Grosvenor Square, 1813

Dearest reader,

The time has come to place our bets for the upcoming social season. Consider the household of the Baron Featherington. Three misses foisted upon the marriage market like sorrowful sows by their tasteless, tactless mama.

Far better odds might exist in the household of the widowed Viscountess Bridgerton. A shockingly prolific family, noted for its bounty of perfectly handsome sons and perfectly beautiful daughters. 

How very perfect, indeed!

Close by the families in their fanciful worries over the ton, the imperfect Miss Diana Leighton of Hastings looked out the window of the carriage she sat in. A very fine carriage, but it was lonely. Everyone in London looked the part they were given and walked with company. A gentleman by a lady's side, people in business, and children playing filled Diana's sight, their conversations and laughter loud in her ears. 

She sighs as the carriage turns the corner to approach the one place that filled her with anxiety and made her breath stop. She knocks at the top before the carriage could come to a halt. "I will walk from here," she tells the coachman. The carriage halts as the coachman then comes to the door. He holds out his arm for her to take, letting Diana step out into the fresh London air. It was not like she had not been in London for a while, in fact it was the opposite. She always had business here. It was getting out of London that was the issue, she thought to herself. At least now she could avoid her father and rumors about her origin. Diana never seemed to be able to escape before.

A young boy runs up to her, his hat almost flying off his head. He thrusts a sheet into her hands and runs away after she accepts it. "Well, thank you." Diana skims the sheet for a moment, reading about the women on the marriage market for their debut, the failures and the diamond of the first water. Diana chuckles to herself and turns it over, seeing the name of this definitely scandalous author. Lady Whistledown. "How riveting," she mutters, a perplexed look drawn on her face.

"Miss, do you wish to go alone?" the coachman asks. 

"Yes, you may stay here. I have other business to attend. I will be back shortly." The man nods to her order and gets back on the carriage, prepared to wait. She takes a deep breath, finally feeling the ties release. It was not her father's frayed leash that held only enough to keep her on the grounds, but the leash of society. 

Just a few blocks away, Diana reaches her destination. There was no time to waste. "Miss Diana, you are here early." Diana turns to see Mr. Fletcher holding documents in his hands, busy as ever. 

"Do you need help?" 

"Oh no! Please, let me get inside. I have to share the news." Mr. Fletcher was not the richest of men, showing in his wild hair and messy clothing he did not fix before meeting. But he always showed, that was what mattered. 

He fluttered with his belongings while he tried to unlock the door. A clumsy fellow, but he was a hard worker nonetheless. And made Diana's time worth it. He kept his mouth shut. 

Once inside he fixes his desk, cleaning around the office. "What was it you wanted to tell me?"

"Oh right!" He dusts off his chair before sitting and then pulling out a book from his bag. "Soon enough the ton will be able to enjoy another one of your books." 

"That is wonderful, Mr. Fletcher. Thank you!" 

"And you still wish to use a pseudonym? As far as they know, my master is Daniel Lawrence." 

Diana nods, smiling down at the book that would soon be in the hands of many people, despite not knowing the author observed them in broad daylight. Without her name, there was no fame, and without fame there was no disappointment. "Yes, I prefer it this way. Is that all?" 

"I suppose so. The publisher will be happy to hear of him being pleased. I look forward to our next meeting, Miss Diana."

"As do I." Diana stands along with Mr. Fletcher, who rushes over to open the door for her. He was a good man, a good employee who dared to hide her identity. She gives a polite smile and walks out, making her way back to where she first got off. 

She wondered if her brother arrived yet, he was not the most happy to come back. Neither was Diana, though she would never admit that out loud to anybody. Her business was hers, no one else's. 

By the time Diana made it to the carriage, her feet hurt and she was exhausted, but she still had someone to see. She steps in, sitting down and letting out that breath she couldn't help but hold in. The ton already felt like it was crushing her. She knocks at the top and calls out, "Take me to Lady Danbury." She feels the the wheels start to move pulling her across the bumpy road. 

Diana looked out the carriage at the grand house that bore the soul of the Lady Danbury. Diana beamed at the view, ready to jump out of the carriage before it could even stop. But the horses stop eventually, the gravel no longer disrupted and the coachman opens the door for her. He holds his hand out for Diana to take as she then steps out of the carriage in front of the home. 

"Miss Hastings," she glances at the entrance and smiles at the woman. Never mind the name, Diana did not care.

"Lady Danbury, it is so wonderful to see you," Diana rushes over to her, nearly knocking her over in a hug. 

