#s3 males | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

frost-queen · 5 days

Text

Till it bites you back // part 4 (Male!Reader x Eloise Bridgerton)

Forever tag:@missmelodramatic , @merlin-dahlia, @alex--awesome--22 , @elllie-does-the-posts, @floatlosers , @merlieve , @queen-of-books , @glimmering-darling-dolly ,@denkisclown , @wildieflower ,@meyocoko , @justanothercoco, @subjecta13-thefangirl , @m-rae23 , @harleyquinnswifeyfrfr , @swampthing07 , @melsunshine @panhoeofmanyfandoms , @venomsvl , @the-uncoordinated-house-cat ,@rosecentury , @imagines-by-her , @evilcr0ne , @vviolynn , @niktwazny303 ,@avada-kedavra-bitch-187 , @markive-m , @thethreeeyed-raven , @anonymous-cat-21 , @lord-lyss , @nameless-flowerr , @hipsternerd9 , @kookietunes07 , @dd122004dd , @ryv-viv , @aquilla6077, @sauron559, @cluelessteam. @czarinera , @korane06 , @luvinyouwasred123

Summary: When unmasking Lady Whistledown doesn't matter to you anymore, you fear that what brought you together might turn against you. Not sure if Eloise Bridgerton would still be interested in you without it. [Part 1, part 2 & part 3 ]

The room was quite. Only but a few sounds of a pen scribbling over paper. Aggressive scratch marks crossing things off. Papers crumbling together that landed with a soft thud on the floor. Just one more paper ball amongst the ocean of papers. Through the window fell the moonlight upon a wooden desk.

Some ink stains from the past engraved in the wood, unable to clean off. The candle standing on a stack of books almost burned out. But a small flicker. Head down, you were too focused and agitated to do anything about the mess. You didn’t even hear the knock on the door, followed by it creakingly opening.

Claude stepped inside, staring with wide eyes at the battle field of papers. Papers carelessly thrown and tossed aside. Most of them barely haven anything written on it. Claude took careful steps, gaze downwards to not step on a paper prop. – “Your royal…” – he started cut off by a loud groan of yours.

Followed by a new paper ball getting tossed his direction. It was without you looking up, so you weren’t really aiming for him. It just went his way. Claude moved his head aside, for the paper to pass over his shoulder, hitting the wall behind him before it plopped to the ground.

Claude straightened his jacket with a soft pull. – “Your royal highness.” – he addressed you, moving his hands to his back. Frustratingly you tore the paper before you, crumbling it aggressively in your hand. In utter frustration you threw it away, haven gotten up from your chair to use more velocity with it. The paper flew in Claude’s direction once more as he simply caught it with his hand. You blinked surprised at Claude, only seemingly now noticing him. Claude approached your desk, letting the paper ball roll off his palm onto your desk.

“I believe a restock of paper will be in order.” – Claude said without a glance upwards to you. Your first response was to exhale loud and worn out. Letting yourself slump back in the chair, wiping your hands down your face. – “Your royal highness it is late.” – Claude pointed out. His reaction made you turn your head to the side, seeing a full moon outside. It made you groan even louder with sorrow. – “Je m’excuse Claude.” – you let out. – “Please do not tell mama.” – you asked. Claude shook his head, letting you know it would be kept a secret.

You got up from your chair, walking through the rubbage of paper to your bed. Coming to sit at the end. Seeing the battle on your floor made you breath out a laugh. – “I…I’m sorry Claude.” – you said sheepishly, moving your hand over your eyes. – “I’ll… I’ll clean it up before breakfast.” – lowering your hand, you let it flop onto your thigh. Claude took out his pocket watch, quirking an eyebrow up. – “Which is precisely in five hours, your royal highness.” – he informed you with a cheeky smile. You groaned loud letting yourself fall back on your bed. Not a moment later, you sat back up.

