#about Brimsley marrying

[multifandotakugirl]

As it is canon that Charlotte and George knew about Brimsley and Reynolds (they saw them dancing and figured out that way, in the books, I think). I choose to believe that Charlotte’s line “Do not hover” also meant that he was free to go to Reynolds. Idc.

[thewingedwolf]

i would accept “brimsley and reynolds are kind of separated but still in love because reynolds is in kew taking care of george and is too devoted to leave his side” if they fix it because Brimsley watches Benedict fall in love with m!Sophie and choose to be with him despite being unable to marry, and is inspired to run back to Kew to go get his man and tell him that even with the obstacles, he still thinks it’s worth it for them to try because love is worth it.

[liebgirl]

in many ways shonda rhimes’ queen charlotte is the love story of a beautiful woman and her platonic life partner her gay footman…

[fuckwhoeverpickedallthefunnyurls]

Next two episodes of Queen Charlotte <33

[frost-queen]

Prospects for better fortune (Reader!Featherington x Colin Bridgerton)

Requested by: anon Forever tag:@missmelodramatic   , @merlin-dahlia, @alex--awesome--22  , @elllie-does-the-posts, @floatlosers   , @merlieve   , @queen-of-books  , @glimmering-darling-dolly  ,@denkisclown   , @wildieflower  ,@meyocoko   , @justanothercoco, @subjecta13-thefangirl , @m-rae23 , @harleyquinnswifeyfrfr  , @swampthing07  , @melsunshine   , @panhoeofmanyfandoms  , @venomsvl , @the-uncoordinated-house-cat ,@rosecentury  ,  @imagines-by-her  ,  @evilcr0ne  , @vviolynn   , @niktwazny303  ,@avada-kedavra-bitch-187  , @markive-m , @lovesanimals0000

Summary: Colin's misfortune in trusting your uncle's lies leads to a forced engagement on an economic base. Only Colin and you are each other's worst enemy. A huge argument lowers the tempers as it leaves room for acceptance. Colin's dedication to you truly gets tested when a lord flirts just a little too much with you, his wife.

Colin was pacing around, scratching the back of his head. – “She will be here.” – Violet reassured him. Colin stopped to face his mother. – “I’d rather she would not, it’s just… the damn Queen.” – he told her gesturing at the grand doors where they were waiting behind. – “Watch your mouth boy!” – Violet called out with a motherly scowl, not liking one bit her son was insulting the queen. Colin sighed deep running his hands down his face.

“I still can’t phantom why you decided for this to happen.” – Colin accused his mother. Violet set her hands on her hip. – “How about prospects?” – Violet explained making her son sigh loud. Violet and Colin looked alarmed at the hearing of hastened heels click on the floor. Colin sighed loud once more, letting his head fall back. Portia was hastening herself, dragging you along by your wrist.

“We better be on time!” – she hissed at you, making you roll your eyes at her. Portia joined them, out of breath. – “I see you’ve made it Portia.” – Violet said with a gentle smile. – “Indeed.” – Portia answered, tugging at you to move in front of her. She did the final checks on your hair and dress. – “Mama.” – you groaned out wanting to slap her hand away. One scaring scowl of her was enough to stop your complaining.

The doors opened as Brimsley appeared in the entrance. He opened his mouth to speak, staring at the display before him. All of you had frozen at the hearing of the door opening. Portia’s hand lingering in the air by your hair. Violet trying to straighten Colin’s tie as his hand hovered above hers ready to slap it away. Brimsley cleared his throat as it made you all stand presentable.

“The queen is ready.” – he said before turning round. – “Alright this is it.” – Violet spoke plucking at Colin’s puffy hair for it to be perfect. – “Smile sweetheart.” – Portia let out. Colin moved closer to the door as did you. He held his hand out to you. With a roll of your eyes, you placed your fingers sloppy on his palm. Brimsley entered more, bowing to her majesty the queen. – “Colin Bridgerton and Y/n Featherington.” – he presented. Brimsley stepped aside, revealing the two of you to the queen.

Both of you forced out a smile, walking up to her. The queen narrowing her eyes. Colin and you dropped to one knee in front of her throne. – “So you two are engaged to be married?” – the queen asked, petting her dog on her lap. – “Yes, your majesty.” – Colin answered, keeping his head down. The queen hummed intrigued.

You exhaled soft, feeling your hand started to get sweaty in his hand. – “I give you both my blessing.” – she called out as it made you swallow nervously. Colin and you rose, meeting up with the queen’s gaze. – “Be off my little love birds.” – she chuckled, sending Colin and you off with her blessing. Colin and you spun, heading back for the door. Your smiled immediately dropped once the queen wasn’t looking.

The doors opened once more as Colin and you walked through. Hearing the doors shut behind you, you immediately pulled your hand out of his. Colin rubbed his hand annoyed against his pants. – “Must you really get so sweaty.” – he called out. – “Must you really be so infuriating.” – you responded. – “Infuriating?” – Colin said loud in disbelief. – “Oh that is nice coming from you!” – he answered walking up to you.

The two of you continued to bicker while going down the corridor to leave the palace. Portia and Violet giving each other a sheepish smile. – “Children.” – Violet teased with humour to bloom the reality of it. Portia snapped her fan open, waving herself some cool. Colin and you had been bickering the entire carriage ride at how more infuriating the other one was.

The wedding was by the end of the week. Which should be a day of delight and bliss to many was not the case for you. You simply wanted this day to be over so you didn’t have to play pretend for the ton anymore. Colin’s family tried to be supportive, knowing he was doing the family a great help by marrying you. Normally they wouldn’t condone it, but faith left them otherwise. Colin had lost a great deal of money to your money seeking uncle.

His family couldn’t have prevented him from investing. Something Colin thought would bring prospects, for it did not. It turned out to be a sham. A fraud. When your mama found out, she turned him the door. Yet it was already too late. He disappeared along with some money. A bit including of the Bridgerton’s. Colin’s failed investment took a bite in their coins. The best way to ease the gap a bit was a marriage between Bridgertons and Featheringtons.

The coins from your dowry could ease the pain a bit. Smooth a bit things over with the Bridgertons. The two of you found a home in the Featherington estate further downtown. More secluded. An estate your family used to retreat to during the winters. Since you weren’t the eldest, the house would go to man married your eldest sister.

Colin and you arrived at the house. – “I’ll be upstairs and I do not wish to see you for the entirety of the evening.” – he called out already moving towards the stairs. – “Fine, for I do not wish to see you for the entirety of the evening!” – you shouted back. – “Wonderful!” – Colin said loud, throwing his hand up as he went up the spiralling stairs. – “Your quarters are at the left!” – you instructed him. Colin grunted soft disappearing upstairs.

You turned round, screaming loud to out your distress. You then went upstairs to the quarters on the right. The staff remaining quiet as it was not their place to intervene. Some shared a brief look, knowing it didn’t feel like you would legitimate the marriage soon. Not whilst you were still bickering. You let yourself fall onto the bed, screaming and punching your pillow. Angry at your uncle for ripping off the Bridgerton’s which led you into needing to marry Colin Bridgerton. 

A Bridgerton you loathed. Colin groaned loud, pacing round the room. He grabbed for a pillow, throwing it against the window out of frustration. Why did he had to invest in your uncle’s mines? His speech seemed so pleasingly. He thought for sure he’d get a fortune out of it. The only thing he got out of it was a marriage to you. Someone he loathed.

The sun rose as the staff was already buzzing about. For weeks now, you have been trying to avoid Colin for as much as you could around the house. Each doing your own things during the day, even when it bored you from time to time. There weren’t enough activities around the house to keep you company. You stumbled into the drawing room where to your misfortune Colin was too. Seeing him, made you sigh soft. Colin lifted his head up from behind his newspaper, lowering it.

“I shall leave.” – he spoke folding his newspaper to give you, your space. – “No, please do stay.” – you acted out with a curtsy. Colin slapped the newspaper annoyed on the small table. The door opened behind you, a maid entering with a tray. On the tray laid several letters neatly spread out. She moved past you to give the letters to Colin as he was man of the house now.

You snatched the letters from the tray before they could reach him. The maid looked confused at her empty tray. Bowing her head as she left the room once more. – “Y/n those are for me.” – Colin stated, holding his hand out. – “Am I not the lady of the house?” – you answered, looking through the post. Colin walked up to you in a firm pace, wanting to snatch the letters from you.

You turned away, keeping the letters out of his reach. – “Y/n!” – Colin let out loud. Colin grabbed your wrist, pulling it hard in front of him, ripping some letters from your hand. – “I loath you!” – you called out, slapping the remaining letters against his chest. – “I loath you!” – Colin repeated, slapping his letters against your chest. It made you gasp as you didn’t think he’d hit you back. – “I loathed you first!” – you made clear.

Colin and you stared intensely at each other. Glaring up in each other’s face. Colin looked away first, glancing down at the letters in his hand. He sighed loud seeing what kind of post was amongst them. He threw them frustratedly into the sofa. He then shouted loud, hands desperate in his hands.

“Colin!” – you called out wanting him to calm down. He inhaled sharp, wiping his hand over his face. – “If this wasn’t an economic proposition, I swear.” – he said loud. – “Hadn’t your family put me into debts, I wouldn’t be scrambling for coins to make a living!”

“Don’t bring my family into this!” – you replied loud, frustrated that he would blame this all on you. You had no idea and it was after all he who placed an investment with your uncle. – “Alright not your uncle who caused me to marry you!” – Colin shouted loud. – “I refuse to be blamed any longer for this grotesque misalliance!” – you screamed out as Colin grew silent. Staring at you in shock. – “No more!” – you let out with a dismissive gesture.

Panting loud at your little outburst. Colin turned his head a bit away. – “Well that was rather direct.” – he said, taken back by the intensity of your voice. Overwhelmed with exhaustion, you let yourself fall into an armchair. Head throbbing with a headache the fight. It might have been the biggest fight Colin and you endured. Colin went over to the letters, picking them up from the ground. He then returned to you, coming to sit beside you.

He opened the first letter, reading it out loud for you. His reading made you sit more upright and lean in to read the letter along with him. Colin and you opened every letter one by one, calmly discussing what to reply or how to manage your coins. Both seemingly calmed down and too worn out from the fight to continue bickering.

It was like this outburst needed to happen for Colin and you matched on a different level of understanding after that. The marriage was necessary, the best you could do was make it is comfortable as one could. Despite growing closer to each other, there still wasn’t any physical contact.

No hugs, no kisses and certainly not legitimating the marriage. Colin and you managed to find a lifestyle suitable enough for the income you had now. There were prospects for it increasing, but that took time.

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The carriage came to a stop as Colin got out. He offered you his arm as you took it to get out. – “I cannot believe Francesca is already debuting.” – you said unable to grasp how quickly she was growing up. Colin hummed soft, keeping your hand on his arm. – “I’m sure Anthony will have his hands full with now both Eloise and Francesca this season.” – Colin replied as he guided you inside. One of the doormen took your coat.

The warmth of the estate wrapping around your skin. The doorman gestured for you to head further. Colin and you arrived at another door. – “Do I look alright?” – you asked him as it was your first time out on a ball ever since the wedding. Colin turned to you, holding your chin with his thumb. – “You look wonderful.” – he replied, with a soft smile.

The doors opened as it startled Colin and you. Everyone at the ball, stared at the display. Colin cleared his throat lowering his hand on you. He took your hand, guiding you inside. Portia nudged Violet teasingly. – “What did I say.” – she whispered to Violet. Violet smiled, hopeful her son found happiness after all.

You joined the Bridgertons, hugging Violet. – “How are you feeling Francesca?” – you questioned seeing her look frightful with big eyes around. – “Bit overwhelmed.” Francesca answered in a quiet voice. – “Colin.” – Anthony called out, motioning with his head for his brother to follow. Colin gently removed your hand from his arm, following his brother to a more secluded area.

Kate wrapped her arm around you. – “A drink Y/n?” – she proposed. – “Yes please.” – you answered. Kate led you through the crowd to the staff was walking around with drinks. – “How are Colin and you?” – she asked, watching the dancers a bit. – “Quite alright.” – you answered with a smile. – “That is wonderful to hear.” – Kate filled in as she noticed a tray with glasses. She let go of your arm, taking two glasses, handing one to you.

Both of you took a sip, watching the dancers. – “Anthony?” – Kate said confused seeing her husband appear, making his way over to her. – “I simply must dance with you.” – he said taking her hand. Kate gave you a pleasing smile, handing her drink over to you before Anthony could steal her away. – “Well where is Colin?” – you called out, yet Anthony didn’t reply. Too focused on wanting to dance with his wife.

With a soft exhale, you emptied your glass with a few breaths. Turning around you placed your empty and Kate’s still full glass back on the tray. Bouncing a bit on your feet, you looked around for any sign of your husband. – “Miss Bridgerton.” – a man’s voice spoke from behind you. It made you turn your head in surprise. A lord came standing extremely close to you, his fingers trailing inches away from your arm upwards.

“Where is your husband?” – he asked looking briefly away to the people. – “He will be here shortly.” – you lied as the lord kept gazing at you. Making you a bit nervous. – “Such a shame he left you all alone.”  - the lord began standing half in front of you. – “A beautiful woman like yourself shouldn’t be left alone.” – he added as you were stunned by his approach around you.

“My husband is looking for me.” – you said making steps to leave his side. A grip around your wrist, kept you from going any further, making you gasp. – “He’ll find you soon enough.” – he tugged at your wrist, pulling you back at him. – “Perhaps a dance while we wait?” – he proposed.

