The downfall of Viscount Bridgerton

Epilogue

"Edmund stop chasing your sister around with a stick," chastised Aurora from her desk in the schoolroom.

She was currently marking a series of essays that her girls had written about the impact of the Crusades on the growth of Muslim countries.

The society now had an astounding one hundred and sixty two members at present, including the former members who had since married and were now living elsewhere but regularly kept up with the teachings.

Despite both government and society alike trying desperately to put a halt to the endeavour, Aurora's lessons had continued. In fact, they had expanded.

They had bought a small townhouse and converted the rooms into different lecture halls and subject classrooms. She now had seven 'professors' (herself and Anthony included) who taught eighteen different subjects between them.

Anthony had eventually chosen to invest in business ventures - though thankfully he managed to steer clear of the East India Company - and was at present pursuing trade links with Cyprus.

Following the birth of Aslan, Aurora had become pregnant with twins two years later, two identical girls named Beatrice and Camilla. Whilst Aslan had taken after Aurora in looks and now, aged sixteen, sported a mop of blonde hair, the twins were in every sense the perfect Bridgerton and the viscountess often found herself comparing them to Eloise in looks.

Shortly after the twins' third birthday, they were blessed with a second boy named Dominic. It seemed that Anthony's dreams of having ten children might not be impossible after all.

But it was not for another five years that the couple would come to be with child again. The stress of their duties and attempting to cope with four children caused a series of early miscarriages that nearly halted their endeavours entirely.

Then, quite by accident, when taking a regular trip to the doctors, it was discovered that she was once again pregnant. This time with a rather stubborn brown hair boy named Edmund - who Aurora found to be shockingly similar to Anthony himself.

She often teazed her husband about this and, whilst he pretended to complain, he was very much fond of having a child so similar to himself. Especially as Aslan somehow ended up taking after the Duke of Hastings in temperament.

Finally, after another two years, came the baby of the Bridgerton family, little Florence.

Having spent far too much time in the company of Julius and Arabella, Florence was quite a ball of mischief and had a tendency towards naughtiness that seemed unbreakable. At only four years of age she was already an absolute nuisance.

"But father said if I managed to hit all of them he'd let me have fencing lessons!" Came the slightly petulant response of Edmund.

Aurora turned to Anthony with a glare, despite the calm look on his face she could tell he was trying to suppress a grin.

"Anthony you are a nightmare! You are the worst influence on our children! Edmund, I will not let you run around hitting your siblings"

Edmund's eyes became wide and puppy like.

"But Mama-"

Anthony, however, was quickly to cut off his son's pleading.

"It's best to just listen, old boy. That's the thing with women - they always win."

He sent a mirth-filled grin towards his wife, gently kissing her lips before picking the seven year old up and carrying him off down the hall.

The eleven year old Dominic, who had previously been seated at one of the tables in the schoolroom, now made his way over to her.

"Uncle Colin has asked me if I should like to join him on his trip up to Scotland this summer, can I go?"

Aurora smiled at the thought. Colin, who currently did not have any children, had long ago taken a particular interest in Dominic and seemed quite determined to have him follow in his adventurer footsteps.

The boy was more than happy to oblige and they had spent many evenings together looking at maps of the world.

"Would you like that?" She asked the boy, although she already knew with some certainty what his answer would be.

"Oh please!" He began, "how I would love to go to Scotland. Uncle Colin says they have bears and wolves and haggis!"

She chuckled at his enthusiasm.

"Then you have me permission - although you should probably ask your father as well."

"Oh that's fine. Father always agrees to anything you say."

She raised an eyebrow at his impertinence but could not deny the truth of his comment. Over the years Anthony had become quite unable to refuse her - something which the ton found most hilarious considering his stubborn attitude towards literally everyone else.

"I'd advise you not to repeat that in front of him, or he might just take the opportunity to prove you wrong. Go, he should be in his study."

With that said the boy sprinted off in search of the viscount, now absolutely certain that he would be allowed to go.

"Finally some quiet," muttered Aurora as she returned to her marking of the essays.

It was marvellous how well the young women had progressed. The female mind was truly something to marvel at.

She was nearly finished the pile of papers when suddenly a loud commotion came from outside the house as the elder Bridgerton children returned from their trip out. Aurora could hear the sound of scrambling as the trio entered.

"Mama! Mama!" Cried Bea as she ran through the halls of the house.

The twins had just returned along with Aslan from a visit to Hastings House where the Duke and Duchess' son had been holding some kind of art exhibition.

"Mama you won't believe it!" Shouted Camilla as they both burst through the door and into the room.

Not moments later followed Aslan with a deep blush on his face. He scrambled to clasp his hands over the girls' mouths, clearly desperate to prevent their speaking.

"What is it?" Inquired Aurora, intrigued by the commotion in front of her.

"Nothing-" began the boy, but he was deftly cut off by Beatrice.

"Alsan's in love-" she began as Camilla chimed in the finish the sentence.

"With Elia Darcy!"

If at all possible, the boy turned an even deeper shade of red, and Aurora glanced at him with a smirk.

"Oh really?" She asked.

The End.