Chapter eleven
Methods of inquiry

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going to Lady Danbury's house," Sloane said. She picked up her second earring and put it in her ear. "She's holding a soirée for the married ladies of the ton."

"I want to go to one of Lady Danbury's soirées one day." Carlotta daydreamed.

"For that you must find a husband first, Lola." Fleur warned her.

"Oh," Her dreaminess dropped immensely. "Never mind, then."

Fleur laughed. She turned to Sloane. "I heard Daphne is going there as well. Maybe you two will get a chance to catch up."

"I would like that," Sloane smiled at the thought. She took one last glance in the mirror. "Well, then. I wish you both a good evening."

"Have fun! Do not lose too much money, please," Carlotta begged. "I want a new feather."

Once Sloane had closed the door, Fleur said to Carlotta. "A feather costs all but two coins. How much do you imagine she'll spend?"

"Like . . . five?" Lola guessed. Her sister's response made Fleur smile at her financial ignorance.

The careful creaking of the door sounded again. A wary Cristian entered the room. He sighed in relief as he dropped himself on the sofa. An absentminded smile was plastered on his face.

            "Why are you so happy?" Fleur asked him.

            Cristian sat up straight in his chair. "Promise not to tell Sloane?" Both sisters nodded. Fleur calmly, Carlotta excitedly. "I have possibly found a house for us. I wanted it to be a surprise for her. Business is going really well at the moment, and has been for months . . . I think it's time."

            "Cristian, that is wonderful news!" Fleur exclaimed. "Sloane will be delighted, I'm sure."

            "But are you sure? I know how much she cares for her family." Cristian was still doubting his decision.

            "Trust me, she cannot miss us so much she won't buy her own house. I think she'd be rather glad to have her own place," Carlotta said. "We can be quite annoying, my friend."

            Even though Lola said it as if she was joking, Fleur added on a much more serious tone. "All jokes aside, though. Buy the house. She knows she can still visit," She stood up. "I should go. I met up with Penelope and Eloise."

            "If you happen to see Marina, wish her well from us." Cristian said as a goodbye.

            Fleur was surprised by that. "I will." This was why she loved her family. The scandal revolving Marina currently caused everyone to hate the entire family. And instead of joining that hatred, Cristian wanted to wish her well. He didn't care for the scandal, only for the wellbeing of the soon–to–be mother.

            A swift carriage (Fleur was running late because of that conversation) ride later, Fleur arrived at the Bridgerton house. Her Mama had advised her to stay away from the Featherington house a couple of days, at least until the scandal was forgotten. Anyone going in might be perceived as a traitor. So the three friends promised they'd meet up at the Bridgerton house or the Lachapelle house for the time being.

            Eloise was already in Penelope's room and had begun to display every single Lady Whistledown pamphlet on Penelope's bed. She looked up when the door opened.

            "There you are," Eloise smiled. She had begun to think Fleur wouldn't come. Eloise cleared her throat. She could now fully begin. "In the past, every Whistledown revelation appeared to be plucked from a public event, where any of our ton could have borne witness. But the column that singled out Marina was different."

            "It was personal." Penelope shrugged.

            "Your Mama did not just help Marina hide her condition all on her own." Eloise said her, a questioning undertone. Yet it was no question.

"Of course not. Every servant in our household knew." Penelope shared.

"We've already established a servant is unlikely," Fleur sat down on the bed. "Could it be one of your sisters?"

Penelope raised her brows. "Prudence and Philippa? They are much too stupid to pull this off."

Fleur laughed at that. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say it was you, Pen." She joked, staring at the wall.

Penelope laughed as well. Hollowly, so.

"Perhaps a tradesperson," Eloise thought out loud. "Someone who visited your household regularly might have seen or overheard something."

"It is a possibility." Pen replied.

"In that case, we must reconsider our methods of inquiry to this end," The excitement of a new possible lead was brought to Eloise's face. "This is wonderful. I must tell the queen of our new theory."

Eloise walked closer to the bed Fleur was sitting on, wanting to pack up the pamphlets. They would not be necessary anymore. "Then tell her at tonight's concert," Penelope said. Eloise said nothing, only stopped her actions and stared. Penelope continued. "I know you are not yet out, but I am sure your mama would still allow you to attend."

"Like with our ball at the beginning of the season." Fleur recalled. Eloise smiled at the memory. Then laughed at the other memory it brought along with it — Lord Berbrooke being humbled by an 18-year-old girl.

Coming down from her laugh, Eloise started to say. "Once we unmask Whistledown—"

"Yes, yes, the Featherington honour will be restored," Penelope did not wait for the end of her sentence. She stood up from her chair with a small bounce. She grabbed one of her friend's hands and did the same with Fleur's. "I must return home. I shall take the back stairs so no one will see me."

