"A CALLER? MY APOLOGIES, BUT THERE MUST BE A MISTAKE" Mercy Reeves announced but still not failing to be completely in awe at the enchanting vision before him.

When Francesca saw him enter that door, she felt her whole world paralyzed and her heart slipped from her hands like porcelain onto the floor. She dared to look at the man who probably had heard her conversation and now stood there, tall, dark, and enigmatic, a hesitant but polite smile across his lips until his eyes landed on her.

She opened her mouth to speak, but her voice failed her.

"Oh, you're not a caller?" Violet said a bit disappointed, failing to notice her daughter's amusement at the stranger.

"Mercy Reeves?"Hyacinth widened her eyes and gazed upon Lady Whistledown's pamphlet. "It's you! You're the musician from Lady Danbury's soireé!"She announced excitedly.

Mercy felt a bit overwhelmed by the sudden attention of the ladies in the room but still managed to smile politely and nod in affirmation. "Indeed, please allow me to formally introduce myself" He established as a true gentleman "I'm Mercy Reeves, I was requested by the Viscount of Bridgerton and his second eldest brother to give pianoforte lessons to one of his sisters."

At that moment Francesca almost lost her balance completely, eyes lost to oblivion, mouth almost open as she tried to process what she had just heard.

"Oh! So you're the instructor Anthony talked about, yes, we were waiting for you" Violet smiled sweetly. "And you arrived even earlier."

"I'd never dare to show up late to an appointment."

Violet appreciated his gesture and quickly asked one of the maids to make some tea for their guests. "I did not know Anthony would hire such a talented musician, I'm quite surprised." She said kindly. "Well, allow me to introduce you to your student." She turned around to see her daughter still stuck in the same place, hands glued to one another as she nervously looked at them. "My daughter, Francesca."

It took a while for Francesca to finally acknowledge that she needed to greet her newest instructor. And it took quite a while for Mercy's eyes to leave the woman's figure after all. She was even more delicate in the daylight, eyes blue as the open wide sea, a perfectly sculpted face as a statue's, rosed cheeks and soft pink lips that could envy any rival debutante, and dark hair that cascaded over her shoulders in a brown shade that contoured her features. It would be fair for him to declare that this, was by far, the most alluring woman he had ever seen, and worse, than he would ever see.

And she was a noble, and his student.

"Miss Bridgerton" He bowed gently, eyes making eye contact with hers for a single moment before she quickly avoided them. "It is a pleasure to meet you. I hope our lessons may help you progress in your musical skills. I'll do all within my reach to assure it."

Hyacinth sighed with a silly smile over the scene, and who wouldn't? It isn't every day a charming stranger comes to visit their home.

"That is very kind of you, Mr.Reeves." Francesca nodded still terribly quiet. "I appreciate it. I hope I can honor your efforts."

"Well, now that introductions have been made-"Violet tried to speak.

"Mr.Reeves, will you come to our home every day to teach Francesca now?" Hyacinth cut off her mother's sentence.

"Hyacinth" Violet called her out.

"It is no issue, Lady Bridgerton." He politely bounced over Hyacinth's crescent anxiety. "To answer your question, Miss Bridgerton, I have been told, by Lord Bridgerton, to maintain the lessons in your home, just as the previous instructor used to." He then gazed at Francesca still silent. "That is if it's Miss Francesca's wish."

If someone, anyone, questioned Francesca's wish, just as he had just done, and they allowed her to be honest, she would answer anywhere but her house. Do not misjudge her, hence Francesca loved her family with her whole heart and would never abandon them, but of course, the thing she looked most forward to in marriage was to move out, to find silence and perhaps peace to collect her thoughts.

Anywhere but home would be her answer.

"It's fine the way it is."She lied through her teeth and Violet smiled pleased. Something about the way her eyes reflected some hidden truth and how her fingers fidgeted nervously made the musician doubt her answer as an honest one.

"Well then, I shall leave you to it." Violet said as she joined Hyancinth at the sofa, still in the same room of course.

Francesca remained in the same place. What was she supposed to do? Talk? It seemed like nothing that would come of her mouth would suit the occasion, and worse, would make her look stupid in front of him.

