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Post by julia on Dec 29, 2022 11:47:19 GMT
 Fine. Perhaps she hadn’t been using him. Theo could admit that much to himself, quietly. But the fact was that she had entered and then left his life again with such ferocity and finality that it had left him rattled. No one should have this much power, especially not people of the Upper Class who he always proclaimed to be superficial and ignorant.
Whether it was, because Eloise had turned out to be different or because Theo had just spent time getting to know her - she had rattled him.
“If not that, then what?” Theo countered. His tone was calmer and more composed than Eloise’s but there was still a challenge in it. “You changed your mind the moment someone questioned you? Doesn’t sound like someone who wants to reform our societal norms.” Theo wasn’t even talking about that particular moment (though it was certainly still on his mind). He was mourning their friendship, too. Discussing treatises and essays, quick-witted debates with someone his own age but such a different upbringing - it had been exciting. Over the weeks of clandestine meetings, the search for Whistledown had become secondary.
In the end, Eloise had found her. For a moment Theo was intrigued by this mystery he had no stake in. By the secret Eloise had made him privy to. A pseudonym he’d begun to care about because it had been important to her.
He found that he wanted to know how Eloise had done it. Hours spent pouring over parchments and bills hadn’t gotten them any closer. He also wanted to know who it had been, although it might just be an empty name to him.
Eloise somewhat offered an explanation to the latter: A friend of hers. By the sounds of it, the reveal hadn’t gone as planned. Hadn’t Eloise once told him she only sought to exchange ideas and opinions with the writer? He wondered how this had turned into something sour enough to end a friendship? “I’m guessing it wasn’t everything you had hoped for?”
And although Eloise’s problems had seemed trivial to him in the prior weeks - she might have been sad, but she had endured it all inside an opulent manor - Theo thought that he felt sorry for the way things had ended; how, by the sounds of it, she had been lonely.
No coming back. she called it. Mere thoughts of that moment could still conjure up butterflies in Theo’s stomach. They withered quick as anything, however, when he saw the look in her eyes. One of insecurity and sadness.
“Oh” was all Theo could offer for a moment while he wrestled with his own emotions, eyes downcast. The way Eloise had made a kiss with him sound like a death sentence.
Again, he chided himself for giving someone like Eloise so much power over his feelings. But then he realised he hadn’t given it, she had simply taken it with her bright eyes and clever smile.
The quiet in the carriage stretched out between them, uncomfortable and loud enough to drown out the clopping of horse shoes on cobblestone. Finally, Theo dared to look up again, and with it words came back to him: “Eloise, I’m …” He couldn’t say the word ‘sorry’ because that would mean having regrets - about the hope for something more. But he’d never meant to scare her. “It wasn’t my intention to make you uncomfortable. Perhaps I should have assumed…”, he trailed of, not wanting to go into specifics of Eloise’s lack of experience, then swiftly course-corrected: “I only want to see you happy. It was...” stupid, idiotic, ridiculous “...wrong to assume that this might make you happy.”
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Post by julia on Nov 30, 2022 23:15:36 GMT
The seat of the carriage wasn’t as comfortable as Theo had always imagined them to be. With only a slim layer of fabric separating its flat, hard back wall and the uneven gait of the horses, Theo thought he could feel every cobble underneath them.
Sitting across from Eloise, he rolled his shoulders, trying to find a more agreeable position. The irony that he couldn’t get comfortable in a noble's carriage but was perfectly content perching on the back of his neighbour’s vehicle into town wasn’t lost on him.
Beside him through the small window, houses started to roll by. All of them at a slightly different angle than he was used to. But Theo only cast a brief glance out, before his eyes settled back on Eloise. He hadn’t acknowledged her most recent explanation, had simply decided to cut this discussion short because whatever her reasoning, it changed nothing about their situation. Putting her brother forward as a scapegoat wouldn’t help Theo see her differently now. If anything, it placed them further apart; only highlighted the clear chasm between their worlds that he had once thought only a small gap in the wall.
But every so often, the way Eloise looked at him, the way she said his name, he wanted to take a leap and cross that distance - although he was sure he would never make it all the way across.
She looked at him again now, and Theo couldn’t help but cross his arms defensively. Even though he had (more or less) agreed to this, and even though he could still feel the after effects of her earlier confession (“...the one thing that made me happy”) beating against his chest, he couldn’t help but think of how pointless this ride was, of how this might just be a self-serving act for Eloise. Would she go home after this and think of the good deed she had done, taking him home? Theo liked to think she didn’t, but their fallout and the following weeks of silence had distorted his opinion of her.
