It was a warm summer day in the south of France, Provence to be exact, as Eleanor prepared the tea.  It wasn't completely hot as there was a nice breeze flowing through the wind.  She had her trunks packed as she was going to be gone for a whilst as her pet cat, Gaston, was sitting outside with her as he did a sensual walk to a slinky strut and he walked between her legs and purred as he was excited to be with his owner.

The Bridgerton family enjoyed the quiet countryside of Provence.  Since her father, James, had been cut off from the Bridgerton family money the moment he married his wife who was Eleanor's mother, Mary, he had started his own business making whiskey as he named it JB Whiskey.  It had quickly become one of the most sought after liquors in all of Europe shipping to the UK, Italy, Austria, Belgium and of course France.  James and Mary Bridgerton did not have titles nor were they insistent on having them.  They were perfectly content with the life they had in France.  They did not care if their daughter married a man of great title nor did they urge her to.  They only wanted their daughter's happiness and if that man were to hold one they would actually be concerned, worried in fact, as they do not want happened to them to happen to her.  

She would miss home.  She would miss her maman and papa.  Her friends.  Gaston.  Everything that she was familiar with would be but a mere memory to her.  

If she were being honest, she was surprised that her father even was allowing her to go to England.  It had taken loads of convincing from her mother but eventually he gave in and he was hoping he made the right decision.  What helped him to stay afloat was that he was thinking of his daughter's future.  

(Her father hadn't spoken to his siblings in ages.  It was remarkable that he even allowed her to visit them.)

It all started back when her papa began to date her maman.  When he first started courting her and had mentioned to his siblings, specifically Hugo, how much he loved her, he forbade it.  Thus, creating tension between the brothers.  Not only did he not give his blessing for them to be married, but he even tried tearing them apart, by setting her papa up to make it seem like he was unfaithful to the woman he wanted to marry.

Unlike the rest of her cousins from aunt Violet, she still had both of her parents.  She felt like it wasn't fair that she got to experience what having both parents felt like whilst they only had one.  Life could be so unfair sometimes.  

"Je t'aime, Ella," her maman tells her as she kisses her head and she closes her eyes as she holds her.

"Je t'aime, maman," she kissed her mother's cheek and moved onto her father as he pulled her in for a hug.

"Be careful, oui?" He asked his daughter and she nodded her head against his clothes.  

"Je t'aime, papillon," he tells her as he kisses her head as well.  (I love you, butterfly).

"Je t'aime maman and papa," she tells them both and kisses his stubbled cheek that felt like tiny pine needles from the Christmas pine tree.  

Though the Bridgerton family was not French, they had lived there for her whole life, twenty-three years to be exact, she almost spoke French fluently.  Sometimes even having a French accent as she spoke it but that was few and far between.

Her trunks were being loaded into the carriage as they spent the last few moments with each other until she would come home again.  

"Miss, we're ready for you," the man told the young woman and she smiled at him and thanked him.

"Au revoir papa and mama," Eleanor waved to her parents as her carriage took off.  

Dear readers,

It is time for another debutante season!  We are told that Miss Daphne Bridgerton is one to keep an eye on.  Who knows what will happen with the Bridgerton family as we are told that they are also having a cousin come live with them for the season as well.

Apparently there is family drama where her parents don't speak to Lady Violet Bridgerton.  One must wonder what that is?  Though there has always been speculation as to why the two families do not speak much, it is much of an amazement that she was even allowed to come at all, given their history.  

I guess it's true what they say - keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

But is Miss Eleanor Bridgerton truly an enemy to the Bridgerton family?  Some who have seen her would declare to say yes, she is indeed, especially to the young Miss Daphne Bridgerton who is hoping to make her debut.  I guess we shall see.  

Yours truly,

Lady Wistledown 

Eleanor had to admit that she was feeling uneasy about this stay as she wrung her hands together as she sat in the carriage.  She had not spoken to her cousins in years.  There was only once she remembered when she had been with them.  She did not know their interests, what they liked and didn't like, nor something as simple as their favourite colour.  She hoped that it might not be awkward the entirety of the time she will be there and that perhaps maybe, just maybe, she might gain friendship with some of them if not all of them.  

As the carriage came to a halt, the footman helped her out as he held her hand and the first thing she noticed about the Bridgerton home was that all of the help along with the entire Bridgerton family was outside, waiting for her.  Eleanor thought the wisteria that was cascaded on the home was beautiful as it was one of her favourite flowers other than roses.  

Lady Violet was the first to come forward with a hesitant but nonetheless smile on her face followed by Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory and Hyacinth.  

One thing that Eleanor noticed right away was how serious Daphne was for this debutante season.  She had to wonder why?  For whilst she herself was apart of the debutante season, she knew not to take it too seriously and be consumed in the process.

If you are, it eats you alive.

Daphne walked up to her cousin with her shoulders back and head held high as she gave her a small smirk.

