I DO NOT OWN BRIDGERTON.
Bridgerton House. London, United Kingdom. 2 days later.
"Two dances? With a duke?" Hyacinth asked in surprise as the entire family, save the viscount, were being told of Daphne's thrilling exploits with the Duke of Hastings. I would have rather been courting Marina or hanging out with Penelope, but apparently guys and girls couldn't be just friends in the regency era and Marina was still gravely ill.
"He was quite taken with your sister, Hyacinth. The entire party was, for that matter." The dowager viscountess explained as she beamed with pride at her eldest girl while offering her some nourishment. "All eyes were on Daphne, at least enjoy some toast, dearest."
"I am not hungry, Mama." Daphne replied as she kept playing an admittedly pleasant tune on the Harpsichord; which I felt like was almost the same as piano, despite Daphne insisting to the contrary.
"Are you certain the entire party was not simply eyeing a tear in her dress?" I quoted at her expense, enjoying the rare moments when we were able to deflate her ego a tad.
"Or a misstep she took on the dance floor?" Benedict inquired as we were flatly ignored.
"I do wonder, Daphne, might we count on the duke at the Crawford ball?" Lady Violet asked eagerly.
"I should think it a fair chance." Daphne replied with false modesty while Violet was getting more excited at the prospect of her Diamond netting a Duke on her 1st season out.
"What about the Ramsbury ball, Friday; and what about the grand picnic?"
"We shall see, Mama."
"How terrible for Fran that she'll be off practicing pianoforte with Aunt Winnie all season and miss Daphne's engagement to the duke." Hyacinth lamented as it made me think of how annoyed Melanie was when it was announced that Francesca would be played by someone new for season 3. Even though I didn't care for the show, I could understand her feelings. I'd be equally pissed if someone did that on a show I liked.
"Did Francesca leave for Bath?" Gregory started to ask before Eloise stormed into the parlor and asked the age old question: "How does a lady come to be with child?" Everyone, except me, was taken aback by the inquiry as sex Ed was practically zilch in these times.
"Eloise, what a question!" Her mother remarked in exasperation.
"I thought one needed to be married." Eloise added.
What are you talking about?" Daphne inquired.
"Apparently, it's not even a requirement." Eloise remarked with her signature smart alack tone of voice.
"Eloise, that is enough." Violet snapped as it was clear that she refused to have the sex talk with her daughter. Eloise's shoulders slumped as she walked over to the couch and placed herself between me and Benedict.
"Oh, well Daphne, you were playing so lovely…Please, do go on." Lady Violet pleaded as Daphne reluctantly began to play once again.
"I take it the two of you know?" Eloise inquired which made us both uncomfortable.
"Do not look at me." Benedict said flatly as he wasn't going to take any part in her inquires.
"I'll tell you later." I whispered to Eloise as she looked pleased at my offer of aid. To be fair, I didn't really want to be giving my sister a sex talk, but seeing how Daphne had fucked things up with Simon due to her lack of knowledge, I really didn't want Eloise to do the same with Sir Philip Crane; if she ended up with him.
"I hope you are not encouraging improper topics of conversation." Violet warned us men as Benedict motioned for me to follow him out.
"Not at all, Mother." Benedict assured her as I tried to stifle a laugh before quoting my favorite line from season 1.
"In fact, we were just heading off to take our sticks out." I said as I failed to hide my glee.
"Colin Bridgerton!" Violet exclaimed in fury which sobered me up damn quick. If you've never been around an angry Ruth Gemmel, you're lucky because that woman can be pretty damn intimidating when she means to be.
"A round of fencing…" I said awkwardly as I quickly made my escape.
Later that evening.
After I got my ass handed to me in a few rounds of fencing with Benedict, I kept my word and I met Eloise in her bedroom to tell her where babies came from. I really don't want to repeat the awkward conversation we had on the subject, all you need to know is that I explained to her about sperm and eggs and where they came from and by what process they mixed together to form an infant.
"So it stays in your belly for about 9 months, give or take and then you have to push it out of your..." I finished by pointing downward as I looked at a shell shocked Eloise.
"My God...I truly wish I had never known what I know now." She said as she struggled to comprehend the designs of childbirth. "I was comfortable in my ignorance, how am I expected to desire the martial act with what I know now."
"You wanted to know how a lady came to be with child and I told you." I said with a shrug as I tried not to find her reaction to this knowledge amusing. "If you're going to get married someday, it's better you know the literal ins and outs now; as opposed to finding out on your wedding night."
"Hopefully, if Pen and I become spinsters, as we have set out to do, the matter will be irrelevant." Eloise decided as I couldn't say anything to that. I could tell that Pen had no desire to be a spinster, odds are she just went along with it to please her best friend. That honestly seemed to be a running gag with the friendship between Eloise and Penelope; Eloise led and Pen followed.
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