Chapter Text
London, April 3rd 1816
‘Dearest gentle reader,
Did you miss me because I certainly missed you.
While some of us spent their time in the countryside between last and this season, others have stayed in town, never not listening or observing what good London society is up to. And I came around some very interesting information about certain very interesting people. We will see, if I will give my knowledge away or not. If I will, definitely without names this time. After all, I did learn something very important last season.
Remain attentive, my dear readership because this season has only just begun.
Yours truly
Penelope Bridgerton’
"This season is certainly going to be very interesting." Agatha Danbury stated, putting down the society paper in her hand and on the little table. "Very interesting indeed." Violet Bridgerton replied thoughtfully to the older woman's comment regarding Penelope Bridgerton's society paper.
"So, tell me Violet. What is new with you these days?" Agatha asked her dearest friend, looking at Violet with general interest. "Well, most of my children are finally back home." Violet replied with a very happy look on her face. "Are they already?" Agatha replied happily, thinking about how quick this season has arrived and how quick winter has been over. "Yes! Eloise, Francesca, John and his cousin Michaela have arrived two days ago from Scotland. And Kate and Anthony are returning from India with little Edmund in about two days time too."
"That is good to hear. So, Francesca enjoyed her time in Scotland, I presume?" Agatha asked curiously. She knew how hard it had been for Violet to let go two of her daughters to the harsh land, as she had called Scotland last season. "Very much so. Scotland probably not only has its harsh sides, I presume. But Francesca was also happy to return to London after a while in Scotland." Violet replied excitedly. "And Eloise? How did she like it?" Agatha asked with a light smile on her lips. "Eloise has enjoyed the time there very much as well. It looks like she is eventually ready to get married. Or at least I hope so." Violet continued, rolling her eyes. Both women had to laugh at the fact that they were already back in their 'meddling mother's' persona as the seasons debut approached. The children will certainly not like it, that was the one thing both women were sure about.
"So, Eloise and Benedict are your next children to get out of the house then?" Agatha asked. "I suppose so." Violet did not have any pressure though, for both of her children. She knew that they needed their time, which she had come to have an understanding for. "Speaking of getting out of the house..." Violet started, regaining her composure and looking at Agatha with a sad and scared, but also excited and happy expression at the same time. Agatha looked at her with an open and inviting look in her eyes, letting Violet know, she could talk about everything with her. "I have decided to move out of Bridgerton house." Violet continued with light tears in her eyes. "With Anthony, Kate and little Edmund coming back from India, I want for them to have their privacy and the feeling of their home. If I am there, they will never have that feeling a hundred percent. And I will not move far away, as I still have my own children to get out of Bridgerton house in the next few years, but still..." Violet finished, looking down at her hands, playing with the fabric of her dress. "Violet..." Agatha moved a little nearer to Violet and laid her own hands down on hers to calm her friend a little bit. She knew how hard that must be for her. "Even if you move out of Bridgerton house, you will still spend much time there. I know it is not the same, but it does not have to be something negative." Violet looked up at her friend with surprise. "What could you possibly mean by that?"
"Well, you have to see the positive aspects of it. You have more time for yourself. After almost 32 years of always having a child around you, you could also do something for yourself once in a while. Because strictly speaking, the responsibility for your other children to get married, is Kate's now. Even though I suppose your children will not get rid of you so quickly, will they?" Agatha said, a little grin forming on her lips. "No, they will not." Violet replied, while wiping away a tear on her cheek. She gave Agathas hands a light squeeze and thanked her silently with her eyes.
"And otherwise?" Agatha asked after a moment of silence between the women, not satisfied with all the information she had gotten from Violet up until now. "What do you mean?" Violet asked with a confused look. "My younger brother..." Agatha continued, her grin getting wider. "Oh..." Violet replied, laughing at the sudden topic change. "Well, what could I possibly tell you."
"Well, my brother will not tell me anything, except he thinks he found the women of his dreams. That is it and me, as the woman of society who always knows everything, I know barely something..."
"He said that?" Violet asked perplexed by what Agatha just said. "Yes he did indeed." Agatha responded to Violet's question, realizing Violet had no idea how much Marcus actually cared about her. "Oh, well... I did not..." Violet had no chance of getting anything else out of her mouth, as she stumbled over every single word. Agatha's grin became a smile, as Violets cheeks blushed by the thought of her brother. These two really did care, more than they would ever admit to themselves, for each other. And even with the first objections Agatha had had against them being more than aquatinted, the idea was not so bad anymore. The past was in the past for her and her younger brother, that was certain.
"It would be a lie, if I told you that I did not like Marcus. Probably even more than 'like', I suppose." Violet answered the previous asked question nervously. She did not like to talk about these kind of topics, even if it was her closest friend with whom she could talk about it. It made her feel uncomfortable. After a brief moment, she asked: "Do you have something stronger than tea?"
~
A little while later, Violet was in the carriage on her way back to Bridgerton house. The conversation she had with Agatha had been... interesting. One could probably describe it as that. Up until now, she never really had asked herself the question who Marcus was to her. She had simply enjoyed his company.
After their first dance together last season at the Dankworth Finch ball, they had spent much time together throughout the off season. Visiting the art gallery, strolls through the park or simply sitting, talking and drinking tea together, they did it all with so much pleasure. For the first time in ages, Violet had felt alive again. The spark in her eyes, the butterflies in her stomach and the excitement she felt when she was with Marcus, they all had come back. Feelings she thought never to feel again after the death of her late husband Edmund Bridgerton, the eight Viscount Bridgerton.
"Ma'am. We have arrived." One of her servants said, ripping her out of her thoughts, as he held open the door for her. "Thank you." she replied, giving him a light smile and getting out of the carriage. A cold April breeze struck her face as she made her way inside the house.
"Mother" Collin already awaited her in the hall, as she entered. It was awfully quiet in the large mansion. "Collin, my dear." she gave him a hug, happy to see him as always. "Where is everyone?" she asked curiously. "Francesca and John have taken Gregory and Hyacinth to the park for a stroll. Michaela has an engagement at Madame Delacroix and Benedict is in his art studio." Collin replied his mother's question, as he knew how quickly she got worried when it came to her children. "Well, then." Violet answered, happy for her children to spent some time together as they had been apart for so long.
"And what brings you here, my dear?"
"I wanted to talk with you. But not here. Let us talk in the drawing room." Collin replied, walking towards the drawing room. Violet followed him curiously about what he had to say.
"So, what do you have to tell me?" she asked, as they had seated themselves on one of the couches and had gotten a hot tea. "I have found you a new house." Collin answered her question with excitement. "Oh, that is great I suppose." Violet replied after a moment with a happy but still a little sad tone in her voice. Like she had already explained to Agatha, moving out of Bridgerton house was not something easy for her to do. But after this afternoon's conversation, she felt more comfortable actually doing it because Agatha had also told her the good sides of living alone, which she was in fact very thankful for.
Collin had been so generous and had helped her with the search for a new home in the past two months. "We could look at it tomorrow afternoon, if you wish to?" he explained further. "Of course, that would be lovely."