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𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐀 𝐒𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐋𝐘 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐄𝐋𝐅 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐒 𝐒𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐑𝐄𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐄. The ball had been in full throttle, with the pianoforte and harmony of violins she found herself at ease as she entered through the back doors and lightly treaded up the stairs behind the blackened doors. Anastasia held no weight upon her shoulders, no sweat upon her brow but instead a relaxed look, she discarded the paper on the floor beneath her.

Her mind was made up, there was nothing the ton could do or say that would embarrass her further and when she offered them something they couldn't refuse, they would fall back into place once more. She made certain her dress matched the occasion of a sweet revenge for the extermination of a rat amidst their walls.

A gift from England's treasury, a monument to society was how Anastasia had been perceived with her head raised high, face poised and shoulders hinged back. Her gown was near enough slim fitted with deep, velvet maroon shoulder straps made from lace that were embroidered within the dark satin along with flakes of gold.

The doors opened revealing the jewel within the kingdom, the footman's voice silencing the crowd as they turned to look up the stairwell. Her mother was perched with her Lady's in waiting and Brimsley, loyal dogs watching over their pup.

"Princess Anastasia, has an announcement," the room fell into a hush and the ominous clicks of her heels kissed the chipped floorboards. She overlooked the crowd with her hands clasped together in front of her as she loomed over the railing, taking in each face she saw, acting as if the oceans eyes were nothing but a pair of sinking stones.

"Good day to you all," she stated, clear as the nights crisp air with a deep tone under her words. Anastasia had to make sure that they understood that she was not the fool that Lady Whistledown made her out to be. "I understand that some of you may have ill stomachs for the future of when my reign over England will eventually be. However," her eyes sliced through the ton with a scrutinising gaze, "I am here to assure you that my voice will never fail me again, ever."

Penelope Featherington felt her heart jump as Anastasia's dark eyes met hers and she quickly looked to the floor.

"I am here to assure you that I am of perfect health and sane mind," a faux pondering look crossed her face. "Although, I must admit that I am more than enraged at this scribblers ways, she has scrutinised the crown, made crude comments to all of your families names and possibly cost you your titles in the process of gaining some coin." Mutters of agreement sounded throughout the room and the queen felt the corner of her lips quirk up, they had accepted her already.

"There will be a reward of not only five thousand pounds but the security of a place at my side, any Lord or Lady would have the choice of any eligible match. I am in fact quite confident that the vulgar woman herself is within these very walls," her voice lowered to a warning as she dug her fingers into her skin.

The ton looked at each other with suspicion but Eloise stared at Anastasia, eyes shining with a teary eyed expression. Only days had passed since they had seen one another since that tragic night and she could see how she'd changed, she'd become harsher and far colder. Though, when she mentioned the possibility that whomever came forth with Whistledown, their reward made her ears perked when she heard, place at my side.

"The best of luck to all of you but I would hurry, my offer ends at the end of the season when I take leave."

Just like that she stunned the crowd into a frenzy of finger pointing and unnecessary insults towards one another. Anastasia turned on her heel with a smirk matching her mothers before leaving out the same way she came and was already headed for the exit.

"My everyone seems to have gotten rather- Eloise?" Lady Bridgerton hissed after her daughter as she wordlessly left her side but as Violets eyes flickered from the balcony to the archway that lead to the bottom of the stairs she hushed herself.

The rain was pelting outside leaving no attendants and with her carriage holding no footmen she would have preferred to take a horse anyway. She made it two steps on the stoned path down the stairs before a stumble of her name sounded from someone's lips, "Anastasia!"

The princess turned and was met with the frantic sight of Eloise whom staggered in front of her, cheeks puffy from having run so fast in heels.

"Miss Bridgerton," her stare matched the spitting coldness of the rain around them that she seemed unbothered by.

"You're- you're leaving?" Eloise's eyes projected nothing but hurt and she thanked the cover of rain that shielded her from her own tears forming.

"I am."

"But that is only a week- will you be back next season?"

Anastasia could have repented her, shunned her away from asking such questions that were no business of hers. Though, as she stared at her shaking figure, goosebumps arising on her arms and the look she gave her, pure desperation, she sighed and folded.

"I do not know but I know that the hour grows late and it will soon become carnage in that hall so I suggests you take your leave." Anastasia left once more but only made it within the stables, the wind covering the sound of rushed steps behind her.

"No."

Anastasia looked over her shoulder, "no?" She faced the girl with a hand resting on her jutted out hip and Eloise gulped at how small she felt under Anastasia's pointed stare. "You lost the right to tell me what to do when you betrayed me."

