𝐈 𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐁𝐄 𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐘𝐎𝐔

"𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖."

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐎 𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐅𝐄𝐋𝐓 𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐈𝐓 𝐁𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐀 𝐂𝐀𝐔𝐒𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐑𝐍 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐀. She had begun to feel more tired as she had more loads of work to continue with and the added supply of her brother's work had started to take a toll on her.

Her muscles ached with exhaustion, her hair stood up in a complete mess and she her breath was always catching in her throat. Yet, she couldn't stop the thoughts of Eloise Bridgerton that always managed to give her that extra bit of strength.

She had been missing the girl's presence around the back of the store, she missed how the girl would chuckle at anything that passed by, she missed even the girl's sarcastic comments that made her feel complete.

Having to get on with her work, Maria knew that Eloise had been at her brother's wedding that day because it was all the town could talk about, but she couldn't help wish she would be able to see her at least once that day.

And then her wish came true as she passed a load of pamphlets out to a carriage owner. When Maria turned back, she came face to face with Eloise Bridgerton.

The brunette felt her breath catch in her throat, her eyes trailing up and down her body. The girl wore a stunning blue gown and Maria didn't want to look away. Her collar bone was on show, her shall hanging low from her arms and her hair was done up in a beautiful bun.

"Eloise, I--" Maria stammered, but she cleared her throat as Eloise smiled softly at her loss of words. "I didn't expect you to come today. Do you have a question?"

Eloise nodded and felt her heart jump to her throat. "I have thoughts."

"Oh, I would never have guessed," Maria smirked, giving Eloise a teasing look.

The girl smiled back, but she didn't reply with a witty remark like usual. "Thoughts I would like to share... with you."

Stopping her work, Maria realised that Eloise was saying something that she may want to listen to.

"I'm pretty sure you share your thoughts every time you talk, Eloise," Maria chuckled.

"What I am failing to say is that often, when I read something new or... unsettling, it is you who crosses my mind," the girl fumbled out.

She usually liked to say she had a way with words, but in that moment, she had no idea what to say. Her voice had finally betrayed her and yet, it didn't upset her because she was finally speaking her true feelings.

Maria felt her head look down slightly, meeting the blue eyes of the Bridgerton. They were simply captivating and no matter how hard she tried, Maria couldn't pull herself away. If she hadn't stopped her work, she may not have heard what the girl had confessed, but she was overly glad that she had. It made her palms sweat, her heart melt to her stomach and something swirl in her chest. Something that she could only label as love.

"It is you I would like to speak with about those thoughts," Eloise continued, her feet moving from side to side beneath her out of nerves.

"Um, oh," was all Maria could say back. She scolded herself for the idiotic response.

"Uh..." Eloise said, unsure of the other girl's answer to her confession. "And so I am wondering if you might also have thoughts... of me... when you think."

Realising how stupid what she just said was, Eloise looked to her feet in despair of herself. Maria merely dropped the sack she was carrying to the other pile and stood still, as if she moved then the world would crumble and she would wake up from this dream.

Then she remembered she was still in a conversation and glanced at Eloise quickly before walking back into the shop to get something.

Eloise stood where she was, looking around awkwardly, thinking she had done something completely terrible and had ruined everything. But that was not the case.

Maria walked back out of the shop, holding the piles of books Eloise had given her, and she stopped right in front of the other girl. The Bridgerton looked up, confused, but curious and Maria simply smiled sadly.

"My brother has take ill," she said, feeling her voice still come out strong even though she was scared to death for the boy.

"Maria, I--" Eloise tried to apologise, but the brunette shook her head, stopping her words like nobody had before.

"Please, let me finish. While, yes, I am scared terribly that he won't overcome this illness, there has been one thing that has got me through it all," Maria smiled down at the books in her hands before taking a glance at those eyes that gave her such gleeful pleasure. "You."

Eloise smiled back, looking deep into Maria's eyes with a feeling of elated happiness. Her stomach fluttered and she felt her words die in her throat. All she could do was smile.

"I don't expect you to say anything," Maria rambled on, but Eloise stepped forward and put a finger to the girl's lips.

