Bridgerton One Shots

Benedict Bridgerton-Begin Again

For April Swenson, there were few facts in life that she believed to be true:

1.  Scones were made best when the cooks used her late grandmother's recipe for them. 

She could always tell when they used her recipe because it tasted different. Maybe it was the delicous crunch or the warmth that always seemed to radiate off of them even when they had sat out all morning. 

2. Spring was the best season.

Not just because she was named after a month that occured during that season...although that did have a factor, but a bigger pull to that season was the joy she got watching ladies hopelessly throwing themselves at the feet of the men in society, just for them to do as men always did; drag them along until they bore of them and then toss them aside. Which leads to the last fact of life.

3. True love only existed in fairytales and in the feeble minds of the ladies in society

Every quote on quote "Love Story" that society was fed, was built on the lies the women in the Ton had told themselves to keep themselves from falling into a deep depression. Even their Queen's love story seemed to be built on lies, no one had seen the king in decades. Many thought him dead, others rumored that he had gone mad. April's opinion? They had tired of each other and decided it best to not to announce it, so the king moved away to one of their many home away from home's and now helps rule from afar. 

She cannot fully fault the ladies of the Ton, especially the young and niave ones. She too, once had that glimmer im her eyes, that maybe, just maybe her prince charming was on a dance floor somewhere just awaiting her presence. But as the years passed and she got the absolute pleasure of dancing with the men (if you could even call them that) in society, she came to the finding that all of them were the same and none of them were prince charming material. 

Yet, here she was, fifth year in a row being forced to go to another ball by her mother. Her older and younger sister had already been married off, but now that the baby and the eldest had been married off, she no longer slipped through the cracks. Now the spotlight was on her.

"Must I attend a fifth year of this mama? Maryanne and Delilah have already been married off, is that not enough for you?" April whined and tugged on her dress in the tight enclosure of the carriage

Her mother sighed 

"While that is true dear, Maryanne nor Delilah have produced an heir to claim the role of Viscount Swenton"

April huffed 

"They both have a bounty of daughters, who said it had to be a boy to take over? Why not a Viscountess, she could be the first of her kind, and I could take our cottage in France and you can all pretend I died-"

"April Swenson! We will do no such thing! you know why there cannot just be a Viscountess, no one would take her seriously. You will find a husband, you will get married, and you will produce an heir. Then and only then, will I allow you access to the cottage in France. End of story."

The rest of the carriage ride was spent in a resigned silence. One that only occured when she had more to say, but knew it would be of no use. 

When they arrived at the ball, she stepped out and stared at the building that had to have been at least twice the size of her home. Young ladies eagerly dragging their mama's and papa's in; in hopes that they would find their true love just beyond the doors. April could not help but roll her eyes as she watched them. So young, so niave. However, another part of her yearned for the time she felt that way. Excited for the balls that the Ton was throwing, running up the stairs eager and hopeful. Ignorance really was bliss.