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"𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐒 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐂𝐈𝐒𝐄𝐋𝐘 𝐖𝐇𝐘 𝐈 𝐀𝐌 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐍𝐄, 𝐍𝐎 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐇𝐎𝐖 𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐘 𝐉𝐄𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐗𝐈𝐎𝐔𝐒 𝐌𝐀𝐌𝐀𝐒 𝐌𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐃." The queen said as she circled the necklaces and solid gold pineapple that had been sent her way.

Anastasia and Lady Danbury eyed one another, "so, you are not swayed from what Lady Whistledown has written."

She scoffed a laugh, "that she thinks I am afraid of choosing a diamond, why should I be? My choice last year, Miss Edwina, made a splendid match abroad."

Her daughter thought back to her cousin and friends wedding fondly, it was custom that the ceremony be held in the royals birth country. However, it took only a plea from Edwina and they held it in India, the two were truly a beautiful pair and their child would be well adored by all.

"Certainly, your Majesty, so why not continue with your success?"

Anastasia held back a snort, the success was certainly questionable in some aspects.

"And give Whistledown exactly what she wants? I will not. Besides I have not seen nearly enough from this years girls." Charlotte thoughtfully held her chin with her fingers, "I will simply choose someone who," she trailed off.

Agatha and Anastasia stood besides one another and shared a humoured glance, "sparkles," they mused together.

The queen nodded, "precisely," Anastasia hid a smile with her hand. Lady Danbury always had a good sense to weasel words into her mother's mouth somehow. "My sparkler will have the best match of the entire ton."

"Whatever you wish, mother." Anastasia sighed as she plucked two necklaces from the plush pillows.

She knocked on Rose and Angelica's bedroom, "come in."

The princess entered and the two were slouched in their opposite chairs in front of the fire place but at the sight of their friend they stood quickly.

Anastasia held an amused look, "ah, are we being formal now?"

The two seemed to relax at her carefree nature before Rose stepped forwards and clasped her hands over hers. "We truly are sorry, we were just trying to help."

"Well more like you are truly sorry as it was primarily your idea," Angelica replied behind her.

Rose snapped her neck over her shoulder to shoot her a glare, "you agreed, witch." She harshly whispered with a sneer before turning back to Anastasia with a sheepish smile.

Anastasia let out a light laugh as she turned to the many gowns that had been laid out by, "what gown will you wear for tonight's ball?" She saw Angelica go to open her mouth looking oh so careless, "my mother will have a front row seat of the dance floor might I add."

It was a silent hint that she should wear one of the dresses sprawled on the bed and Angelica simply rolled her eyes. She stood from her seat and sluggishly picked a black one from the bed to which the princess nodded to.

"And you, Rose?" The girl all but glided over to the selection with excitement in her eyes.

"But what of you, Anastasia?" The sisters looked to her as the girl mindlessly wandered about her room.

A smirk pulled at her lips as she eyed the red and gold gown, "I think it is time for a classic." The theme was subtle colours but Anastasia was the princess of England, she could do whatever she wanted. Almost anything.

𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐀 𝐒𝐀𝐓 𝐏𝐎𝐈𝐒𝐄𝐃𝐋𝐘 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐌𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑, 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐃 𝐎𝐍 𝐀 𝐕𝐄𝐋𝐕𝐄𝐓 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐈𝐑 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐈𝐀𝐑𝐀 𝐀𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐉𝐄𝐖𝐄𝐋 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐎𝐎𝐌. The room was brimming with laughter and a tension between the young Ladies as they tirelessly fought for the royals attention.

"Finally they seem to be putting in some work," the queen grinned as she watched the two ladies in front of her bow as low as the other till they were almost kneeling.

Anastasia pitied them as one struggled to get up,  "perhaps a little too much." The princess leant her chin upon her hand as her eyes scanned the faces in front of her. Many suitors filed a makeshift line except they didn't make it halfway past that of Brimsley before they simply began to admire the view of their princess.

