𝐁𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐞𝐞 ✔️

Chapter 1 - A New Beginning

"Dearest, do you fancy the gown I bought you?" Lady Harrington asked. Emma ran up to the flushed woman and hugged her tightly.

"Do I fancy it, mama? I love it!" Emma yelled with excitement. A smile of joy and satisfaction lit up her face.

"Your happiness is what matters most dear, but we have company downstairs. Make haste, I can not make a bad impression on the first day back." Judith replied as she walked out and closed the door.

Emma nodded then turned her attention back to the gown. The expression she gave wasn't enough to describe how happy she felt. A million musings roamed through her mind, but one stood out. This was the year of a new beginning and the chance to hide the past for good.

≈≈≈

Emma ascended the staircase while holding onto her frock with her left hand and the railing with her right. She kept the last bit of composure left in her and walked down to the bottom. The beautiful grey dress hit the ground with every step she took, the bosom was beaded with upside-down triangles and jewels across. She could feel the material around her belly snuggle tightly as she moved. The measurements were right when she got the piece tailored, but it seemed she gained a couple of pounds since that day.

She could see her family waiting below as they exchanged smiles. She grinned back at them, excited as ever with the new outfit for the ball that night.

Suddenly, she came to a complete stop when she saw a crowd of familiar faces behind them, but not familiar enough for her to know the strangers. They were a rather large family that she only heard of from last season. At that moment she noticed a man amongst the group, staring at her. He was muscular with brown hair that complemented his white tannish skin. His eyes reminded her of the sweetest of chocolates. It was knowingly obvious that he was the most charming man in all of Mayfair. A slight cough pulled Emma away from her thoughts and noticed Luke at the last step.

"Shall we?" Luke asked while holding his arm out to her. The sheepish woman took one last step in front of her brother before speaking.

"We shall," Emma muttered. The Viscount made her ability to socialize crumble and caused the abandonment of confidence.

The families headed to the dining room where they would be eating and getting to officially meet one another. Emma followed trying to get to her chair but bumped into a tall figure that stood in the way. She looked up at him in his big brown eyes, no longer able to move or get a word out. The man's presence was enough to shut her up.

"My apologies, lady Harrington." Lord Bridgerton said, sounding cold as ice. Emma felt a rush of bitterness coursing through her blood as she peered at him.

"It's quite alright, my lord. Please take a seat next to me." The confidence she once lost came crawling back as she gave the same energy.

Two could play that game.

He nodded and turned around to the chair she so happily pointed to, but before he could take a seat another elder man sat. He coughed before speaking to the new guest.

"This is my seat. It seems my sister has forgotten, I excuse her mind of absence." Luke hissed as his eyes judged the man.

"Brother, it is rather rude of you to take a guest's seat, especially this guest." Emma's response reeked of disappointment, not towards Luke, but at the fact, that she couldn't sit next to him. Of course, she started to despise the man, but a morning of fun couldn't hurt, right?

"Ahm, don't worry lady Harrington. I will take a seat at the other end of the table." Lord Bridgerton was irritated and walked off to his destination.