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"𝐌𝐘 𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐆𝐈𝐑𝐋." The Queens voice filled her chamber as she dressed in a tight fitted gown of gold and white that matched her mothers. It was the start of a new Season and her mother was to decide on who would be the Diamond.

"Mother," she grinned in the mirror as the maids tied up the last of her strings before bowing and leaving quickly.

"I already suspect that most of these women will not be worth my time but you," she reached her hand out and felt her daughters cheek as she smiled at her. "If only I could have you be the diamond of every season."

Anastasia shook her head, "but then young ladies like Daphne Bridgerton would not have the chance." She'd stayed up to noon with her mother about the most important of talks and the most peculiar family seemed to be the Bridgertons. "Besides, the ton already knows I'm the fairest diamond of them all."

"And right they are, now come, we must prepare for this event I don't know why I bother to plan." Anastasia let out a small laugh at her mothers words but easily matched her long strides and Charlotte realised just how much her little Anna had grown.

Her face slimmer and skin darker with arms not like a typical lady would have, they were shapely, not too much but still to an extent where you could trace a line over each muscle. She had grown taller and well spoken all without losing her gentle touch, her eyes were still wide but certainly mature, she had seen the world in her own eyes.

The dress she sported was one of the finest gowns in France she had acquired, it was unlike any of the Queens. She didn't own any dresses like hers actually, the satin was long and pooling at her feet that matched her heels, right around her middle and covering enough of her chest that revealed nothing but an outline. White and gold straps that lead to white laced in gold gloves down her arms, the Queen couldn't have adored it more.

"Little princess," the withered voice reached her ears and a smile already spread itself across her face. Her cheeks were starting to ache.

"Lady Danbury."

The elder woman couldn't stop the look of awe that spread across her face at the sight of the woman in front of her. "Look at you."

Anastasia felt a blush creep up her neck before she was embraced in a hug and warmth spread throughout her chest. "Look at you, Aunt Agatha you are a picture of health."

She pulled away and held a gentle hand on Anastasia's cheek, "and you are more beautiful than anyone could have ever imagined."

"You sound just like my mother." She said sheepishly whilst glancing around at the guards stationed at every post.

"Then it is bound to be true." Anastasia realised she couldn't have wished home more and was not planning on sailing any ship any time soon. She offered her arm to Lady Danbury and the two entered the threshold.

It also appeared that as Anastasia took her seat next to her mother with Brimsley behind her who she gave a warm smile too, which he returned tenfold. He too had given his best interest in helping the young girl, besides any of the teachers or interpreters, he was a friend.

Eyes instantly lingered on a figure and heads were turned to the front of the hall instead of the end. They knew who she was, they hadn't seen her face but they knew who she was and she was impressive.

Her back was straight against the chair, one elbow resting on the arm and the other was folded neatly in her lap. Head high and easily noticeable traces of a ever present smile that would easily come about at the crowd of the ton, only few were real smiles.

Although there were handsome faces in the crowd she was only peering to catch a glimpse at the pretty ones.

"Miss Cordelia Patrige," the girl looked confident and Anastasia thought pretty as she neared the lions den. Her mothers face gave no interest and she even yawned at several of the young ladies who left with tears in their eyes. Anastasia gave them soothing smiles in hopes of nurturing their sadness but not having the approval of the queen sent a punch to the gut.

"The Lady Abigail Evans."

"Miss Mary Ann Hallewell."

The list went on, Anastasia herself was becoming rather bored with the whole ordeal and resided to looking out the windows.

"The Dowager Viscountess Bridgerton and Miss Eloise Bridgerton."

Anastasia turned her head back and stared down at the hall with her brown eyes wide. Not only at the name Bridgerton but at the fact that the girl looked positively ready to faint. She seemed to jut her steps almost as if every one she took pained her, her chest moved rapidly and it was obvious her hands were shaking.

Even from afar Anastasia could see the bluest of eyes that shined with tears from the glimmer of the window. She was looking nowhere and everywhere, the eyes of the ton, back to the Queen and objects all around her.

In Anastasia's mind all she was begging her to do was to look at her, even for a moment.

"Your Majesty, she has written." A footman came aside with a leaflet with the title in bold and Anastasia felt a small frown appear 𝐋𝐀𝐃𝐘 𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐋𝐄𝐃𝐎𝐖𝐍.

The Queens eyes remained glued to the paper in her hand and a twinkle held in her eye. "I've seen enough," she waved with her hand.

The audience murmured amongst themselves and fell into a chatter, they didn't know what to do with one another. Yet, Anastasia wasn't interested in them as she rose from her seat, still staring down at the girl at the start of the hall. This Miss Eloise still had not met her eye but instead jumped in delight and ran further back into the castle that made the princess raise an eyebrow in curiosity.

No Lady would act so overjoyed if the Queen had dismissed them so suddenly, especially to read something like Whistledown, but that's when Anastasia knew. She must speak with this Bridgerton at once.

𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐀 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐍𝐄𝐃 𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐂𝐇, 𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐌𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐋𝐀𝐃𝐘 𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐁𝐔𝐑𝐘 𝐒𝐀𝐓 𝐎𝐍 𝐀𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐅𝐋𝐄𝐓 𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐒𝐓 𝐒𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐈𝐃 𝐒𝐎 𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃𝐄𝐑.

Your move, your majesty.

Lady Danbury could've laughed on end as the mother and daughter next to her wore the same look. Pure disgust.

"What an annoyance to society, you truly have not rid her of this kind of power?" As she went to sit a chair was instantly pushed forward for her, she sighed tirelessly against the red silk.

"I'll have you know that this woman is clever," a sharp look was sent to Anastasia who was giving her a raised brow, "but certainly not cleverer than me."

"And now you have me," Lady Danbury and the Queen shared a glance with one another at her bold statement. "I have eyes and ears everywhere, rest assured I will find out who it is by the end of the season."

"You're sure of yourself," Agatha mused with her tea hiding her lips.

"Indeed I am," she grinned but it soon fell into a wistful expression as she looked at the floorboard underneath the carpet and was reminded of how they creaked as the Bridgerton stepped on them. "These Bridgertons she often mentions, are they a respectable family?"

The Queen appeared thoughtful, "well their daughter was named a diamond in her first season and managed to marry."

Anastasia nodded but this wasn't who she exactly wanted to hear about, "and what about the daughter today, the other Bridgerton girl."

Her mother seemed to be hiding a heart laugh, "and why are you now taking such an interest in gossip of the ton?"

Anastasia gaped, "I am not. I would simply like to know if you plan to make the Bridgerton name a streak."

Charlotte narrowed her eyes at her daughter before humming quietly, Lady Danbury had stayed silent through the ordeal whilst keeping her eyes on Anastasia.

"Very well, if you have so much an interest then they will be personally invited to the soirée, a celebration for their princesses return."

"Let that be a welcome party for it is I who shall host the real ceremony."

"Fireworks?" She asked expressly to her mother who nodded dutifully. Anastasia shared her live for the new invention much like her father and at any excuse either would like them. At first Charlotte was worried that because she was mute it would make matters worse but when the bright colours illuminated the night sky and clapped her hands together in delight.

The king and Queen made it mandatory to have fireworks at every occasion, small or large.

Anastasia kissed her mothers cheek appreciatively before dusting off her dress and the chair was taken from behind her again. "I thank you but it would appear I did not receive enough sleep since return, Goodnight Aunt, mother."

She left the room with haste, her mind on only one destination that was her bed but as she crossed the stone paths she stopped on a grand, golden door. A chill ran up her as she placed a hand on the handle that stung against her palm.

If she stood here long enough it was almost as if she was holding her fathers hand in her own, he was the shell of a man long before she had left but she remembered Georgie well. He was kind, a gentle giant who Anastasia shared her interest in the stars with.

Until one night when she was eight, she held her hands over her ears as he pointed and blamed her mother for the loss of her older sister. Amelia.

Sweet Amelia, who was snatched by the cold and taken to a cloud of pure sugar and chocolates was what Anastasia liked to think. As she grew older she learned of her fathers condition, her heart yearned to help him but no one knew what he had.

So, her voyage was not only one for adventure but for a cure or something that could divulge in helping ease his mind. There were herbs at best but no medicine, she did not give up hope, when she next traveled it would be solely to cure her fathers illness.

That was a promise. So, with a heavier heart than before, she left. Her hand slid off the handle and fell back to her side before she left.

Even though she was grown when she saw her father like that it still struck at her heart strings, to see him get confused and call her Amelia. To shout at her mother or the sky itself, then to ramble and mutter whilst pottering about the room with metal in his hands. When he was like that he was no longer Georgie or King George, he was a stranger in a very large home that he didn't recognise.

Anastasia just hoped that within the time she stayed this season that her father would be Georgie and nothing more. Though that would never happen.

Although, as she stripped from the gown and heels, all the heavy emeralds that adorned her figure. As she unravelled in the crisp sheets and closed her eyes she snapped them open with wide eyes. Why? Why was she seeing that girl with the feathery hat in her mind? Why was she only seeing her face?

A grimace overtook her, "damn that Eloise."

𝐈𝐍 𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐆𝐄𝐑𝐓𝐎𝐍 𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐎𝐑, Eloise slept perfectly content with her arms sprawled and hair messy with a heart full of thanks for Lady Whistledown. The first thanks and the only one she will ever receive from the Bridgerton.

However, a copy of Lady Whistledown was sat at her desk side table with several words underlined.

Incase this season could not get more undoubtedly rambunctious it is said that the princess of England is to return. Will the heiress play fair after her time away in uncharted lands or will she intend to marry.

It appeared that Eloise had already known of Anastasia's return before she had learned of the Bridgeton girl herself.