Chapter 2
17th December:
Cressida has been to one games night before her and Eloise were unoffically offical. It had ended in an A and E trip when Hyacinth in a fit of rage had flung a chess piece at Gregory's head. It had hit Benedict in the eye and although he had been fine a heavily pregnant Genevieve had gone into labour at the shock of it all. It had not been pleasant and Cressida has a distinct memory of being vomited on by a panicked Benedict. She has dodged every game night since. The memory of that night still haunting her.
Unfortunately this is not a game night, and there's no escape. It's not like she can spend Christmas with her parents. She doesn't like her parents all that much and they certainly do not like her. The Bridgerton's are her family, even when they are insane and so she has to suck it up and join in. Penelope has managed to dodge games after a particularly bad round of morning sickness and Genevieve has volunteered to stay up with her so Colin can come down and enjoy the games. Cressida wishes she'd got in there first. Genevieve has no desire to play and says Alexandra is as bad as her father, but Kate is the only in law who actually enjoys games. Simon and Michael would also have liked to escape games day. Sadly for them there is no out for any of the other in laws.
She finds the family already gathered when she makes it downstairs, wearing sweats and a hoodie the baggier the better she decides. She has learned from the one game night she attended to tie back her hair as it makes it harder to grab so she has twisted it into a neat bun. When she reaches the large Aubrey Hall Drawing Room, there is an intense argument about whether to play Jungle speed or another game. Cressida has never played Jungle Speed but she knows it involves grabbing something and she knows that will almost certainly involve broken limbs and quite possibly death. So she votes for another game. In the end it is the children who cast the deciding vote, choosing Monopoly (Simon seems to have whispered something to August that he has passed on to the other siblings). The children join their parents and then there are arguments as they realise there are not enough counters for everyone. Cressida thinks this could be her way out, but Hyacinth unfortunately comes up with grand idea of adding tokens of their own and inflating the bank with money from a slightly different edition of Monopoly that they own. In a last ditch effort to avoid the game Cressida offers to be the banker so no one can accuse anyone of cheating, but this idea is voted down as they believe her to be in cahoots with Eloise. So instead they vote Violet banker. So she's screwed. Reluctantly she picks up the dog counter and accepts her starting money.
The first argument is caused by Edmund walking over the game board after getting bored of the game. Eloise accuses Anthony and Kate of putting him up to it. Anthony and Kate argue back. For a moment it looks like it's going to be an all out argument. Then Edmund points out that he just wanted the mince pie on the coffee table and Eloise apologises and the game continues. Cressida manages not to point out that Kate and Anthony were both doing extremely well and are unlikely to want the game "ruined" as Eloise suggests.
The next argument is when Benedict accuses Violet of slipping extra money to her favourite children. "We all know Colin and Francesca are your favourites and they never run out of money. Suspicious right?" He challenges.
Violet sighs. "I love you all equally."
Benedict snorts. He actually fully snorts and Cressida and Michael exchange nervous looks. "But you have favourites we all do. Colin's favourite is Daphne and sometimes Hyacinth and Daphnes favourite is Colin. Hyacinth's favourite is Gregory and Gregory's is Hy. Eloise's favourite is me and she's mine. Francesca is the only one who doesn't have an obvious favourite."
Kate raises an eyebrow. "Whose Anthony's favourite."
Everyone answers at the same time. "Hyacinth." Kate doesn't question that answer.
"So no ones favourite is me?" Anthony looks a little hurt.
"You're my favourite Daddy." Edmund states.
Kate rolls her eyes. "Not like I spent seventeen hours in labour with you." Only a few people hear her but Michael and Daphne laugh at this.
"You're the inlaws favourite inlaw." Hyacinth states.
Anthony shakes his head. "No I'm not. Penelope's favourite would be Eloise or Genevieve. Genevieve's favourite is Penelope. Michael gets on best with Colin and Benedict..."
"Yes because neither of them threatened to castrate him." Francesca chips in.
"As I was saying..." Anthony continues with a pointed glare. "Cressida well I'm not totally sure, but I'd guess by default Benedict." Cressida shrugs. He's probably right. "And Simon's is me but that's only because he was friends with me first."
Eloise shakes her head. "Anthony you literally threaten all the in laws." Anthony shrugs as though this is reasonable and the game continues.
