A diamond is named

Grosvenor  Square, 1813.
Dearest reader, the time has come to place
our bets for the upcoming social season. Consider
the household of the Baron Featherington.
Three misses foisted upon the marriage market
like sorrowful sows by their tasteless.. tactless mama.
Far better odds might exist in the household
of the widowed lady Rowlington

To say that Josephine was mad at her eldest brother would be a understatement as she was adorned in the white silks of being a debutant in high society. " I despise you." The girl almost growled as she pushed past Louis on the stairs.

"Come now, don't be so hard on him." A soft feminine voice said from the bottom of the stairs. Josephine's harsh gaze turned to see none other then Delilah Davenport, looking up at her with a grin on her face.  "Delilah!" The young girl shouted with delight as she dashed down the stairs, dressed gathered in her hands.

Delilah opened her arms to catch the girl in a hug, giving her a squeeze. The two girls have known each other, well almost forever and the Davenport family was rather close to the Rowlingtons.

"I shall be as hard on him as I'd like." Josephine said with her head held high. A defiant look deeply set in her eyes. That pulled a laugh from the girl.

"I just had to stop by to see you after hearing of your return! I must get back before my mama starts growing anger." Delilah said as Clara walked into the room, the brunette's eyes flickering towards her.  A small pout played across Josephine's lips as she hugged her friend once more. "I shall see you there then."

Thomas was walking up to his twin. "Plus I think it would be best for you to see the Bridgertons before your debut. They tend to get spirited." He added the last part with a chuckle. "That they do," Josephine laughed softly.

Or perhaps the widowed Viscountess Bridgerton.

A shockingly prolific family, noted for its
bounty of perfectly handsome sons and
perfectly beautiful daughters.

Eloise walked down the stairs groaning loudly. "I am already roasting." She complained about her dress as she walked with Francesca down the stairs of the large house. "Are you to complain the entire day, Eloise?" Francesca asked with some amusement in her voice. Hyacinth walking by her older sisters happily.

The door opened softly as two of the Rowlington siblings slipped inside as the footman closed the door. Unnoticed so far but the first to see them wasn't even a Bridgerton. It was none other then Robert Springs.  "Ah Thomas." He greeted the boy before taking note of the girl at his side.

"This can't be, Miss Rowlington. Robert Springs." He introduced himself in hopes of her recalling him. "Yes, hello my lord." She bobed a quick curtsy trying her best to remain proper.

"Surely I cannot be expected to bear these fashions the entire day." Eloise said bitterly. "I feel like a princess. Do I look like one?" Hyacinth asked, she asked with a smile on her face. "Do you truly wish to know what I think you look like?" Eloise asked the youngest Bridgerton.

Gregory was running down the stairs. "Once your left!" He shouted as he pushed past Hyacinth. "Oh, Gregory!" The girl complained before taking off after him as they reached the bottom of the stairs.

"Is our dear sister still not ready?" Benedict asked with a amused smile, seeing Eloise and Francesca but not Daphne. "Oh, she's only been readying herself the entire night." Francesca said with a smile gracing her face. "You mean her entire life." Eloise shot back.

Robert, Thomas and Josephine were making there way towards where the siblings were. The three talking quickly in polite small talk.

"I shall run upstairs and hasten her along." Colin said, looking towards his siblings. He went to move upstairs when Benedict hurried after him. "Colin, wait. I'll do it." He said following after him. Eloise walking after them. "She like me much better than you, Benedict." The younger brother replied with a slight smile. Josephine's eyes shined seeing her three favorite Bridgertons.

"Did she say that?" A slight hurt tone in his voice as he looked towards Colin. "Everyone says that." He replied simply as if it was common knowledge. Eloise groaned with a roll of her eyes at the competitiveness between  her brothers.

She move towards the base of the stairs. "Daphne!!" She yelled, making the two youngest Bridgertons freeze in their tracks and definitely catching the attention of those around her, everything falling silent. "You must make haste!" She called up.

Eloise turned back to look at her siblings, a smile falling across her face. "Should you think she heard me?" She asked in a much softer voice then the one she used before. Colin has a slight smile on his face at that whole Benedict looked at her mouth slightly open and disbelief on his face. Eloise's eyes going past them to see a old friend.

Josephine couldn't help the laugh that left her lips. "Josephine!" Eloise cried in pure shock as she rushed over to hug her tightly, the girl happily returning it. Out of all the girls she knew Eloise was closest to her only beaten out by Delilah.

The name that left her lips caught the attention of the two boys. "Jose!?" Colin smiled widely as he quickly walked towards her,  picking her up in a hug. Her arms having to go around his neck in hopes that she doesn't fall. A look crossed one of the maids faces before she quickly covered it at how unproper and frankly sort of scandalous the reunion was.