And Mercy took a moment, a very long moment to decide if she should step towards her or not. It was almost as if he could see it, an invisible barrier surrounding her, not allowing any sort of intruders.

"May I?" He suddenly questioned, still distant.

It was almost as if he asked for permission into her own world while everyone attempted to break into it.

"...Of course."She replied in a whispery tone.

His cheap shoes stepped forward once, twice, in a safe distance to social norms but close enough to the piano.

"What are the pieces you usually follow?" He suddenly became a professional.

Francesca quickly grabbed her music sheets, handing them to the man as, for her surprise, he grabbed them by the edge, avoiding any physical contact.

His freezing blue eyes analyzed the notes on the papers for a moment, then he suddenly picked one of them and set it on the piano.

"Could you please play this one, Miss Bridgerton?" He requested.

Francesca nodded, sitting on the booth, and just before she could begin, he interrupted her.

"Your shoulders are too tense." Even Violet turned to understand what the musician meant. "Relax them or your notes wil be too contained."

He didn't touch her to correct her posture, instead he only stared, as a stone, a statue in its' place, until she took ina deep breath and relaxed her shoulders, assuming a more natural posture.

"Anxiety and music do not fit each other, unless that is the message you want to transmit to the listeners."

Francesca only remained silent to his instructions, and Violet did not dare to interrupt, instead, she only let her daughter take her own conclusions about the class.

She set her fingers above the keys and begun to play the song, some Bach's melody that had its' tempo increasing by time and progression of the chords.

Francesca was extraordinarily found of that one, she liked the technique, the density of it, how her fingers quickly moved and connected the sounds. She dared to say it was one of her best recreations in the pianoforte.

"Stop, Miss Francesca, please." Mercy suddenly ordered and she suspended the next notes.

"Is something wrong?" Francesca asked her eyebrows frowning in slight disappointment.

Violet paid attention to the interaction. "This is one of Bach's most intense creations, are you aware of it?" She nodded. "Then why don't you express it when you play it?"

"...Excuse me?"

"Do not take it as an offense please but...your notes are shallow." He suddenly remarked, and Hyancinth gasped out loud at the other side of the room. "They are technically correct but they do not show any sort of emotion, they are...automatic, cold."

"...I...Well I did not mean-"

"Again, from the beginning." He demanded without allowing further speech.

Francesca failed to speak again, she lookes a little lost, perhaps still confused. All her life she was congratulated for her talent, everyone thought of her as a prodigy, she was even better than her sister Daphne when they both started to learn the pianoforte.

But just so suddenly this man proved all her talent wrong.

Initiated the melody again, engines of her brain working faster as her fingers natched its' pace.

"Stop." Mercy ordered again.

"What?!" Hyancith gasped and Violet ordered her to go to her room. "Aw but I wanna see it!" The viscountess insisted and the girl went upstairs complaining. "How unfair!"

Francesca could feel her hands slightly trembling nervous as now once again he defied her talent.

"Is something wrong, Mr.Reeves?"Her tone was so gentle that almost made him feel pity for her. Almost.

"Still the same problem."He responded with no pity attached to his words. "I might need to ask you to begin again."

Violet's eyes widened but Francesca, who she thought was sin control of the situation, began once again to play.

The process repeated itself over 3 more times. And at the same interruption, Mercy Reeves would declare Francesca's "Lack of feeling" in the notes.

It was hard to take a polite and well educates lady from her so calm temper, but at that instant, as the young Bridgerton prodigy gazed upon the tiles again, and again, and again, never being enough, caused her a quiet, that sort of storming rage that begged to be unleashed.

"Stop."

This time she pressed the titles abruptely, taking in a deep breath that made Violet quite astonished. Mercy did not move a bit.

"Yes, Mr.Reeves?" She asked, her smile was long gone.

"It-"

"Lacks emotion."She responded, as he remained still. "And how am I supposed to express emotion when you keep interrupting me?" Mercy could feel her annoyance. "I know this melody since I was a littlr girl I-"

"That's the problem" He suddenly remarked. "You are so used to what it used to be, then when a change is made, you're suddenly upset about it." He established. he looked over at the music sheet and piinted to it "Think ofit not as a task you have to follow, but as an energy, some sort of emotion you'd like to feel when hearing it. Not Bach's emotion, but your own soul fragmented and poured into it." She looked at him a bit astonished. "It's not a recreation, but a new form of expressing it." She facrd the piano with hesitation. "Forget any of us are here, take a deep breath and begin when you feel ready."