"Careful there, my knees are not as good as they used to be. Now let me have a good look at you." Lady Danbury breaks from her grasp. With her curly hair wrapped in a low bun, Diana brushes the hairs away from her face, looking quite shy now for the older woman. A bounce in her step she turns for Lady Danbury, a woman who never failed to be a shoulder for her. "Beautiful. As always. Where is your brother?" 

"We had business, so we had to go separately. But he should come by soon. He would not miss seeing you, so do not worry." 

Lady Danbury knew just as well. "Never." Using her cane, Lady Danbury moves closer and takes Diana by the hands. "I am sorry about your father." 

The words take Diana by surprise. "Well, life moves on. No need to be sorry about it." She laughs and takes Lady Danbury by the arm, interloping hers with her own. "Let us go inside and catch up before Simon gets here." 

"Yes, but then I have to make sure no one messes up for the ball. As you can see, it is already in disarray." Diana looks around as all the servants were busy as bees. It did not look that bad to her, but to Lady Danbury it was a mess and it would not do. 

"Alright, I will not take up too much of your time. This is quite a busy time of year."

Lady Danbury laughs at the memory years ago. "I remember when you first debuted for the marriage market. I do not believe you spoke a word. Wide eyed and silent for the whole season." 

Diana sarcastically laughs, patting Lady Danbury's hand. "As I recall, it was my choice not to speak to them unless I had to. They were all ready to feast upon me, I could not allow that. Thankfully, I did not have a vulturous mama behind me or a father who cared enough to push me into marriage." 

"Always something to reply, my dear." 

One of the servants come up before they could sit down. "My lady, the duke has arrived." 

"Simon!" Simon turns his head and sees Diana walk with speed to him. She reaches him and instead of bowing, she hugs him. He chuckles, returning the hug. 

"Sister, you made it." He smiles, letting her go. Diana steps back, smoothing out her dress from dust and wrinkles. "Your business?" 

Diana glances back up at her brother. "Finished for the time being. And what about yourself? Besides smelling of alcohol?" Simon looks away, trying to avoid the question from Diana. The sound of Lady Danbury's cane interrupts the siblings as Simon then smiles to her, happy to not answer previous questions.

"Well, if this is not a sight for my sore eyes!" Unlike Diana who had always been in London to visit, Simon was a rare sighting. The rustling of the grass against her dress and cane cease. She stands before him. "My condolences, Your Grace, for your father." She bows her head for a moment in respect. 

"Very kind of you," Simon replies awkwardly, not making eye contact. 

"Kind of me? You hated the man. Both of you!" Diana chuckles looking to Simon, because if she were to say something about the horrid man, she might never stop talking. 

Simon removes his hat, smiling down at the older woman. "It is so wonderful to see you, Lady Danbury."

"Words I do not hear often enough. Come!" The siblings follow after Lady Danbury as she walks back towards the home. "You must excuse the, uh, disorderliness. As you know, I'm to host a ball this evening."

"I am sure it will all go over well, Lady Danbury," Diana comments, watching the servants ago about. 

"I have managed to keep the details of your return quiet. But when those vulgar mamas discover that there is an eligible duke present at tonight's fete, I shall be able to keep such a secret no longer." 

"I wish you luck, brother," Diana laughs, seeing Simon glare. Although Simon did, Diana did not feel that pressure to be married off and secure something that did not belong to her. Nothing would ever truly belong to her, unless it was her own books.

Simon breaths in, already feeling the claws of the desperate mamas who wished to have a duke for a son in law. "That is what I was hoping to discuss. I have only returned to London to deal with our late father's affairs. I'm afraid it leaves me no time to... socialize. And so, whilst I appreciate your most gracious invitation, Lady Danbury, I must ask you to accept my regrets." 

"Did that take you long to practice that?" Diana asks. Lady Danbury smirks and turns to the duke.

"Your regrets are denied." 

Simon stays silent, unsure of what to say next to Lady Danbury's denial. He could not just refuse. "I suppose a brief appearance-" Lady Danbury cuts him off.

"Excellent! You may leave that flask you carry at home. Most undignified." She walks by Simon, still arm and arm with Diana. "And you, will you change for tonight?" Diana shakes her head, holding back a hysterical laughter. 

"Oh no, that will not be needed. I fear Simon's presence is more demanded than my presence. It will be like I am not even there, so why bother-" 

"Don't be foolish. Even if your brother will deny it, he needs you there." Diana sighs, looking back at her brother who was mentally preparing himself for the mothers and daughters who would quite literally throw themselves at him if they could. She could picture the massacre. Her brother, only younger by less than a year, was most stubborn in his ways and would never reach out for any kind of help, even when he most desperately needed it, that Diana knew. 

