BECAUSE MISS "BRIDGERTON"

chapter 12

THAT NIGHT AT dinner, it was quickly spotted by George that one side of the table was the side that was “pleasing.”

He didn't sit on that side.

On her left is Lady Frederica Fortescue-Endicott, who talks nonstop about her new fiance, the Earl of Northwick. On her right is Lady Frederica's younger sister, Lady Alexandra.

Who also spoke nonstop about the Earl of Northwick.

George is not sure what he thinks of this. For the sake of Lady Alexandra, she hoped Northwick had a brother.

Billie was sitting right across from him, not that George could see the girl behind the elaborate decoration of the fruits that adorned the middle of the table. But he could hear his laughter, deep and full, and, as expected, followed Andrew's laughter, was acted upon by a foolish farce by the handsome Sir Reginald McVie.

Sir Reggie, the name that the man instructed everyone to use when calling him.

George hated it.

No matter they were just introduced an hour ago; sometimes it only takes an hour. In this case, one minute is enough. Sir Reggie walked over to George and Billie, who were laughing at something completely insignificant but personal, and then the man put on a dazzling smile.

The man's teeth were so flat as if they were mounted using a wooden meter. Who has teeth like that? That's unnatural.

Then the man who did not know the custom grabbed Billie's hand and kissed her as if she were a count of France, and declared her beauty more than the sea, sand, stars, and sky - in French anyway, despite losing alliances.

The deed was more than laughable; george was so sure Billie would spout his laughter. But no, the girl's face was blushing.

Billie's face blushed!

Then she rubbed her eyelashes. The least Billie Bridgerton could have done for as long as George had ever seen.

All for a neat set of teeth is scary. And Billie doesn't even understand French!

Of course they were sitting next to each other at dinner. Lady Bridgerton has hawk-like eyes when it comes to the prospect of marriage for her daughter; George believes Lady Bridgerton saw Sir Reggie flirting with Billie at the first second a jewel-white grin appeared. If Billie hadn't been sitting next to the man in the first place, the girl would have been sitting next to him when the dinner gong rang.

With Andrew on the other side of Billie, no one can stop him. Laughter rang like church bells to the side of the table that was eating, drinking, and having fun.

While George's side of the table continued to praise the Earl of Northwick's numerous virtues.

Very much so.

By the time the soup was lifted, George was ready to propose the man for the title of saint. When you hear Lady Frederica and Lady Alexandra tell you this, there is no one more worthy of that man. The two women told him the nonsense involving Northwick and the umbrella he held for the two of them in the rain one day, and George was just about to comment it sounded claustrophobic, when once again laughter rang out from the opposite side of the table.

George glared, not that Billie could see it. The girl would not have seen it even without that cursed fruit bowl between them. He was too busy being the center of attention at the party. Billie is a shining star. Really, George wouldn't be surprised if the girl really twinkled.

He had offered to take care of her.

Just be right. The girl was fine without anyone's help.

“What do you think they're talking about?” lady Alexandra asked after a burst of strong excitement.

“Gigi,” murmured George.

“What did you say earlier?”

He looked at her with a friendly smile. “Entah.”

“It looks like they are having fun,” Lady Frederica said while frowning seriously.

George put his shoulders.

“Northie very great speaker,” comments the woman.

“Really?” murmured George, while stabbing a piece of roast meat.

“Oh, yes. You certainly know him?”

George nodded blankly. Lord Northwick was a few years older than him, but they met several times in Eton and Cambridge. George did not remember much of the man other than his blond hair.

“Then you know she is very cute,” said Lady Frederica with a adoring smile.

“Very,” reset George.

Lady Alexandra leaned closer. “Are you guys talking about Lord Northwick?”

“Eh, yes,” replied George.

“She is so fun at home parties,” Lady Alexandra agrees. “I want to know why you didn't invite him.”

“It wasn't me who made the guest list,” George reminded.

“Oh, yes, of course. I forgot you're not a family member. You look so comfortable in Aubrey Hall.”

“The Bridgerton and Rokesby families have long been good neighbors,” George said.

“Miss Sybilla is arguably her sister,” said Lady Frederica, leaning over to continue to engage herself into the conversation.

Billie's? Her sister? George cringing. That's not true. “I won't say..” he started.

But Lady Alexandra is speaking again. “Lady Mary said that. He told the funniest story. I really like your sister.”

