Chapter Text
As the carriage rolled through the gates of the Desmaisons estate, Lord Richard Desmaisons and Lady Elisabeth Desmaisons were waiting alongside the whole house staff for their daughter. Sent away in France at merely four years old for her education, she now stood at sixteen years of age. And for the first time in all those twelve years, the Desmaisons would finally be able to see who their dear Y/N grew out to be.
The carriage finally came to a stop, and the valet opened the door, offering his hand out to help the young lady. As she alighted, an elegant figure emerged. Skin clear, small smile, hair up and dressed in a luxurious French gown, Y/N Desmaisons was nothing short of the amazing young woman her tutor had described in their letters.
‘Dearest,’ Lady Desmaisons was the first to move, walking down the stairs of the front door, she opened her arms to hold her daughter.
Lord Desmaisons was waiting patiently for them both to return to the threshold. As Y/N stood before him, a small appreciative smile crept up on his stone-cold face.
‘You grew well, it is good to have you back.’
---
Meanwhile, in the streets of London, the ton was already speculating about the young Desmaisons heiress.
‘She was sent all those years in France, some say she cannot even speak English.’
‘You know, if her parents decided to hide her away for so many years, surely she must be some kind of freak.’
‘The mystery, the intrigue around her… The Desmaisons will be dangerous pawns this season.’
But the real action was happening in the few houses of the Desmaisons’ friends. The Greengrass, the Notts, the Blackwoods, the Parkinsons and even the Berkshires all received an invitation : a formal dinner at the Desmaisons’ countryside estate to officially introduce Y/N during an intimate gathering before furthermore. When the letters arrived, delivered by beautiful owlets, reactions varied from curiosity to doubt, but all responded affirmatively with excitement.
---
In the meantime, Lady Elisabeth was already preparing the event, a sharp eye on every detail. While Lord Richard was still tending to business in London, she was with Y/N in their mansion near Buckinghamshire.
‘The light blue dress would do just fine dear’ Lady Desmaisons told her daughter, dismissing the maids from the room.
‘Most of the guests have children around your age, do not let any of them deter you.’ She said detachedly.
‘I won’t, mother.’ Y/N answered, confident. ‘I already know Astoria, you do know I entertained a correspondence with her for many years now. And I am acquainted with Daphne.’
Lady Desmaisons sighed, smiling. ‘I do know. The youngest of the Greengrass is a good friend of the young Parkinson heiress, Pansy. I do hope that you will be able to find solace in their compagny.’ She frowned though. ‘Will you play a piece at the piano? Should I bring the grand one from the drawing room to the ballroom?’
She nodded. ‘I will need to practice a little beforehand.’
---
The evening came quickly after a week of meticulous planning. The Greengrass were the first to arrive. Lady and Lord Greengrass being very close friends with the Desmaisons family were welcomed warmly.
‘Look what you have become,’ the youngest heiress, Astoria, smiled, genuinely delighted to see Y/N.
‘You are the one to talk, lady Greengrass,’ Y/N smirked.
‘You need to tell me how your travel went. It has been too long since your last letter.’ Astoria grabbed her arm as they walked in the grandroom.
The rest of the guests arrived, one after the other. Important business partners, long family friends, and far relatives were now all gathered in the ballroom. Y/N navigated the crowd with ease, which greatly surprised more than one who thought they would meet a reserved uncomfortable young girl. But she greeted everyone, led by her father and her mother. Perfect curtsies, kind smile, and elegance so characteristic of the Desmaisons. Everyone was enamored with her, and for the last few ones who doubted, it all went away when Y/N sat down behind the piano.
After her show, Y/N walked toward Astoria, who was in the compagny of lady Parkinson.
‘Quite the performance, lady Desmaisons.’ Pansy said, obviously trying to test Y/N.
‘Pansy…’ Astoria tried.
‘Well, thank you, lady Parkinson. I believe you play the violin yourself. We could do a duo one day perhaps.’ Y/N responded, smiling knowingly. Pansy looked positively surprised of the confidence and the slight sass.
‘We could.’ She smirked. ‘You know, Astoria’s friends are my friends, so you may call me Pansy.’
Y/N, a little taken aback, curtsied with a grateful smile. ‘Right back at you Pansy, please call me Y/N.’
Astoria smiled appreciatively. ‘Well ladies, I believe we have a lot to discuss. Y/N, are you being presented as a debutante this season?’
‘Yes, maman was very adamant for me to be available as soon as possible’
As the words left her mouth Astoria and Pansy looked at each other seemingly delighted, a glint of mischief in their eyes.
‘Well it’s bound to be an interesting season for sure. Us three to enter the season’s festivities, and the sons of Duke Willow and Duke Riddle, I just cannot wait.’ Astoria said with a smirk.
