Chapter Four - The Unknown Woman

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"Oh, is that the Earl of Gloucester?" I look at the man with a raised brow, "the poor man... a horrible death his wife had. Influenza, was it?"

Frederick nodded and took a sip of his drink, "that it was. Although, even the news of her on her deathbed did not stop him from being seen with that mistress of his the very morning."

I cock my head to the side as I peer at him. "He does look rather... sad though, doesn't he?"

Frederick sighed, glancing at the Earl before back over at me. "I heard that the late Earl's wife had been passed down a rather sizable fortune before she passed- handed down from her father. Once she died, the old man snatched it right back before the Earl could even try to claim it as his. The two of them got into quite a little scuffle when the Earl finally found out what had happ-"

"Oh! Is that them?" I practically lean over Frederick and watch with excitement as Lady Danbury walks in with the Sharma's. "Oh, Kate looks simply breathtaking in that color! Don't you agree, Frederick?"

"Not nearly as breathtaking as you do, Ren," Frederick says, smiling over at me, "should we make our way over and say hello?"

"You always seem to have the best ideas, Frederick," I grin and loop my arm into his as we start across the floor towards the Sharma's.

Lady Sharma and Edwina were already seemed to be locked into a passionate conversation, both of them glancing back towards the dance floor and peering at the eligible men that were dancing, as well as a few that were lingering around the room. A step or two away from them, Kate and Lady Danbury were tucked away into their own quiet, but still determined conversation.

"-The only match I am interested in is for my sister. She trusts me implicitly. Now, what about the Duke of Suffix?" Kate peers over at the Duke in question and gazes at him in curiosity. "According to Debrett's, he should be quite the catch this year."

"The Duke is well known flaunts his mistresses," I say, quickly stepping beside them. "I apologize, Lady Danbury, Miss Sharma, I couldn't help but see you two practically hidden away during a perfectly wonderful ball."

Lady Danbury hums in agreement as she glances at the man in disdain. "I assure you Ms Sharma I have our prospects well in hand. Now, have you met The Duke and Duchess of Windsor?"

"I have," she glances over towards us and offers a small curtsy, "Your Graces."

"Lovely to see you again, Kate... you look breathtaking tonight," I say, offering her a warm smile.

"Lady Danbury, an excellent ball, yet again," Frederick says, nodding in her direction. "I do believe that Florence was talking about how much she was looking forward to talking to you about it."

"Oh yes, the decor and music are simply beautiful, I was wondering if you could... guide me on planning our ball?" I look at the woman with hope, a grin appearing across my face when she nods her head. "Oh, thank you, Lady Danbury! I look forward to your wonderful advice!"

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"Your Majesty," I fall into a deep curtsy before standing back up and offering Charlotte a warm smile. "Wonderful to see you again."

The Queen offers me a tiny smile. "Ah, Florence, you look beautiful as ever... and Frederick! You need to come around to the palace more! Brimsley!"

The short man stepped forwards, the air of superiority following him as he looked towards his Queen. "Yes, Your Majesty?"

"Ensure that an invitation gets to Their Graces to visit the Palace soon," she orders.

He nods his head and falls back behind her.

"How has the ball treated you so far?" Frederick asked, flashing Charlotte a dashing smile.

"There are so many flowers in attendance, but what I am really seeking is a gem," Charlotte says, sighing as she gazes around the room once more. "Lady Danbury! A delightful soirée, as expected. Though my own, later this week, will be much more exclusive."

Lady Danbury merely smiles at the Queen, "Your Majesty, I would not think to compare."

Queen Charlotte offers her own smile in return. "And rightly so."

"Your Majesty, may I present Lady Mary Sharma, whom you must remember." Lady Danbury points towards Mary, who quickly falls into a curtsy before standing back up and offering the Queen a small smile. "And may I present her daughters, Miss Sharma and Edwina Sharma. My personal special guests from this season."