"Dearest cousin," Daphne faked her charm and grabbed Eleanor's hands in hers as Eloise rolled her eyes at the oozing fakeness that was dripping out of Daphne.  "It is so nice to see you again."

"You as well," Eleanor smiled at her cousin, not realising Daphne's demeanor towards her, but all of the Bridgerton siblings could tell.  "Thank you again, aunt Violet for letting me stay here," she tells her aunt with a small smile.

"You are very welcome, dear," Violet tells her with a bright smile.  "You have grown into a beautiful young woman," she told her niece as she tried to be polite but she was also hesitant with her smile as she worried for her daughter, Daphne, and what might happen with her debut.  

"Thank you," she smiled at her aunt as Eloise made a gagging signal to her brother Benedict who smirked at her.

"Are we done with all these formal pleasantries now?" Eloise asked impatiently.  "Can I take Eleanor into town and show her to all the nice shops?"

"Y-yes, of course," Violet said somewhat stunned at her daughter's reaction.

Eloise linked arms with her cousin and they left.

"Thank you for saving me back there," she murmured to her cousin and Eloise laughed as Eleanor had figured it out.

"I have a feeling we are going to get on just fine," Eloise smiled at her and Eleanor did as well as they left.

*

"Now, what is this Lady Whistle-whatever person I have heard gossip of over the ton?" Eleanor asked Eloise as they linked arms and Eloise laughed at her cousin's question.

"Lady Whistledown," she corrected her.  "She's a writer of sorts.  Basically unleashes all of the latest drama.  Though I am curious how you came to knowledge of her already?"

"The butler and maids were passing around her column," Eleanor explained and Eloise had a look of understanding.  "Why would she write about me?  I have only been here once when I was very little.  She doesn't even know me."

"The thing you have to understand about Lady Whistledown is that she does not have to know you in order to spread gossip," Eloise told her.  "I have not told any of my family members this except my dear friend, Penelope, but I wish to track whoever is Lady Whisledown and find out who they are."

"Why on earth would you do that?" Eleanor let out a laugh.

"Haven't you ever wanted to meet someone and ask them questions?  Why they do it or how they get their information..."

"I have," Eleanor nodded her head in understanding.  "I wanted to ask you something actually."

"Anything," Eloise said intrigued as Eleanor began to tell her a proposition.

*

"D'you wish to go in here?" Eloise asked her cousin.  

"Sure," she shrugged her shoulders and the two young women went in as they were greeted by the shop owner.

It smelled heavenly in the store with handmade soaps and perfume.  Her father had given her money to last the whole time she was in England.  She bought a few items and even bought some soaps for Eloise, knowing she would not like perfume.  They continued onto other stores before they finally went into Eloise's favourite sweet shop as they ordered a raspberry tart and some other treats.

"What is it like?  To live in France, I mean," Eloise finished her question and Eleanor gave a fond smile of the years she lived there.

"It's amazing, truly.  There's so much culture and history there.  There's so many places to travel.  It's my home," she finished and Eloise smiled at her cousin.

"Would you say it is more your home than England?"

"Yes," she nodded her head as she ate her raspberry tart from the pastry shop they were now sitting outside at.  They were at Holly's Sweet Shop which was the most popular bakery in Mayfair.  "I do not know England well enough to consider it home as I have lived in France for as long as I can remember.  But, I am excited to be here and spend time with you all."

"I am excited as well," Eloise gave a big smile and took a bite of the tart.  "You'll have to tell me all about your time in France whilst we get to know each other."

Eleanor dived in a little bit what it was like to grow up in France and she asked about Eloise as she didn't want the entire conversation to be about her.  The whole part of this holiday was to get to know them.

It wasn't until later that aunt Violet met up with the two women, Daphne in tow, at the shop Modiste as they were needing new dresses.  Whilst Eleanor had brought some of her own, Violet insisted that they get more for her, as a young lady could never have too many dresses.  Those were the words of her aunt Violet.  As they walked in they were greeted by the shop owner who was also the seamstress.

"Ah, Madame Delacroix," Violet smiled at the seamstress.  

"Hello, Missus Bridgerton," Genevieve greeted the woman.  "Daphne, Eloise, Hyacinth and -"

"This is my niece Eleanor," Violet introduced the blonde and squeezed her shoulders in a caring way.

"Welcome to Modiste, Mademoiselle," Genevieve greeted her with a small smile.

"Bonjour," she smiled at her.

"Oh you are from France?" She asked a little startled.

"My parents moved there before I was born.  The South of France, Provence," Eleanor told the seamstress and while Genevieve seemed a little nervous, it seemed as though Eleanor caught onto that fact but she kept quiet and let Madame Delecroix do her work.  After all, Violet had sang her praises the whole walk there.

"Oh," she gave her a small smile.  "Well, welcome to Mayfair."

"Thank you," Eleanor smiled at her and Madame Delacroix walked off to get some fabric.

--

I wanted to leave it here for the first chapter but I promise to have more soon.