In the Gardens ~ Bridgerton

XVII

"I heard Miss Bridgerton is visiting the palace today!" Anna, Josephine's maid gossiped with a few of the cooks.
"She will be a beautiful princess." Anna continued unaware of Simon and Josephine entering behind.

Josephine cleared her throat, desperate to save her brother from the Bridgertons newest action. As Anna sent her an apologetic look, which she returned, Simon turned and quickly left the room.

"I'm so apologise Miss. I did not mean to be overheard." Anna looked ashamed.

"Do not worry Anna just try and keep it to when we aren't around." Josephine smiled kindly at the others in the room before following the way her brother left.

"Simon. Simon. Stop ignoring me." Josephine quickened her pace as she tried to catch up to her brother. But instead of slowing he simply picked up his own pace.

"I found it better to just pretend you aren't there Josie. It makes this house much more peaceful." Simon sent a grin over his shoulder, as he turned a corner and began to sprint down the stairs leading to the back door.

"Oh you are so immature Simon! This is a serious subject we must talk about." Josephine couldn't hide her smile as she pulled off her shoes and began to run after him. "We are not children anymore!"

The two hit the grass outside and continued to run. "Let us escape for a little while Josephine. Forget all our troubles pretend we are children again." Simon was desperate for a moment with his sister. Without a care in the world.

"That sounds ideal, except our childhoods were miserable." Josephine laughed as she reached out for Simon, who dodged out of her way.

"You are so slow! Come on catch up." Simon taunted jumping out of her way over and over again. Tired and defeated, Josephine fell onto the soft grass underneath them, feeling the warmth of the sun on her skin.

Simon copied her movement falling directly beside Josephine. The two laid there in peace, comfortable silence, enjoying the moment out of the chaos.

"Why are we running Simon?" Josephine at last whispered out.

"What did you say?" Simon asked rolling onto his side so he was facing Josephine.

"Benedict told me to run like I always do. Why do we always run?" Josephine exclaimed.

"It's always been us Josephine. We cannot rely on others. Why put ourselves through pain when we can tell when it's coming?" Simon was trying to find the words to justify their escape.

"I think we are cowards. I think that pain is often outweighed by love and happiness. And I know you love Daphne." Josephine turned to also face Simons gaze.

"And I know you love Anthony." Simon sighed as he pull himself up and reached out for Josephine. "Now our moment as nice as it was is over. I'm going to punch some things." Simon hoisted his sister up and then began to walk off.

"I will come, I'd like to see Alice and the kids." Josephine said following after Simon. This time though instead of running the two walked arm in arm into the house.

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"You cannot leave! Not before Will's fight." Alice Mondrich exclaimed as Josephine explained that the two planned to leave soon.

"Is that fight not against the Princes man? I doubt Simon will go anywhere near the man." Josephine wouldn't put it past her brother to fight the prince if given the opportunity.

"Well let us go talk to him then." Alice stood and the two made their way to the gym where Will and Simon were having a similar conversation.

" I am leaving England. My business is concluded." The two woman heard Simon state and Josephine nudged Alice in the side.

"Will's is not." Alice said as the two made their presence known to the men.

"This will be the biggest match of my career. I am not favored to win it." Josephine knew that her brother would kick himself for not attending this fight. For not supporting one of his closest friends.

"Your smart friends know you frequent my saloon. Who will wager on me if you are not present?" Will put up a good argument.

"I don't have any friends." Josephine rolled her eyes at Simons stubborn and poor response.

"How about after the Irishman today, Will, you pummel the piss out of His Grace's self-pity?" Josephine felt bad that Alice had pushed a soft spot.

"Alice." Josephine warned sternly. If anything Alice would just make Simon angry and even less inclined to attend the fight.

"I have never asked a favor, but I implore you not to miss this match." Josephine was not one for attending fights, but Wills pleads may just convince her.

"His Grace would like to miss the chance of seeing the Bridgerton girl on the arm of a prince." Alice hit the nail right on the head.

"Alice!" Josephine again said louder.

"Oh please Josephine you know he should suck it up and go, to support Will!" Alice looked at the woman as if she was crazy.

"All of you understand I am just here, do you?" Simon exclaimed at last, gaining the attention of the whole room.

"I am not nearly as devoted
as the two of you," he pointed to the Mondrich couple, "along with Lady Whistledown, would like to believe." Josephine of course knew this to be complete lie, but it did not matter, for she could tell that Will was not buying it either.

"The only thing we are devoted to is putting food in our children's mouths. Perhaps you'd like to dig a little deeper today, Your Grace, and help us fatten the match organizer's purses as well as ours?" Josephine couldn't help but chuckle at the woman's bluntness, which also earned Alice a look from her husband.
"What? You don't love me for my subtlety."

"Just go Simon." Josephine said as the two walked out.

"I will. But thanks for having my back up there." He said sarcastically.

"Please you would have gone anyway, it's for Will." Josephine said as the two boarded the carriage.

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Just a little filler :)
Ok but How Good is the Bridgerton Musical sounding!!!!
I cannot wait until it's on stage so I can see it 😆

Let me know your thoughts