“It’s just… the… the…” – gesturing at the papers, you felt foolish to even say it. Claude started to re-arrange your desk as it should be. – “Lady Whistledown.” – Claude filled in. – “Yes!” – you exclaimed loudly. – “How is your list going?” – Claude asked. You didn’t mind as you knew Claude almost your entire life. He was the only one, you allowed to overstep and mingle a bit in your affairs. – “It’s… it’s pointless.” – you told him. – “I have listed numerous thing. I feel like I have everything and nothing at all. For all could be Whistledown and all could be not. Does that make any sense?” – you asked Claude, sounding like a mad-man, feeling like a mad-man.

Claude looked around the room. – “Perhaps it is not unmasking Whistledown what is important, but rather the journey to it.” – Claude told you as it made you frown. – “Unmasking Whistledown IS what is important.” – you let out. Claude shook his head, clicking his tongue. – “You do not really care for it, your royal highness.” - he went on.

“But I have to!” – you let out, getting up. – “I… I have to…” – you said on softer tone. – “For Miss Bridgerton.” – Claude proposed. You let yourself sit back down, shoulders slouched forwards. – “What if…” – you said soft, looking saddened up to Claude. – “You fear that without Whistledown, Miss Bridgerton will show no interest? That you need Whistledown to keep Miss Bridgerton close and enjoy her company.”

Letting your face fall into the palms of your hands, you knew Claude was right. All of this. The search for Whistledown. The investment in finding clues, figuring it out, was all to keep Miss Bridgerton close. Because she cared for it, you felt the need to care for it too. To be honest, you didn’t care much what that gossipy pamphlet wrote. Amusement for the ton, not so much to you.

You hated the prejudice that was behind it. You wanted to meet people for who they are. Explore their deepest by conversating, getting to know them. Not what Whistledown exploited about them. Claude approached you, placing his gloved hand on your shoulder. – “Your royal highness, try to get some sleep.” – Claude let you know, making you nod.

His hand slipped off your shoulder as you turned around, crawling further up into your bed to lay yourself down. – “Your royal…” – Claude started seeing you slip under the covers in fully clothing. Even still wearing your shoes. Claude exhaled soft letting you be. He blew your candle out as the room went dark.

The next morning you sat at the breakfast table, yawning loud. Claude stood behind you, a few paces to the wall. He cleared his throat loud as it made you sit up straight. Not a second later opened the doors, your maman entering. You got up, addressing her with a bow. Your maman sat herself down. – “Any prospects my son?” – she said placing a napkin on her lap. – “Maman! It is morning.” – you told her sitting back down.

“And not too soon.” – she answered. – “Have I seen any ladies yet?” – she gestured around the room at the countless other empty chairs at the long table. – “Have you been calling upon houses? Danced? Y/n I cannot think otherwise than that you are neglecting what I asked of you.” – she went on. – “Maman.” – you let out.

She simply gave you a motherly scowl whilst tapping her spoon against her egg to crack the shell. – “I…” – you started, but couldn’t finish. She lowered her spoon, placing her hand on top of yours. Giving you a pitiful glance. – “Le cœur a ses raisons que la raison ne connaît point.” – she spoke in her mother tongue.

“The heart has its reasons which reason knows nothing of.” – you translated with a faint smile. She gave your hand a soft squeeze. You got up, leaning in to give her a caring kiss against her forehead. She moved her hand back finishing up her breakfast. After breakfast, her words kept echoing through your mind. You occupied yourself till the night fell for the next ball.

Knowing you would meet Miss Bridgerton once more. Not sure how she would react upon meeting you once more. Having investigated much with her about Whistledown. The carriage awaited as Claude opened the door for you and your maman. Claude gave you a promising nod before you stepped in.

Maman was fanning herself some cool as you looked out of the window. Seeing a crescent moon with a haze of clouds brushing past. The carriage wobbled on the cobble stone. Claude sitting in the front with the rider. The carriage arrived at the estate as you prepared yourself for the ball.

