⎯𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐎𝐍 𝐇𝐀𝐒 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐍 𝐀𝐍 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐖𝐀𝐘 to say at least for Anthony Bridgerton or to anybody, how as Elosie was about to present herself to the queen herself, it was instantly shut down by newspapers from lady Whistledown, making the queen rather furious about Lady Whistledwon return.
But he wonders after his dear sister wishes him a piece of good luck about this season, maybe it was his time for him to find himself a suitable wife for him to make his job easier. Making up his mind he began to walk to the family living room, hearing the soft and gentle melody from the piano that his sister, Francesca, with her gentle fingers pressing the keys of the piano,
"Was anyone aware that dear Colin has decided to add Albania or some such place to his itinerary as he gads about the world?" Anthony said as he announce his presents and also ask questions to his family.
Eloise decides to answer while also dancing with their younger brother, Gregory, " No. But how happy for him that he can simply decide to do that." she answered with sarcasm at the end of her sentence, Violet just look at her daughter with and then move to his eldest son with a smile,
" Joining us for tea, Anthony?" his mother asks him, "Uh, I'm afraid I must pass. Too many calls on my funds today," he answered, declining his mother's invitations for tea, he took his chance to look around the room seeing half his siblings were here, so he walks to the side and asks his dear mother,
"Now that the season has started, I need to fill your coffers at the modiste and oversee the hiring of extra staff," Violet look at her eldest son and nodded, "Your ring. When you get the chance, I need it," Anthony added making his dear mother and siblings look at him with surprise as he needed for their betrothal rings
"The fields by Ferryhallow. I was thinking we might hold off on leasing them due to the hard frost,"
"I beg your pardon?" she questioned him, wanting to hear if she was correct, "The frost hardens the soil, saps it of nutrients," He look at her mother confusingly if he have said something wrong or improper,
"That is very well. But you requested my ring?" she questioned him again, adding more explanatory to her questions, "Father's betrothal ring," he told her, maybe his mother's rings were a bit too much seeing that she hold in memory of their late father,
"Did someone catch your eye at the presentation, Brother?" Benedict smirked at him, seeing his chance to tease him, "I thought all the young ladies looked beautiful," Hyacinth added tilting her head to the side as her words have sarcasm in them,
"Not particularly. And all the young ladies looked the same. Like ladies. I'd simply like to be prepared for when the opportunity presents itself," he said while looking at his family, "The Opportunity?" Violet questioned him again with an excited and yet questioning smile presented on her face,
"I've compiled an index of the season's eligible misses and arranged interviews," he said bluntly making his dear mother laugh, "Interviews!" she look between the second oldest and the eldest of his son while laughing, "Dearest, I shall be more than happy to give you my ring when you find someone with whom you are very much in love," she told him while walking beside her second oldest son,
"Besides, it is in safekeeping at Aubrey Hall," she told him as she slide herself a bit to the side and ask his son who was laying on the couch, "See that he is quite well," Benedict look at her with a confused face that he wanted her to ask him, "Me?"
"I'm not in need of coddling," Anthony told them, " I assure you all, everything is in order," he then began to look at the clock and saw that the time was ticking to search for his suitable wife for the family,
But every interview goes by with what he thought was suitable was now thrown into the window and each day goes by he grew more frustrated with the funds and the search for a wife,
⎯"𝐌𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐈'𝐌 𝐆𝐎𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐀 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐃𝐄," Eleanor said to her mother as she saw her arranging her dresses for tonight's ball, seeing that they have instantly shut down the ball from Lady Whistledown return, Eleanor Greenwood didn't get the chance to present herself to the Queen.
To say she was relieved but also quite devastated that she can't do what she Imagine, "Alright darling, but be back before dawn, we do not want to be late for the ball now," she told her making the Greenwood daughter nod, she was the oldest from the family, seeing as her siblings were still babes and she will protect them in whatever she holds the power,
As she slowly grabbed her small purse and book she saw her father in his office, she softly knocked on his door to announce her presence, "Father I'm going to promenade, I'll be back before dawn, is that alright?" her father than look up from his work and smiled at his eldest,
"Of course, where are you off too?" he questioned her, "Maybe around the park, I wanted to finish this book, I found it rather peaceful reading it there," she answer while showing him the book she was holding,
"Haven't you read Little women before?" her father questioned her while looking back and forth between the books and his eldest daughter, "Oh but it's absolutely divine, father, the author of this book is a complete genius, I could not simply put it down," she gushed to her father about the bookmaking him chuckled how she looks like a child in a Christmas morning,
"Very well then be careful and have fun," he told her, "Goodbye father," she bid him farewell and off to the world of London society with her face between the pages.