Eloise was first to break the building silence between them. She certainly had never been one for small talk and she didn’t disappoint this time, cutting right to the chase. “This wasn’t exactly planned, I would say.” Theo felt the need to correct her, leaning forward onto his knees for a moment, but a particularly heavy rattle forced him back upright. “But you might recall that you left, when…” The moment of the two of them hovering closely, far too closely, came to mind. It pushed down heavily on his chest, and momentarily breathing seemed far too difficult, “...when we were searching for your Lady Whistledown.”, Theo course-corrected, slightly out of breath.
For a moment, he averted his gaze from Eloise, instead inspecting his hands with little interest. The memory of the evening still hurt him; the humiliation he had felt at thinking Eloise might share his feelings, only to be cruelly reminded that this notion was impossible, ridiculous even.
Still regarding his hands, Theo added: “Even if I had wanted to see you again, how could I have ever found you?” The proverbial ball had been in her court. She knew where to find him, she had always found him when she had wanted to. So when she hadn’t shown up again, it had spoken volumes.
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Post by julia on Nov 28, 2022 22:00:53 GMT
They were close to shouting now.
No doubt that the footman was hearing every word of their argument. And Theo felt they were going in circles - about who needed protection from whom. It was clear they would never agree; they would never work. It had been foolish to hope. Theo had come to understand this when they had first gone their separate ways. This encounter just served as a cruel reminder.
Theo was not one to flee from a fight. He wanted to shout back at Eloise that it was her people who were to blame for the way society was; that she was part of the problem. Listening to a few rallies might have been novel and exciting for a young lady but it had all been for her own benefit. When faced with scandal and backlash, she had retreated back into her world; that was exactly why they couldn’t rely on anyone but themselves to bring about change.
He glowered at her in frustration, his ink-stained hands balled into fists, all these thoughts teetering on the edge of his lips, just waiting for her to finish, because she was still Eloise, and he still couldn’t help but wanting to hear any and all of her thoughts. Even if they were infuriating. But then she finished...and Theo was left utterly speechless:
“...the one thing that made me happy?”
Mouth half-open, he stared dumbfoundedly at her. Disbelieving, even. Not that she could possibly mean him, but that she would say this now, here, in the middle of an argument. The sudden impact of this admission sapped Theo of the anger he had been so eager to throw at Eloise. Leaving sounded like a much better idea all of a sudden. To make a run for it, before he could close the gap between him and Eloise and do something they would regret.
He did neither, however. Mostly because his feet seemed rooted to the ground; they too had been drained of energy. He wondered if they would recover enough for the rest of his walk home.
Eloise continued, seemingly unperturbed by how she had just rattled Theo’s entire being. Still unsure what he might do or say the next time he opened his mouth, he let her speak; tried his best to focus on the words she was saying now, not the echo in his head.
Only when Eloise paused for a second time, did Theo feel composed enough to answer, his voice stripped of anger but replaced with dejection. “Sometimes the change is worth the trouble.”
He said ‘sometimes’, when he really meant ‘this time’. He would have rather faced the wrath of society with her than be offered pity disguised as protection on his own.
It was this turn in their conversation, from frustration to regret, that had Theo give in to Eloise’s plea. It was either this or part ways and… Theo wasn’t ready to just yet. Not after hearing her confession.
He cast a tentative glance up at the footman. The fallout of his time spent with Eloise had left Theo a little more timid of the nobility's gossip mill than he could admit to himself. But he found that the man was already busying himself with the reins, preparing the horses to continue their journey.
He found his feet were capable of walking again, if only far enough to make it to the carriage. Theo paused with one foot on the step into the vehicle, addressing Eloise, as well as the carriage driver: “It’s south, just until we get to the edge of town.” After that, the road would get uncomfortably bumpy (as Theo knew all too well from whenever he hitched a ride with a neighbour), and he didn’t want to inconvenience Eloise any further. Besides, while Theo didn’t want to say goodbye, now that it was just the two of them inside the cramped carriage, he did not know what he might say to her for the rest of the journey,
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Post by julia on Nov 28, 2022 20:01:58 GMT
 @eloisebridgerton Theo had never much taken to etiquette and manners. It was true that his father had endeavoured to bring the same teachings that wealthiest families of Britain paid him good money for into his own home, so that Theo might converse with them when he was older. But his father had been taken from them far too early, and Theo had mostly been left with a quick wit and a cynic opinion of the so-called London elite.