“Lord Thomas!” – the voice made you turn your head in shock. Colin approaching the man with his hands behind his back. He came by your side, taking the lord’s hand, throwing it off yours. – “Flirting with a married woman?” – Colin spoke judgingly. – “My wife for that matter.” – he added with a glare. Colin let his hand glide in yours, holding it in a firm grip. His stare stern and full of anger. – “We’re leaving.” – Colin called out, pulling you away from the lord.

“But… Co…colin your family… Francesca?” – you said between breaths while you tried to keep up with his pace. – “They need our support.” – you told him, looking over your shoulder to his family somewhere in the crowd. Colin led you outside, calling the carriage over. The carriage pulled over as he pushed you inside. It made you squeal soft, positioning yourself better before your husband joined in.

The carriage got in motion as it wobbled. – “Colin?” – you asked confused, wanting to know what overcame him to simply call it a night. – “Your brothers expect our support for your sisters.” – you reminded him. Noticing how hungrily Colin was staring at you. He groaned deep, setting himself off as he moved across. Cupping your cheeks as he forced his lips onto yours.

Eyes shot wide as his lips trailed yours. Kissing yours desperate and hungrily. Colin retrieved his lips, panting loud in your mouth. He let himself fall back across to his bench as he took you with him. Still cupping your cheeks. You dropped onto his lap as he pulled your legs open over his lap.

His eyes gazed back at you, till they went up. Taking out one of your pins so most of your hair fell down. Exhaling in your mouth, he drew you closer again. The hotness of his lips on yours. It made you grab onto his shoulders, pressing your fingers into him. With one motion of his finger, he tilted your chin up. Hands on your bottom as he pushed you slightly higher.

A soft gasp escaping your mouth as he started to kiss your neck. Trailing down to your bosom. Panting loud against your skin in between hot kisses. Colin let his hand trail up your neck, pushing your head back. Kissing your exposed neck deeper. The carriage wobbled as Colin had to push his hand out to the side, to keep his balance.

Looking down at him, you breathed out loud, curling up a smile. He did the same, grabbing you again. You leaned down, kissing him hard. With admiration he looked up to you. You kissed Colin once more as he finally claimed you as his wife. Who knew it only took one flirty lord for him to finally admit he loved you.

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[danburys]

i'm fully serious when i say that the scene where charlotte asks brimsley about him never marrying is one of my absolute favourites of the franchise.

like, she clearly knows nothing about him personally. why would she? and clearly, they're both equally lonely. clearly his line of "who could ever be free to spend a lifetime with me?" applies to both of them here. clearly, they're mirrors.

and equally, they're the ones they each spend their lifetime with. they're companions, they're bound forever, they care for one another deeply. but they're always divided, they'll never fully understand each other, they can't give each other what they both crave.

and neither of them can ever, ever say it. the closest they'll come is charlotte saying "you care for me" for him. because in the end, it's always brimsley reaching out and never touching to console her in that hallway and always charlotte turning around to ask him the most basic of details about him when they've both known each other for years and years and years.

[sugarcoatedstarkey]

Marital acts

Pairing- breeding!kink King George x Reader

Summary - no plot just breeding.

Warnings- NSWF sexual intercourse, fingering, female receiving oral, breeding kink. (18+)

A/n- reposting because the tags won’t work. Fingers crossed!! Request for @siriusblacklftv

You’d been married for three weeks now, marital acts had been had twice. You had started to notice the signs of arousal that George had spoken about, the way your heart picked up when you noticed him without a shirt.

The way your undergarments seemed to moisten when his arms would tense as he racked up the flower beds, you could not deny the feeling any longer.

“Brimsley!” You shouted; even though you knew he was but five paces behind you. Your forehead pressed against the glass as you watched your husband, your king, in the garden.

“Yes, your majesty?”

“Take me outside” “yes, your majesty”

You turned on your feet and began to walk towards the doors, the doormen pulled the oversized doors open for you. The cool English breeze hit you in the face, only confirming your arousal even more. Your body felt hot and sticky underneath the abundance of layers.

“Shoo with that umbrella” you ordered, waving your hand in the air. You didn’t want to be followed around with the stupid thing, if you needed it. You would hold it.

Your feet took you towards George, he did not notice you at first. Focused on the activity in front of him, mud covered his trousers, sweat glistened over his upper body.

Your mouth felt dry, unable to announce your own arrival. Brimsley seemed to understand the fluster you were in and stepped around you, standing as tall as he could.

“Your Majesty, the queen”

George still did not turn around, as though the words went over the top of him. Stomping your foot on the ground you began to walk towards him, your shoe meets the mud with a squelch.

“Your majesty!” Brimsley all but yelped, reaching out to grasp you. Your foot seemed to have sunk beneath the mud, the bottom of your dress sinking with you.

“Y!N!”

This time George noticed you, his arms cradled you as he pulled you from the mud. Your shoe was left behind as he checked you over. “Oh George, it is just mud!” You smiled up at him, his lips quirk up as he grins at you.

“Why are you out in the garden my love? You should be inside out of the sun” he whispers, his fingers trace up and down the length of your arm.

You chew on the inside of your mouth, looking behind you at Brimsley and the footmen. “Some privacy” George ordered when he noticed the look on your face, the men stepped away just enough so they could not hear the words spoken.

“I seem to have a feeling within myself” you whispered, dropping your eyes down to your stomach and back up to him. “It seems to be the arousal you had spoken of”.

“Oh.. oh!” George smirked, his arm held your waist and he pulled you closer. “Are your undergarments wet my love?”.

“I believe so”

“We are to go inside at once!” George ordered again, he was walking you back towards the door. Practically carrying you as your much smaller legs tried to keep up with his long strides.

Once you were within the castle walls, his lips were on yours. Hunger bubbled in his chest as he slid his tongue within your mouth, relishing the taste of you.

“George! The guards!” You exclaimed, he shook his head and picked you up bridal style. His legs carried you towards your bed chambers, letting the doors slam behind the two of you.

He dropped you onto the bed, gripping the back of your head and pressing his lips to yours once again. Your skin was hot, itching to get out of the confinements of your dress. “Come here” he ordered, he turned you around and ran his finger across your exposed shoulder.

He began to pull at the corset, until your breasts fell out. His hands reached around to grasp them, his mouth on your neck. “Oh George” you cried out, your stomach filled with butterflies.

“So beautiful my love… these breasts will be so full once I have planted my seed within you”. George groaned, his hips thrust into your backside.

He had uttered those words before but it seemed more real this time, his hands kneading the flesh of your chest. His hands fell and continued to pull your dress down, leaving you in your undergarments.

He spun you back around and pushed you against the bed, hands gripping the waistband of your bloomers. “You’ve soaked through my love” he whispered, he was on his knees in front of you.

Kissing along the exposed flesh of your leg until his face met your mound, breathing in the scent of your arousal. With one swift movement you were bare in front of him, undergarments thrown under the bed.

“So beautiful” he mumbles, pressing his lips to your cunt. You all but cry out, so sensitive to his touch. He has only touched you two times, the feeling of his lips to your skin was still unfamiliar to you.

“Your majesty!” You cried out when his tongue circled your puffy clit, his fingers curled around your thighs pulling you against his face. “Just George”.

You let out a giggle which was replaced with a moan as his fingers entered you, still very unfamiliar with the feeling of intrusion. He began to slip his long fingers in and out of you, your arousal coating him.

“I want to fill this pretty little cunt with my seed… fuck you hard until you are with child, I can’t wait to see the swell of your belly as I make love to you” he states, pulling himself away from your cunt.

He stands up and pulls his trousers down, his cock stands tall. It’s tip red and throbbing, begging to be inside of you. Your fingers wrap around his shaft, give him soft pulls until he is crawling above you.

Your legs parted for him eagerly, both your eyes fell to the area you are to connect. He holds his cock and presses it to your hole, pushing in slowly.

You felt full, your pussy pulsating around him. It was much easier this time round, your arousal giving you a lot of help. His hips began to rock, your legs wrapped around his waist.

“You're so tight… I want to stay inside of you forever” he groans, his head pressed into your neck as he thrusted into you. You wrap your arms around him, nails scratching his skin. “Please George, I would love nothing more than for you to stay inside of me”.

“Going to make love to you until your cunt is weeping, begging me to stop. Going to to abuse it until my seed seeps out of you”

His words seemed to cause a flutter within your stomach, clenching around him as he drove himself into you. “Please George! Fill me with your seed!” You beg, tears form within your eyes from the relentless thrusts.

He pulls out of you, moving himself up to the head board. “Get on”. You're crawling up to him and sinking back down on his cock, he takes your nipple within his mouth and sucks. “These breasts are but mine until we are blessed with children, I will then share them but then they are mine once they are old enough”.

You hold onto him around his neck once more, moving your hips in slow circles. Your clit rubs against the skin on his stomach, sending shock waves through your body.

“I have that feeling George… I feel pressure” you exclaim, squeezing your eyes shut as you bounce above him. His lips leave your breast and he stares up at you.

“You will feel the most amazing pleasure soon my love, milk me dry. We are to get you pregnant tonight”.

He grips onto your hips and helps you move, watching as your face screws up tightly. Your orgasm is but seconds away from invading your senses. “George!” You cry out, he grunts from beneath you as your head falls back and you cum around him.

You moans can be heard within the castle walls, footmen side eye one another.

“George! George!”

“That’s it my love, let that pleasure take over. I can feel your sucking me dry!”

Your body shakes above him, ears ringing and toes curling. George is seconds behind you, shooting his cum deep within your walls. “Do not stop George! Plant your seed within me, make me with child!”

“I will plant my seed deep inside of you, you will carry our child within a few weeks!” He grunts under you, milked dry from your swollen cunt.

“Wow!” You exclaim, relaxing around him. He stares up at you with tender eyes, placing his hand upon your stomach. “I do hope you will be with child”.

“Me too George, me too”.

[bellarkeselection]

1 - Welcoming the Bridgerton’s

Part 2

The Venus Muse

Here's the first chapter y'all! I am sorry to say that I couldn't tag some of you that asked to be added. If you could give me an update profile tag I will add you that way.

Buckingham Palace was always busy with something going on. The royal castle had many children over the years running around it. I knew this place better than anyone else could imagine. And that truth will help me change my life forever. 

“Your highness, which tiara would you wish for today?” One of my handmaidens named Sunset asked me. 

She was standing by my table vanity that had quite a few tiaras sitting on top of them. Sitting on my bed the fabric of my golden dress swayed when I walked up to her. “The one with three center jewels and the pearl necklace.” 

“Of course, my lady.” She nodded where I lowered my head and she set the tiara in the center. 

The tiara sparkled when the light bounced off the light coming through the window. I stood in front of the tall mirror eyeing my gown that was golden, short sleeves decorated in lace and was long where you couldn’t see the short brown boots I wore unless my dress flew up from the wind. “Sunset, do you think my mother shall begin pressuring me this year?” 

“It is not my place to speak on.”

I reassured her otherwise. “Don’t worry about prying ears. I am asking for your opinion.” 

“I would say she seeks what is best for you, Lady Y/n.” Sunset answered with a shrug of her shoulders. 

Someone knocked on the outside of my door before another lady in waiting peaked her head inside. “Princess, your mother is coming this direction.” I nodded brushing my hands down the front of my dress. 

The door of my bedroom opened for me to see my mother, Lady Danbury and Brimsley all walking up to my room. “I yearn for someone fresh, someone unexpected,  to turn this season on its head. That is what we need. There is no room for indifference.  Apathy is a blight the monarchy simply cannot endure.” 

“Of course, Your Majesty. But remember, a young lady cannot be a diamond until you anoint her as such. So if for any reason you do not find one among the candidates today…” 

My mother cut off her friend. “Do you think she will return?  We have heard nary a peep from Lady Whistledown since last season ended. Perhaps the writer came to her senses. Perhaps she realized taking on her queen was a bad idea, and she will never publish again.”

Lady Danbury responded. “It is a convincing theory, ma'am.”

“Or she simply left for the country, as the rest of us did in the off-season, bored by the lack of any real gossip.”

Lady Danbury made a noise. “Hmm. “

“You do know what that would make her, then?” My mother Queen Charlotte trailed off. 

I finished her sentence being fair too noisy, needing to listen to the conversation of the famous gossiping writer. “One of us.”

“My darling daughter, you look radiant as ever.” My mother turned away from her friend to face me. 

I sent her a smile waving to Lady Danbury to not be rude. “It’s good to see you, Lady Danbury.” 

“Good to see you too, Princess Y/n.” She smiled. 

My mother clasped her hands together in front of her puffy white dress. “I have been needing to speak with you and what this evening needs to entail for you and your happiness.” 

“You wish for me to marry a prince and provide heirs for the crown.” I rolled my eyes already thinking of the answer she would say. 

Yet to my surprise she said almost the opposite. “I wish for you to have happiness and many children. It would help if your husband was royalty, but it is not a requirement.” 

“It isn’t?” Knitting my brows in confusion. 

She takes my hands in hers. “I didn’t get the chance to search for love on my own. My brother arranged my marriage with your father. So I secretly hope that you, my firstborn daughter, can have some fun.” 

“Mother, I…that means so much to me.” I smiled through some happy tears. 

Footsteps came down the long hallway and around the corner before we saw my father’s servant named Reynolds. “My Queen, my princess. I have news.” He bowed with a hand behind his back. 