She pats the wise woman's arm, regretting the words before they were to escape her lips. "Alright, I will go." Lady Danbury smiles, not having to argue further with the older sibling. "At least I will not be one of those poor girls tonight. I am fortunate to have people by my side who do not care for these events." 

"Despite one day earning the title of 'spinster' at the age of thirty?" Lady Danbury asks, as if trying to provoke her. Diana knew this teasing was only that, teasing. Lady Danbury appreciated everything Diana did, and everything she chose not to be apart of. Lady Danbury knew Diana had a strong heart and caged mind.

"Especially that. I cannot wait to hear what those men have to say about me, whether it be behind my back or to my face. I will go and change into something more suitable for tonight and will join Simon then." 

Diana squeezes Danbury's hands and walks off towards her brother who had been waiting. There, the siblings go back to their prospective transportation. "You really wish to go tonight?" Simon asks, doubt in his eyes.

"As much as you do, brother." 

The ride back to that place made Diana only want to picture what the night would be like. Perhaps chaos would ensue with mamas tearing each other apart. Or maybe the eligible ladies will sabotage each other before they even get a chance to utter a syllable to Simon. Now that, Diana would enjoy.  Either way it would be more festive than her own first ball as a debutante. Lady Danbury by her side and her brother unable to make it, Diana felt it was her against the room still. Men approached her, only to either be bored with a one sided conversation or were insulted by the quiet voice in her youth. 

Diana chuckles to herself. The memories of her first made her only wish that tonight would not go as horrible.

Bright candles burned for the night, while servants prepared for the upcoming guests for the season's opening ball at Lady Danbury's home. Diana and Simon, on the other hand, were one of the few guests who were to arrive later than the rest. Diana held onto her dress, dripped in honey's color and twinkled in the moonlight. The other hand was around her brother's arm. At least she did not have to go in alone, and had her brother by her side.

Simon huffed as they heard the muffled voices coming from inside. In his glaring red coat, he turns to Diana. "Promise me you will not leave my side, sister." 

"And leave you to the mamas? Of course not. Do not be ridiculous." Diana pats him gently. "All you will have to do is be polite, smile," she winces at his drawn face, "as much as you can. Say a comment and then move on. You cannot be forced to converse with them, no matter how much they try and secure a match. for their daughters." He goes quiet for a moment, wondering how Diana could be so calm in these moments, despite their father's death not so long ago. She always knew what to say, leaving everyone else in silence. 

As they make their way into the large room, Diana scans it for Lady Danbury, hoping to find her in the crowd. Only thing she could see was the curious eyes and some filled with disdain. Well, it could be worse, she thought. 

At the bannisters where the mothers, Lady Cowper and others stood, they catch sight of the duke and Diana, feasting their eyes on them. "Oh dear is that Diana Leighton. What a shame, she seems to be clutching onto the duke. Apparently, no one was worthy enough of her when she debuted," one says, thinking back to seeing the young woman bite her tongue numerous times at suitors. Was this the time she would actually participate as other ladies have? 

"Is that not the duke's sister?" Lady Cowper disputes. This made the women all speak at once, whispers of rumor and gossip bouncing around the few of them.

"He has a sister?" 

"The duke had another child? Who was the mother?"

"A bastard child I believe-" 

"But nonetheless is loved by the duke and Lady Danbury. She poses no threat at all, unless she wishes to ruin the duke's chance of marriage." 

Simon looks around as well, also noticing looks of astonishment and excitement that faced him. He held back the grimace he wanted to show. Diana noticed, hitting his arm, barely enough to hurt. 

"At least try to look like you were not forced to come." 

At the opposite side, Lady Featherington saw Simon, instantly knowing it was him as the other mothers have. "The duke. I would recognize him anywhere." She could not recognize the girl but did not care who she was. She grabbed one of her daughters by the arm, making the other join. 

"Mama, where are you taking us?" Prudence asks her mother.

"To meet the duke." 

"What about that woman?" Prudence could see Diana stand close to Simon, yet did not realize the relation.

"Nevermind her-" 

"That man is not in our miniatures," Philippa comments, looking through. 

"Make haste before he should see Miss Thompson," she mutters, pushing them further to Simon. Just as they approach, so do countless others. Diana turns her head to see young ladies and their mothers start to gather in a circle around the two. She shuddered inward, what a predicament, indeed. 

"Let me introduce my daughters, Miss Prudence Featherington, Miss Philippa Featherington." She was rushing an introduction, that much Diana could tell. But with the amount of ladies Diana could see that it was needed. Girls chatter excitedly and Diana looks up to see Simon doing exactly as she instructed. Smile, nod, be polite. At least he could learn from her mistakes, if he did not want to be known as the brute of the season. Perhaps he would earn her title, silent of the season, given by the countless gentlemen and ladies who agreed she would be nowhere close to the diamond of the first water. 