The Bridgerton girl sighed loudly as she threw her head back to look at the damp roof, she roughly brought her gloved hand up and wiped it over her wet hair. "Anastasia, please-

"No, do not dare make me out to be the cruel one," Anastasia seethed as she stormed forwards and Eloise stumbled back until she hit the bannister behind her. "You did this to me," tears pricked at the corners of Anstasia's eyes, "you did this to us."

Eloise gingerly reached a hand up and brought her hand to cup her cheek whilst her thumb wiped away the wetness on her cheek. Anastasia clamped her eyes tightly shut, clutching the self restraint she had left before pulling away with a furious shake of her head.

"No," she muttered although it was weak, unlike the woman she was moments ago in front of the crowded room.

Eloise stalked after her eyes locked on her lips as she reached up to hold her face in between her hands, "please Anastasia, I cannot think of anything but you. You have bewitched me, mind, body and soul and I- I-"

Anastasia couldn't bare the words she would utter next and wrapped her arm around Eloise's waist before pulling her close and sharing a bruising kiss. If Eloise were to say what she thought she was going to say then Anastasia would not be able to walk away, she would fall to her own knees and beg for forgiveness at how she eschewed her away. Even though she was rumoured to spill her secret she was willing to forget all.

As their lips were still entangled with one another's it was as if they were trying to devour one another, Eloise's mouth begging for Anastasia's attention. For her to not leave, for her to return to her devoted self once more.

Anastasia clung onto the possibility that her pride would melt away but if she did so then she would contradict herself from the speech she made only moments ago. She had to set an example, she had to be the standard of a firm hand and a respectable queen. If she was seen promenading with Eloise Bridgerton, the girl who outed her childhood illness, she would be seen as weak- never again.

Neither removed their tongues from each others mouths as Anastasia forced Eloise's back further into the splintered wood. Eloise's fingers dug into the lace of her dress and laid her head back onto the bannister behind her with moans of relief spilling from her parted mouth.

"Anna," she sighed blissfully as her nails scratched the princesses scalp whilst her knees wobbled under the satisfaction she felt, if not for Anastasia's arm she would have fell to the floor. The princess relished in the breathless chants of her name as she attacked her neck and the top of her bosom whilst her other hand wandered lower, gripping at the fabric that rested on her thigh and holding the flesh tightly, turning red under her hot, iron hold.

She tried to remove herself, throw herself back from Eloise's clawing grasp but her scent was too divine, her skin too soft, the sounds from her throat too saccharine. Anastasia was at the girls mercy as she sucked and licked her way across Eloise's chest, hands reaching for any part of the princess.

Her hand dragged from her waist to the top of her dress where the top of the string lay, she pulled one piece and it fell loose with ease. She should stop, she should end whatever innuendo flourished between them and stamp on it with the upmost disgust.

Instead, she spun Eloise round in her arms and pressed her front against the wood as her fingers moulded themselves down the buttons of her dress. Her canines ran up and down the length of her shoulder as she pulled the right strap down, Eloise panted and began to grow achingly hot. She reached over her shoulder and pulled Anastasia in by the base of her neck.

She blindly went to pull the other shoulder strap down until a crack of lightning startled the horses and the bucked at their reigns whilst they neighed loudly. Starting pistols rang in Anastasia's mind and she ripped her face from her neck, her hands froze on her arms as she stared at the mess she made before her.

The length of her back exposed that left her drooling at the sight of unmarked, milky skin staring back at her, a light mist of sweat and rain hummed over. From what she could see the side of Eloise's face reddened and still the sound of her heavy breaths filling their surroundings. Her heart throbbed at the sight, why was the most honeyed fruit always forbidden.

If they hadn't been interrupted when they were then Anastasia and Eloise would have- the princess clenched her jaw and wordlessly began to pull the straps of her dress up again. She felt the Bridgerton try to turn around but she kept her hold strong and kept her facing the wall.

"Don't," she warned though it was more for herself, if she met her eyes in this state then she would not be able to restrict herself any longer. Once she was sure she wouldn't turn she returned to buttoning up her dress and tied the string twice as tight. Anastasia would not suddenly leave her in such a state for anyone to find, even under the circumstances.

Eloise turned with her flustered look still clear, staring at the princesses back with the same doe eyes as she readied her horse.

Anastasia pulled his reigns and lead him out and just as she passed Eloise her hand reached out for hers, white satin reaching for black velvet.

