𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒔 ❦ eloise bridgerton

𝐯𝐢𝐢 ❦ 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒇𝒐𝒄𝒖𝒔

。.✧ ゜ ⋆  .  。・゜⋆。. ✧・

TODAY WAS JUST LIKE any other day in the Bridgerton household. Francesca was promenading with a suitor while her mother chaperoned. Gregory was partaking in fencing practice with Anthony, with Kate watching to make sure no one got hurt. Colin was keeping Hyacinth from interrupting them. Meanwhile, Benedict was painting Margot while Eloise sat across the room and half-watched them, half-read her book.

"Does your neck not hurt from keeping your head just so?" Eloise asked Margot.

"My neck is stronger than it looks," Margot replied while keeping her head pointed towards the window with her chin resting on her hand. She was meant to look wistful, though she was becoming bored. But Eloise did a good job of dispelling that emotion.

Though Margot couldn't see it, she knew that Benedict was probably holding back a sigh right now due to her change in facial expression. She flickered her eyes back to Eloise, whose face confirmed her suspicions. They shared knowing looks as Margot tried to maintain a straight face only semi-successfully, likely annoying Benedict further.

The playful air quickly dissipated.

"Miss Penelope Featherington is here," the doorman announced to the room.

"What is Penelope doing here?" Eloise whisper-shouted.

Out of nowhere, Colin appeared in the room.

"I invited her. She is my friend, too," Colin said before moving to go meet Pen at the door.

"You haven't spoken all summer! I know that she didn't reply to any of your letters while you were galavanting in Romania," Eloise proclaimed.

Colin turned around to face her, his jaw going slack with disbelief.

"How did you know that?" he asked, crossing his forearms and staring her down.

"I have my ways," was all Eloise said before shrinking back into her seat and hiding behind her book.

"Well, we've made up. You should try it sometime."

Eloise gaped at him. Margot tried her hardest not to appear amused for the sake of her friend, but she had to admit that Colin's retorts were quite witty.

Colin left his sister in that state to join Penelope. He soon passed by again, this time with the redheaded girl beside him.

As she walked by, Penelope slowed down slightly and glanced at Eloise, who was doing everything to ignore her. She swiftly continued on past the drawing room, trailing behind Colin, her bright yellow dress somehow imbuing an air of sadness.

Eloise kept her nose buried in her book and tried very hard to look like she was reading, but anyone could tell her eyes were drifting ever so slightly to watch Penelope leave.

When she was sure that Pen was out of sight, Eloise shifted her eyes towards Margot. Margot could not turn her head but took the opportunity to try to convey all she could with her words.

"Go to her," Margot said.

Eloise huffed. "I can't."

"Just try, Eloise."

Eloise scrunched her nose as she considered this, which Margot normally would've found cute in other circumstances but currently served to further dismay her.

"Fine," Eloise said. "But I can't promise to say more than two words to her."

At this, Margot felt light again. "Eloise Bridgerton restricting her verbiage? Well, I never," she said with a coy smile.