"A high honor indeed," the Queen stares down the family with a critical eye before continuing, "I hear you have made quite a journey to join us again after all these years, Lady Mary. If only you had extended the courtesy of offering your Queen a final farewell before you left."

Lady Mary's smile fell as she watched Charlotte turn on her heels and walk away, head held high.

Beside her, Lady Danbury watched with narrowed eyes before sighing and leaning onto her cane. "Oh, I do relish a challenge."

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"Kate," I offer her a smile as I step beside her, "what ever are you doing beside the plants? Are you not dancing tonight?"

She shakes her head after offering me a small curtsy, "not tonight, Your Grace. I am here for my sister."

"Ah yes, is Miss Edwina enjoying the party?"

"She is, she was talking about how beauitful the conservatory is," Kate says, looking around with a small smile before looking back over at me, "as was I."

I chuckle and nod my head, "I am glad that you both are enjoying yourselves..."

I look back towards the dance floor and bite back my smile as I watch Anthony fumble his way through the dance with his partner. His face was fuming as he rolled his eyes and practically guided the young debutante through the steps.

"A rather funny sight, if I do say so myself," I whisper, sharing a glance with Kate and smirking.

"You know, Lord Bridgerton?" Kate asks, raising a brow.

"My husband and him are old school friends and I am good friends with his sister- the entire family, really," I explain, "they are all lovely."

"I'm sure," Kate mutters.

"Oh, it seems like the Viscount has left the dance floor," I whisper, watching as Anthony leaves the poor debutante alone on the dance floor midway through the song. "Poor thing... she looks completely petrified- oh, where are you going?"

I follow after Kate as she weaves through the crowd and eventually out the doors towards the garden.

"Why is it always the gardens," I grumble, huffing before following after her.

"-until you're barely able to see straight."

"Is one lady unlike any other?" A gentleman asks, scoffing and taking a sip of his drink, "simply pick the least objectionable and get her wed, bed, and bred. Then you can return to more... pleasurable pursuits."

"And more pleasurable partners," Anthony says, chuckling. "You may be cavalier, but if I must leg-shackle myself in marriage, the lady in question should have more to reccommend her."

One gentleman chuckles and shakes his head in disbleif, "do not tell us you are hoping for a love match?"

"Love is the last thing I desire," Anthony says stiffly, "but if my children are to be of good stock, then their mother must be of impeccable quality. A pleasing face, an acceptable wit, genteel manners enough to credit a Viscountess. It should not be so hard to find. And yet, the debutantes of London fall short at every turn."

"You want the best," another man notes, "perhaps the Queen will finally name a diamond. Save you some trouble. At least, of choosing her. Wooing the piece will be a different story, indeed."

"I shall have no problem there," Anthony says arrogently, causing the men to chuckle around him.

"Lord Wenter, Lord Ambrose, and Mr Drawns, how lovely to see you all out tonight," I call out, starting towards them with a plastered on smile.

"Florence Harding, now the Duchess of Windsor, how are you tonight, Your Grace?" Lord Wenter asks polietely, nodding his head in acknowledment.

"I have been better... I think that my husband was looking for you... and you as well Mr Drawns, something about an unpaid balance that was left on our betting books? I'm not really quite sure, after all I am just a woman, so what do I know," I offer them a clearly forced chuckle. "Well, it was wonderful seeing you gentleman, I'm sure that Frederick would love to talk to you about the swiftest was to pay off the balance."

Lord Wenter flush a rather vibrant shade of pink as he stared at me and studdered, his mouth agape. After a few seconds he ducked his head and started off inside, Mr Drawns follwing shortly after with Lord Ambrose nodding stiffly towards Anthony and offering me a small smile.

"Well done, Your Grace," he muttered, "I shall need to find your husband and tell him about what has just transpired. I think that he will get a kick out of it."

I chuckle and nod my head, "I think so too, Lord Ambrose. Have a good night."

He nods his head and starts walking back towards the party, softly chuckiling and shaking his head as he laughed.

