The Midnight Sun

The next morning the ton woke up to the strange paper that was brought into their house the previous night. A varying display of reactions from those who received it. Some where intrigued, other fearful with the fact it came in the night.

At the Rowlington house Louis was the first awake. "My lord, a paper arrived last night." A soft spoken maid said as he came down the stairs. A confused look crossing his face but he nodded some. "Who brought it?" He asked her with curiosity in his voice. "I do not know sir, it just showed up...whoever it brought it was wandering around the ton in the darkness."

"Sounds poetic." Josephine said behind Louis as she descended the stairs. Louis turned to look at his sister. "Of course it would sound like poetry to you, sister." He couldn't help ut chuckle. She walked down further, taking the paper of Louis's hands, eyes skimming over the words.

"Well it's poetic and potential a romantic idea. A stranger in the night, causing no harm by lantern light. Papers left at the doors of the high class, tales of things that have yet to pass. A life that sounds better then the one in which you are trapped. To find the better world you must make the paper unwrapped."

Louis looked at his sister with gentle eyes. "That was good sister, did you just come up with that?" He asked as she continued past him, her eyes on the paper. "Yes, clever aren't I?" She teased. Louis chuckling as he followed after her, leaning over her shoulder to read the paper as well. "Very." He replied to her question. Josephine's eyes going over the words, the sketches placed in them.

Estella finally decided to read the paper, having thrown it aside angrily last night at being awoken, the woman not liking to have her sleep interrupted. She grabbed the paper and a cup of coffee, moving to the drawing room to sit down. Her eyes skimming the words on the paper, at first she wasn't going to as she feared it would be nothing more then a Lady Whistledown wannabe.

But slowly a smile crossed her face as she read the words, this was far more appealing then what Lady Whistledown rights. This paper had substance and didn't focus on the gossip around the ton, the fact that the writers seemed to go out of their way to correct some facts made her want to believe what was written. She had found the paper that spoke to her, words written that meant more them just who was being scandalized.

Estella felt a form of happiness at seeing Josephine's name written in the page, a hopeful redemption perhaps? She could only hope so.

Molly walked down the stairs of the house to see her friend already there, Clara, holding a newspaper. "They left one at each house." The blonde girl said with a small hum. Molly's eyebrows pinched in confusion. "What are you going on about?" She asked. Clara holding the paper up to show her. "That doesn't look like a Lady Whistledown." Molly said as she grabbed the paper. "What's The Midnight Sun?" She asked with confusion in her voice.

"I do not know, it is a new paper. This was brought in the middle of the night, at each house." Clara said as she looked at her friend. "They speak of truth. What if they learn something that no one should know?"
"Do you have secrets Clara?" Molly pulled her eyes away from the paper to look at the slightly taller girl. "Everyone has secrets Molly."

Robert was reading the paper that morning, he wondered about the two mysterious names signed at the bottom of the page. The man folded it back up and placed it to the side. The politics they were indulging was not one he was that intrested, perhaps he would give the paper another chance once they were better established and had more then just a greeting to print with some words he wasn't sure about believing in.

Philip didn't pay no mind to the paper that arrived at his doorstep, assuming it was nothing more then another scandal sheet even if this one tried to be more appealing in looks and proper. So the man threw it aside on his desk, not bothering to even take note of the name as he headed out for the day. But as it went he heard whispers of the mysterious paper, some men looked astonished and disgusted while the younger women rushed towards each other, brandishing the paper happily.

Gwendolyn saw the part about women and hoped that this would catch on, letting her be who she was without being looked down upon. "Let her be, let her live." Gwendolyn murmured as she took a sip of tea that was prepared for her for breakfast. A look on her face as a maid walked in. "Is everything alright miss?" She asked the lady softly. Gwendolyn looking up at her and smiling. "Everything is splendid." She answered honestly.

Emilio rarely partook in such news but when the one maid who read it before hand said it was not like the papers from before he decided to take a look in it, he was aware of Lady Whistledown writing of himself and Phoebe the day before, so he was nervous to read this paper. But he felt relief that he and her were left out of it.

Seeing how it brought up facts from days ago he now just wondered if the writes didn't read that issue of Whistledown before this was put into print. Maybe they would make the next copy, now knowing that not only Lady Whistledown was watching he felt uneasy but at least this one did not speak of gossip, they said the only spoke with facts and not the whispers of mamas with nothing better to do then spread rumors and lies.

Brandon had skimmed the paper the previous night, not really taking in the words, having been awake still due to having paperwork to do, the task of being a army commander never seemed to quit. Now he lounged back with a coffee steaming beside him as he now read what was written. His blue eyes flashed with angry before it quickly subsided as he felt some relief that what was written was not bad at all.

The man stood up, grabbing his coffee as he sipped it. He moved around the house getting ready to leave. Brandon was very glad to see a paper writing about things that were important not one that dragged the name of a girl he cared about through the mud, putting a tarnish on the girls reputation. "I am heading out." He told one of the foot men who looked at him. "Shall I prepare the carriage?"
"No thank you, it's not far." He flashed a charming smile and headed out the door.

Delilah had read the paper the night it arrived, he intrigue growing with each word that she read, while she had to admit she enjoyed reading Lady Whistledown she hasn't liked the things she has written lately but here was a diffrent perspective. Delilah was assuming it to be another woman writer with how it spoke about how women should be treated, she reread parts that she didn't other stand and even more so with one's that she loved.

The words spoke something diffrent then Lady Whistledown did, sparking more ideas then gossip. It was a dangerous thing to speak out against the men yet here was a page advocating the rights of women.

Phoebe wasn't sure how she felt about the paper as she was a fan of Lady Whistledown, this paper was slandering the sheet. She had had a dislike for Lady Whistledown being described as unsophisticated. The girl scowling slightly at that as she couldn't help but disagree. She knew what Lady Whistledown wrote was gossip but even then all her gossip came from a thread of truth.

Phoebe placed the paper aside, deciding not to take part in the reading of the mysterious paper. Who would want to read something that appeared so suddenly in the middle of the night by someone unknown? At least Lady Whistledown went about her buisness with a delivery boy going about in broad daylight in a much more suitable fashion.

Certainly a less creepy fashion then the one The Midnight Sun seemed to opt for.

Abigail was definitely interested in the paper as she lounged at Lady Danbury's house in the writing room. Said woman walking in. "What are you reading, child?" Lady Danbury asked as she walked closer. "It is a new paper." Abigail spoke shortly but polite to the woman who so graciously hosted and sponsored her this season.

"Yes another scandal sheet." Lady Danbury said as she sat down across from Abigail. "But it's not, Lady Danbury. Listen a woman should not have to rely on her husband signing the title to her, she should not have to fear for her outcome should the man she married pass suddenly. This paper is not like the other, it talks of important things." Abigail had a light in her eyes as she spoke causing Lady Danbury to smile a bit at her enthusiasm about equal rights.

Charles was reading the paper with intrest, as someone who was there that night with Josephine he was glad to see that someone had realized the truth and wrote it down for the ton to read, even though he knew most were too daft to realize it was true as they would always pick the side of the man.

Stifling the chuckle at how Nigel was wrote down he was glad to have some justice in this world. He wondered if Thomas had read the words..that's when he realized it, if the person who wrote this was that keenly observant would they realize what was going on between him and Thomas. A shiver ran through his body and the idea of being exposed in such a public manner. He sat the paper aside as his mind started racing at who this could mean.

THE MIDNIGHT SUN

Hello, readers. Perhaps you are wondering who we are and why this paper has gone into circulation. Well you will only learn the answer to one of those questions.

We are the voices that people do not wish to hear, the ones that are pressed into a forced silence; we are the rebels, the revaluationists, we are just like you, reader, but we will not be silenced.

