The Afternoonified Debutante's

1

1878

After six long years, my cousin and I are almost home. We are the odd-lings of our family, which is why I believe we were allowed to go to the university in the first place. We are considered the beauty and brains. We both went to the university to become doctors, though with us being women, we will have to ask Father to help us set up an office. We also have business degrees and political degrees. Sighing, I look out the window of the carriage taking us home. Green as far as you can see. Fields of wildflowers dotting the land in every color one can imagine.

"I can not believe we are almost home," my cousin Helena says with too much excitement. "I wonder if Uncle will help us to set up our office. I really hope he does, " she whispered "Autumn do you think he will have a welcome home party for us? "

"I hope not," I reply. "I am too tired to deal with a party and all the annoying guests," I whispered back. I look to the front of us and see my home coming up in the distance. I smile. I have not seen Father in the six years i have been gone. I have missed him dearly.

The gate slowly opens as we make our way in. My smile blossoms even bigger seeing my father standing there waiting on us. The carriage stops, and the footman opens the door and holds out his hand to help us out. As I reach the steps, I can not help but run up the stairs to my Father and give him a big hug. Once I let go, Helena does the same.

"Welcome home, my girls. I am sure you are tired. Why not go up to your rooms and relax. Supper will be served at six sharp. We have much to discuss at that time. He gave us both kisses on the forehead, and then Mary and Sophia led us up to our rooms and helped us get ready. I was looking forward to a nice hot bath, and seeing the tub, I giggled with delight, knowing it would help relax my muscles after our long journey. After a nice relaxing bath, Mary picked me out a dinner dress and sat me in front of the vanity to start brushing my hair. "My M'lady, if your hair gets any longer, it will hit your backside," she said.

"Yes, i know Mary, but i like it this long." I replied. I watched as she ran a brush through my long, curly black hair and began to pin it up in a beautiful up do. It took nearly an hour to get all my hair fixed. I looked over the dark blue dinner dress and knew i had to put it on, tho i dreaded it. Mary helped me into the petticoats and the corset, and then we put on the dress. I forgot how dreadful these things were. She put some powder on my face and pinched my cheeks. Finally, she announced i was presentable enough to go eat dinner.

I met my dear chuckaboo cousin in the hallway. As always, she is simply stunning. At 5'9", the same as me, she was thin but curvy in a well fitted red dinner dress. Her dark brown hair put up like mine with a few strands of curl loose to frame her heart-shaped face. "Stunning as always, Helena," i smiled at her. "You are too, my dear chuckaboo," she replied with a warm smile as we made our way arm in arm down the staircase to the dining hall.

"Welcome home, Helena and Autumn," my father said, coming to give us both a hug. My Aunt Gertrude gave us a smile while my other cousin Ana, who is Helena's younger sister, ignored us. We were used to it, tho. "Are you all excited for the new season?" my aunt asked.

"Now now Gertrude, I have not yet discussed that with them," my father said. I just looked at Helena with a confused face. We all sat down as the first course was served. A warm pumpkin soup that was to die for. Oh, how i have missed dear Anita's cooking. "What do you mean the new season, Aunt Gertrude?" I dared ask.

"Well the Princes are looking for a wife finally i mean really they waited long enough being twenty and six now, all three of you girls have been selected as new debutantes and will be there to find a husband. Tho i do know it will be harder for you girls than Ana considering you're too afternoonified for any man." she said with a sneer. I looked to my father. "I will not go. i plan to start getting my office ready, I do not need a husband yet," I said, placing my napkin carefully back in my lap.

"You have to go, my dear, it's by order of the royal family," my father said. I bowed my head, knowing i could not defy the royal family. Well, dagnabit, this is not what our plan was. Stupid prince's ruining our plans.

"Tomorrow the best dressmaker from Paris will be here with her assistants to prepare you for the dresses. You will need to be up and ready by seven." After that, my aunt and cousin Ana were chattering away like birds about the style dresses and the best colors. I gave a side glance at Helena, and she looked at me and shrugged her shoulders, knowing this new adventure was not going to be pleasant. Well, if we can survive a university full of boys, then i am sure we can survive this right?

Thank you for reading the first chapter. Things you should know, Afternoonified means smart, chuckaboo is a term for very close friends. This is a fictional book. I have made up all the characters and places. knowing it takes place in 1878 tho and how women were not to be treated as equals, I have decided to make our two main female characters geniuses. So lets hope i am smart enough to make them smart..lol