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𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐀 𝐁𝐈𝐃𝐃𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐈𝐑 𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐃𝐁𝐘𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐘 𝐉𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐘𝐄𝐃 𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐈𝐓𝐘. Her eyes wandering back to Eloise who always managed to spare time to stare at the deity next to her. They took their chances and locked the door for good measure before sleeping with one another in Eloise's room, low giddy giggles and pecks of adoration heard under the crackle of the fireplace. Though, the princess found Eloise to be a wanderer as she let her hands trail further down her form, nothing more.

Although, the most shocking revelation was when the viscount Bridgerton got down on one knee in front of Miss Edwina Sharma.

So, now, Anastasia sat next to her mother in the palace, with the bride to be and her family along with Anthony and Lady Danbury. Out of the corner of her eye she peered to Kate who looked rather uneasy as she stared blankly at the space in front of her before looking to her sister and the Bridgerton.

"Now, tell me if your wedding plan, there is no talk of a special license I hope," more forced laughs came from the people, eager to appease her Majesty.

"Of course not, your Majesty."

"I believe a small affair best, perhaps back in the country at Aubrey Hall."

Charlotte looked to her daughter incredulously before letting out a scoffing laugh, "the country, no that will not do."

Anastasia held back a snort at the look on the Viscounts face after his idea had been completely rejected. It appeared Edwina was more than pleased with not having her wedding in the country, she wanted something magnificent and bold.

"You must have it here, in town. In fact, I shall host the nuptials myself," the Queen straightened her back as the Sharma's revelled in delight and Anastasia worried for her mothers ego.

"How very kind of you, mother," Anastasia sipped on her tea whilst her mama shrugged impassively, enjoying the praise she received.

"But not at all necessary," Edwina appeared baffled and both Lady Mary and Lady Danbury looked seconds away from strangling him.

"Nonsense, she is my diamond, after all. It is only right that I give you a wedding worthy of that title. Besides, one could almost credit me, myself for this most illustrious match."

"You'll find that in town being the diamond outweighs her being your bride, viscount," Anastasia tipped her cup in his direction as he sighed lightly before giving a tight lipped smile.

Anastasia looked to Kate with more weary as the cup in her hand rattled, "apologies, your Majesty."

"And my daughter shall also be a bridesmaid," the Queen said nonchalantly with a eyebrow raised, a dare to those who wanted to question her ideas.

Anastasia spluttered her tea, "mother, what in gods name do you think your doing? This is not your wedding," she looked to the couple from across from her, "do not fret, you shall have one bridesmaid, your sister."

The Queen looked at her with narrowed eyes and as she opened her mouth it was Edwina that politely excused herself into the conversation, "pardon me, your Graces but I think that a wonderful idea, Princess Anastasia, would you like to be my bridesmaid?" Anastasia caught her mothers watching eye and with the hopeful face Edwina stared at her with, she couldn't possibly deny her.

"Of course, I will," she smiled softly at the bride to be and looked to the groom, "what say you, viscount? Are you quite alright with my invitation to be at the alter?" Anastasia hadn't expected it from him but Anthony smiled softly, no annoyed glare or subtle ,mumble under his breath and a gentle nod of his head.

"Yes, I find that an agreeable idea, the only worry is that my sister may only stare at you and not my beautiful bride," laughs echoed throughout the room bar Anastasia who hid her reddened cheeks with the cup raised to her lips. Lady Danbury and Charlotte shared a look as they both glanced at her daughter but the Queen giddily clapped her hands together before sighing dreamily.

"What a splendid wedding this will be."

Anastasia hummed, "it's almost as if it's your wedding entirely," she dodged the hard stare she gave her and hid a smile as she saw Kates shoulders lift in a laugh that she tried to cover.

𝐄𝐋𝐎𝐈𝐒𝐄 𝐊𝐄𝐏𝐓 𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐆𝐀𝐙𝐄 𝐅𝐋𝐔𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐎𝐎𝐑𝐖𝐀𝐘 𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊 𝐈𝐍 𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐇𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑, 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐒 𝐃𝐈𝐃 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐑 𝐓𝐎 𝐁𝐄 𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃.

"Are you expecting someone, sister?" Benedict asked as he watched his sister.

Violet perked her ears, "well, if you are, I'm afraid you must ask them to save it for another time as I shall need your help today, there's the dinner to plan and the engagement ball next week."

Eloise nodded, not finding interest in what her mother described as she stood with a plate filled with food in her hand, more preoccupied with the timing of Anastasia. "I am sorry, mama but if you should wish for me to reschedule with the princess, as we attended a lecture, then she will be most upset."