George's mouth was full of food, so he nodded and hoped the woman would accept him as a thank you.

Lady Alexandra approaching. “Lady Mary says you all roamed wild as children. Sounds very fun.”

“I'm a little older,” said George. “I rarely—”

“—then the creature escaped!” Andrew chuckled from across the table, loud enough for his lucky——stopping George's conversation with both Fortescue-Endicott women.

Lady Frederica peeked out from behind the fruit display. “What do you think they're talking about?” she asked.

“Lord Northwick,” replied George firmly.

The woman's face immediately lit up. “Really?”

“But Mr. Rokesby says ‘creature it’,” Lady Alexandra reminds. “Surely he won't call Northie that creature.”

“I'm sure you heard wrong,” George lied. “My sister greatly admires Lord Northwick.”

“Really?” The woman approached, enough to attract the attention of her brother. “Frederica, did you hear that? Lord Kennard says his sister admires Lord Northwick.”

Lady Frederica's face was gorgeous.

George wanted to immerse his face in his potatoes.

“...ungrateful animals!” billie's voice was carried over the terrine asparagus. More laughter followed, followed by: “I'm so angry!”

George scolded. He never thought he would miss Billie Bridgerton, but the girl's smile was bright, her laughter was contagious, and he was sure that he would have to stay longer sitting between Lady Frederica and Lady Alexandra, who were very happy to be around, his brain will start flowing into both ears.

Billie must have seen him grieving, as he moved slightly to the side. “We were talking about the cat,” he said.

“Yes, I think so too.”

Billie smiled—a pretty pleasant and encouraging smile that made George feel quite desperate.

And not happy.

“Do you know what he means?” ask Lady Alexandra. “I think he said something about the cat.”

“Northie loves cats very much,” cetus Lady Frederica.

“I myself do not like it,” said George with renewed politeness. His statement is not entirely true, but he cannot ignore the pleasure of being found to have conflicting opinions.

Lady Frederica nodded in surprise. “Everyone likes cats.”

“Not me!”

Both Fortescue-Endicott were stunned staring at him in shock. George felt he could not blame them; his tone sounded so joyful. But as he begins to enjoy his time, he decides that he doesn't care. “I prefer dogs,” he said.

“Well, of course everyone loves dogs,” said Lady Frederica. But he sounded hesitant.

“And the mongoose,” said George cheerfully, putting a piece of bread in his mouth.

“Luwak,” reset the woman.

“And mole.” He grins. Now the woman looked at him with obvious uneasiness. George congratulated himself for a great job. In a few minutes, the woman must have thought him crazy.

George can't remember the last time he had fun like this at a formal dinner.

But the girl was busy with Sir Reginald, who was staring at her as if Billie was a rare creature.

And that's right, thought George fiercely. It's just that Billie's not a rare creature.

George suddenly felt the urge to jump across the table and rearrange Reggie's teeth into something much more abstract.

For God's sake, who was born with teeth like that? The man's parents had obviously already sold their souls to the demons.

“Oh, Lord Kennard, are you planning to watch the women's archery tournament tomorrow?” ask Lady Alexandra.

“I didn't know there would be such a tournament,” he replied.

“Oh, yes. Frederica and I are planning on taking part. We've been training extensively.”

“With Lord Northwick?” George could not help but ask.

“Of course not,” replied the woman. “Why do you think like that?”

George mengedik helpless. Oh God. When is this dinner over?

The woman put her hand on her arm. “I hope you want to watch.”

George looked down at Lady Alexandra's hand. The woman's hand seemed so wrong to be on top of her suit sleeve. But he felt the woman misunderstood his attitude, because instead, the woman's fingers tightened. George inevitably wondered inwardly what had happened to Lord Northwick. May the Lord help her until she takes the place of the earl for the woman's love.

George wanted to let go of his hand, but there was the attitude of the cursed honorable man inside of him, so instead he smiled stiffly and said, “I will definitely watch.”

Lady Frederica approached and her face seemed radiant. “Lord Northwick also really likes watching archery sports.”

“Of course,” says George slowly.

“Did you say something?” ask Lady Alexandra.

“Only that Miss Bridgerton archery expert,” says George. That's true, even if that's not what he said. He turned to Billie, intending to signal her, but the girl was already looking at him with a fierce expression.

