I DO NOT OWN BRIDGERTON. SHOUTOUT TO EVERYONE WHO HAS HELPED ME WITH THIS STORY SO FAR.
Barrington House. London, England. The next day.
By the grace of God, Roman had managed to not only find transportation back to his home from Lady Danbury's soiree, but he had also managed to sneak back into the house without his mother being any the wiser. Young Roman was filled with sheer ecstasy as he recollected the previous night's events. He had not only attended his first public social event, but he engaged in pleasant conversation with a beautiful young lady as well.
Eloise Bridgerton was the sort of woman that he had always wanted to socialize with, but thanks to his evil witch of a mother, he had never gotten the chance; until now. Roman wanted nothing more in all the world than to see Eloise again and 2 days later, he got his chance. His mother had made the acquaintance of some respectable ladies and had made an appointment to promenade with them in Hyde Park. This meant that she would be locking Roman in his room once again. Luckily, this was no longer an obstacle for Roman and his sheet ladder. Once his mother was out of sight, Roman used the sheets to lower himself to the ground below.
First, he went to the florist's shop with coin in his pockets that he had nicked from his mother's stash. He bought a bought of beautiful violets. Roman had to admit that he did not know for sure what Eloise's favorite flower was and that he was merely guessing, but he hoped that they would be appreciated nonetheless.
Second, Roman had to stop a passerby in order to receive directions to the Bridgerton residence. Once he arrived there, the boy steeled his nerves before knocking on the door. After a few moments of waiting, a servant answered it.
"Might I help you, sir?" The man asked as Roman nodded.
"I was hoping that I may pay a call on Miss Eloise Bridgerton?" he asked as the steward allowed him inside and to wait in the foyer while he went to announce the arrival of another gentleman caller. After a few more minutes, the servant returned and beckoned Roman up to the lounging room.
There, the young Mr. Barrington found Eloise and her mother, along with 2 younger children playing a match of marbles. In addition, there was a red headed lad sitting on the couch with Eloise who seemed like a nervous child on his first day of school.
"Good day Miss Bridgerton." Roman said as he walked inside the room while Eloise looked at him with surprise on her face.
"Roman…I mean, Mr. Barrington?" Eloise asked as she stood up to greet him.
"I apologize for arriving unannounced, Miss Eloise." He said with a nod of his head. "However, after last night, I felt that..."
"My appearance was pleasing and that I am suitable enough to court?" She inquired sarcastically as she naturally assumed that was why he was here.
"Eloise, do not be rude to our guest." Lady Bridgerton said as she gently, but firmly chastised her daughter.
"Actually, I was enjoying the thoughtful conversation that we partook in last night and I was hoping that we might continue it in a better setting." Roman replied as he cleared his throat.
"Oh…I suppose that would be all right then." Eloise replied awkwardly, clearly not expecting a man to be interested in her brain instead of her body.
"But Eloise, you already have a gentleman caller present." Violet replied as she pointed to the ginger whose attention had already been diverted by the game occurring between Gregory and Hyacinth.
"Are those marbles?" The ginger inquired as Hyacinth nodded. "What fun!" He quickly went to join the marbles game, completely forgetting about the woman what he was supposed to be courting.
"Since he is so clearly occupied, might Mr. Barrington and I read now?" Eloise asked her mother as Violet herself was not impressed by the young noble who seemed to have the mind of a child.
"It is a pleasure indeed to see you, Mr. Barrington." Violet said with her typical plastered smile as while she and her daughter were utterly unamused with the first suitor's childish behavior, the behavior of the second seemed far more promising.
"Thank you, Lady Bridgerton." Roman replied with a smile as he finally handed the bouquet of Violets to Eloise.
"I did not know which type of flowers were your favorite, so I went with mine." He explained as Eloise took them with a polite look on her face.
"Thank you, Mr. Barrington." Eloise replied as she inhaled the scent and had to admit that the smell was not unpleasant.
"I know that I should have sent word that I wished to come, but I'm afraid that I simply could not wait to see you again." Roman admitted as Eloise laid the flowers down on a table.
"I suppose that I could take time out of my busy schedule to converse with you." Eloise teased as Roman smiled in relief. Lady Violet watched with glee as the 2 sat down on one of the couches and began to discuss amongst themselves. Eloise had seemed to find a young man who fancied her and was fancied by her in return. It was not a proposal, but it was a start.
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