"Colin." She spoke his name happily as she was finally placed back on her feet but she was soon developed in another hug by Benedict. "When did you get back?" He asked. "Yesterday. I've missed you all so much." Josephine was rarely so unguarded but she felt safe around these boys more then she did around Louis or Elmer; yes she knew her brothers wouldn't hurt her but they probably wouldn't accept her as she truly is.

How very perfect, indeed!

The families of the ton all rushed outside to their carriages to avoid being late for the beginning of the social season. As Daphne got into the carriage Violet walked towards where Benedict was mounting his horse. "Any sigh of him yet?" She sighed at the fact she didn't get a reply. "Should your brother wish  to be obeyed as Lord Bridgerton,  he must act as Lord Bridgerton. Where is he, Benedict?" She asked her son. "I do not know." He replied getting a hum in response from his mother before she joined them in the carriage.

Josephine was glaring out of the carriage window, pulled away from Delilah, Colin and Benedict to be in the coach with only Ida, Clara and Elmer. Thomas and Louis riding their horses there, a idea that Josephine would have much prefered over being trapped. She picked at the edge of her long white gloves. "Stop that dearest." Her mother spoke through gritted teeth, she wished the finishing school would have worked on her and would have broke the rebellious spirit that ran dangerously through her.

The families arrived at the palace to be presented to Queen Charlotte. The debutantes wearing dresses of white and gold, giving them all a look of pureness and innocents.

Daphne stepped out and looked in awe of the place, watching some of the young women walking in. "Anthony!  You are here." She did her best to mask the surprise in her voice.  "Of course I am here, sister. I'd never miss such an important day for you and our family." He said as he looked towards his family.

Violet getting out of the carriage. "No, you would just be late for it." She said sassily before offering her arm towards Daphne to lead her inside. "Shall we?" Anthony asked as he offered his arm to her as well. Daphne sighing in bliss as she put her arm through Anthony's.

The mamas helped their daughters get ready, fixing the large plume in their hair as they awaited being called. The men and ladies who were either married or not of age to be out yet all waited to see them. Brandon standing close to the Rowlingtons as was Charles.

Philip Brentwood-Smith walked through the crowd, his eyes scanning the emtirty of the ton all gathered to see the presentation of the young women, all to see who the diamond of the season would be.

Today is a most important day, and for some
a terrifying one, for today is the day
London's marriage-minded misses
are presented to Her Majesty the Queen.
May God have mercy on their souls.

"Miss Prudence Featherington, Miss Philippa Featherington and Miss Penelope Featherington...all presented by their mother, the Right Honorable Lady Featherington." The man announced as the two doors opened, allowing the women to walk through towards the Queen, one of the first being called upon.

Queen Charlotte's eyes were narrowed as she watched them approach, a stern look on her face as she judged each one in her mind. Penelope looked towards the side to see the distressed looking Eloise, the red haired girl offering a smile, glad to see her friend. Soft murmurs filling the attendees as they spoke about the three young ladies.

Once they had reached the front the three girls dipped into curtsies, some doing better then others. The Queen was slouching slightly in the throne she sat in before waving the three off with a slight raise of her upper lip in disapproval, Prudence fainting onto teh steps se ding gasps through the crowd. Brandon's lips quirked up slightly in amusement.

It is only the Queen's eye that matters today.
A glimmer of displeasure and a young lady's
value plummets to unthinkable depths.

"Miss Molly Blake, present by her mother, the Right Honorable Lady Blake." The doors opened, the blonde haired girl wearing a bright smile as she walked with her mother at her side. Molly seemingly being a ball of endless sunlight. A few young men looking towards her with some interest. 

She curtsied before the Queen, bowing her head low. Once she looked up again she noticed the Queen's features didn't change much when looking at her yet the small nod Queen Charlotte gave was enough to make her relax a bit. Moving off to the side to watch the other girls walk down, she couldn't wait to see those she considered friends.

Molly looked across the way to see Clara, the girl was presented last year and has yet to marry but she wasn't joining her sister in being presented again.

"Miss Phoebe Flanagan, presented by her mother, the Right Honorable Lady Norton." Phoebe walked with a sureness in her steps. She wasn't totally against the idea of marriage but the idea wasn't wholly appealing towards her.

While the name was familiar to the Rowlingtons the face of the girl wasn't. She was all grown up, so diffrent from the young girl. Thomas wondered if this is what Colin and Benedict felt when seeing Josephine for the first time again.

Charles looked at the young woman then towards Thomas, seeing his eyes following her up the steps. A small frown playing at the newest member of the ton's face. Feeling eyes on him Thomas looked over at Charles, giving him a smile.

Phoebe was a calm and collected girl, so the bow she presented was flawless as she knew what she was supposed to do and that she would do it without question; to make her parents happy. Queen Charlotte looked at the girl with intense eyes before her lips quirked up in a swift smile but one Lady Norton caught, thrilled that her daughter got a smile from the Queen. 

