An Accomplice to Bad Intentions

[Caroline Seymour]

MUST BE PERFECT, FLAWLESS DARLING
perfection is everywhere, but i need to win.
TAGGED Elizabeth Davenport	Caroline had arrived early in the afternoon with her Lady's Maid close behind her, along with a small entourage of escorts. As the carriage rolled towards the estate, rocking on the cobblestone, she was still thinking of good matches for her nearly widowed friend. To agree to marry a man bound for war was so risky it bordered on stupidity. Caroline had been willing to overlook it, in case it was a match made out of love. Her willingness to accept this fact made her blind to one of her dearest friend's apathy. There was plenty of time for a lady to think, however. Especially when her friend refused invitations. So, Caroline had arrived at Elizabeth's home instead with confections and a list of potential suitors she'd deemed unacceptable for herself. Put that way, she realized that wasn't very kind. It was meant with the best of intentions. Her mother would have weeded them out.  She approached the door and knocked. Somehow she managed to keep her irritation from being ignored from the ferocity of the knock. Her maid was prompt. "Good day," Caroline said with a small smile as the maid bowed. "Is Lady Davenport in?" she held her books close, as though she were academic when in truth it was gossip and notes. She needed her friend to help her with the social season. More importantly, she needed to end her mourning and move forward. She had to have known that the death of her fiance was a possible, if not likely event. Of course, she would never be so insensitive out loud. She even felt terrible thinking it. The thought that she had intentionally agreed to marry a man destined to die simply to skip the season was enough to make Caroline quite irritated. "I don't mind waiting in the drawing-room!" This time she called out in hopes he friend would hear her.

pyxis ★

[Elizabeth Davenport]

Elizabeth had been dreading entering back into society. Fate had kept her from doing so for several years and while most looked at her age as something to frown upon, she usually got a pass given her circumstances. First, her mother's death had put a pause on her debut and then she'd wrangled a match but he'd gone off to help the war efforts and had been killed in the cross-fire. Elizabeth's deepest guilt and secret was that she had accepted Arthur's proposal upon the knowledge that he'd be going away for at least a year. It would have given Elizabeth more time to be with her family and enjoy her life before she had to begin her duties as a wife. Then Arthur had died, allowing Elizabeth to enter into another year of mourning despite the two not having been married. But now that year was gone and it was expected that she enter back into society to find a husband. 

Her Lady's Maid, Joana, walked in and told her that Miss Caroline Seymour was here for a visit. Elizabeth grinned and made her way towards the drawing room where the two would catch up and have tea. Elizabeth had not seen anyone outside of her own family or the Bridgerton family for the past year. She treasured her friendship with Caroline even if the two girls could be quite different. She saw Caroline and her party waiting in the hallway and Elizabeth ushered them in. "It's so lovely to see you," Elizabeth greeted with a smile. "Come, we can go to the drawing room for some tea." At least there, only their ladies maids would join them. Once the girls were left alone she turned to her friend. "Tell me, how have you been?" She asked. "I'm sure you are quite excited for your first season." Even though the girls were apart in age, they still got along quite well. 

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Tag: Caroline Seymour

credit to Laura of Adox

[Caroline Seymour]

MUST BE PERFECT, FLAWLESS DARLING
perfection is everywhere, but i need to win.
TAGGED Elizabeth Davenport	Her suspicions be damned, it was brilliant to see her friend. There was a part of her that thrilled, rising with joy that she fought to contain every time she saw someone she enjoyed without the supervision of her mother. ”Tea sounds lovely,” she replied with a smile. Her responding nod as she held up her book was quick and confident. She had been doing research with her mother and younger brother. Each of the bachelors she had something on. Within reason. ”I have been well; eager, perhaps. The sooner I am wed the sooner my mother will let me have a little independence. Did you know that you’re one of the only people in this entire Country I may visit without her?” She followed closely to the drawing room and pulled the ribbon to her bonnet free. As she sat down, she set it aside gingerly and placed her book on the table. ”I have been preparing. My mother wants me to try to make a good impression. If not for her, I feel like I would have,” it had been a long time since she’d had a friend to talk to. Her delayed season had left her a lot of time to watch Elizabeth. ”I’ve brought some information on some eligible bachelors—I thought we could look at them together. You’re going to be partaking in the social season after all—Right?” She looked up from her book to meet her eyes, expecting an answer. She was young, beautiful and had a responsibility. Surely she was finished mourning at this point. It had been so long ago.

pyxis ★

[Elizabeth Davenport]

Elizabeth took note of the book Caroline clutched tightly to her chest and she felt her own stomach drop at the thought of what might be inside of it. Caroline had always been prepared, likely due to the pressure from her mother, and Elizabeth knew it was likely not a book filled with stories. She raised her eyebrows in surprise at the revelation that Caroline could not visit many people without her mother. Elizabeth understood the need for a chaperone when one went somewhere but was unaware that Caroline's mother always assisted on accompanying her daughter. "You can't be earnest?" She asked, although Elizabeth already knew the answer. "Well your mother must be quite certain that you would not meet any eligible bachelors at our estate then, right?" She teased lightly, a grin on her face. Her older brother, William, was an eligible bachelor but she'd warned Caroline away from him long ago.

