𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐞...𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐬

1 - a regency romance (shirbert)

Synopsis

It's 1813. Gilbert Blythe has spent most of his twenty-two years preparing for the day when he gets introduced to London high society, for all those desperate mamas to throw their daughters at him; undoubtedly filled with ballroom dances, Latin tutors, mathematics lessons, and just about anything for him to be a worthy suitor. This is his year; sure, he's captured the hearts of all the girls and mamas in the city; he owns a sizable inheritance from his deceased parents, he has charm, and he surely has the looks...What more could they want?

However, Gil seeks something much less materialistic. Beyond this hostile marriage market, he seeks a love that isn't of pugnacious fathers throwing their daughters' dowries at him. Yet, that dream seems impossible and so far out of reach...

...Perhaps he could experience it after all, as he finds the first week of the 1813 social season is interrupted by a certain mysterious woman with her hair of fire flowing freely as she chases a menagerie of farm animals that have somehow managed to find their way into his ballroom.

Gil does wish to get better acquainted with the mystery woman, although there's one very big obstacle he has to overcome; the bloodthirsty Roses who want ever so much to get their wealthy daughter, heiress to the Rose fortune, Winifred Rose, engaged to Gilbert. Will this illicit affair be something like the sorts of a whirlwind romance, or perhaps set Gilbert on the course of true love? Dear Reader...you simply must read to find out.

Based on Bridgerton and Pride and Prejudice.

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Dear Reader,
As the London season of 1813 comes around, we are once again faced with the anticipation of the grandeur, scandal, and potential matches.
This season's most eligible bachelor; Mr. Gilbert Blythe, seems unwilling to marry. After the death of his parents, he left to travel the world and fight in the War of 1812, which made him unable to attend the previous season. However, Mr. Blythe has made the surprising decision to make his social debut this year, though his name is one not unfamiliar to the social circles of London.
I must conclude with this; all's fair in love and war. Who will capture the eye -and heart- of the elusive bachelor this season?

-Lady Vivienne's Society Papers

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The weary painter internally groaned as his subject stared out the window at an unknown object, said object currently taking his attention away from the painting that had to be commissioned for the season's first ball tomorrow. "Sir, might you please...just...I need to get this portrait painted for tomorrow to hang in the gallery! All the mamas must be able to see what an eligible bachelor you are to be their daughter's fiancé!"

"I simply do not care about the mamas; let them whine and gossip as they'd like, let Lady Vivienne write her papers," Gilbert replied, then sighed. "No, Charlie, but what is marriage? A hostile human market where you're bored to death in suits and champagne, talking about whatever the hell it is with the economy, producing a lot of children, and then spending the rest of your life confined to...hosting parties, and sitting for dreary paintings? And all the while, you're miserable, and there is absolutely nothing you can do."

For a moment, Charlie stared intently at his best friend. "Gilbert...when the time comes, you have to choose a bride," he finally answered. "Find a girl, find someone to spend the rest of your life with."

"Marry for love, only for love," Gilbert said, thinking back to Mary, his mother's own kindred spirit. "I want to love, Charlie. I don't want to be another one of those miserable gentlemen, wasting all his life away on a lady's arm. I want love."

"Love doesn't always win," Charlie mumbled quietly, still loudly enough that Gilbert could hear him. "You know Lady Andrews, don't you?"

"Jane. I fairly seem to recall you being particularly smitten with her as a lad," Gilbert laughed. "I vaguely remember something about you and her being published in Lady Vivienne's Society Papers, which caused indeed a scandal in London."

"I tried, Gilbert. I tried the entire 'love' plan. And now...she's married. Not to a penniless painter like me, her father threw her dowry at the first gentlemen who wanted her hand in marriage
after everyone in London had heard I tainted her reputation."

Though a part of him wanted to know more about what had happened between Charlie and Lady Andrews, Gilbert instead settled for a simpler question. "Who did she marry, though? That was something Lady Vivienne's papers didn't mention."

"Some foreign missionary or merchant in Italy," Charlie sighed. "Gilbert...please, don't make the same mistake I did. It...I...please. I beg of you."

"I make no promises," Gilbert answered, his eyes twinkling with that glimpse of boyish mischief, the pensive glance of not five seconds ago vanishing, as if it was never there in the first place. "Now, shall we get back to the painting?"

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