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The early morning air was crisp, and just a little chilly for a spring day, when Eloise Bridgerton was helped out of her carriage and into the square at Chancery Lane. She thanked John and made her way to the print shop’s side entrance, not bothering with the front door this early in the morning.
After a month or so of Eloise being back in town, she and Theo had fallen into a reasonably comfortable pattern, with her still sneaking out for assembly days and managing to get away in the early morning or late evening a couple times a week while her family was busy with other social obligations. The air of scandal hadn’t quite left her since her appearance in Whistledown, despite the news being from last season, but if invitations didn’t include her, she was hardly upset. Her family being out without her provided the perfect opportunity to meet Theo, after all.
She could not see him unloading supplies in the alley, as he often was first thing in the morning. She was, however, comfortable enough to breeze through the shop’s side door on her own and call out for him.
“Good morning.” The voice that answered did not belong to Theo at all, but rather to a middle aged man who she assumed must be the shop’s proprietor. “You must be Miss Bridgerton. I’m George Harris, the owner here.” He walked around toward her at the side entrance as he spoke, “I know we have not met, but Sharpe speaks of you often. Very often,” he said with both fondness and exasperation.
“It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance,” she replied. She looked around the small space. She felt a little odd being in Theo’s workplace without him, making small talk with his employer when social skills had never quite been her forte. “Is he…here? I will not distract him for long.” Usually that would be a complete lie, but she really wouldn’t take much of his time if he was being watched over at work for some reason. This season she was determined to be more aware of how her visits affected his job, especially after he’d begrudgingly admitted in one of his letters that he had, on occasion, been reprimanded for slacking on mornings when she visited.
“Well, he is, but he is not fit for work or company this morning,” Mr. Harris answered, distractedly looking at his prepared supplies as though anxious to begin. “He is ill, Miss.”
“Ill? Is he all right? May I see him? Does he need anything?”
“He is in bed, and I can’t imagine it would be considered…appropriate for a lady like you to be at his bedside?” He framed it as a question, clearly a little uncertain.
“Perhaps not, but I think I have long passed what is considered ‘appropriate’ for a lady. I am sure my Mama would not find it appropriate that I am even here at all, let alone with no maid or chaperone. Yet, you seem to know enough about me to understand that I do not care.”
If Theo was unwell, propriety was far from her primary concern. She crossed her arms and shifted onto her heels, looking Mr. Harris in the eye and waiting to either be admitted or thrown out.
“I suppose that is fair enough,” he replied after a moment. “You can come with me, but honestly, he is likely asleep.”
She followed him past the press, and a couple of work tables, to a back hall, where he knocked softly at the first door before pushing it open. Inside, the early morning light filtered in through a single small window. Under it sat a small but tidy desk; a few books were piled on one corner, while writing supplies took up another. Just beside the desk was a narrow bed, currently occupied by a large, Theo-shaped lump under a slightly worn blanket. Eloise made her way into Theo’s room as Mr. Harris nodded in her direction and headed back to work.
She lingered for a moment near the door, feeling awkward and wondering if she should wake Theo or let him rest. To be honest, she never paid much care when the others were sick. Mama ordered a certain soup made, their tea became about a full third honey, and the doctor was summoned to provide whatever medicines or tonics he saw fit until all was well. Eloise twisted her hands while she weighed her options, before deciding to simply sit with him quietly for a little while. He could rest and she would occupy herself with one of his books; she knew he would never hesitate to share reading material with her. After grabbing the one closest, she pulled the stool from Theo’s desk a few feet to sit closer to his bedside.
As she settled onto the seat, she saw Theo shift and turn over under the covers. “Could I have some water, while you’re here?” His voice was rough and strained.
Eloise hopped up without bothering to reply, happy to have some clear way she could help. Mr. Harris helped her fill a small jug of water and let her know that his wife would be bringing food for Theo later, so she need not worry about that.
She set the water jug down a little heavily after filling a cup. “Water, as requested,” she said softly.
“Eloise?!” Theo threw back his covers and sat up enough to peer at her with the most ridiculously endearing expression of pure confusion, offsetting his overall look of misery. His face looked pale, with dark circles standing out under his eyes. His hair stuck up at odd angles, curls the most out of place she’d ever seen them. ”What? How did…” Theo started, still blinking the sleep from his eyes. After a moment, he shook his head and tried again. “I heard someone, but I thought Mr. Harris was checking on me. What are you doing here?”