"You will make a lovely debut, I just know it," Elizabeth assured her friend. She understood the pressures just like any other girl debuting her first season and knew it was a lot to live up to, but Elizabeth also had a semblance of an inkling that Caroline faced far more pressure than Elizabeth ever had.

If she could, Elizabeth would have delayed herself another season. But she had not been married to Arthur and it would not be appropriate to claim she was still in mourning. Elizabeth realized that the more she delayed the more it would reflect badly on her family and she could put her pride aside for that. She made a little noise of displeasure and took a sip of her tea. "Yes but please don't remind me. I'm not the least bit interested in parading around and having conversations with people I wish to not converse with," she said. "You know I quite enjoy my time to myself in the country."

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Tag: Caroline Seymour

credit to Laura of Adox

[Caroline Seymour]

MUST BE PERFECT, FLAWLESS DARLING
perfection is everywhere, but i need to win.
TAGGED Elizabeth Davenport	“Oh, yes, my condolences,” she said with a small frown. At this point, it was getting to be too long to mourn for a man who she was promised to for such a short time. She believed in love at first sight but Arthur? Yes, he was impressive in name and title with substantial wealth so long as his eldest brother succumbed to an early death. She didn’t strike him as a man of passion, and for so long she had allowed herself to simply think this was a perplexing riddle that was none of her business. Let love be, but when he died, her friend didn’t seem to be bothered for as long as her black clothing would imply. “We need to get you new dresses as well if you haven't already,” she added with the thought. “My dear something has begun troubling me,” she sat down gently on the delicate couch and tried to find a tactful way to accuse her friend of violating the sanctity of courtship. “You knew Arthur was being sent to the front, Elizabeth. You knew before the first promenade—which was terrible by the way he walked like a chicken—“ when she started she couldn’t stop, it was a flaw. “I just don’t understand how you can be reserved for this season as well! We can do it together; it’s fate! Arthur was dull, God rest his soul—“ she paused a moment before moving on. “It is time for us to find you someone who you can laugh with—or at least be very, very rich with.” She set down her book and did not dare look up to see her reaction. She still hadn’t addressed the true fear that she’d arranged it by telling her. She could never keep her mouth shut.

pyxis ★

[Elizabeth Davenport]

By this point, she was incredibly skilled when it came to thanking people for their offer of condolences. She'd gone through it with her mother and then again with Arthur. One death had been significantly tougher for her but it had prepared her for how to act when it came to Arthur. She had, of course, mourned him as a person but not like a husband. "Thank you," she said with a small smile before taking another sip of her tea. The mention of needing new dresses made her scowl into her tea before she pulled it away from her face. "Yes, I have new dresses. My step-mother has taken care of all of it. I believe she's quite eager to get me married off." She was probably the most concerned in the entire family of Elizabeth's unmarried status. Her father knew she had to get married but as the two had always been so close, Elizabeth could tell that he wasn't pushing her out the door like his new wife was.

Elizabeth waited, curious to see what had troubled Caroline. She did not, however, expect her to say the things she did. The accusation, while true, was rather bold and would have most people in quite a huff. "His travels during the war were nothing but a rumor at that point and I saw it as such given that he was looking for a wife. He was pleasant and had a good reputation. I do not know what else you'd like me to say on the matter."

It was no mystery to her closest friends that Elizabeth was less than eager about social seasons and getting married in general. "Because I have no interest in being paraded around like an object for sale," she nearly snapped. "I quite like my life the way it is and have no interest in finding a marriage without affection, no matter how much money he might have. What is important to you is not important to me and I'd think you would have known this by now." Elizabeth was a little cross with the whole conversation, having no idea where the frustration from Caroline was coming from. She would have thought her friend would be pleased at Elizabeth not wanting to be participate in the social season. That would mean more of the eligible bachelors could put their attention on Caroline. 

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Tag: Caroline Seymour

credit to Laura of Adox