It was that time of year again: the season. This was Eleanor's first season so it would be her debut in London. Genevieve, the modiste, had kindly made her dresses along with her cousins with love, care and thoughtful consideration to how each one should look. She of course also made them all the most beautiful as she wanted everyone to know where they had bought them.

Everyone knew anyway since Genevieve's store was the place to shop for everyone who was anyone.

Eleanor didn't want to overshadow Daphne by any means as she wasn't really here for the season like her father had expected to be. She had explained this to Genevieve but being ever so sweet and gracious, Genevieve didn't care. She wanted to make everyone the most beautiful gowns the ton had ever seen.

The dress Eleanor had chosen was a pale pink/white colour. The embellished gown has a floral artwork design with shimmering white sequins. It's beautifully crafted with tulle details and a voluminous skirt that helped to create movement when Eleanor walked. She looked dazzling and every bit of a woman which was completely different than her appearance two nights ago.

When Eleanor turned the age of two-and-twenty, her parents were worried that she might not ever marry. Hence, why Eleanor convinced her parents to let her travel to Mayfair, London and see if she could find a suitable husband here. Since none in France seemed interested in her. Little did they know she schemed her way out of proposal's and that was why she did not receive any.

Her papa was worried that she might grow sinister around the idea of marriage since his family had not approved of his.

(And little did he know, he was partially right. Her uncle not giving his blessing for their marriage put a sour taste in her mouth. Much like when she ate one of those lemon sour candies. Only the end result wasn't pleasantly and surprisingly sweet. It was full of bitterness and sourness.)

Eleanor was helping Daphne get ready along with Lady Bridgerton for her first debutante season. Daphne had been preparing and prepping to become the diamond of the season. That was all Lady Bridgerton, otherwise known as Violet, ever wanted for her daughter. Being the diamond of the season meant so much more than most people outside of London realised.

The diamond of the season seemed to be able to have their first picks in men. They were the rarity that stood out to the Queen and all that mattered at the end of the day was that they fulfilled their duty and became a wife and eventually mother to someone. This was all Daphne ever knew and Eleanor could see the look of determination in her eyes as she could tell Daphne was not a force to be reckoned with this season. She had her eyes on the prize.

And that prize was to be the diamond.

"You look beautiful, Daphne," Eleanor marveled at her cousin.

"Are you sure?" Daphne asked her, not believing someone who claims they are her cousin when she has never known her. "What d'you think, mother?"

(Eleanor was put off a bit by her dismissive attitude but she chose to ignore it for the sake of what today was. She knew how important this day was to Daphne and she didn't want to ruin it by being petty back.)

And it took a lot of will power to not talk back.

"DAPHNE!!!" They heard a yell from downstairs which could only mean that it was from Eloise. "YOU MUST MAKE HASTE!"

"I think that's our cue to leave," Violet said as she wore a cheerful smile.

Eleanor let out a tiny giggle and Daphne, ever the frazzled one, made her way out the room almost as if she forgot the others in her family. This was after all her debut. This was what she had been working toward and now? The day had finally arrived.

"Where's your brother Anthony, Benedict?" Violet asked the second oldest.

"I haven't got a clue," he sighed as he looked round the front yard.

"Well he mustn't miss this big day for his sister wherever he is," Violet shook her head as they all one by one got into the carriage and Benedict was guiding the horses.

(Little did they know that Anthony was having hot, fast sex with a certain opera singer named Siena.)

"Don't mind her," Eloise told her eldest cousin as she linked arms with her. "Besides, it's me who is the better sister."

Eleanor let out a laugh as she tried to quiet down and followed them into the carriage. Eleanor had to admit that even though Eloise was younger than her, she liked her. She was much more easier to talk to than Daphne. Daphne had her attention on only one thing: finding a husband.

It seemed all Daphne wanted to talk about was how to be a proper lady. What a lady shouldn't be doing. It often seemed as though Daphne was trying to be Eleanor's mother and it drove her absolutely bonkers. She was the one who was a year older than Daphne as Daphne was one-and-twenty.

Who did she think she was anyway?

Whatever Daphne's problem was - Eleanor was determined to fight it. This was her season to find out why her family stopped talking to her mum and papa. They didn't deserve that kind of treatment. They were the most warmest and kindest people she knew and she wondered what they did to deserve being cut off from the family.

Eleanor caught Eloise waving at a girl who was round her age who was short and plump in figure. Her ginger hair was curly.

"Whose that?" Eleanor murmured to Eloise.

"My best friend, Penelope. I think you would like her too."

Penelope caught Eleanor staring at her and she waved shyly at the new person in the Bridgerton household. Eleanor politely waved back as both families got into their carriage.

When they got to the palace and got out of the carriage it was only then that they spotted Anthony. Daphne was in her own little world as she took in the scene in front of her. Wanting to remember this day until she spotted her older brother.

"Anthony, you're here," she pointed out.

"Course I'm here," he stated the obvious. "You didn't think I would miss it did you?"

Eleanor let out a quiet giggle to herself at Anthony's answer back.

"Of course not you'll just be late," Violet bantered back making Eleanor stop but except for Benedict and Eloise noticed her giggle.

"Shall we?" Anthony asked after he shared a look with his mum and they all hooked arms with each other.

