⚘two⚘

The season's opening ball at Danbury House is a most highly sought-after invitation, indeed, for every darling debutante from Park Lane to Regent Street will be on display. Titled, chaste, and innocent, this is what they have been raised and trained for since birth. Tonight, we shall discover which young ladies might succeed at securing a match, thereby avoiding the dreadful, dismal condition known as "the spinster."

Lady Danbury is a most impressive woman. She is legendary. She runs this town. Unconcerned with the rules of polite society no one can tell her a thing or make her feel unworthy. Then again no one would dare try. I truly admire her.

As my cousins stand and wait for a man to ask them to dance I have no such problems. More than a few suitors have asked me to dance and each time I have obliged. Though I do not think any of them are my future husband.

I spot Daphne and Anthony taking a turn about the room. I smile as I make my way over to them.

"Daphne."

She smiles widely. "Oh. Di. I feel as though I have not seen you in ages."

I chuckle. "It has only been two days, but two days to many indeed." I smile at Anthony. "Anthony."

Anthony smiles. "Diana."

"I see you are doing a good job of keeping suitors away from, Daphne," I tease.

"If the only gentlemen present this evening are her brothers, then we're in a great deal of trouble, Indeed," Anthony remarks.

"You continue to say 'we'," Daphne says.

Benedict and Colin walk over towards us.

Benedict smiles at me. "Hello, Di."

I smile widely. "Benedict." I smile at Colin. "Colin."

"Hello Diana," Colin greets with a smile. He turns to Daphne. "Did Mother tell you yet? About my tour? I'm to begin in Greece."

"Greece? How adventurous, Colin!" Daphne remarks.

"Marvelous, Colin. Absolutely wonderful," I tell him.

"On guard!" Anthony warns.

Colin and Benedict both try to move away as Lady Danbury approaches us.

"Too late. I already noted you," Lady Danbury tells them.

"Lady Danbury," Benedict says.

"Good evening," Anthony greets.

Daphne and I curtsy as the boys bow.

"Miss Bridgerton, Miss Featherington you both look rather lovely this evening. Miss Featherington this is the first I've seen you off the dance floor." I smile. "But Miss Bridgerton is there a reason I've yet to see you on the dance floor?"

"All in good time, Lady Danbury," Anthony tells her.

"You poor thing," Lady Danbury says to Daphne before walking off.

"Who is that?" Colin asks.

"I'm sure I've never seen her," Benedict tells him.

I notice they are watching a girl. "That is Miss Marina Thompson, a distant cousin of Uncle Featherington," I tell Colin.

"So you know her?" Colin asks.

I nod my head. "Go dance with her. I can see it in your eyes that you want to."

Colin nods before joining the dance. Benedict and I start to take a turn around the room.

"Where are your cousins?" Benedict asks.

I point over to the three girls standing beside one another. "Poor Penelope was practically begging Aunt Featherington to wait another year before her debut."

"Well she did let you push back your debut," Benedict reminds me.

"That is because I am not her daughter. Aunt Featherington just wants me to keep from making a fool of myself so her daughters may still yet find decent husbands," I explain.

"You are leaps and bounds ahead of your cousins in terms of potential suitors," Benedict assures.

"It helps that I did not faint in front of Her Majesty," I tease.

Benedict laughs. "I should not laugh about that."

I chuckle. "How can you not?"

Benedict and I stand and chat with Lady Danbury. She truly is a fascinating woman.

"Oh no," I state.

"What is it?" Benedict asks.

"Aunt Featherington is dragging Philipa and Prudence towards the Duke," I explain.

"I do not think your cousins are the Duke's type," Lady Danbury admits.

I nod my head. "Nor do I."

"Would you like for me to introduce you to the Duke?" Lady Danbury asks.

"Me?" I shake my head. "No. I do not think myself the type to marry a Duke."

"Why not, Dear? You are one of the most eligible young women in this room, " Lady Danbury tells me.

"I just don't know that a Duke is what I am looking for," I confess.

"And what is it that you are looking for?" Lady Danbury questions.