Penelope started to walk towards the bedroom door. She stopped before she reached it. "And, El, Flo?" Her smile was bigger than it should've been in these circumstances. "Thank you." Fleur blew her a kiss as goodbye.

When Penelope closed the door behind her, Eloise let herself fall down on the bed, not having a care for all the pamphlets on it. Fleur sighed. "I should go as well. I suppose would like to prepare us for tonight's events. Henri is coming. He loves music." She rattled on, most likely talking to herself.

"Do you have to go now, though?" Eloise asked. She turned on the bed to lay on her side. Propping up her hand under her chin, she held her face up.

"I suppose I can stay for another hour or so," Fleur smiled. The way her hair fell in her face made Eloise almost appear younger. Anyone already out always wore their hair up. But Fleur had never seen Eloise with her hair fully up. Fleur switched the topics to something that had been on her mind since it was said. "A tradesperson you said?"

            "I've been wrong before." Eloise said in order to defend herself before Fleur could even say she was wrong.

            Fleur wasn't about to say she was wrong. She said. "What if it is not a person who visits your household, but someone your household visits?"

            With that, Eloise sat up on the bed, looking thoughtful. "Who are you implying?"

            Fleur's eyes glimmered with playfulness. A downturned smile flashed on her face as she realised she might actually be close to the truth with this one.

            "I heard the French love to gossip."

Fleur opened the doors to the music room. Henri sat there, next to Carlotta, behind the piano. The two were focused on the musical instrument in front of them. So much so that they didn't pay attention to the door.

Fleur knew Lola was even more terrible at the pianoforte than herself. As much as Henri liked to deny it, he was a master at it due to his many classes. If he had felt the need to attend society more and was in want of a wife, Henri would, in fact, be a perfect suitor for many. He could even be the most desired gentleman if he made an effort.

"This is your F note," Henri explained as Fleur leaned against the doorframe. ""So this is your G. It does not have an H, so here is another A." He pressed the keys as he mentioned them.

"That is a bit sad for the H's, is it not?" Carlotta asked. She was completely serious and completely entranced by what was in front of her. The case wasn't that Lola was not interested in the pianoforte. She simply had zero talent.

Henri refrained from laughing. He knew it to be a serious question. He smiled at her. "I suppose it is. But we mustn't think the likes. It is named that way. It would be way too complicated if otherwise."

"No, it wouldn't," Lola pressed every key, starting at the very first. "A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J . . . There are enough keys for the whole alphabet."

"Maybe you should listen to your teacher," Fleur said. The two looked up when Fleur moved closer to them. "Because, you are most certainly not good enough to bicker with him."

Lola crossed her arms, glaring. "You were spying."

Fleur shrugged amusedly. Henri stood up from the stool. A pleased smirk displayed his expression. "We must go, it is late already. Mama must be fuming."

"What? No, but you can't. We aren't yet finished." Lola begged.

"We shall finish later," Henri answered. "Music waits for no man."

"Why can I not go with you?" Lola tried again. She hated being alone.

"This is not something for young girls like you," Fleur laughed. "But you and Raegan will have fun, I'm sure." Raegan is the servant Carlotta chose when she was 12. Raegan also happened to be Elizabeth's best friend.

Henri and Fleur continued into the hallway. Zahara, Franklin, Cristian and Sloane were already there, talking. "Ah, the happy couples have arrived. Are you gossiping lot ready yet?" Henri said, as if he hadn't just arrived himself.

The family left in two carriages. Zahara, Franklin and Sloane in one, Cristian, Henri and Fleur in the other. The arranging was a bit odd, but it was done in haste. Henri made it clear he disliked Cristian.

Especially when he asked, for the hundredth time. "Are you two not yet planning on moving out?"

"Did you visit that house again?" Fleur asked. She ignored Henri's different intentions, and instead asked out of interest. Henri didn't know about what Cristian had said about the open house.

"I haven't had the courage, nor the time, to tell Sloane yet, but yes. It would be perfect." Cristian said.

"Good God, man up," Henri leaned his head back, his dark, curly hair fell back against his shoulder. "My sister is the least intimidating person I know. There's no courage to gather."

Fleur could not blame Henri for his disdain for Cristian. He pretty much took his place in the household. Henri knew of his parents's love for the man, and it only made their love for him less. They were constantly compared. And in their eyes, Cristian came out on top. It made Henri bitter when he thought about it, which happened to be every time he looked at him.

Cristian replied. "I know, and I will tell her. Soon."

"You better." Henri's annoyance was easily audible.

The rest of the carriage ride was less tense. There was small talk, but not too much. Despite the almost–argument there was a comfortable silence.

