A Rose By Any Other Name | Anthony Bridgerton

- CHAPTER I -

SPRING 1814

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     WHAT IS IN A NAME?

     Whether honour, scandal, riches, or rags, one's name may hold everything they are and everything fate has determined they will be. A famous love sick girl may have claimed otherwise, but this author can say with great certainty that Shakespeare's Juliet must not have been a member of the Queen's ton, for then she would know that perhaps names and their relations may be the strongest of determining factors. One must only look to the season's most desireable for proof, as both stand amongst a string of diamonds.

     As the season's most eligible bachelor, Viscount Anthony Bridgerton, steps into the light behind his sister, Duchess Daphne Bassett of Hastings (née Bridgerton), who drew the eyes of all as the season's diamond less than a twelve-month ago, Miss Edwina Sharma has taken the title of diamond following in the steps of her mother Miss Mary Sharma (née Sheffield).

     However, dear reader, the name that has plagued both the houses of Mayfair and this author's pen in the past week is neither Bridgerton nor Sharma, but, instead, an unknown moniker. Simply direct one's attention to Rosewood House, which seems to have been overcome with the queen's forces as of late. No, the near army of men cannot be attributed to oncoming battle with the empty estate, but, rather, that the estate seems to no longer be empty at all.

     Just three days ago, without previous notice and with extravagant flair, a new inhabitant was escorted to the home which has stood empty for nearly thirty years. There has been rumour of a relation to the queen residing in the estate, others have claimed a previous residence returning, and even more have claimed that there is no one in the house at all. As their carriage is seen leaving before midday and returning after the sun has set, the resident's face has yet to be seen, their poor first impression only becoming a source of further gossip. Is it not of luck then, dear reader, that gossip is just what this author must uncover?

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     "Do you not think it best to start anew here, make a good first impression?" Calliope Georgiou sighed, closing the gossip pamphlet before reaching its end. She passed it across the carriage to the very subject of its contents: Miss Rose Xenakis.

     "I do not believe in good first impressions," Rose claimed. " In all honesty, I do not think them possible. How may I be expected to impress upon someone all there is to know about me, good or bad, in our first meeting? My mother always told me not to rely on them. She said if one relied solely on first impressions, flowers would be a big disappointment as just a patch of dirt. Besides, it is not as though I have not been the centre of gossip before. At this point in my career, I might do nothing but expect it."

     Rose tucked the paper into her cloak without so little as perusing its pages.

     "Rose," Calliope sighed, "This is not some little paper in some little Greek town. We are in London society now. You are an actress who has gained favour from the Queen. Most people in the well-known gentry will never receive such attention. You must be more careful of the way you carry on. Whatever happens here will be lasting."

     The carriage fell to an unexpected silence for a moment. Rose was one who consistently meant to be heard and Calliope often found herself needed as the voice of reason in the pair. She did not mean to bring any ill thoughts to her friend's mind, but neither girl had ever experienced this station before, and she knew that they could not risk falling out of it. Calliope's hand fell to her friend's knee, giving it a light shake in attempts to raise her spirits.