To think the unthinkable or feel what is not yet been experienced was a challenge she has never faced, but for once, in that little timestamp where she closed her eyes and inhaled the air in her lungs, all the world would fade away. Any word, any breath, any heartbeat.

All of it would simply disappear.

And for once, it felt like true peace.

When Violet Bridgerton realized, her daughter played the most intense, heart stealing and outraged piece she has ever heard. It was almost as if Bach's rage was represented into thsoe notes but differently, as a silent rage of Francesca's, something she has never showed before, now beautifully floating in the air.

And in the middle of that private show, she could take a glimpse of Mercy Reeves discrete side smile, a proud master not attempting to let success go to his apprentice's mind.

The melody was fast and soon ended. Her fíngers had stopped trembling, the breath became even, and her first thought wasn't related to any critic she could've received.

"Exceptional" Was the first word that came out of his lips, and it was in a way, the most, erotic word she has ever heard. It had some sort of pride, some admiratio she could not quite understand, but when she looked back, at that tall and reserved man, his silence completed itself to her forbidden thoughts.

The pianoforte has never, ever, been so inviting to her.

...

When Mercy Reeves left that afternoon the sun was starting to fade into the horizon, and Violet Bridgerton's doubts began to rise from it.

The door had barely closed when she turned to her daughter abruptly and questioned "So, what do you think of him?"The viscountess asked anxiously. "If you think he is rather too strict or unreasonable, we may hire another-"

"No." Francesca suddenly cut her off, her thoughts still stuck to his previous lesson. "I...like his methods."

Violet raised an eyebrow. "Do you?" She couldn't quite understand. "I mean he is a bit harsh-"

"He is just what I've been searching for." She explained. "I do not think...I am certain I've never played so well before, until this moment." And for a moment Violet agreed with her. "He is quite wise in his teaching, and I do admire his professional posture." She responded reminding herself of the lack of speaking he made the whole time spent there. "I'd like for him to continue giving me lessons, mama. If that is possible, please."

Violet found the situation quite surprising but she wouldn't deny her daughter's wish, instead, she only nodded. "If you say so, dear." She smiled softly as her daughter went to her dorm, still pondering her instructor's words in the back of her mind.

...

"It is strange" Bellatrix muttered as her husband's lips created small heart-shaped marks across her smooth dark skin. "She's taking too long to do it."

"To long for what?" Benedict whispered in her ear as he slowly eased the buttons of her dress and loosened her corset. "For Aurora to cry again? She's with my mother, the two are incredibly silent and peaceful together." He smirked. "I suggest we savor the peacefulness." He let loose her curly hair, he smiled, he adored to feel its shape, the texture, to smell its' perfume. Every day he'd find a reason to adore the woman he married, it was never enough.

"I'm not talking about your mother, I'm talking about mine." She spoke and Benedict instantly made a face. "Don't."

"What? I did nothing."

"You make that face whenever I speak of my mother."

"I don't have a face."

"You do, it's like..." Bellatrix showed her teeth almost in disgust, furrowing her eyebrows Benedict cackled laughing. "See?"

"In my defense, she makes a face whenever I am also mentioned."

"You have grown on her"

"Not as much as Anthony." He sighed. "If only I were a viscount...at least a mere baron, maybe I-"

His words were cut by a soft kiss, as she caressed his cheek with tenderness. He melted instantly, eyes stuck on hers, believing his life depended on them. "You are perfect." She whispered. "And I'm sure one day she will see that as well."

He squeezed her hands and nodded, trying to smile and be optimistic. "Alright....well what is taking your mother long, as you were saying?"

"To pick a diamond." She said and Benedict thought for a moment about her words. "I believe she feels...pressured about Whistledown's comments."

"Especially since the last season didn't go as she planned." He teased.

Bellatrix chuckled. "What can I say? I had other plans." She poked his cheek, making Benedict scrunch his nose adorably. "But I know what to do this time."

"You do?" He asked confused.

"I will introduce Francesca to my mother."

