Gentlemen callers

The next day after the ball young ladies around the ton anxiously awaited the gentlemen callers that would visit. But Josephine paced anxiously, the confusion and conflict that filled her mind plagued her. "Come now dear, we must head to the drawing room." Ida told her, pulling her daughter along with her.

Phoebe sat in her drawing room, the young girl working on a needle point project her mother wished for her to do. A few suitors have come and gone, a few have been memorable but no one who really stuck out to her as someone she would wish to marry.

Emilio was walking as he was suppose to go to a young lady that he wished to court. As of now he had no one in mind but he decided to go to Phoebe's house, as the two danced the previous night they had become friends. He would rather spend time with a friend then wandering around.

He was let into the room, Phoebe standing up when he entered as she looked towards him with confusion. "My lord." She greeted him as she curtsied towards him. They were left alone in the room. "Please it's Emilio." He said simply as he sat down.

Phoebe sat back down as she looked over at him. "What are you doing here?" She asked a bit confusion in her voice. "I just wanted to be with a friend. Everyone in my house is trying to get me to me to go courting, yet I'm unsure of the young women around here."

She gave him a sympathetic look. "If you would like I can help you." She offered, wanting to spend some time with him. For Phoebe has fallen for him yet he hasn't seemed to fall for her as well. So she would be willing to help him to just be around him. Emilio offered her a smile. "That would be lovely, thank you Phoebe." He said with appreciation showing in his voice.

Louis was  out on a walk as his mother had asked him to step out for the first meeting with suitors since some men found Louis intimidating and that's without them trying to court his sisters. Confusion crossed his face as he approached a face he knew yet the person he didn't.

"Miss Di Giovanni." He greeted her with a smile on his face, it was faint but it was there. Her beautiful eyes turned up to him. "My Lord Rowlington." She greeted him politely abd properly. "Shouldn't you be at home awaiting suitors?"

"That is a very forward question, Lord Rowlington, but I do not wish to be there. Shouldn't you be with your sisters." Estella stated for no other reason then she just really didn't want to meet the men who wished to marry her. His eyes held some understanding. "I was asked to leave so I would not scary the young men away, but I'm sure Josephine can handle that." He chuckled softly.

Estella's eyes soft as she hummed softly. "I don't think you could scare them away. You are not as scary as you think you are, my lord." Louis couldn't help but smile a bit. "But you have not seen me protecting my family, that is when I'm scary." He added, the two starting to walk together as they fell into conversation.

The two spoke amongst themselves as they learned more about each other, well Estella learned more about him then he did of her as she preferred it that way, Louis to much of a gentleman to press her for answers she wouldn't want to say. That's when a young boy, selling the scandal sheets ran up, offering one to Estella which she politely took. Before she could pay for it Louis gave the boy some money.

Estella looked towards him and smiled. "Thank you." She spoke softly as she opened the paper. Her eyes skimming the words before she looked towards Louis, slowly offering him the paper.

Confused he took it and read the words with a frown on his face, some anger in his eyes. "Pardon me Miss." He bowed to her, Estella nodded a bit as she watched him walk away. The anger in his face was new and she hoped that it wasn't directed towards Josephine. "Poor family." She said with a sigh before continuing her daily walk.

Molly sat at home, looking out of her window as she waited, a footman walking in. "Callers have arrived for Miss Blake." The girls eyes brightened visibly as four young men entered the room. She didn't expect to feel the shock flash through her at the last one, Elmer Rowlington himself has walked into her drawing room.

Her smile faltered slightly but she quickly brought it back as she stood up, her mom by her side. "Hello, my lords." She spoke with a gentle voice as she dipped down into a bow.

One by one she spoke with the gentlemen that called on her. Her heart fluttering happily at the idea of any of these men having the possibly to be her future husband. Finally Elmer sat across from her. "What are you doing here?" She asked slightly annoyed, she was in diffrent to Elmer, not liking his flirtatious Personality.

"How rude Miss Blake, I am merely here to see you." He said with a slight smirk on his face as he lounged back, looking at her. Molly rolled her soft blue eyes. "You rarely do things out of the kindness of your heart." She told him honestly as she looked at him.

Elmer gave her a charming smile. "Sure I can, I'm not a monster." He laughed. Molly had to admit that his laugh sent a flutter through her as she narrowed her eyes. "That's fair I suppose. How are you this morning?" She asked.

"I'm doing well and how are you, Mol?" The nickname brought a soft blush to her face. "I'm doing good, thank you." She smiled at him. She couldn't understand what about him suddenly brought the tint to her face. She felt relief as a footman brought in the days Lady Whistledown pamphlet.

"Thank you." She told him politely as the man smiled, nodded and left the room. Molly was reading it, her eyes occasionally flickering over towards Elmer who had his eyes on her and the smirk resting on his face.

Her eyes went back down and she froze. "Oh no.." She spoke softly that caught Elmer's interest. "What is wrong?" He asked with some concern in his voice. Molly looked hesitant but she offered him the paper. Her eyes cast down as she didn't want to see how he reacts to the news.

Elmer grew angry as he stood up. "I must be on my way home." He tried to speak politely but it came out as a growl. "Of course." Molly said her voice softener then before as she knew what this could mean for the whole family.

As he walked out the door she could hear the last words he muttered in anger. "Whoever he is I am going to kill him." Molly worried for the family of her best friend, she stood up and paced nervously across the room. Thinking of what she should do and if she should go over to check on her friend.