Francesca holds on to her money, but Colin places a load of hotels on Mayfair and then loses out to a property tax card in his next turn. He takes it well for a Bridgerton, but by that point he seems very distracted. Cressida somehow wins the game in the end despite barely trying and Eloise is much happier about it then she is. It wasn't as bad as she'd thought at least, but she still needs a lie down.
18th:
Movie day should be simple. It's the Bridgertons though so it isn't. They have a system where everyone draws straws and the winner chooses the film. It should work. It doesn't. "And the winner is Colin." Violet announces.
"Home alone." Colin picks with a smile.
Eloise shakes her head. "No absolutely not." She snaps. "I hate that stupid film."
The children have already been settled next door with a different film, Benedict and Genevieve have volunteered to supervise them. So at least they wouldn't witness this. Colin sighs. "We draw straws El. Every year. I don't think I've won for years so I'd like to watch my favourite Christmas film."
Eloise stamps her foot and Michael sees Cressida facepalm. Francesca tenses beside him watching her siblings nervously. Neither of them are likely to back down. "Well i don't want to watch it."
Cressida turns to her partner. "El we all agreed." Eloise shoots her a look.
"I think it's a great film." Daphne chips in.
"Of course you bloody do, you worship Colin." Eloise retorts.
"That's not true." Daphne looks seriously offended.
"It kind of is." Hyacinth chips in now, looking a little smug.
"Hy." Colin sounds exasperated.
Violet is sat on the sofa now, sipping a cup of tea and looking like she wishes the ground would swallow her up. Kate sits next to her, also sipping tea but looking far more amused. Anthony watches clearly waiting to see whether he needs to intervene. Gregory and Hyacinth seem to be enjoying the argument. Everyone else just looks braced. He clocks Penelope placing a hand on Colin's shoulder. He clocks Colin turn to her and nod. "Look El," Colin sounds much calmer. "we do this every year and I've picked the film. You don't have to stay." E
loise makes to leave, but Anthony glares at her. "Stay there El. You don't get to ruin Movie day. If the kids next door can agree on a film then so can you."
---
By dinner time they are on to watching The Grinch with the children as well. August is curled up on Francesca's lap and it's sweet to watch as August appears terrified of not the Grinch but Max the dog, even though he's a dog lover. Francesca is enjoying the opportunity to spend time with her nieces and nephews. They had been trying for a baby for a while now, but with no luck and he knows Francesca desperately wants to be a mother and if she can't be a mother right now she's more then happy to relish the role of Aunt. Daphne, who is the only sibling Francesca has spoken too about trying for a baby, shoots her a smile. She had been the only sibling option and Francesca didn't want to tell her mother quite yet because Violet would get over excited. Eloise would hardly be an option as she is adamant children are a waste of time and Hyacinth is a little too young to talk to. She had considered speaking to her sisters in law, but Kate is hilariously practical about it all and Francesca hadn't wanted that and Genevieve and Francesca got along well on a surface level but they hadn't really approached the deep topics and Penelope had also been trying at the time, but with more success then Francesca. Daphne had been the right choice. Practical, compassionate and above all kind and caring. Daphne catches his eye next and offers him a smile which he returns.
One day that will be their own child on Francesca's knee and they'll be as delighted and stressed as they other parents here. He can't wait, because he knows that's exactly what she wants. He leans forward in time to hear August whisper in Francesca's ear. "Auntie Frannie, you're my favourite but don't tell the others because they might be sad." His heart melts a little.
19th:
Idiots who fell for Bridgertons
Gen: Okay anyone actually doing anything useful?
Simon: Daff already did all the Christmas prep.
Simon: So we're on do not disturb mode.
Cressida: El has prepped nothing.
Cressida: And is currently throwing herself at the mercy of next day delivery.
Cressida: I came fully prepared and am now getting in a few hours work.
Kate: Ant and I came prepped. We're too tired to anything more then sleep though.
Gen: Yeah Ben and I were gonna go for a drive but he fell asleep.
Kate: When you say drive...
Gen: 😳😳😳
Cressida: Well at least I'm not the only one missing the one day where we can actually have sex.
Kate: I refused. Knackered.
Kate: And Anthony didn't even ask. Also Knackered.
Michael: You guys are so graphic.
Michael: Fran went with Violet and the little ones.
Michael: So I'm wrapping all the presents.
Gen: Where's Penelope???
Kate: 😏😏😏
Kate: May have found them at it.
Kate: Saying no more.
Kate: Ant wants to keep the story for a rainy day.