"But she didn't pick Francesca in her debut to the court, why would she do it now?"

"Francesca was nervous, perhaps if she saw her in her environment...something more natural..."

Benedict admired the expressions of his wife, how she created wrinkles on the forehead when thinking, or how her lips stuck to each other, it was funny how he memorized all her details in so little time.

"Are you going to tell your plan to the Viscount?"

"Oh, no."The two chuckled. "You know how Anthony is...he might get nervous and interfere. Let me handle this."

"Funny." He smirked. "You are not a viscountess, yet act like one."

"That's not my intention." She shook her head. "All I am doing is trying to help the family who welcomed me so dearly." She smiled warmly at him. "I truly hope someday Anthony finds his true viscountess."

"Me too." He nodded and kissed her cheek. "But for now, I admire you as a leader. You could've been a great mother to the queen of England."

"Maybe if Aurora wishes, she may claim her title as a princess someday." She tilted her head. "But I sincerely hope she does not bring that burden over her shoulders."

"I agree." He massaged her shoulders and she let out a relaxed breath. "Now, greatest of the wives and mothers, why don't you rest?"

"Only if you hug me."

"You don't even have to ask."He pulled her promptly to lie down as Bella giggled like two teenagers in love. His arms around her gently, protectively, as the whole world faded away, it was quiet, sincere, and finally free.

She would never regret her choice to be by his side. And he would always choose to love her.

Over and over, endlessly.

...

"Overpriced and useless, is that what you sell to people?" His eyes narrowed at the poor instruments on display.

"They are used instruments, what do you expect?" The salesman at the fleamarket said, measuring his clothes. "You're not the sort of man who deserves a new one either."

Mercy Reeves forced a smile, he'd always do that when angry, just enough so he wouldn't break a gentleman's nose. It was true, he wasn't as elegant and well polished as the other members of the ton, who instead of buying only admired, talked, and walked away. He had just enough to spend when necessary, clothes simple enough, the shirt slightly loose, a large coat over his shoulders and no hat as the other gentlemen wore, but still, he was adequate not to be so humiliated by a simple salesman.

"Then perphaps I do not need your products either." He responded at his level. "As only a fool would reject money, whatever origin it is."

The man scoffed, slightly irritated, about to curse when another one, who had just arrived and overhead the conversation came forward.

"Those are not even original." A tall man with brown chocolate hair said with a friendly, polite tone. "Does the royal crown know you are rejecting clients who may grant money to the kingdom and also selling falsified products with the same price as original ones, good sir?" The man, who was taller and stronger than Reeves, dressed in very fine clothes spoke to the salesman.

"I...uh..." The man stuttered. "Who are you to say that?!"

The man chuckled a bit. "My apologies, I did not introduce myself." He offered his hand to shake. "I'm Stephen Bridgerton, or better, now Surrey, since I'm the newest Earl of that land."

Mercy widened his eyes to the familiar name, as the man begged apologies to the royal.

"I-I'll sell it for a lower price! Please, do not tell it to the king!"

Stephen gazed over Mercy. "No need." The musician said as he walked away. The noble followed him. "That was...very thoughtful, I appreciate the gesture, my lord."

"I only did the right thing anyone else would." He nodded with his hat.

Before Mercy could ask about his family name, someone shouted from afar "STEPHEN!" It was a male voice.

The gentleman turned instantly, with a wide smile across his lips. "ANTHONY!" He walked towards who seemed to be the Viscount of Bridgerton and hugged him as an intimate friend would, tapping his back and sharing rich masculine laughs.

But Mercy's eyes drifted to the company Anthony had. His mother, Violet Bridgerton, and next to her, Francesca, who also paralyzed at his sight.

"Mr.Reeves." Violet greeted him gently, as he also greeted the family. "What a joyful surprise to see you here, how have you been?"

"Very well, Lady Bridgerton, thank you." He responded as Francesca stared at his still without saying a single word.

"Wait, do you already know my newest friend?" The man named Stephen joked.

"Your friend?" Anthony joked. "You're just back in London and with friends?" He chuckled. "This is Mr.Mercy Reeves, Francesca's pianoforte instructor."