“What is it, Reynolds?” I asked him. 

He shifted his gaze to mine. “You're father is having an episode, Princess.” 

“Oh…” I made a noise in discomfort. I knew of his illness 

That was the secret my mother and the rest of my siblings and I kept hidden from thr world. They needed to believe that the king was just always busy and so his wide made the appearances out on the town. “Hmm it appears we may have to cancel the ball tonight for the Bridgertons.” My mother sighed in defeat knowing her husband came first. 

“We shall not cancel.” My mother and Reynolds’s both shifted their attention over to me when I had spoken up the opposite of what they assumed would need to be done. “We should not cancel because I can represent the family in your place, mother.” 

She tapped her chin in thought. “I suppose that could solve our problem. I don't wish to cancel the months of preparation that were put into this.” 

“Exactly that would be a tragedy.” 

The queen turned to her husband's helper with instructions. “Inform my husband I will come to his aid. Brimsley?” 

“Yes, your Majesty.” 

She gave him a different set of orders. “Inform the Viscount Bridgerton that my daughter shall be appearing tonight before myself.” He bowed and went in a different direction then Reynolds. 

“Thank you, mother.” I smiled curtseying to her before we parted for the evening. It was quite a few hours before the ball with our castle subjects and the Bridgertons would even begin. By the evening the moon was shining up in the sky and the grand ballroom was lit up like a christmas tree. 

Standing silently outside the currently shut double doors I stopped fiddling with my dress when one of the royal guards gave me a head nod saying it was time. I could hear the announcer's voice before the doors had even begun opening. “May I present to you her royal highness. The daughter of King George and Queen Charlotte, Princess Y.n of England.”

“Thank you, sir.” I whispered to another guard that came to me when I had made my entrance through the doors feeling all eyes on me. Sucking in a tiny breath he escorted me to the small throne before we unlinked arms leaving me on my own. The small crown on my head had never felt so heavy as it did right now. “Greetings my subjects. I am here to announce that my mother got called away tonight for an emergency. But she saw no reason why this event couldn’t go on as planned. So with that in mind let me extend a warm welcome to Violet Bridgerton and her family for traveling here for a few months.”

Everyone began clapping and cheering with an older looking woman who had dark brown hair up in a crown on her head that came up to me and gave a lovely curtsey. “Princess, it is a pleasure to get an invitation.”

“I hope I can get to meet your family greatly over your stay, Lady Bridgerton.”

“Princess Y/n, may I ask you something?” Someone called my name causing me to lift my gaze up noticing someone moving through the crowd. The figure paused beside the Bridgerton woman who seemed to give the man a confused but amused depression on her face. 

I clicked my tongue and answered the stranger's question. “What is your question, my lord?”

“I was wondering if you would accept my offer for a dance together this evening.” The stranger seemed similar to the woman he was standing beside him. I was fairly certain they were related, but which son was he if they were. 

He extended his hand up to me and I smiled, placing my smaller hand in his larger one. “I accept so long as I know which Bridgerton are you?”

“Benedict, Benedict Bridgerton.” He replied leading me out and onto the dance floor with the entire room having theur eyes focused on the two of us.

Comments really appreciated ❤️

Tag list - just ask to be added @abq654 @your-musicguru @imgondeletedis @eruannaaa-blog @cherrylovers-world @benedictbridgertonss @callmedarlingsstuff @carrotcaratsworld @sillynilly27 @emmampl-blog2 @bright-molina @erynel1zasworld @ynbutbetter @stranger-chan @blckbarbiedoll @sanaar3006 @ritz-hell-hotel

[gimmiesophiebaek]

Season Four: What Do We Know

Returning: Luke Thompson (Benedict, lead), Claudia Jessie (Eloise), Hannah Dodd (Francesca), Will Tilston (Gregory), Florence Hunt (Hyacinth), Ruth Gemmell (Violet), Victor Alli (John), Adjoa Andoh (Lady Danbury), Masali Baduza (Michaela), Golda Rosheuvel (Queen Charlotte), Hugh Sachs (Brimsley), Emma Naomi (Alice), Martins Imhangbe (Will), Daniel Francis (Marcus), Jonathan Bailey (Anthony), Simone Ashley (Kate), Luke Newton (Colin), Nicola Coughlan (Penelope), Polly Walker (Portia), Lorraine Ashbourne (Mrs. Varley), Geraldine Alexander (Mrs. Wilson), Julie Andrews (voice of Lady Whistledown)

Status unknown: Chris Fulton (Phillip), Jessica Madsen (Cressida), Kathryn Drysdale (Genevieve)

Joining: Yerin Ha (Sophie, lead), Katie Leung (Araminta), Michelle Mao (Rosamund), Isabella Wei (Posy), Susan Brown (Mrs. Crabtree), Gracie McGonigal (maid), Summer Knox (debutant), Sachin K. Sharma (Louis), Pablo Diska (“Pretty boy”), David Anthony Barr (“Demimonde Man”)

Rumored/Unconfirmed: Elena Saurel (Miss O), Yoyo Chan (undetermined), Arthur Lee (Richard), Chloe Park (young Sophie), unnamed baby Edmund and unnamed baby Lord Featherington

Shonda Rimes: EP

Besty Beers: EP

Julie Ann Robinson: EP

Chris Van Dusen: Creator and EP emeritus

Jess Bronwell: Showrunner

Kris Bowers: Composer

Tom Verica: Director

Jaffar Mahmood: Director (rumored)

Possible flashbacks of Sophie’s childhood: There are two actors who follow each other on IG that could be playing the Penwood (Arthur Lee) and young Sophie (Chloe Park: please do not repost her social media). Rumored young Sophie also follows Shondaland and Bridgerton IGs.   

Sophie "Baek" background. Sophie has a Korean last name but we don't know if that's from her mother or something her dad made up. His last name was Gun (as far as I understand, also a Korean last name), but her stepsisters' last name is Chinese (Li).

Masquerade: Most likely in E1 because it's the season's first ball. It's the place where “attendees are encouraged to transform into whomever they choose”.

It seems that Benedict arrives late to the masquerade ball.

Benophie dance lesson is switched from the terrace to inside a gazebo. One of Sophie's gloves is *involved*. We still don't know how but probably as in the book (i.e. Cinderella's shoe). Sophie's dress is regency style. Benedict's costume is all black or dark brown.

Lake scene. Since both Yerin and Luke have already talked about this I think it's safe to say it will be the big talking point in the season's promo with the Masquerade.

There will be a Xiangqi game, a popular Chinese board game.

Benedict's bachelor place: Confirmed thanks to the designer's mood boards on Pinterest).

Kilmartin Estate in Scotland will also be featured (also from the designer's mood boards in Pinterest).

Both Li sisters will debut at the same time.

Rosamund is vain and Araminta's favorite. She tries to win Benedict, who is "the ton’s most eligible (if totally reluctant) bachelor".

Posy is kinder, chatty, overly friendly and socially embarrassing. According to Wei, Posy goes “on a nice journey” throughout the season. 

Leung: Araminta is fabulous, discerning, blunt and does "not respond well when anything -or anyone- threatens her standing in society". She is a "mother-slash-villain" and would “never call her evil because I adore her – I think she’s absolutely fabulous. She’s just heavily misunderstood��. She is also "feeling the pressure to get at least one of her girls married of" and “chemes to marry off one… to Benedict Bridgerton”.

Leung said Araminta’s costumes “are something else”.

Eloise, Francesca and John return to London, specifically to Bridgerton house.

According to Andoh, there is a garden party in E1 or E2. Not sure if Danbury is hosting that party.

The Demimonde is back. We have seen the Demimonde in Granville's parties in S1.

The story most likely begins in spring (social season's time) but there will be a time jump to autumn. There are leaked photos of the Bridgerton house with changing seasons. In an interview, Brownell mentioned how this will “open the Bridgerton world: this could mean the autumn, the countryside or the working class with a main character (or all three at the same time).”

Benedict will begin the season "aimless" and "loveless". Despite "his elder and younger brothers both being happily married, [he] is loathe to settle down"

Benedict’s fluidity will be explored.

Sophie doesn't know how to dance.

Ha: Sophie "craves and yearns for love despite all of her trauma and neglect". She is "a victim of tragic circumstances" and "has trouble trusting others". She has "been forced to work as a maid for one of the most demanding employers in the ton… [but] her resourcefulness helps her persevere".

Thompson: Benedict is "a man of many interests, and that’s great in some ways, and in some ways, though, can betray a sense of being lost or a little bit restless. And that goes quite deep… There is clearly something in him that’s not very comfortable, a bit scared or a bit worried about the idea of really committing to something. And that’s partly the struggle".

Sophie's decision to disguise herself in order to attend the masquerade will be "risky". This probably means they are following the part of the book where Araminta throws her out into the street after the ball.

We'll see a "shift" in Benedict when he meets a "mysterious lady in silver". He will "find himself on the hunt for Sophie".

Sophie is not "like the debutantes that usually populate Bridgerton". There is a "sincerity of her face".

Love at first sight trope confirmed: Sophie's decision also means that "both lives [hers and Benedicts] are forever changed" after the ball. Ha described it as "prismatic… when the light comes in and then it goes into a rainbow".

Ha: The season will be an "emotional tug of war, this kind of push and pull between what their hearts desire and what society desires for them".

Thompson: Also a "struggle between a proper old-school fairy tale -the romance of it- and the actual reality of the world… both are true. You have to hold both of them -the romance and the reality- in your hand. In its best version, 'true love' happens in the middle of that".

Sophie will struggle with her own mask because of the "battle of social status" or when she is "trying to hide her feelings from Benedict".

Upper and lower class trope: Confirmed. Ha: "It is the first time we really see the upper and lower class come together this season… My character is someone who constantly has her guard up. She… is always reminded of her place and doesn’t dream of more than her station as a maid. However, she is human after all, and craves that human-to-human love and connection. And it’s not until she meets Benedict that she slowly lets her guard down, bit by bit, and starts to create space to let love flow in for her."

Thank you to Mado_93 on Reddit for gathering all this info and allowing me to bring this over to Tumblr!

[the-other-art-blog]

Benophie season episode by episode

Ok, my mind won't be still about Benophie, so here is how I think Benophie season will go. (I'll be editing this as I work on fics about certain scenes and do specific posts/moodboards)

Color code:

BENOPHIE

Bridgerton family (Fran's infertility + Polin and Kanthony's babies)

Sophie and Gun/Li family

Eloise (set up for s5 - Philoise)

Matrons plot (Battle of the Maids, Violet & Marcus, QC, Lady D) + Mondriches

If sometimes I don't mention the non-Bridgerton characters, it's because I couldn't come up with a subplot for them but I know they'll be in the season.

BENEDICT is being chased by debutantes

Kanthony and Polin are enjoying their babies

Fran and John are back and ready to start a family

Eloise comes with renewed energy to learn

Hyacinth and Greg want to go to the masquerade

Araminta arrives in town ready to rule it

SOPHIE helps Rosamund and Posy get ready

Araminta encourages Rosamund to go after Benedict

Servants surprise Sophie so she can go to the Masquerade

MASQUERADE - BENOPHIE

Violet and Marcus reconnect

QC is bored (again) + Lady D + Mondriches

BENEDICT visits the Penwood House

SOPHIE is thrown out

BENEDICT vows to find the LIS

QC wants to find the LIS

2 YEARS LATER - AUTUMN (More detailed post about time jump)

BENOPHIE at Cavender party -> MY COTTAGE

SOPHIE discovers BENEDICT is an artist - LIS sketches

Eloise is attending science seminars

Kanthony + Edmund and Miles, Polin + babies

FranJohn still trying for a baby + Franchaela being BFFs

Hyacinth is excited to debut (16 years old) and Greg is a young man talking about university

Araminta is desperate to marry Rosamund, she's crueler to Posy

Battle of the Maids - Portia v. Araminta

QC and Brimsley + Lady D subplot, The Mondriches subplot

Violet and Marcus' subplot

The Crabtrees discover BENOPHIE in his room - SOPHIE wears his clothes

BENOPHIE have breakfast - spoon scene

BENEDICT sketches, SOPHIE reads

BENOPHIE talk about their parents during tea afternoon - Ben's rock collection/bees & Sophie's Amethyst necklace (Fic about this + post about Benedict + post about Sophie's necklace)

Eloise is attending science lectures - she's hiding something

Fran gets questions about children

Covington Ball - Violet tries to pair Eloise with suitors

QC, Mondriches, and Lady D's subplots

Battle of the Maids - Portia gifts Varley a dress (Post)

Violet and Marcus' subplot

BENOPHIE discussion about Byron and poetry

SOPHIE & Mrs. Crabtrees talk about being a servant/guest

BENOPHIE lake scene (Fic about it)

BENEDICT realizes SOPHIE is illegitimate

FLASHBACK: SOPHIE is illegitimate

BENOPHIE return to London

Violet welcomes Sophie - She notices Benedict and Sophie's connection and Sophie's education

