Preposterous

Daphne walked determinedly toward her brother's office. The butler trailed a step behind her, pleading with her to wait in the sitting room—promising that he would fetch the eldest Bridgerton brother for her as quickly as possible. She ignored him, although the horrified look on his face did make her heart pang with guilt.

She threw open the office doors.

"What the hell—?!" Anthony exclaimed. His brow furrowed as his gaze landed on his sister. "Daphne, what on earth is this?"

She stormed towards him and threw a copy of Lady Whistledown's latest column on the table. The paper slid across the mahogany, landing squarely in front of him. His eyes scanned the words, the corners of his mouth turning downwards into a deep frown.

"Have you spoken to Eloise about this? About her…" She stumbled over the words. Her cheeks flamed as she finally gritted out the words, "About her relationship with this boy?"

"Well, of course I haven't spoken to her about it," he said. He looked surprised that she was even mentioning it. "It's nonsense. Absolutely preposterous."

Daphne stared at him. "Absolutely preposterous?"

"Well, it can't be true."

"It can't be true," Daphne repeated, dumbfounded at her brother's stupidity. "Really? We're talking about Eloise, for goodness sake."

"I know she's never been fond of…" Anthony made a broad wave with his hands, gesturing around them. "...society and the like. But she isn't foolish. She wouldn't go out in the middle of night without a chaperon to the other side of…"

He trailed off. Daphne had to bite back a smile as it dawned on him. Eloise would absolutely do all those things. And apparently, she had.

"She wouldn't do all that for a boy," Anthony spoke slowly. He paused, as if waiting for Daphne's confirmation. When it never came, he asked, "Would she?"

Daphne shrugged. "Wouldn't she?"

Anthony dropped his head to his hands with a sigh. After a moment to collect himself, he raised his eyes to look at his younger sister.

"I'll speak to her," he relented. "What do you want me to say?"

And although the situation, Daphne thought, was very serious, she couldn't help but smile at her eldest brother's defeat. She finally took the seat opposite him and, after flipping her chestnut hair over her shoulder, pulled out a small notebook.

"I might have some ideas…"