"You do not need to know this world, Flick."
"Might you stop calling me that?"
MISS ALINA ASHFORD knew very little about the London social season. Years of exploring the continent alongside her grandmother might have expanded her worldly view, but...
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THE BRIDGERTON HOUSE WAS A WELCOMING CREATURE. Wisteria snuggled against red brick, shades of bright lilac and glistening white. For Alina's first unofficial social event, the kindness emanating from the home kept her surprisingly calm.
The early summer sunset painted licks of burnt orange and dusty pink above them, beckoning the world into longer evenings. The breeze was soft and just cool enough to allow for a shawl.
The Ashfords had walked from their home to the Bridgertons, the journey all of two minutes. Ursula and Cornelius plastered on their happiest faces and linked arms with one another, followed by Diggory and Clementine. George and Alexander took an arm of Alina's each, threatening to swing her until she counter-threatened screaming bloody murder. They arrived to the house and stepped into the threshold, which was just as familial on the inside as the exterior. Not a cold corner in sight.
"Ursula, Cornelius. How wonderful it is to see you both." The Dowager Viscountess Violet Bridgerton was the first to greet the family, dropping formalities immediately. Ursula could not have removed her arm from her husband's fast enough, placing her hands into Violet's outstretched ones. She squeezed them as she stood to one side, beckoning Alina forward. George and Alexander released their hold on her arms and pushed her lightly. She ran her hands down the seams of her skirt in an effort to calm herself.
"You must remember Alina, our youngest?" Ursula said. Suddenly, all pairs of eyes were on her. She must have looked like a frightened mouse, so tried to plaster on a smile.
"Miss Alina, it has been a lifetime since we last laid eyes upon you," Violet grasped her hands with an awestruck smile adorning her soft features. Everything she remembered about the Viscountess was kind and gentle. "My, you have become the most beautiful young lady."
"Thank you, my Lady." Alina dipped into a small curtsy.
"We are not a full brood tonight, but I presume you remember my children. Of course, they are all grown now too." She held her arm and guided her towards the disarrayed gathering of brunettes. Alina cast her eyes over them all, and suddenly she was sixteen again.
She remembered Anthony and Benedict best. Their neighbouring country estates and twin sets of three brothers provided years of play. Alina was most often with Daphne, the eldest Bridgerton girl, who was not in attendance. Then there was Eloise and Francesca, who stood before her tonight far more grown than their last encounter. Little Gregory and Hyacinth rounded out the troop, fascinated by this new face.
They were ushered into the dining room, where Alina was again placed between George and Alexander. Eloise sat directly opposite, Francesca and Benedict flanking either side. They all kept staring at this foreign mouse with utmost fascination.
Conversation was light at first, mainly the men of the house discussing standard fare. Cornelius, ever the quiet man, allowed Diggory to do most of the talking. George kept making Alina giggle, and Benedict was doing the same to his sisters. Then Violet grew bored of the tedious small talk and childish banter and guided the discussion into a topic of her own liking.