Benedict made a Ah expression as he realised that's who she had been waiting on and Violet widened her eyes but she had supposed it was not so shocking, her daughter and the princess had been attached to the hip.

"Ma'm, the princess has arrived."

Anastasia was quick to follow through, "oh, look there she is now," Eloise held her hand out to her form who waved to the family with a grin. "I'm afraid we must dash," she took the princess' hand who had not even said a word to the family and she was already being dragged away. "The flower arranging really mustn't wait."

Violet squinted her eyes and glanced to Benedict who had his brow raised in curiosity.

"Flower arranging, are we?" The princess mused.

They settled in the carriage and Eloise rolled her eyes with a smile that always bloomed whenever she was near, "do shut up."

Anastasia faux gasped and placed a hand to her chest, "always telling me what to do," Eloise couldn't wait any longer, she grabbed the back of her neck and kissed her in desperation at not having her lips upon her own.

"Eloise, we have not yet departed from the city," Anastasia warned but kept her eyes on the girl in front of her. The drivers of her carriage commended through the streets after being informed to head to Bloomsbury, they questioned nothing and that's what she admired so about them.

"I do not care," she kissed her once more, "I have not had you to myself."

Anastasia sighed happily into the kiss, her hands resting on Eloise's knees, "it has only been a day, darling."

"A day too long," she leaned back and took in Anastasia's figure,"I am happy to see you, princess or should I say my hoodlum"Eloise remarked with a grin at the sight of Anastasia in a black cloak and hood along with a basket on her arm.

"Very funny, may I remind you that I am doing this for you, I cannot have myself being recognised," she pulled the hood down and let her hair fall as it had been tucked behind her ears. Eloise sucked in a sharp breath at the sight of her cloak that was buttoned on top of her chest which let her eyes trail down to her breast which had been pushed up due to the gown she had chosen to wear.

"Yes," she swallowed thickly, "and I am grateful."

Anastasia sighed before reaching in the basket and holding out a cupcake that was topped with the creamiest of frosting. "Would you like some?" Eloise couldn't fathom eating.

Her tongue darted out and licked a bold stripe up the frosting, letting it stick to her tongue and she closing her eyes in delight at the taste. Her eyes rolled back and a small moan of satisfaction escape her whilst Eloise sat up stiffer than before, crossing her legs tightly and clenching her jaw but as she watched Anastasia's tongue and how it managed to swipe clean any stray pieces of icing from her lips she found herself squirming in her seat.

"Oh, my," she muttered under her breath with her eyes shutting tightly, the familiar coil twisting in her stomach. Eloise turned to the window, the emerald on her chest weighed heavily against her lungs and left her feeling as though they were being crushed.

"Eloise?"

The Bridgerton snapped her eyes open and looked to Anastasia who was looking at her peculiarly, licking her lips rid of any crumbs and crumbling the wrapper.

"Yes?" She sounded weary, not at all like she did a few moments ago.

"Are you alright?"

"Splendid," Eloise did not sound sure of her self in the slightest, "it's just rather hot." She took her fan out and began to rapidly move it to gather as much cool air as possible.

Anastasia looked slightly puzzled by Eloise's frantic ness, simply thinking it was because of them departing to a rally not meant for their ears. "I do agree, it is hot," Anastasia took her own fan out and gently fluttered it around her chest, Eloise felt her ears burning.

"For gods sake," she now mumbled, cursing her eyes as they kept wandering down her chest and up her neck.

"What was that?"

"Nothing!"

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊𝐄𝐃 𝐀𝐍𝐗𝐈𝐎𝐔𝐒 𝐀𝐒 𝐇𝐄 𝐊𝐄𝐏𝐓 𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐔𝐏 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐓 𝐁𝐔𝐓 𝐍𝐄𝐈𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐄𝐋𝐎𝐈𝐒𝐄 𝐍𝐎𝐑 𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐀 𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐍 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐑𝐘. They followed the address on the pamphlet, not before Eloise grabbed Anastasia by the forearm, "stay close to me."

Anastasia nodded along but an amused smile pulled at her lips, "always telling me what to do," Eloise rolled her eyes and pulled the girl along, that appeared to be her favourite saying of the day. Through the street of Bloomsbury they found brown doors with a heading reading ASSEMBLY HALL and snuck through only to be met with another surrounding entirely.

People no longer spoke in hushed whispers, in fear of being overheard by another gossiper of the ton. Women spoke freely of their rights and how inappropriate and inadequate it was that they were withheld the same rights as men.