"Please don't," Anastasia quick plea silenced the words that threatened to come from Eloise's mouth. "Don't make this harder than it already is."

Eloise said nothing but still held the clove, Anastasia took her silence as a invitation to leave before anymore words were shared between them. As she slowly dragged herself away the glove slipped from her hand and into the grateful grasp of Eloise though, neither said anything once more. It was another gift or rather a small token that Eloise would cherish, just as she cherished the emerald necklace.

Anastasia did not look like the woman she did in the ball room, she had her lips swollen and red matching Eloise. Her eyes glasses over in a haze, hair messy and out of place from having been pulled and her face drenched from the rain around her. As Eloise watched her swing her leg over the horse and mount it she could not find a more perfect sight.

Anastasia could not bare the temptation that created a visceral tornado of passion within her and lightly dug her heel into the horses leg before jarring the reigns forwards. She didn't look back and Eloise couldn't look away.

𝐃𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐃 𝐁𝐘 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐌𝐀𝐃𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐑 𝐈𝐍 𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐄 𝐁𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐔𝐓𝐄. It appeared no one could truly capture the scribbler without lying, Anastasia and the queen shared a glance of knowing and boredom as a man dragged his poor aunt in and claimed she were to be the writer. Several mothers offered their maids up and some even their daughters but they were all dismissed, she'd know it when Lady Whistledown was in front of her.

As she watched her mother shew them away Anastasia would rest her head in her hand and selfishly think how she wanted Eloise to brake down the doors. To come in dragging Whistledown by the hair before throwing her at her feet and retiring to her side like the loyal knight to her princess but she never came.

Anastasia started to dwell on the fact that maybe she had simply given up, maybe she was not worth the bother. However, if she saw how tirelessly Eloise worked in her room then she would think twice about her next thoughts. Piles of Lady Whistledown, several notes and pages on the routes she would take
along her alliances with the modiste and print shop.

The princess left for the afternoon after an invitation for tea at the Danbury manor and was pleasantly pleased with the sight of Kate Sharma looking the picture of health.

"Kate," Anastasia beamed to the Sharma who was perched on her couch with a saucer in hand.

"Princess Anastasia," she went to bow but her hands were grabbed.

"I'm thrilled to see you up, I hope you enjoy my gifts," she ran her thumbs over the bracelets that decorated Kates wrists.

She grinned to the woman in front of her, "they truly are wonders I had half a thought on returning them but I guessed your exterior would be more than offended."

Anastasia nodded and smiled to the two women who were opposite her on the couch, "you are quite right." She looked to Mary and Edwina, "I am delighted to have received an invitation, on the contrary before I left I was going to come myself."

The three women shared unsettled glances and her brows furrowed, "what is it?"

"Think of it as a convention to convince you not to leave," Lady Danbury's voice sounded from behind the ottoman and Anastasia sighed whilst pinching her eyes shut. The seat dipped as Agatha came to sit besides Anastasia and now she realised she was surrounded.

Edwina saw she was going to stand and came to sit on the left of her, "please princess, it pains me to see two people so unhappy."

Anastasia had to turn away from the puppy eyed look she peered up at her with, "well, you will not have to see such a sad face any longer when I leave tomorrow."

"You're not coming to the Featherington ball, princess," Mary asked and Anastasia simply shook her head.

"And you all are, how very brave of you." Agatha prodded her leg with the cane and she gave a cheeky smirk to the warned look on her face before it fell. "There is nothing none of you can say that would change my mind but just know that when I return I shall have gifts from every country for each of you."

Kate and Edwina smiled at the gesture but still the youngest lightly shook her head, "but princess, to see two people denied the ability to love is cruel," glances were made to Kate whom had reddened cheeks. "And to see a dear friend of mine about to leave without making amends-

"Edwina," Mary's tone was laced with a motherly sternness that silenced her daughter. "It is an amiable attempt at trying to get the princess to stay but I hear from her mother that when she says something she means it and although it will dishearten me to see you leave."

"Thank you, Miss Sharma but I will say that if you are attending the Featherington ball does that mean a certain Mr Bridgerton will also be there?" She inquired lightly and a unsteady tension filled the room that let Kate shaking her head.

"I will also not be in attendance."

This seemed to shake the women in the room who looked at her baffled, "Didi, why?"

Kate simply shrugged and went to head for the door but the cane hitting her shins made her halt as she clenched her jaw to the older woman. "There is much to pack for the trip back to India, I shall do the packing and you may attend."