SOPHIE meets the staff and Eloise

BENEDICT asks Eloise to look after Sophie

BENEDICT knows something is up with Eloise

Battle of the Maids - LW reporting

QC, Mondriches, Lady D subplots

BENEDICT shows up to have breakfast with the family

Servants comment on Araminta and the Battle of the Maids and their subplots

BENOPHIE kiss in the staircase

Anthony is hesitant, Colin is more supportive of BENOPHIE

SOPHIE goes to have tea with the family - BENEDICT is there

Violet and the girls complain about Araminta

SOPHIE knows Eloise is hiding something

SOPHIE leaves - sees Araminta, she's back in London - Posy sees SOPHIE

BENEDICT finds SOPHIE having a panic attack

Battle of the Maids - LW reporting

QC, Mondriches, Lady D subplot

BENEDICT takes SOPHIE to his home

BENOPHIE first time

BENEDICT comes out to SOPHIE

BENEDICT asks her to stay - agrees to stay away while she keeps working for Violet

Violet invites SOPHIE to tea

The siblings talk about BENEDICT - joke about debutantes chasing BENEDICT

SOPHIE tells the family BENEDICT is good at art

BENEDICT and Anthony talk about Sienna and SOPHIE

Smith-Smythe recital - FranJohnMichaela scene - Posy and Araminta acting weird

Kate talks to Anthony about Mary and her father

Battle of the Maids - LW reporting

QC, Mondriches, Lady D subplot

Scene with Colin, Will, and John - Conversations about the others' subplots

BENEDICT fights Cavender (Fic about this)

Christmas celebration at Bridgerton House

The Bridgertons talk about BENOPHIE (Fic about this)

Servants receive gifts - SOPHIE gets a new dress from the girls and Violet to wear at the Servants' ball

BENEDICT gives her a book of his sketches and poems about her

Servants ball - BENOPHIE dance

SOPHIE sees BENEDICT play with the children

BENEDICT and Violet's conversation

Kite scene? - BENEDICT goes to find SOPHIE where she's playing with the children (Check this post)

BENEDICT learns the truth

SOPHIE and Violet's scene

SOPHIE is arrested

Battle of the Maids - LW reporting

QC, Mondriches, Lady D subplot

BENEDICT talks with Colin

Jail scene

FLASHBACK: SOPHIE and Araminta

Love confession - Bath scene

BENEDICT comes out to his family

Scene with family - everyone welcomes SOPHIE

BENOPHIE Wedding

BENEDICT and Eloise's swing scene

QC, Mondriches, Lady D subplot

EPILOGUE OPTIONS IN THIS OTHER POST. (Family portrait OR Violet II's baptism)

I have no idea what could QC, Lady D, and the Mondriches' subplots may be. I also don't know what kind of plot will the servants' have. Thank god, I'm not a writer for TV shows cause I wouldn't be able to handle this many characters.

Jess mentioned this will be the most book-accurate season, that it's a proper adaptation. Of course, I added a few things:

Benedict comes out to Sophie and his family.

I hope this season brings ReynoldsxBrimsley back.

Christmas time! Servants' ball

I think it'd be cute if the girls gift Sophie a brand new dress for her to wear at the Servant's ball.

The kite scene goes instead of the game of blind man’s bluff. I'm not sure how that would make Benedict realize Sophie is the LIS but the scene fits with the season and a Korean kite-flying tradition called Yeonnalligi. (Check this post)

Anthony being worried about Benophie cause he thinks Sophie is like Sienna. (Check this post)

Flashbacks -> It seems they will keep Sophie's illegitimacy a secret, so I think it would be good if the flashback comes once Benedict figures it out.

Benedict gets to punch Cavender!

Thoughts? Suggestions? Critiques?

[aaaa-aaaaaaaaaaaaaa]

Queen Charlotte: Did you never marry?

Brimsley: No, Your Majesty. Who could I ever find, who would be free to spend a lifetime with me? I am here. Everyone here cares for the king.

I AM TELLING YOU REYNOLDS IS ALIVE AND WELL (maybe) HE IS JUST WITH THE KING IN KEW. HE DIRECTLY QUOTES THEIR AGREEMENT TO SPEND A "LIFETIME" TOGETHER. HE SAYS "EVERYONE" HERE CARES FOR THE KING BUT IT'S NOT ABOUT EVERYONE IT'S JUST ABOUT REYNOLDS. HE IS WITH THE KING IN KEW. AND BRIMSLEY IS IN BUCKINGHAM HOUSE. AND IN THIS ESSAY I WILL-

[shinyhoundhandseagle]

The Emerald of the Season.

Eloise Bridgerton x Male Character.

AU where Eloise Bridgerton falls in love with someone unexpected.

Word Count:

Part 1/?

Part 2: https://www.tumblr.com/shinyhoundhandseagle/754292327975092224/the-emerald-of-the-season

Relationship: Eloise Bridgerton/Male Character

Warning: None

• • •

The first day of the season started in quite a stressful way if he was being honest. With a beautiful carriage stopping in front of the Buckingham house. Brimsley had been waiting outside with some more service people, all of them excited for the guest to arrive.

“Your Highness”-. Said Brimsley as a man, not older than 18 years old, came out of the carriage. The Prince wearing a blue tailcoat with gold buttons, black pants and shoes.

“Hello Brimsley”-. The young smiled at him as he started walking towards the group. Right behind him was another man, a servant, that Brimsley recognized reminded him of Reynolds when they were young-. “This is Marcel, he doesn’t leave me alone.”

“I was appointed as your chaperone the day you turn 13 your Highness.”

“Where is my aunt?”

“The Queen is waiting for you inside. I’ll have the servants take your stuff to your chambers-.” With a movement of his hand Brimsley had the servants moving quickly to collect everything they had to-. “If you follow me, I’ll take you to the Queen.”

The walk was silent, with Brimsley leading the way as the young man looked around, amused by the castle. Marcel behind his Lord, constantly worrying about his safety and comfort. After some walking they stopped in front of a beautiful door for just one second, enough for both of them to catch their breath and then they went inside.

“Sebastian!”- The Queen looked happy, thrilled even. Her clothes and hair reminiscing of another Era, the Era when King George wasn’t hidden away and England enjoy the privilege of having their 2 monarchs.

“Aunt!”- He passed Brimsley, forgetting to bow or show any type of manners and just hugged her. He had miss her and her sassy attitude.

“You have grown so much since the last time I saw you.”

“I would hope so! I was just 15 when you did-.” He laugh while his Aunt inspected him. Strong jaw, healthy curlier hair, beautiful eyes. A man that would definitely attract the ton-. “It would be kind of embarrassing if I didn’t”.

“Have some tea dear”-. They sat down and while Sebastian decided to have some tea and biscuits the Queen kept inspecting him. He could feel her eyes, watching his every move so he decided to make some conversation.

“The weather seems nic…”

“You know why your father has send you here, correct?”- A sigh escape his lips, he knew exactly why.

“For me to find a wife now that I’ve declined every single woman in Spain?”

“You are the Prince of Spain, the future King and leader of your people. How long did you think you could go without marrying?”

“I knew I had to marry, dread it actually but I know my duty. I just couldn’t find anyone that was bearable enough”.

“Well that’s why you’re here with me, so I can help you find someone worthy of the title you will give them”.

• • •

The Bridgerton house was a mess. Gregory and Hyacinth ran around like the children they were, Anthony, Benedict and Colin were trying to get them ready and under control while Daphne and Violet tried (unsuccessfully) to calm Eloise down. It was her second season on the market and after the disappointment and mess of last year she was more stressed than ever. She couldn’t bring shame to her family anymore.

“Calm down, you will do great”-. Assure Daphne but that seem to fall on deaf ears. Eloise was having a full blown panic attack at this point.

“Eloise calm down, it will be great!”- Her mother held her face between her hands, trying to make her safer and it sorta worked. Her breathing was still erratic but calmer-. “We must make haste”.

That gained her a smile from Eloise, still remembering what she had screamed at Daphne two seasons ago. She wasn’t comfortable enough to talk yet but decided to give her mother a nod instead. She wasn’t ready but honestly would she ever be fully ready?

The ride to the ball was mostly quiet, Benedict tried to get Eloise to talk but he was unsuccessful. She wanted quiet time and after a few minutes that’s what they gave her. With each minute that passed, her heart sank a little bit more and once she saw Lady Danbury’s house her stomach felt like it was turning on itself. She wanted to run, to hide away where no one could find her.

The carriage stopped at the entrance and with a heavy heart she got out of it. Walking in was dreadful and the stares she got didn’t make it anything better.

But this was her life and it was time to face it.

• • •

The ball wasn’t as bad as he thought it would be but to be honest the reason it wasn’t bad it’s because no one knew who he was, no one knew his title and that saved him from every mamma throwing their daughters to him like lose coins.

He walked around everyone, watching closely at every girl in that house. Marcel was right behind him, making sure to watch after his Prince. Sebastian was so concentrated on the dance floor, on moving so quickly around everyone that he didn’t realize that he was about to crash until his shoulder clashed with someone.

Eloise on the other hand was aware of how quickly she was moving, it was actually on purpose. Lord Fife was right behind her, trying to ask her to dance and that was definitely going to go horribly. She was so concentrated on running away from him that she didn’t see the man in front of her until her chest hit his shoulder.

The clash was harsh, making Eloise almost hit the floor when the hit took her balance. Thankfully Sebastian held her by her shoulders, as gentle as he could. Eloise looked up, ready to argue with whoever had bumped into her but before she could articulate any words he spoke.

“Are you hurt?”- He sounded worried and Eloise was frozen. She had never been this close to a man before, not even Theo.

“Ms Bridgerton!”- Lord Fife voice brought her back to reality, he had almost caught up to her.

“What is your name my Lord?”- She asked the brunette man in front of her who had stopped holding her shoulders a few seconds ago.

“What?”

“Your name… Please he is coming and I don’t want to…”- It was clear on her face what she meant and Sebastian wasn’t dumb. He could see the Lord walking towards them, disgusting expression on his face. She wanted to play pretend so the guy would leave her alone.

“Would you allow me this dance my Lady?”- He asked politely while extending a hand for her to take. Lord Fife stopped on his tracks, looking at the strange man in front of Eloise. He had never seen him before.

“Of course”-. She whispered thankfully to the Lord that had decided to help her out. They walked to the dance floor together, him holding her hand up.

“What’s your name my Lady?”- He asked once the dance had started. He wasn’t planning on spending a whole song without any conversation.

“One, two, one… What?”- Counting her steps was important, the last thing she wanted was to step on the nice gentleman foot after he saved her from Lord Fife.

“Your name? Or would you rather me call you ‘The Lady who runs from her matches’?”

“I’m Eloise Bridgerton”-. She could sense the stares from the people around her. She wasn’t know to interact with suitors and that included dancing with them-. “What if your name my Lord?”

“Just Sebastian Borbón”-. Eloise raised an eyebrow. The surname sounded familiar and the accent confused her. It wasn’t French and it was definitely not English.

“Where are you from? I can’t place the accent”.

“You’re blunt”-. He laughed softly.

“I’m sorry, that question was inappropriate…”

“Don’t apologize, be blunt. I promise you my ego won’t get hurt”-. He didn’t find it amusing, he found it brave. There’s not that many women in this society with the guts to be mouthy and it felt like fresh air to him-. “And to answer your question, it’s a Spanish accent”.

“I’m use to people telling me to act more like a lady and those kind of questions aren’t ladylike”-. Her eye roll made him giggle a bit-. “Spain? You seem to be far from home my Lord”.

“Seems like it”.

“If I could ask, why have you come so far?”

“I could bet it’s for the same reason you’re in this ball my Lady”.

“Because your mamma decided to bring you against your will?”

“More like my aunt but yes”.

“Why is it that older women like the idea of forcing younger people to marry? We should be able to choose if we want to do it or not”-. Her eyebrows created a frown and she started ranting about liberation and women’s rights. Sebastian didn’t interrupt her, he just looked at her with wonder on his eyes. She really was an entertaining woman-. “I apologize, I’ve been ranting”.

She looked up, waiting for him to be angry and disgusted at her, to humiliate her in front of the ton. After all that’s what every man felt once they heard her ‘radical’ opinions but not him. He kept looking at her with a soft smile and softly nodded for her to continue speaking but before she could, the song ended and Colin appeared out of thin air as he took her away from the gentleman.

“Are you well sister?”- Colin whispered to her as they walked back to the rest of the family where their mother was waiting. Violet had been worried about her daughter since she had disappeared about 15 minutes ago without saying anything.

“I’m fine brother, just exhausted”-. Eloise lied, not wanting to admit to her brother that the mysterious young man had made her nervous.

“Welcome to my humble house!”- Lady Danbury was now in the middle of the dance floor, with a glass in her hand and a smile on her face-. “Each season we rejoice in courting and in the idea of finding love, and this year won’t be that much different. Except for one thing ladies and gentlemen and that is that the Queen’s nephew, the Prince of Spain will be part of our season. He will be looking for a wife and a future Queen”.

Everyone was whispering and staring. The Prince of Spain? Here? Looking for a wife? The mammas were going insane, looking around hoping to be the first ones to get their hands on the Prince. Almost all the Bridgertons were whispering to each other except Eloise because she was just dancing with a Spanish man… Could it be the Prince? No… Or yes?

“Come here dear, show your face”-. Lady Danbury reached her hand to one of the young men closed to her and pulled him to the center so everyone could get a good look of him.

Eloise’s heart stopped for one second as she looked at Sebastian standing next to Lady Danbury. No, he wasn’t just Sebastian. He was the Prince and she felt like an idiot.

