let mercy overrule justice

by pearlwrites (rainbow_of_yikes)

Summary:

Eloise Bridgerton has thoughts. A lot of them. Mostly regretful ones. After falling out with Theo, quite possibly the most interesting person she has ever met (and a man, no less!), and her best friend Penelope in one fell swoop, it was like her life, her very existence, was thrown off-kilter. Fortunately, by the time her second season rolls around, she's patched things up with Pen... but she can't stop thinking of Theo's fond grin, sharp words and radical, unsettling ideas. Though they were friends for only a few short weeks, she finds herself longing to speak to him again. Luckily for her, Theo is still an assistant at Chancery Lane Printers, and has, against all his better judgement, been thinking about Eloise as well. As the stack of books grows ever higher, so do the stakes for our determined heroine.

Title is the English translation of a line from the original Rapunzel, as found in the 1813 publication of Children's and Household Tales (later known as Grimm's Fairy Tales).

Chapter 1: one

Summary:

"However, dear Reader, things are not always as they seem. After the fascination and novelty of a budding relationship dies, the blissful newlyweds might find that they regret risking the thorns."

Notes:

Many thanks to @Jane3yr3 for writing the very first Theloise fic, and inspiring me to write my own! The chapter titles are working titles- subject to change if I find something better :)

Apologies for any grammar/spelling issues, historical or canon inconsistencies, or errors with regards to titles or nobility. I tried my best to stay as realistic as possible, but I'm not a historian nor an aristocrat, and information on early-19th-century printing shops is surprisingly scarce online! (Not to mention quite a bit else about the regency era!) All Dukes, Earls, etc have Englishy-sounding names that I made up, except characters mentioned specifically in canon, because I can't be arsed to do *that* much research.

Hope you enjoy!

“Yes, I know it is best for me to stay away. But I just… I just miss him so terribly much, Pen. Theo’s so interesting. He is as delightful as a man can possibly be, which is actually quite a bit when the man in question treats women with respect.”

Penelope, once again her friend and closest confidant after three conversations drowning in tears and approximately seventeen letters exchanged between them (not counting the many angry missives written, crumpled, and hidden by both parties), sighs wearily from her perch on the foot of Eloise’s bed.

“Eloise. We have gone over this several times. You regret how you acted. You miss Mr. Sharpe. He was one of the best and most intriguing parts of your terribly dull, uninteresting life. You wish you hadn’t fallen out. You know you shouldn’t attempt to reconcile. You miss Mr. Sharpe even more. You should, at the very least, apologise. And on, and on. Must we pick over it again?” Penelope fixes her with a knowing look (Knowing what, though? Eloise pushed the slightly uncomfortable thought aside for another day) as she continues, “now, how about a change of scenery? Perhaps a promenade in the park?”

“Oh, alright, then,” Eloise says with a rueful smile. It's clear that Penelope is not in the mood for any more of her Theo-logical deliberations (She’d nearly snorted after Eloise had made that, quite honestly, exceptionally amusing pun), and since the threads of their newly-repaired friendship are still delicate, Eloise does not seek to test the bounds of Pen’s patience. Instead, she appeases her with a topic sure to draw interest. “Penelope, how is your new dress coming along? Will you finally be in possession of the long-desired blue skirts?”

---

Dearest Gentle Reader,

Mamas all over the Ton are in a flutter today after the arrival of Lord Denmead, recently returned from a tour of the Orient and apparently in search of a wife. With money, good manners, and apparently magnanimous inclinations, I predict the new (for his father met our Creator only three fortnights ago) Earl of Denmead’s name will be attached to many fine bouquets in the coming weeks. Speaking of matrimony, the man anticipated to be the Season’s most eligible bachelor is now off the marriage mart. Yes, you read that correctly- Lord Spencer married his beloved, Miss Lydia Norman, in a hasty little ceremony only last Tuesday. Much shock was felt among those who received an invitation to the happy event, for it has been barely two weeks since the Season’s open. The bride and bridegroom seemed quite enamoured of each other, and this Author overheard quite a few debutantes sighing in jealousy over the purported love match. However, dear Reader, things are not always as they seem. After the fascination and novelty of a budding relationship dies, the blissful newlyweds might find that they regret risking the thorns.

Until next time,
Lady Whistledown
April 1815

 

 

 

Notes:

Oh, Penelope! You're so not subtle!

--

Though Theo and Eloise have only a handful of scenes in S2, their banter and the way they smile *so* fondly at each other makes my heart do funny things. Eloise is my favorite character and I've always been so dissatisfied with her ending in the books, so the introduction of Theo makes me hope for a different conclusion to her story onscreen. So much was squeezed into those scenes and I think they have great potential. However, the next season of Bridgerton is quite far off, so to satiate myself and those who find themselves in our shared Theloise boat, I give you: this! I'm so excited to write for a character I love so much. The Regency era is an absolutely fascinating time, and there's so much room to play with ideas that have been marinating in my head ever since we were introduced to Theo (and, in fact, to Eloise in S1!).

It's my first time writing for Bridgerton, and my first time writing a fan work at all in over a year. I did read the books, but it's been a while, and as I stated above I don't feel super positively about them- so you can expect this work to be fully compliant with show canon and about half compliant with book canon. I apologize if there are any errors! Feel free to point them out, along with any other critiques, comments, or feedback you might have! Compliments are also accepted ;) I'll attempt to post regularly, but I'm not making any promises. Thank you for reading my insanely long end note!