Penelope: The bathroom.
Penelope: It was the bathroom.
Penelope: And we weren't at it.
Kate: Your lips were around his 🍆🍆🍆
Penelope: 🖕🏼🖕🏼🖕🏼
20th:
Oh how she loves Winter edition of pallmall. Nothing will stop the Bridgerton's. Not ice or snow or heavy rain. They call it games day but really its all about the pallmall. She has gotten up earlier, because she will settle for nothing less then the mallet of death. There has been a lot of debate about allowing pregnant women to play pallmall (Kate had been the only one wanting too) but it was decided it would be too dangerous (by Anthony who wasn't having it - she would argue it was through fear of loss) so Penelope and Genevieve had agreed to be on children duty with Violet so everyone else could join in. They gather at 9am to choose their mallets and as everyone is familiar (Cressida and Michael had also ducked out to join the children's day) it is a free for all with the mallets. Kate has already hidden away the mallet of death with a little help from Cressida and pretends to gasp as she fake draws it. Anthony rolls his eyes and stomps his foot as he is left with a less good option of the yellow mallet he seems to hate.
They have also rolled the dice to see who gets to go first. It is Hyacinth who gets that honor and she confidently gets her ball through the first hoop. Gregory follows and chooses to knock Hyacinth's ball away. Then Francesca manages to get hers through the hoop with ease. She is followed by Eloise who somehow manages to knock Francesca's ball into the pond her own tumbling in after it, even though they are so very far away from the pond. As they grab nets to retrieve the balls Daphne plays taking a sensible shot that gets her just to the side of the hoop where no one will want to knock her off course. Then it's Simon's turn and a small patch of ice sends his ball into the woods. He grumbles as he's forced to retrieve it. Colin takes his shot, confidently getting his through the hoop. Before Benedict can play there is a scream and they all turn to see Francesca and Eloise tumble into the lake. The siblings would mock them except that while Eloise reappears looking like something from a horror movie with dripping wet hair and a furious expression, Francesca does not.
Colin, Benedict, Gregory and Anthony all go to dive in, but Hyacinth beats them too it, emerging moments later with her wet and shocked looking sister. There is no debate. They call a reset so the girls can go get dry. Simon rushes inside to sort towels and warm drinks and as Benedict and Anthony steer a trembling Francesca inside and Daphne and Colin lead Eloise in, Kate and Gregory walk alongside Hyacinth. "You made quite the rescue." Kate grins at her youngest sister in law.
Hyacinth looks taken aback. "I did?" She asks, teeth chattering. Kate remembers Genevieve mentioning Hyacinth feeling isolated and she can tell the Bridgerton siblings are distracted fussing over the two that went into the water accidentally she decides she will take responsibility for Hyacinth right now.
"You were excellent, but Hy you're freezing. Gregory go grab a towel and a hot drink for Hy. Hyacinth I know your room doesn't have an ensuite so come use our shower." Kate takes command.
When they reach their room, Kate helps Hyacinth out of her wet and heavy clothes. They have a pond smell to them and Kate knows they'll need a wash but it isn't priority right now. As she leaves Hyacinth to shower there is a knock on the door. Genevieve sticks her head around it. "We just heard. Penelope is staying downstairs with kids, but we thought we'd come check on you. Cressida and Michael went to their partners and think Violet went to check on Frannie, so I thought I'd check our heroine over."
Kate smiles. "Could you grab her some clothes and a towel? Greg said he would get a towel but he's vanished."
Genevieve nods. "Of course. Violet has called the local doctor, who happens to be an old friend, she says she won't allow pallmall to continue till the three of them are checked over."
Kate nods. "Even I can admit that's sensible."
As Genevieve heads off to grab Hyacinth's things, Kate scrolls mindlessly through her phone. Her sister Edwina lives with her partner, a member of the German nobility, over in Germany and her mother has gone over there for Christmas. She looks like she's having a great time and most importantly there is no schedule. She finds she is ridiculously jealous of them having a chilled and schedule free Christmas. She doesn't have time to think on it too much because Genevieve returns with clothes and when Hyacinth emerges wrapped in a towel Genevieve offers to do her hair nicely so it'll be away from her face for pallmall. The suprise on Hyacinth's face reminds her that Hyacinth is not often privy to girls nights and getting ready with her sisters and inlaws.
It is Anthony who decides pallmall cannot continue and so Kate and Genevieve offer to take Hyacinth out for food to celebrate her heroism. It makes the perfect way to spend the day.