Mary squinted her eyes at her daughter and Anastasia sensed that a far greater conversation must be held. "This had been a most momentous visit but if you'll excuse me I'll leave you to the," she waved her hands between the women before slipping round three couch. Lady Danbury went to call her back but let her mouth fall closed again whilst shaking her head in dissatisfaction.

Though it did put a hurry in Anastasia's step as she realised she had not even started loading her ship and made double time for the palace. The time for Eloise to discover who Lady Whistledown was becoming more futile.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄, 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐖𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃 𝐁𝐄 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐄𝐋𝐎𝐈𝐒𝐄 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐅𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐃 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐌𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐘 𝐀𝐓 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐁𝐁𝐋𝐄𝐑. The Bridgerton stood rigidly with the face of a woman in mourning as her maids fastened the buttons of her dress that Anastasia once undone. They shared looks behind her back which she caught in the mirror, pure pity and worry lining their eyes to which she stared blankly at.

She was too late and now she would pay the price for being such a disappointment, wishing the ground would swallow her up whole as she trailed down the stairs. Violet stood close to her daughter, linking their arms through as they walked across the road with her brothers trailing behind, she smiled gently at her daughter to which she received a tired one back.

They entered through the archway and glances of suspicion were sent towards both to Eloise and Anthony. Her eyes danced over the crowd as she blended in between people and her gaze set on the queen whom from across the threshold narrowed her eyes to before looking away. She felt a shame hang her head not from the knowing that she was the queen of England but rather the fact that she was Anastasia's mother whom she had made downcast.

Though, the breath truly left her when she could not spot Anastasia and the feeling of dread make her legs shake and heart hammer. It was the last day of the season, Anastasia would be leaving tomorrow or rather tonight and she would not get to see her face until another year. The days that were to come without Anastasia she feared what would become of her, from the frown on her face she might form wrinkles at such a young age or the water in her body might dissipate as she cries into her pillows at night.

She breathed a heavy breath, sniffling and biting her lip to stop the quivering before settling her eyes on the red head with a bright yellow dress. This was her dearest friends party, she could not possibly ruin it with her tears.

"Pen," she greeted as warmly as she could with what Penelope would have described as a grim smile.

"El, what is the matter?" Penelope lowered her voice and looked up to her in worry at the sight of her friend whom looked on the verge of collapse.

Eloise kicked herself in the ribs, she was not that compelling at hiding her true feelings, "I am sorry but it is not your burden, this is your soirée not mine." Penelope simply tilted her head with a sharp look and she crumbled, "Ana," a bitter smile crossed her lips before she gently corrected herself, finding her heart jumping at the name. "Princess Anastasia is leaving or rather she already has or she just has not come."

Her eyes were casted from the floor to those dancing, completely unaware of the audibly gulp her friend took. She smiled warmly at her before soothingly rubbing her elbow, "do not fret, I understand you and her were close in friendship but at least you still have a friend here."

Eloise grinned down to her with her own saddened expression but a small pebble from a very large bolder on her shoulder had been chipped away. "Thank you, for protecting me, you are a true friend," Penelope felt a wrenching in her stomach and she tightened her grip on the glass with an even tighter smile.

"So you're Lady Whistledown search is?"

"Over. She is gone," Eloise tried to make herself sound chipper whilst letting out a dry chuckle, "I suppose now we can finally speak of other things."

A silence followed between them before Penelope pulled her into her side whilst linking their arms together, "everything will be content Eloise, exactly how it was besides a life as a sailor seems drastically troublesome." Penelope let her words slip out and did not take not of the way Eloise's head craned to her with slow, gut reaching suspicion and the frown she wore moments ago only deepened as she stared at her friend whom pointed to Lord's and Ladies.

She toothlessly smiled down to her, "yes, I suppose you're right." Penelope beamed up at her but as she turned back Eloise stared at her with the pebble once gone now retuning with an avalanche of mass. The only was she would know that would be from the lines in her diary, the diary that she had lost.

Eloise practically threw the girl into her brothers arms with a bit more force than necessary as she stomped through the crowd, passing the maids and hurrying up the stairs. Her face was that of thunder, her teeth grinding and eyes ablaze as she slammed the door to Penelope's room. She flipped the mattress, emptied her draws and clawed through every book before the chair, sitting so still amidst the carnage in a empty space stirred her interest. Eloise threw it to the side before ripping the floorboards out and letting out a soft gasp.

There lay several pounds all wrapped in several brown bags and several copies of Whistledown along with her diary that lay open. A shaky hand reached to pull it out and her eyes already brimmed with tears as she skimmed over the words on the page.