"Miss Delilah Davenport, presented by her mother, the Right Honorable Lady Davenport." Delilah was a blessing to the ton with her sunshine personality and infections laugh. Lady Davenport looked proud as her and her daughter walked together.

Delilah's brown eyes scanned the hall when she saw the Rowlington family, feeling a sense of comfort at the familiar presence of her greatest friends.

Even the Queen felt a soft smile coming to her face at Delilah's being. The way Delilah could light up a room was difficult to comprehend but she did it so effortlessly.

The girl dipped down, her movements fluid and graceful. Lady Davenport felt nothing but pride at how her daughter had grown up. A pair of eyes on her, watching the young woman with such keen interest in their rich brown eyes.

"Miss Abigail Ratchford presented by the Right Honorable, the Dowager  Lady Danbury." Abigail was glaring the whole time she walked. Her parents had passed and her title striped away due to the fact she wasn't born a male.

The whispers spread instantly as she walked, she ignored whatever looks she was given. Abigail wasn't there for friends really, only to find a husband since she's been denied the family she was born into.

The Queen looked at her with narrowed eyes, the way the girl walked was with too much confidence, a icy demeanor seeping into the air around her yet she dipped into a respectable bow at the Queen's feet.

Queen Charlotte was watching her before giving a dismissive wave of her hand. Where that would make some girls falter it didn't even cause a stumble in Abigail's stride.

"Dutchess Estella Di Giovanni, presented in proxy by her mother, the Right Honorable princess Giulia Di Giovanni." Everyone looked momentarily confused but their eyes followed Estella as she walked...by herself up towards the queen.

Louis's head tilting to the side as he watched the woman who moved with grace and dignity. He wondered why she was alone though, it was extremely odd in this day and age.

The princess held herself well, though it was clear she was guarded a shine in her deep eyes was enough to make some of the men in the crowd look at her with the potentialness of being married to her. Estella bowed, a smile crossing the Queen's face at the woman. She could tell Estella would definitely be a high point in this season...but a diamond? She was unsure about that with the walls Estella had built up around her.

"Miss Gwendolyn Cunningham presented by.." The announcer paused for a moment as he looked down at the words. "Presented by herself?" He spoke unsurely. But the doors opened and sure enough the girl walked out along. Now Louis was definitely curious about what this season would hold with such a group of women, his sister included, that rebelled against society.

The curls of her short brown hair bouncing with each step. She had a carefree nature to her and she had a soft smile resting on her lips with a look of pure wonder that shined deep from in her eyes. As she curtsied before the Queen, the older woman looked at her with some curiosity in her eyes, perplexed by the girl for a moment.

"Miss Josephine Rowlington, presented by her mother, the Right Honorable, the Dowager  Lady Rowlington." Hearing the name announced Brandon looked towards the doors, surprising himself with the eagerness he felt to see the girl once again after so long, even back then not truly knowing each other. 

The young woman walked out, her posture fine and her face relaxed as she tried to seem pleasant and she seemed to succeed as a murmur of excitement rippled through the crowd as the Rowlingtons sister had returned to them.

She bowed in such a graceful manner, a thing that was practically beaten into her at the finishing school she attended.  The Queen stood from her throne, walking in a circle around Josephine. Brandon taking note of the quick flash of anger on the younger woman's face when the Queen was behind her.

Giving a small hum Queen Charlotte moved back to her seat, giving a small nod. Brandon couldn't help but wonder if he was currently watching the seasons diamond.  Louis wondered the same hopefully, it would make finding a husband for her easier. Josephine and Ida moved to stand by their family. Charles looking over at Josephine and offering her a soft smile, shocking him to receive one in return..maybe because it's a social event.

"Miss Daphne Bridgerton, presented by her mother, the Right Honorable, the Dowager Viscountess Bridgerton." The doors opened to show the eldest Bridgerton girl. Daphne smiling kindly as she walked up with her mother following behind. Daphne curtsied under the Queens watchful gaze.

Everyone waiting to see her reaction.  The Queen stood, taking the hand of the woman fanning her to walk down the stairs. Queen Charlotte placed a finger under Daphne's chin, guilding her back to her feet.  A smile on her lips. "Flawless, my dear." The Queen praised.

The look of pure joy that crossed Daphne's face was bright as the Queen gently took her face in her hands, placing a kiss to the young woman's forehead. With that she walked back to her chair. A look of pride and happiness on each Bridgerton's face.

Daphne stepping back to curtsy again by her mother. "Did that truly just happen?" She asked in disbelief. Violet smiling as well. "Keep smiling, dearest. They are watching you..now more than ever."

Brandon knew he probably looked shocked so he quickly changed the way his face was resting to a more natural look. Daphne Bridgerton the seasons diamond? While he might not agree who was to argue with the Queen?

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