For Anncoe :3

💛 for anncoe :3

posted here ♡

“It’s not a slight against you, Lord Bridgerton, I swear it. I just... don’t think it would be wise for you to be seen with me.” Her cheeks burned with shame. She felt awful rejecting his offer, and his gentle humility only made her feel worse. In truth she would have minded dancing with him. Although it had been a long time since she’d taken to the dance floor, there were times when she missed it. And the idea of dancing with a handsome bachelor made it even more alluring. But it was too risky. And she valued her job more than her pride.

“Dinner?” She blanched. How would she go about such a thing? It would be impossible to slip out unnoticed but it would be equally as difficult to explain to Lady Pleinsworth why a governess was attending the dinner of a viscount—and a notoriously rakish one at that. Being seen with him could very well be enough to get her fired, and then she would be back to square one.

“Oh, I couldn’t possibly… I-I would not dare to impose on something as sacred as family dinner. Though I have a feeling you are not likely to accept that as an answer.” Smiling sheepishly, she bit at the inside of her cheek. “My Lord, I insist there is no favor to repay. Just your gratitude is sufficient. I need not ask for anything more than what you've already given me.”

In all his years, both as an eligible bachelor and an infamous Rake (with a prominent capital ‘R’), Anthony Bridgerton was certain he’d never once received such a blatant declination from a woman – any woman, for that matter. None but this one, anyway. It surprised him, intrigued him even. 

While it stood to reason that holding fast to the arm of a Viscount would certainly earn Miss Wynter plenty of attention (albeit of mixed opinions), he simply couldn’t fathom why she wouldn’t relish the opportunity to have it, excluding the wagging tongue of one Lady Whistledown. Aside from that nuisance of a gossip column. Wouldn’t any young woman want to be the center of attention? 

Furling his fingers into his palm, Anthony retracted his hand and straightened his stance, though he could hardly accept the defeat. 

“I respect your refusal to take to the dance floor, however you must permit me to compensate you in some way, Miss Wynter.”

But how? How could he possibly demonstrate his gratitude if the woman wouldn’t so much as be seen with him? 

“Perhaps you’d be more inclined to join my family and I for dinner tomorrow night?” 

🐝  *  ―  𝑬𝑷𝑰𝑪: 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑴𝑼𝑺𝑰𝑪𝑨𝑳 𝑺𝑬𝑵𝑻𝑬𝑵𝑪𝑬 𝑺𝑻𝑨𝑹𝑻𝑬𝑹𝑺.

Troy Saga ❛  do what i say and you'll see them again.  ❜ ❛  what do you live for? what do you try for?  ❜ ❛  say no more, i know tat i'm ready.  ❜ ❛  the blood on your hands is something you won't lose.  ❜ ❛  is the price i pay endless pain?  ❜ ❛  something feels off here, i see fire but there's no smoke.  ❜ ❛  we should try to find a way no one ends up dead.  ❜ ❛  why should we take when we could give?  ❜ ❛  i see in your face, there's so much guilt inside your heart.  ❜ ❛  have you forgotten the lessons i taught you?  ❜

The Cyclops Saga ❛  it's almost too perfect, too god to be true.  ❜ ❛  what gives you the right to deal a pain so deep?  ❜ ❛  your life now is in my hand.  ❜ ❛  remember them, we're the ones who carry on.  ❜ ❛  what good would killing do when mercy is a skill more of this world could learn to use?  ❜ ❛  i am your darkest moment.  ❜ ❛  i don't know where i went wrong but i warned ya', and you failed the test.  ❜ ❛  that's just like you, why should i be surprised?  ❜ ❛  unlike you, every time someone dies i'm left to deal with the strain.  ❜ ❛  i'll remind you i saw you as a friend but now we're done.  ❜

The Ocean Saga ❛  at this rate, we won't make it out alive.  ❜ ❛  please don't tell me you're about to do what i think you'll do.  ❜ ❛  yes, but how much longer til your luck runs out?  ❜ ❛  you rely on wit, and people die on it.  ❜ ❛  you're like the brother i could never do without.  ❜ ❛  and suddenly you doubt that i could figure this out?  ❜ ❛  keep your friends close and your enemies closer, never really know who you can trust.  ❜ ❛  'cause the end always justifies the means.  ❜ ❛  do you know who i am?  ❜ ❛  you are the worst kind of good 'cause you're not even great.  ❜

The Circe Saga ❛  whatever you need to say can wait some more.  ❜ ❛  there's no length i wouldn't go if it was you i had to save.  ❜ ❛  wouldn't you like a taste of the power?  ❜ ❛  don't thank me friend, you very well may die.  ❜ ❛  did you do something to them?  ❜ ❛  if you make one wrong move, then you're done for.  ❜ ❛  you and i are now evenly matched.  ❜ ❛  you've given me no reason to bestow you with my trust.  ❜ ❛  who's to say, with the mistakes i've made that they will be the last mistakes i ever make?  ❜ ❛  this is the price we pay to love.  ❜

The Underworld Saga ❛  all i hear are screams, every time i dare to close my eyes.  ❜ ❛  i no longer dream, only nigtmares of those who've died.  ❜ ❛  when does a man become a monster?  ❜ ❛  now you tell us our effort's are for nothing?  ❜ ❛  how has everything been turned against us?  ❜ ❛  do i need to change?  ❜ ❛  i'm the only one whose line i haven't crossed.  ❜ ❛  what if i'm the problem that's been hiding all along?  ❜ ❛  what if i've been far too kind to foes but a monster to ourselves?  ❜ ❛  if i became the monster and threw that guilt away would that make us stronger?  ❜

