daylight | b. bridgerton

ii | walks, talks

"Cat, I'm worried."

The debut ceremony was tomorrow, and Vivienne was absolutely stressed. She, on one of her promenades with Catherine in the park, was explaining, in vivid detail, everything she was nervous about. Catherine did not seem to share the same feelings as her though.

"That's a valid feeling," Catherine nodded thoughtfully, in response to Vivienne's fears. "But objectively, I think you're the best off of all of us."

"Not helping."

Cat smiled sheepishly. "Apologies."

They continued walking down the path, greeting other families as they passed. "Alright look," Catherine said after a while, "Even if you mess up horribly, and you fall or something, you're still gorgeous and rich and a Somerset, so you'll have more than enough suitors."

Vivienne shook her head. "That's the problem, Cat. I'm a Somerset, I can't mess up. Father would effectively banish me from society. I'd have to live in Wales or something."

"Oh, right. Forgot about him. What an ass."

Vivienne laughed, bumping into her friend jokingly. "Truer words have never been spoken."

–

Vivienne returned home, finding her mother and father in the foyer, surrounded by bags of luggage. As her, Henry, and Ambrose entered, Theo was coming down the stairs, dressed in his heavily decorated naval uniform.

"Theo? You're leaving already?" Vivienne said, the heartbreak seeping into her words. "I thought you had till Saturday."

"I'm afraid so," he replied gravely, pinning his ribbons on his jacket.  "The fleet has begun to surround the American ports, and the President is asking to meet in Ghent for negotiations."

Ambrose took his brother into a hug, and Henry patted him on the back– the metal of his  awards of war clinking in a crushing reminder of his responsibilities.  "Stay safe, brother."

As soon as Ambrose let go, Vivienne ran into him, wrapping her arms around him and burying her face into his chest.  Tears pricked at her eyes. "I'm gonna miss you, Theo. And I missed you a  lot. And I didn't get a chance to stop missing you yet. This isn't fair."

Theo took a deep breath, kissing Vivienne on the head. "I know, Vivy, I'm sorry darling."

He was only four or so years older than her, but she was still his baby sister. So, he held her on tight.

Until the marquess cleared his throat, that is. "Vivienne, let go of him," he interrupted. "He is an important man."

Reluctantly, Vivienne let go of him.

"You are going to sparkle tomorrow, Vivy. As Admiral of the Royal Navy, I know you are a diamond of the first water."

The marquess came over to them, and pushed them apart, guiding Theodore to  the door. The marchioness followed them, stopping at Vivienne. "Madame has sent notice that your dresses have been made. Take Anna in the  second carriage and retrieve them? Your father and I are to bring Theo to the naval base."

Vivienne nodded absentmindedly. "Will do, Mama."

"Come now, my son," the marquess ushered Theo out. He turned once more to his two other sons. "Take care, Henry, Ambrose. We should be back after  supper. Vivienne, prepare for your debut. You know my expectations."

And then, the marquess, the marchioness, and the lord admiral exited Kingsley Manor, and entered the crimson Somerset carriage.

The fact of Theo's absence during her debut was beginning to truly hit Vivienne. She stood in the foyer for a bit longer, in silence.