Second Chance Love // A. Bridgerton

1.03

Act 1

Bridgerton S1

2 years later.

A beam of sunlight that poured through the drapes highlights the face of a new woman. Lady Evelyn Hughes a Dowager Viscountess, a protector and most importantly a fierce mother. She lived her life a wilted flower always stuck in the shadow of the men in her life, now she is prepared to take on the rules and expectations of society. She will never step back in the shade for a man again.

However as she slowly opens her eyes the sun is slowly blocked by the head of her young son. This is one man that she will gladly step back for without hesitation. Lord Atlas Hughes, far too young for the title of Viscount in her eyes as he is only now nearing 2 was given the title at birth due to the death of his father. His sweet smile rested on his face as he stared at his mother. She knew she had to get up and start getting ready for the first ball of the season. It is a big day, her first debut back into society. 2 years into mourning and truthfully she was not in a rush to go back. Lady Danbury who had become close to a mother figure, a mentor while she paved her way as a Dowager Viscountess still taking on the Viscount duties for her son had invited her.

A knock on the door had broken her peaceful bubble as her lady's maid Amelia had walked through the entryway with a sheet in her hand.

"Good Morning Miss, I have the mail and I do believe you would want to take a quick look at this one"

Amelia had handed her the sheet, a scandal sheet to be exact... She was puzzled as she had never heard tell of a Lady Whistle down before. Taking a quick glance around the room she couldn't see her son anymore meaning something else had caught his attention. He did not need to hear the ton gossip at his age, she looked down at the paper and read aloud.

"Grosvenor Square, Dearest reader, the time has come to place our bets for the upcoming social season. Consider the household of Baron Featherington. Three misses foisted upon the marriage market like sorrowful sows by their tasteless ...tactless mama. Far better odds might exist in the household of the widowed Viscountess Bridgerton. A shockingly prolific family, noted for its bounty of perfectly handsome sons and perfectly beautiful daughters. How very perfect, indeed!. Or even Lady Evelyn Hughes widowed after 6 months of marriage while carrying the late Viscount Hughes's son. It is to be said she will be making an appearance at the first ball of the season. Very exciting!. Today is a most important day, and for some a terrifying one, for today is the day London's marriage-minded misses are presented to Her Majesty the Queen. May God have mercy on their souls. It is only the queen's eye that matters today. A glimmer of displeasure...and a young lady's value plummets to unthinkable depths. But as we know, the brighter a lady shines, the faster she may burn. It has been said that, "Of all bitches dead or alive, a scribbling woman is the most canine." If that should be true, then this author would like to show you her teeth. My name is Lady Whistledown. You do not know me, and rest assured, you never shall. But be forewarned, dear reader, I certainly know you.

"Who is she?!" It was all quite shocking. Never had she ever thought a woman would have enough power to voice what everyone had thought and not to mention a man isn't taking credit. It felt surreal and not that she condones scandal sheets full of mere gossip but she felt a little excited at what this could mean.

"I have no idea ma'am, but what I do know is we are greatly behind schedule so up you go!"

Rising up out of the bed she let Amelia beckon the other maids in to help prepare her for the ball. One of her ladies-in-waiting, Scarlet pins her hair in a loose up-do with soft curls framing her face adding a few baby's breaths in the bun as a special touch while Amelia fixes the dress. A stunning pink dress made of satin with lighter pink layers of sheer fabric on the skirt, Lace was on the trim of the flowy short sleeves and top of the neckline. It had been paired with white silk gloves and her dance card not that she believes she will be using it. The makeup was soft with a tiny layer of rouge upon the apple of her cheeks and lips and some charcoal on her eyelashes to appear longer.