As she was walking alongside the park of the road, the tons looked at her with a rather weird face, how could a girl her age be so into books rather than fussing more about her status, reputation, or even her looks,
But Eleanor didn't care about the words of this town, she was happy to have her own little world, "Oh!" but there was a downside to that, she then felt her body fall into strong hands, when she looked up she saw the viscount Bridgerton, Anthony Bridgerton,
"Oh dear lord, I must apologize for stumbling onto you!" she apologized to him while putting her head down in shame that she, the eldest daughter of greenwoods has stumbled into the lord Bridgerton.
Anthony was a bit startled but took his chance to admire her, he have heard about her, how the tons have gossip about how she's an odd girl with her head stuck on a book, but when he have finally had a chance to meet her, he couldn't help but admire her beauty,
Her light brown hair was complemented by a flower pin on the side and matched with her dress, she was certainly a beauty, an enchanting woman,
She look up at Anthony wondering if she really did have made him mad, he wasn't saying anything, he was rather just looking at her, "Lord Birdgerton are you alright?" she ask him while holding tightly to her book,
Anthony then was brought back by her soft-spoken voice, "I- uhm- yes it's quite alright, Lady Greenwood," he said while stammering his sentence, she tilt her head to the side as she was questioning why was he stammering, she was about to question him when he beat her to it,
"Are you alright? Lady Greenwood, you did take a stumble," he asks her to which he responds with a nod, "yes I'm quite alright my lord, thank you for your concern,"
He then began to cough to compose his voice, trying not to be flustered by the lady in front of him "A hard day at home, Lord Birdgerton?" She asks him back with the same concern that has shown on his face a few seconds ago, "I beg your pardon?"
"Sorry my lord but you look rather tired," with just the first meeting Eleanor Greenwood can see him like a book, "Yes I am quite alright, Lady Greenwood, there is nothing to be worried about it," he told her giving her a tight lip smile to her, She then return him with her smile, the gentle and genuine smile that he ever meet,
"If you say so my lord, if you'll excuse me I'll be off now, good day, my lord," she said and bid him goodbye while returning to continue reading her book, Anthony couldn't help but stared at the young woman with admiration in his eyes as he watched her walk further and further for him,
whatever the preference he was searching for a suitable wife was now thrown away to the ground as he couldn't help but want to hear her soft-spoken voice more about anything, she was really an enchanting,
As she stood in front of him for a complete 3 minutes to say at least, Anthony Bridgerton may have found his amy to his Laurie, or rather that Eleanor Greenwood has caught the eye of the Viscounts Bridgerton.
⎯𝐎𝐇 𝐍𝐎𝐖 𝐒𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐄 𝐃𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐈𝐓, Eleanor Greenwood have embarrassed herself in front of the most respected man in the ton by stumbling onto him, She was humiliated by herself, her own weakness has to lead her to feel embarrassed, how could she be so careless,
"Lady Greenwood?" she looks behind her to see the maids that have a marvelous job of keeping the house clean and tidy, "Are you alright my lady?" she asks her, seeing that her face was a bit flushed with a tinted hue of red around her cheeks and the tip of her ears,
Eleanor began to clear her throat and nodded at her, "Yes, I'm alright, it's just I'm quite nervous about the ball," she told her, she wasn't the one to lie but for the sake of her embarrassment she has to do it, "Oh my lady you shouldn't be nervous this is the season ball, you should be excited," she told her as she leads her to her room so she can doll Eleanor up,
"I know Elizabeth but what if I made a fool of myself? that would be horrific," she let out a deep sigh while looking herself in the mirror, oh how hard it was to not think about her interaction with Lord Bridgerton,
"You won't my lady because I have known you since you were a babe, even if your head is always between those pages I know that you are the most well mannered young lady in this town," Elizabeth told her made Eleanor smile at her easing the nervous feeling and the embarrassment that was inside of her,
"You do know how to work with your words, Elizabeth," she thanked her for easing up her mind. Elizabeth smiles while she brushed her hair, " that is why I am your maid, lady Greenwood,"
"And also my dear best friend," she added making the two girls in the room giggle and content, "Thank you, Elizabeth, you do not know how you made me such ease so fast, it's like you have magic," she thanked her for making Elizabeth smile as she put her hair into a beautiful one knot with hair falling down in the side and a hairpin on her side of her hair,
"Now all we need is just your dress and you would look as beautiful as a flower," she told her as she made her look into the mirror that was sitting right in front of her,