He hadn’t talked to many ladies in his time, but he was certain most of them would not speak so candidly with someone like him. The few wealthier folk that visited the shop a couple of times a month (Theo, ever observant, could always tell by the colours of their clothes, vibrant as if freshly tailored), hardly noticed him - merely part of the furniture; a servant to fulfil their wishes. They couldn’t even conceive that he might have ideas and thoughts and dreams of his own.
Now that he had spent a good portion of time with Eloise, it was difficult to imagine that she came from that very same world. In all honesty, Theo thought he might actually offend her, if he were to remind her of the fact. Indeed, he had tried to when they had first met outside the workshop. Back then, he had thought of her very little. Nothing more than a rich young lady with her rich-lady-problems. But once she had opened her mouth, Theo had been…intrigued was the wrong word… - she had managed to throw him off-kilter. And Theo, bold and confrontational as he was, thought that no one had ever made him lose his words quite like Eloise had.
He had since gained his composure around her again, but every so often, her disarming retorts, or her smile full of unrestrained curiosity still managed to utterly empty his mind. Normally, Theo couldn’t stand to be made to feel stupid but the way she captivated him was all-consuming.
It happened again, when he watched Eloise take off her glove. It shouldn’t have taken up this much space in his mind: He saw plenty of women’s bare arms and hands every day. And yet, the movement seemed…intimate.
Stupidly, Theo stared down at it for a moment, cigarette slouching in the corner of his mouth, while his mind wandered places that were not meant for ladies.
He caught himself before the pause got too long or too obvious and determinedly directed his eyes back to the battered box he was holding, filled with a handful of cigarettes. Wordlessly, he offered it out to Eloise, his other hand still patting his vest, then his trousers for the fresh pack of matches which he had only bought this week. A handy excuse for his prolonged silence while it let him find his bearings again. “The same brother who says you talk too much?” He interrupted his search to chance a quick look over at Eloise, the free corner of his mouth quirked up into a crooked smile. “Correct me if I'm wrong, but I can’t imagine it’s that easy to keep you quiet.”
Finally, in the same pocket he had stashed the cigarettes, his fingers closed around the flat pack of matches. Deftly, he lit it on the first try, then offered the small frame out to Eloise to light her cigarette, that same half-smile still stuck to his lips. “Here. Just promise me you won’t tell your mama.” Eloise was smart enough to know that he wasn’t just talking about smoking.
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Post by julia on Nov 18, 2022 16:40:53 GMT
@eloisebridgerton Her soft arm clad in glimmering fabric linked in with his own. It must have looked a stark contrast to his rough-spun, ink-dotted shirt sleeve but as he felt the light pressure of her hand against his forearm, nothing felt out of place.
Theo’s heart beat a thunderous tattoo against his chest. He looked down, secretly treasuring the sight of it, and when he looked up again, he was sure he’d see others around them watching, whispering, wondering how the two of them could ever fit together. But as he cast a glance around the room, he realised that nobody paid them any mind. And for one hopeful moment, Theo wondered if this might be a reflection of the world outside. Maybe nobody would care; maybe times had changed without anyone realising.
He dared to be naive for a moment, then was gruffly pulled out of his thoughts when Eloise practically began to pull him through the crowds. “I am.”, he laughed, amused by her impatience to share all of these thoughts that were filling her mind. He hooked his arm under a little more firmly, and let himself be dragged into the direction of the backdoor.
They sidestepped groups of people, some seated, some standing, most of them engrossed by the current speech which, Theo had to admit, he had lost all track of, as soon as Eloise had appeared in his field of vision.
He couldn’t say that anyone else had ever quite caught his eye like she had done. Never enough to rob him of his wit or forget the last page of the book he’d just read. Of course, there had been some girls. Nice enough, too. They had walked and talked like he did, and yet, even at the time, Theo had thought that they were nothing alike. In hindsight, he could say that they had been curious about one another, but nothing more. He was curious about Eloise, as well. But it was a different kind of fascination; the kind where he wanted to dive deep into her mind, to learn everything about her. Much more than one might discover in just a night or a week.
The small, private courtyard was accessible through a sturdy, wooden door - planks held together by oily black iron hinges. Theo spotted an opportunity to take the lead again and slid in front of her into the doorframe. “Allow me.” A few stubborn rattles on the rusty handle later (Theo had never been particularly handy) and the door, to his relief, gave way, pushing outwards. “After you.” Theo gestured for Eloise to step past him through the narrow exit, while he held the heavy door in place. He didn’t mind having another very plausible excuse to stand close to her.
Theo had assumed correctly - the courtyard was quiet but not fully abandoned. A small group of men were smoking in the corner to the far right, leaving the table on the left empty for them. He wandered over but couldn’t help looking back over his shoulder a few times, like he expected to be followed or watched. But once again, no one seemed to pay them much attention.
Instead of sitting down, Theo perched against the table top. The air though warm, was refreshing after being stuck inside for such a long time. At the sight of the man, Theo had remembered his own pack of cigarettes in his vest pocket. He fished for it now, retrieving one of the delicately rolled sticks from the box. Somewhere he knew he had some matches, too. As he patted himself down, he looked over at Eloise, unlit cigarette clamped between his lips. “You don’t mind if I smoke while you spill all your secrets to me?”
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Post by julia on Nov 16, 2022 22:00:56 GMT
 Theo tried his very best to not be intimidated by the man in front of him. Despite Theo having a couple of inches on him - that was clear even at this distance - the new arrival loomed large in the workshop. Too grand and lordly to fit in.
Not like Eloise - she had breathed in the scents of ink and paper. And yet…, Theo noticed with a twist in his gut, the man in front of him bore similarities to the young Bridgerton lady. Something about the eyes…assessing and intelligent, intense even.
Stubbornly, Theo matched his gaze with the arrogance only a 19-year-old could possess. There was no need to hide from this man. This was still his part of town that this Lord, Duke, whatever had walked into. Given his previous…misunderstanding with the Queen, Theo would be polite, but he would not grovel. Wasn’t this what he clapped and cheered for at the rallies? The same rights for everyone?
He stood a little taller still, his jaw determinedly set. With his eyes still fixed on Theo (he really must have come here to specifically see him, he hadn’t even acknowledged the enormous printing press that filled a third of the room), the man introduced himself as ‘Viscount Bridgerton’. No first name. Theo developed an instant dislike for the man. This air of superiority was exactly what he despised about the collective upper class. Yet a quiet voice in the back of his head reminded him that Eloise had never treated him like this, not even when she’d insisted she was trying to protect him.
When the Viscount announced himself as Eloise’s brother, Theo couldn’t say he was surprised. And he was certainly not pleased. Theo was trying to move on from this brief (but memorable) encounter with the young lady. Possibly nothing more than a footnote in his life. And yet, people and issues seemed to seek him out at every turn, unwilling to let him go.
“I believe I do, Viscount Bridgerton.”, Theo acknowledged, a subtly smug smile on his lips. He had said ‘do’, not ‘did’. No matter the reason why Eloise’s brother had tracked him down, Theo wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of admitting that they had not parted on good terms. That, by not coming back, Eloise had only confirmed what Theo had feared and known all along: That there was no future between them. That it made so little sense that not even a friendship was worth pursuing.
“Eloise.”, he clarified. The sound of it tasted sweet after weeks of trying to forget it. The smug smile morphed into something more genuine that he couldn’t entirely hide. “She’s not here, if that is why you’ve come…m’Lord.” He added the last word, almost as an afterthought.
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Post by julia on Nov 10, 2022 23:29:24 GMT
@eloisebridgerton Eloise’s giggle was a new sound to Theo’s ears. Soft and perhaps a little nervous. So different from the determined, witty young lady that had until now graced his presence, but Theo didn’t like it any less. In fact, in that moment he made it his mission to tease more of these shy exclamations from Eloise. He had a feeling this was a side to her she didn’t reveal often; something rare that one had to earn.
“Naturally.”, Theo grinned and shrugged one shoulder. He wanted to let her know that the setting was what made penning down her thoughts so exciting. Challenging but exciting. With shouts of progress and equality echoing off the walls, one had to be very rooted in their own beliefs to not get sidetracked. But before he had a chance to pose the challenge to her, Eloise suggested they might want to go somewhere more quiet, saw the soft flush appear in her cheeks.
Theo knew he shouldn’t. He understood enough about the rules for ladies in society to know they mustn't wander off alone together. If anyone were to see, it could have a detrimental effect on Eloise’s reputation. And the last thing Theo wanted was to cause her any harm.
But…
But Eloise wasn’t like other ladies. At least she didn’t appear that way. She was here, at the rally, which could damage her reputation just as much.
Theo had no intent to swindle himself into the Bridgerton family; he just wanted to get to know Eloise better. And ultimately, Eloise herself had made the suggestion to go somewhere else. Who was he to deny a lady?
At the prospect of getting to spend more time with her now, rather than wait until the coming Friday, Theo started compiling a mental list of suitable spots. The workshop would be quiet for the rest of the day but too far - he couldn’t expect Eloise to wander the streets of the city with him. Too dangerous for a lady, and filthy, too. Not to mention that it was likely to catch the attention of the omnipresent Lady Whistledown.
“As you wish, Miss Eloise.”, Theo delivered with a half-bow and a smirk, once he had decided on a spot. “There is an enclosed courtyard out that way.” He nodded in the direction of the stage. “It will be nice to get some fresh air. It can get rather stuffy in here.” Odds were that they would not be completely alone, but he thought that might be for the best; he didn’t want to scare the young lady.
With his pen held out, Theo watched intently as their fingertips brushed for the briefest of moments. Rough skin connecting with…was it silk? It was a sensation that sucked all the air out of the room; erased any interesting thought that had been roaming around Theo's head. “There…”, he began, for the first time in a long time thrown off-guard, with his tongue clumsy and his throat dry, “...is a table in the courtyard, too.” After a brief intermission he found his way back to the words. “Better for writing than a crowded room, wouldn’t you agree?” Along with the question, Theo tentatively offered out his arm to Eloise, his heartbeat loud enough that Theo was grateful for the noisy rally. He wasn’t sure if she would accept his offer - surely she had turned down richer, more notable men in her time. What this might mean, if she was to accept his arm instead was anyone’s guess.
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Post by julia on Oct 31, 2022 14:51:07 GMT
@eloisebridgerton To have Eloise Bridgerton’s undivided attention in a room full of inspiring speakers - it was truly a compliment in itself. There was a hint of triumph in Theo's broad smile; hadn’t he just outplayed a great rival in the race for the young lady’s approval?
The thought filled him with confidence, and he risked a step towards her. Attendees were debating and clapping around them; it was noisy and he thought it was reasonable to stand closer together during a conversation. His head he might have fooled, his heartbeat sped up nevertheless. ‘Precisely!’, Eloise exclaimed, loud enough to catch the eyes of a few bystanders who pulled a face at the disturbance.
Theo held his breath when Eloise considered his proposition for another meeting. She could have more important responsibilities to attend to or she might simply not want to travel through half of London just to read his latest attempt at being clever. But when she didn’t outright decline the invitation, Theo had to take it as a good sign and smile in agreement.
He couldn’t know that this was more than almost any man had gotten out of Eloise Bridgerton so far. Neither did he have any concept of how young ladies like her spent her day.
Well, that wasn’t all true: He imagined Eloise specifically to be reading and writing. However, most other young women of her class, he believed to be spending their days by dancing at balls and staring out windows. It sounded like a dull, uninspiring life (no wonder, a few rumours in a pamphlet were able to cause so much excitement among them), and Theo could see why Eloise preferred to come to the east side of town; a place full of movement - literally and figuratively.
The rallies were loud but intellectual, fun but sophisticated. There was substance to each of the speeches - some even rebuked one another. Theo had attended a couple of afternoons that had grown into large-scale debates with audience and speakers all picking sides. Eloise would have loved it.
He couldn’t see what kind of topic could manage to hold her attention at a Duke’s ball - which was presumably why she kept finding her way here. While Theo hoped his life didn’t just serve Eloise as a fun pastime away from her duties, he was pleased to see her, every time she chose to return. And he liked her more with every visit.
The stories from his father had left Theo with the vaguest understanding of how someone like Eloise might have been raised, and by the sounds of it, people had told her throughout her life that her passions were only pipe dreams. Even at his insistence that she should simply write when she felt like writing, something invisible still seemed to hold her back. Perhaps she just needed some encouragement.
Lightly, Theo stepped around Eloise again. Now that he had stated his point about Miss Fletcher on stage, he wanted her to focus back on him. He needn’t have worried: Eloise’s eyes were already fixed on his own again. They had lit up with that intensity that he was so captivated by. "It would be pleasure to read it." He couldn’t help but lean in close until most of his field of vision was taken up by the young lady. “But I dare say, there’s no time like the present. Try me.”, he smirked. “What would you like to share?” As he spoke the words, one of his hands dove into the right pocket of his jacket, then the left, clearly in search of something. Finally, between scraps of paper his fingers found what they had been looking for and retrieved it. “Or perhaps you’d like to write it down? I brought my own pen this time.”
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Post by julia on Oct 30, 2022 17:31:44 GMT
As Theo stated the reality that was his life, understanding dawned on Eloise’s face. Theo didn’t know how to feel at the sight of it. He had helped her see her mistake, yes, but really, all it had done was widen the gap between their worlds. Something that Theo had wanted to ignore for as long as possible. Now it seemed to follow them whenever they conversed.
Theo didn’t feel sorry for himself: He was proud of the life he had built in the wake of his father’s death. He loved his family dearly, and his apprenticeship at the printer’s meant he would forever be working with books. There were certainly heavier burdens to carry; Theo saw them passing on the streets daily.
But the more he and Miss Eloise spoke of differences, the more he felt like a charity case. Once upon a time, Eloise had looked at him with admiration and respect, he had seen it in her eyes then, now, he dared not look, worrying that there might only be pity in them.
“It is not your responsibility to know or to worry.”, Theo stated, his eyes fixed on one of the carriage wheels. He had never told the young lady of his home life or his circumstances, and neither had she. For the most part, they had found comfort in a bubble where their upbringings had played no important role.
With his hands clasped behind his back, he pushed on, now more determinedly: “I could have found work closer to home. It was my choice to work on Chancery Lane. And it was an easy choice to make.” He left it there, before he might say anything more hurtful. It was late and he was tired from the day, and despite everything, he didn’t want to hurt Eloise.
“If you don’t want to be seen with me,”, the words tasted just as bitter as when Eloise had said them a few weeks ago, “why did you stop the carriage? Perhaps it is not me who needs protection; perhaps you should look out for yourself and not be involved with political radicals?” Theo thought the term was utterly ridiculous; to claim someone a radical just because they had an opinion without the influence to take it directly to the crown.
The conversation had once again soured, and Theo sighed at how the two of them couldn’t seem find common ground when a few weeks ago, it had been as easy as breathing.
He knew the fault sat partly with him. In a way, wasn’t he behaving exactly like those men that Eloise felt held back by: Claiming to know what was best for her? Trying to protect her while simultaneously refusing her protection?
Even now after everything that had transpired, Theo respected her enough as a person to let her decide for herself. After all, that was all he too had been asking for. But…he wanted her to be sure.
For a few seconds there was nothing but still night air between them, while Theo considered his next words and the decision that might have to follow. Then he spoke more calmly and quietly, very much aware of the carriage driver who was sure to be listening up front: “You really want me to get into that carriage of yours?”
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Post by julia on Oct 28, 2022 21:47:45 GMT
theo sharpe | | | Looking for lots of plots, drama, angst, suffering (and we'll allow him a little bit of happiness, too) for Theo, aka an absolute Teddy Bear.
There's already drama stirring with Eloise and some of the other Bridgertons but there are lots of other things I'd like to explore with him. Like his relationship to some of the other Lower Class peeps. Or perhaps his writings attract the wrong sort of attention? Also, Pen might stop by post S2 and after she's exposed him in the pamphlets. Lots of possibilities for AU, as well where someone else (someone more "approachable") might catch his eye pre- or post Eloise?
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Post by julia on Oct 28, 2022 21:07:54 GMT
@eloisebridgerton To have Eloise Bridgerton’s undivided attention in a room full of inspiring speakers - it was truly a compliment in itself. There was a hint of triumph in Theo's broad smile; hadn’t he just outplayed a great rival in the race for the young lady’s approval?
The thought filled him with confidence, and he risked a step towards her. Attendees were debating and clapping around them; it was noisy and he thought it was reasonable to stand closer together during a conversation. His head he might have fooled, his heartbeat sped up nevertheless. ‘Precisely!’, Eloise exclaimed, loud enough to catch the eyes of a few bystanders who pulled a face at the disturbance.
Theo only laughed, enthralled by the excitement his response had lured out of her. The emotion was so unrestrained and honest, so unlike the stories he’d read about in the pamphlets penned by the mysterious Lady Whistledown. In them, a new scheme or scandal was always brewing, and Theo thought it must be incredibly exhausting to care about any of it. Perhaps if he knew the countless names mentioned, it might be more enticing. Still, it all read to him as a great waste of time for people who had too much of it. Not that he would tell Eloise of his opinion; not unless she were to ask.
“I’d like to think that’s quite ambitious of us.” Us. Theo had to admit he liked the sound of that. “The same rights for everyone. Well, we can certainly try.”, he finished, broadening the smile that was firmly stuck to his lips. No matter what she might feel for him (and Theo could only dream), they made a great partnership. Their sleuthing to track down Lady Whistledown had already yielded some results, even though Theo couldn’t say he was particularly invested in the mystery, he was in it for Eloise’s sake.
“Perhaps I’m writing more of it at the moment.” There was a twinkling in his eye, as he said it. He’d been thinking about sharing his writings with her; they were only scribbles at the moment but now, knowing that she would like to read them, he was set on completing them. Soon, if time allowed for it. “I should be finished by next Friday. You are welcome to stop by and give me your honest opinion.”, he challenged her with a smirk. Had he just proposed a time and place for them to meet? Perhaps he had.
Theo wasn’t surprised to hear of Eloise’s dreams to study Literature, it simply suited her too well. There it was again, that excitement, that fire, in her eyes that drew him in every time. But at the mention of rights and her place in the world, the flame flickered.
Quickly, before it might extinguish fully, Theo stepped closer still, and with one light touch on Eloise’s shoulder, he nudged her to face the stage again. “You see Miss Fletcher over there?”, he leaned down - his heartbeat traitorously loud - and half-whispered the question. Discreetly, he pointed towards a middle-aged woman leaning against the back of the stage. One of the earlier speakers. “She’s no published author and yet everyone in this room has read and listened to what she has to say. She doesn’t even have to write under a pseudonym like your Lady Whistledown.” He paused for dramatic effect. It also proved as the perfect opportunity to appreciate their closeness, with his arm gently brushing against the fabric of her gown, whenever he took a breath. “Publishing is no prerequisite to writing, Miss Eloise. You have something to say? Write it down. I, for one, would be interested to read it.”
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Post by julia on Oct 28, 2022 18:00:58 GMT
Theo couldn’t exactly say that he’d had a bad day so far. The new paper delivery had gone smoothly and for the first time in what had felt like weeks, his foreman had left him on his own to close up the workshop.
Ever since the actual Queen of England had started asking questions about him, Theo Sharpe, he’d not been allowed to man the place unsupervised. Like the British militia might storm in any moment and arrest him. And Theo had to admit when a messenger had showed up the first time to question him, that’s exactly what he had feared, too.
But things had quietened down ever since Eloise had refrained from seeing him again. It was better this way, even if it meant that his perfectly acceptable day still had a bitter aftertaste at the thought of how they had parted.
A quick look over at the imposing grandfather clock told Theo that he’d have another hour to kill before he could realistically begin with preparations to close the shop for the night, and so he settled in with his elbows propped up on the counter and pulled a small leather-bound book from the pocket inside his apron, flicking through the pages until he found the spot he’d left off this morning.
A few pages in, he was just on the cusp of losing himself in the narrative. That sweet spot when surroundings started to blur and mesh with the pages of the book. A high-pitched ringing announced the opening of the workshop door. Theo noticed the arrival but wanted to finish this last sentence. Or maybe just one more paragraph. 'Excuse me.’, a man’s voice filled the quiet and Theo raised his finger, indicating that he’d be right with him, right after this final page. The mention of his own name was what eventually tore his eyes away from the printed words. People rarely came in here asking about him directly…until recently anyway.
The man in front of him clearly held some sort of title and lands. The fabric of his clothes was finely woven, the colours rich and immaculate. Someone who clearly didn’t walk the streets much. He was exactly the sort who would employ someone like Theo’s father to teach his sons their letters.
For a moment, Theo was tempted to pretend he was someone else, but his recent troubles had only been exacerbated by Eloise trying to cover up and change parts of the story. “Ummm…yes, sir, that’s me. I’m Theo Sharpe.” He closed the cover of his book and moved it to the side, pushing himself back up off the counter. “How may I help you today?”
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Post by julia on Oct 28, 2022 16:47:16 GMT
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Post by julia on Oct 28, 2022 15:34:36 GMT
@eloisebridgerton The smile that spread across Eloise’s lips when their eyes met, momentarily brightened up the gloomy interior. The crowds around them seemed to fade into the background. “Oh, is that what I am?”, Theo challenged with a smirk of his own, one brow raised in amusement. “A like-minded individual? I wasn’t aware.”
Only Eloise Bridgerton could have made this kind of assessment. To anyone else, they appeared too dissimilar to share the same values. And yet, from the first time they met, they had been able to strike up conversations with ease. He could exchange thoughts and ideas with her, like he would with others at the rally; some of them he had yet to present to anyone but Eloise. Somehow, it had felt important to share them with her first.
They were intrigued by one another, he could see the curiosity in her eyes, heard them in her words - she wanted to ‘hear his thoughts’. He, too, wanted to learn more about her; what kind of lady might abandon her luxurious dwellings to spend the afternoon in a dusty assembly hall…and with him.
From the sounds of it, she’d been standing in their midst, listening to the speakers for a while. Once again, Theo was amazed at how it might not have even occurred to Eloise that she behaved so differently from all other ladies that Theo had ever seen in his part of town.
“I would have to agree.” , he replied with a tilt of his chin. His thoughts drifted to his little sister Alice and her dream of becoming a veterinarian - something she would never be allowed to do, if things remained as they were. “In a way, knowledge is the greatest equaliser. If we don’t allow everyone access to it, half of us will be left in the dark... But I’m sure you’ve read most of this already in my open letter.”, he finished with a knowing smile. Eloise wasn’t subtle in her tendencies to read everything Theo put out. He liked that about her.
“Tell me, do you have a subject in mind, Miss Eloise? Something in particular that you’d like to study at university?”
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Post by julia on Oct 27, 2022 15:48:13 GMT
What was she doing here?
Weeks had passed since their last encounter at the shop. While in the first days after they had parted ways Theo had found himself looking up from his work with a flicker of hope whenever the bell on the door rang, by now he had come to accept that they had parted for good. Routine had set in, something that he had previously found comfort in had become increasingly unenticing. Eloise Bridgerton, despite (or possibly because of) the chaos she had caused in his life, had been a breath of fresh air. And yet, he couldn’t say that he was happy to see her now. All he had come to know was that dealing with the Bridgertons would only end in more troubles for himself.
But no, she hadn’t apparently followed him. She said the words with so much conviction that Theo had to believe them, although some part of him had quietly hoped that this had not been a mere coincidence. Truly, he didn’t know how to feel about her: He had almost moved on, almost closed that chapter of an exciting, if short, book. But suddenly, Eloise was back, metaphorical quill in hand and ready to add another paragraph. For a moment, Theo wanted to read it, too.
The white knuckles with which he had gripped the rim of his cap loosened and one corner of his mouth quirked up at the mention of his name. Not ‘Mr Sharpe’, just ‘Theo’.
She mentioned she had thought about him, and Theo relaxed his defensive stance a little more, only to close himself right back up, as she continued: Defiantly, he crossed his arms in front of his chest, ink stains dotted parts of his sleeves, as he sceptically considered the young woman across from him, her soft, round features only faintly illuminated by the oil lamp on the side of the carriage.
Deep down, Theo knew she meant well – offering him a ride home, it wasn’t something Theo had ever received since he’d begun work in the city. And that was exactly the problem. “And what about tomorrow?”, he countered. Only a rhetorical question, so he barely paused for an answer. “And the day after? And what about in five months’ time when most of the roads will be frozen over?” This time he paused a little longer, giving his words a chance to sink in.
“Most of us don’t have the luxury of a driver, Miss Eloise. And although I appreciate the offer,” he attempted to remain kind and respectful, though it was through gritted teeth, “I’m sorry to inform you that this one ride will not be a kindness. Most likely, it will cause both of us only further anguish.”
His gaze wandered from the blue of the young lady’s eyes over to the darkened square that was the window of the carriage. It would be foolish to enter the vehicle beside a lady, never mind reckless to let her take him all the way out to Brixton at this time of night. “I’m sorry.”, he repeated. He meant it this time. His eyes were back on Eloise, forcing himself not to look away. “But I cannot accept your protection.”
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