“I came to bring you revisions for your next issue,” she answered. She had in her handbag a marked up copy of his next publication, him having conceded some months ago that her corrections to his work did, in fact, improve upon his writing. “And to visit you, obviously.”
“Obviously,” he echoed, a smile breaking through. “I wasn’t expecting to wake up and find you a foot from my bed. How very scandalous, Miss Bridgerton.”
“What’s a bit more scandal between the two of us?”
He chuckled a little at her reply, but it quickly turned to coughing, and he reached for the water she still held. After a few gulps, he handed it back and thanked her as he laid back tiredly against his pillow.
“Is there anything else you need? Anything that might help?” She asked.
“Are you going to nurse me back to health?”
She laughed in response. “I would if I had any idea what to do. I’ve honestly never paid much attention when the others are under the weather.”
“I suppose you have servants to take care of everything.”
She sighed, only a little uncomfortably. Their differences in class had become less of an issue between them as time passed, but they were still there, and she was still trying to figure out how best to handle moments when they came up without coming off as a silly rich girl.
“They are the ones who make everything and bring it to us, yes, but Mama always sits with us and she’s the one to say what we need or send for a doctor or whatnot. We’re not entirely left to servants.”
“I rarely get ill, but when I do Mr. and Mrs. Harris make sure I have what I need, since I have no family nearby. So I am luckier than many,” Theo said. “Probably all I need this time is rest. I’m sure I’ll be back on my feet tomorrow.”
“Is it all right that I’m here?” She always wanted to spend time with him, but she didn’t want to make him uncomfortable if he only wanted to sleep.
“It would be nice, I think, if you stayed a little while.” He settled more under his blanket and shifted around, trying to find a comfortable position. “Perhaps you might go over your thoughts on my next issue, since you brought that with you?”
“Are you quite certain you’re up for that sort of blow to your pride right now? There are still numerous holes in your arguments that need revising,” she teased.
He was. She spent the next half an hour going through all of her thoughts and corrections with him, then volunteered to write a new copy with the revisions they agreed on while she was there. By the time she was halfway through writing it out, a look in his direction showed Theo fast asleep again. When she finished, she tidied up his desk and left him to rest, resolving to visit again as soon as she could.
The next day, it turned out both her mother and Kate had plans for the family and Eloise found it impossible to get away at any point. Before she turned in, she managed to exchange a covert look with John, hoping he got the idea to be ready for an early morning trip.
The moment the carriage door was opened, Eloise hopped out and practically ran the short distance to the print shop. It appeared Theo was not back to work, and Mr. Harris looked apprehensive as she breezed past him back to Theo’s room.
Theo was not better, in fact, it took only a quick look at him, ashen and sweating, to see he was far worse than when she saw him last. Eloise tried to wake him to ask how she could help, but he only muttered something she couldn’t make out and shifted around. She may not have known much about taking care of someone who was ill, but she knew this was bad.
Eloise darted back into the main workshop and called out, “Theo – he is very ill, he needs—”
“A doctor, I know, Miss Bridgerton,” Mr. Harris interrupted, worry written across his face. “I have asked those who will come here who aren’t complete hacks, but there seems to be something going around, and no one I trust can come until later tonight, or perhaps tomorrow morning.”
“But he may need help sooner...he is not…I just tried to wake him and could not. Surely that is an emergency that requires immediate attention?” Eloise pleaded.
Mr. Harris paused a moment before answering, “It does not quite work the same way for us. I don’t mean to sound uncaring. I’ve known Theo since he was a boy and I hate that he is so ill, but can’t simply summon a doctor with the same urgency you are used to, when they are all busy with others just as sick.”
She nodded and fussed with her dress as she walked back. Of course her family’s wealth and titles got them special treatment. In a case like this, she knew there were physicians on retainer specifically to come to their home at any hour needed, with any sort of medicines necessary, to stay as long as they required.
She sat down with a huff on the small stool again, and watched as Theo tossed and turned. After he settled, she noticed he began to wheeze slightly with each breath. Another discouraging development, surely. It was just not fair . If it were her who was ill, she would be resting in far better comfort, getting the best possible care until she was well. But because he didn’t have those – unearned privileges as he’d called them last year – he was stuck in a tiny bedroom with a jug of water and an untouched bowl of something or other, waiting on a doctor that might not come for nearly a full day.
Unless…
Convincing Mr. Harris took no time at all; convincing John took a few minutes of pleading and assurances that she would not let him be sacked; convincing everyone else might take quite a lot more. But, as she held the carriage door open while the two men maneuvered Theo inside, she knew it was the right choice, even if it took all the convincing and courage she had.
