day," I whisper, taking Frederick's hand and stepping up into the carriage.

Frederick followed suit a few seconds after, sighing and smiling as he glanced out of the window. "What a day indeed."

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-T