The brunette blushed heavily and sighed against the other girl's finger, her touch being like athousand feelings that she couldn't describe.

"All I think about is you," Eloise spoke in a quiet and low voice and she took her hand back from the other girl's lips, slightly upset at the loss of contact.

But that wasn't a problem when Maria put down her books and took the girl's hands in her own. She ran her thumb across her gloved knuckles and wished more than anything that the moment would never end.

But it had to sooner or later and they both knew that. What they didn't know about was the Queen's guard that watched from afar, now thinking that Eloise was in fact the Lady Whistledown.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

The next morning had come in a bright haze of light and Eloise could not feel anymore light on her feet. She almost bounded out of the Bridgerton residence that day with her maid following after. Her purse swung from her hand a hit her leg a few times, but not even that could sway her blinding happiness that Maria felt the same way as her.

As she jumped down from the steps of the house, the maid walked behind her with her dark blue cloak in her arms. She caught sight of this and shook her head.

"Oh, never mind the heavy cloaks," she said with a wave of her purse. "I will be quite sweltering where we are... going shopping... in town."

When the girl turned back to her maid with a bright, albeit nervous smile, she only saw a look of shock on the lady's face. Furrowing her eyebrows, she turned back in the way she was looking and adorned the same expression.

In front of her was one of the Queen's carriages and when one of the royal footmen opened the door, it revealed her majesty herself inside.

"Miss Bridgerton."

Eloise felt herself at a loss for words, but she knew not to leave the Queen in waiting. With a worried glance back at her maid, she walked forwards, legs shaking out of fear, and she climbed into the carriage.

Feeling entirely uncomfortable in the royal's presence, Eloise looked around, fidgiting with her purse and looking for a way of escape whatever was going to be said.

Clearing her throat with a small chuckle, Eloise stammered, "It's a beautiful carriage, Your Majesty."

The Queen only eyed her with suspiscion, which only made Eloise ramble on, feeling bile in her throat.

"Your horses must be strong to pull all of this gold--"

"What were you doing visiting that printer shop in the middle of your brother's so-called wedding?" the Queen asked with a straight forward tone.

The question made Eloise freeze and her blood turn to ice. Had they caught her with Maria? Had they seen what had occurred yesterday? Would they know?

"Oh--"

"I know it is you," the Queen continued, interrupting any explanation Eloise was going to make up on the spot. "Lady Whistledown herself."

The realisation hit her that the Queen wasn't here about Maria, and it may be something much, much worse.

"Oh, Your Majesty--"

"Your denial shall only enhance your punishment," the Queen informed with a sly smile. "You were quite clever, Miss Bridgerton. Why, just last season, I recruited you to uncover the writer's identity, and you, rather conveniently, found not one credible suspect."

Eloise did not understand how she had dug herself into this deep of a hole without speaking one proper sentence. "I am not clever enough to manipulate Your Majesty."

"Is it not curious that you are so rarely mentioned in those pages?" the Queen ignored her plea for disregard. "I also hear you have a great distaste for society, just as the writer herself does. You do realise the power you wield in that pen of yours can be used for greater purposes than ridicule and gossip-mongering, yes?"

Eloise sat in complete silence, literally at a loss for words. Nothing would come out as the Queen continued her torrent of accusation.

"Lady Whistledown could be a strategic ally to the Crown, should she so please."

"And I would gladly help, ma'am," Eloise said, finally able to force herself to speak and try to derail the Queen's suspicion. "But I weild no such power, I assure you."

"So, you would rather be my rival?" the Queen askes with a terrifying smirk. Eloise still couldn't believe she was stuck in this mess. "Have you any idea what will happen once I reveal this secret of yours, child? People will seek their revenge. However bad your family's situation seems to you now, it will only get worse."

Eloise leaned forward, still terrified to her core, but the Queen kept up her threats.

"I might be able to solve that problem. I shall give you three days to consider my proposal and come to your senses. If you do not, then I will deploy my resources to crush you like a serpent."

Eloise only stared with a look of defeat, her chest heaving as she struggled to breath out of fear.

"Pride may not be as precious to you as your breath," the Queen chuckled sinisterly.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*