Chapter 2
The bright sun and the sounds of people in the kitchen startle eloise, she sits up probably too fast since she is crushed with a wave of nausea and a mix of a migraine creeping behind her eyes. she stumbles up and into the bathroom not daring to turn on the lights knowing it would just increase the migraine. She no longer has a moment to think with the nausea finally making headway and Eloise sits next to the toilet emptying her stomach as there is a soft knock on the door. she can hear her mother calling from the other side but not what she is saying until anthony comes barging into the bathroom hair tie and a glass of water in hand. he slides next to his sister not looking at her until the vomiting slowly comes to a stop, there isn't a word said he simply ties up her hair and hands her the glass. Eloise drinks the water so fast he is scared she might choke but once she is done and leans her head on the cool porcelain Anthony finally speaks. “ Daphne told me everything, I can get one of the lawyers at my firm to represent you. we can get the baby from her.”
Eloise laughs a sad and defeated laugh. “brother, that was not the point. I'm not going to take a baby away from everything it knows just to fall into my arms where I have no clue what I am doing.”
“ yes eloise because that is a bridgerton child-”
“ a bridgerton child being raised as if it is not a bridgerton at all. I will not take her away from the only family she has known! That is the end of it, Anthony now leave me to live with my migraine.”
Anthony looks taken aback slightly watching as Eloise storms out of the bathroom and once she opens the door there is about half of the Bridgerton woman standing at the bathroom door. all are looking to be listening. “ yes yes I have a secret love child! spread it as you please now if you will excuse me I would like to not be bothered.”
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It is late into the evening no one has come to the guest room to bother Eloise, until there is a soft knock on her door, the knock belonging to her mother. she sighs and sits up calling her in, violet steps in with a tray of food and drinks she places it on the bed side table placing a soft kiss on the brunette's head. “Whatever happens my love, I am here for you.” Those words cause Eloise to break down, pulling into a hug gripping onto the back of her shirt, holding on as if she would float away if she did.
“I loved her, I truly did. I left to better myself for her and she carried my child and didn't even tell me a word of it mom.”
holds Eloise as close to her chest as she possibly could. “she was scared darling and you would have been too if the person you loved was running off to Scotland and had just become pregnant with their baby.” Violet places a kiss on Eloise's head slowly laying down with her. “ Do I think she went about it the right way? no, but do I think you should speak with her more? of course I think you deserve to know your child”
All Eloise does is nod as she grips her mother curling up as small as she possibly could, Violet lays with her for so long that the two fall asleep. The two wake up to Eloise's phone ringing on the bed side table finally plugged in after the night she has had. Violet looks at the screen and hands it to her daughter before quietly leaving the room, Cressida was the name on the screen and Eloise felt as if her heart would stop. the phone vibrates for a few seconds more before she finally answers holding the phone to her ear. “hello?”
“el, I'm glad you answered.”
“I've never not answered your calls, that's not changing now.” The words come out slightly harsher than she was trying to convey.
“Well. would you maybe like to go to lunch with me and em, get a chance to get to know your daughter.”
“ Yes of course, what day, time and place.”
“tomorrow at noon. I will send you the address in a moment. it will be nice to sit down and speak to you.” Cressida practically whispers the last part.
Eloise was quiet for a moment only listening to the shuffled on the phone before finally speaking. “yes yes it will be. Anyway, I will speak to you tomorrow and have a nice night.”
When the phone hangs up el sits for a moment slightly stressing about actually going to lunch with cressida. beginning to pace around the room and scrounge through her suitcase in order to find something to wear that at least made it seem like the two years away did something for her. The thought of the last fight she ever had with Cressida flashed through her mind as she scrambled and her brain ran faster than a hamster on a wheel. all you ever do is talk about doing something and doing something great but you never do anything about it. so that's what Eloise did, she did something great. She traveled to Scotland getting another degree on top of the one she already had and wrote her own book. she had planned on keeping Cressida updated on the whole thing but the second she left Cressida disappeared. and now knowing why she was wishing she hadn't gone to Scotland and done all of these things she was once proud of.
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She steps out of the uber earlier then the time specified but she wanted to make sure she was there on time, she leans on a wall pulling out a cigarette and making sure her outfit looks good. Eloise decided on something more casual: a simple pair of blue jeans, her favorite chelsea docs and a yellow sweater vest over a white tee shirt. As Cressida walks up she sees little Emily in her stroller and Cress looks as beautiful as ever she can't help but stare a second too long the way the pink summer dress flows off of her and her hair is cascading down her shoulders. Eloise stamps out her cigarette before stepping over. “ Good afternoon ladies, I have some things for little Emily if that's alright.”
“ of course lets get a seat and sorted out first.” cressida looks over eloise with a smile.
The two get seated in a slightly more secluded spot that has enough room for a stroller. As they get settled someone walking past smiles and tells them that they are a beautiful family. As Eloise is gathering what to say, Cressida speaks first. “ Thank you.” As the person passes, Eloise lifts an eyebrow at the blonde who shrugs. “ We are a family even if we arent together.”
El nods, turning her attention to the totebag next to her. “ These are some books and toys for Emily. Once my mother heard she said she must also buy her some clothes and things." Eloise pulls out a stuffed dog and hands it to Emily who immediately starts rubbing her face on it and babbles nonsense.
Cressida smiles and the rest of lunch is spent with the two women relearning about each other and speaking of Eloise's new job as a highschool teacher and Cressida's job as a social media manager for some actors since it allows her to work from home. Eloise decides to work up the courage to ask. “ Would you be ok with bringing Emily to meet my mom? I just would like her to meet her granddaughter.” Cressida nods before looking over to Emily who is still holding onto the stuffed dog and making some type of squeaking noise.