𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐓𝐇𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐃.

"Are you quite alright?" He moves slowly to sit beside the other, giving them enough space, to avoid invading their space. He noted they looked unhappy, and despite not knowing them, he still intended to care.

the question is seemingly harmless, but her answer, the truthful one, to speak it out loud would break her, so she offered the bridgerton a tight smile, blue eyes turning on him. ❝ perfectly well, sir, should i be alarmed that i not look it ? ❞ she questions, a seemingly playful question, but her voice is dull, void of any mirth.

" i was beginning to wonder when you would seek me out , my lady . i did not think you would in such a public setting . "

crystal blue eyes roamed the figure before her, she had heard many of rumours, but she certainly had never meant to seek her own, it happened unfortunately, that aurora had crossed paths with what would be her husbands mistress, lover, companion, whatever it was, it was painful to look at the younger beauty and see happiness, when she was so jaded and bitter. ❝ forgive me, miss, i'm sure you have the wrong person. ❞ she feigns ignorance in favour of appearances, because aurora is nothing, if not a picture of perfection in the eyes of the ton, at least to those not welcomed to her home. though she knows exactly who this girl is.

the youngest pendlebury had been in the process of sneaking back into the house following her eventful evening with luis . she could not believe that she was now engaged , engaged to luis , engaged to a spanish prince . it all seemed surreal . if this was all a dream , she did not wish to awake from it . what phoebe had not been expecting was to come face to face with aurora . eyes widened comically as she tried to think of a quick excuse , " i could not sleep at lettie's so the moment the sun begun to arose , i decided to make my way home . after all , there has been so much excitement in regards to the fête . "

aurora frequently avoided the family, these days, at least. not to hurt them, but to distance herself from further hurt and heartbreak, she had once tried so hard to just be enough and that was never enough that she simply stopped trying. ❝ understandable. ❞ the elder murmured softly, so she two struggled to sleep, though not as for the innocent excuse that phoebe provides, but rather her own demons. ❝ i've heard many of things, did you at least enjoy yourself ? ❞

"now tell me what have you been up too today? anything interesting to share or were you all by yourself?"

aurora holds little care for the fete, she didn't place a basket, she didn't even bother to really attend, instead she favours her own company, though filled with hatred and spite, it's still preferred. ❝ nothing of importance, truly. ❞ she mentioned politely, after all, she'd convinced herself long ago that graham could never hurt her, but that was exactly what was happening.

with a small nod marcus made his way closer and took a seat beside her, making sure to keep some distance between them as he leaned against his knees. "there's nothing wrong with finding solace within yourself, sometimes it is the only way to live your life with nothing but ease," he confessed as he looked down at his hands.

aurora had always been tight lipped, and even now, in the face of the public, or even a friend, she would never admit her failures aloud, graham could flounce around with anyone in town, and yet she would turn a blind eye, as a wife who has never known a thing, but in doing so in previous years, friends had turn sparse and often left her to her own demise. ❝ suppose you are right, sir. ❞ she muses with his confession. ❝ though is anything truly ever just easy ? ❞

the princess' words were flattering, but the scorned woman takes no pride in them, offering a smile that neither reaches her eyes nor her heart. ❝ i believe the solar should be the nicest spot this time of day. ❞ she gestured for the woman to follow.

"do you often sit alone or are you waiting for someone?"

her thoughts come to an almost glaring halt, turning her head in the slightest to meet the eyes of him. ❝ i often spend time on my own. ❞ she felt she had no one to wait for these days, and as much as she hated even her own company, she often sat on her own.

"i know that you despise me...and perhaps you ought to." the vulnerability was evident in his tone, looking in the direction that the men that had been harassing her went. "but you are still my wife, and i will ensure your safety no matter what. i will not let any harm befall you."

❝ you do not know me, do not presume of how i feel. ❞ she sneered. she could of loved him, perhaps the girl within her, did, what felt like so very long ago now. her eyes followed his line of sight before shaking her head. ❝ perhaps if you would have let them do as they please, you would be rid of me for good. ❞

she begged for him to unleash, so her own guilt and anger can be brought forth. guilt because she felt responsible for how they were. ❝ you bring it on yourself ! ❞ despite their marriage being in ruins, she never onces stepped outside their marriage bed, too much in fear of causing a scandal on her own name, but here he was, dragging her into his mess. ❝ you think i care about the woman you bury yourself inside to feel that fulfilment, to make yourself feel like a man, i care about what ruin you're bringing to our name, have a shred of respect for me, as i have so plainly for you. ❞ she speaks grimly, almost as if she's nothing but tired. without graham, she would have nothing, and perhaps that's why she clings so desperately for what she knows.

The frustration in her voice was evident, and he did not wish to be involved. “Lovely to see you also -- yes I’m doing well , thanks for asking” He mocked with a roll of his eyes. “I am not here for my brothers defence.”

as a girl, she often thought it impossible to hate a person, and the older she grew the more hatred brewed, especially towards the pendlebury brothers, her burden of a husband, his fool of a brother. ❝ if i had wanted to know, arthur, i would of ask. ❞ she sneered, eyes barely even bother to move from the whistledown post. ❝ what are you here for ? ❞

a flash of annoyance crossed the man's features as he looked down at his wife, the scowl on her face matched with the one on his own. "ah, of course that is where your concerns lie. what is it you wish so dearly to hear? that i might of found someone else, someone who seems to care of what i want?"

a bitter laugh escapes her, she would be a liar should she ever say his words no longer hurt. and she was no liar, but he would never hear of such a thing. ❝ where my concerns lie ? i care not for where you put your cock, even in attempts to make yourself feel better, what i care is that you're showboating around the ton. carelessly. ❞ she scoffed. ❝ people talk. ❞