"Oh, is that so?" He lifted his eyebrows. "Well he does seem like a very determined man, I am sure he is very skilled." He teased reminding the musician of his stubbornness with the salesman.

"Now I understand why you got along with him, cousin." Anthony smiled.

"Cousin, you say?" Mercy asked carefully not to sound intrusive.

"Precisely, this is my cousin, Stephen Brisdgerton, he used to live in the countryside with our father's youngest brother." He said proudly, setting a hand above his cousin's shoulder, they did resemble each other. "Who would've known that he would gain a title from the King greater than our family's name? What are you addressed as now? Lord Surrey?" He nodded. "How prepotent." He joked and the two laughed.

It was almost as if the whole kingdom was infected with nobles and Mercy found himself stuck with them. Well, never mind, at least they were not so insufferable as the others and provided him a job. But trusting them was still not an option.

"It seems like the Bridgerton family is indeed very respectful and credible by what I see." He complimented, and Francesca gave a soft, shy smile gazing go the floor, as leaves falling in autumn. It made his heart burn.

"Oh, that is most generous of you to say, Mr.Reeves." Violet smiled. "You see, Francesca's very avid to continue her lessons after the queen's ball this evening, she spoke greatly about your method."

"Mama." Francesca felt her cheeks burn with shame.

Mercy's smile fluttered to the exposed opinion, as the girl became speechless once again, unable to either discredit her mother's sentence or agree with it.

"I am most glad my efforts are useful, then."He responded. "Miss Francesca is a very hardworking student, I am sure she will improve quickly."

Francesca could feel her whole body tremble at the compliment, what a mess of her, to only be musically complimented and yet taken away so easily. Many more men have complimented her beauty instead and never received a reaction even close to this.

"Mr.Reeves, would you like to join us for tea?" Violet asked gently. "Stephen is joining us this afternoon after his arrival, we might have a seat for you at the table."

He felt slightly touched by her words. "That is a true honor, Lady Bridgerton..."He said a bit awkwardly. "But unfortunately I have much to do."

"Would you like a ride? Where are you going?" Anthony asked.

"Oh..just the north of the city, it is no issue truly." The embarrassment grew on his face to speak about his poor neighborhood to such well-established people. "It was great seeing you all, and also meeting you, Lord Surrey, I wish you a great stay in London." He said and Stephen thanked him with a smile. "I shall see you tomorrow, Lord Bridgerton, Lady Bridgerton, Miss Francesca." He let the last name roll off his tongue as the girl avoided his eyes, still with rosed cheeks.

Once Mercy disappeared from their eyesight, Stephen Surrey turned back to his family. "What a nice gentleman, he does look like he came out of a gothic novel, but very welcoming."

Anthony agreed, sharing some laughs, as Francesca only stared in the direction where Mercy had still left.

What a nice gentleman indeed.

...

"Is there any possible way I can avoid this ball?" Eloise squirmed in her dress as Anthomy guided her with his arm into the Queen's event.

"Only if you're dead." He joked.

"Delightful. Bella!" She turned to her sister-in-law "Would you be so kind as to choke me to death?"

Anthony made a face as Bellatrix laughed almost too laugh, breaking etiquette while Benedict smiled at her. "Unfortunately as you can see, my hands are full." She showed her baby girl in her arms, sparkling as a little jewel beneath candlelight.

"I still do not understand why you've brought Aurora to the queen's ball," Anthony commented as the people watched the astonishing family. "She is still too young."

"My mother wished to see her." She explained. "And, dearest Francesca, I have plans for you, so don't even try to run away." She turned to the shy girl next to her, a blush across her cheeks.

Francesca tried to mumble an answer but it was useless, the ex-princess was determined to find her a match. "It is useless, Francesca, nothing passes by Bella's gaze, trust me." Benedict joked lightly as he offered her an arm and they entered the ball.

Another night in a crowd full of overwhelming faces and discussions, it all summed into a crescent anxiety she couldn't quite understand. To worsen her situation, there would be no music to make her escape that pandemonium as she did before.

"The Duke of Bright is available this season," Bellatrix whispered to her. "He had prospect lands and an honorable family." She commented. "Perphaps he might even enjoy music."

"He is also quite charming," Violet said a bit excitedly.

"Who's charming?" The joyful Stephen joined them.

