Family lies

Josephine left the library with a soft smile remaining etched to her lips. She would have never thought that the best friend of her brother would slowly start to become her own.

"Louis!" She called out in a soft yet loud voice. The thunderous sound of feet could be heard as not only her older brother rounded the corner but all of her siblings did.

Elmer was the first to get to her, enveloping her in a hug. This was the first time Josephine has seen the boy cry. "I have missed you." His voice was raspy against her shoulder as he held her close. "And I you, my dear brother." She ran her hands along his shoulder in a comforting manner.

Soon she felt more around around them, even Clara has joined in the family hug. "If you ever do that again I shall kill you." The blonde girl stated firmly as she reached across Elmer's shoulder to gently brush Josephine's cheek.

The youngest Rowlington fought hard against tears at the warm welcome of her siblings. She felt safe and wanted. "I am grateful that you are my family." She said as she looked at the faces of those she treasured most.

"Where is mother?" Josephine asked after a moment as her eyes scanned the halls, she didn't think her mom would just not care she had woken up.

The siblings looked towards Louis making the older man sigh softly. "There are some things I must tell you." He said as he looped his arm around her shoulders, leading her to the drawing room so she could sit down.

Louis began to explain everything to her, about the illness and their aunt, about Elmer and the choice he had made in having their mother leave the house.

By the end of the retelling Josephine was staring down at her hands. "No...no! She wouldn't.." She tried to reason and figure out what was truly happening.

"It is true, Jo. I'm sorry...but she is a cruel woman." Thomas has moved to sit by his twin's side, pulling her to his side in a hug. "I wish it was not true."

Clara was looking at the girl before taking a deep breath. "Now that she has awoken, I suppose I should resume the social standards. I shall go to the park to promenade." She hasn't been out for days and they didn't want any more attention then necessary on the Rowlington household.

"Perhaps I should join you." Josephine stated.
"No, perhaps you should not." Brandon's voice came from the doorway, drawing her attention to him.

"No? What do you mean no?" Josephine asked with a arched eyebrow. Brandon seeing the girl he knew coming back...at the worst possible time.

"What do you think no means? You are not going out Josephine. You just woke up after days of being asleep. You are in no state to go walking." He spoke in a firm tone. Louis sitting back to look at the two with some amusement finally lighting up his eyes.

He was glad that things seemed to be going back to normal. "Then walk with me, make sure I do not faint." She stood up, closing the distance between them. She looked up at him. "But you are not my brother nor my husband so I do not have to listen to you."

Brandon chuckled at that. "Please, I know that even if I was your brother...or your husband you still would not listen."

The smile that graced her features warmed his heart. A smile he wished was reserved for only him, a light for only his eyes. "Good boy, you are learning." She reached up, patting his cheek before walking past him to head to her room to get ready.

Brandon remained in the doorway, a soft pink on his face as he turned to look at her retreating form.

"She is growing soft for you." Louis said with a small hum. He knew how his sister was and rarely did she warm to a man who wasn't a Bridgerton.

Brandon felt some sort of honor at her letting him in, that she trusted him and felt that she could be herself with him.

Josephine returned shortly in a appropriate dress for a evening stroll. Though she despised dresses she was determined to return to the "stage" in a respectable manner.

"Are you ready?" She asked, her attention on Brandon alone. The man looking her over in the light mint green dress that made her eyes stand out so beautifully. "I am." He offered her his arm. The whole family deciding to head out. Most mainly going to keep a eye on their sister.

The ride there was uneventful yet Josephine would always remember the moment she stepped out of the carriage.

The eyes that turned to her, the way people instantly seemed to start to whisper the moment Brandon stepped out of the carriage behind her.

She held herself up high, the breath she took shaky as her eyes scanned the crowd, maybe this was a mistake, maybe she should have stayed home.

"Josephine!" Molly and Delilah came running towards her happily, the two taking turns to embrace her.

"I wasn't aware you were awake!" Molly practically squealed in excitement to see the girl she considered her friend.

"I awoke earlier today." Josephine said with a soft smile crossing her face. She seemed anxious having the two suddenly bombard her.

Estella took notice of Louis first before seeing Josephine in the embrace of the two girls. A confused look crossed her face. She made a slow approach towards Louis. "Shouldn't she be resting or at least at home?" She asked when she reached him.

"She should but she does not listen." He replied with a slight smile crossing his lips. He loved his sister dearly no matter what happened he would always be there for her.

Estella smiled a bit as well. "I am really beginning to like her." She looked at the girl who finally broke away from Molly and Delilah, now walking down the road with her arm linked through Brandon's.

Josephine felt insecure and small under the judgemental looks she was given but she held herself up, not giving anyone the satisfaction of seeing that they got to her.

Dearest gentle reader,
It has come to this authors attention that Miss Josephine Rowlington has once again returned to the ton.
Having been seen today promenading with Mr. Brandon Edgerton.

Could it all be a coincidence reader?
that previous to her disappearance it was rumored she was alone with him
only to return with him.

Could this be a scandal? That I shall leave to your imagination to what this could mean for the two.
What the coupling has been up to behind closed doors.

Perhaps the seasons unspoken diamond could be nothing but a forgery.
Broken and fractured....
If you understand what I mean

Yours truly,
Lady Whistledown

It's a short start in getting back into it but it's one!

I will be going away from the Bridgerton plot but the characters will remain!