True love didn't exist before you || Anthony Bridgerton

~ 𝐶𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑒𝑦𝑒𝑠 ~

"Morning Miss." She opened curtains, my eyes were not ready for this. I put my hand front of my eyes. "Morning Emma." And I stood up so I could put my robe on, I had my night dress on.

"Should we start getting ready you for this day, miss?" She said and stood front of me, her hands together behind her back.

"I would like to eat my breakfast before that." I said and smiled little to her.

I did this quite often, eating breakfast in my night dress. In our house lived only me and mama, and of course our servants. When I arrived to the dining room, mama was already there, in her original clothes on, eating her breakfast.

"Morning mama," I said and kissed her cheek as I gave little hug to her. I sat beside her.

"Morning dear, slept well? I hope so because that's your going to need today." She meant the Queen's Debuntanse, where the ladies introduce them to the Queen of herself and Queen will accept them or not.

"I slept well. But do I must go, mama? No one will notice, if I have disappeared."

"Remember what I told you, how I and your father met. I didn't have any interest for the social season. He was the season most spoken bachelor and me who had no interest of no such things, got flattered by him. Soon after that we got engaged and year later I started waiting you."

"You have told me that same story over and over, I'm not the same person as you are, mama."

"I'm not saying you should be, I'm just saying that.. Try at leats, you are in that age when life feels the best. Don't try to be no one else, be you, your fearless, kind, beautiful, self." She said and hold my hand for moment as looking straight to my eyes.

"Thank you, mama." I smiled for her kind words. Her words made me feel even slightly better about up coming social season.

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"This white dress with golden details goes you perfect." Emma said as she helped me with putting my dress on, she buttoned the buttons that were back of the dress. "Thank you, Emma. Do we have the gloves?"

"Yes! I am quite excited for you. We have the feather headband too!" It felt like Emma was much more excited about this, than I was.

After I was fully dressed, I went to downstairs. Mama was already waiting there, fully dressed, she was wearing almost same looking dress as mine.

Soon after she saw me, her eyes become watery. "Oh.. Dear.. You look absolutely breathtaking." I walked to her and did little bow, just like you have to do, bow front of the Queen.

We were on our way to the palace in the carage, these were our finest carage that we had. Mama and father had used these ones when they went married. We usually did not use these ones. But mama said it was exception, because it was as special event as then.

"Are you nervous?"

I couldn't hear her at first time she spoke, I was in my thoughts deeply. She said again. "Dear? Are you alright? Little nervous, maybe?" I had now turned to her, she looked straight to my eyes, calming little smile on her lips.

"Yes, I feel the best." I said, she didn't seem quite believing me. I showed her little smile to prove her I was alright.

"Look, dear. You can see the palace already." I turned around that I could see the palace. I must admit it is quite gorgeous for palace. "Soon you will be introduced to the queen of herself." She had little joy on her voice.

"Unfortunately..." I whispered that quiet that she could not hear me.

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"Miss Cowber and Lady Cowber!" I was getting nervous at waiting my own turn. My heart raised faster than it never could.

My mother was making sure, my look was looking good. "This is Miss Cowber's second social season, that poor.. poor girl." She let little chuckle. Cowbers were never my favourites, they acted too noble and selfish way which made them look and sound stupid.

"Dear, it is yours turn." She looked me one last time, showing little smile before my name was called. "Miss Anderton and Lady Anderton!" Doors opened and there everyone was, standing, looking at me. End of the hall was Queen of herself with her 'mistresses' around her, dressed same looking as she.

"Smile, dear. They are all looking you." She whispered. My gaze wandered around the room, trying to find familiar faces. I could see the Featherintons, I knew Penelope. We had knew each other's for some time now, usually we talked in balls when we didn't have gentleman's asking to us dance. She was kind and friendly.

We walked closer to the Queen, she had attentive expression on her face. Suddenly she rose up. She walked closer to me, and lifted my chin up. Now we were eye on eye. She kissed my forehead and said,"Perfect." Smile came onto my mouth, did she just said that.

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"Cordelia, we should  find Lady Danbury. I haven't seen lady Danbury for a while and we have a lot things to discuss." I walked behind her, watching others beginning to dance.

"Oh! Lady Danbury, it is been while." Mama said and Lady Danbury turned around. Her face soon turned into a smile. "Lady Anderton and Miss Cordelia Anderton. Indeed, it's been while. How are you?" She asked, leaning against her stick.

"Well, Cordelia started her season just-"

"Yes, and it was quite a show. You Miss Cordelia Anderton are the most spoken and expected to marry in this season, after what happened in the palace." I could feel my cheeks turn into little blush, I don't know why they did even when I was clearly against marrying someone in this season.

"May that bring luck to her." Mama said and lady Danbury nodded to agree.

Some time after different kinds of suitors had asked me to dance, I could no longer feel my legs. None of them were suitable, they had nothing more in mind than marrying some beautiful woman and have many children with her. They think women have no rights, they only fed their children and keep them wealthy.

"Oh, look. The Bridgertons have arrived, the eldest child of them have quite many young and older ladies around him. He is excepted to be married this season. He is wealthy, well known, he may  very well be our most eligible bachelor, indeed."

"He looks fine gentleman, don't you think, Cordelia?" Mama asked.

"He looks very much like others suitors that have asked me to dance." But something about him got my attention.

"I assume, Lady Anderton, you don't know Bridgertons that well?"

"Yes, we have never really talked. But I know their family."

"Then, we should go to introduce you to them." We followed Lady Danbury.

I wasn't really sure, did I want to meet them or not. They seemed to be wealthy and higher class family, just like mine but something got me beware of them.

"Good evening Miss Bridgerton and Lord Bridgerton may I present to you Lady Anderton and her daughter, Miss Anderton." Miss Bridgerton smiled to us, she seemed nice and sweet. In other hand the viscount Bridgerton seemed just like others gentleman in this ballroom.

"It is pleasure to meet you finally, I saw your daughter's presentation, it got everyone's attention who were in the room." Miss Bridgerton said and looked to my mama.

"Yes, it was good start for the season." Mama said.

"May I present to you, my eldest son. Lord Bridgerton." His eyes were soft brown, they captured my gaze, immediately.

"We have heard good things about you, Lord Bridgerton." Mama said. But he only returned little nod back. He stared me back with those brown eyes.

"Well, I hope you successful season and joyful evening." Lady Bridgerton said and left us, Lord Bridgerton was already taken to the dance floor with some girl who clearly wasn't taught how to dance.

"So do I. Hopefully your luck will continue." Lady Danbury said and left us too.