THEYFLOURISHED.

@theyflourished

𝙽𝙾 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚂𝙺𝙸𝙿𝙿𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝚛𝚘𝚙𝚎, 𝚂 𝙺 𝙸 𝙿 𝙿 𝙸 𝙽 𝙶 𝙷𝙴𝙰𝚁𝚃 𝙱𝙴𝙰𝚃𝚂 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚢𝚜 𝙳𝙾𝚆𝙽𝚃𝙾𝚆𝙽. 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚈𝙾𝚄 & 𝙼𝙴𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙷 𝙴 𝙰 𝚃 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚂𝚄𝙽 𝚐𝚘𝚎𝚜 𝙳𝙾𝚆𝙽. 𝚒 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚈 𝙾 𝚄 𝚁 𝚂, 𝚒 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚋𝚊𝚋𝚢 𝚃𝙾𝙽𝙸𝙶𝙷𝚃. 𝚝𝚘𝚙𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝙳𝙾𝚆𝙽 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚔𝚢 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚢 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝙷 𝙸 𝙶 𝙷. 𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚊 𝙶 𝙾 𝙳, 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝙱𝙴𝙻𝙸𝙴𝚅𝙴 𝚒 𝚐𝚘𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚘 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸 𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝, 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚊 𝚜𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝, 𝚘𝚑, 𝚁 𝙾 𝙼 𝙴 𝙾 !

71 posts

♕ ⸻ intro

#bios to follow #Pinned

john felt as if he was counting down the moment to go home. the highlands called him, not the small estate his father had kept in london. the ton had never been his place, never been where he felt welcome or embraced. a duke, they claimed, but not good enough for their social circles. now his pretty face got him in the door, his family’s wealth greased the wheels, but his accent threw it all off. mothers threw their daughters at him for title and wealth, their daughters feared what marriage to him would be. and thus he found himself secluded away, now with a red head that he should probably not be alone with. but it was the first time john was enjoying a conversation, he couldn’t find the propriety to leave just yet. “ he was. ” john says softly, reminiscent of the man who he now walked in the shadow of. a chuckle falls from his lips, genuine and full for a rare moment. “ much to my mother’s dismay i have yet to wed or manage to find a bride. ” he refrains from adding ‘ with a brain. ‘ “ what sort of gentleman would i be to deny a lady in need of my help ? ” and he certainly didn’t mind slipping further out of the eyes of others.

The evening had been slow going , consumed by the ton and their nobility , the noise sending her head pounding. This was further influenced by her distaste for such gatherings , perhaps deep down , such things made her remember what she could not have. She had excelled , gaining her own lifestyle, buying a bakery. Though it may not compare in the eyes of the ton , it was something to her. Though , she was required to work two jobs to make ends meet , which was no life for her. His company was refreshing , no longer did she feel she needed to hide , and in fact , she felt at ease. She guided them down to the cellar , holding a lantern in her hand before placing it on the side. She dusted her hands , gazing to find the empty barrel beneath the bar, then flickering to the new one only a short distance away. Though , she then turned on her heels to face him , features softening at him. " Sorry , I should be more careful than to assume. " she frowned, noting his father's lack of presence. " It is surely a loss that does not compare , I know it well. " She lost her parents many years ago and had been fending for herself ever since. " What is deterring you from settling? " She asked, resting a hand on her hip. " Evenings such a tonight present opportunities , yet you remain with the likes of I. " She chuckled, shaking her head in disbelief.

francesca shouldn’t be so easy, but she was. “ benedict bridgerton, try it and i shall assure mother you’ve found yourself in a love triangle and convince my friends to play along. ” she tosses back, devious little smirk setting atop her own lips to match that of her brother. she certainly was easy to rile up, but knew how to fire right back.

With such a retort heard from his sister, Benedict gasped, holding a hand over his heart in distaste. "Truly, painful of you sister." He pouted his lips, sighing deeply as he did. "Though they know better than to believe your elaborate stories." He wiggled his brows, moving to sit beside her. "No desire to socialise, hm?"

oliver nodded ❝my father never treated my sisters or my mother that way, and i refuse to do the same. of course i want them to be happy, but it would not do them any good to force it❞ oliver smiled. ❝well thank you for saying that miss, not everyone likes honest conversations. its all about the game of it. i have never been one for games. i would rather be honest, and if someone does not like it, then i know it is not right❞ then oliver shook his head ❝i am sorry, i have not introduced myself, which is rude. i'm oliver fitzwilliams, lord oliver fitzwilliams. still not used to my title❞ he let out an uneasy laugh