Theo Sharpe woke in such a miserable state he nearly wished he’d not woken at all. His head felt more sore than he could recall it ever having been and his body ached as though he’d been run over by a cart. His chest and breathing felt heavy, and his attempt at a deep breath ended in an impressive coughing fit.
As his coughing died down, he heard someone moving nearby and opened his eyes, only to be overwhelmed by light far too bright to be from his little window. He closed his eyes quickly with a groan, and after a moment the light dimmed somewhat.
When he tried again, he could see he was definitely not in his room. He pushed himself to sit up a little, and could see a woman in a uniform was drawing drapes over two large windows, set into pale blue walls. Along the other wall he could easily see, sat a large wardrobe and mirror, and near it, a writing desk of dark wood. By the windows another woman sat, busy with some kind of sewing. As soon as she noticed he was awake, she crossed the room and poured him a glass of water, which he took gratefully, taking several sips to clear his throat. He could see now that she was middle aged and very finely dressed; he had a sneaking suspicion he knew why she looked vaguely familiar. She asked the maid to send for some tea before turning back to him.
“You seem more alert this time,” she said quietly. “Do you remember who I am? Do you know where you are?”
“I…I could guess,” Theo started, his voice gravelly and throat still feeling like he’d swallowed glass, “that you are Lady Bridgerton, and this is your house.”
“Yes,” she confirmed, expression still kind, “but please, my name is Violet.”
“Surely it would be too informal for me to call you—”
“Considering you spent most of your fever calling me ‘Mum’ I think we might dispense with some formalities. But Lady Violet is perfectly acceptable, I assure you.” Her small smile and slightly teasing tone reminded him even more of Eloise.
Eloise, who must have brought him here and told her family something about who he was and why she cared enough to bother. He wished he knew what.
“I apologize for that, Lady Violet, and for the inconvenience of having me here…” Theo let his sentence drift off after that, unsure what more to say without knowing what Eloise told her family.
“Nonsense,” she waved his apology off, then made her way back to her seat. “You were very ill indeed when Eloise brought you here; the doctor was quite concerned for a little while. And it is no trouble at all to care for someone who evidently means so very much to my daughter.”
So, Eloise had told the truth, or some version of it. Even his numerous aches and pains couldn’t stop the warm feeling growing in his chest at that news. Surely, he wouldn’t be permitted to see her properly, and her family knowing would make it more difficult for her to slip away from now on, but it also made it feel more real somehow.
His thoughts were interrupted by rapid knocking at the door. The moment it was opened, he could hear Eloise speaking to her mother. “I passed Mary just now and she told me Theo is awake - properly awake this time. Is he doing better now? May I see him?”
“He only just woke up after days in and out of fever. Give him a moment, let him tidy up a bit, then yes, you may visit him if he wishes,” Lady Violet answered, shooing Eloise off as the maid returned.
Evidently he would be allowed to see Eloise after all. At his shocked look, Lady Violet explained, “No one is happy she lied, or snuck out, let alone for so long, but we are not…” she hesitated for a moment, clearly holding herself back, “we will all speak of it later, when you are more recovered.”
Tea arrived, with an alarming amount of honey and a little food. A doctor saw him and declared him much improved but instructed him to continue to take some medicine he had been given until the next day. He was also advised that he needed to continue to rest, or at least not go back to work, for several days if he didn’t want his labored breathing to linger. An update was sent to Mr. Harris, who Theo learned had been in touch with the Bridgertons and seemed more than willing to allow him whatever time he needed to recover.
After, Theo was led to a very luxurious bath, where he had to insist to multiple servants that he absolutely did not require their assistance. It took a few minutes to embarrassingly concede that after days bedridden, now in an unfamiliar place where he knew nothing of where things were kept, he did, in fact, require help.
He was given fresh clothing that almost fit, presumably borrowed from someone in the household, then led back to the guest room where he’d been staying. He was settling down into one of the chairs by the desk, admiring the writing supplies there, when Eloise rushed through the open door, her mother just behind her.
He stood as they entered, just in time for Eloise to more or less launch herself into his arms, a blur of lavender silk and soft brown hair. They sprung apart quickly though, as Lady Violet chided her daughter.
Eloise rolled her eyes, but kept a bit more distance than the two of them had become accustomed to. She pulled the chair on the opposite side out, and the pair sat across the desk from one another.
“You look so much better, “ Eloise said brightly, “more yourself.”
