Chapter fourteen
Wherefore art thou Romeo?

Back in line, Fleur watched the dancing couples yet again. She'd broken free from her parents, under the lie of promenading for suitors. Instead, she gave herself the mission to find Penelope. She'd found Prudence and Philippa, and Lady Featherington, but Penelope seemed unfindable. After a while Fleur just gave up and headed back to the side of the dance floor.

After what felt like an eternity, Lady Danbury joined her by her side. She leaned both hands on her cane in front of her, as she always did. Fleur didn't even look up from her sudden presence anymore.

"I don't know how to do this a third time, Lady Danbury." Fleur confessed to her. Her voice was so light, she feared she hadn't been heard. But Lady Danbury turned her head, and quipped a brow.

She said. "You, my dear, need to worry less about what society thinks of you. Look at Simon. He does not need validation from anyone, and everything worked out for him."

"What if my mind does not work the same way as Simon's?" She asked absentmindedly.

Sloane had once described the feeling she had gotten when she'd first courted Cristian. She had described it as if butterflies were fluttering in her stomach. She said she still got them after a year. Fleur had never gotten that feeling with anyone. The closest she had come to it (she thought) was with Eloise. And that was the disturbing part.

Lady Danbury seemed to think of what she said. She had a smirk displayed on her face. "I have someone here for you," That made Fleur turn her head. "Though I mustn't introduce you to him anymore."

Fleur frowned at first. But then she looked further than Lady Danbury, and saw someone she had not seen since she was a kid. "Remember me?" He said, smiling.

"Thomas Romeo Ashby, my word," She smiled back. Fleur didn't even notice Lady Danbury slipping away to the other side of the ballroom. "I haven't seen you in years. When did you get back?"

            Thomas had been one of Fleur's few friends growing up. He lived next door to them up until his family's leaving ten years back. Fleur hadn't expected him to ever return. Back when Thomas and Fleur were still young, society believed them to get married once they were both of age.

"I got back about an hour ago. Heard Little Daphne Bridgerton was having a ball, so I thought I'd see how good of a host she was," He joked. "I figure she's done a great job, do you not?"

            "Surely, Mr. Ashby!" Whenever Fleur was excited and smiling, her voice would automatically come out louder. She was speaking loudly, but had no idea she was doing so. Thomas only smiled to himself, recognising the pattern she'd already done when she was a kid.

            "Oh, don't start with the formalities, Fleur. You know me as Thomas, so call me Thomas," Thomas said. Fleur nodded. "How are you, Fleur?"

            Simultaneously to speaking, Thomas circled around to stand next to Fleur, grabbing her arm and leading her to walk around the premises. Fleur looked at the touch from her peripheral vision, not knowing how to properly respond to it.

            She stammered. "Um, doing well. I think. I have been busy with the season, but that has come to a close after tonight."

"I'm sure you must be busy with the many suitors that you must attract." Thomas said it without an ingenuous tone, which was the most ridiculous part of it all. Fleur laughed, but held her hand in front of her mouth. This was the type of laugh that was not pretty to look at. Thomas furrowed his brows at the reaction. "What? What is it? Did I say something odd?"

"No, Sir, it's simply—" Fleur found her voice again. "I am expediently the least visited by suitors. Men customarily do both wish to meet me, let alone marry me."

Fleur did not see Thomas' expression when he talked. Yet his genuineness was ever present in his voice. "I am shocked, Fleur, really. You have always been such a delight," He stopped walking. Naturally, Fleur did too, as she was still holding onto his arm. "And, not to dishonour any of the other debutantes, but you are far above their league."

Fleur could only stare at the comment. She would have thought him to be mocking her if it weren't for her knowing him already. Thomas had never been one for mockery. Fleur's heart involuntarily skipped a beat, a smile decorating her face. She immediately looked down at the floor. Was this what Sloane had described? The feeling with the butterflies? She wasn't feeling any nervousness in her stomach, but Fleur was sure this must've been it. Otherwise, what else could it be?

