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°¤.~ 𝐀𝐂𝐓 𝐈: 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐍𝐄 ~.¤°
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"Stop doing that!" Astoria's mother scolded her, making the young girl pull her hand away from the back of her neck as she was forced to quit scratching the area to deal with the anxiety of the day.
It was the first day of the London social season and the day Astoria would be presented to Queen Charolette for the chance of being named this seasons 'Diamond Of The First Water,' an opportunity of a lifetime and a title that would make finding a husband all that much easier. However, if she failed and did something horribly wrong, there would be consequences.
"Darling, you need to stop sweating." Her mother said, trying to soothe her but failing miserably, as she touched up her hair. "I know you're nervous, but you look marvelous. Every suitable suitor will be dying at the chance to receive your hand."
Astoria let out a frustrated sigh as her mother did nothing, but make her even more nervous. There was no denying that Astoria was a beautiful girl, with her soft auburn hair and brown doe eyes, but even with that she didn't believe she was diamond worthy. For example, if you compared her to Daphne Bridgerton, last seasons diamond and a close friend, Astoria wasn't even in the same category as her.
With that in mind, she had one goal:
Find a husband and then you're done...for the most part.
It didn't sound too hard when Astoria thought it over. After all, hundreds of ladies did it every season. How difficult could it truly be? Astoria was beautiful and wealthy, according to Benedict Bridgerton, another dear friend, that's all most men wanted. Still, she couldn't help but feel nervous at the thought of her being one of the few who didn't marry. It could happen and while Eloise may desire to never be wed, that was not the case for Astoria.
Speaking of her closest friend, Astoria shifted her eyes to the side as she watched her and her mother bicker back and forth. The sight made her lips tug slightly upwards in amusement before looking away. Astoria had no doubt that the next time the two of them spoke Eloise would spend the entire time talking about her hatred for the society and their expectations of women.
Astoria and Eloise were an odd pair to say the least, an unlikely friendship if you would, but the two ladies had been friends since they were toddlers and that had formed an almost sisterly bond. In fact, Astoria was on good terms with all of the Bridgertons' as she visited their home almost every day, something that would have to diminish slightly now that they were both being presented to London High Society. Astoria knew that Eloise would be rather a pain to deal with this season, but she knew she could put up with her complaining if it meant she could get out of the house for something aside from dress fittings.
The thought made Astoria smile before shaking her head as she let out a sigh, running her palms down her dress. This one piece of clothing would be her one saving grace when it came time for her presentation. Her attire was similar to every other debutant's in the fact that she wore a silvery white silk dress with matching white gloves, but different in the detailing on the dress. Flowers had been carefully threaded with gold thread that'd taken months upon months to do, not to mention the diamonds on the silk fabric belt that rested below her breast. To go even more over the top, her mother had ordered a multi-layered pearl necklace with a pendant in the middle that'd cost as much as their place of residence in London and pearl earrings dangled upon her ears.