“Myself? I am not entirely sure I feel like myself, here in someone else’s clothes,” he laughed, and coughed only a little this time.
Eloise waved his comment off. “You are lucid, no longer feverish, having a rational conversation, and you no longer look as though things might take a horrible turn at any moment. The clothes are,” she paused a moment, shaking her head, “the clothes are just clothes. Yours needed laundering and Colin has so many things anyway. Do not bother yourself over clothes. ”
His things would have set him apart here, and he knew it. The dressing gown he wore for only a few minutes earlier must have cost more than his one nice set of clothes. He would try not to let it bother him though. The Bridgertons were being very kind in helping him, especially after finding out about whatever name Eloise had put on their relationship. Their allowing him to spend time with her was more than he expected, though he had his doubts about what would happen when he was fully recovered. Still, he was going to enjoy every moment he could with Eloise.
The two of them discussed topics that might be covered in the publication after the next, which still sat on his desk at the print shop, as far as he knew. Theo brought up, as he often did lately, that Eloise should write some of her own ideas out to be included alongside his own, but she was still reluctant, even when he suggested she use a pseudonym or initials. Her objections seemed to center around not feeling she understood the audience well enough yet to add anything of value. He disagreed, but he did not push. He got the sense through her letters and visits that his words about her privilege and her class had gotten to her perhaps a little too much. While it was true she might not fully understand the life and struggles of the working classes, she absolutely understood – far better than he – what it meant to be a woman and deal with the difficulties they face daily. Still, he let it lie for now; she shared her thoughts on such things quite forcefully with him, and he was certain one day she would feel ready to do so with everyone else.
Lady Violet sat by the window the whole time, mostly ignoring them in favor of her embroidery, but occasionally smiling discreetly in their direction.
By the time he and Eloise had covered several promising ideas and noted half a dozen books he should read from their library during his stay, he noticed his energy was starting to fade. He was sure they had passed the time he should have taken more medicine by at least half an hour, and after a few more minutes, Lady Violet reminded them both that he would recover more quickly if he were allowed to rest.
Eloise was shown out, all smiles and excited energy, and when his medicine made him sleepy, he dreamed of her.
The next day, Theo was even more improved, mostly tired and coughing less, though his breathing was not yet back to normal. He was informed he would be joining the family for part of the day, which he tried not to be nervous about or intimidated by. It seemed his urge to push at the aristocracy was warring with his desire to impress Eloise’s family, wealthy nobles or not.
After he bathed and dressed in a different set of borrowed clothes, he was led downstairs into a well-appointed drawing room full of Bridgertons, with no sign of the one he most wanted to see. He stood somewhat stiffly at the door as they all started to notice him one by one.
“Ah! The man brave enough to court Eloise! ” A man announced dramatically from where he was draped across a sofa.
The room erupted with groans at the commentary, but he was saved from having to introduce or explain himself by Eloise’s fortunately timed arrival.
“Theo!” she called from behind him, forcing him further into the drawing room as he turned to look at her. Today, she was in a light blue dress that seemed to match her eyes almost perfectly, and she wore her hair pinned back at the sides, as he knew she preferred it. She had both a book and notebook in her hands, with a pencil tucked between two of her fingers.
“El–Miss Eloise,” he corrected, before glancing around at her family.
Eloise followed his gaze around the room, realizing introductions were in order. “This is Mr. Theo Sharpe, as you clearly already know,” she said, “Theo, you’ve already met Mama, and that is my sister-in-law, Kate – well, the Viscountess Bridgerton – with her.” The tall, elegant woman having tea with Lady Violet smiled openly in their direction while Eloise continued, gesturing to the man on the sofa, “That is Benedict, my second brother; my third brother, Colin, should be here any moment. My oldest brother, Anthony, is out on some business or another today. Over there,” she said, pointing at a smaller table near the windows, “are Gregory and Hyacinth. Feel free to ignore them if they pester you.”
Eloise moved them over to another sofa opposite the one Benedict occupied. Theo sat there alone for a moment, taking everything in as she got them both some tea and a plate of fruit she offered to share.
“You must be Mr. Sharpe. Pleased to meet you properly at last,” a man he assumed was Colin said, as he made his way over and pushed Benedict’s legs off the sofa to make room to sit. “Though, I know enough of your writing that I practically know you already.”
“My writing? You’ve read my work?” Theo asked.
“No, but that first pamphlet of yours El got last season? She went on and on about it for ages. I endured so many quotes I feel like I read it in full,” Colin answered, before grinning at his sister.