"Certainly not you, Stephen" Eloise mocked as always and he laughed.

Suddenly all the eyes in the room turned to the main stairs, where the Featherington family had just arrived, but the main focus wasn't on the two married sisters or their mother, but the youngest, Penelope Featherington, who sparkled in emerald color shaped in a Parisian style dress.

Stephen, who has always been so talkative, suddenly became in awe, frozen into place.

"Looks like the lovebug stung someone." Bellatrix teased.

"Oh, no, not my friend Penelope." Eloise made a face.

"Your friend?" Stephen asked curiously. "Is she married?"

"Not at all," Bellatrix responded instead. "She's also a remarkably nice and intelligent young lady. You should go talk to her."

"Oh, I'm not sure...perhaps I'll only bother her"

"I think you should try." Francesca encouraged sweetly. "Penelope is very kind, she will appreciate it."

"If you all say so" Stephen bowed and took an anxious breath, it was funny how a soldier who has been in so many battles, now felt anxious to talk to a simple girl. "Wish me luck"

As Stephen disappeared on the horizon, Violet and Bellatrix Bridgerton turned again to the young Francesca, overwhelming her with suggestions and possible suitors at the display.

Across the room, the Mondrich family, now part of the ton, hence parents of an heir to a title they had just discovered, brought a special guest with them, like a child that hid behind them not to be noticed.

"I can not believe you managed to drag me into this." Mercy Reeves complained, eyebrows furrowed, lips curved as he watched the nobles surrounding him with disdain.

"It is our first ball in society, and as a renowned musician who has been in events like this before, you are the perfect guide to make us fit in." Will, his long-time friend, now dressed in fine expensive clothing, smiled to him, his arm linked to his wife, Alice, who looked just as remarkable and adorned with jewelry.

"And you are also our dearest friend who needs to take a break from work," Alice added gently. "Brighten up, enjoy the evening, you might even find a wife if you try."

"What is wrong with you people who insist on making me marry?" He rolled his eyes. "I do not have time, means, or any wish to find a wife anytime soon."

"You say that just because you have not fallen for anyone yet" Will teased.

"I care more about surviving than falling, Will." Mercy rolled his eyes as the room continued to be dazzling, and vivid, and Mercy was, instead, a little grey dot in the middle of them.

The dances, the talks, everything remained the same, as Alice and Will amused themselves with the new life presented before them and their friend, who looked more like an unsettled pet.

"Mondrichs." A blonde, tall woman greeted them with a cold gaze, by her side, an elderly man with an almost angry stood by their side. "Congratulations on your newest...achievement. Welcome to society."

"It's not like they weren't citizens before." Reeves let out an acid comment before taking a sip of the champagne, he had never found the excitement of that drink.

Will contained a laugh as Alice raised her eyebrows surprised, the couple instead remained in the same place.

"And who are you...gentleman?" The man asked, his eyes narrowing, taking a bit too long in Mercy's figure.

"This is my close friend, Mercy Reeves, a renowned musician. You may have seen him play before, in Lady Danbury's ball." Will said proudly, tapping his friend's shoulder.

The old man, still looked at Mercy strangely, almost like he tried to figure out something he couldn't quite tell.

"And what is your title, Mr.Reeves, so we may address you correctly?" The woman, who by now was introduced as Lady Cowper, asked.

"None," Mercy responded, with a nitid teasing tone. "I do not have a title."

The couple exchanged glances, somehow confused, with a hint of disdain and clear disapproval.

"Still, Mercy is accompanying us, since he is our dearest friend." Alice attempted to fix the situation.

"Well, Lady Mondrich, I believe..."Lady Cowper measured the couple and their friend. "You...refine your circle of friends, now that you've joined the ton." Will felt his blood boil, and Mercy scoffed bitterly, a sour sarcastic smirk across his lips, dimples expressing his lack of surprise. "We shall greet other people...if you'll excuse us.."

The high chin couple exited the room, while Will and his wife remained there, shocked, unlike their friend.

"I apologize..."Mercy declared. "You shouldn't suffer such...embarrassment on your first ball because of me."

"Foolishness, Mercy, I couldn't care less about what that rich white couple who has never worked their whole lives would say," Will exclaimed and his wife nodded. "They know nothing about friendship, I doubt they even love each other."