The Thunder Saga ❛  you wouldn't have spared me. i made a mistake like this, it almost cost my life.  ❜ ❛  i've got a secret i can no longer keep.  ❜ ❛  you know that we are the same.  ❜ ❛  we must do what it takes to survive.  ❜ ❛  tell me you did not know that would happen.  ❜ ❛  if you want all the power, you must carry all the blame.  ❜ ❛  how are we supposed to trust you now?  ❜ ❛  how much longer must i suffer now?  ❜ ❛  someone's gotta die today and you have got the final say.  ❜ ❛  please don't make me do this.  ❜

The Wisdom Saga ❛  you've made your worst mistake here.  ❜ ❛  this cruel world doesn't give out presents just for being good.  ❜ ❛  you're my friend, i couldn't ask for more.  ❜ ❛  did you know you talk in your sleep?  ❜ ❛  i'm what you want here, i'm what you need here.  ❜ ❛  you don't know what i've gone through.  ❜ ❛  i know your life's been hard, i'll stay inside your heart.  ❜ ❛  life would be so much worse if you had died.  ❜ ❛  you dare to defy me, to make me feel shame?  ❜ ❛  no one beats me, no one wins my game.  ❜

"Nonsense. If anyone is to encourage a woman to speak her mind, I would certainly hope it to be another woman." Anne offered a friendly smile as she waved away the notion. If such critiques were coming from the opposite sex, she might not have given the same leniency, but nothing about the other's words felt malicious.

"Besides, I wouldn't be a very good governess if I only taught what I thought was true. I always tell my girls not to be afraid of speaking up and speaking out." At Astra's compliment, Anne blushed, averting her gaze with a soft chuckle. "I can only hope their mother thinks the same when their educations are complete. I merely hope to imbue them with knowledge so that they can be more than what is expected of them. Women are so often overlooked, when some of the smartest people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing have been ones of the fairer sex."

Her eyes widened at the offer and Anne couldn't hide the grin on her face. "That is very generous of you... I only wish I had the means to offer you something of equal value."

@awynter : ❝ I don't hate you . I actually like you . a lot .  ❞ ✧.*

        her lips parted in a look of gentle surprise , eyes softening from their guarded gaze . she had endlessly worried that her suggestions , or rather , her indignation contributions to anne's teachings were poorly received , or worse , taken as trivial and unimportant . she was desperate for intellectual companionship , the kind that was easily found in a circle of men , but was less common amongst the women .

        ❝ well , I like you very much , too . ❞ a quiet , little laugh escaped her , one that was a little shy , the opposite of her rather incredulous criticisms of the state of education in mayfair . her idle fingers busied themselves by stirring another lump of sugar into her teacup . ❝ I worried that you might've despised how frequently I give my opinion . ❞

        she leaned forward then , with honest and earnest concern , across the tea table that separated them . ❝ of course , I don't mean to insult your ability . your girls have flourished under your tutelage . ❞ in fact , she incredibly admired how anne doted upon the girls in her charge , and perhaps felt a pang of jealousy for the opportunity she herself did not have . ❝ I only wish for you to know that my library is at your disposal , should you require it . ❞

Anne turned to look at Elayne, a sincere smile taking hold of her features. There were certainly worse people to be trapped in the rain with, and she found that this wasn’t an entirely horrible situation. If not for the rain, Anne might never have had the opportunity to speak with her otherwise.

“Unfortunately, I’m more worried about the trouble that might occur from my lack of presence.” She could only imagine what sort of shenanigans Frances and her sisters would get into if their governess was gone for too long. “But perhaps this is the universe’s way of telling me to slow down and smell the roses. The tragically soaked roses.”

She was glad that the person who was to share this gazebo with her during the downpour of rain was one that she could see was tolerable. She was lovely and Elayne had seen Anne Wynter many times before although the two had never been properly introduced.

"I do think it is unfortunate, however I think that..." She tested the thought of what might this girl think were she to let out the thoughts that were there at the front of her mind. "...I think that we could very well take advantage of this opportunity. No one is about to get us into trouble."

“A governess, yes. My position is in Mayfair currently. Though I've worked in quite a few places over the years.” She confirmed with a soft nod. Anne was surprised by the excitement in the other woman’s features, versus the expected distaste knowledge of her employment typically evoked. “It’s not the most glamorous position, I admit, but I do adore my students.”

“Oh, you needn’t do that.” Waving her hands to dismiss the gesture, Anne let out a chuckle. “I would love to join you, but perhaps sans ale. I could not return home smelling of spirits and not get a scolding of my own. But you are free to indulge to your heart’s content. If anything, consider me your knight to protect you from the less-than-chivalrous sorts that haunt these halls.”

athena was relieved that the woman decided to join her. it wasn't often that athena could truly speak her mind with the ladies of the court. at least here, it felt like all her sins could be forgiven. "are you a teacher? or governess?" athena leans forward despite the stickiness of the table. "i had a governess who taught me about all the lands in asia." the princess recalls her governess fondly, despite the scoldings she received when she misbehaved.

"my goal is to be...? relaxed and happy, and enjoy the warm summer air. you must join me, i'll purchase some ale for you!" she grins at the thought.