The Gift Quest
Cressida
What does one get a brilliant and beautiful woman for Christmas? Especially a Bridgerton. That’s the question that has perplexed Cressida for the better part of the last month, and by Eloise’s own account, she has everything she needs.
Shelves upon shelves of books, and when those ran out, books could be found in places you wouldn’t typically think to look for them. Structurally supporting a rather large monstera perhaps? Or among other plants that have reached a somewhat symbiotic relationship with the remainder of her scattered book collection.
Finding a gift for Eloise was going to be no easy task and it needed to be discreet.
They weren’t out as a couple to their families yet. Well, if Cressida was being honest, they weren’t out to the Bridgertons yet. Cressida knew long before she admitted her feelings to Eloise, that Lord and Lady Cowper would never approve. Her relationship with her parents had been rocky from the start and she could see no good coming from telling them.
She had already started distancing herself from them for months and found she had more in common with her rather eccentric aunt, who lived further outside town than she initially thought. The woman had welcomed Eloise into her home when they visited as if she were her own niece.
Eloise, however, had a lot to lose. She had a loving mother, sisters and brothers. They butted heads like any siblings would, but Cressida knew they all loved each other dearly. So, the thought of Eloise coming out to them and possibly losing them forever was heartbreaking. She could never ask that of the woman she loved.
It was Eloise’s decision and hers alone. Cressida would support her no matter her decision or the outcome.
Given that, they still had their moments without others noticing. For instance, when visiting the ice cream parlour, a ‘friend’ could be forgiven for grazing her friend's hand while wiping the melted ice cream away that dripped there…even if she lingered a bit longer than she should have. A ‘friend’ could be forgiven, on a quiet afternoon, in the back section of the library, for needing to tangle her fingers in her friend's hair while kissing her, after she got excited about a new book she found.
Eloise always looked so beautiful when her eyes lit up whenever she got excited about a book.
Oh, and don’t think she’s the only one.
One evening, at the Hastings estate, Daphne and Simon were busy telling their dinner guests of all manner of mischief their son had been up to as of late when she felt Eloise’s left hand on her thigh. Thankfully it was under the table and away from prying eyes, but that didn’t stop Cressida from choking on her drink and drawing the attention of the whole table.
Eloise, being the good ‘friend’ that she was, moved closer and patted Cressida’s back thoughtfully while squeezing the hand that still rested on her thigh. All the while staring at Cressida like nothing was out of place…The gall of that woman, honestly.
One week before Christmas, she decided to visit her aunt. Eloise was busy helping her mother with Christmas preparations, so the timing seemed ideal; especially to a particularly desperate woman, such as herself. They’d been together for two years now and she wanted nothing more than for this gift to be special.
She was at her wit’s end and nothing she came up with really felt like the right gift. Nothing truly expressed how much she loved her. She wanted Eloise to have something that would remind her of that, but be hidden enough from the public eye to not draw unwanted attention to them.
Her aunt had given her a thoughtful yet caring look, waiting patiently for Cressida as she went on about the ideas she had that all eventually fell flat.
Her aunt later asked her to, “Hold that thought,” before heading to her bedroom. When she returned, she handed Cressida a beautifully simple and elegant hummingbird brooch.
Cressida was a bit confused for a moment. Sure, Eloise admired a brooch every now and then, and the hummingbird was beautiful, but she couldn’t figure out why this specifically came to mind. That was until her aunt told her that it was a gift from a woman she once loved many years ago.
The woman had given her the brooch as a gift and had specially crafted a hidden compartment at the back. She told Cressida that, unfortunately, their love was not meant to be. Her aunt had hoped to leave the brooch to Cressida as part of her inheritance one day. Given her current predicament, her aunt could see no use in waiting that long. She knew she loved Eloise dearly and hoped this would be the perfect gift to pass on to her.
However, Cressida felt she could not accept such a gift…a gift that clearly still held a lot of memories for her aunt to have kept it after all these years. There was more to that story than she could ever know, but her aunt insisted and said she would love nothing more than for it to bring them joy.
So began the last few days’ preparations before she returned home for the annual Bridgerton Christmas banquet. She wanted to get it perfect. The hidden compartment at the back could only take a small piece of parchment; Cressida had to choose her words carefully.
She arrived home later than initially planned, without a moment to spare, due to an unforeseen storm that almost caused her to miss the banquet in its entirety. But, with the roads eventually being cleared of debris, she managed to make it home just in time to unpack the essentials to get ready…and of course, her gift for Eloise.
When she arrived at the Bridgerton’s, it took everything in her not to rush to Eloise’s side once she saw her. She knew Eloise must’ve been worried as she hadn’t been able to send word to her during the storm, to let her know if she was well or if she’d be able to make it back in time.
Even as Cressida greeted Violet, Eloise’s mother had commented on how worried Eloise had been that she wouldn’t make it in time and might ‘miss the festivities’. The last part she spoke of with a hint of humour in her voice. Violet knew fully well that Eloise only tolerated such festivities when Cressida was in attendance and gave Cressida a brief knowing look. Cressida frowned but brushed it off as her mother just musing over Eloise’s antics once again.
After Violet, she proceeded to greet some of Eloise’s siblings as well. As soon as she could, she took the opportunity to join Eloise at the furthest end of the foyer- close to the stairs. It was very much like Eloise to stay close to the nearest exit, as to avoid any social interactions she deemed unnecessary.
Once she reached her, and allowed a relieved smile to grace her face, she asked her if they could speak in the drawing room. Nodding, Eloise led the way, smiling. She was clearly happy to have a brief moment away from the arriving guests, allowing them a second of privacy for the first time that week.
As Cressida shut the door, she felt Eloise’s arms wrapping around her from behind. As she turned in Eloise’s arms, her face settled in the crook of Cressida’s neck. Letting out a sigh of relief, she wrapped her arms around Eloise as well, she couldn’t help but breathe in her scent.
God, she had missed this. She had missed her. Cressida was about to say as much when Eloise reached up to claim her mouth with her own. They could both feel how much they needed each other with every slow and deep - barely controlled - kiss.
Resting their foreheads against one another, they reluctantly parted. Eloise brought Cressida’s wrist to her lips for one last kiss…a promise to make time for each other soon. “I missed you,” Eloise whispered.
“I missed you too,” Cressida echoed.
“More than you know,” Eloise continued. Cressida felt a tightening in her chest at Eloise’s words but offered her an encouraging smile as she moved a few loose strands behind her ear.
“I got you a present,” she said as she pulled back and presented Eloise with a small teal-coloured box; a white ribbon tied neatly around it. She tried and failed miserably to keep her smile contained when she saw the way Eloise’s face lit up.
“Cress, you know you didn’t have to get me anything,” Eloise protested half heartedly, as she secretly loved surprises.
Knowing this, Cressida just responded with a teasing, “So, are you going to open it or not?”
It was no surprise that Eloise quickly conceded and opened it.
“My love, I know you’re not overly fond of jewellery, but I hope you’ll find this brooch to your liking,” Cressida said nervously “We might not be able to be together in the way we’d hoped, but perhaps you could wear this brooch close to your heart. Know that I am yours…irrevocably so. You are the love of my life and I can’t go another day without asking.” She opened the back of the brooch to reveal a note that she handed to her. Eloise unfolded the note that read:
‘To my wife, love of my life, now and always -C.’
A gasp was heard as Cressida knelt and asked, “Eloise Bridgerton, will you marry me?”