╔═══*.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.*═══╗

𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞: 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥
 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐝.

╚═══*.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.*═══╝

PRESENT DAY 

She ran and ran and ran with strands of her brown hair flying in the wind. She paid no attention to the distasteful looks she acquired from the mamas in bright dresses and even dared to greet Baroness Featherington and her daughters. 

"Do not ever show that kind of behavior especially around gentlemen." The Baroness remarked to her daughters with their gazes following the scurrying governess. "You would not want to end up like her. Disgraceful." 

Augusta bursts through the front door of her friend's shop, the early morning sunlight bleeding into the glass windows. There were no customers in sight but she knew the shop would be open at this hour. "Genevieve! Siena! I have exciting news ─ oh." 

As she slid the changing curtain to the side, Augusta stopped in her tracks at the sight of her friends who were laying on the couch covered in different cloths with glum faces. "Was it a rough party last night?" She asked.

Siena waved her hand. "No. But, please. Do share your exciting news, Governess Woodbury." 

"Okay!" Augusta piped up, a bright smile falling on her lips. "My story is getting published!" Instantaneously, the two ladies shot up from the couch with mouths agape. She continued on. "I gave some publisher a short story and he liked it and he said we'll hopefully see it in tomorrow's newsletter." 

Siena and Genevieve gathered her in their arms and squealed with excitement. Augusta never imagined she would get to share this type of news to anyone; she never imagined she'd even have friends in The Ton but the two ladies currently embracing her proved her wrong. Though Siena and Genevieve were much more open about their attendance in rambunctious parties and their affairs with men, Augusta tended to keep a much lower profile than the two of them ─ politely declining their invites to parties or their choice of gentleman for her to woo. 

However, there was one binding quality from the three of them: they intended to make their own money and their own way around the world with Genevieve and her shop, Siena and her singing, and Augusta as a wishful writer. 

"This is wonderful news!" Genevieve exclaimed once they broke away. "You are going to be the most beloved writer in The Ton and many will adore you then these mamas will be in the palm of your hands." 

"Watch out, England!" Siena continued on. "Remember the name Augusta Woodbury! You shall never forget it!" 

"Well. . ." Augusta drifted off. "I did not place my real name on the story."

"Augusta!" 

"I thought you were the intelligent one!" 

"I didn't think it was appropriate at the time!" 

"Since when did you care about being appropriate?"

"Since my name being printed on a newsletter could very much cause me my job. I do not think the Viscountess would enjoy my writings about gore and blood." 

"Ah." Genevieve clicked her tongue. "Your special position raising those Bridgertons." At the sound of the name, Siena looked away. "Speaking of the Bridgertons, Siena's relationship with the Viscount was indeed a regrettable decision."

Augusta settled her gaze on Siena. "Anthony left you?"

"Without protection by the way." Siena added bitterly and shook her head. 

"The Viscount must have his reasons." Augusta reasoned out though she felt for her friend. Her mother was in the same position not so long ago. But how would she phrase her words in a way that was comforting to her friend yet would not betray the Bridgertons? "But, it does not mean your feelings should be disregarded, Siena. Do not be his fool again." 

With a promise of a visit the next night, Augusta made her way to the Bridgerton household where she would be taking on the duties in teaching the younger ones as to writing her thoughts on paper. 

"Miss Woodbury!" The voice of Hyacinth Bridgerton exclaimed, her footsteps carrying her into their schoolroom where Augusta was gathering a bulk of papers. "Daphne has a caller! You must see for yourself!" 

"Hold your horses, Hyacinth." Francesca told her sister, stepping into the room with Eloise right behind her. "He is not much to look at, Miss Woodbury. There is no need to be in such a haste."

Augusta laid the papers down on the desk as the three took their seats. "And who is this dashing suitor that has managed to weave his way into Daphne's life despite Viscount Bridgerton's daunting warnings?" 

"Nigel Berbrooke." 

The governess' hands immediately flew to her mouth to stifle the guffaw that dared to come out of it. The debutante of the house had a caller and it had to be Berbrooke? Augusta could only pity Daphne and wish that the numerous suitors from yesterday were back despite half of them occupying her schoolroom; the girls and her had to move to the garden and enjoyed a day under the Sun instead. 

"What is it, Miss Woodbury?" Hyacinth asked, big eyes peering up at her. 

Augusta waved her hand, turning her attention back to the papers on the table. "Never mind, Hyacinth. It is unimportant." 

"Tell us!" Eloise requested. She was always eager to know what was going on in the mind of her governess; Augusta matched her ideals in many ways. "What do you think of Mister Berbrooke for Daphne?" 

"Daphne could do better." Augusta quipped without a second thought. "Much better, I presume. Is he not too old for her anyhow?" 

"Lady Whistledown has basically declared Daphne ineligible." 

"Well, if Lady Whistledown wrote it, it must be accurate." She looked at each girl who blinked owlishly at her. "I am only jesting."

"Lord Berbrooke looks smitten by Daphne." Hyacinth told them, a smile on her face. 

"Well, I believe that true achievement is attending university." Eloise said. "What would you study if you were to attend university, Miss Woodbury?"

Writing. 

That was the first answer to pop in her mind. 

"I do not know." Augusta answered to which Eloise responded with a deflated posture. She cleared her throat and clasped her hands. "Today, we will be talking about the History of England. It is not my personal favorite but it would have to suffice." 

Augusta was met by groans as she laid down a piece of paper that contained questions they needed to respond to by the end of their morning session. 