⎯𝐎𝐇 𝐒𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐄 𝐅𝐄𝐋𝐓 𝐈𝐓, the uneasiness that she felt in the pit of her stomach as she walked into the ball that Lady Danbury has set for this evening, she walks in hand in hand with her father and mother with the nervousness that she was feeling inside of her,
"Are you alright, Nora?" her father whispered in her right ear, wanting to see if she was feeling alright and well, "I- yes? I mean I am quite nervous, what if I won't meet the one?" she asks them that made her hand shakes a bit. Her mother saw this and gently place her hand on her and smiled,
"Do not fret, my dear, you will meet the one, I will make sure of it," she told her determined that this season, Eleanor Greenwood, the eldest daughter of the Greenwood family, will end it with a husband in her hand,
"Ah the Greenwood family," the three look in front of them to see Lady Danbury with her beautiful magenta dress and her cane walking up to them, "Lady Danbury you have a lovely place and the ball is beautiful," Eleanor greeted her while also complimenting about the ball,
Lady Danbury smiled in contentment, "Thank you dear and I must say, the Greenwood family never cease to amaze me with how wonderful you all dress," she complimented them all making a smile be a presence on their face,
"Lady Danbury you are a flatterer," Her mother told her with a smile, "I am simply stating facts, my dear, now, Eleanor how about I show you around? maybe some of these fellows would ask you to dance," she stated making Eleanor looked at her mother and father in worried,
"Do not be afraid my dear, it's alright and everything is going to be fine," her father told her with a gentle smile, "We will always be right behind you, alright?" her mother added making Eleanor nod and walk hand in hand with Lady Danbury
while walking she took a chance to admire the flowers all around the walls, "Lovely isn't it?" Lady Danbury stated as she saw how Eleanor was astonished by the plants inside the greenhouse, "It is, is that syringa on the wall?" she ask her to which Lady Danbury nodded with a gleeful smile,
"I see you are kin with flowers and have a strong sense of it,"
"How could I not, Lady Danbury, it's simply interesting to know that flowers each day we walk past have meaning to them," she said with a content smile on her face, " Did you know Lady Danbury, that this Syringa flower specifically the lilac one has a meaning stands for first love and spirituality?" she questioned her then realized what she has spoken too much,
"Oh- I am so-"
"Do not worry, dear, It amazes me how knowledgable you are with this, a good aspect for a woman for this season," Eleanor let out a sigh of relief and smile, knowing that she wasn't dreamed as improper yet, "Ah there she is, miss Greenwood I know you haven't presented yourself to the queen, how about we do it right now?" she told as she leads her where the queen has come with her most honorable people,
Eleanor's eyes shot wide, she did not realize it was this soon to be meeting the Queen if she have known she would also be more prepared than just some looks to swoon over the fellows in the ball, "Ah Lady Danbury, a delightful soiree, as expected, but my own this week will be much more exclusive," she commented to her as she notices that she was coming to them,
Lady Danbury only smile and mind her comment while she has brought her, Eleanor, "Your Majesty, I would not think to compare," she jest making the Queen smile, "and rightly so," the queen smiled, liking the jest that the two women have spoken,
"Your Majesty may I present, Lady Eleanor Greenwood, the eldest daughter from the Greenwood family?" Lady Danbury presented making Eleanor curtsied to the Queen that was standing in front of her,
"She has come with a wonderful mind and beauty that simply be my honorable mention for this season," Lady Danbury said making Eleanor's mind stop, as Lady Danbury Honorable mention for this season?
"A high honor, indeed, dear you have grown into a lovely lady just like your mother, " the queen said as she inspect her from top to bottom, Eleanor smiled and curtsied one more time, "Thank you, your majesty, I admire the way you looks for this evening," she complimented her back with a smile, making the Queen only nodded before she walks away from them,
As the Queen was out of sight, Eleanor let out a breath that she was holding so tightly around her lungs, "I do hope that was alright, it has slipped right between my lips,"
"Do not be so nervous, Miss Greenwood, I think it's going well,"
"I do hopes so, Lady Danbury," she smile at her with gentleness on her face, she then felt someone coming up to them, "Excuse me, Lady Greenwood," the two looked behind to see Lord Wright come up to her, with a smile, "Yes Lord Wright?" she asks with curiosity on her eyes,
"Would you honor me with a dance? Lady Greenwood?" he let out his hand for her service to dance, she gently put her hands into his and smiled, "I would be delighted, my lord," she told him as she was now swept into the dance floor with Lady Danbury watching them with a smile,
"She grows up so fast," her mother walks up to Lady Danbury as she saw the sight of her eldest dancing with the suitors, "She has been,"
what was supposed to be an enjoyable night has turned into a well tiring evening, with many suitors have stepped on her feet and talking about the nonsense of how if they were to be bothered she would be working in the house alone.