It was engrossed in people of all gender, most talking amongst themselves whilst others listened intently to a woman who talked freely on stage. Anastasia watched as Eloise evaded all contact with other people and listened solely to the woman on the stage, the princess felt her heart miss a beat as she watched her eyes dance over the crowds countenances and back to the talker.

"Society truly is flawed," Eloise sighed tiredly, to Anastasia her voice drowned out all those around her. "How is it that a man is capable of doing whatever he like and only the women receive the consequences when the commit the same actions as he?"

Eloise turned to look at her, desperate for any sort of answer, "I suppose it due to the idea of the bible, the garden of Eden, through Adam's lie Eve was blamed and that blame has transpired through society and the world." Anastasia watched as Eloise's face contorted with disgust, "but in this world punishment cannot be certain for all and once every blue moon people rise up against the injustice, like now and soon, in a distant future, women will be treated with the same respect as men."

"Just not in our lifetime," Eloise met Anastasia's gaze as they stared at one another with such intensity, eyes flickering from lips to pupil.

"No, darling but some day."

Eloise and Anastasia came to an understanding that here, without the prying eyes of noble Lords and Ladies, they did not have to provide for anyone but themselves. The Bridgerton shifted her focus and patted her lips as she swallowed, Anastasia watched as her throat bobbed before her lips parted.

"Anastasia I- Theo?"

Anastasia furrowed her brows and turned to see a boy in a workers uniform, he was tall, handsome and upon seeing Eloise he appeared to have a bright smile.

"You."

Eloise grinned brightly back at him, "me."

Anastasia looked between the two, she pursed her lips up and narrowed her eyes.

"An' you are?" He appeared slightly skittish from the look she wore.

"Eloise, may we depart yet? I appeared to have had enough." She ignored his existence in question and looked at Eloise with a hand on her hip and a raised brow.

The Bridgerton looked slightly baffled as she looked in between the two before wearily nodding her head, she could only wave to the boy behind her as Anastasia dragged her away by the hand. A pregnant silence fell between the two as they seated themselves in the carriage, Anastasia looking out the window before closing the curtains at either side and they were consumed in a dark and Eloise awkwardly peered at her then the ground and back again like a scorned child.

"You have met him more than once," Anastasia gruffly said with her arms folded across her chest. Eloise didn't know how to respond and only stared at the princess, "answer me."

The same commanding tone that Eloise had heard her use on suitors and endearing mamas who wished to introduce their daughters to her made her breathe in sharply. "Yes," Anastasia turned to look at her before lifting herself from her own seat and came to sit besides her.

Eloise shivered at the aura she possessed in that very moment, "Eloise, you'll find in time that I don't like to share my toys." She let her fingers dance across the skirt of Eloise's dress, "and you are mine, are you not?"

"Yes," she gaped with her breathing unlevelled.

"Good," she murmured into her ear and Eloise shuddered as her lips tickled her neck. "You are good to me, aren't you?"

"Yes," her breathless whisper morphed Anastasia's lips into a baring, cocky grin.

"Splendid," she pulled away from Eloise and leant into the red cushions with a smirk at the girls clearly flustered and wanting state. "What? You hadn't thought I would defile you in such a place," she watched Eloise turn red and look to the floor, "Miss Bridgeton." She falsely gasped, taking amusement in her embarrassment, "there will be a time for such pleasures, be patient, darling."

Eloise, feeling hot and breathless and everything a lady shouldn't, grumbled to the floor before reaching in the basket and roughly biting into one of the cupcakes. Though, the sweetness didn't compare to that of Anastasia's lips that she wished to claim over and over again.

"You are a mean, woman," she snarked with the cupcakes frosted toppings smudging at the corner of her mouth.

"Oh, I know," she swiped her thumb across the frosting and sucked at it whilst keeping heavy eye contact with the girl in front of her. Eloise's mouth parted and she threw her head back onto the velvet with a groan, all while Anastasia laughed and pecked a quick kiss to her cheek before she departed from the carriage.

Eloise strolled back into the home with a beaming smile and her cheeks holding a tint of red as she swayed into the drawing room. As she went to retrieve her book she had left, discarded on the couch after chasing Anastasia out of the house her reflection in the silverware caught her attention and Eloise's eyes widened dramatically.

A lipstick mark had been left on her cheek, "that little-

"Eloise!" She heard her mamas voice echo throughout the corridors and Eloise frantically wiped at her cheek, rubbing the substance harshly into her face. "How was the- did you fall over?" Violet asked worriedly as she stopped in front of her daughter and checked her from head to toe.