══════ ∘◦❁◦∘ ══════

"I truly believe I am quite capable of something more even when I am not allowed to have anything else."

"Then, I would say that you're not the only one." 

Eloise felt free even if she was merely sitting down on the swing with her brother after lighting him a cigarette. She was hoping Miss Woodbury would be the one to join her for that night but Benedict would have to suffice. But after sharing to him that she might want something more in life than matrimony or children, his presence made her feel much at ease. Plus, he promised he would not tell on her. 

It was quiet and Eloise took in the serenity the moon had offered to her before daylight would bleed in a few hours. A light turned on from the room that was right across from them. She furrowed her brows in confusion ─ who on Earth was lurking in her brothers' schoolroom? Gregory had not occupied it in months since he had his lessons with his sisters. (Miss Woodbury was an excellent multi-tasker.) A shadow was lurking around the schoolroom; it moved swiftly from one spot to the other and Eloise was eagerly waiting for the figure to walk right in front of the window where white curtains adorned it and a place where she could decipher the said shadow. 

Eloise almost fell off the swing once she saw a flurry of light-brown hair, coughing up a thin air of smoke as her eyes went wide in shock. Miss Woodbury had a book in her hands and occupied the seat right by window, leaning her back against the wall as her nose was instantly buried in the piece of literature in her hands. 

"What is ─ " Eloise turned to her brother, at lost for her words. "Is that ─ how ─ why is Miss Woodbury inside your schoolroom?" 

Benedict countered her with a smirk before turning his attention to the sight his sister was gawking at. "I do not know, sister." He answered her, eyes still trained on the governess' figure. 

Eloise smirked. During Miss Woodbury's very first week with them, she just knew there was something going on between the governess and Benedict but was quite confused if it was hatred or attraction ─ well, it was more of loathing on Miss Woodbury's part. But, her brother ─ oh dear ─ he was quite taken by their new governess; he had often masked that attraction with his impressive sarcasm more than showing his charming wit. For Miss Woodbury's part, she remained oblivious to all of Benedict's antics. 

Eloise was quite proud of herself for being the very first of her siblings to notice this and bragged for about a week to them how she was right all along. . .at least she thought she was right. 

"Brother," She said to grab his attention. Benedict turned to her, the cigarette hanging loosely on his lips. "Why do you find joy in tormenting Miss Woodbury?" 

He chuckled and blew out a smoke. "I find it amusing that she retaliates with a rabid look in her eyes." 

"I believe the term is glaring with a hint a scowl." 

"Whatever you call it, you cannot deny it is not unamusing. And, her furrowed brow is just the icing on the cake." 

"Did you give her a key to your schoolroom?"

"I will not confirm nor deny your accusation."

"You did!" 

"So, what about it, Eloise?" He asked. "We never use it anyway." 

"Is that how you gentlemen show your attraction to a woman?"

At this, Benedict erupted with laughter. "I am not attracted to Miss Woodbury whatsoever. I do not even know anything about her other than she has a brother fighting in the war."

"I think she mentioned her father is dead." Eloise blurted out, recalling the night her governess joined her a few weeks ago. "Or. . .was it her father was dead to her? I have forgotten." 

"Huh. Is that so?" 

That was the last time Benedict spoke a word to his sister for his gaze was transfixed on the lady reading by the window-side for rest of the night.

══════ ∘◦❁◦∘ ══════

1812

The schoolroom had erupted in chaos after thep windows had mysteriously opened in the middle of their lesson. A strong gust of wind encompassed the room and sent papers flying everywhere. Augusta had to dismiss the girls as she and the servants of the household tidied up. 

A few minutes in, Augusta sighed as she knelt on the floor to reach the papers that had managed to get under the table and chairs. She lowered her upper body to get a more precise hold of those papers, getting to eye-level to the floor. 

A pair of boots appeared along with a chirpy voice. "That was quite the breeze. Don't you think so, Aggie?" 

Grumbling, Augusta popped back up and glared at him. "Mr. Bridgerton!" She fumed. "Did you by any chance open those windows and turn my sessions with your sisters into a catastrophe?"

"Me?" Benedict replied with a smirk. "I would never!"  

Augusta swiftly stood up and went around the table. She stomped her way to Benedict, the scowl never leaving her face. "You did open those windows! Why would you ─ quit smirking! I am being serious!" 

"I am not smirking!" It had turned into a Cheshire cat smile. 

"Then stop grinning at me like a maniac!"

"I am not grinning!" 

"Well. . .stop whatever it is you are doing!" 

"This is me with a cheery disposition ─ " He walked around her cooly. " ─ a ray of sunshine amongst the bleakness of a rain cloud. Do not put a cloud over my sunshine."

Whipping around to face him, Augusta growled and seized him up. "It is an excuse to laugh at me."

"Rain cloud!" 

A knock sounded from the door and there stood Eloise Bridgerton, curiosity brimming inside of her at the sight of her brother and her governess standing oh-so close to each other. Miss Woodbury had jumped in surprise at the sound and took a step back once her gaze settled on Eloise. Even if she stood a few feet away, Eloise could feel the annoyance radiating off of Miss Woodbury. 

"Brother." Eloise said. "Gregory is looking for that round of fencing you promised him." 

"Of course." Benedict replied and turned to Miss Woodbury, smiling. "Have a wonderful day, Aggie." 

Miss Woodbury could only narrow her eyes at him though Eloise did wonder if the governess' pink cheeks were also a sign of her annoyance. 

AUTHOR'S NOTE
no this was not
spell checked ;)

i got their bickering
lines from a prompt
on pinterest ((: