Chapter Text
Eloise wandered in a book shop in Bloomsbury. Her footman and maid warned her many times to not go to Bloomsbury, but there was nothing interesting enough for Eloise in the book stores of Mayfair. She definitely didn’t find Romance novels and poem books interesting for her taste so she decided to pay a visit to the shops in the streets of Bloomsbury.
Eloise was going through the section with the books about women’s rights, which she always found very interesting when a certain book caught her eye.
“A Feminine Mystique” by Theo Sharpe
‘Interesting title...’ Eloise thought to herself
She turned the first page of the book and began going through the index when she heard a voice
“Interesting choice...”
She turned over to see a man.
A very handsome looking, tall and well dressed gentleman indeed.
“Pardon me...” Eloise spoke softly
“I was saying, that is a very interesting choice of a book...It is a best seller of the season”
“Mhmm...The title sounds interesting enough to match my thoughts...although I doubt about a man’s prospective towards women’s rights and feminism...”
“Well...you know, men can also be feminists...”
“Oh, I highly doubt that. The men of the ton are anything but feminists. They see women as merely some object possessing certain qualities and they just want to carry them around like a trophy...”
“Well, I don’t think the same...Perhaps that’s why I decided to write this book expressing my thoughts...”
Eloise looked over to the man in disbelief...
“You...you are Theo Sharpe...” Eloise managed to speak
“I am, indeed...Miss?”
“Eloise... Eloise Bridgerton”
“Miss Eloise...Pleased to meet you Miss Bridgerton...”
“Pleased to meet you too, Mr. Sharpe...”
“Well, if you are so much interested in women’s rights...you must give this a try as well...” he says, handing her a pamphlet which read “Appeal in Defence of Women Rights”
“New thoughts, unsettling ideas...perhaps might capture your interests...” he continues
“I hope so too...” Eloise smiles softly.
“Now, I must take my leave...See you around Miss Bridgerton...”
“Yes...Surely...”
With this he left, leaving Eloise standing there on her own. She went ahead and purchased the book and returned back to her carriage.
Eloise somehow felt that there is a certain charm in this particular gentleman. She has never felt a conversation with a man to be this intriguing. She was genuinely looking forward to meeting him again unlike the other gentlemen of the ton who tried to peruse her.
That night, after dinner, Eloise sat in her bed with the pamphlet in her hand, going through the writings in it. They were certainly very interesting, more than Eloise has previously thought. As she reached the end of the writing, she found an advertisement in the bottom end of the last page of the pamphlet stating that there was a debate to be held in the Bloomsbury Assembly Room at 12 noon the very next day.
Eloise was certainly intrigued by the thought and made up her mind to visit the mentioned place tomorrow. She might also find Mr. Theo Sharpe there as well.
The next afternoon, Eloise left home by saying that she was going flower arranging with Penelope. Eloise also managed to escape from her maid and find her way to the Assembly Room. She entered the door and went down the stairs, following the others. She made her way to the room, fairly smaller than the other halls she visited but adequate.
Her eyes immediately fell onto none other than Mr. Theo Sharpe talking to someone. She without any hesitation approached him.
“Thrilling, is it not?” She began, indicating him of her presence
“You...You came...” Theo said with a soft smile curled on his lips
“Well, what can I say. Exchange of ideas with like-minded men and women on subjects beyond the trivial concerns of polite society, is certainly intriguing...”
“Well, good to hear that, Miss Bridgerton...”
“Now, I have some questions about your writings in the pamphlet...Do you have a pencil?” Eloise spoke
“Never mind, you shall borrow mine...” Eloise continued before Theo could answer her previous question.
They began discussing the writings...
After the debate was over, when Eloise was about to leave, she was stopped by Theo.
“Miss Bridgerton...”
“Yes, Mr. Sharpe...”
“I would like to ask, if you would like to accompany me to the writer’s union, here itself the coming Friday…I mean if you do not have a problem…”
“Surely...why not...That shall not be of any problem...” Eloise replied smiling
“Okay...Then I will see you here, coming Friday afternoon?”
“Yes...” saying this Eloise turned back and left.
In her mind, Eloise was eagerly waiting for Friday.
On Friday morning, Eloise started getting ready early. She wore a very beautiful sea green coloured gown with same coloured mesh gloves. She kept her hair loose, flowing in curls and put on very light makeup.
To be honest, Eloise never really cared about her appearance, let alone for someone else. But today, she put in the effort in herself she never had before.
As she was getting ready, her mother entered her room
“Eloise, dear. Are you going somewhere?” Lady Bridgerton asked
“Yes, Mama...I was going to the book store to buy a few new books...”
“Oh...okay...Do you need a maid to accompany you...”
“No Mama...that shall not be necessary...”
“Okay...” Lady Bridgerton whispers before turning back towards the door to leave.
Just as she reached the door, she spoke again “Eloise...”
“Yes Mama...”
“Nothing...It is just, you look very beautiful today...”
“Thank you Mama...”
Eloise left her house and got in her carriage. As the carriage reached Bloomsbury, she got down and handed her pin money to her footman and went ahead towards the Assembly Hall.
Soon she found Theo standing at the entrance.
“Hi...” Eloise spoke
“Hello, Miss Bridgerton...”
“Oh please...you must call me Eloise...Miss Bridgerton is just too formal...”
“Okay, then. But you must call me Theo...”
“Okay...as you say...”
Soon they both entered the Assembly Hall together.
That day onwards, their meetings began occurring very often. Frequently Eloise would go to meet Theo in a book store or some debate or assembly or any such thing. They genuinely enjoyed each other’s company. With them together, hours felt like bare minutes.
On such a day, they found themselves standing in a dark corner, taking to one another with no one around.
Theo said something, which caused Eloise to let out a chuckle.
Theo stared at her while she laughed. Soon their eyes met each other’s leading to an intense stare.
“Eloise...” he began softly as he tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear
Eloise remained silent but didn’t break her eye contact with him.
“You look to beautiful...” Theo says as he leans in towards Eloise. But suddenly Eloise shifts back.
“Forgive me...I” Theo started
Eloise remained silent, looking away from him.
“I would never...” he continued nodding his head
“Wouldn’t you?” Eloise answered looking at him
“I’m sorry Eloise...”
“Don’t be...” saying this, Eloise rises up to her toes, reaching closer to his mouth and places a soft kiss on his lips. Theo kisses her back, putting his hands on her waist, pulling her closer as she threw her arms around his neck.
Soon Theo’s hand proceeded downwards to grab her butt causing Eloise to gasp lightly.
He immediately let go of Eloise.
“I am so sorry Eloise...I was so carried away...I shouldn’t have...” he started
“You do not have to be sorry for anything, Theo. I was the one who kissed you...and I rather liked it...” Eloise spoke biting her bottom lip in between his teeth.
“I do not know how, but you have some effect on me...” Theo says, cupping the side of her cheek
“So do you...” she replies rubbing her cheek against his hand
“You affect me like nobody else...I love spending time with you, being with you, talking to you, watching you and what not...” she continued in a soft voice.
“Eloise Bridgerton...I am so in love with you...” Theo speaks looking at Eloise deeply.
“I love you too Theo...You are the one who I always think about...”
Theo proceeded to kiss Eloise once again and she responded back as well.