It is not often I admit when I am wrong but I suppose given this diary will never be read by another's eye it is where I may confess. The princess Anastasia is a marvel, she has rivalled me and possibly challenge me with the most unsatisfactory punishment known to me all so I understood her. It brings me some joy when I say that the princess may become an ally or an unlikely friend.

Droplets of tears littered the page and Eloise had to slam it shut before letting her gloves hold at her eyes as she let out a quiet sob. Before the sound of footsteps rang from outside the door and she removed her hands sneer.

"Eloise, what are you doing?" Penelope asked with her voice wavering, eyes darting behind Eloise's gown and to her hand which held the diary.

"How dare you," her voice was wretched with a deep hatred greater than that of the roaring fire pit besides them.

"Whatever do you-

"Do not lie!" Eloise barked to her and Penelope flinched, "it is bad enough that you parade round the town whilst writing such underwhelming nonsense and ruining families but this." She seethed whilst holding the leather in a grip so strained it cracked and split.

"Eloise please, you must know I was only doing it to protect you," Penelope had tears flowing freely down her cheeks and Eloise was none the wiser.

A loud and obnoxious, scoffing laugh escaped her lips, "really? Do tell me how you helped me," she looks her up and down in disgust, "it does not matter what you say but I would like to know the reasoning why you took the only thing that has made my life bearable."

"I wanted to protect you, Eloise the two of you were getting careless and I fretted people would talk." Penelope pressed and let herself stammer as Eloise stalked to her with a frenzied look in her eye.

"You see that is where you don't understand Pen, that is why you will never find someone to love you." Eloise shut her eyes tightly and swallowed the knot in her throat, "it would not have mattered if the talk because I loved her." An upturn of her lip was visible as she glowered down to the crying girl, "and it is because of you that I did not get to ask her." Her voice turned emotionless and empty leaving an echo in the battered room. "I never wish to see or speak to you again." She brushed past her now old friend and left the same way she entered except the doorknob on Penelope's side fell to the floor from the force.

The Bridgerton kept her head low, unwilling to let the Tom see her cry as she fled the Featherington estate. She barely stepped off the last step before another call of her name was heard and she turned in annoyance.

Her eyes widened as she saw the queens footman, Brimsley stood with a horse next to him and reigns in his hand. "Quickly! Her boat leaves soon."

Eloise shook her body free from the frozen hold before looking to him in utter confusion, "why?"

He looked up to her whilst she readied herself on the horse, "the queen only wishes to see her daughter happy." Eloise fell at a loss of words before Brimsley smacked the horse on its hind and she yelped as it stood on its hind legs and raced out of the manor.

The man watched her race after the princess with a gentle smile and a mist of tears glazing over his eyes. Even though he and Reynolds did not manage to save what they had it would pain him to see such devoted young women separated by a misunderstanding.

Eloise snapped the reigns and spurred the horse on in encouragement, the streets thankfully empty for the residents at the ball and it being such a late hour. The diary tucked tightly under her arm as she followed the fresh smell of salt water, what Anastasia's hair smelt like the day she danced with her until it was washed away by lemon soaps.

She pulled on the reigns tightly, coming to a skittish stop before throwing her leg over and fracturing her heels. There were so many boats, all large whilst some were smaller than other but she did not know which one was which. Eloise appeared that of a scorned woman who frantically looked all around till her eyes darted on a man in uniform.

"Sir- Sir!" He turned and she gripped his arm so tight her nails nearly tore the coat he wore. "Do you know which one the princesses ship is?"

The sailor kissed his teeth gently, "sorry Miss but her ship departed, there it is." He pointed to the large, golden and black rock that floated along the line where the sun would set. He seemed to feel her grip loosed and gently patted her hand before removing it from his arm and walking away, an action that she took no notice to as she mindlessly watched the ship become a shadow of the moon.

Her feet carried her down the steps to the dock where she sat down, the sound of fireworks meeting her ears and reflecting on the water that left her tears falling into the water below her. All she could think was how the princess loved fireworks, how they would have joined the ton in the gardens hidden away with their hands held and Eloise would have confessed.

As she flattened her feet out whilst they dangled over the blackened ocean the ankles of her shoes gave way and slipped from her heel before sinking into the darkness below. The only regret Eloise had was that she could not follow after them and it was her only wish that she could.

Anastasia watched the fireworks set ablaze as she stood by the rear of her ship and leant against the bannisters. If she squinted her eyes she would have seen a woman in dazzling white who clutched the diary to her chest and doubled over as she cried to the endless deep below her.