Claude stood not far from you. You kept yourself close to the walls. Upon seeing a pair of ladies and their mama’s come your way, your eyes widened. Turning on your heel with a nervous swallow and head into a different direction. Claude following behind you. Coming to a full stop, you saw more girls eyeing you with their fan. It made you turn a quarter on your heel, heading more to the centre of the ballroom.

Claude followed silently at each turn you took. – “Perhaps his royal highness wishes to hide behind the curtains?” – Claude suggested as it made you laugh loud. Stopping and swallowing nervously, you saw a mama pull her daughter your way. – “About that thought.” – you answered, ready to take on his request. You turned round, heading back, not wanting to deal with any ladies and their desperate mama’s to have their daughters married to royalty.

Reaching a wall, you felt like they had closed in on you. With desperation you looked at Claude. Just as they were closing in on you like hunters for prey, you heard a familiar voice. – “There you are. I have been looking everywhere for you.” – turning your head you saw Miss Eloise Bridgerton join your side, tugging her glove a bit higher. She casually joined your side, giving Claude a nod.

Claude nodded back at her. Eloise looked stunned at the girls who now seemingly have stopped, looking around as if their quest for speaking with you has been interrupted. – “It appears I have come at a proper time to whisk you away from all the ladies.” – Eloise chuckled out humouring. – “Yes.” – you answered. Eloise motioned with her hands to shoo the girls away.

They gave her a foul glance before toddling off. – “That should give you some breathing area.” – Eloise spoke with a smile. – “I am forever grateful Miss Eloise.” – you answered with your hand on your heart. You quirked your eyebrow up seeing Eloise manoeuvre to try and pull something out of her reticule. She smiled glorious once she had taken out the crumbled up papers.

“Since we’ve crossed out numerous names now. I am feeling that we are close to unmask her.” – Eloise spoke as you forced a polite smile back at her. She started giving you the papers, apologizing for it being so crumbled. She kept handing them to you, telling you all about her findings as you couldn’t bring a word in between. Claude cleared his throat softly behind you. – “Miss Eloise…” – you said for her attention.

Eloise kept rambling on as a paper fell out of your hands, dartling towards the ground. Having caught it just in time, having bend through your knees to catch it. – “Miss Eloise.” – you called out to her, desperate for her attention to stop. Eloise stopped abruptly, looking surprised at you. – “I…I…” – you began, swallowing your words back in by how she gazed upon you.

With those big sweet doe eyes as she waited for your words. Sighing soft, you felt afraid to let her know. Afraid to loose her. Afraid she would toss you aside once you tell her you have lost interest in Lady Whistledown. That you no longer care to unmask her, but rather wish to spend more time with her.

You carefully gave the papers back to Eloise as she accepted them confused. – “I am sorry, but I… I lost interest in Whistledown. I only kept going for you. To be closer to you, if you allow me.” – you told her. Eloise took a step back as it made you lower your gaze. – “I very much like to be around you without the fuss of Whistledown bonding us. I believe there must be more than that connecting us. There has to be.” – you explained further, hoping for her to see it.

Eloise blinked softly. Reflecting upon herself. You laid your hand out to her. – “I thought uncovering Lady Whistledown was the most important thing in my life.” – Eloise spoke placing the tips of her fingers in your hand. You took a step closer, laying your other hand on hers that rested in your palm. – “I couldn’t have been more wrong.” – she finished.

“Is… is that Eloise with the prince, mama?” – Colin pointed out, making several heads turn. – “Why yes.” – Violet addressed in shock. – “She does not seem one bit annoyed by his presence.” – Benedict spoke, tilting his head to the side. – “That is grand for our sister.” – he chuckled out, receiving a slap against his arm from Violet. Violet smiled warmly in Eloise’s direction seeing how her daughter looked upon the prince. Touched by how her daughter seemed to have found love where she didn’t think she would.

---------------------------------------