Bridgerton - A Girl To Remember

Chapter Two

Colin's point of view

.......

Olivia looks around and when our eyes meet, it comes to me how lost she is, I smile and give her a tiny nod to let her know I'm Colin. She seems to understand my message and gracefully makes her way over to me. I take the lead in the conversation and she seems to appreciate it,

"follow me please, I will show you the way" she nods and smiles insecure,

"thank you mister Bridgerton"

"please, Colin will do..."

"of course... sorry" she apologises and has a hard time looking up at me. I only now feel her pain, mama was not overly fond of this idea but did not have the heart to say no. We lost our father, but we always had mama to lead us through this sacred life we only have one of, Olivia lost both and got rejected for something out of her reach. She is an example of the unfair world we live in and I punish myself for judging her on the impression she made with her dress.

I step into the house and look over my shoulder to find Olivia following me closely. She is looking around with widened eyes,

"have you never been here before?" I figure that is a stupid question, of course she has not,

"no, but I'm delighted to be here. And the house is wonderful..." the purity of her voice makes me feel grateful for all this I've always had. This life I have may be normal to me, but is glorious for others,

"this is the dining room" I open door after door and her excitement stays on the same level at all times. We end our walk around the house by leading her to her very own bedroom,

"are you sure this is all mine?" at first, I thought this was a joke I should laugh about, but the serious look on her face made me reconsider,

"yes, this is all yours. I will let you unpack now and you will be called for dinner shortly, is that alright?"

"yes, Colin, thank you." She smiles beautifully and I want to close the door when I see her mouth partly open and then close again,

"do you have a question Olivia?"

"yes, I do. You may not be the right person to ask but, am I expected to join society?"

"you know what society is?"

"father told me about it, called it rubbish..." I must hold my laughter,

"well I cannot disagree with your fathers' words but yes, I think my mother would like for you to join."

"I understand, thank you Colin" she looks a little more nervous now, which I completely understand. Being a woman in society is much more stressful than being a man, my sister Daphne was the perfect example of that last year. I leave Olivia in her new room and I sit with my siblings in the living room where Hyacinth fires her questions at me,

"and? What did she say? Did she like her room?"

"yes, Hyacinth, she seemed glad to be taken in by us"

"of course she is brother, a poor girl living under an expensive roof, how could she not?" Anthony speaks against me,

"Anthony.. she is our family, treat her with respect" mama's voice is raised and Anthony nods,

"I assume we have to start preparations soon, she has a lot to learn before the season begins"

"will she really be joining mama? Together with Eloise?" Hyacinth asks curious,

"yes darling, she may indeed lack some knowledge, but I am convinced there is a husband for her out in society"

"and once she is married, you can stop taking care of her" Benedict, who was reading a paper in the corner of the room was listening too,

"excuse me?" mother asks him with a tone of rage in her voice,

"she is only joining society this soon to get her away, isn't she?"

"Brother, why would you accuse mama of such thing?" Anthony refuses his mother to talk for herself, "she is the same age as Eloise, there is no reason for her not to join."

"she just lost her father, is that not enough reason for you?"

"some distraction will do good" Anthony stands up from the couch, "Simon will join Daphne here soon, they will show her the true love she longs for, while mama and I make her acceptable for society. End of discussion" Anthony leaves the room and though I do not disagree on the point he's made, I tend to fall for Benedict's arguments.

I look at him and he passes me the paper he was reading, Whistledown already begun writing early this season...

'Dear readers,

The opening of the upcoming season is now only two weeks away and together with most other civilians we are burning to find out who will be the diamond this year. All candidates will present themselves in front of the queen first Monday morning and she will decide if one of the many young women seems capable to become the next Daphne Bridgerton.

Rumours go her younger sister, miss Eloise Bridgerton, is now ready to take her place. But will she ever live up to the expectations men has set for her? We will find out soon. Talked about the Bridgerton family, as it comes to eye, all three of Daphne's eligible brothers have not found their perfect wife yet, and I cannot help but assume many eyes will be on them.

Especially mister Colin Bridgerton is known for turning heads his way and this season will, most likely, be no different. The question is, will he ever be able to give himself over to society and follow the path of his older brothers, or will he stay the young and reckless boy he is now? All questions are going to be answered when the season begins, and our young ladies will either rise to the occasion or down under the pressure laid on their shoulders.

Yours truly,

Lady Whistledown'

I cannot say she is wrong, although her words about me being reckless may hurt a little, I have never been a true fan of society and its rules. I have been travelling a lot the past year and I think it has done me some good, I am just not sure whether it did enough and if I indeed, as Anthony likes to articulate it, have become a grown man...