Dearest reader, the time has come to place our bets for the upcoming social season. Consider the household of the Baron Featherington. Three misses foisted upon the marriage market like sorrowful sows by their tasteless tactless mama.
Far better odds might exist in the household of the widowed Viscountess Bridgerton. A shockingly prolific family, noted for its bounty of perfectly handsome sons and perfectly beautiful daughters.
Today is a most important day, and for some a terrifying one, for today is the day London's marriage-minded misses are presented to Her Majesty the Queen. May God have mercy on their souls.
Today is my debut into society. It is something I have spent years preparing for. A lifetime really. My sister Daphne and I have been talking about this day for years.
I stand in the foyer with my brothers. I can hear our younger siblings coming down the stairs.
Eloise groans. "I am already roasting."
"Are you to complain the entire day, Eloise?" Francesa asks.
"Surely I cannot be expected to bear these fashions the entire day," Eloise insists.
"I feel like a princess. Do I look like one?" Hyacinth asks.
"Do you truly wish to know what I think you look like?" Eloise remarks.
"On your left!" Gregory shouts as he runs down the stairs past Hyacinth pulling her headband off in the process.
"Oh, Gregory!" Hyacinth shouts as she chases after him.
"Is our dear sister still not ready?" Benedict asks.
Daphne is one and twenty, two years older than me, and also making her debut today. Though she is taking a bit longer than I did to get ready.
"She's only been readying herself the entire night," Francesca tells him.
"You mean her entire life," Eloise counters.
"I shall run upstairs and hasten her along," Colin offers.
"Colin, wait. I'll do it," Benedict tells him.
"She likes me better than you, Benedict," Colin says.
"Did she say that?" Benedict asks.
"Everyone says that," Colin insists.
"Both of you quit. I shall get her," I tell them.
"Juliette, does Daphne truly like Colin better than me?" Benedict questions.
"I really should go get her," I offer.
"Daphne!" Eloise shouts. "You must make haste!" She turns back to the rest of us with a smile. "Should you think she heard me?"
I laugh. "I should think the whole of London heard you."
With Daphne finally coming down the stairs we make haste for the door. As we are leaving, so are the family who live across the street, the Featheringtons. The Youngest Penelope is Eloise's bestfriend and she is making her debut today as well.
Mama looks to Benedict as he ascends to the front of the carriage. "Any sign of him yet?" Benedict sighs. "Should your brother wish to be obeyed as Lord Bridgerton, he must act as Lord Bridgerton. Where is he, Benedict?"
"I do not know," Benedict assures.
"Hmm," Mama hums. She then turns her attention to me. "Juliette?"
"I can assure you I have not a clue," I tell her.
Without Anthony we head to the Palace. To my slight surprise he is there to greet us.
"Anthony! You are here," Daphne says in surprise.
YOU ARE READING
by-blows//bridgerton oc
Fanfictionby-blows def: illegitimate children Juliette Bridgerton may not have been born a Bridgerton but she is a member of the family through good and bad through thick and thin.
