ₚᵣᵢᵥₐₜₑ 𝒹ₑₜₑ𝒸ₜᵢᵥₑ |ᴬⁿᵗʰᵒⁿʸ ᴮʳᶦᵈᵍᵉʳᵗᵒⁿ

• 𝗍ᥕ᥆ •

Enola Holmes was intrigued to say the least.

Now that she had met the diamond of this season and her guard dog, she couldn't say she was impressed.

Sure, Daphne Bridgerton was a feast to the eyes, and yes, she was able to see why she was chosen to be the diamond of the season - but she honestly seemed like any other girl partaking in this season: boring, stuck up and without any idea of self worth.

'Without a husband what am I as a woman'

That's what her and many other girls her age thought. Enola could only shake her head at them. Is this really what their parents taught them?

Well, in that area, she also wasn't really a good example.

"Head up high," Lady Danbury suddenly scolded her under her breath. "How often do I have to remind you? And keep your shoulders down. You want your throat to look this that of a beautiful and majestic swan, not like that of a sloth."

"More like a damned giraffe," Enola mumbled.

Lady Danbury pinched her side. Had she not held Enola close with her other arms, the young woman would have jumped out of her grasp out of shock.

"Did you just pinch me?"

"I have the ears of a lynx, dear. No matter how quite you whisper your improper swear words, when you do it right next to me, I can still hear them."

Enola narrowed her eyes. "The ears of a lynx and the mind of a fox, my brother wasn't wrong about you."

"When is Sherlock Holmes ever wrong? Now smile, child, I'm going to introduce you to some of my friends. I'd hate for you to embarrass yourself in front of them."

Instead of sticking her tongue out childishly, Enola controlled herself and followed suit. This is all for the case, she had to remind herself again and again.

ʟᴀᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴅᴀʏ

That afternoon, Enola was in for a surprise. As it turned out, Lady Danbury was having another guest over for some tea and biscuits.

That guest was none other that the Duke of Hastings, Simon Bassett - a truly good looking man, Enola had to admit.

He was polite, had a mischievous smile on his lips and his comebacks were quite witty. He and Lady Danbury sure knew how entertain themselves together.

"Lord Bassett here returned to London to take care of his late father's business," Lady Danbury explained to the curious young woman. "I wish he would keep me company a little longer."

The Duke raised his eyebrow. "Well, I'm not that keen on spending too much time escaping from mothers who want to throw their daughters at me."

"And I still don't understand why? Is that self destroying revenge on a dead man really that important to you?"

"I don't see why it would be considered self destroying. And it is not silly revenge, it is an oath I swore. Never will I be married and never will I give him an heir. That title means nothing to me."

With an eye roll, the countess turned to Enola. "Do you understand what he is saying?"

"No wife and no child sounds pretty solid to me," the girl shrugged, gaining the Duke's interest. "I mean, the pain women have to go through when bearing children. Even giving birth once will - should they survive that is - take a toll on their body for a long amount of time. And marriage? It is a shame to admit but most girls nowadays are taught they have no worth if they don't become a good housewife and mother. Maybe if they don't get married they will have the chance to explore the world by themselves and find out what they truly want in life."