daylight | b. bridgerton

v | morning callers, midnight carriages

Vivienne woke up to the sound of rapid tapping on her door. Anna came in hurriedly. "My lady, you must make haste! You already have several callers in the drawing room."

She groaned into her pillow. "Anna, it cannot possibly be any earlier than 8 in the morning."

"Quarter past 7, I'm afraid. Please hurry, my lady. Your father is not pleased."

Reluctantly, Vivienne got up. Anna hastily did her hair and a bit of makeup, while other maids came in and got her dressed.

She was shown into the drawing room, where she saw Henry and her father sitting at one end of the room, and a gentleman sitting alone in the other.

"Ah, good morning, Vivienne. I aspire to achieve your level of self confidence where you think you are so much better than everyone, and choose to waste their time."

Vivienne bowed her head. "Sorry father."

"Nevermind," he stood up, as Vivienne walked over to where the other man sat. "This is his grace, Sebastian Fitzroy, the sixth duke of Essex."

She curtsied pleasantly. "Lovely to meet you, your grace."

He stood up to greet her. "You as well, my lady."

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Henry glaring at the duke, and her father reading a newspaper.  She turned her attention to the duke. A twenty minute meeting would suffice, she would just have to endure. And to be fair, he was not unattractive. Vivienne figured that if she focused on his blue eyes and messy brown hair, maybe she would be less on why he was actually here.

"So, Lady Vivienne," the duke started. "How did you find the ball last night?"

"It was a lot of fun," Vivienne answered politely. "Although, it was my first one, so I really have nothing to compare it to."

The duke nodded. "I understand. If it is any consolation, I have been attending them for over a decade, and I have never had an unfortunate experience."

"Over a decade, you say?" said Vivienne, "Do you mind if I ask how old you are?"

"I do not mind at all my lady," he smiled, "I am six and thirty, and you?"

Yikes. "I am eighteen."

"I sincerely hope our difference in ages does not offset you. I believe I wish to see you again."

It does offset me quite a bit actually, among other things. "Do not worry, your grace, it brings me no discomfort. I appreciate your sentiments, and I return them. It would be an honor to see you again."

He smiled largely. "Well then, it is settled. I must take my leave, and I should think that the very long line of suitors outside would appreciate that decision. I shall see you soon, my lady."

The duke got up, and bowed, bidding Vivienne goodbye. He once again bowed at the table where Henry and the marquess sat.

"Well done, Vivienne," said the marquess. "That was excellent."

Vivienne sat in shock. It has been many years since she heard a compliment exit her father's vile mouth.

The marquess continued. "Keep this up with the duke, and I believe you will have finally met my expectations." There it was.

When he finished talking, the footman called in the next suitor. The scrawny teenager Vivienne saw at the beginning of the ball last night stumbled in. "The 7th viscount Percival Grantham."

"Lord Grantham," Vivienne greeted. Henry stared at him as he moved to sit down with Vivienne. She saw him visibly gulp at the cold look.

"So..." she started, as the viscount said nothing. "How was your morning, my lord?"

He rubbed his hands on his thighs anxiously. "It was good! I woke up, and I uh, got ready, and I came here."

"Wow, I am very flattered I am so high on your priorities list," Vivienne joked.

"Mhm!" the viscount rapidly agreed. "You see, I did not get to talk to you at the ball last night, and I've been waiting to talk to you for a while, you see."

Vivienne smiled awkwardly, disguising her torture.

After what felt like an eternity, the viscount Grantham left in a sweating mess. Henry glared once more at him as he left, and the viscount ducked his head at left faster. The footman came back at the doorway and announced the earl Lincoln. Then Sir Michael Phillips, baronet. Then Mr. Thomas Rowlet. Then Baron Victor Voltaire. Then Sir Phillips Michael, which Vivienne found the most amusing thing about him. But then the footman brought Mr. Joseph Potter, and she was no longer amused. Then the Earl John Fairfax of Surrey. Then, Vivienne stopped paying attention.

Her last suitor left at many hours past noon. She was famished. So, she got up to find some food, but her father stopped her.

"Vivienne." He called, as she was halfway out the door.

"Yes, father?"

"Sit, once more." And she sat across from him, taking Henry's old spot (he had left many hours ago, citing that these pitiful men brought him physical pain).

The marquess stared at her, his brown eyes piercing into her. "I have to stress the importance of this marriage. You must uphold your dignity, and you must always act with poise. Above all, you must marry well; and earl and above, or their first son. You are a Somerset, daughter. We have standards and we have rules."

"Yes, father. I understand."

He waved her off, returning to the latest copy of Whistledown. "Carry on then."

Vivienne retired to her room after that, positively exhausted and more irritated at society than ever before. Her father was not wrong, she thought. Marriage was the most important thing for a young lady. But then she resented society for imposing that ideal. It, to put it eloquently, pissed her off that she was forced to either be shackled down by marriage, or shackled down by social ostracization.

She played her woes out on her pianoforte, past dinner. Henry brought a plate up to her that night. He also brought an invitation.

"Look, Vivy," he said excitedly. "You've got friends!"

She punched his arm. It was an invitation with the Bridgerton's seal on it. The dowager viscountess had invited Henry and Vivienne to Bridgerton house the day after next, to spend time with Anthony and Francesca. She specifically mentioned how Francesca immediately went home and began to write a duet incorporating "baroke" and classical elements for the both of them.

He turned to leave, but stopped in her doorway. "Just one more thing, Vi– father, though cruel at times, is right on this. Marriage is very important, and you are very important. So it is imperative that you make a match to a good man of good standing. I may have not always made myself clear, but you must do well in marrying someone. I do not support it, but this is just how society is, and I need you to fare well in it."

Henry then turned around and left, leaving Vivienne feeling more alone then ever. Then, she started to remember her invitation to the Bridgerton's. She smiled.

It reminded her of the madame's invitation. The party was tonight in fact, and the madame's promise of freedom seemed so, so appealing today.

Thus, she headed outside to her balcony, staring at the stars as usual. The only thing that was different was a small black carriage pulling up to the manor. Vivienne broke out her rope ladder, climbed down from her balcony, and entered the carriage.

"Good evening, mademoiselle. I am so very glad you decided to join me tonight."