“I did no such thing,” Eloise snapped, a vivid blush spreading across her face.
“You absolutely did,” Benedict cut in, “no use denying it.”
“Traitor,” Eloise said, throwing a berry across and hitting him squarely in the face.
“So, you quoted my writing to your family?” Theo asked, immensely pleased to have this information.
“There is no need to look so smug, I was stuck in the country and bored to death with only these idiots for company.”
“Oh, but I thought that issue had so many errors in my arguments you had to bring to my attention?” Theo teased, unable to help himself.
“There were! Along with the pronounced lack of clarity your work suffered from before you had the benefit of my help,” she replied.
“Then would it not be an odd choice to repeatedly quote to your brothers?”
“I was only…ugh, why did you have to tell him that?” Eloise groaned at Colin.
Theo’s chuckle at her expense brought her attention back to him. She made a face before tossing a grape at him, which he caught and ate. No need to waste, after all. Eloise may have looked outwardly annoyed with him, but she found his hand with hers, which did not go unnoticed by her brothers.
“Oh, El,” Colin started, voice full of false sincerity, “truly, we never thought we’d see the day that you of all people—”
“Stop teasing your sister,” Lady Violet interrupted from across the room.
“She would do the same if our positions were reversed,” Colin protested.
“And are you likely to show up with a man you’ve been secretly meeting any time soon?” Benedict asked, smiling as he finally sat up on the sofa.
“Enough,” Lady Violet said with the exasperated air of someone who had far too much experience breaking up this sort of bickering.
Theo squeezed Eloise’s hand and caught her eye with a small smile. Perhaps this wasn’t so intimidating after all.
Over the next few days, Theo got to know most of the Bridgertons at least a little. He was allowed and encouraged to move about the house so long as he took it a bit easy and did not seek out Eloise without the company of one of her older relations. Even when she was being pulled into other duties or activities that kept her away for part of the day, the others often sought him out.
He learned that another middle sister called Francesca preferred to spend most of the season out of London with an aunt, and that she was waiting an extra year before making her debut, as he found out Eloise had as well. Daphne, he knew somewhat of already, as she featured prominently in several of Eloise’s insecurities about the expectations for women in high society. He found out that she was now a Duchess, evidently, and happily living full time on a country estate except for a few visits. Neither sister made an appearance, but he felt he had a more complete idea of Eloise’s family even so.
Theo found Hyacinth nosy above all else. He thought Eloise’s direction to ignore her and Gregory if they annoyed him was just the baseless teasing of an older sibling – something he knew first hand as well – but she really did pester. He often took Eloise’s suggestion that he take advantage of the family’s extensive reading materials if she was unavailable. While he would prefer more progressive publications, he found a few books on politics and history interesting enough to work his way through. Nose buried in a book, he would be minding his own business when the youngest Bridgerton would appear almost out of nowhere to interrupt him with a string of questions that seemed designed to trip him up in some way. More than once this process ended in giggles when he never had an answer to, “Are you going to marry Eloise, then?”
Gregory often accompanied his little sister for these interrogations, but with all the seriousness of a boy desperately trying to imitate some adult he admired. He did seem genuinely curious about what Theo’s life was like, how his education differed, and what had motivated him to read and learn far more than what was required or expected of someone in his position. The questions were innocently asked, so Theo tried to answer thoughtfully, hoping to give the boy a more realistic understanding that levels of class and intelligence or capability did not always go hand in hand.
Colin kept trying to be friendly. He thought, at least. It would start out with a question or two about Theo’s life or how he became interested in radical politics, but somehow, within a few minutes the topic somehow turned either to Colin’s extensive and costly travels abroad, or how he was taking his time and weighing his options on what to do next. As if Theo could easily relate to either of those things. When he took a turn sitting in on Theo’s time with Eloise, it always ended in her snapping at her brother when he attempted to insert himself in their conversation somehow.
Theo found Benedict the easiest of Eloise’s siblings to get along with by far. While he also sometimes joined in their conversations, it worked better. He was never intrusive or self-centered and his teasing of Eloise was both good natured and returned right back at him. It likely helped the three of them get along together that there was no shock on his part at meeting Theo, since Eloise had told him at least most of the truth months ago. He confessed that while he had intended to find a way to meet Theo to get the measure of him now that they were back in town, he had simply been lazy about getting around to it. Now that they’d spent time together, he certainly showed no signs of disapproval. Once, Benedict spent his time sketching while Theo and Eloise chatted, and when they all took their leave, Benedict presented them with a rather remarkable pencil drawing of the pair of them, leaning in close over a notebook. Eloise had told him some time ago that she and Benedict understood each other better than the rest of the siblings because they both knew how it felt to be the one just behind the perfect older sibling. He knew that Eloise had given up even trying to be like Daphne some time ago, growing more and more comfortable simply forging her own path towards being herself. Benedict seemed a good sort, so Theo hoped he figured that part out for himself, too.