"You are right, but still, now that you are the father of a noble, you must maintain your position." Mercy insisted. "Create connections, even if shallow, they are important or these people will eat you alive."

Alice sighed, but indeed, within all these eve ts and work for the ton, Mercy knew that life was better than them, he knew all the craft and work necessary, he only lacked the experience of having the privileges of that lifestyle. Still, he was happy for his friends to have that so-deserved house and means, he knew their life was never easy, and that is also why he'd hate to ruin it for them just by his presence there.

"I believe it is your time to take a turn around the room. Show off." He smiled a bit broken.

"What about you?" Alice asked.

"I'll try to look for some patronages, maybe find some quietness. Do not trouble yourselves." He insisted. "Now go."

But while his friends left to immerse himself into this new world and waved back at him with warmth, Mercy Reeves felt the cold freeze his body, the smile slowly disappear from his face, as the chandeliers, candlelight, and sparkling dresses suffocated him in a lonesome haze.

Indeed, he didn't belong in that world, and perhaps never would.

Mercy didn't waste time to even attempt to fit in, he quickly escaped to the hallways, away from the noise, the judging eyes, and even the scandalous couples who tried to make out in secrecy as he drifted away from the scenario.

In the meantime, Francesca Bridgerton managed to escape her Sister in Law's and her mother's introduction to the queen, also following the same hallways, just a bit earlier, until she reached a private room at the residence where a large white piano stood.

It was almost a gift sent from heaven, as she now sighed in relief and promptly sought refugee on its' tiles. Her sweet string of melodies escaped the room, reaching a certain musician's ears who passed by. It was rather relaxed, only to her wishes, and sounded like the most intimate serenade someone would make for themselves.

His eyes peeked through the door, and a sincere smile escaped his lips to see the owner of the sound. Francesca's fingers were delicate, the posture not as tense as her previous class, and the chord progressions immaculate.

Some gentlemen would find a lady attractive by her dancing, her talking, and her gestures, but Mercy Reeves in general, almost drooled by watching Francesca Bridgerton playing so beautifully, all to herself. Her hands, her soft gaze, the delicate smile across her lips that practically came from a renaissance picture.

She was the synonym of rarity and grace, a splendid sight to behold, and a greater pleasure to listen.

He relied his back on a wall, closing his eyes, and only absorbed the melody, his breath becoming more steady, the mind less troubling, and in that small fragment of time, all the world had disappeared. It reminded him of a simpler time when he was still a little boy trying to reach for the keys and immersed in the world of music for the first time to escape the tough life he had.

But Mercy Reeves ended almost too soon as he heard footsteps approaching and he hid himself in another room, watching as the Queen of England, adorned and shining, entered the room with a younger woman with a baby who looked like her and watched Francesca play. At some point, amidst her playing, the queen exploded in applause. The Bridgerton debutante rapidly got up from her seat a bit startled, gazing at the floor after recognizing the queen.

"That was splendid!" Charlotte exclaimed admired

"I told you Francesca is one rare young lady, mother." The woman by her side, Bellatrix, spoke.

"Forgive me, Your Majesty, I was only taking a small break from the ball," Francesca said quickly, hands glued to one another nervously.

"Because you delight in your endeavors." The queen noticed. "Someone who performs not for me, but for themselves. Brava." She smiled as she walked away, where her valet waited by the door. "Sparkling..." She turned to Francesca determined. "...one might say."

As soon as Charlotte nodded to her daughter in approval, she exited the room, and the queen's last season's diamond let out a soft high-pitched scream in victory. "You did it!" Bellatrix held Francesca's hand, making the younger one's eyes widen. "You are the new diamond of the season!"

Francesca didn't say anything, she could barely speak, nor process what just happened, she only tried to smile, head running miles as her sister-in-law had just managed to grant her the most required title a young debutante could ask for.

But that also meant that now she would be the center of attention.

It terrified her.

As celebrations continued, Mercy Reeves escaped in silence the room he was in, as he gave a short smile, happy for his student for her achievement. Yes, from all the nobles in the room, the most deserving one was her, and he would be glad to just stand there, in the shadows, rooting for her.

That would be enough.