•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧.˚ *•̩̩͙ ✩. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧. ˚ *•̩̩͙ ✩.•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧.˚ *•̩̩͙ ✩. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧. ˚ 

Today is a very important day. For some more than others. It can determine who their future husband is.

For today in London those who are eligible, are presented to Her Majesty The Queen.

•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧.˚ *•̩̩͙ ✩. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧. ˚ *•̩̩͙ ✩.•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧.˚ *•̩̩͙ ✩. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧. ˚ 

"Miss Prudence Featherington. Miss Phillipa Featherington. Miss Penelope Featherington. All presented by their mother. The Right. Honourable Lady Featherington," the presenter said loudly to the people and Her Majesty as the doors opened to reveal the family.

All it took was one glance for The Queen to not be amused or think the family was anything special. What they weren't expecting after The Queen gasped was for one of the sisters to faint! Gasps of shock could be heard.

"Is she all right?" Eleanor whispered to Eloise in concern.

"She'll be fine," Eloise said with no concern for the sister.

"Miss Daphne Bridgerton. Presented by her mother. The Right. Honourable the Dowager Viscountess Bridgerton," the presenter said loudly. "Miss Eleanor Bridgerton. Presented by her aunt. The Right. Honourable the Dowager Viscountess Bridgerton."

When the announcer said Eleanor's name there were murmurs across the room as they heard her name. Daphne tried to ignore them but it was obvious that Daphne was annoyed. The Queen looked at the two young women with curiosity. One looked pure and dainty. Clean as the driven snow. The other she could see excitement and wonder. Adventure. She seemed like a free spirit.

All Eleanor could focus on was a handsome charming and devilish man. She only thought of the previous night with him and that alone.

His lips on her skin felt like burning fire coursing through her veins.

Their sighs and moans as they both came down from their highs.

The touch of his hands on her body.

The devilish smirk he gave her as he watched her come.

She never wanted it to end and yet, somehow it did. Like all good things. The Queen wondered what was on the young blonde's mind as she looked like she was lost in thought and wanted to be anywhere else but her party. The Queen was put off by this and wasn't sure whether to be intrigued by her or let her go and enjoy the rest of the season. She wondered how she never had met the cousin of the Bridgerton's. It seemed that her arrival had caused quite a stir all in its own.

Eleanor curtsied to The Queen along with her cousin and The Queen still looked at them with interest. But she was also intrigued by Daphne. Who seemed like she was rather sure of herself and confident. She saw a lot of herself in the young Daphne Bridgerton and she supposed that's what drew her to her in the first place.

But then there was Eleanor Bridgerton. There was so much mystery to the newest addition that would be joining them this summer. So much left not explored.

The Queen then stood as her lady maid took her hand and helped guide her down the stairs. She made her way to Daphne who still had not looked up at her and grabbed her chin gently to have her look up at her.

"Flawless my dear," The Queen spoke with certainty and placed a kiss on the young Bridgerton's forehead which was music to Daphne's ears.

All three women curtsied and Daphne was in such a state of shock that she couldn't believe what had just happened. Eleanor on the other hand had let out a sigh of relief. Thank God she hadn't been chosen!

•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧.˚ *•̩̩͙ ✩. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧. ˚ *•̩̩͙ ✩.•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧.˚ *•̩̩͙ ✩. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧. ˚ 

But as we know, the brighter a lady shines, the faster she may burn.

&

The more a lady is put into the shadow of darkness, there will always be light to guide her home. Like a moth to a flame.

•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧.˚ *•̩̩͙ ✩. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧. ˚ *•̩̩͙ ✩.•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧.˚ *•̩̩͙ ✩. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧. •̩̩͙*˚⁺‧. ˚ 

To say the Bridgerton family was ecstatic was an understatement.  Violet was thrilled, of course!  Eleanor knew her pa and mama didn't care about her being a diamond (though it would have helped her chances of finding a husband with higher status).  They ultimately just wanted her to find a husband.  

"Are you okay about not being chosen?" Eloise asked her cousin as they got home after meeting The Queen.

"More than okay," Eleanor let out a sigh as she finally took off heels and traded them for her more comfortable shoes which were a pink feminine platform wedge that was laced up round the ankle.  "I was hoping I wouldn't get chosen, honestly."

"Really?" Eloise asked intrigued.  "Why's that?"

"Look at the attention Daphne is getting.  It's best if I'm out of the spotlight."

"Out of the spotlight?" Eloise said as she joked around and mocked Eleanor's voice.  "Are you only joking?"

"Hey," she pouted.  "I don't sound like that.  And I am most certainly not joking."

"I hate to have to be the one to tell you this but darling, you most certainly are not out of the spotlight."

"Somehow I think you are rather delighted to be telling me that," Eleanor joked and Eloise smirked.

It's like her cousin understood who she was without having known them her whole life.  She could tell that this was going to be a summer that none of them would ever forget.  

--

^ this is Eleanor's dress and how her hair looked for the debutante.

https://soludos.com/products/lyon-wedge?variant=45153969078572

^ the shoes that Eleanor changed into towards the end.

Ahhh I'm so sorry its taken me this long to update!  I promise I'm not done with this book.  It's just hard to sometimes to get motivated.  The chapters will be longer I just needed something to help me out.  

Share your thoughts on what you think is going to happen between Simon, Daphne and Eleanor.  

What do you think of Eleanor's friendship with Eloise?