Bridgerton - A Girl To Remember

Chapter Three

While sitting in my room, placing my books in alphabetical order, I hear some knocking on the door,

"Miss, dinner is ready" I have never had a servant like this before and I am clueless on how to properly answer her,

"I will be downstairs shortly, thank you!" I attempt not to shout but I must make sure my voice is loud enough to make it through the closed door. I do not get a reply, making me assume I did the right thing.

During dinner, I am placed next to Eloise, who, if I remember it accurately, was the girl nodding at me during the funeral. I decide not to bring it up just yet, I'm not certain whether she is aware of what happened and I do not want to rise the tension.

I am looking at my plate and the meal looks stunning, the aspect concerning me is the amount of cutlery I can use for this. I look to my side and spot Eloise just knowing what to use. I copy her behaviour the best I can, hiding the nerves running around inside of me, eating has never been this stressful.

I can feel the eyes stinging and when we get our next meal, all eyes are on me. Eloise is, like all other family members, not starting to eat and so I have no one to copy this time. It looks like they are all waiting for me, as if this is a test I need to pass before I can truly be a Bridgerton. I do not understand why Violet is assuming I know anything about etiquette, my part of the family got shutted out and since that moment, my life hasn't been very graceful. We didn't have several dishes and only ate with one fork and one knife which Violet knows.

Being humiliated, or in fact, humiliating myself, is not why I came here. I may not know all the rules and manners but I am a human being who can make mistakes. I look up from my plate and take the risk of either being loved or absolutely hated. I turn my face towards Eloise and whisper,

"I'm sorry, but whoever decided to invent five different forks for just one meal should be buried six feet under" I notice a smile making its way on her face and she cannot supress a giggle,

"I concur" she whispers back, and I smile,

"What are you smiling about sister?" Anthony asks judging,

"nothing, brother"

"you are smiling about nothing?"

"if we could all just continue eating..." Benedict proposes, and I see several nods. Eloise now extravagantly uses her cutlery and gives me quick corrections if necessary. For the first time since father passed, I start to feel warm inside and the anxiousness leaves my body.

I notice Hyacinth on the other side of the table looking at me and I give her a little smile, she interprets this as her cue to ask me some questions,

"Olivia, why were you wearing an old dress when you got here?"

"Hyacinth!" Daphne shouts, "You cannot talk to her like that!" she apologises,

"no, please, it is not an issue... The dress I was wearing earlier is the best dress I have, we did not have much money at home, and we were not able to afford the dresses you are wearing" I smile, by the pure reaction in her eyes I see she did not try to mock me and was nothing more than curious,

"she is right sister, you should be happy with your clothes more often.." Colin says hinting, but Hyacinth was not finished just yet,

"but, why were you poor?" I spot Daphne gasping a little and Anthony takes a guess,

"gambling I suppose, once the debts are there, it is hard to leave them behind" he says judging, I correct him,

"possible, I do not know actually. My father, your uncle, did not tell me about it. I believe my mother's death was the reason for the problems, but I never got the true answer because... I was only seven" it stays quiet, and the family slowly starts eating again.

During dessert, Anthony brings up an important matter,

"Olivia, as you may know, mother would like you to enter society this season. As for you to have a higher chance at finding a suitable gentleman we would like for you to take over your mother's last name" His suggestion does not feel like I am in any state to decline so I graciously agree,

"I believe that would be a good idea"

"good. Now that matter is settled we can begin with our preparations. Eloise and you will present yourselves to the queen next week and we would like both of you to follow in Daphne's footsteps. There cannot be any mistakes made, there is only one chance at a fine first impression. Do not blow it please"

"I will do everything in my power to succeed, Anthony, but you must know that it is unfair to expect perfection from me" I can hear my own breathing fasten,

"I am not, just find yourself a proper man and this will all be over soon.." I nod, he is not wrong, though I find myself a little young, most men have something to offer and now that I am a Bridgerton, I better make use of it.

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NOTE: Hi, I'm sorry for the boring chapter. I promise the next one will be more interesting :)