Chapter Seven - Sharma v. Bridgerton

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Lady Whistledown's

SOCIETY PAPERS

Dearest reader.

It has been said that competition is an opportunity for us to rise and stand ready before our greatest of challenges.

Well, if what this author hears this morning is true, then a great challenge concerning this season's diamond has been set forth, indeed.

Any suitor wishing to gain an audience with Miss Edwina Sharma must first tame the rather prickly spinster of a beast otherwise known as her sister.

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"Greetings Sharma's and Danbury! How has everyone been this morning?" I ask, sighing and looking over at Lady Danbury, Lady Mary, and Edwina. "A rather nice day for a race is it not?"

"It is indeed, Your Grace," Lady Mary agrees, "Edwina was just telling us how excited she was to attend later today."

"She will be meeting Lord Lumley at today's race," Kate adds in, smiling over at me from her spot by the fireplace.

"Is he not something of a dandy?" Edwina asks, looking over to her sister with a furrowed brow.

"I would use the term gallant," Kate corrects.

Lady Mary looks back towards Edwina with a patient gaze, "is that what you look for, Edwina?"

Edwina pauses, gazing over at her sister before smiling confidently and nodding her head. "If Kate believes in him, so do I."

"I see you have left off Lord Bridgerton," Lady Danbury notes, gazing down at the paper for a moment before turning to raise a pointed brow at Kate.

"Oh, now, he is what Edwina is looking for," Lady Mary adds in, smiling excitingly at the thought of Anthony.

"An oversight on your part, my dear?" Lady Danbury asks, gazing at Kate.

"Lord Bridgerton is quite adept at conveying false first impressions," Kate snaps, stepping back towards the four of us.

"What did you hear?" Lady Danbury asks, eyes widening slightly.

"He stated rather clearly that he seeks a wife only to fulfill his duty and, in fact, does not believe in love at all."

"And you find this unusual?" Lady Danbury counters. "Most marriages of the Ton are, in fact, mere matters of business, my dear. Matters that have been working for centuries. It is the true love match that is... quite rare."

"You know what it is that you are looking for, Bon," Kate says quietly, stepping closer to her sister and looking only at her. "You must not forget it. Lord Lumley will turn the Viscount into a distant memory. I am certain."

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Of course, the only competition that compels my attention is the game of courtship. So best of luck to this year's players. Do try not to stumble on the starting line.

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"Many dismiss Blake's work as childlike, insubstantial..." the rest of Lumley's words are muffled as Kate closes the door with a satisfied huff.

"I do think that the rest of the gentleman are getting a little restless, Miss Sharma," I say, grinning to her as I glance towards the rather long line of callers that Edwina had.

One caller, in particular, seems to agree as he leans forwards toward Kate, sighing as he offers us both a somewhat irritated huff, "Miss Sharma, am I to be kept at this threshold all day?"

"Lumley's already had an inordinate amount of time with her," another caller adds in, looking at Kate with a disgruntled gaze.

"That is because my sister is enraptured with him at the moment," Kate says sharply, "and you wouldn't want me to interrupt your discourse when it is your turn, would you?"

"I say we heed the young lady," a caller calls out, "and wait with the grace our hostess affords us."

"Thank you, Lord..." Kate steps out from in front of the doors and more into the hallway, raising a brow to the voice.

"Bridgerton," Anthony says, smirking as he steps up the final few stairs.

Kate sighs, all but rolling her eyes at his appearance. "I'm afraid you are much too late, my lord. You now find yourself at the back of a very very considerably long queue.

Anthony smiles at her and motions to walk further into the hallway, lowering his voice as he speaks, "I wish to escort Miss Edwina to the races this afternoon."

"My sister already has an escort this afternoon," Kate retorts.

"Tomorrow then," Anthony says.

"She's engaged tomorrow too."

"And the day after?"

"Now that I think of it, she may be free..." Kate pauses, smirking to herself as Anthony huffs in triumph.

"Ah."

"After December," Kate finishes sweetly, "unless, of course, she is on her honeymoon by then."

The two stared at each other for a moment, tension filling the hallway before Anthony let out a little chuckle.

"Did I say something funny?" Kate inquires.

"I believe you did," Anthony confesses.

"What is funny, my lord, is you here now, after not only what I overheard the other night-"

"What you heard the other night was not for your ears," Anthony interjects smoothly.

"But also, in addition to everything I have now read of you," Kate continues, "your dubious and libertine reputation goes before you."

"No intrusion, Bridgerton!" A caller yells out from behind them, "end of the queue."

A few men mutter in agreement, causing Kate to smirk over at him as she sidesteps him and walks back over to me, and loops our arms together. "What a day it has been."

I mutter in agreement as she starts back inside of the sitting room, "and what a day it shall continue to be no doubt."

Kate smirks and turns back around, quickly reaching for both doors and pulling them shut, only smiling at Anthony on the other side.

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next part is the races!

what's your favorite part of the season? mine would be the pall-mall scene!

don't forget to comment and vote!

-T