Even after a few days as more of an easily tired out guest than a patient, Theo had yet to meet the Viscount, as he was often either out or busy during the day, but he had several conversations with the Viscountess, Lady Kate. At first she had a few rather pointed questions about his family, his life, and his prospects for the future, all of which Theo answered honestly. Aside from that, she was remarkably easy to get along with, and seemed quite friendly with Eloise as well. One afternoon, she prepared tea for the three of them, in the way she preferred it back in India. It was sweet and unusually spiced, but he found he liked it even if it was a bit unexpected. Lady Kate seemed, of everyone, the most open to many of the ideas he and Eloise discussed, especially those on the rights of women. Based on their conversation, he got the impression that the two of them had discussed such things before. It was also a surprise to learn that Eloise had confided in her sister in law at least a little about him: not the exact details of who he was or what he did, only that she had grown close to someone that she was uncertain many of the others would understand. He knew that Eloise often felt misunderstood in her family, especially by her mother, so he was happy to hear she now had someone in a position of authority at home she could get along with and confide in.
Theo felt better and better each day, but came to understand why the doctor ordered him to wait before returning to work. Slowly, he started to wake earlier again, to feel less lethargic, and not need to rest in the afternoon, or go to bed while everyone else sat down to dinner. He no longer coughed every time he laughed or breathed deeply, and taking deep breaths did not feel as though his chest was stuck in a vice. He would be happy to go back to his own life, to have something to do day by day, but he still worried about what was to happen to him and to Eloise after he left.
On the day the doctor declared Theo more or less recovered, Eloise knew that the little bubble they had at the moment was about to burst. That day, he was up early, and already downstairs in the dining room when she came in for breakfast.
The meal had an odd almost tension throughout. All who had spent time with him liked Theo genuinely, she knew for sure. However, she had not been afforded the opportunity to introduce Theo and Anthony before then, at breakfast in front of the whole family, and it was clear both had things they wished to say to the other. Benedict obviously tried to be an ally, to draw her and Theo into conversation, and try to include them in some activity or another after, but Anthony was having none of it.
“All right, both of you, in my study. We should wait no longer for this conversation to be had, I think,” Anthony announced as the others vacated the room one by one.
Kate followed, as did her mother, who walked just a little behind her and Theo. As Eloise walked into the study and took a seat in one of the chairs pulled near the desk, she tried not to let the tension she felt throughout her body show. Theo looked much the same, face carefully composed in that way he seemed to when he was trying not to give away his emotions. She boldly reached for his hand the moment he settled into the seat beside her, hoping to ground them both and show her family where she stood.
It could not be all bad, she thought, or Anthony would have forbade her from seeing Theo at all while he recovered. Their agreement had been that no decision would be made until the end of his stay in their home. Still, she knew he had not sought out Theo’s company at all, and had been worryingly distant with her these past days, too.
Anthony met her eyes, looked at their joined hands, then from Theo back to her again, before shaking his head. “Chaperones,” he said simply.
“What?”
“What?” She and Theo both spoke at the same time.
Kate chuckled and Anthony met her eyes across the room, before continuing, “You may continue to court one another — that is what you have been doing is it not, albeit somewhat unconventionally? Or has there been some misunderstanding?”
“Yes, obviously.”
“No, sir.”
Eloise turned in her chair to look at Theo, eyebrow raised, as he rushed to clarify, “No, there has been no misunderstanding.” She gave him a magnanimous nod when he looked over, and he dragged his free hand across his face in a poor attempt to hide a smile. She heard her mother and Kate continuing to laugh quietly at their antics, and the last of the tension seemed to leave the room.
“Then as I said,” Anthony said, drawing everyone’s attention back again, “you may continue to court one another, but from now on you will have chaperones. And no final decisions are to be made until Mr. Sharpe has completed his apprenticeship and secured a job.”
She squeezed Theo’s hand, and they looked at one another as they nodded.
Anthony turned his attention more fully to Eloise, considering for a moment longer before he spoke, “There must be no more sneaking out at dawn, no more lying about where you are going or who with. If this is your choice, then be honest about it, and do it properly.”