She nodded softly , acknowledging his trail of thought, and only wished others considered otherwise. Initially , she had been afraid of who had asked her to dance , but from speaking with him she grew less and less concerned. " i feel the social season is a game in itself , who can excel the highest , impress the queen , it is a game of chess , who will fall first . " she shrugged, sighing deeply as she did. " it is a pleasure , my name is lady maggie howard , i can imagine such a has it's perks , though a lot of expectations. "

a smirk crossed the princess' face at the words the man spoke, a brow arching in response. he was intriguing, to say the least. during her previous seasons spent in london, inaya had been made away of the bridgerton clan and, while the majority would mention the viscount, some would whisper about the mysterious younger brother. the one with whom she was faced. "lady is not my correct title.. but, to answer your question, yes. should my father have anything to do with it, i will be betrothed and wed by the close of the season." eyes roll following the words. truthfully, her father had been attempting to see her wed for a number of years, but inaya had always managed to somehow get out of it. she was growing tired. eyes flicked to the scotch glass in his hand, eyes sparkling as she glanced back toward him. "are you trying to get me drunk, mister bridgerton?" the princess spoke, voice filled with amusement and a slight air of flirtation. in response to his next comment, and just chuckled, then shook her head. lifting the tumbler, she downed the bitter liquor with a grimace. "i do not recall asking you to dance. but, who am i to deny a face like that?" she mused teasingly, reaching up then to lightly tap the tip of his nose, chuckling to herself. the glass was placed down, and a hand held out toward him. "be careful not to step on my toes, for my father may take your head if you do. and that would certainly be a shame.." perhaps the princess was a little on the tipsy side already. she wasn't usually so openly flirtatious.

Her comment spurred him to remain quiet, squinting in curiosity at the lady who presented in front of him. For her not to be a lady, spurred two questions, was she too high class to consider him, or was she someone his mother would have stern words about him seeing. However, regardless, he was not deterred by the raven haired goddess in front of him. "If you are not a lady, then how should I be speaking to you?" He exclaimed, teeth sinking into his bottom lip in concern. "I do hope I am not speaking out of turn, or not respecting you how I should." He added, sighing deeply to himself. Her comment spurred a smirk, brows raising slightly. "Perhaps a little liquor will be all you need to persuade you to dance with me." He hummed, filling up her glass with the scotch bottle on the counter. However, as she agreed to dance with him, he retrieved the glass from her hand, slipping his hand into hers, and gentle guiding her to the dancefloor. A hand slipped onto her waist, tugging her closer, but not too much to cause a scene. "I must avoid such , though , my sisters have ensured my dancing is top notch, besides, I would not wish your father to gain a poor first impression."

" and here i was under the assumption the young ladies of the ton weren't allowed to say no to a dance. ” william speaks as he watches the display. “ or perhaps, you just smell. ” he says to the other. liam can get away with a lot, especially in his own home. “ run along, let those of us who bathed today woo the pretty women. ”

his interruption was much appreciated , her patience growing thin with whom would not allow her space. she took a moment , a gasp leaving her lips as she watched the male disappear in a disgruntled fashion. " brave of you , you do know his father is an earl , don't you ? " in truth , she did not know who he was , but to tease was all too tempting.

jacquetta almost laughed. she was avoiding some men. they were only interested in her because of the wealth her late husband left behind. her son was to inherit a title, but as long as she was unmarried, she didn't have to worry about a husbands taking her money. ❝am i that obvious?❞ she looked at him ❝well what do you wish to know?❞

He chuckled softly, nodding a little in return. He could only imagine what had caused such, though he was keen to know. "The avoidant gaze, that was by far the biggest give away." He smiled, raising his glass to his lips. "Why is it you avoid them so?"

jacquetta nodded ❝i do enjoy on some level these parties, i also do not mind being alone.❞ she was only making connections for her son. if it was up to her, she would just be in the country, playing with her son on the lawn, enjoying the peace and quiet. however he was the lord covington, even though he was barely 5, she had to secure his future.

He had to agree with her sentiment, he was fulfilled in his own company, and the lack of expectation it provided. "I feel it is important to enjoy ones own company, besides, the peace is most enjoyable." He chuckled, a smile and sigh of relief given in return.

"From the look on your face, I assume a drink will calm the nerves." She did often wonder what it was like to partake in such festivities. It was not something she would be blessed with, her upbringing in lower class meant she was subdued to a life of observation. Nevertheless, she watched, observing the life of the ton with fresh eyes. She envied it, in some ways, but understood it was a blessing to have her freedom. "Penny for your thoughts?"