The family entered the grand hall in duos. Fleur and Henri in the front, behind them Sloane and Cristian, and behind them Franklin and Zahara. The minute they entered, a swarm of girls came towards them.

Though they had no interest in Fleur. They were fluttering their eyelashes and fanning their bosoms at Henri, trying to catch his attention. Henri stole one of Fleur's glances. His eyes told her. "I want to leave." Henri had only come because he wanted to hear the music. He had forgotten about this part of society.

"I do not miss this part of society." Fleur heard Sloane say behind her. She couldn't help but snicker at the situation.

Fleur had already spotted Benedict, so she knew Eloise to be somewhere around here. She freed herself from the mass of girls. When she finally found Eloise, she was already making her way to the queen. Fleur caught up with her. Eloise looked exceptional tonight. Her hair was done just like Daphne's, and as much as she probably wouldn't want to admit it, it suited her. Fleur had to refrain from opening her mouth in awe.

Shaking away that strange feeling, the two friends walked up to the queen's box together. Once there, they weren't even able to finish bowing before the queen. She ushered them to tell her exactly what they knew. There was only one chair, and since Eloise was the one holding the notebook, Fleur told her she should sit. Fleur remained standing behind the chair.

            Eloise explained everything they knew. After, she leaned forward. "And so you see, Your Majesty, it is clear as day. Lady Whistledown works closely with the members of the ton, yet she is not a member herself. She . . . is a tradesperson."

            The queen was not impressed. "Is that all?" She raised her eyebrows.

            "I beg your pardon?" Eloise stammered. Fleur's eyes flickered between the two. It was best for her to stay quiet at the moment. She was already on thin ice with the queen.

            "I am no longer in need of your services." The queen said.

            "But, uh . . ." Eloise pointed at her notebook. She was at a loss for words. "Our theory—" She said sheepishly.

            "It is not necessary," She interrupted. "I have hired a team of Bow Street Runners to do a proper investigation."

            Fleur took a step forward at that. "My apologies, Your Majesty, but is it really wise to let an outsider finish this? They know nothing of the ton—"

            "Are you doubting your queen's choices?" The queen asked.

            Fleur widened her eyes in shock. She should not have said that. She was quick to say. "No, Your Majesty."

            The queen returned her attention to Eloise. "They will unmask Whistledown, and she shall be made to pay for her impertinence. That obnoxious gossip rag . . . will finally cease to exist."

            "You want to silence her?" Eloise asked, bewildered. "But there is still good she must do."

            The queen scoffed. "Child, go," Filled with anxiety and shock, Eloise got up. Fleur followed her, but when the queen said. "Not you." She stood as still as a scarecrow. "Sit." The queen ordered her. So, naturally, Fleur sat down. She looked at Eloise, who was walking towards the steps, but neither girls knew what was happening.

            "I see your brother has decided to join us today," The queen looked through her binoculars. "I have always liked that man."

            "Yes, Your Majesty," Fleur said. She was unsure as to why the queen had her stay behind for this. "Henri loves music."

            "One of my daughters does as well," She replied. She finally lowered her binoculars to look at Fleur. "Tell your mother I wish to make an alliance. Your family is the most respectable in the ton. There is no better match."

            Fleur's mouth fell open. For a second she could do nothing other than stare because of that wild statement. Because if the queen really did know Henri, she would not want her daughter to marry her. "Yes, Your Majesty, of course."

           Then, Fleur left the queen's box. Eloise was waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs. "And? What did she have to say?"

            "Nothing." Fleur said lost in thought. She hadn't yet had much time to digest it herself. She would have to do that before telling anyone else. Fleur shook away the shock and linked her arm with Eloise's, smiling at her. "Well, at least we don't have a deadline anymore."

            The pair walked over to Benedict and Henri. They were chatting. Apparently they had gotten further acquainted after the Bridgertons came over for dinner. "How long is this concert?" Eloise asked Benedict.

            "Three hours? Four?" Benedict was unsure. Eloise groaned at his response. "Though, uh, I certainly have already heard enough."

            "I have talked enough, I feel." Henri added, looking at Fleur with a raised eyebrow.

            "You are my most favourite brother. Do you know that?" Eloise told Benedict. She then turned to Fleur. "Will you be joining?" Benedict turned to Henri, silently asking him the same. Fleur nodded. Together the foursome slipped away from the crowd, aware of their mother's eyes being turned the other way.

Mama was going to be so mad once she'd find out. But it was going to be so worth it.

Lots of family content in this one. Henri  will become a bigger role model for Fleur as the story progresses.

I'm so sorry for not publishing this chapter (it has been done for a week). I've been really busy, my mother married two days ago and I have simply been swamped in schoolwork.