Until her eyes locked on a family that she was not shy of, the Bridgerton's never failed to make an entrance.

Benedict looked dashing as always and seemed to have sparked the attnejton of the young ladies once more but Colin set off a frienzy. His charm he acquired on his journey was one Anastasia was not unfamiliar with. Francesca meandered with her brothers with clearly no wanting need for attention but was forced into the sea of the ton. Each sibling linked with another and their mother but Anastasia felt her chest still as she found the state of Eloise too pleasing to ignore.

Her hair was tied back and fringe hanging abashedly with her dress hugging her and revealing more of her bosom. Her gloves stopped before her elbows and she wore a shimmering necklace filled with diamonds.

Anastasia felt herself thickly gulp as she shut her eyes tightly and crossed one leg over the other. For gods sake, now is not the time, her mind screamed at herself as she forced herself to look in front of her.

"Are you alright, dear?" Charlotte asked her daughter when she noticed her rigid stature and nails dig into the arms of the chair.

"Forgive me, mother but I am off to sample the cuisine." Anastasia rose from her seat rather quickly and darted for the stack of drinks.

She drank it as politely as she could without seeming parched and heard footsteps coming from behind her.

"Princess Anastasia."

She recognised the voice instantaneously and a smile drifted up her lips as she turned to lean against the table. Staring up at baby blue eyes she murmured coyly, "hello, Mr Bridgerton and what does the tons most eligible bachelor want with me?"

Her words made a charming smile pass his lips as he swirled the liquid in his glass, "perhaps I have simple missed your ever gracious presence." They broth shared a comic look, "care for a dance?"

Anastasia looked over his shoulder to see Eloise wittering away with several other ladies and had all of them nearly doubling over in laughter. She placed her drink down rather roughly before beaming back up at the young man, "yes, at once, come now."

She did not wait for him and Colin hurriedly placed his drink down before following after her to situate himself in front of her.

The queen and Lady Danbury quirked brows at the sight of the two before commencing with the dance.

"How does it feel?" Colin knew she was referring to what he had achieved since he had been back and a far away look glazed over his eyes.

"It is wondrous, the world has taught me so much and yet even after all I've seen I realise I've still only scraped the surface of what I can see." Anastasia listened to him thoroughly as he spun her round but her eyes flickered to the girl in blue every so often.

"Do you have an aspiration to take a wife by the end of this season?" It was a perfectly ambiguous question that made the man's eyebrows furrow in slight confusion.

"My prospects remain open," his eyes too locked on a figure in the crowd and as Anastasia was spun to be in front of him they gleamed as she found him locked on a red headed girl. "But it is not in my cards."

Anastasia simply hummed craning her neck again to catch sight of the one she saw step foot in the room. Colin's eyes too widened as she realised who she was looking at and another smile graced his face, she caught sight of his grin.

"And what are you smiling at?"

Colin laughed as they slowed their movements, "simply the idea of inevitability, princess." The dance stopped and Anastasia was left peering to him with narrowed eyes.

"You have grown even more odd since your travels, Mr Bridgerton." She mused absentmindedly whilst Colin bowed low and kissed her hand before excusing himself to entertain the ladies of the court.

From across the room Eloise gripped the glass tightly in her hand as she watched the princess humour her brother. She tried to distract herself with the wittering of the girls in front of her but it seemed to not matter what she did her eyes managed to find the princesses form.

Anastasia saw the young redhead Colin had been caught making eyes to and a flash of excitement twinkled in her eye. If she were to make Penelope and Colin see eye to eye on many things besides just books then it would surely enrage Eloise. It made her feel tingly all over and she had to steady her giddy pace as she walked over to the Featherington.

"Penelope," she greeted softly and the red head nearly chocked on her words as she hurriedly bowed.

"Princess," her nerves were prominent as she eyed the floor instead of Anastasia's eyes.

A gloved finger reached underneath her chin until her head was gently tilted upwards to lock eyes with Anastasia's whimsical ones. Penelope breath fell all the quicker and she was suddenly realising why her old friend had been so easily taken by the princess.

