T h e b a l l
Kate and I are roaming around the garden, Newton trudging in front of us. I breath in the fresh air, closing my eyes for a minute. I open my eyes and turn to look at Kate, who is staring emotionlessly in front of us.
"Don't listen to anything they say, didi" I tell Kate "You certainly need no man to be happy if you desire so, but if you do want a husband and no one wants to court you because of your age, then it is their loss. Because they choose not to court a strong, beautiful, kind woman that could make them the happiest they could ever be. Age should not even matter to find love."
She smiles at me fondly "You are very mature for a young lady of one and twenty"
"Although it is not exactly love everyone is looking for now. Women are looking for a rich husband, someone who can buy them beautiful things, no matter how old they are. And men are looking for a young beautiful woman who can give them heirs and look good in their arms" I say frowning "All I want is a husband that loves me as I love him, a love like the kind that is in the books I read. Someone who cares about my personality and not how I look, that pays attention to the little things about me"
"Society certainly is now after materialistic things, but I have no doubt that you will find the man you are looking for Bon, you are such a magnificent woman, as you said to me, I now say to you, anyone will be lucky to have you and your love" Kate rubs my shoulder comfortingly before pulling me into a hug
"Now, let's head back inside that we have to get ready for the ball"
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"it will be most wonderful, I can already feel it" I cheerfully tell Edwina who laughs as we walk towards our bed chambers
"Just imagine the music, dancing across the room, the gentlemen-"I stopped walking "The gentlemen, I do hope they are not terrible people, I do hope everyone likes us, what if they do not like us and nobody courts us the whole season, we will return to India without a husband, of course, maybe Lady Danbury will offer to house us for another season and it is not the end of the world if we don't find a husband on our first season but-"
"didi" Edwina chuckles nervously "Stop with the negative words, You will make me nervous"
"Sorry" I apologize as we entered our bed chambers.
Kate stood in front of the mirror, looking at a dress she held in front of her body. Edwina and I looked at eachother happily.
"Are you thinking of wearing that one?" Edwina speaks up startling her. Kate turned around, the dress now on her hands before she put it on the davenport. "it is quite beautiful "
"No, these are for you both, we have come to London to find you both a husband, not mine" She says firmly
"Yes, Yes, you are but a old maid" I say teasingly sitting down.
"uh, who shall be perfectly happy doting on my many nieces and nephews one day soon, I shall spoil them exceedingly, you both do know that, yes?" Kate answers, Edwina gives her a small smile before looking down "What is it?"
"i- it is just an observation y/n made. Only hope they like us tonight"
"How could they not" Kate says as she grabs Edwina's hand, tugging her to sit on the bed
"Mama is doing that thing she always does when she is worried, the gossip she endured after marrying apa had to be unbearable, do you not think?" Kate sighs at Edwina's comment
"Is this what troubles you? that was many years ago" She frowned
"Everyone will still have questions, about our family, about how you, y/n and i are related-"
"We are sisters" I cut Edwina off "this place may feel different, but it will never see the way we see each other" I stood up and walked towards them, I sat on the other side of Kate, she nods
"Besides, you heard Lady Danbury, she will smooth everything over, she is on our side" She grabs a necklace and holds it over Edwina's neck
"The dowager is more formidable than I imagined" She smiles and then turns to us both " She will have both of your heads when she learns of your secret morning ride" I groaned
"We are certain no one saw us" I assure her
"Never mind her, the dowager is not as half as frightening as she thinks she is" Kate says making us all laugh "You must be excited, this is the chapter of a happy story"
"All we have to do this evening is remember what you are looking for" I say determined
"Someone charming" Edwina says
"And handsome, of course" I add cheerfully
"A prince, or a Duke perhaps" Edwina finishes, I shook my head
"I don't care about their title" I say thoughtfully "As I have said a dozen times before, I just want a man who loves me, it is not a man's appearance or title that will woo me, it is his mind and spirit that will captivate me, that we are able to speak in a manner that only my heart can hear"
"that is the true love that you deserve" Kate smiles at me softly before we turned to look at the door from where a few maids entered
Kate stood up and picked up 2 dresses "Both of these?" we all nod "they will not be ready" we laughed and stood up to get ready
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We were now riding on the carriage on our way to the ball. Once we got to the entrance, we got off one by one before we started to walk inside. I was in the middle while Kate and Edwina were on either side of me, Lady Danbury and Mama behind us.
We looked around the garden amazed, a lot of people littered everywhere. Once the door was opened for us, we walked inside where we saw people dancing, and a more beautiful ballroom. A wide smile graced my face as I looked around.
"Just remember to breath, Bon" Kate told Edwina who looked nervous
We heard Lady Danbury exclaim from behind us, then she started to walk to the side, us following her behind.
"The Marquis of Ashdown, a little young, to be sure, but he has 10,000 a year" Lady Danbury said then looked towards another man " The earl of Gloucester, his wife recently died of influenza" she informs us
"He might make a particularly estimable addition to your dance card this evening, Miss Sharma" She told Kate
" I will not be taken to the floor tonight, Lady Danbury" Kate said
"Is there someone back home you've yet to tell me about?" She says questioningly
"You know, Lady Danbury, that is something I particularly ask myself" I say teasingly, Kate rolls her eyes playfully at me
"come now, I am long past all of that, the only match I am interested in is for my sisters, they trust me implicitly" She says sharply "now what about the Duke of Suffolk? According to Debrett's, he should be quite the catch this year"
"The Duke flaunts his mistresses, I assure you, Miss Sharma, I have our prospects well in hand, ah there she is" Lady Danbury says looking in front of us
Lady Danbury walks towards the queen who seems to have arrived, mama follows her, beckoning us to follow
"So what are your thoughts so far?" Kate asks us both as we walk behind them
"It is amazing" I say in awe
"It most certainly is, the only thing left is that someone asks us to dance" Edwina says
"Your Majesty, may I present, Lady Mary Sharma, whom you must remember" Mama bows her head
"And may I present her daughters, Miss Sharma and Miss Y/n and Edwina Sharma, my personal special guests for the season" we bow our heads in greeting, Edwina and I smiling happily
"A high honor indeed, I hear you have made quite a long journey here to join us after all those years, Lady Mary, if only you had extended the courtesy of offering your queen a final farewell before you left" and with that, the queen turned and walked away
"Oh I do relish a challenge "Lady Danbury nods as she watches the queen walk away
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We now stood to the side of the dance floor, looking at all those couples dancing when suddenly a hoard of debutantes started to crowd around someone, I looked carefully, trying to decider who was it.
