𝗅𝗈𝗇𝗀 𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗋𝗒 𝗌𝗁𝗈𝗋𝗍 ⎯ 𝖺𝗇𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗇𝗒 𝖻𝗋𝗂𝖽𝗀𝖾𝗋𝗍𝗈𝗇

𝗉𝗋𝗈𝗅𝗈𝗀𝗎𝖾

╔══        ஓ  ๑  ♡  ๑  ஓ        ══╗

╚══        ஓ  ๑  ♡  ๑  ஓ        ══╝

     "𝖧𝖮𝖶 𝖣𝖮𝖤𝖲 𝖨𝖳 𝖥𝖤𝖤𝖫 𝖳𝖮 𝖡𝖤 𝖨𝖭 𝖫𝖮𝖵𝖤 𝖲𝖨𝖲𝖳𝖤𝖱?" hyacinth asks daphne while twirling down the stairs.

     the bridgerton and blackburn girls— with the exception of francesca are in the bridgerton estate. the news of daphnne and
the duke's engagement had been the main focus of lady whistledown's newest paper.

     "please tell us." imogen nods, wanting to know as well.

     "imagine leaping off a cliff and shattering on the ground." eloise abruptly says. "a fair analogy?" she turns to daphne who is not amused.

     "i am afraid i cannot find the words." daphne says, "though, eloise i believe you will know what love feels like soon enough next season. coco, you as well."

     colette scoffs, "i'd be dammed."

"colette blackburn!" fiona glared at her daughter but shrugs it off and continues her conversation with violet and the two youngest girls begin playing amongst themselves.

"well i'm not following in your footsteps." eloise tells daphne. "could there be a more dreadful fate?"

daphne comes to a hault, " you do know that I am setting the standard for your future matches yes? you should be grateful!"

eloise rolls her eyes, "the only thing i am grateful for is that i am not you, nor will i ever be."

"miss daphne, his royal highness prince friedrich is here for you."

daphne exits the common room to have what seems like an uncomfortable conversation.

eloise plops herself on the couch, "can you believe her? i'll be dammed if i ever become like her."

colette sits next to her best friend. "daphne is not all that bad, but she's in love which makes people crazy."

     "how would you know coco? you've never been in love." anthony bridgerton enters the room along with benedict.

     colette rolls her eyes, "and i hope to never, ever be."

     "what she said." eloise nods, pointing at her best friend.

     "well maybe it'll do both of you some good." benedict says. "you two are more immature than gregory, hyacinth, and the twins combined."

     "could you imagine either of them getting married?" benedict asks anthony and hollers out in laughter.

     colette throws a pillow at the second born and eloise follows suit.

     "you've just proved his point." anthony sighs.

     "scurry off!" eloise shouts at her brothers.

     benedict playfully puts a hand over his heart. "i'm hurt that you two don't enjoy our company."

     "but with that being said—i am actually late for something." benedict scurries off.

     anthony looks at both girls and shakes his head, "i'm convinced i'll get married before either of you do."

     colette rolls her eyes, "i pity whoever marries you." eloise laughs at her friends comment.

     anthony scoffs and exits the room. colette has always been intrigued by the oldest bridgerton. of course eloise did not know. only penelope featherington did.

"you know— i still cannot believe that we will be forced to debut next season!" eloise grunts. the two girls have never been fond of the social rules.

colette nods, "i've already come to terms that alaric will pick my future husband. as long as i don't actually have to try and talk to those idiots i'm all good."

     eloise snorts, "well, at least you, me and penelope have a year of freedom until then."

     colette winces, "actually eloise, there's something i need to tell you—and i haven't been keeping it a secret, i just found out yesterday."

     "found out what?" eloise asks.

     "my parents are sending fabian and i off to live with our great aunt gertrude in scotland until the next season." colette says, sulking.

     eloise looks at her with wide eyes, "you have got to be joking."

     "unfortunately not." colette shakes her head. "fabian will actually return sometime in december so he can help papa with whatever it is they do."

     "mama already said i'll be gone for a year. she doesn't think i'll be ready for my debut. something about be not taking things seriously." colette rolls her eyes. "and aunt gertrude is one scary lady, she thinks she'll set me down the right path."

     "that is outrageous!" eloise complains.

     colette nods, "tell me about it."

     eloise sinks further in the couch. the furthest that the two and penelope have been away from each other was two weeks when pen got the flu.

     "well, how am i going to survive my perfect little family now?"

     "you still have pen." colette sadly smiles.
"who i still have to talk to about this. look, i'll be back before you know it. same old coco."

✧ ༺ ♥ ༻ ✧

ANNIE'S THOUGHTS—
ah i'm so excited for this book!
how did you feel with this prologue?
and more importantly, how did you feel
with the first half of season 3!?
my friend and i were eating it up
the carriage scene?! hello!?