[jackofsometrade]

i can’t be the only one thinking that reynolds and brimsley broke it off eventually??? i genuinely do believe that as the years went on, and as george got worse and worse, and as charlotte and george began to live apart, brimsley eventually had to give up on his hopes for him and reynolds.

listen:

it is made very clear from the beginning of their relationship that brimsley is devoted to reynolds first while reynolds is devoted to the king first. this would make an obvious dent in their relationship, as brimsley is willing to sacrifice his line of duty for the man he loves, something reynolds simply isn't willing to do.

it should also be noted that, during one of brimsley's conversations with charlotte (the one where she asks him if he's married), he tells her that marriage is not possible; who could possibly be devoted enough to love him given his line of duty? his first priority is to the crown, of course! his first priority is to the king.

and, obviously, charlotte thinks that that's weird, because brimsley keeps saying his duty is to the king. she corrects him, even, saying his duty is to her, and he quickly corrects himself and agrees with her. but I don't think that he was truly speaking for himself there. i think he got so lost in what he was telling her, that he began to quote what reynolds had told him. "my duty is to the king."

i think that when they eventually called it quits, it was probably in the middle of an argument. because george was getting worse and reynolds couldn't be bothered with placing his attention on brimsley. we all have seen how close reynolds and george are (that's a completely different post don't get me started right here), so it's easy to assume that reynolds would put him first. after a certain point, it isn't even about his duty anymore; for reynolds, it's about the man (again, don't get me started i will talk about their relationship independently). i think that brimsley probably got tired of waiting for reynolds to pay him mind and called it quits because he can't understand why reynolds won't just love him before anything else.

i truly don't believe reynolds died, but i truly do believe they broke up. brimsley danced on his own and cried about it for a reason. they cannot be together because every person in the castle's duty and devotion is to george, except brimsley. brimsley's duty is to the queen, and his devotion is to the man he loves.

unfortunately, love before duty is just not something reynolds can understand (unless it is, but don't get me started).

[thebadgerclan]

After the Ball

Pairing: King George III x reader x Queen Charlotte

Requested by Anonymous

Summary: After the ball, you share a dance with your loves...

You stood on the side of the ballroom, watching fondly as your King and Queen shared the first dance of the evening.  George had truly come out of his shell since marrying, and after welcoming you into their relationship, he became even bolder.  The King’s public appearances used to be far and few between, but now, he could be seen at balls and social events nearly every week.

The royal couple spun about the ballroom, and when they passed you, Charlotte gave you a warm, adoring smile, which you eagerly returned.  In full view of the court, that was as much affection that you could show your lover; though you had slightly more leeway with George.  You could dance with him, and as you were one of Charlotte’s ladies, it wouldn’t be seen as too odd.

Which is exactly what you did once he and Charlotte had finished their dance.  He spun you onto the dance floor, other couples joining in the dance.  “You look beautiful, my dear,” George said, the last two words whispered.  “Thank you, Your Majesty,” you replied, using his title to save face.  It felt odd to call him “Your Majesty”, as most times, he was just George.  Your George.

When the dance was finished, you found yourself conversing with Charlotte, longing to pull her into your arms, but settling for standing a bit closer to her than was strictly proper.  “Your Majesty,” you said.  “Might I say how lovely you look this evening?”  Charlotte blushed, turning her head to hide a smile.  “Thank you, liebchen.  As do you.”  Charlotte was in her preferred shade of sky blue, her stomacher dazzling with crystals that glinted in the low light.

You had borrowed one of her older gowns; a shade of pale pink in the Georgian style, delicate embroidery and beading on the stomacher.  “Someday,” the Queen mused.  “The world will have changed to such a degree that two women in love will not be something to make a scandal of.”  You turned to face her more fully.  “Do you think so?”  Charlotte nodded.  “I hope so.  Not in our lifetime, but someday.”

For several more hours, Charlotte and George attended to their duties as host and hostess.  When the guests had departed and it was only you, your lovers, and the staff remaining in the ballroom, George clapped his hands.  “Thank you, gentlemen,” he called.  “You are dismissed.  Finish cleaning in the morning.”  The rest of the room’s occupants filed out save a lone violin player.  Clarissa knew of your relationship and remained after every ball expressly for this purpose.

She began playing a waltz, and George extended a hand to you.  “Might I have this dance, my love?”  You smiled as you stepped forward, taking his hand.  George pulled you into his arms and held you close, swaying gently back and forth rather than properly waltzing.  Charlotte had found a flute of champagne and sat down, finally having the opportunity to do so for the first time all night.

“This is all I wanted to do all night,” your lover said, kissing your head where you rested it against his shoulder.  “To have you in my arms.  My sweet, sweet Y/N, how I adore you.”  You said nothing, happy to be in his arms.  The two of you swayed in place for a while before Charlotte came to your side.

“Mind if I cut in?” she said, and George smoothly spun you straight into her arms.  You giggled as you stumbled slightly, leaning in and pressing a kiss to her lips.  The two of you swayed around the room, whispering sweet nothings into each other’s ears.  Charlotte twirled and dipped you dramatically, which was a bit difficult with both of your skirts between you, but you managed.

When you had finished your dance, Clarissa curtsied and discretely exited, leaving the three of you alone in the ballroom.  George made to speak to you, but saw that your attention was elsewhere.  “Y/N?”  You were peering around a corner, watching Brimsley and Reynolds dance, smiles on their faces, eyes only for each other.

“Ahh,” George said, draping an arm around your shoulders.  “Did you know?” you asked, and both George and Charlotte nodded.  “We did,” she answered.  “And we have no plans of saying anything.  They are steadfast in their duties, what they do in their own time is their business.”  George nodded, taking his wife’s hand.  “Indeed.  Now, my loves, shall we retire?”  There was mischief in his voice, and when George took off in a run towards your chambers, you and Charlotte giddily chased after him.

[splashgal]

Bridgerton Recap- 2x1: 'Capital R Rake'

And we’re back!

Okay, so for those of you just tuning in, I’m a pretty die hard Polin fan and started this rewatch as a way to really dissect and contexualize their growing relationship onscreen over the course of the show. And make fun of people’s hair. Now, season one is…not my favorite. It’s fine. It’s got good bits and classic bits, but Daphne and Simon are just not my cup of tea. But Anthony and Kate? I’m very into. So let’s get this show on the road, or as my husband would say- let’s shit this shit.

Sorry girls, he’s taken.

We open back in Mayfair with the color saturation turned up to ‘Wonka’ levels. People are promenading and rowing and then we are following a carriage through the countryside. The requisite CG bee lands on a flower and I again ask why they have decided that this is their logo and mascot and easter egg thing when it y'know…killed their patriarch. I actually do love the bee symbolism, but still. Weird choice, ‘Bridgerton’.

Then we are in front of Bridger-Home. Daphne pokes her head into frame, and I genuinely worry that I’m recapping a recap for a moment. But then we are upstairs inside the home and I see whatcha did there, show. Clever. Or I need to lay off the Fresca and vodka. Anthony, Benedict, Hyacinth, Not-So-Little-But-Still-Adorable Gregory and Francesca are all huddled in the hallway with Violet. Daphne saunters in and looks at everyone.

This group of actors do a really great ‘babble and argue over each other’, which is what they are currently doing, with Daphne loudly pointing out that she left her husband and child to come here. The door they are crowded around finally opens and a gaggle of maids come out, looking pretty over it, followed by Eloise tromping into frame in an off-white presentation gown with a giant feather in her hair. She looks pretty fabulous, honestly.

Her family takes in her appearance with different levels of horror and hilarity. She threatens to beat the ever-loving shit out of them if anyone so much as makes eye contact with said feather and stomps down the hallway, a giddy Violet on her heels.

Over at the palace, Queen Charlotte and Lady Danbury are walking down that one hallway she’s always in with Brimsley. They are both dressed in the same off-white color as Eloise. Charlotte has little gold rope epaulet things and Lady Danbury’s boobs look like they are getting ready to attack her. Charlotte is talking about wanting a new, funky fresh debutante. Lady Danbury points out the the Queen is the one who has to name the diamond. Charlotte changes the subject to Lady Whistledown, asking if Danbury thinks she’s gone and has decided it was a bad idea to go up against the Queen. Or did she just leave town for the countryside like every other member of the ton? ‘You know what that makes her? One of us.’

Over at Feather-House, Pen is on her settee by the window, pretending to read. Her dress is brown and black. It is heinous, but still not the worst thing she will wear this season. Prudence is talking about how the Queen should give them a Dead Dad Pass and let them have a do -over on their coming out. Um, I feel like that didn’t go that well for you last time, Pru.

Pip points out that she doesn’t need to be presented a second time, since she’s marrying the Cheese Man. Yay! I love that guy like he loves a Camembert. Prudence snots that the Cheese Man could still change his mind, and Varley mutters to Portia that it’s more likely when he realizes they aren’t going to pay him to take Pip off their hands. Portia shushes her and says that’s a problem for the new Lord Featherington. Pen continues to look out the window, clearly agitated.

Then we are in a carriage with the Bridger-Women. Daphne is giving El pointers while the latter hyperventilates. Daph asks to see her sister’s winning smile and Eloise flatly refuses. Violet pipes up and asks Daphne to tell Eloise about how to curtsey and isn’t this stuff you could have been working on in the off-season? The eldest daughter leans toward her sister and tells her she has natural gifts, before El cuts her off and tells Daphne not to patronize her before snatching a fan out of Frannie’s hands and waving it in front of her face like a psychopath. Claudia Jessie is so funny, and knocks it out of the park anytime they let her show it. Violet is already over it by the way.

Over in the Bridger-Men’s carriage, Anthony is explaining to Benedict and (NSLBSA) Gregory that it should be no sweat finding a wife this season. He points out the Simon managed, so it can’t be too hard, which is pretty funny since he married your sister. Benedict mocks him, but Anthony has a plan. And a list of every requirement he is looking for, including but not limited to ‘dutiful, suitable enough hips for child-bearing, and at least half a brain’. He amends the last one to say it’s not a requirement, but a preference. Neither of his brothers look too impressed. When you’re getting quietly mocked by (NSLBSA)Gregory, you need to check yourself. That scene needed at least forty percent more Colin.

And then it is presentation time! The Queen is bored out of her mind. In the back, El is losing her shit and trying to come up with last-second ways to get out of this. Violet assures her daughter that she will always be a diamond to her. Aw, I want her to be my mom. Eloise can’t appreciate anything though, and says she wishes Penelope were there. Back over at Feather-House, Penelope is looking out her window. Portia calls to her that she will be a wrinkled, freckled old hag that no one will want if she gets too much sun. Pen apologizes, but goes right back to looking. Hee.

And now we are at El’s debut. We get a cool shot of the doors opening and the crowd looking toward her. She takes a step into the room, panting like a rabid gopher (trust me). She looks ready to pass out. Violet looks very concerned. Then we are back with Pen, who perks up at what she sees out the window. A newsboy is running down the street with fresh copies of Whistledown. ‘It’s here!’ she announces. Back over at the palace, El is still trying to find the will to live as she takes another step forward. Just then, a side door opens, and a footman rushes in with Whistledown on a silver tray. The Queen gets all haughty and asks what the eff he’s doing before she sees what he is holding, and then her eyes get like the wolf in the old Tex Avery cartoons.

Charlotte announces that she’s seen enough and straight-up leaves her own ceremony. El gets excited and rushes back out as a herd of footmen come in with copies of Whistledown to hand out to everyone else. Daphne turns to Anthony and wishes him luck. Anthony stares into the abyss. Dame Julie finally goes into voiceover to ask if we missed her.

Credits! With the theme song! I was so annoyed when it was only used once last season, so I’m hoping it’s in more episodes this season. So I’ve always thought that they made a new sequence for each season, but it looks like they just added things to season one here. The dance floor and the dueling pistols are still here, but now there’s a pocket watch and a beehive. I’m not sure, I’ll try to remember when we get to season three.

Over at the park, we are ignoring child labor laws as newsies continue to sell papers. Dame Julie tells us that while the rest of the aristocracy were being lazy assholes around the countryside, she was honing her skills hatching her plans sharpening her knives- ‘for all of you’, Pen choruses with Julie as she sits at her writing desk in a nightgown that looks amazing on her.

Then we go into a tilty dutch angle flashback, or as we call it in my house, the Joel Schumacher. We see Pen slinking around the edge of a party, absorbing gossip from her mother before getting a signal from a coachman out the window. We see her sneak out and into a waiting carriage. It occurs to me (I’ve obviously read too much fanfic) that she’s always portrayed as hiring an anonymous hack to do this, but this carriage is obviously a Featherington one, because she has her maid costume stashed under the seat. Then we are in the print shop with her, where she’s reading the riot act to a man twice her size. She’s putting on an Irish accent, but it’s different than the Nicola Coughlan’s actual accent, which is an interesting but odd choice. She tells him to give the paperboys a raise and then calls him a lazy arse. His face falls like he’s disappointed in himself. ‘Yes, mum,’ he mumbles. Hee!

Dame Julie tells us that everyone wants to know her identify, but such an endeavor would be ‘fruitless’ as we watch Pen hide her money under her floorboards. Back in the Feather-House drawing room present, Pen starts to ask Portia if she can go to the- but her mom is already waving her away as she, Pru and Pip all read Whistledown. Dame Julie reminds us that the diamond has yet to be announced, ending with a straight-up callout of Charlotte as we see the Queen reading the paper next to Lady Danbury.

Over at Bridger-Home, Francesca is playing the piano while Eloise half-heartedly dances with (NSLBSA) Greg as an instructor tries to help her find the beat, but he’s off, so I don’t even know what that’s about. Hyacinth pipes up that El sucks and Ben, who is drawing on the opposite sofa (yay!) points out that El can hear her, which El echoes a second later, before stepping on (NSLBSA) Greg’s feet. Violet stresses to her daughter that she needs to be perfect to catch the Queen’s eye. Ben snarks that he’s shocked El was not named the diamond.