"You should not hide such beauty, Miss Featherington," Anastasia told her gently in a captivating voice that had her now unable to look away.

Eloise had a fire in her eyes with her lips forming into that of a snarl, she felt herself overwhelmed with anger as she stared at the scene before her. Cressida's words fell deaf on her ears and she could not pay any mind to the presumably vulgar insults that spilled from her mouth.

"Excuse me," she all but grunted, her heels clicking loudly as she stomped to the outside area where she could breathe.

Violet turned away from Francesca to see her other daughter storming out of the room and alarm bells rang in her ears.

She turned back to her youngest only to find her now out of her own sight and let out a stressful sigh before ushering down a strong beverage.

"I believe congratulations are in order for your two sisters," Anastasia smiled kindly at the girl.

Penelope felt the bile reaching up her throat as guilt clawed at her all the more, "yes." Her smile was all teeth and tight, "they have been happily married to the two," her words trailed off as they did not have titles.

"Gentlemen," the princess replied softly with no judgement in her posterior.

"Yes." A silence followed before Penelope desperately tried to fill it, "how was your journey to France, your grace?"

The princess looped her arm through the girls as they began to meander around the crowds. "You are the only woman who has asked me that since I have arrived, I'd thought you would have grown tiresome of hearing travel stories with Mr Bridgerton down your ear."

She practically felt the girl turning red without looking at her and Anastasia hid a small smirk. "I suppose Coli- Mr Bridgerton's stories are particularly ongoing."

"He'd make for an adventurous husband," Anastasia loudly proclaimed, "don't you think, Penelope?"

The girl realised that Anastasia had wandered them outside until she was in the eye sight of Colin.

"I suppose so, your grace."

"You suppose so," Anastasia murmured before leaning down and whispering with her lips grazing the shell of her ear. "Why don't you go and find out for yourself ?" With a gentle hand pressed against her lower back she pushed her towards his path and hummed in agreement with herself as she watched her go to him.

Anastasia found satisfaction as she watched the two talk so freely with one another with she felt a hand grasp hers. "Rose?"

"I cannot find Angelica," her voice wrecked with worry and slight frustration.

Anastasia waved her off, "I'm sure she's just fine, go back to the dance."

"I can't find Francesca either." The name struck a nerve in Anastasia and she sucked in a deep breath, she took her eyes off of the two and looked round.

"Do not fret, I will find them," was all she said before hurrying her steps towards the back rooms. Room and room was empty and dimly lit but as she placed her hand on the door knob she heard a rustle behind the door.

She clenched her jaw and threw it open with her face that of rock, Angelica had her hands wrapped around the girls waist with Francesca's gingerly placed upon her neck. Their faces were close, foreheads touching but their lips remained apart and upon the princesses entrance they jumped away from another, breathing heavily and red faced.

"Angelica," Anastasia hissed, "this is not Pari, you cannot do as you please." Her gaze shifted to the more uncomfortable girl who fiddled with the cut of her dress. "Go back to the castle please."

The demand in her voice was evident and Angelica casted one last glance to the Bridgerton before ducking her head and leaving the room. Anastasia shut the door and Francesca began to start panicking with her breaths even more uneven than before.

"There is nothing wrong with who you were doing that with, Francesca." Anastasia's voice broke the tension as she rested herself on the piano chair with her fingers sliding over the keys. "I do not think of you any less than how I do now."

She peered to the girl who looked down to the floor in shame, "I apologise, princess, that was unlike me and it will never happen again."

Anastasia sighed, the girl was still shaking in her heels, "come sit." Francesca sat beside the princess on the stool so their sides were touching, the relaxing aura eased her nerves. "There is nothing untoward about who you admire, Francesca or who you find yourself in love with."

The young woman stared at Anastasia wide eyed like a fay.

"Do not ever let anyone tell you different."

Francesca nodded lowly, "thank you, princess."