Dearest reader, this author finds herself compelled
to share the most curious of news.
It seems our diamond requires a closer inspection.
As such, an even rarer jewel of only the most remarkable brilliance, fire, and luster has been unearthed.
Her name, unknown to most yet soon know to all,
is Miss Marina Thompson.
This author is left to wonder whether
Her Majesty might reconsider the high praise she once afforded Miss Bridgerton...for we all must know what the Queen despises more than anything.
Being wrong.
And the drawing room at Bridgerton House currently appears to be emptier than the muddled head
of her dearest King George.

It follows that Lady Featherington is to receive what she has always desired: the season's true Incomparable living under her own roof. She must be overjoyed.

But as for the other prestigious family of the ton, the Rowlingtons, are the
to be shamed? As rumors have circulated that Miss Josephine
Rowlington was with not one but two men of unrelation unchaperoned
the night of Lady Danbury's
ball. Could this cold woman, who
appears to be so uncaring she
did not stay around after the
death of her father, be bought for
a few coins? Only time will tell,
but this author thinks that
this season's almost diamond
is not who we think her to be; be on
guard young suitors for this rose
has her thorns but are you willing to bleed?

Thomas and Charles was out in the garden, a private alcove they have found one day wandering around.

"I appreciate the way you have helped with Josephine the other day." Thomas told him truthfully as he looked towards him. "Of course, Tommy. I care for your family very much." Charles said with a soft pink on his face.

Thomas looked at someone who he considered his best friend, someone he cared deeply for and would do anything for...someone he loved. His heart raced as he looked at Charles, right at his eyes.

The Rowlington boy took a deep breath before doing something he has longed to do for so long, leaning in he pressed his lips to Charles' before he quickly stood up, his face a bright red. "I-I am so sorry..I don't know what over took me." He apologized with the fear of losing Charles.

"N-no don't apologize... I think I should leave though..I will..I will see you tomorrow Thomas." Charles said with a dark blush on his face. The boys heart racing as he felt some fear at what he's starting to realize some things that he would have never even considered.

Thomas nods as he hung his head low. Charles looked at him with soft eyes but started to walk away. Thomas taking a deep breath to keep himself calm, to stop the burning feeling of tears that threatened his eyes but he let him go, he wouldn't call out to him for fear of making things worse then he already has.

Clara was talking to one of the five suitors that has arrived for her, Josephine sitting off to the side by herself, not a single call has shown up for her. A few of the young men casted her looks, sharing whispers that didn't go unnoticed by Josephine.

"What is it?" Josephine finally snapped at the one man who looked at her. He said nothing just giving a slight smirk as he crossed the way and gave her the Lady Whistledown pamphlet. That's when Brandon rushed into the room with a desperate look in his eyes.

"Josephine, put that down." He told her in a stern but kind voice. That only made her more intrigued by what Lady Whistledown could have possibly written.

"Why are you sticking up for her? She is obviously a whore. Why else would no one call on her?" The man said shocking Clara. Brandon turned quickly, punching the man. "You do not speak of a lady that way in her own home! Especially not in front of me."

Louis and Elmer arrived home at the same time, the eldest walking in. Seeing Brandon standing over a man who had blood oozing from the corner of his mouth. "Everyone leave!" Louis demanded. The men who had been there for Clara rushing out at his fury.

Brandon looked over towards Josephine, the tears that filled her eyes but didn't fall broke his heart. She stood up as she took a deep breath, the way it shuddered showing she was close to crying. "Excuse me." Her voice was soft as she hurried out of the room. None of her siblings chasing her, thinking she needed to be alone.

Brandon looked after her before walking out of the room, closing the door behind him. "Jose, are you alright?" He asked as he quickly got to her side. "No I am not, I have shamed my family, I'm ruined. This is all my fault." She spoke in a angry yet sad voice.

Brandon shaking his head. "This is not your fault. Nigel should not have chased you like he did."
"But I should have remained inside." She shot back. Brandon placed his hands on her arms, leaning down to look her straight in the eyes. "You have done nothing wrong. I don't know what that school had taught you but men can be the ones who are wrong."

"What are you doing?" Louis had walked into the hall, seeing how close Brandon was to Josephine..

Eloise laid down the copy of Lady Whistledown she held. "Has anyone else read what Lady Whistledown has written of late?" She asked curiously.

"Should anyone pay any head to what Lady Whistledown writes of late?" Hyacinth asked as she turned to face her. "I certainly do not." She answered her own question.

Daphne was pacing back and forth before stopping to look at her mother. "Mama, perhaps we might attend the upcoming Salisbury ball by ourselves and the Merriweather tea too." The young girl said.

"I believe that Anthony has already replied on our behalf, dearest. Apparently, he has managed our social calendar through June." Violet replied making Daphne more distressed. "Hello be here for the entire season?"

Eloise stood up, holding the paper. "Lady Whistledown has made her opinion of our dear sister's fortunes quite clear...poor Josephine."
"Oh, enough about Lady Whistledown!" Daphne exclaimed as she sat on the couch. Eloise sitting back down.

One of the foot men opened the door. "A caller for Miss Bridgerton." Violet stood up, a happy look on her face. "The Lord Berbrooke." Everyones faces changed.

Unfortunately not every character can be featured in every chapter as sometimes it's hard to find a way to work them in. I'm going to try to keep rotating characters so bare with me please