Anthony strides in and no joke, the first five times I watched this episode, I thought he was talking about someone named ‘Dave Collins’, and I was like ‘that’s random’. But when I recap, I do it with the caption on. What he actually asks is if anyone else was aware that ‘dear Colin’ added Albania to his tour. That makes more sense. Dave is not a real regency-ish sounding name. Eloise stops dancing for a second to climb onto her soapbox and talk about how lucky Colin is to be able to do whatever the eff he wants, while she is stuck trying to be perfect for the Queen. Penis-owners, amirite?

Violet asks Anthony if he’s staying for tea, and he declines. He’s far too busy. He needs to fill the coffers at the modiste, hire extra staff (I've heard about these staffing issues) he needs her ring, and he’s worried about leasing some land that had hard frost. Violet’s eyes bug out of her head, and she looks at Ben, who looks at Hyacinth. Violet asks for clarification. Anthony: ‘The frost hardens the soil, saps it of nutrients.’ Hee! I’m going to really try to temper my absolute adoration of Jonathan Bailey in these recaps, but I’m only human. Violet says she’s talking about the ring, and Ben asks if someone caught his eye at the presentation. Hy points out that all the young ladies looked beautiful. Anthony answers ‘not particularly’ (ha!) and says the ladies all look the same. He’s just trying to be prepared. Is he going to propose in the street like men were doing last season to Daphne? He’s indexed the women and will be conducting interviews. Violet laughs at this for a moment before she realizes he’s serious. She says she will give it to him when he finds someone he is in love with, before turning to Ben and telling him he needs to check on his brother. Hee. Anthony says he doesn’t need coddling, he’s got this under control. He checks his pocket watch.

‘Stay Away’ by Nirvana kicks up on the soundtrack, and we go into a montage that I cannot do justice, I’m just warning you. A top-hatted Ant (looking kind of like he should be twirling a mustache) in his carriage, checking his list, and then we are on a date. He asks a woman how many children she wants, he quizzes another on a hypothetical daughter’s penchant for overspending. She just stares blankly at him. He crossed a name off, and then we are in his bedchamber I think, where he is telling a footman (or maybe his steward? Or valet?) El needs a new lady’s maid. He specifies that she needs to be more strong-willed than the last one. Find a large German woman then! His footman/steward/valet drops account books on his desk that need Ant’s signature. Then we are in an unfamiliar drawing room. I see a pineapple on the table, so these peeps got money. A girl is waxing poetic about the harp, before Anthony asks if she reads. ‘Books?’ she answers confusedly. He scratches her name out. Then we are in the bedroom of a courtesan who looks to have an amazing 80s perm going on. I missed that the first few times too, because a second later, we get Anthony standing from the bed, naked. I’m only human. He drops coins on her nightstand. Now we are in the park, where a girl is telling him all the languages she speaks, and then we are at a soiree of some kind, where he dancing with a girl who looks like Judy Greer. She steps on his feet, and he rolls his eyes. Next, we are back at Gunter’s, where Anthony is shoveling in ice cream while a different girl lists her accomplishments, ending with ‘I even construct my own hats!’ A second woman leans into frame behind her, displaying said hat. Ha! Anthony’s eyes go crazy. Now he’s crossing out multiple names. Then he is naked in a different courtesan’s room. Work, cross, pocketwatch, coins, write, bone, headache, coins. RIP Anthony- you would have loved gummies. Like I said, I can’t do it justice, but it’s amazing. Go watch it if you haven’t recently.

Then we are with a couple ducks in the misty morning fog. Anthony rides into frame on Jack (yay Jack!), whose name I don’t know on the show I guess. He’s in his top hat and Sherlock Holmes coat, and I ask if it’s a necessity that the leading man appear like this in the first episode of his season. SpashGuy reminds me Colin doesn’t get a horse or a hat, but his coat is better. I remind him that Colin might have rode his horse into the ocean, and then we go off for several minutes on horse-drowning jokes that were mostly in bad taste, so I won’t include them here.

Anyway, Ant is on his horse, looking like he has lost the will to live. Just then, he sees a flash of a woman in a hooded cloak ride past him. He gives chase and we get those ridiculous close-up green screen shots of each of them. Both her hood and his top hat stay perfectly still on their heads. He continues to follow her, and then warns her when she approaches a line of shrubbery. She jumps it and he gets a semi. He watches as she rides on a little further before pulling down her hood and looking at him. I’m not going to pretend that I don’t know who this is. It’s Kate. I love her. And now Anthony definitely has a full-on. He bows and she smirks. I love them.

We see her riding slowly some time later and he gallops up. She apologizes for causing him concern. He asks if her maid knows she rides a horse like a dude, and she says she has no maid. He guesses that she’s married, then quickly apologizes and asks if she’s lost. She’s kinda got ‘fuck off’ tattooed on her forehead here, buddy. She’s on her way back to Mayfair and she doesn’t need to talk to strange men in the park. Anthony refers to their earlier encounter as a race, and the woman says ‘Does one not need actual competition for a race?’ He argues back instantly, and then she pokes at him. Anthony points out she’s going the wrong direction if she wants to get back to Mayfair. She turns and rides off. He calls after her, asking her name, but she blows him off. He grins at her.

That was fucking adorable.

Over at Lady Danbury’s, we are with Edwina and her mother. They are discussing how Kate is missing. Lady Danbury enters behind them and greets Lady Mary warmly, ‘after all these years’. Mary introduces Agatha to Edwina, who thanks Lady Danbury for her hospitality, and compliments her home. Danbury announces it’s theirs for the season, before saying she thought there was another guest? Mary agrees that there is another person- Kate. Lady Danbury asks if they forgot her on the ship from India, and the other two women laugh awkwardly, having no idea where Kate is.

As if summoned like CandyMan, Kate strides into the room, apologizing for her lateness. She says the gardens are so lovely, she had to go enjoy them. She notices the hem of her dress is caked with mud and flips it behind herself. Mary properly introduces Kate. Lady Danbury says ‘Well, now that we are all arrived-‘ but Kate The Audacious interrupts to say they are not all here- there is still Newton. My brain sub-consciously perks up, but a moment later, we cut to a large Corgi, and not a big-haired Bridgerton bro, sitting on her lap. That probably would have been awkward anyway. Lady Danbury is not vibing with this dog at all. Edwina mentions Danbury’s ball, which will be at a conservatory. Ooh, just like ‘Clue’! If you have never seen ‘Clue’, or haven’t watched it in a long time, go watch it. It really holds up.

Anyway, still at Danbury’s Debutante Boarding House, Mary says that the upcoming ball will be an excellent entrance into society. Lady Danbury tells her that she could have made arrangements for them to be at the Queen’s presentation ceremony, but she wanted to check them out first before letting the Queen see them. Not that it matters, only about four girls made it into the room. Because the Queen stans Whistledown above all others. Lady Mary is nervous about seeing the Queen at the ball. Danbury announces she’s hired all kinds of help, from dance instructors to French tutors and everything in between. She seems to think she’s about to ‘She’s All That’ this situation. She tells the two girls to stand, before complimenting their posture and smiles.

Edwina is into this, Kate not so much. Lady Danbury points out that they will have to really beg a man to take Kate, since she’s an old maid at twenty- six. Kate assures her host that she is not looking for a husband, and is only there to help Edwina find one, before announcing that she’s awesome. Then she turns to her pet monkey and tells her to dance. And dance she does, speaking French to Lady Danbury. ‘I assume that’s all curse words’, my husband says, but if it is, Lady D is cool with it. Kate announces that Edwina speaks multiple languages, plays many instruments, and is an incredible dancer. I personally am hoping she busts out The Robot later, then. Kate goes on to list all the dances she has taught her sister, before insincerely saying she hopes that Lady Danbury didn’t go to much trouble getting instructors they don’t need. She announces that they still have much to learn though, like how to make the excellent tea they are drinking. Ooh, Regency burn! Mary all but pushes Kate outside to make her dog take a shit.

Eloise and Penelope are walking through the outdoor market place, trailed by nameless maids. El is complaining (dang, that should be a macro) that Daphne gave her a list of pointers. Pen stops to look at quills and Eloise comments that she goes through them very fast. How does one ‘go through’ a quill? They don’t get sharpened like a pencil or run out of ink like a pen. She needs a new quill to keep up with all of her correspondence.

Is she writing the new heir? Ooh, mystery! But no, Pen has been writing to Colin. Ooh, Escandalosa! This is what PBS.org had to say about unmarried men and women writing to each other during this time period- ‘Men had to formally request a correspondence and women accepted or declined entering this more serious stage. Accepting signaled a couple was on the road to engagement.’ Well, Mazel Tov, Colin! You got a real spitfire there. I’m glad that storyline wrapped up so quickly!

El calls her brother boring, but at least he’s been somewhere. Pen brings up Lady Whistledown and asks if Eloise is grateful that she ruined the presentation. Eloise negs Pen’s alter ego and says she hasn’t really missed her, and it’s given her a chance to read other very important things. I paused the show to type and Penelope’s face is a perfectly sour pout. I wonder when El will become a sentient being. Maybe season four? El thinks Lady Whistledown should write about important things and not tea parties and balls and other society garbage.

Over at Feather-House sometime later (that night, the next month, the following January; I don’t know) Mrs. Varley is asking if Portia wants her to prepare some potatoes. Pru pokes her head out from behind a privacy screen and complains. Pip chimes in as she checks out her own cleavage in a nearby mirror (hee). Why are they eating so many potatoes? Because Varley is running this whole gotdam house presently. Pen asks her mother worriedly if all the other staff are really gone. I mean, she’s not that worried. She’s laid back on a chaise lounge reading a book. The girls continue to complain that they have no new dresses and no staff and are not going to empty their own chamber pots. ‘There are starving children in China who have to do that every day!’ SplashGuy yells at the television. Well, his heart is in the right place, at least.

Portia says that as soon as the new owner of their lives shows up, he will take care of everything. When Prudence asks why he is taking so long, Portia says that he wants them to suffer. That’s a reasonable answer to that, sure. She calls him cruel and announces that he might send them someplace terrible, like Cornwall. Her daughters are horrified at such a thing, and I quickly google to see if Cornwall is like Auschwitz, because that is how they are acting. Nope, this is Cornwall:

These girls be crazy. Phillipa says they can visit she and Cheese Man, and Pen snaps that she must not have a dowry either. Pip is horrified that she can’t marry. Feather-Lady calls the new Feather-Baron an old, bitter man. She turns to her other daughters and announces they need to find husbands asap, otherwise they will be at his mercy. Varley suggests selling the silverware, and Portia stomps off. Pen looks befuddled.

Kate is holding a dress up to her in front of a mirror. Edwina enters the room and asks if she is going to wear it, and Kate says the nice things are for her. She’s the one that is finding a husband. Not Kate. No siree. SplashGuy points out that there is no way they were the same dresses, which is likely true. Edwina is four inches shorter and a least a cup size bigger than Kate. They talk about how Kate is happy to be an old maid and just a fun auntie. Edwina is worried the ton won’t like her. Oh, girl- they don’t like anyone. They make reference to Lady Mary marrying their father and the gossip that came along with it, and she mentions that everyone will ask how she and Kate are related. ‘We are sisters,’ Kate says simply. They talk about Lady Danbury, and Edwina makes reference to Kate’s horseriding that morning, clarifying that no one saw her. Kate lies and says no one saw her, but it’s not important. Kate gasses Edwina up, and they talk about what the younger Sharma sister is looking for. Edwina starts talking about finding a handsome Duke. Sorry, babe. That was last season. Kate reminds her that she will marry for a mind and spirit, someone who speaks to her heart. That is what she wants. ‘That is the true love you deserve.’ She is not over-identifying with this at all. I think everything will work out perfectly here. A couple maids come in to help them get ready, and Kate holds up the dress gleefully. ‘They will not be ready.’

Ooh, this regency drama is playin’ my jam! ‘Material Girl’ starts up on the soundtrack as we head over to the conservatory. Kate, Edwina, Mary, and Agatha all enter to the sight of an awesome dance number. Here’s where I’m going to give a shoutout to Jack Murphy, who does the choreography for the show. He’s amazing and I love him.

Lady Danbury immediately starts pointing out titled men, first a Marquis who looks about sixteen, followed by an Earl whose wife just died of influenza. Really, Danbury? He looks sad. Lady Danbury suggests that Kate dance with him, and she quickly says she’s not dancing tonight. She’s long past that. At twenty-fucking-six. She’s just here to wingman for her sister. Kate asks about a Duke, saying he is supposed to be a catch, and LD says he flaunts his mistresses and she has this part covered. Step off, Katie. A footman passes behind them with a pineapple.

Suddenly, the Queen appears. She’s wearing a pretty cute green gown, but her wig is not my favorite. Charlotte sees Lady Danbury and congratulates her on the awesome par-tay, but her’s will totes be better. LD agrees whole heartedly before presenting Mary, Kate and Edwina. The Queen blows Mary off, but Lady Danbury loves a challenge.