"Someone who will embrace my intelligence. Someone who would want to move into my family's home in the country. And someone who desires children," I tell her.

"And if you cannot find a man with all those qualities?" Lady Danbury questions.

"I can always become a spinster. Reading all my books in peace," I joke. Lady Danbury and Benedict both smile. "I think I should find Aunt Featherington. Good evening."

Penelope, Philipa, and Prudence are all sat on one couch as Marina sits on the couch opposite them. I sit on the lounge by the window. The morning after a ball is the time for callers to come by.

A servant comes into the room. "Callers, ma'am. The Earl of Stafford and the Marquess of Finley."

Aunt Featherington smiles. "My word! Well, you should have my colorful fashions to thank."

"For a Miss Marina Thompson and Miss Diana Featherington," the servant says.

I smile as the men walk into the room. Aunt Featherington seems upset by their presence. That the men are here for Marina and I and not for her own daughters.

Dearest reader, this author finds herself compelled to share the most curious of news. It seems our diamond requires a closer inspection. As such, an even rarer jewel of only the most remarkable brilliance, fire, and luster has been unearthed. Her name, unknown to most, yet soon known to all, is Miss Marina Thompson.

I sit down for a moment beside Penelope.

"Can you believe all of these men are here for Marina?" I question.

Penelope shakes her head. "A fair number are here for you as well."

I laugh lightly. "Seven were here for me. Twenty seven for Marina."

"You could have a proposal by the end of the season," Penelope offers.

I shrug my shoulders. "If the man is worthy of me I may say yes."

Numbers of men show up mostly for Marina but a nice number for myself as well. There is not a single caller for Penelope, Philipa, or Prudence.

This author is left to wonder whether Her Majesty might reconsider the high praise she once afforded Miss Bridgerton... for we all must know what the queen despises more than anything... Being wrong. And the drawing room at Bridgerton House currently appears to be emptier than the muddled head of her dearest King George. It follows that Lady Featherington is to receive what she has always desired: the season's true Incomparable living under her own roof. She must be overjoyed.

Aunt Featherington is having her daughters pampered by the servants.

"Is Miss Thompson so high in her instep that she's unable to don her own slippers? I should think not," Aunt Featherington remarks.

Once again we spend the morning in the parlor. Eloise is here to visit Penelope. Many more men are here to visit Marina. This one has gotten down on his knees.

"And so, by Heaven, your love may burn from the depths of my soul. 'Tis thee I shall earn."

Aunt Featherington claps causing everyone else to do the same.

"Wonderful, wonderful. Gentlemen, thank you for your calls. Do not forget to bid Prudence, Philipa, or even Penelope farewell as you go," Aunt Featherington tells the men.

I sit in the parlor of the Bridgerton house with Daphne. She is rather upset with what Lady Whistledown has been writing about her.

"Lady Whistledown has all but declared me ineligible... worthy of the affection of a detestable simpleton and no one else. Tell me, what others should ever want such damaged goods now?" Daphne asks.

"Daph, You speak as if Lady Whistledown were to be held in higher regard than Her Majesty the Queen herself. You give far too much credit to some anonymous scribbler," I tell her.

"Easy for you to say. Lady Whistledown has had nothing but niceties to say about you," Daphne tells me.

"These musings, they're not true," I argue.

"Only they are true, Di, and they are true because of Anthony. He has managed to scare every worthy suitor away. Whistledown has merely reported it," Daphne insists.

"I'm sure he just desires to protect you. It is his duty after all," I remind her.

"And what of my duty? Our entire lives are reduced to a single moment. This is all we have been raised for. This... is all I am. I have no other value. If I am unable to find a husband, I shall be worthless," Daphne tells me.

"Daphne, you're a Bridgerton," I remind her.

"It would be easier if I were not," Daphne insists.

I sigh. "And it would be easier were I not a Featherington. But we cannot change the families we come from. So we do what we have been doing for the past sixteen years," I smile, "Stick by each other's sides and figure it all out one step at a time."