"I'm starting to regret giving you that gun," Simon deadpanned. He'd come to get Anthony for a hunting trip an Eloise had asked to hold the gun. Simon was now starting to regret the decision as he watched in silent amusement, worry, and a pinch of fear as Eloise aimed the gun at a vase.

Kate entered, saw the scene, turned, and left. She was back a moment later to snatch the weapon from Eloise's ill trained hands. With a final glare at Simon, she left once more.

Simon turned to look at his sister-in-law with a judgemental look. "That was my favourite gun."

"She will return it once you leave," Eloise returned, an annoyed noise striking the back of her throat. She flopped down on the nearest couch, Simon sliding into a chair. "How many men - do you suppose - have been turned away?"

"So far?" Benedict amused upon entering. He waltzed over to the table of pastries their mother had insisted on setting out. Thank goodness Lady Bridgerton was out with Lady Danbury, otherwise, Eloise never would have been able to convince her brother to turn away every man at the door. Speaking of which, she was coming to regret the decision as Benedict gave her his trouble along smile.

"Exactly nine pour souls seeking out the emerald have been shunned away from our door," Benedict said with that wide smile. He pointed a finger at her, "Quite the desire you've become."

Eloise groaned and attempted to sink into the cushions. "What excuses have you been feeding them?" she inquired, worrying over what absurd answer she might get.

Simon jumped at the opportunity, "Do tell me you flat out told someone that Miss Eloise Bridgerton hates human contact?"

The Bridgerton laughed. "I did not" - he waved his pencil (which he'd somehow pulled from thin air) at Simon - "but I truly should have." The two men laughed while Eloise continued to sulk in her misery.

John knocked on the open door, drawing attention to him. "The Duke of Issacson is here to see you, Miss Eloise," he informed.

Now Eloise was bolting upright before her brothers had a chance to answer. She dashed downstairs, the farthest thing from ladylike, and greeted Theo at the front door with a smile. He returned the gesture.

"Last night was horrific," she told him.

"Agreed, Alison still refuses to speak to me, though she's not too unhappy with all the suitors at our door."

"Lucky her, in that case."

Theo chuckled with a shake of his head. "Care to promenade? We can discuss the books I sent you, assuming you've read them all."

The blue of Eloise's eyes brightened. She held up a finger and rushed towards the bottom of the stairs. "KATE!" she yelled. The maids and butlers continued their work like this was an everyday occurence. Theo had to restrain himself from cackling.

Kate and Anthony were not that pleased to be dragged out, but seeing the excitement with which Eloise ranted was amusing. Theo could hardly get more than a few lines out before she was off rambling again, and he patiently listened, a smile on his lips. The couple snickered behind their backs.

Anthony nudged his chin at his sister and the man beside her. "I like him, he doesn't seem to mind her endless chatter."

"So you are not intimidated by him catching Eloise's eye?"

"Do not be so dramatic about such things Kate." She raised a brow and he rolled his eyes. "All right fine, I am a slight bit" - Anthony made a defeated expression - "intimidated by him. But it is only because Eloise - who you and I both know would rather wed a tree than any man - latched onto him so quickly."

"Fear not Anthony, she received all the brains of the family, El can handle herself. And should she need any help, she has four brothers to protect her. Idiotic as they may be."

Up ahead, Eloise had somehow managed to do two things. One was being able to attach her arm to Theo's, and the other the ability to turn the conversation to Theo's family.

"My father - step-father I assume is the correct term now - died a few years back. My mother passed a few months before I made your acquaintance, and I have a younger brother, who arrives in a few days."

"I'm sorry to hear that. Does your brother not live with you from before?"

Theo shook his head. "I managed to send him to a good school in the country using my payments from the print shop and father's - well, his father's - inheritance."

"I'm sorry about that, it must have been devastating to have your life flipped in such a manner."

"Devastating is a strong word. But it doesn't matter much, considering it has opened new doors for both my brother and I."

The conversation came to an abrupt halt as Lady Featherington and Penelope stopped in front of them. Eloise avoided the eyes of Penelope, who was almost silently pleading for a word. Instead she focused on Lady Featherington as Kate and Anthony caught up.

"Lady Featherington," Kate greeted with a warm smile, "pleasure to see you. Has the season started off well?"

Lady Featherington smiled, "Wonderfully, my Prudence has already been approached by a gentleman." She began to go on about the new courtship, beaming with pride.

Meanwhile Eloise was losing her willpower. When she could no longer force herself to avoid eye contact and gave in, meeting Penelope's eyes with what she sincerely hoped was hatred and anger. It must've been, for Penelope flinched.

"El," she mouthed.

"No," Eloise returned, eyes flashing in rage. She could feel Theo's confused gaze at the side of her head and decided she'd explain later.

Penelope averted to different tactics in turn. "A word, Eloise," she said rather loudly.

The Bridgerton's eyes formed blue fire as her former friend dragged her away. Eloise tore her arm away from Penelope's surprisingly strong clutches. "What part of 'I wish never to see or speak to you again' was so difficult to comprehend?" she asked in a whisper, though her voice was still venom.

"El I know I was wrong and I tried to fix things -"

"A pamphlet cannot fix things." Eloise's tone was stern. Unusual to Penelope. The blue of the Bridgerton's eyes shone in the flames of an angered sea. "Last we spoke you said all I do was talk, and that might be the case but I have never hurt anyone by simply talking. Meanwhile your paper has destroyed lives. Not to mention that you almost cost me mine."

"Eloise -"

"No. You broke people, put my head on the line, destroyed a friendship I loved dearly, and then wrote up a single column with the expectation of forgiveness. But that is not how this story will conversation is over."

Then Eloise was storming off. A confused Theo following behind her. Along with a pair of worried siblings.