The dancers finish their crisp ‘Vogue’ ish movements and leave the dance floor just as the doors open up and Violet, Eloise, Benedict and Anthony enter. Eloise starts acting like there’s a bee in her corset, and Ant tells her to stop fidgeting. Violet tells her she looks lovely, and El counters that she looks ‘like a calf, trussed up for auction’. Benedict gets in her bubble and moos. Ha! The dorky, ginger Marquis from earlier approaches quickly and Benedict, good big brother that he is, leads El away quickly, talking about cake. This show is obsessed with cake, but I’m hoping it isn’t still carrying on with the sex metaphor in this instance, since El and Ben are siblings, and this isn’t ‘Flowers In The Attic’. Although Claudia is into it, if it’s ever offered up at any point. Where was I? Right- dorky ginger. He kinda sighs in frustration as he watches El walk off. Anthony surveys the crowd, and calls it a ‘sparse crop’. Well, maybe it’s because of the hard frost. Violet says he can find someone here who will charm him, before raising her voice to announce that the Viscount intends to take a wife. Everyone stops and stares at them. ‘You honestly just did that,’ he notes. ‘I believe I did,’ his mother answers. Hee! They get swarmed immediately.

Ladies Mary and Danbury glide past a carton of Easter eggs- oh no, wait. It’s actually a gaggle of catty women, dressed in their best pastels. Portia and Lady Cowper gossip about Mary, with Cressida trying to join in. Pen stands nearby, eavesdropping. Mary was the diamond of her season, but she fell in love with a married nobody and ran away to India. He even already had a child! They point out Kate, and then talk about how much better they are than the Sharmas, or her parents, the Sheffields.

Oh, wrong Sheffields I think.

The Cheese Man appears and Pippa runs over to him. Aw, I really like them. A moment later, his parents appear and Portia approaches. They point out that she’s been in mourning a long time. ‘Darkness has been our candle in recent months’. Whu? Cheese Man Sr. asks if the new heir has shown up yet to settle Pip’s dowry so they can take their new acquisition off her hands. Portia starts fake crying and calls Arthur ‘my dead, dead husband’, which makes me laugh out loud. It was pointed out by one of my besties that Lady Featherington is just like Julie Cooper from ‘The OC’, and now I can’t unsee it. Cheese Man’s parents argue over who thought it was a good idea to approach her about this. She pretends to cry for another beat as they scamper away, and then she rolls her eyes.

We are across the room with all the ladies from Danbury’s Debutante Boarding House. Kate sees Anthony across the room and announces that she knows him. Kate, you’re so bad at this. You literally just told Edwina that you didn’t see anyone on your ride. Lady Danbury’s spidey sense starts tingling right away. She recites Anthony’s CV to everyone: rich, well-connected, and from a respected family. Sure, until everyone hears that Colin rode his horse into the ocean again. LD goes on to say that Ant is looking to marry, and might be their most eligible bachelor. Might be? Edwina points out that he’s a stone cold hottie, too. Kate agrees, kind of begrudgingly.

A very tall, very young looking guy comes over. Lady Danbury greets him as Lord Corning. He kinda has Lurch energy to him. He introduces all the ladies of her boarding house. He really does look about seventeen, which means he’s the first male we have seen who looks the right age for Edwina, because Charithra Chandran looks very, very young and very small. Kate clarifies that this guy has a title, and Danbury calls him a Baron. That’s all Lil’ Sharma needs to hear! Of course she wants to dance. They wander off and Kate remarks that she doesn’t remember reading about Lord Corning. In what- Golddigger’s Weekly? Do they get that all the way in India? Lady Danbury snaps that women do not ever turn down men who ask them to dance before slamming her cane on the ground and walking off. They seem to be really hitting it off! Kate starts to wander off, but looks back at Anthony, who is still surrounded by shameless women.

Outside, two servants are gossiping about a guy who has a bastard child in the country, as Pen listens in, now five feet away. Wow, she really is invisible. Oh, maybe not. El has spotted her, and immediately states that Violet is being insufferable. Pen points out that at least Bridger-Mum doesn’t dress her like a sunflower, gesturing to her dress. Holy crap. Pen’s boobs are out of control here. They look like they might smother her. What is happening with the corsets in this episode? Two men approach quickly, one asking El for a dance, the other asking if she wants some lemonade. I think one of these dudes is Lord Cho? Eloise is awkward and fidgety (another possible macro) as Possibly Cho says she looks parched. ‘How can you tell? Is she wilting?’ Pen mutters to herself, before answering herself that it was a plant pun. Pen, you have a super cute sense of humor and a killer rack. You should find a guy who can appreciate both. Unfortunately, I think he rode his horse into the ocean some time ago.

Eloise kind of sassily announces that her dance card is full, raising her wrist to shake said card at them. She pulls Penelope away as the two men stare after them. Pen starts reading the names on the card, and they’re all false names on her card, like Lord Byron. That puts us at a 3 on the Byron count for the series I believe, for those of you weird enough to track that sort of thing. Like me. El tells Pen that Daphne informed her that it was very important that her dance card be filled with the right names. Ha. Violet comes over and literally pulls El away to meet someone, presumably an awkward man with a title.

Kate is on the edge of the dance floor, watching her sister dance with really really tall Lord Corning. She smiles before letting her eyes drift over to Anthony, who is dancing with one of his flock of fangirls. This choreo kind of looks like The Jitterbug. Weird. The camera follows her as she moves to get a closer look at his awkward dancing. Oh, now it looks like The Laendler from ‘The Sound Of Music’. Seriously, Johnny would be so good. Anyway, these two cannot dance together for shit. And dancing through life is very important to him, so Anthony randomly bows in the middle of the song and walks off! Isn’t that a major party foul? How is it women can’t even say no to a man, but they can leave the woman in the middle of the dance floor in the middle of a song if she’s not do-si-doing well enough for him? We don’t really get to see the lady’s reaction as he makes a break for it outside as Kate watches.

We hear someone call Anthony’s name and he clearly looks irritated before he goes over and joins a group of men. We have ForSure Cho (the lemonade man) and Lord Stanley (thank you IMDB), as well as Lord Fife, who can rot in hell. Fife thanks Anthony for taking the heat off of them. He is implying that they're on the same plane of existence, which is ridiculous. Cho suggests he pick a random and get her ‘wed, bed, and bred’, before Fife says he can then get back to more pleasurable pursuits and partners. These guys are all class. Kate steps outside, unseen by the group and stops to listen in. Ant says if he’s going to be stuck with one of these women, he’s looking for more than just a wide birth canal. One of them suggests he’s looking for a love match, but don’t worry, he shuts that down fast. In order for his kids not to suck, their mom must be hot and smart, and none of the single ladies are doing it for him. Does he not remember that one chick who played the harp? Or the one who made her own hats?

Cho says maybe the Queen will name a diamond and take the guess work out. Well then, let’s hope it’s not his sister. He points out that Anthony will still need to woo whatever random girl Charlotte points at. Anthony is all bravado as he’s like ‘no problem there’. Ew. Wait, Fife suddenly has a pipe, like he’s friggin’ Bing Crosby. What the crap? He suggests going to the smoking room. Oh, absolutely. Why smoke in the outdoors when you can pollute an otherwise perfectly good room in a conservatory, where plants are trying to breathe. Love that. Anthony says he will be right there and the rest of the Idiot Brigade wander off. Kate takes a beat to calm herself before taking a step and immediately upsetting a random flower pot on the ground. It of course makes a noise that Anthony of course hears. He follows her before stopping in his tracks. He’s already smiling. He says he never got her name, before saying he wondered if they would meet again. ‘So you might discern if my wit is acceptable?’ Kate answers. Ooh!

He accuses her of spying before asking if she has a problem with his requirements. She says she has a problem with any man who views women as breeding stock. She steps closer and addresses him as Viscount Bridgerton, before asking if, when he finds this perfect woman, she will accept him? ‘Are the young ladies of London truly so easily won by a pleasing smile and absolutely nothing more?’ Anthony, who is clearly thinking with Little Anthony, misses her point entirely and flirts ‘So you find my smile pleasing?’ She tells him his character is a deficient as his horsemanship. Ooh- equestrian burn! Anthony just kind of watches her go with wide eyes.

We are back with Penelope, who is getting ready to make a break for it. The footman gives her a signal with his lantern and she starts heading out, but is stopped by El. When asked where she is going, Pen makes the excuse that it was to stifling in the ballroom, and El makes a crack about the boring conversation. Then she realizes that now that she’s out, they can always be together all the time at these events! Pen is thrilled by that too, unless you’re going by her face. Or body language.

Violet approaches Benedict, asking if he’s seen El or Anthony, and he asks if they’d managed to escape her, before saying ‘good!’. Ooh, spicy boy. She turns to watch him go and is approached by Lady Danbury. You guys, this episode is a hundred years long. I’ve been literally writing this for days. Danbury states that she’d have been fine if some of these people hadn’t come. To the party she invited them to. She then mentions that she and Violet have common interests this season. I get distracted, because I see another (or maybe the same?) footman walking past with a whole pineapple on a tray again. LD calls Violet out on announcing to everyone that Anthony is looking to…what was it? Wed, Bed, and Bred this season? Bridger-Mum is about to answer when Kate walks up to them with Edwina in tow, announcing that they want to leave. Danbury tries to introduce her to her future mother-in-law (shit, spoiler!), but Kate is like ‘right now, we outtie’. She says that they were clearly not ready for the lion’s den that is Mayfair. Did something else happen that was left on the cutting room floor? Is this really based on Anthony being kind of a prick? Kate drags her adorable little sister away, and then Violet and Agatha commiserate about what assholes these kids are.

At Feather-House, Pen yells good night to everyone before shutting her door and starting to silently wig out. She pulls her Whistledown paper out of her cleavage (PSA: women’s dresses should always have pockets!) She reads it for a moment, presumably covered in her boob sweat, before stuffing it back in and sneaking out. We see her in a carriage dressed in her Irish maid disguise, doing her homework on the bus on the way to school. The sun is rising as she rushes into the printers. She apologizes and says it needs to print before noon. The Print Man is not psyched about that. Pen pulls open a pouch of her takings and does some really fast math that kinda scares me, before offering him a bonus for the fast service. This is going to happen more since El is glued to her hip now, after all. She exits the shop and smiles to herself. I think he might have done it for less if she showed him where she keeps it, but that’s just me.

Dame Julie is back on voice over, talking about the sweet smell of success, and I can’t help but think Pen is accidentally calling out Anthony’s number one aphrodisiac early. We see him in his study? I don’t know. It’s not the same study as at Bridger-Home last season. Maybe this is at his ‘bachelor lodgings’ that we didn’t see is season one? Anyway, Julie is recapping that Violet threw Ant to the wolves, but Julie is wondering if this ‘Capital R-Rake’ ( roll credits!) is actually ready to be moving on. Anthony picks up a flyer or program of some kind advertising Sienna’s role in a Mozart opera. He drops it into the fireplace as the camera pans over to the palace, where Julie is wondering if he’s just waiting for the Queen to name the season’s diamond. I guess so he can immediately go pee on her? And then Julie suggests that she just make the selection for Charlotte. Lottie announces she is not going to let Whistledown ‘hustle her’ into choosing someone, before immediately asking to see a list of…every titled person, I guess. Her wig looks kind of like those fake clumps of moss you can get in bags at Michael’s.

We fade up over at Bridger-Home, where El is in the drawing room on one end of the sofa. A guy who looks about twelve is on the other end. Is this the same kid who tried to dance with her at the conservatory? I am pretty sure it is. Violet offers him tea, and El replies that he might just want warm milk. He notices Hyacinth and NSLBSA Gregory on the floor nearby and excitedly joins them for a game of marbles. El asks to go read somewhere that’s else, before wandering out of the room.

Over at Danbury’s Debutante Board House, Lords Fife and Cho are seating opposite Edwina in the drawing room. They both leave, muttering to themselves that the little one is fine, but the sister is a nightmare. Kate looks very pleased with herself. Newton defies all laws of physics and manages to jump up on one of the chairs.

Then we are with Cheese Man (yay!) over at Feather-House, reading Lady Whistledown. Julie is giving an overly-long metaphor about the flowers on display this season and how she hopes that when the diamond is picked, her suitor doesn’t leave her wilting. Oh, Pen is a joke repeater! Cheese Man snorts, before calling Lady Whistledown clever. Pen is pretty adorably flattered from her spot by the window. She rises to flounce off, but falters when she hears Portia directing Mrs. Varley to sell the candlesticks next. Don’t worry, Pen. You can still kill someone with the wrench. She looks pensive as she walks out of the drawing room.

Back over across the street, Greg and Hy are fussing with each other at a table filled with treats, Fran is playing the piano, and Anthony is reading the newspaper. Violet is telling Madame Delacroix that El was getting complimented on her gown from the soiree at the conservatory. She says someone compared her to Daphne. Eloise quickly points out that she is not Daphne, and you can’t get anything past this one I guess. Violet picks out a bolt of lovely periwinkle fabric that we would call ‘blurple’ in our house. Gen starts packing up her stuff as Violet suggests that El might enjoy actually dancing at the next ball. El alley-oops to Anthony, asking if he liked all the ladies he got to dance with. ‘I can still barely feel my toes’, he answers quickly. Hee. Anthony thought ladies were taught to dance. Yeah, well El thought men were taught to be able to speak in full sentences, so it’s tough all around I guess. Hyacinth skips over to announce that she thinks Eloise would be make a great diamond. Her older sister stares at her before announces that she despises her. Her mom and sister chuckle at her.

