Midnight Rain:

Chapter 3: The Presentations:

"Your Highness will be the first to be presented to the ton," Brimsley advised as Evelina walked with her nephew, James.

"I shall be presented today? I thought--" Evelina went to ask when her mother spoke up.

"You will be presented before the ton to make any of the noble gentlemen see you before the dance floor because your dance card shall be full the whole season, my dear," Charlotte spoke up when Evelina nodded, much nervous by her mother's confidence in her ability this season.

Charlotte and Brimsley walked off to the throne room, leaving Evelina to try to calm down since she was nervous.

"Are you alright, Your Highness?" James asked, standing across from Evelina.

"Yes, quite well..." Evelina lied, reaching for the servant to pass her her fan. "Are you ready for the season?" She asked James, who was formally known as a rake.

"I suppose so..." He shrugged, checking his pocket watch.

"And you are looking for a love match, yes?"

"Absolute not... I am only looking for a match to fulfill my duties, Your Highness... Someone who is... tolerable. Who knows her place as wife to merely bore me an heir and a spare. And who will appear to be the best Countess that my father will approve of." James shrugged when Evelina squinted at him in confusion.

"Surely you would want to marry someone you love?" Evelina asked him as a maid began to fan Evelina, who still seemed a little on edge.

"Not all of us can be afforded by such a consideration... I am merely marrying out of duty before my father shall revoke the titles he has gifted me." James sighed before leaving the princess to join the other ladies in the room, where they would wait until they were called.

"Your Royal Highness, Princess Evelina Charlotte Octavia... who will be joining the ton this season." The announcer said to the room full of the ton and Queen Charlotte.

Charlotte smiled as the room went quiet. The doors opened, revealing Evelina in her extravagant gown, far different from what the other ladies would wear. Evelina dressed like her mother. She wore her silver tiara with the sapphire jewels that stood out from the white dress with silver accents. She kept her head up high with such poise and composure. She ambled as the ton looked at her in awe.

Far as the ton knew, Evelina was away for her education in France for a few years, so this was most of the ton's first time seeing the beautiful young lady. 

She had darker auburn hair tied up with riglets around her fair face. Her cheeks had a pink tint that matched the subtle pink on her lips. And she had her father's dark brown eyes. 

She was definitely a force to reckon with this season.

Anthony's eyes noticed her as soon as the doors opened. He knew he had no chance with a princess, but she took his breath away. He would settle with a mere conversation with her if that were all he could achieve.

Evelina got to the end of the aisle, bowing before her mother, who got up from her throne. 

She touched Evelina's chin before making her daughter stand up. "Your father and I are so proud of you, my dear." She smiled, kissing her daughter's forehead, before reaching Evelina's arm to join her while the other ladies began to be presented.

"It is not too late. You could say I collapsed. That I got something unmentionable on my gown..." Eloise began to express her escape plans to her mother, who ensured Eloise's hair was perfect in the room with the other young ladies and their mothers. "Or the feathers affected my senses. Anything, Mama, to get me out of doing this..." Eloise continued as Violet walked around to face her daughter, who was freaking out.

"My darling girl. No matter what, you will always be a diamond to me." Violet said, but it did not help Eloise.

"If Penelope were here..." Eloise sighed, letting out a shaky breath as she wished her best friend, Penelope Featherington, was there.

"The Dowager Viscountess Bridgerton and Miss Eloise Bridgerton." The announcer called out when the doors opened, revealing a nervous Eloise.

Eloise took a nervous step forward, breathing harshly as she felt her heart pounding in her ear. She looked ahead at the queen, who looked puzzled since Eloise looked mortified.

"Smile." Daphne mouthed from the side to her sister.

The room's attention turned from Eloise to the open door as a servant walked in with a silver tray.

"What is the meaning of this?" Charlotte scoffed at the servant before she saw what was on the tray—a new Lady Whistledown pamphlet. Charlotte looked at the booklet, chuckling softly.

"Mama..." Evelina said, wondering what her mother was thinking.

"I've seen enough," Charlotte said, standing up as her ladies rushed to pick up her train.

"But Your Majesty, there are still--" Brimsley tried to tell the queen.

"I have seen enough!" Charlotte said, leaving the room, when Evelina turned to find her nephew in the crowd.

"I told you..." James mouthed to her, chuckling when Evelina shook her head, but her eyes went to Viscount Bridgerton, who was a few people away from James.

He was gorgeous. She tried not to stare, but he was unlike any gentleman she had seen before.

"Does this mean I can go?" Eloise asked her mother.

"I don't know what this means." Violet sighed when Evelina stood before the confused ton.

"What my mother, Her Majesty, meant to say is... t-that this shall be enough for the day... My apologies for the interruption. And Brimsley, here, shall ensure that your carriages shall arrive." Evelina spoke up, trying to hide her slight nervous stutter. She looked at the crowd before the servant offered him her hand, and then she walked out where her mother did.

Eloise turned as soon as she could, running back to go home as fast as she could.

"Eloise..." Daphne went to say to run after, but Violet followed her daughter before the servants passed out the Lady Whistledown pamphlets. "Truly, I cannot say I will long for any of this. Best of luck to you, Brother." Daphne said to Anthony. "You shall certainly need it this season." Daphne smiled as Anthony looked at her, before looking at the door where Evelina had gone.

"Ah, it is good to see you, old friend."

Anthony turned, seeing James and Benedict hug. "I shall say the same, Bridgerton... It has been far too long." James said when Anthony looked confused.

"Oh, Anthony, this is Lord James Hanover, the Earl of Chester." Benedict introduced the two.

"Ah, the prince's son?" Anthony asked when James nodded, chuckling a bit.

"Indeed... And you must be the viscount?" James asked, extending his hand to shake Anthony's.

"Yes, I'm afraid so..." Anthony chuckled a bit before Brimsley approached them.

"Your Grace... Her Royal Highness, Princess Evelina, wishes for me to get you." Brimsley said to the young man.

"Yes, very well. Thank you, Brimsley." James said, moving between Gregory and Francesca to escape the crowd. "It was very good to see you again, Bridgerton... We'll have to get a drink and catch up again." James said as Benedict nodded.

"Of course, Hanover." Benedict smiled at him.

~season 2, episode 1: "Capital R Rake"~

~1197 words~