"Allow me to introduce my daughter..." The sentence came numerous times. There were so many. Diana could feel gazes piercing into her skull. Others seemed to not mind at all. They were confident in speaking with the duke. Diana felt like she was suffocating, she could only imagine how her brother felt. 

"I feel thirsty, shall we get some lemonade?" Diana asks Simon, eyes screaming a way out of the circle. She slightly pulled on his arm as he tried to step with her. 

"Yes-"

"Shall I introduce you to my daughter, Miss Helen..." Another mother pushes her way through with her daughter, with a young lady with wide, hopeful eyes just like the rest of them. Diana stepped back, seeing they were ready to get closer. 

"You can go," Simon says reluctantly. Diana bites her cheek. She did not want to leave him there to be devoured but she did want the chance to escape. 

"I will be back with two lemonades." She scurries off, allowing the mothers to continue talking about their daughters, listing their qualities and talents.She could breath easier now that she was not surrounded. She ignored stares that plunged into her. She gave a polite greeting under her breath here and there as she passed by men, her gaze downcast. She did not want to be like how she was, a frigid young woman. 

As she approaches the table with lemonade, she sees it is blocked by a young woman and an older man who smiled widely at her. She, on the other hand, did not look as enthused by the interaction. In fact, to Diana, she looked confused by him. 

"Excuse me," Diana says, trying to go around the two to get the lemonade. The man slurps loudly, keeping his eyes on the young woman. Diana held in the gag that she wanted to show. He lets out a loud exhale, and Diana could only watch the woman fidget in her spot and look away. 

"My brother, he summons me." She places the glass of lemonade down. "Adieu." 

The woman walks off leaving Diana alone with the man. "Miss Bridgerton! A moment please!" The man walks off, his prospects still on Daphne. Diana had no business in taking part of that though she wished she could help the girl from the man she seemed to not want anything to do with. So she went in the opposite direction of them. It was better off that way. 

Diana lets out a breath and hopes to find her brother somewhere beside the center of attention, but had no doubt she would find him exactly in a position he would not want to be in. She steps past people, wondering if she should go to the other darker room where she had left him surrounded by the young debutantes. Many people in this room danced and walked without a care. To them, Diana was something to ignore, something to walk through.

She huffs turning away from the table and past all the bustling  only to crash against a man who stood by the edges. Fortunately, the lemonade had not spilled onto her dress. Unfortunately, it had spilled against the man's back. He gasps, turning around to see the wide eyed Diana holding the glasses. "Are you alright?" He asks her. 

"What?" It had come out more rude than she intended, but she expected the man to curse her or berate her for her mistake, not wonder about her. His blue eyes showed concern. She shakes her head. "I apologize. I am so terribly sorry, I was not watching where I was going at all." 

He puts out his hands, trying to ease the worry she had. "It's alright. I will survive I assure you," he jokes, letting out a laugh. 

"Please, let me make it up to you, what is your name?" 

"Miss Leighton! I see you have met our Mister Benedict Bridgerton," Lady Danbury says interrupting the two, swinging her cane about. Diana blinks, feeling utterly stupid holding the glasses still. 

"I have in a most unmannerly way. I shall take my leave, I am sure my brother needs me." 

Lady Danbury places her cane by Diana's legs to stop her from moving. Benedict covers his mouth from the chuckle that tried to escape. It seems he and his brothers were not the only ones who would try and evade Lady Danbury and her plans. 

"I believe I am too tired to continue dancing, Miss Leighton, will you take my place?" Diana, mouth slightly ajar, stared in wonder at Lady Danbury. She never tried to match or attempt any ploys with her before. The words shocked her, no matter how attractive the man was. 

"Well, I must go see my brother, Lady Danbury. I must- I will- I must go. It was a pleasure- to meet you. I apologize," Diana stumbles over her words towards Benedict, once again turning away and past Lady Danbury's cane and piercing eyes towards the other side of the room. 

She catches Simon's red jacket in the corner of her eyes and his tall figure stood out amongst the crowd. Thankfully, she was able to escape. "Simon, there you are. If you are prepared to leave, let us go swift and quiet." She places the glasses on a tray from one of the servants passing by. Simon only stared behind him, his attention elsewhere. "Brother?" He turns back to her and focuses his attention back to leaving.

"Um, yes. Yes, let us go." Diana smiles, wondering for a second what made him distracted. 

"You will not believe me when I say I made myself a fool tonight," she begins to tell him as they walk, earning a laugh from him. Diana glances back at the party only for a moment, the first party to catch her attention for once.