The Midnight Sun will be a daily paper brought to you by varying people who have no idea who we are. The deliveries have their instructions and will follow them. Now I suppose we should inform you of what we do; what we write.

We will be diving into unsavory topics that the ton wants to push away, the facts and not the rumors. If you wish to read the maladroit and unsophisticated rambling scribbles of not creditable gossip; then I suggest that of Lady Whistledown.

Yes we shall be touching on the subjects that come with the social season but that will not be our only writings. Politics, injustice will also be involved in this.

So let us straighten some facts that those have failed to see. Miss Daphne Bridgerton is a fine young lady, a diamond surely, but Nigel Berbrooke is not the suitor for her; nor is the man a suitor of anyone else.

I am aware that this will most likely be overlooked but I thought I should try. He is a rake and a pig, I pity the poor animals to have a man like Nigel compared to them. He is one of the men that was outside with Miss Josephine Rowlington but she was trying to flee him; that is right I was at the ball, I took note of those around me. The other man that followed was Brandon Edgerton, a man who honorably defended her from the previous said man.

How unfair it is for a woman to be dictated by man, brining us to the second topic that The Midnight Sun will not shy away from discussing.

Women are not objects to be placed amongst the decorations to be gawked at, they are not objects to obtain. Here at The Midnight Sun, we believe that women should be treated equally, if she is shamed for being alone with a man then so the man should be shamed. If a woman desires education she should not be mocked, let them be and let them live.

A woman should not have to fear being thrown into the street should her husband pass. Nor should she have to rely on him signing the title over to her under such circumstance. She should be able to live in her house without fear of losing it all to some cousin that is the next male kin.

There are many other things that I would like to say readers, but that's the thing with papers like this, there is only so much room for me to convey what I wish.

Till next time, Eclipse from The Midnight Sun and Constellation from The Midnight Sun

The two names signed in diffrent writing to show that two diffrent writes worked for The Midnight Sun. Josephine had finished the paper by now and she was in the kitchen with their main cook. Well, she was as she had walked back upstairs to ask Louis what he would like.

She paused when she heard a knock on the door, Louis crossing the way to open it. Brandon wearing a smile on his face. "Have you read this paper?" He asked as he held up the paper. "I have." Louis confirmed with a small smile. Brandon looked past Louis and saw Josephine watching them. He moved past Louis and picked the girl up in a hug. "Your reputation is saved, Josie. Things are going to get better." He told happily.

Louis was about to say something but bite his tongue as he watched the pink decorate his sister's face. Josephine's arms hesitating a moment to go around Brandon's neck to keep herself steady. "I have seen, now you can set me down." She told him softly.

Once her feet had touched the ground she looked up at him, noticing the tiredness in his face. "Did you sleep well?" She asked him, showing concern. He offered a soft smile to the girl. "I am alright. I had paperwork to do last night but I am fine."

Josephine gave him a stern look. "You and Louis go sit in the dining room, I shall be back shortly." She said simply and sternly. When neither man moved, she placed her hands on her hips. "I said go sit in the dining room."

"Yes ma'am." Brandon chuckled softly as he started walking, Louis following after him.

Brandon and Louis sat down in the dining room as they were instructed by the small but scary Josephine. Coffee being brought out for the two along with cream and sugar to add if they wanted to.

It was only a moment when Josephine walked in with three plates balanced on her arms. "Here we are." She spoke as she sat down the plates in front of Louis and Brandon, fluffy and warm pancakes stacked up on each other. Strawberries dotted along them with slices. "Thank you Josephine." Louis said as he grabbed the cream, adding some to the pancakes.

"Did you make these?" Brandon asked as he looked up up at the girl, trying a piece. He admire the sweetness and deliciousness of the pancakes. "I did." Josephine nodded as she sat down in the middle between the two ends of the table where her brother and Brandon sat. "It is amazing." He complimented her.

Josephine looked curiously at him, trying to understand what this was; the gentle touches, the nicknames, how open she could be with him.

Who is your character most likely to reaLady Whistledown or The Midnight Sun