After a long night of clear skies, it began pouring rain at that moment. It took Fleur completely off guard. Not just because she knew clear skies normally did not mean rain, but also because she'd been so deep within her own mind that she had not heard the thundering as a warning to run towards a place with a roof to hide under.

The dance floor cleared of dancers and spectators alike, except for Daphne and Simon. Daphne decided that she liked to stand in the rain, tilting her face up slightly to let the water drip on her face. Fleur looked at her with a tilted head. Daphne usually cared so deeply for her perfect appearance. Simon, too, tried to get her to shelter under the roof, but failed.

"Everyone," Fleur heard Lady Danbury call from the other side of the shelter. "I believe this evening is complete. We shall thank our gracious hosts for such a splendid soiree in the morning. Now, go. Out. At once."

Fleur and Thomas, along with the rest of the crowd, left the Hastings premises speedily. Thomas said his goodbyes with a kiss to Fleur's hand and stepped inside his family's carriage. Fleur was instantly surrounded by a mass of debutantes, asking about Thomas, and what he said, what he did, every juicy detail. Because all the debutantes (except for Freya) had never spared her a glance that was not hateful, or disgusted, Fleur chose to walk away, to her Mama that was waiting for her not much further. Cristian and Sloane had already stepped inside the carriage, to avoid getting wetter.

            It felt strange being the one someone actively wanted, and Fleur had to admit she enjoyed the feeling. But a thought of Eloise ran through her, and how she was currently trying to save Lady Whistledown. Alone.

Fleur brought a bouquet of flowers inside, trailing after Elizabeth, who was heaving a heavy box. "Are you sure you need no help, Liz? That . . . thing looks like it weighs more like a piano."

"I am sure, Miss. It is not that heavy. I assure you." Elizabeth smiled as good as she could. She tried to hide her huffing and puffing as she walked, but Fleur could see she was experiencing troubles. By the time she thought Elizabeth's arms were going to give in, Elizabeth placed the box on the ground in a grand room — the music room.

            "Fleur! Darling!" Fleur hadn't even seen her when Sloane wrapped her arms around her. She'd been standing in the room, waving her hands around to tell Cristian where she wanted everything.

            Fleur chuckled. "Sloane, you're crushing my flowers. And my lungs, as well, actually."

            Sloane instantly let go. "Oh! I am so sorry, sister. It's just— I am simply so excited." Fleur loved to see her sister smile in the way that she did. Sloane was always glowing, but lately she had a different kind of glow about her.

            "It shall be so quiet at the house now." Fleur grabbed ahold of Sloane's hands.

            "Nonsense," Sloane retorted funnily. "Henri and Carlotta shall make sure you shall never experience silence as long as you live in that home. Besides, I shall visit frequently. It is not that far."

            While Sloane and Cristian still lived in London, they did move to the other side of the big city. It was a mere fifteen minutes by carriage, but that was fifteen minutes too long for Fleur. Her favourite person was leaving, and a rip formed in her heart.

            Fleur shook her head, shaking away the negative thoughts. "Well, I am leaving. I have to meet up with Penelope and Eloise at the Featherington estate. Penelope is in such a state after the dreadful news of her father."

            "They are lucky to have you. Both of them." Said Cristian from across the room. Fleur hugged both of them and said her goodbyes. It was hard to say goodbye, but Fleur just thought to herself to start seeing visiting as a weekly chore. That made it a bit better in her mind.

            In the carriage, she also thought of what Cristian had said. Penelope and Eloise might have been lucky to have her. But perhaps she was even luckier to have them.

A bit of an extra knowledge for this chapter that also marks the end of S1 — Thomas is supposed to portray Eloise's male counterpart as Fleur's love interest. Initially Eloise should have been Romeo (Title), but since it has been revealed that Thomas' middle name is Romeo, maybe he is? Maybe both? 🫢

As we know Fleur, we know she is not actually attracted to this man. Therefore the title being Shakespeare's line "Wherefore art thou Romeo?" Contrary to popular belief, this line does not mean "Where are you, Romeo?" But rather "Why are you, Romeo?" Because deep inside, Fleur does not want Thomas to be her love interest. So she's wondering why (she thinks) she is attracted to him.