"I know that gentleman" I said once I saw his face, they turned to look in the direction I was looking at.
"The viscount," Lady Danbury followed my eyesight "I do not believe I've yet made an introduction" Lady Danbury furrowed her eyebrows as my face had gone pale at my mistake
"Of course, it must be her mistake" Kate tried to remedy what I had done
"Though she has quite the eye, Viscount Bridgerton is wealthy, well connected and from one of the tons most illustrious families, apparently hoping to marry this season, he may very well be our most eligible bachelor indeed" Lady Danbury remarks
"He is very handsome" Edwina observes
"hey!" I exclaimed playfully "I saw him first" I grinned nudging her, making her laugh
"Alright, alright, you saw him first" She concedes
"Lord Corning, I was hoping to see you this evening" Lady Danbury said once a tall young man walked towards us " allow me to introduce Miss Sharma and Miss Y/n and Edwina Sharma" we bowed for what felt the million time this evening
"It is a pleasure, Miss Edwina, would you honor me with a dance?" He asked Edwina
"Corning, you said?" Kate affirms looking at Lady Danbury
"The baron Corning"
Edwina looks at us for affirmation, I give her a reassuring smile while Kate nods.
"I would be delighted, My lord" Edwina smiles at him before she grabs his hand and he leads her to the dance floor
"I do not recall reading of Corning's family in my research" Kate frowns
"It does not matter what you have and have not read, it is unacceptable here for a lady to decline a dance with a gentleman unless she is already reserved by another, I see we have much to learn" Lady Danbury then leaves, mama rubs Kate's arm reassuringly before following behind her. I look all over the dance floor, before I see a familiar face. A small smile on my lips before I cough.
"I am going to walk around the room, I'll see you later, yeah?" I leave Kate no time to answer before I walk away, and closer to where I saw the man, I now knew to be Viscount Bridgerton, dancing
I walk closer to be able to see him clearly. He seems to be frustrated with his dance partner, although I feel sorry for her, it is quite funny seeing his frustration. I see him stop before he bowed and took the lady out of the dance floor. I followed after him.
"Strange man from the park" I remarked once I was near him, he turns to me, annoyance plastered on his face before it faded away, a small smile replacing its place
"Young lady who can be taken advantage of" he says back
"That was quite the dance" I tilted my head to the dance floor, he chuckles softly
"You saw that" he shook his head sighing
"hard not to, most certainly the highlight of my night so far" I laugh remembering what took place a few moments ago
"Glad you found my suffering amusing" he looks at me
"My sincere apologies Mr..." I trail off, although I knew who he was, I wanted him to introduce himself
"oh, Viscount Bridgerton, miss..." now it was his turn
"Miss Y/n Sharma, my lord" I smile at him, making him frown confused
"You do not seem impressed nor did you throw yourself at me" he says shocked
"I do not care about a man's title, but instead about his mind and personality" he raises an eyebrow intrigued "or was I supposed to? In that case..." I clear my throat
"Oh lord Bridgerton, make me your viscountess, I will make the perfect wife and give you the most beautiful heirs and we will live happily in your grand house" I exclaim cheerfully making him laugh
"You are most intriguing indeed" he says chuckling at my imitation, I chuckled along with him
"Miss Sharma" someone says in front of me, I turned to look at a young gentleman "Lord Briar. Would you honor me with a dance?" I smile delighted at my first dance of the evening
"If you excuse me, my lord" I tell viscount Bridgerton, who gives me a small smile " I would be delighted" Lord Briar then leads me to the dance floor, leaving the Viscount alone.
We dance a few minutes before we departed and I walked towards Lady Danbury, who was talking to a woman near the refreshments table.
"Ah, Miss Sharma" Lady Danbury remarks once she saw me " This is Lady Bridgerton, Lady Bridgerton, this is Miss Y/n Sharma, one of my guests this season" I bow
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Bridgerton" I smile happily. We make small talk before Kate came, dragging Edwina along.
"Lady Danbury" Kate says " we wish to leave"
"Miss Sharma, allow me to introduce to you-"
"charmed, my mama is already in our carriage, we will see you at home,"
"People are watching, my dear, you are clearly upset" Lady Danbury whispers as I watch with a frown
"what is clear is we are woefully unprepared to navigate this lions den, I am sure Edwina and Y/n's lack of presence will only make them that much more desirable" Kate says seriously
"It truly was a magnificent soiree, Lady Danbury, we are most grateful" Edwina says as Kate tugs at her hand to walk away
I stood next to Lady Danbury, looking conflicted as to whether leave with them or stay with Lady Danbury.
"Go along dear, It is alright" Lady Danbury sighs
"I was delighted to make your acquaintance, Lady Bridgerton" I smile at her sheepishly " Lady Danbury" I bow before leaving after Kate and Edwina.