“But I will still be allowed to visit Theo?”
“Assuming that is all right with his employer, as long as you take an appropriate chaperone with you I don’t see why not,” Anthony answered. “Not everyone will wish to go to spend part of their day in a print shop, but we can work out some sort of schedule.”
Chaperones were not ideal, especially at his work, where they were used to being on their own, but it helped to know their time with one another wouldn’t be limited to his few days off.
“You will truly allow us to court one another openly? Consider me as…as a suitor? I am working class, I will be a tradesman when my training is finished; not a gentleman by any stretch at all. Will that not cause more scandal for your family?” Theo asked quietly.
Eloise gave his hand another squeeze, hating that he felt so insecure about this, even as they were being given such hopeful news. She opened her mouth to reply, before Kate interrupted her thoughts.
“Would it surprise you to learn that my father was not a gentleman? That my mother worked as well, before she married him?” Kate paused a moment, but preempted the question she could see forming. “Lady Mary was my father’s second wife - she more or less adopted me, when she left society to be with him, but we are no relation whatsoever.”
Theo did, in fact, look very surprised.
“Our family motto here is Familia Ante Omnia, ” Mama said then, drawing everyone’s attention. “Do you know it?”
“Family before all,” Theo translated.
“Yes, that’s right. And I have always meant that with my whole heart. My daughter’s happiness is worth enduring more appearances in Lady Whistledown’s pages. Missing out on a few dinners or balls will not be the end for the Bridgertons.”
“This will raise a great many eyebrows, to be sure,” Anthony said, before sending a fond look in Kate’s direction, “but I will not be so hypocritical when I was the cause of so much of our trouble last season.”
Well, that was a shock. “Who are you and what have you done with my brother?” Eloise said.
“Why does everyone act as though I am entirely heartless?” Anthony shot back at her before turning back to Theo. “To answer your question, yes. If it is what Eloise wishes, and she was most vehement about her feelings when she brought you here, the two of you may court and we will consider you a serious suitor, regardless of your social standing.”
Theo turned to look at her, smiling fully. “Most vehement?”
“Don’t let it go to your head,” she shot back.
Theo’s smirk made him look as though he might have some reply to that, but he seemed to realize how they were still very much the center of attention and shook that away for a more serious, but kind, expression.
“I do not know what to say other than, thank you,” he said simply, directed toward Anthony. “And thank all of you, for your generosity in allowing me to stay here. I’ve had far better care and have been much more comfortable than I would ever have been on my own.”
“You are most welcome,” Kate replied. “You will have to join us again sometime soon, for dinner perhaps, or you might spend one of your free days with us.”
“I would be delighted,” Theo replied, nodding his thanks in her direction.
Eloise turned back to her brother and decided to press her luck. “What about the assemblies? Will I be allowed to attend those still?”
Anthony fiddled with some papers on his desk for a moment before answering, “I suppose it is too much to hope you two would be content with promenades and drawing room visits.” He paused again, looking between them again, then continued, “you may still attend, but not on your own.”
“You have not been there before…a chaperone would set me apart in a ridiculous way, surely,” Eloise shot back.
“Eloise - Miss Eloise,” Theo started, “your clothes alone set you apart already, and no one really treats you much differently for it. So long as your brothers or sister in law or whomever accompanies us does not belittle those around them or mock our causes, it will not be that big of an issue. They know me there, and are getting to know you.”
“There you are. I think for these assemblies,” Anthony said, turning back to Eloise, “it would be most appropriate if one of your brothers accompanies you, given the nature of the discussions.”
“And what if I wish to go and hear debates on the rights of women?” Kate chimed in with a challenging look in her husband’s direction. “I have been perfectly fine out on my own, as you well know, and I’m sure I serve as an appropriate chaperone.”
Eloise turned to share a grin with her sister in law. While she knew from plenty of discussions over tea that Kate was absolutely sympathetic to a lot of their cause, she somehow doubted she was suddenly interested in going to a crowded assembly hall in Bloomsbury to hear about it. Eloise had never been more grateful for Kate’s penchant for keeping Anthony on his toes in almost any way she could.
Anthony looked like he was trying to swallow something unpleasant but managed to answer, “Very well, if she wishes, Kate may accompany you to your assemblies.”
Eloise made a mental note to try to be kinder to Anthony in the future. Try at least .
Everything being more or less resolved with a few more pleasantries, Eloise found herself as close to being alone with Theo as she could manage: walking aimlessly around the garden, still hand in hand, while her mother and Kate chatted at a small table within sight.