❝you could not be more right❞ jacquetta smiled and let out a little laugh ❝i don't like these kinds of things. i grew up in the country, and we never came to london. my father did not like the city❞ she explained ❝if it weren't for my son, i would not be here❞

She smiled hopefully, ready with the bottle in hand to fill up her glass. She imagined such expectations to be daunting, and welcomed her to join her for a caring conversation. "I imagine your son would be proud of you for that."

inaya could relate to the man's sentiment, her father being the one to pester her regarding marriage pretty much on the daily. hence, why she'd once again been carted over to england for the season. it wasn't that the princess didn't want to marry. more so that she refused to settle for someone whom she did not adore. she wanted her marriage to be one of love, not one of convenience. a soft laugh escaped her lips, then she responded. "ah, the persistent calls of familial duty. i know that feeling all too well, as i am sure many others do too," she replied, her gaze momentarily drifting towards the couples on the dance floor. in response to his question, the princess raised her hand, showing him the dance card that dangled from her wrist. "familial obligations." she spoke, a slight smirk toying at the corners of her lips. "do not fret, i am not here to force you into dancing with me. although.. now i am aware you have no intentions of marriage.. you could prove the ideal deterrent from the, dare i say extremely low, caliber of gentlemen here." mischief lit up her eyes, her lips widening into a slight smile as a thick brow arched.

He did not wish to sound distant, though with every waking moment, his mind fell deeper into such slumber. He was elsewhere, mind preoccupied with the possibilities, his mind taken by the possibilities of art college, and what this would mean for him. He often felt lost, hopelessly searching for a purpose, something to ground and guide him, and he had not yet put his finger on it , until now. "I can imagine, a lady such as yourself should be in search of a husband , am I right?" He asked, tilting his head with a smile. "This time of year is certainly a spectacle." He did not envy her, and the expectations it held for a lady. "I can imagine such expectations are gruelling." He handed her a glass of scotch with a smirk before signalling at it. "For the nerves." He chuckled, gnawing down on his bottom lip with a smile. "I am honoured you are asking me to dance, how long have you pined for me?" He teased, reaching out his hand for her to take.

the princess hummed for a moment, studying the couple again, a dainty fingertip tapping her own chin. "hm, perhaps. it does seem like they are trying awfully hard to show the entire population just how elated they are to be in each other's company."

" who would wish to keep it secret? public displays of affection are sweet, are they not ?" She was clearly being sarcastic, a chuckle leaving her lips as she grimaced upon the view.

a hand moved to rest over his chest, his own gasp then following her comment. "ouch. careful, love. words hurt, you know." he teased again, a slight smirk remaining on his face. the question she posed then made the male hum lightly. "it was not too difficult, to be honest. the servants quarters do not have the highest level of security, as it goes." theo admitted with a quick shrug of his shoulders. "and, as for why, perhaps i was intrigued to see how the other half live, while our children starve on the streets." he gave another, perhaps too nonchalant, shrug of his shoulders.

His mock hurt allowed a scoff to flee through her lips, eyes rolling in retort. "Surely it is not the first time you have been emotionally wounded." She teased, a smirk lacing her lips despite her attempts to dismiss it. She was not accustomed to speaking to someone of his station, her father prohibited such. Their wealth often meant such security, dismissing those around them. She however, would not choose to live such a way, though she remained with limited choices as a woman of the household. "I can imagine, it likely gives a thief like yourself an easy job, does it not?" She rested her hands on her hips, brows quirked in curiosity. His comment spurred her to roll her eyes, scoffing in return. "Would you like me to host you a pity party?"

oliver laughed a little ❝well i do not know your name, and i am far too young to be your father, so my lips are sealed❞ he promised oliver shrugged ❝sometimes, i find it more uneasy for my sisters. our family is wealthy and their dowries are large, and that can attract some unsavory characters. i hope they find someone who wouldn't care if they had not a penny to their name, because then it would be someone who actually cared for them❞ oliver paused ❝i have relieved too much, i'm sorry❞

With a deep exhale, Maggie moved to perch on the wall , kicking her leg over the other with a huff. The evening was draining, and her mind was elsewhere. She did not wish to socialise with potential suitors, not wishing to consider the prospects of her future. "I can imagine, it is truly an age where woman are sold off as cattle." She rolled her eyes, though, it hit too close to home for her. "Nonsense, such honest conversation is refreshing , not ever man feels the same."

phillip tried to think about what she was saying ❝ah i see,❞ even though he did not ❝so what you are saying, is if two induvials spend that kind of time together, that close, it is safe to assume there is an infatuation there?❞ phillip had never been good at reading people, and he was a little afraid to make his way through london, not knowing certain cues