Eloise imagined stabbing Anastasia, "yes, i simply tumbled, it was all the princesses fault but nonetheless no harm done." She narrowly escaped her mothers reaching hand as she walked back with the book in her grasp. "I said it's fine, mama, now if you'll excuse me, I shall like to change."

As she scurried away Violet stared at the back of her daughters head with squinted eyes and went to go after her but realised she wouldn't know how to for go such a situation. Instead, she rejoiced in the feeling of the couch being pressed against her back as she rested her head back in the cushions.

As Eloise hurried to her room she opened the door and gasped whilst holding her chest at the sight of Penelope sitting at the desk.

"Pen, you startled me."

The Featherington hummed lightly with her eyes trailing after Eloise's figure as she sat in the seat opposite, taking in her flushed stature. "Forgive me, I am only a wallflower after all."

The tone in Penelope's voice made Eloise furrow her brows as she leaned over and stared at her friend, "Pen, are you alright? You don't sound like yourself."

The tightness seemed to fold from her face and she let out a long sigh, "Eloise, I saw you."

The Bridgerton felt her heart clench tightly and her throat swell, the caring look was replaced with one of defiance. "Saw me what?"

Penelope squinted her eyes, "you and the princess," Eloise stiffened in her seat, "it is obvious that she has become a closer friend to you than I." Eloise felt her shoulders sag in relief and instead softened her gaze to Penelope.

"Pen," she reached across the table and held her hand, "you have been my most amiable friend since the dawn of time, the princess and I." She trailed off, a part of her torn, aching to tell her friend of what she and the princess shared with one another, it was deeper than friendship and more valuable than any bond. "Are simply good friends and I promise you that as of now I will dilate all my intentions towards you."

The two shared a smile, "even if that means rejecting the princesses suit and attending a walk along the promenade?" Eloise wished she had not asked this of her, the time she would spend with Anastasia made her feel more alive than ever before.

"Of course," she smiled tightly whilst bringing her friend into a hug, the feeling of dread creeping into her heart at the thought of being unable to see her princess for some moons.

𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐇, 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐄𝐗𝐓 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐑𝐎𝐖 𝐈𝐓 𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐀 𝐑𝐎𝐘𝐀𝐋 𝐁𝐄𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐓𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐎 𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐄𝐋𝐎𝐈𝐒𝐄'𝐒 𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍. To Eloise's credit it seemed to her that if she was already in the presence of another then, it would be rude to interrupt with the courses of events. She hurried out into the carriage, the Emerald almost as bright as her smile that she wore as she walked to the doors of gold and red.

"Could you not stay away?" Eloise asked smugly as she settled in the carriage but felt her dinner nearly come back up as she was faced with the Queen of England.

Whom arched an amused eyebrow at her word choices, "no, I could not," she mocked and Eloise felt herself burn red.

"Your Majesty," she stuttered with her mouth opening and closing, "I'm sorry, I thought you were-

"My daughter," she finished curtly, the very meaning she came to the Bridgerton's estate coming to mind. "Yes, you and Anastasia are rather good friends, would you not say?"

Eloise instantly nodded but thought best to hold back on the activities that the two partook in, "yes."

The Queen hummed, her eyes darting to the necklace and hid a smile as she looked to the ground, trying to maintain the intimidating illusion she possessed as Queen. "That is good but as you know Eloise, that I am a very good judge of character and if anything is done to harm my daughters feelings then I will forgo action." She still hadn't let go of the hunch that the Bridgerton girl was Lady Whistledown and kept her guard up.

For some reason these words hardened Eloise's spine as she sat up straight and was able to meet the Queens eye, which she was impressed with. Usually, she would be stumbling over her own words but when Anastasia came into conversation, a seriousness overtook her.

"Your, Majesty, I would not have it any other way and I swear to you that no harm shall come to her."

Her words were so clear, stern and had a sincerity to them that the Queen found more than amiable and let a genuine smile coax her lips.

"Very good, child." She beamed to her and Eloise felt that she could finally breathe, "but it's best we don't tell Anastasia about this, she appears to be rather defiant about me talking with you."

Eloise felt slightly uncomfortable with keeping a secret from her princess but nodded, unconvincingly but Charlotte seemed to find it believable enough.

"Now, let us talk about the real identity of, Lady Whistledown," this seemed to light a fuse in Eloise as she leaned forwards in her seat and brightened her eyes.

"Do tell, your Majesty."

The Queen grinned, all teeth shimmering as she thought aimlessly in her head, I see why my daughter likes her.