"Where is your brother? He should be here by now." Violet ranted on the following morning, pacing the room.

"Surely off ruining another woman's life." Griffin mocked before taking a sip of his tea.

"Perhaps he is still waiting at the alter for Miss Edwina." Colin had to be the next to follow the joke as Benedict and Eloise giggled.

"There will be no mockery today." Violet warned each of them. "Especially you."

Griffin gave a dramatic gasp when his gaze fixed upon her. "How dare you accuse me of such a thing, Mother? It's not as if my own Brother has disrespected my wife and last name."

"Are we back to calling her your wife?" Eloise looked over.

"Did it ever stop?" Benedict gave a curious look.

"Are we not overlooking the benefit of this...tragedy?" Eloise spoke up as she placed her book down.

"Leftover cake?" Gregory looked back.

"And you wonder why I mock you?" Hyacinth glared.

"That Griffin could propose to Miss Edwina?" Collin frowned his eyebrows.

"I'm a gentleman." Griffin warned his brother. "I will not be taking Miss Edwinas sadness as an opportunity."

"Brother!" Benedict annoyance as Anthony finally showed. "How good of you to join us."

"Have you all eaten?" he looked around.

"You will need to break your last later." Violet spoke quickly. "For now, is it the utmost importance that we act swiftly to limit the damaging consequences of the unfortunate events of your-"

"Bungled nuptials?" Colin spoke up in questioning.

"Is all of this truly happening because a woman merely changed her mind?" Eloise spoke up with a look of complete disbelief and annoyance

"Unfortunately so, Eloise." Violet seemed to mock her. "Yet, I suppose the reason does not signify. We simply must deal with the consequences. Now, I think it a pleasant morning for promenade."

Every single one of them groaned as Violet shook her head. "Together, united, we the most respectable family that we still very much are."

"Ah, surely." Griffin got to his feet with a harsh bump into Anthony's shoulder when he stopped to make another cup of tea. "I did warn you of this, did I not? What a terrible husband you would have been. Is it truly such a shock to you that I was right?"

"A respectable family is headed by a gentleman, is it not?" Anthony turned his gaze to violet

"Brother...Is there something more we should know?" Benedict looked his way in questioning. "Or perhaps I should just know?"

"Yes, do you have something to tell us?" Griffin mocked him. "Or should I bring Miss Edwina her respectable justice?"

"He knows?" Benedict gapped in disbelief.

"Forgive me." Anthony announced. "If a promenade is what you feel is wise, Mother, then we shall leave within the hour."

Eloise cleared her throat. "I shall be a little late. Shopping."

"I thought shopping was for young ladies?" Griffin looked back at her with a teasing grin.

"I need a new pair of gloves, so as for look that much more united and respectable." Eloise ignored her brother as she went on with her statement.

Griffin smiled and waved to every judgmental and staring face. Violet scolded him as she linked arms with Anthony, who took it upon himself to speak to a certain eyeing pair. "Miss Patridge. Such a pleasant afternoon, is it not?"

"Yes, indeed, my lord." she stated her most polite, standing uncomfortably.

"My dear, I believe we will be late for the Goring. Make haste." her mama stood close after, not making eye contact with any.

"How kind everyone is being to us." Griffin said sarcastically as Colin elbowed him right in the gut, pulling a noise from him. The Bridgertons eyes fixed upon the Sharma family and Lady Danbury. Griffin body seemed to almost gravitate toward Edwina when her eye met his, if only it hadn't been for a familiar voice keeping him still.

"What a pleasant surprise to see you out in public, Lady Bridgerton, so soon?" Lady Featherington walked over with her newly introduced cousin at arms link.

"Lady Featherington, it is not as thought we are in mourning." Violet turned, keeping Anthony stilled with their linked arms. Griffin looked past her massive red hair to give Penelope a little grin, a wave of his fingers her way.

"No one understands the pain of a broken engagement better than myself." she exhaled loudly. "I never thought we would recover after Mr. Bridgerton and Miss Thompson's falling out, and yet here we are. Miss Thompson now Lady Crane, Philippa now Mrs.Finch, and Prudence now engaged."

"How beautiful that is for you." Griffin hummed as he squinted slightly.

"It is rather amusing how things work themselves out, is it not?" Violet forced a laugh to answer to the passive aggressiveness Lady Featherington possessed.

"Indeed. I do wish you good fortune with all your things, Lady Bridgerton." the red haired woman gushed her way. They walked off, Penelope the only one lingering back.

"We are truly sorry, Lady Bridgerton." Penelope stared at her with a gentle, flimsy look. Griffin always did think Penelope was rather cute, precious in some way. Boys around town would pick on her looks, but Griffin had never understood why when she was such a pretty sight. He use to call Collin mad for not courting her sooner and if it hadn't been for Eloise telling him to stay away, he'd have done it plenty ago.

The thought made him turn his head to look toward Edwina, she'd been looking elsewhere. He excused himself from his family, heading over. Lady Danbury seemed to want to stop him, but Kate gave her a look to tell her to allow him through. Griffin seemed to be the only one who could bring a smile upon her sisters face these days, and she'd do anything to see it. He greeted them. "Lady Danbury, Miss Sharma, Miss...Mama?"

She gave a laugh to the boy, smiling. "My lord."

Griffin smiled, reaching over and pulling a rose from the bush. He gave a dramatic sniff as he held it out. "And, hello, Miss Edwina."

She shook her head with a bright grin, taking the rose. "My lord, thank you."

"Would you care for a stroll?" he held his arm out. "Such a lovely day."

Edwina looked to her mother, giving her a small nod to promise she'd be back. Her arm linked with Griffin as they headed off. "Thank you for coming to my rescue."

"I figured you could use a small escape." he cracked a grin as they walked past the fountains. "How would you say you are feeling?"

"Trapped." Edwina said honestly as her arm tightened with Griffins. "Do you understand?"

"I suppose so." he agreed with her. "We shall take a stroll everyday to help you feel less trapped."

"I would very much l-ow." Edwina started, the rose falling to their feet as her finger bleed. "Thorn."

"Oh, let me see." Griffin took her hand. Before Edwina could comprehend, he popped her index finger into his mouth. Her eyes went wide slightly, feeling the suction he'd been applying to her finger. His eyes flickered to meet hers for half a second before pulling back, removing the thorn from his mouth. "Got it."

Her body was on fire, so badly she couldn't say anything aside stare at him.

•

kylie speaks

me too, edwina. me too.