Eleanor didn't want that, she wanted equality in the marriage and they have not shown that, she would appoint to tell them what they have done wrong and move on. She then began to walk outside feeling the uneasiness coming back to haunt her and also wanting to have some fresh air,
as she steps outside of the greenhouse, she was met with a cold wind hitting her face, she sighed in contentment as she enjoys the scenery outside the Greenhouse, as she was walking around she heard the sound of footsteps making her stop in her track,
"Is someone there?" she kept quiet afraid to be caught and called out by the tons, she was about to begin walking but then she made another sound, "I heard you... Lady Greenwood?" she stopped again and took a deep breath to look behind her and met again Anthony Bridgerton,
"Lord Bridgerton, how lovely um to see you," she smiled nervously, praying that he doesn't remember the scene that happen that afternoon, Anthony looked at her in astonishment, with the last time they have met he didn't get to chance to see her fully and now that they met again,
She was more enchanting than the last time they have met, "Yes, lovely to meet you as well, what are you doing outside, aren't you suppose to be dancing with the suitors," he questioned her as he walked closer,
"And aren't you supposed to be mingling with those ladies who only care about their looks? seeing as lady Goodrum was so highly speaking about Napoleon was fighting for the Spanish," Eleanor couldn't help but jest as Miss Goodrum talk about that, she wanted to correct her as she was walking past him, but she keeps her composure as another suitor was coming to her and ask her for a dance,
Anthony chuckled, "Mh you were eavesdropping on my conversations with those ladies?" he ask, smirking a bit to her, Eleanor simple rolled her eyes slightly at him, "I would not call that Eavesdropping, my lord, It is simply... well her talking so proudly that maybe the whole ton could here her,"
the two began to quietly laugh as the muffling sound of the music can be heard outside, "you are right, but you have not answered my question, Lady Greenwood, why are you outside here, alone, it the cold, freezing night?" he asks her again,
"Well if you must know my lord, I simply getting fresh air and saving my feet from endless men stepping on it,"
"Ah I can see that, are you alright?" he asked her again with concern on his face, Eleanor couldn't help but wonder what did she catch Anthony Bridgerton, the viscounts, attention, "I am alright My lord, do not worry about me, my feet can maybe handle just a few walking and enjoying the night skies, it's rather quite beautiful isn't it?" she told as she looks up in the sky to see stars lining up for tonight's ball,
Anthony began to look up also admiring the stars, "and a constellations Sirius have finally shown," she smiled at the sky, Anthony was confused about what does she meant by 'Sirius,'
" The Sirius star also called Alpha Canis Majoris or the Dog Star, is the brightest star in the night sky, with an apparent visual magnitude of −1.46. It is a binary star in the constellation Canis Major," she rambled as she admire how beautiful bright it is,
Anthony couldn't help but adore the information that was coming right out of her mouth, she educated, she was enchanting, and most far all she was witty in her comeback, "I'm sorry My Lord, that was improper for me to just say that out of nowhere," she bashfully smiles at him feeling embarrassed that she has done it again for the second time, Anthony just smile at her,
"Do not be embarrassed, I think it's rather, interesting that such as you know about the stars that are always shown in the night," he commented making herself smile, "It is a requirement for a lady like myself should learn about what's is going around the world, rather than fussing about how the dress fit and boastful they are,"
"You are an interesting lady, Lady Greenwood,"
"I do hope that's is a good thing, My lord," she jested to him making him chuckle light, "it is a good thing, Lady Greenwood,"
the two then began to look back at the ball that is currently happening, "I think I shall go inside, I do not want to worry my father and mother," she smile at him wanting to bid him goodbye, Anthony wanting to talk more ask her,
"Are you going to the ball that the Queen will hold?" he asked her, "Most definitely, I do not think I have found the one yet,"
"then would you save me a dance for tomorrow night?" he pleaded to her praying to whoever was up there that she would be expected, "Of course, my lord, that would be improper of me to decline such an offer," she smiles at him, e genuine smile he has ever seen since he came here tonight,
"wonderful," he smiles gleefully, "I shall bid you a good night my lord, " she bid him goodbye and walk away as she goes inside again of the swimming sharks, Anthony watch her as she left the scene again with excitement bubbling inside of him,
"Yes... Good night," he smiles while looking up to the sky again, maybe he has found someone...
Author note: AYO pls forgive me because while writing this I have no idea how to use those regacy words on the show, and I'll probably write this book with little chapters but long story chapters
But it was fun to write and challenge myself while writing it
I hope you enjoy pls vote and not be a ghost reader
Nighphi signing off!