‘Do not get your hopes up too much dear friend, you still are promised to this oh-so-sweet lord Malfoy’ Pansy said teasingly.
Y/N, looking a bit lost at all the names, ‘Wait, who are those people, and what do you mean promised? Astoria?’
‘Oh dearest, we will have so much to teach you.’
---
Soon after her introduction, Y/N was invited to the Greengrass estate to spend time with Pansy and Astoria before the first ball of the season. The Spring Ball was one of the most important of the season. Hosted by the Duchess of Merlberry, it was the moment to make the best first impression on both the crowd and the Crown. For, yes, it was one of the rare balls in which Their Royal Highnesses took part in.
‘Do you know what you will wear already? I have the seamstress arranging a gown, but I am not sure it is the right one anymore.’ Pansy asked, somewhat detached, while rifling through fabric samples.
‘I will wear my new light rose dress. It will do nicely.’ Astoria answered, a teacup in hand.
Y/N perked up, ‘The one from Italy? You set the bar high Astoria.’
‘Please, you are the one to talk, but I am sure you know exactly what you are doing already’
Y/N smirked, ‘Mmmh, I have this ivory dress embroidered with grey zircon, the one I brought from France. I believe Maman told me Her Majesty liked that gemstone.’
Pansy looked up at that, incredulous, ‘You little sneaky genius.’
Y/N laughed softly, ‘Do not worry Pansy. I believe if your dress is in that crimson red you are holding, none of us will be able to compete.’
With a scoff, Pansy sat down in the third chair between Astoria and Y/N, ‘The expectations are sky-high this year. I swear Mama is having grey hair just from trying to organize my wardrobe.’
‘The Dukes’ sons are not helping either. I tell you, if I have to listen to Petunia go on again about becoming a duchess by the end of next year, I shall claw my eyes out’, Astoria complained.
Pansy shot her a teasing look. ‘You have nothing to worry about, dear friend. You already have your dear betrothed Draco to attend to.’
‘He still needs to behave like a gentleman. I will not settle for less, whatever Papa wants,’ She answered with a slight pout.
Meanwhile, Y/N was softly giggling at their antics. The sound made the girls pause, and in a shared, silent agreement, they shifted their focus.
‘Do not laugh too much Y/N, we all are in the same boat here.’
‘Indeed, you will have to find yourself a respectfable suitor too. Are you already eyeing someone?’ Pansy asked wiggling her eyebrows.
Y/N actually laughed this time, ‘I do not know many people, how could I have a favourite already?’
‘I mean, you do not need to know Mattheo Riddle to pursue him, his title is enough.’ Pansy said as a matter-of-factly.
‘You could say the same for Ellias Willow, soon to be Duke.’ Astoria added, exaggerating her tone.
This time Y/N was left a little dumbfounded, ‘Well, I thought you needed to know the person before anything happens. What if he is some kind of brute? I do not wish to spend my life on the arm of someone I do not even like.’
‘Oh sweet Y/N. If life were this simple.’ Pansy sighed, dramatically throwing her arm over her eyes in mock drama.
‘Keep that genuine innocence dear, it is refreshing. Especially after spending hours with Petunia.’ Astoria grimaced.
---
At the Desmaisons estate, Lady Elisabeth was fussing over her daughter.
‘I will guide you. First, you must thank the Duchess for being the host of the soirée. Then, I will introduce you to Their Majesty the King and the Queen. Keep it simple, do not show off. They will recognise your worth in the finer details.’
‘Maman. I know. I am ready.’ Y/N stood still while her maid, Henriette, and the seamstress, both under her mother’s supervision, were fitting her dress and jewelleries.
Lady Desmaisons just ignored her and continued. ‘After all this, I will let you mingle. Do not get too caught up with one person, be sociable and look approachable. Do not let those like Riddle or Willow get to you. If you do not even engage with them, the better. Include Berkshire to that list.’
‘The Berkshires? I have already met them, at the gathering. They are good business partners, are they not?’ Y/N asked her mother, puzzled as to what she meant.
‘You have met the heads of the house, but not their son, Lorenzo. He is too frivolous, not the sort who would suit you, my treasure’
‘Maman…’ She replied, rolling her eyes.
‘And if you need me, I will be standing with the other mothers upstairs. Your father will probably be in another drawing room among the men.’ And just like that Lady Elisabeth went on and on, Y/N tuned her out.
She was not stressed, she was ready.
What she did wonder, though, was : what if she remained invisible? What if she wasn’t interesting enough? What if she spent the entire evening like a wall decoration?
But no. She shook her head, refocusing on her mother’s instructions.
She was ready.
Now it was England’s trun to be ready for her.