A Wallflower's Discoveren

Chapter 1 - Danbury Ball

"Oh dear, how I truly wished for her to be my daughter in name."

Anthony Bridgerton, the ninth Viscount from their family line, could not help but raise his eyebrows in curiosity as he heard the confession words coming from his loving mother, the dowager Viscountess Violet Bridgerton. It was as if their brood of eight siblings are not annoyingly handful enough, hearing such a want coming from his mother was a first for him and it took him by surprise.

Anthony remained silent as he stood at the back row of his family who had taken a table at one of the corners on Lady Danbury's estate. Him, his mother Violet, his brother Benedict and his first sister Daphne; the newly wedded Duchess of Hastings, were all in attendance for the first ball of the season. Their third brother Colin, was away as he traveled to Greece after the unfortunate breakup of his engagement with Miss Marina Thompson, who was now Lady Crane by marriage. Eloise, who had just debuted this season, remained at home as she feigned sickness from the events that happened at the Queen's palace.

"Was it true then, mama? Is she to marry that old ogre of a lord?"

"Daphne, language!" Violet rebukes her eldest daughter's choice of words. But knowing the subject of her statement, Violet could only agree to the description.

"Apologies, mama. But isn't Lord Brambly too old for her? I believe he is about to be seventy, is he not? He might as well be his grandfather!" Daphne could not help but express her dissatisfaction in the match. Though it is not too uncommon for older men to marry young girls who had just debuted in the society, having a difference of more than fifty years in age was unimaginable.

"I am afraid he is. But there is nothing to be done as her mother seems to have decided." Violet replied. Sadness and disappointment were evident on Lady Bridgerton's eyes as she empathizes with the girl on topic.

"What an unsatisfactory match. Surely, she can do better than Lord Brambly. She is amazingly intelligent, good-mannered, has lots of talents and a good companion. Just look at how she treats our family well." Daphne's emotions were heightened as she itemized the good qualities of the young lady they feel sorry for.

"That, I can totally agree on, dearest." Violet nodded in agreement.

Anthony, who remained quiet as he listened and watched the interaction between his mother and his duchess sister, finally spoke. Daphne's statement on the descriptive qualities of whoever they are talking about piqued his interest. He might not have announced it to his family yet, but he had already decided to look for and take a wife this season. As his relationship failed with the opera singer, the Viscount had decided that he would no longer opt for a love match, and rather just marry out of obligation and duty. But having a title and a lot of responsibilities at hand, he wanted to have a wife who he could tolerate for the rest of his life. And so, upon hearing his sister utter the same qualities he is looking for in a potential bride, he could not help but chime in on their conversation to know the identity of this girl whom they are talking about.

"And who is this poor lady, you both are sorry for, sister?" Anthony speaks in a calm manner.

Daphne looks up to his brother with a furrowed brow. She knew Anthony was not one to indulge himself in rumors and gossip, so having him become interested in their talk was quite new for the duchess. "Oh, it's about Penelope, brother."

"Miss Featherington?" Anthony was quite surprised by the revelation. Though he had not interacted much with the girl, he had long known the redhead as his second sister, Eloise's best friend. He had seen her as a permanent fixture during his mother and his sisters' afternoon tea at the Bridgerton House's drawing room.