The downfall of Viscount Bridgerton

chapter fifty

Dinner with the Bridgertons proved to be, as always, an astonishingly hectic affair.

Daphne had also chosen to join them at Bridgerton House as the Duke had been called away up North on a matter of some urgency - though what exactly Daphne could not say.

Shortly after arriving Aurora made the mistake of telling Eloise that she had some most important news to impart. This only led to the younger girl pestering her all evening with questions about what the news could possibly be.

In hindsight telling her probably wasn’t a good idea.

Lady Violet had been delighted at their company, declaring that it had been an eternity since she last saw the pair.

‘Didn’t she visit us yesterday to welcome us back home,’ Aurora thought, though she dare not say something so rude out loud.

At dinner she was seated between Anthony and Colin, and opposite young Hyacinth who seemed only too excited at the prospect of getting to know her new sister-in-law better.

For her part Aurora was delighted with the arrangement. Colin always made her laugh with his stories of the continent, Hyacinth rather reminded her of herself in her younger years, and how could she not be pleased with the thought of sitting beside her husband?

“I visited Miss Hayward today,” remarked Aurora part way through the dinner, directing it at a certain young Bridgerton. She observed Benedict’s response closely, hoping for a sign of his affections toward the girl.

She was most certainly granted it.

Benedict, who was seated at the other end of the table happily eating his lamb suddenly flushed at her comment. Indeed, he went such a vibrant red that there were few on the table who did not notice.

“How lovely,” he managed to utter as he reached for a glass of water to reduce his colouring. “I take it she is well?”

‘He’s absolutely besotted!’ Aurora shrieked internally.

“Yes, she seems to be in perfect health. In fact, her spirits seemed to have been raised somewhat during my time away. She has always been a vibrant young lady but now she is positively radiant.” The tone of the new Viscountess’ voice was not subtle.

In response, Colin choked on a potato.

It took some time to remove the object from constricting his airflow but once she had, Aurora was pleasantly impressed to see that the viscount had every intention of continuing their previous conversation.

“I wonder, my dear, what kind of an event could have occurred to leave my brother so flustered and your fried in such high spirits?” He glanced at her knowingly and for a moment Aurora felt a desperate desire to grab him and kiss him senseless.

Thankfully she was able to restrain herself.

She wasn’t sure Lady Violet would be particularly happy with her if she were to do such a thing in front of the entire family.

Daphne, who had now caught on to their allusions, gasped quietly and stared at Benedict eyes open wide.

“Tell me you didn’t?”

“Didn’t what?” He asked, trying his hardest not to become any more flustered at the several pairs of eyes now watching him.

“Enough!” Spoke their mother, “whatever the matter is it can wait until the younger ones have left the table.”

Benedict sighed in relief.

“Do not think you are being let off so easily, young man. This conversation is not yet over.”