The Proposal

Chapter 1

A/N - When I picked up this prompt I had never watched Bridgerton so I decided to check it out for "research purposes" I watched the first two seasons now and I'm about to start on three 😂. Also this was meant to be a one shot, but you're all going to get a few chapters out of this so I hope you enjoy!

**Also as an added note, the character Lydia is a Lila type of character, but due to her relationship to Gabriel I decided to change the name - so no, she isn't Lila in disguise.

At the age of nineteen, Marinette had made a flawless debut into high Parisian society. The granddaughter of a well respected Earl, she was indeed regarded as a good catch. Many of the social elete around her declared her one of the most eligible young ladies. The local gossip column had even referred to her as the Rose of the season. Catching the eye of many notable suitors, her mother Sabine had been hopeful that it would only be a matter of time before one of these lovely young men made a proposal.

Marinette however had other ideas. Oh Nathaniel and Nino were perfectly delightful young men, and conversation came easily with them with shared common interested in art and music, but there was no spark, no fire like she had read in books or heard whispered behind closed doors, and much to everyone's chagrin there were no proposals coming either. The truth was, Marinette was in no hurry to seduce any of her suitors into marriage and simply settle into the doldrums of domestic life. She wanted something more than to simply be content. It was becoming clear to Sabine that Marinette's easy nature endeared her to many, but not in a romantic way, placing her firmly in the friendzone which to her Grandfather's alarm she seemed quite happy to stay.

"This is not acceptable." Her exasperated grandfather Rolland pointed out as each year passed with no proposals. "She needs to find a husband, not be making friends. All this painting and needlework nonsense she has been involved in is distracting her from her duty. Three seasons and no permanent suiter or serious proposal."

"Give her time." Sabine soothed her father in law. "Marinette is still young and has plenty of time. Besides, you were the one who encouraged her to become proficient in a wide range of accomplishments."

"Humph." Rolland frowned. "Only to make her a suitable wife. We must strike while the dough is rising."

Sabine sighed patiently. "I understand your point, but Marinette hasn't found someone that she has genuine feelings for."

"Feelings! This is not how things are done. Young ladies do not get to simply waste away their youth on idol fantasies and feelings nonsense." He declared, throwing his hands up in the air. "What would Tom have thought if he were still here?"

Sabine just gave him a serine smile. "He would have agreed with me and you know that."

Rolland shook his head. "My son never thought of the future, always living in the now. No, I must do what is needed and find Marinette a suitable match myself."

"Give her one more season." Sabine implored. "If she doesn't receive a suitable proposal this year, then we can look at other options."

"I cannot wait any longer. She needs to take her duty to this family seriously and stop this frivolity. I have been speaking to Lord Chiên, and his son Kim is a fine and strong young man with at least ten thousand Francs a year and is very interested. It would do Marinette good to pay him more attention than she did last year."

Marinette wanted to curl up into a ball and disappear when she heard. She tried not to be angry at her grandfather. He was a man of tradition and although he had funny ways of showing it, did care for his family. Marinette was only five when her father died of a sudden illness, a fact that hit Rolland hard, yet he took Marinete and her mother in and made sure they were taken care of.