"You always were the more formal one," she bumped her shoulder with her as they both smiled, "it's Anastasia, darling." She gestures to the piano, "please, let me hear something."

Francesca did not need to be told twice as she shuffled giddily in her seat and let her fingers play the notes in a soft melody. Upon the crisp quiet that had formed between them, filled with the andante tone of Beethoven, Francesca opened her mouth.

"The family has missed your presence in the house, Hyacinth most of all." Anastasia humoured the girl as she was reminded of the easily excitable young one. "She never takes the tiara off."

Anastasia let out a breathy laugh, "I thought as much."

"My sister has missed you." They knew who she was talking about but Francesca did not know if she were to speak Eloise's name in front of her.

A pregnant silence followed, "how is she?"

Francesca kept her eyes on the keys even though she didn't need to, "she's quieter than normal, less of the smart mouthed comments that I'm certain mama is thankful for." A laugh escaped them, "but she's sad, often distracting herself with her new posey, Miss Cowper but everyone can tell, she's sad."

Anastasia kept her head facing forwards whilst gazing out the window to see the bright moon glaring down upon the glass.

Francesca chanced it and caught sight of the princesses downcast expression and her face morphed into one of pity. She knew that that look was, her mother wore it for five years of her life, she was heartbroken. They were both heartbroken.

A knock on the door broke their peaceful solace and they turned to see Brimsely at the door, "forgive me for the interruption but I'm afraid the queen is retiring, are you following along princess?"

Anastasia smiled to the old man before offering her hand to Francesca who took it and graciously rose to her feet. "Yes, I will retire for the night," he nodded and walked ahead of the two as they followed the trail of talk and laughter.

"I suppose I shall go as well," they stopped at the top of the staircase where the queens carriage and another trail behind it. Her eyes snapped over the the reflection in the window and saw that of Angelica's.

"Do not fret Francesca," she leaned forwards and brought the girl into a hug, "your secret is safe with me."

As they pulled apart the girl beamed to her with a bright smile that gleamed from the moonlight.

"Goodnight, princess."

"Au revoir," she murmured with a matching smile as she turned on her heel and trailed down the stairs. She stopped in front of the carriage doors when a boisterous shout made her turn back to look up the steps.

"Eloise!" It was Colin and he looked like a mad man as he stalked over his sister. "Did you tell any one of my helping, Penelope?"

"No, well not exactly, I- Cressida," she spluttered out and shifted her weight from one foot to the other.

"And you thought you could confide in Cressida, do you know I will never understand how you chose her over Penelope." He looked to have had enough but he took another breath and lowered his tone of voice into a darker one, "since the ordeal with the princess I would have thought by now you would have learned to keep your mouth shut."

A sharp gasp left Eloise as if she'd been stabbed and aimlessly stared at the back of Colin's retreating form as he walked away. She held a hand to her chest and breathed as deeply as she could though the tears were already pricking at the corners of her eyes as she threw her head back to bathe in the glow of the moon.

Although, when she looked to the bottom of the stairs she found Anastasia at the end staring up at her with a lost expression on her face. She saw the tears in Eloise's eyes from the shine of the light and balled her hands into fists before shaking her head and retreating into the carriage.

Eloise covered her mouth to stop a cry from seeping out and hurriedly retreated to her families carriage. She threw the door open and settled in the back seat with her chest heaving and her breaths forming in that of pants.

She clawed at the diamond crested necklace and pulled it from her neck leaving red marks. Eloise placed her hands on the walls of the carriage and breathed as thoroughly and deeply as she could with her tears subsiding.

One mention of what Whistled- no, what Penelope had done and what she had ruined and already she was on the verge of collapsing in front of the ton. It was unfair, she had watched the princess prance around Penelope like she was an accomplice, Eloise would be sure to show her how wrong she was. She would be sure, more certain than ever to show Anastasia the truth of Penelope's crimes.

The question that would remain would be if Anastasia would believe her.