“Have I found some way to leave you speechless without even meaning to?” Eloise asked, teasing, but also a little unsure of Theo’s silence since the study.
“Do you often mean to?”
Eloise chuckled, but made no reply other than to playfully bump into him with her shoulder. After a moment, he spoke again.
“It…it is just a lot, I think. This is so much more than I ever really hoped for, with your family. If I ever allowed myself to think of any sort of future – this is all a bit presumptuous, really,” he paused, looking down at her.
“Presume away.”
“Only that if I imagined any sort of future for us together, it never really occurred to me that your family might allow, well, anything really. I thought that we would continue sneaking around until…” he trailed off and looked away, his free hand scratching at his collar as a blush crept up his neck and across his face. “Until… perhaps we no longer had to.”
The two of them never outright discussed it, in their letters or in person, but there had been growing allusions to the potential since her arrival back in town. It was amusing to watch him blush and stumble over his words, but beyond reassuring to hear he’d had these thoughts, just as she had. Wondering if the servants would remark on it if she asked for better instruction on how to do her own laces or fix her own hair, or if the kitchen staff would show her how to make a simple meal. Trying to save as much of her pin money as she could, towards a likely trip after his apprenticeship was finished.
Part of her had already wondered if maybe her family might be willing to accept things, might let her go if that’s what she really wanted, but it had felt so much safer to keep the secret. Now it felt a relief to have it out in the open.
“I understand entirely,” Eloise replied. “I have had…very similar thoughts, but I can imagine this much more overwhelming for you; they are my family, at least. To you they were strangers until only recently.”
Theo nodded. “It has been nice, though, to get to know them a little. They are not quite as I expected.”
“Oh?” She asked, pausing in their walk to face him.
“You’ve never talked in much great depth about them, save a partial story here or there, or to tell the ways they don’t understand you, so I suppose I let my assumptions about the aristocracy fill in the blanks. But they are all, well, you are all very much a normal family. Leaving aside how much of your time seems to be spent on leisure, you all could be any family I’ve met. Adorable but slightly annoying younger sister to teasing older brothers and all.”
He looked at her hesitantly, but she only smiled. “That does sound reasonably accurate. So, we have not scared you off?”
“No. Quite the contrary, I’m looking forward to coming back, if your sister in law was genuine in her invitation.”
“She would not have offered if she were not,” Eloise laughed. “I get the sense that she and some of the others may have put in a good word – or several – with Anthony.”
“And he was moved by that, along with your words when you brought me here? What did you say to them to get them to agree…that was ‘most vehement’ evidently?”
“Oh, you think I will tell you and have that quoted back at me forever? You won’t get a word out of me, Mr. Sharpe.”
He opened his mouth to retort, but she quickly glanced over to make sure her mother and Kate were not looking their way, then dragged him down by his collar to cut him off with a kiss. It was quick and relatively chaste, especially compared to some that they had shared at the shop unsupervised lately, but right now, it was lovely and she wouldn’t change a thing.
Eloise and her mother took the carriage back to Chancery Lane with Theo, to see him off and allow Eloise to say her goodbyes for the next few days. It would be sad not to have such easy access to his time and attention, but Eloise was relieved he was fully recovered, and looking forward to seeing him again at assemblies, or busy and happy for her company at work.
“I’m sorry that you must wait so long,” her mother said, pulling her out of her own thoughts.
“So long?” she asked.
“Anthony said the two of you may not even decide to marry until after Mr. Sharpe’s apprenticeship is finished. I believe he said that was the end of the year?”
Eloise nodded.
“That is more than six months away; such a long time to wait for a young couple,” her mother said. “I am sorry.”
“I’m not,” Eloise replied honestly. “I…I…” she took a deep breath, “I love Theo, truly, and I am…well, I am quite confident in my choice, but that does not mean I am fully ready to march down the aisle this very moment.” She shook her head and looked toward the window before continuing, “Honestly, I do not entirely understand the rush. We are brought out in a grand debut at 17, 18 years old, feathers in our hair, paraded in front of her majesty, who picks her favorite jewel. We go to parties, to balls; we dance and promenade with gentlemen for a few months and we are expected to decide, and to be ready, to face the rest of our lives with men we barely know?”
After a moment, Eloise turned back to her mother. “I have known Theo over a year now, and as I said, I am sure of my decision, but that does not mean I am quite ready. So, I am not sorry. I find it suits me perfectly. I’m happy to wait.”