21st:
"Mummy, Daddy." Genevieve glances at the clock. 5am. Fucks sake. "Santa's coming."
Benedict rolls his eyes. "Not until much later Alex." He tells her.
Alexandra frowns. "Daddy I want to see Santa." She states.
Benedict sucks in a breath. "And you will baby girl. But first we need lots of sleep." He tells her and Genevieve has absolutely no idea how but he convinces her to get into bed and she falls asleep.
Unfortunately for Genevieve she does not. For the first time in the pregnancy she begins to feel sick and then finds herself sat up in bed taking deep breaths. That wakes Benedict up again, and he glances at her wide eyed. "You gonna be sick?"
Genevieve shakes her head. "No." She says. "Just feel it. Those stupid pies I ate yesterday."
Benedict grins, looking far too smug for someone not currently having to carry their child. "Oh I see so baby doesn't like mushrooms." He beams and reaches out to rub her stomach. "Excellent taste little one." He laughs.
Genevieve roles her eyes. "You don't have to carry them and I love mushrooms. I don't want to stop eating them." She could cry which is stupid because it's just mushrooms and yet she feels devastated at the thought of not being able to eat them. Benedict gives her a sympathetic look, but still looks very smug. "We can't let Alex know though." She adds. "I won't have her visit with Santa ruined by her new sibling. She dislikes them enough away without them making mummy feel sick."
Benedict nods. "She'll come around."
Genevieve nods. " I know she will. In the meantime I know she loves her cousins and I bet if one of them came to live with us permanently she'd be chuffed."
Benedict wrinkles his nose up. "I wouldn't be."
Genevieve rolls her eyes. "Do you honestly think Daphne or Simon would hand over their kids to us?"
"It's not them I worry about." Benedict responds. "I know you in laws have a chat and I'm sure Kate and Simon get bored of their kids."
Genevieve just shakes her head cause what else can she do. "Well don't worry because I'm not offering to have any of them." Benedict pretends to be relieved at that news and she can't help but laugh. They spend the rest of the morning until Alexandra wakes up laughing together.
---
Until last year Colin had played Santa when he visited, but August had casually remarked that Santa looks like Uncle Colin and Colin had lost the gig. Instead Violet had hired an old friend to take the roll. He arrives sneaking in the back door in full costume complete with a sack full of gifts Violet had brought to give the Grandchildren. The list had been preapproved and Genevieve knows Alexandra will be getting a squishmallow, a book and a bag of haribo sweets. Her daughter will be delighted with that.
They let each family have their own time with Santa and then everyone has to see him this year now that Colin has relinquished the role. Anthony and Kate take their kids in first and the kids come out waving presents happily. Then Daphne and Simon take theirs in. Then it's Alexandra's turn and their usually confident daughter looks terrified. "What if Santa is mean?" She asks.
Genevieve smiles at her. "Don't worry sweetheart you met Santa last year and he was very kind."
Alexandra frowns. "What if he's scary?"
Benedict takes this question. "We'll be here my darling." Alexandra nods and then takes each parents hand, before Violet opens the door.
With Alexandra between them Benedict and Genevieve share a look before they approach Santa. Violet has provided him with a throne like seat and he gives a loud laugh as they approach. "You must be Alexandra." He booms. "I've heard lots of things about you."
Alexandra drops her Mum's hand, but she doesn't move so Benedict crouches down beside her and whispers something in her ear. When she still isn't sure, he picks her up and let's her rest her head on his shoulder. "She's a bit nervous." He explains.
Santa laughs again. "Do you want to know a secret Alexandra?" Alexandra lifts her head off her father's shoulder and nods. "I get nervous too." He tells her and her eyes go comically wide before she lets Benedict put her down and rushes towards Santa.
Genevieve beams as her daughter whispers what she wants for Christmas in Santa's ear. Santa replies with a smile. Then they take photos together and Genevieve and Benedict join in with the pictures. Genevieve glances at her husband's beaming face and her daughters smile and thinks just how different it's going to be when a new baby join thems. She wonders if she's mentally prepared. Then she catches Benedict's beam. He's ready for it. She knows that. For all his joking about not wanting anymore children, and she knows he would be content without anymore, he is also a Bridgerton and grew up surrounded by smaller children. She knows he'll be as helpful as he was with Alexandra and that takes some of the pressure off.