"I mean, really Anthony," I turn back towards Anthony with a raised brow, "do you really just see woman a breeding stock? I truly did hope for better from you! You saw what Daphne went through last season with Simon, yet you still are so hard headed that you are unwilling to-"

"What Daphne went though is different?" Anthony interjects.

"Oh, I see... you're still stuck on that woman," I chuckle at his reaction, "I've head all about her. The singer, right? Left you all alone, practically rejected you. Is that why you are so against the idea of marriage? Why you are so determined to marry only to carry on the duties you were passed down as the Bridgerton heir? Why can you not be willing to try-"

"Trying is what get's you hurt," Anthony says, lowering his voice and stepping closer to me, a hidden emotion swimming behind his eyes. "I can't be hurt any more, Florence... not after Sie- not after her."

I open my mouth to respond, when a can clatters behind us.

We both whip our head away and look back to the gardens with wide eyes, both of us scanning for the source of the sound. Anthony takes a few steps forwards and calls out of the dimly lit gardens.

"Is someone there?"

I scoff and start to walk after him, my brow raise. "I really do not think that if someone was there, they would respond to-"

"I can hear y..." Anthony calls out, walking down the steps after whoever had interruped our conversation. When Kate finally does turn around to look at him, a faint smile appears over his face when he sees her, "you."

"Pardon me, my lord," Kate says blandly, raising a brow up at him in contempt. Her gaze flickers to me and her face softens for a moment. "Your Grace."

I nod my head at her, silently hoping that she hadn't heard what we had been talking about a few moments ago.

Kate offers me a tiny smile before looking back at Anthony with contempt once more.

"I never got your name," Anthony says, taking a step forwards towards her as a mischievous smile appears over his face. I was wondering if we'd meet again."

"So you might discern if my wit is acceptable," Kate retorts back, not falling for his smile or charm. "My manners genteel?"

"You were eavesdropping?" Anthony says,

Kate scoffs as she continues to gaze pointedly towards him, "it was hardly an effort seeing as you were proclaiming your many requirements for a wife loud enough for the entire party to hear."

"You take issue with my requirements?"

"You've done it now, Anthony," I mutter, shaking my head and watching as Kate scoffs once more towards the man.

"I take issue with any man who views women merely as chattels and breedings stock," she declares, a particular fire behind her words knowing that Edwina was being courted by the man.

"None of that was meant for-"

"Viscount Bridgerton, yes?" Kate takes a confident step towards the man, unafraid of him or his words. "When you manage to find this paragon of virtue, whatever makes you think she will accept your suit? Are the young ladies of London truly so easily won by a pleasing smile and absolutely nothing more?"

I didn't overlook how Kate's eyes swiftly glance down towards Anthony's lips before turning back to gaze at him squarely in the eyes.

"So you find my smile pleasing?" Anthony says, smirking slightly at her words.

I scoff and look at Anthony in disdain, "men, all you do is listen to a single word that we women say! I mean really..."

Kate nods her head in agreement, smirking over at me before looking back towards Anthony, her face wiped clean of any emotion that was previously held there. "I find your opinions of yourself entirely too high. Your character is as deficient as your horsemanship. I shall bid you good night."

Kate swiftly walks around Anthony and back towards the party, not even glancing back at the dumbstruck man once the entire way, only stopping to greet me properly before swiftly entering back into the party to find her sister.

"Well, Anthony," I grin as I walk over towards him, "she really got you there, didn't she? I mean, she insulted both your character and your horsemanship... I knew that there was a reason why I liked her so much... she is just such a breath of fresh air, don't you think?"

"Who is she?" Anthony muttered, glancing over at me with a raised brow. "You seem to know her well enough, so?"

I shrug and offer him a small smile, "I think that I hear Frederick calling for me... have a good night, Anthony."

I chuckle to myself as I leave Anthony alone outside of the party, the same dumbstruck look on his face as when Kate had left a few moments ago when he watched me leave.

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-T