Chapter 11

The Princess never left Anthony's mind. He couldn't sleep, not after what his mother said last night, and specially not after the day he spent with Charlotte.

Anthony snapped out of his thoughts when Hyacinth yelled at Gregory to leave her alone. So, he grabbed a newspaper and tried to occupied his mind with something else.

Although, everyone wondered, why the in drawing room of their house were a few of the Princess' favorite flower. White and red roses.

"Are all these arrangements for Daphne?" Colin asked his mother. "Looks like one of the palace's drawing rooms for when Charlotte received her callers for the first time."

"You went there?" Benedict frowned. "I thought you were with Miss Thompson."

"No. Char and I promenaded one day and we exchanged all details of our day," he explained.

"Well, you are quite correct, Colin. Charlotte is part of the family, and I chose to welcome her today with her favorite flowers," Violet explained with a smile. "Oh, are they not lovely? I even searched the meaning of the flowers. The red roses symbolize love and romance, and the white roses symbolize innocence and purity."

"Are you sure this is not of something else, Mother?" Anthony asked her, remembering the talk they had yesterday.

"I was about to ask the very same thing," Benedict looked at his mother.

"Take it as a warning of encouragement, you two," she stated. "If it is to happen, it must be soon."

"What it is to happen?" Hyacinth asked with curiosity.

"Oh, no worries, my dear. Your brothers know what I speak of," Violet smirked, and the two eldest sighed.

The doors of the drawing room opened, and the Bridgerton footman announced Charlotte's presence as she walked in the room with a smile.

"Oh, it's you," Daphne sighed, and Charlotte chuckled.

"Bad timing?" She asked, and Daphne shook her head. And just as the rest of the Bridgertons were to stand to greet her properly, she stopped them. "No! Oh, no. Don't do that. Don't stand. You all seem quite comfortable."

"And we are family after all, are we not?" Colin said, and she nodded with a smile.

"If you wish, do not curtsy or bow when we are together like this," Charlotte suggested with pure sincerity. "I insist."

"But we are all obligated to do so wherever you are in public," Violet stated, and all her sons and daughters nodded.

"And all these arrangements?" She wondered and smirked at Daphne. "You lucky girl! Receiving proposals and flowers. You certainly have caught every gentlemen's eyes."

"Actually... Those are for you," Colin said with a smile from where he was sitting. "From us."

"Oh," she was certainly surprised. And looked at Benedict when she remembered the flower arrangement and the letter he sent her. "Is it for an specific reason?"

"Not the one you think," he responded with a smirk.

"Is there something you'd like to share, Brother?" Anthony eyed him suspiciously.

"Not at all, Anthony," Benedict looked at his brother, his smirk never leaving his face..

"Alright," she chuckled softly and looked at Daphne, who was pacing from side to side in the middle of the room. "Can someone explain to me the reason of Daphne's distress?"

"Marriage, suitors, the Duke...the usual," Colin stated the obvious.

"Daphne, have you thought about with whom you would like to dance at tonight's ball?" Violet asked her daughter.

"I have some ideas. Lord Weaver is a fine dancer," she said and motioned for Benedict to sit properly on the couch so she could take a seat. He only smirked and obeyed, allowing her space to sit.

"Lord Hardy was asking about you at the White's ball last night," Anthony informed his sister.

"Is Lord Bridgerton helping his sister to find a match in a proper way?" Charlotte teased him and he chuckled. "Whatever was in your tea?"