" not exactly. " she exhaled, following the figures movements across the hall , exhaling hard in thought before turning her attention back to phillip. " such can be deceiving, but the glances , the blush on her cheeks, it is evident." she sighed, turning to look at him with a smile. "fear not, you will know when it happens to you."

if john could manage to make it through the night without looking bored, that would be a win in his book. he could hardly deal with rumors that he was not enjoying a function the queen put on, even if it was nearly impossible to pretend he was happy here. john felt rather exhausted already, who knew finding a bride could feel more like a job than being the head of his clan ? “ words from my father. ” he says with a chuckle. at least, it seemed like something the man would say. a snort slips from the man before he can stop it, amusement lacing his expression. “ prized cows are more fun to pick out. ” he admitted, sipping at his drink. he chuckles a bit, shaking his head. “ nothing to forgive, miss. this conversation has been far more enjoyable than most i’ve partaken in tonight. ”

she was taking the time to enjoy herself , a novelty which was often not applicable. she was normality busy meeting the needs of the ton , rushed of her feet to meet the demands. she had catered for the event , and yet had been persuaded to run the bar also , feeling somewhat exhausted by the demands. she had been counting down the hours , though she had to admit some envy at not being able to be apart of such things. from a young age , it had been ingrained into her that she was not one of them , and she had never forgotten it. " sounds like a wise man to me. " she chuckled, perching on the stool beside him , flattening her dirty gown with a smile. chin perched upon propped hands , she followed his gaze with brows knitting together. " i can tell your outlook on marriage is far from positive , perhaps you have not met the woman who will sweep you off your feet." she sighed, gnawing down on her bottom lip. " i pity the conversation you have had , if this is a highlight . though , if you really are desperate for a distraction , fancy being the strength i need to reload the beer barrel? at least you will loose the prying eyes. " she smirked, noting the women of the ton and their interest.

Closed Starter; At the Ball || Sophie and Benedict @theyflourished

The last time Sophie had been at a ball, she'd been on the dance floor with a mask covering half of her face, being swept around the room in Benedicts arms, and as happy as she was in her current position in the Bridgerton household, being there just made her think of that night. So much so that from her comfortable and safe corner of the room trying her best to blend into her surroundings and not attract too much attention in the simple gown that had been lent to her in the classic Bridgerton hues, she found herself catching Benedict's eyes without meaning to.

Blushing immediately and trying to divert her eyes, she willed the heavens to keep him from approaching her, but the second that she looked in his direction again she knew it was too late. People were already parting like the red sea around her making way for the second Bridgerton son as he made his way to her.

Dipping her head slightly, she just gave him a look questioning his motives. "Benedict really, what are you doing? Go back to the dance floor..." she murmured, knowing that the Bridgertons generally were amazing at treating their staff like members of their family, but that didn't stop her from trying to shoo him back to the group he'd left when he caught her staring at him.

With an evening of indulgence, the company allowing Benedict to indulge in far too many scotches, in hope of relief of social expectation. He was one to enjoy such social gatherings, however, with the Bridgerton name came high expectations. He did not wish it let the family down, his own ambitions often leaving a lot to be desired. His recent behaviours caused his mother despair, he knew this, and thus was doing his best to remain under the radar.

Though, as the night crept onwards, he was succumbed to overstimulation, the noise, the crowds, he had done what he knew best and vacated the vicinity to explore the grounds. However, when he realised he had spent too much time away, not wishing to rose suspicion, he had brought himself back to the familiar ball room. His gaze quickly captures another's, a smile rising almost too swiftly to his lips. He wastes no time in venturing to her, hand held out as he dips a bow to her.

"Forgive me, but what sort of gentleman would I be if I did not invite you to the dancefloor?" He smiled, tilting his head. "You'd be doing me a favour." He pouted his lips, hand held out for her to take.

daydreaminglilacs

One of her children appeared, though it wasn’t the two she had mentioned. As Violet studying her son for a moment, she could no longer call him a child - in fact, he hadn’t been in many years. Her second born no longer needed her as he had during his youth. Still, her instincts remained, forever a mother to them all. “I believe they are terrorising their tutor.” Violet replied, a hint of amusement within her voice, hidden as she tried to stay openly disapproving. It failed, clearly. “I do not have a favourite, Benedict.”

He takes a moment before exhaling, a chuckle leaving his lips. His siblings tendencies to corrupt the tutor was something he was immensely proud of, mostly because he had his way of encouraging them. "Our dear Hyacinth? I cannot imagine she is nothing but well behaved." He spoke, sarcasm clear in his voice. He scoffs , eyes rolling in response to her statement. "We all have favourites mother, even you." He added, tutting to himself in response to her comment.

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