On her way out, Gen and Ben meet in the doorway. He didn’t know she was back, can he see her tonight? She blows him off, but not in the way he was hoping. Her ‘art’ must come first. He watches her go before Anthony calls him over. ‘Are you and the modiste still…making a stitch?’ Ha. Benedict volleys back, asking if he found a wife yet, or is he still just offending all of them on a case by case basis. Anthony announces he’s off to the solicitor’s office and Violet rushes after him. She’s already giving him a sales pitch before she’s even in the hall. Lady Delilah has excellent manners. Sure, as long as you don’t let her near the scissors I guess. That was a bible joke. I’m multi-faceted, people. Miss Goodrum is great with her needlework. I think if I were forced into a situation where I had to be proficient at needlework, I would just jam the thing into my eye and be done with it. He easily calls both women idiots, before announcing that he’s looking for perfection. His wife will be a Viscountess, he wants her to at least be able to hold a map right side up. Violet, to her credit, does look at least slightly chagrined. She announces that he will end up alone with those expectations. He absorbs that before stalking off. Sorry Violet, but he is way too beautiful to ever have to really have to work for it.

We are outside Feather-House, where one man in a top hat passes by. Huh? That was weird. Inside, Pen is looking at her Whistledown money. She looks amazeballs in this scene. She hears Prudence singing in the hall (no, I don’t know why), and hides her loot under the floorboards a second before her sister enters the room. Pru asks why it’s so quiet. Because she’s not randomly doing arpeggios before bed, you weirdo. Pen says she’s reading. Alone. Prudence calls her boring before going over to Pen’s desk. She mispronounces a word and Penelope calls her dumb, before Prudence picks up something from Pen’s desk, asking what it is. They scrabble over it, with Pen pulling it away. Portia comes in, asking why she isn’t hearing the evening rolled chords anymore. Prudence, ever the drama queen, announces, ‘Penelope was writing. To Colin Bridgerton!’

Portia isn’t scandalized, horrified or even surprised, just points out that it is probably why her youngest’s hands are always covered in ink. Penelope defensively says that Colin is her friend. Pru replies that he wouldn’t waste his ink on ‘someone like you’. Portia zeroes in on Pen’s books and asks if they’re worth anything. Is she going to start picking them up and shaking them to get change out soon? She tells Pen ‘Colin Bridgerton is no more your friend than I am Catherine The Great’. A woman famous for overthrowing her own husband to gain power? It’s not that much of a stretch, Feather-Lady. Pen is sad.

Over at Lady Danbury’s Debutante Boarding House, she is smoking a cigarette, because she’s a bad ass. Smoking is cool, kids. A footman enters and announces she has a letter. We cut to Kate, up in her bedroom. Lady Danbury enters and asks if Kate is planning on riding again in the morning, before telling the younger woman that she knows everything. She holds up the letter and declares that it’s correspondence, from the Sheffields. Kate argues that she is in no way related to those people. Lady Danbury accuses Kate of lying, and taking advantage of her. She notes that Mary didn’t want to come back to London, Kate did. She’s trying to get money from Mary’s parents. Agatha asks what has been stipulated in order to get back into the Sheffield’s good graces. Kate sighs and answers that Edwina has to marry an Englishman with a title.

They talk about how Mary’s parents are the worst and are trying to control things. Kate levels with her host. They have no money, and the Sheffields have agreed to a large dowry, as well as giving their daughter money to live, but only if Edwina marries ‘properly’. When Lady Danbury asks after Kate, she answers that she can’t save the family by marrying, or she would have already done it. She isn’t related by blood, but her sister is. It’s why she has been priming her to perfection, even teaching her how to make English tea. ‘I despise English tea,’ she notes, which makes Danbury laugh. She tells Kate that Edwina has a right to know, but Kate argues that if her sister knew, she would marry the first idiot who asked. I know a kid who has a title and loves playing with marbles. Perhaps she could hit him up. Kate asks Lady Danbury to keep her secret.

Dame Julie is back, talking in metaphor about diamonds as we get Rihanna on the soundtrack. We are at the Queen’s ball. Everyone is bowing and scraping and group dancing. The ladies of the Danbury Debutante Boarding House bow, and Charlotte states that she hopes they’re enjoying town, ‘at least this time around’. Lady Danbury all but tells them to scram so she can talk to the Queen. She suggests that Edwina is going to make a good match, before reminding Charlotte she wanted to shake up the season. ‘Now is your chance’, she states before she walks away with a smirk.

Violet enters with Anthony and Benedict in tow. Ben asks if there is a human with female anatomy that he hasn’t insulted yet. Anthony tells him that ‘they shall have a diamond tonight, and I shall have a wife’. Oh wait, El is here too. Not sure how I missed that. Anyway, Violet is dragging her daughter up to the Queen’s perch. Charlotte greets her somewhat happily, which is pretty cute. She states how much it sucks that El’s presentation got cut short. Sure is. Wonder who had control over that situation. Hmm. The Queen mentions Daphne’s success, and then suggests that it might run in the family. Nearby, Cressida laughs. That was a weird editing thing. I don’t actually see her near them at all. Eloise goes all deer in headlights before Violet shoves her forward. Eloise declares the ball ‘delightful, very diamondy’. Hee! She states she’s more of an emerald person though, before awkwardly shuffling back to stand next to her mother. The Queen laughs, before announcing her favorite necklace is emerald. Oh, Cressida is right there after all. El looks like she’s going to dry heave, before scampering off. Benedict asks who Anthony is going to marry if their sister is named the diamond. Ha! That’s what I said eighty-three hours ago when I started this recap. Anthony tells him to shut it.

We get an overhead shot of one of those Jane Austen-ey ‘stand in two lines and circle around each other repeatedly’ dances. El finds Penelope on the outer edge of the room, and asks to leave. She’s freaking out because she accidentally charmed the Queen. Cressida DeVil wanders over and addresses El as ‘diamond’, before saying she can stop spending her time with wallflowers now. Penelope sardonically smiles at that, as Cressida suggests that El can find new friends now. El interjects that she would rather die, making Pen choke on her lemonade. She grabs Pen’s hand and they leave Cressida behind, looking kind of crestfallen. First hint of Cressoise? Elida?

Outside in a large field of flowers (I’m assuming they’re in the Queen’s garden?), El talks about how Pen already did this for an entire season. She hates being looked at. She asks how Pen did it. Um, she did it because no one ever looks at her. They flop down on the ground. Penelope says it’s not so bad being a wallflower. She gets the first glass of lemonade, and can spot the best dancers. ‘I can always tell when a suitor is serious about courtship just by how he looks when a young lady dances with another.’ She mentions all the secrets she hears from the footmen. Um, John would never! But I think Jeffries might. El notes that Pen has been keeping something from her, but she doesn’t need to hide anymore. Pen short- circuits for a beat before Eloise states that Pen likes society events. Pen chuckles and answers that they can be fun. Pen brings up Whistledown, asking El once again if she still loves her. El mostly shrugs it off and lays back in the grass, before pointing out how much it sucks that everyone compares her to perfect Daphne. Pen says no one ever notices her, which gives her freedom from expectation. El asks if that is why Cressida is so cruel, and Pen answers that she just wears her hair too tight. Hee. They both giggle. That scene was cute.

Back inside, we are getting a trumpety- fanfare. Is that really necessary? This room isn’t that big. The Queen climbs down from her chair, ready to announce her diamond. Violet looks around for her daughter. She pauses for dramatic effect before announcing it is Edwina! The Featheringtons are not impressed. Brimsley goes to collect Edwina from the crowd and bring her up to the Queen. Anthony’s eyes are bugging out of his head. Man, the power of suggestion is crazy. Benedict is accusing him of looking at Edwina the way he looks ‘at a finished painting’. Only if you fuck your paintings, Ben. Which, now that I think about it… Anthony makes his way up to the Queen, along with three other dudes who are literally standing there waiting. Charlotte spots Anthony and asks if he has met Edwina. He asks her to dance right away. I’m going to try to say this just once, but while these two actors have a pretty okay chemistry, she looks sooo young next to him and it makes it feel really creepy. I don’t know if it’s her height or what, but it squicks me out.

Kate starts to thank Lady Danbury, but Danbury tells her that the real work is just beginning. Kate agrees, and then tries to look for her sister. Out on the dance floor, Anthony is already quizzing her about children. She gives a beauty pageant non- answer of feeling fortunate for however many she has. He just kind of stares at her and then calls her sensible. Does she play musical instruments? She does, but she has spent more time on learning multiple languages and reading books. Half a brain and a killer rack? Lock her down, Ant! He notes that she isn’t weirded out by his inappropriate questions. She answers that a man who knows what he wants is ‘most admirable’. Man, she’s like AI-genetrated. Anthony loves this fake perfection though, and asks to speak with her father. Is he going to be like one of those guys who were proposing to Daphne in the street last year? She tells him her father is dead, he tells her his is too. Cool thing to bond over, guys. Edwina mentions he could talk to her sister, since he will need her blessing. And then there she is! Anthony goes catatonic before giving Kate a really strange bow. Edwina tells them that Anthony is a great dancer, never taking her eyes off him. Kate pulls her sister away, telling her to not go near him again. They walk off, with Anthony watching.

Violet approaches him and calls Edwina ‘lovely’. ‘Indeed. She is who I shall marry.’ Violet doesn’t look as concerned as she probably should.

We get our last Whistledown voice over of the episode as we see the Feather-Gals returning home. The foyer is filled with animals pelts and trunks and antlers. Mrs. Varley Varleys out and announces that the new Lord Featherington has arrived. And then he’s there, coming down the stairs. Both Pru and Pip immediately start thirsting over him. He kinda looks like if Michael Cera ate one of the Mario mushrooms. He’s sorry he’s late, he was coming from America.

He tells Phillipa her dowry has been paid, started working on the late Feather-Baron’s books, and moved Portia shit out of his new room. He calls her Lady Featherington a few times, noting that it’s weird since they aren’t married. He wanders off, leaving Penelope looking pretty amused.

Out on the street, as newsies sell her paper, Dame Julie has now decided that the practice of naming a diamond is outdated and stupid. El is pretty jazzed to read that. Julie goes on to call out the Queen directly. After goading her into naming the diamond in the first place. That’s like evil mastermind shit, Pen. Charlotte announces to Brimsley that Edwina will need to do more than sparkle this season.

What were your initial feelings about Kate and Anthony?

Do you like the concept of 'Friends To Lovers' as a trope?

Why do you think that Violet seemed to have not put much thought into the quality of Anthony's wife at the outset? Is she just that grandbaby- hungry?

In honor of Cheese Man- what is your favorite cheese?

What role would you love to see Johnny Bailey in on Broadway or the West End?

[darklinaforever]

Well... People are aware that if some are not happy that Michael becomes Michaela and do not want Sophie to also become an individual of the opposite sex, therefore a man, for Benedict... well that's nothing have with homophobia ?

It's quite simply that we cared and care about these characters that are Michael Stirling and Sophie Beckett ?

Personally, I don't care if Benedict is bi. Who didn't suspect it after season 1 ? It didn't shock me at all.

But it's not because he is confirmed bi that some people should suddenly hope that Sophie becomes a man ?! For what ?! Sophie is a great female character ! And I don't want anyone to touch it ! At this point, I've been waiting for years for the Sophie in the book to meet the Benedict in the show (because I find the one in the book bland...). There is the potential for a great love story !

Look, I really understand the desire for representation, but there are other shows for that if you want !

Limit, if Bridgerton wanted queer characters, they could invent or take secondary characters for that ! Brimsley and Reynolds were excellent ! After all, they fill this show with a pretty unnecessary subplot ! They could have completely made up this type of plot which for the most part would have been much more interesting !

Moreover, Benedict could very well have had adventures with men during seasons 1 and 2 instead of always making him change female partners until making him have a threesome with another man, just before the season or he is supposed to marry a woman. No because if this is supposed to be a real arc of discovery and exploration for Benedict... well that's pretty damn botched.

It's almost like it's basically there to just confirm the suspicions about Benedict's bisexuality that have been there since the beginning of the show. There is no real discovery and really in-depth exploration. It's like it's there just to be there.

Again, it would have been much better, if the goal was really to have Benedict discover more about his sexuality, to see him explore it in previous seasons. Or simply from part 1 of season 3 and not just in part 2 ?

And obviously the people who are super happy about that (which is to their credit even if I don't think it was very well written) some want Sophie to become a man and... I clearly say no.

As much Michael we will say that I can accept it, because it makes (technically) sense since Francesca as a widow will not be obliged to marry again m, and I imagine that in this scenario she will surely succeed in having a son by John / fall pregnant shortly before he died so that she could continue to live peacefully in security and then experience her second romance with Michaela to represent the second chance in true love. On the other hand, I imagine that we will lose all this desire for motherhood that Francesca had in the book which had particularly touched me, but we will see what they will write to compensate. Until then I I really like Francesca from the show after all, so we'll see ! And then, I never deprive myself of a good romance between two women, so if it's done well I would surely appreciate it. But nothing will match Franchael's original story in my heart... They were objectively the best Bridgerton romance, as well as the best book. So it’s a real shame not to see it adapted for the screen.

But the central fact is ; Why touch on central romances for beginning ?

Once again, this has nothing to do with homophobia for the most part, but simply the fact of caring about these characters who basically come from the books.

My god, are you aware that some people who didn't want Michael to change sex or don't want the same thing to happen to Sophie are members of the queer community ?!

The thing is, I really hope Sophie doesn't get changed into a man. She is the best female character in the books for me and I don't want to lose her.