George turned his head so he could see better.

Billie's mouth tightens.

George shakes his head.

Billie turned the eyeball and looked back at Sir Reginald.

George blinked. What the fuck was that?

And really, why does he even care?

*****

BILLIE MISSED A GREAT TIME. Really, he wasn't too sure what he was really worried about. Andrew had always been an entertaining dinner companion, and Sir Reggie was so kind and handsome; he made Billie comfortable even when the man started speaking in French when they were introduced.

Billie had no idea what Sir Reggie was talking about, but she felt sure to be a compliment, so she nodded and smiled, and she said, even flickering a few times like she had seen other women do when they tried to be feminine.

No one can say he is not trying to give his best.

One of the shortcomings is George. Or rather the situation of George. Billie was so sorry for him.

Lady Alexandra seemed like the kind of woman to please when they were introduced in the driveway, but once the woman arrived in the sitting room for a drink before dinner, she was very happy, the aggressive woman clung directly to George like a mussels.

Billie was horrified to see it. He knew the man was rich and handsome and would become an earl, but did that voracious little lady have to show it so clearly?

Poor george is. Is this what he has to deal with every time he goes to London? Maybe Billie should have more compassion for the man. At the very least he should peek into the dining room before the guests enter and check the seating arrangements. He was able to save the man from the night with Lady Alexandra Bertangan-Four-Endicott.

Oh, geez. He could think of something better than that.

Fatal…

Alright. He couldn't think of anything better. But really, she might have had four hands if she saw the way she kept George in the sitting room.

At dinner he was even worse. It was hard for Billie to see George across the table, stymied by his mother's giant fruit display, but she could see Lady Alexandra clearly, and it had to be said that the woman was showing off a chest.

Billie wouldn't be surprised if she hid all the tea supplies in there.

Later then. Then! The woman placed her hand on George's arm as if she had it. Even Billie didn't dare to do something as familiar as that under such formal circumstances. He tilted forward in his seat, trying to see George's face. That guy can't be happy about this.

“Are you okay?”

He looks. Andrew observed it with an expression between suspicion and anxiety.

“I'm fine,” he replied ketus. “Why?”

“You almost fell into my lap.”

Billie quickly straightened up. “Do not be silly.”

“What did Sir Reginald wind down?” murmured Andrew.

“Andrew!”

The man gave her a grin without regret. “Either that or you start to have feelings for me.”

Billie glared at the man.

“I love you, Billie,” Andrew said in a lazy tone, “but nothing like that.”

Billie turned the eyeball because, well, because, Andrew's a bitch. He's always been a bitch. And Billie doesn't love that guy either.

But Andrew didn't have to be so mean.

“What do you think of Lady Alexandra?” whispered.

“Which one is he?”

“Yang crept above your brother,” he said impatiently.

“Oh, which is it.” Andrew sounded like he was trying not to laugh.

“George looks very unhappy.”

Andrew looked up as he watched his brother. Unlike Billie, she's not deterred from the display of giant fruit. “Entah,” ponder. “He doesn't look object.”

“Are you blind?” hiss Billie exasperated.

“My age is not.”

“Dia—oh, forget. You are useless.”

Billie tilted again, this time toward Sir Reggie. The man was talking to the woman on his left, so hopefully he won't notice it.

Lady Alexandra's hand was still on George's arm.

Billie's jaw tightened. That guy can't be happy. George is a man who takes care of his privacy. Billie looked up, trying to catch a glimpse of George's face, but the man said something to Lady Alexandra, something very friendly and polite.

He doesn't look disturbed at all.

Billie.

Then George looked up. The man must have seen Billie looking at him because he tilted slightly to the right, enough to look Billie in the eye.

George's eyebrows shot up.

Billie turned her gaze to the ceiling and turned to Sir Reggie, although the man was still talking to the duchess' niece.

He waited for a while, but it seemed that the man was not in a hurry to return his attention to him, so he raised a fork and knife and cut his flesh into even thinner pieces.

Maybe George likes Lady Alexandra. Maybe she was approaching the woman, and maybe they would get married and give birth to a little baby Rokesby, all with plump cheeks and blue eyes.

If that's what George wants, then that's what he has to do.

But why does it seem so wrong? And why it hurts so much just thinking about it

~DO NOT FORGET~

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