Bridgerton

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...

Tighter.

...tactless mama.

- Tighter! - Is she to breathe, Mama?

I was able to squeeze my waist into the size of an orange and a half

when I was Prudence's age.

Your sister shall do the same.

Far better odds might exist

in the household of the widowed Viscountess Bridgerton.

A shockingly prolific family,

noted for its bounty of perfectly handsome sons

and perfectly beautiful daughters.

I am already roasting.

Are you to complain the entire day, Eloise?

Surely I cannot be expected to bear these fashions the entire day.

I feel like a princess. Do I look like one?

Do you truly wish to know what I think you look like?

- On your left! - Oh, Gregory!

Is our dear sister still not ready?

She's only been readying herself the entire night.

You mean her entire life.

I shall run upstairs and hasten her along.

- Colin, wait. I'll do it. - She likes me better than you, Benedict.

- Did she say that? - Everyone says that.

Daphne!

You must make haste!

Should you think she heard me?

How very perfect, indeed!

Stop it.

If you don't hurry up, we're going to be late.

Any sign of him yet?

Should your brother wish to be obeyed as Lord Bridgerton,

he must act as Lord Bridgerton.

Where is he, Benedict?

I do not know.

Hmm.

- Anthony! You are here. - Of course I am here, Sister.

I'd never miss such an important day for you and our family.

No, you would just be late for it.

Shall we?

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 Philipa Featherington,

and Miss Penelope Featherington...

all presented by their mother, the Right Honorable Lady Featherington.

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 Daphne Bridgerton,

presented by her mother,

the Right Honorable, the Dowager Viscountess Bridgerton.

Flawless, my dear.

- Did that truly just happen? - Keep smiling, dearest.

They are watching you...

now more than ever.

But as we know, the brighter a lady shines,

the faster she may burn.

It has been said that,

"Of all bitches dead or alive,

a scribbling woman is the most canine."

If that should be true,

then this author would like to show you her teeth.

My name is Lady Whistledown.

You do not know me, and rest assured, you never shall.

But be forewarned, dear reader,

I certainly know you.

- You absolutely sparkled, Sister. -

Come, now. I merely simpered and minced in a pretty dress like everyone else.

Not exactly like everyone else.

Oh, I shall need to go and visit with Penelope.

Her presentation was anything but... What was it the queen called you again?

Flawless...

or some such thing.

Trust I was astonished Her Majesty offered me,

out of 200 young ladies present, a most gracious remark.

Yes, it was quite a distinction.

And now 200 young ladies have a common adversary.

- I wish you luck, Sister. Eloise!

What? It is true.

My success on the marriage mart influences all of your prospects.

We will all need to find love one day.

Indeed, a love as pure as what Mama and Papa once shared,

if we are so fortunate.

I merely hope I am able to continue such a grand tradition.

Your dresses have arrived.

Oh!

Oh!

This one is quite ravishing.

Mary Edgecombe wore a similar shade last season.

And secured three offers the very next day, one from an earl.

Mary Edgecombe, now the Countess of Fulton,

apparently spent the last year living in a cottage

hundreds of miles away from her earl.

She is miserable. It says it all here.

Do not tell me that is yet another scandal sheet. Eloise--

No, no, this one is different. This one lists subjects by name, in full.

- Let me see! - Wait. Wait!

- "Lady Whistledown." - "Lady Whistledown"?

The author. Do we know a Lady Whistledown?

Surely Lady Whistledown cannot be her true name.

What does it say, dearest?

She loathes the fact that we've been named alphabetically, oldest to youngest.

- Your father and I found it orderly. - Lady Whistledown finds "banality."

The papers were distributed across town today without charge.

Without charge? What kind of author--

Well, at least she has one thing right.

She has named Daphne as the season's Incomparable.

She calls you a "diamond of the first water."

Well, how lovely!

I should not be surprised

if this Whistledown is revealed to be Violet Bridgerton herself.

These pages certainly report on the viscountess's family

with much indulgence, indeed.

The pages report nothing but the truth, Lady Featherington.

Daphne has bloomed exquisitely,

and the sooner she is taken from the market,

the better for the other young ladies...

even ones prone to hysterics in front of the queen.

Ladies, hurry with your miniatures before our guest arrives.

And, Penelope, put down that book at once.

You shall confuse your thoughts.

So...

tell me about this cousin.

Joining you for the entire season?

She is a distant cousin of my husband,

and with no close female relative to sponsor her debut,

Lord Featherington has directed me to take her in for charity.

Hmm. You are known to be quite charitable.

Precisely what this new rumormonger should have published,

instead of erroneously specifying

that I shall only have three young ladies under my care this year.

She knows nothing.

Unless you shall like to have only three young ladies under your care.

I should gladly sit this season out.

Penelope is quite nervous. This shall be her very first season.

I am not nervous, Mama.

What she is is two stone heavier than she ought to be.

Mm, those blemishes on her face are quite difficult to conceal.

Perhaps some arsenic and lead might help.

Should you allow me to delay only a year,

just as Lady Bridgerton has done for Eloise,

I may remain dedicated to my studies, perhaps.

The answer is no, Penelope.

You may wish to listen to her, my lady.

Shepherding four young ladies

through these endless rounds of affairs at the same time...

Can you imagine the competition?

Well, how much competition can this cousin provoke?

She came of age on a farm, she has a mere four-figure dowry,

and as for her appearance...

Well, let us hope Miss Thompson is more presentable

than the legions of unkempt animals she has spent her entire life

- tending to back home. - Mm.

Lord Featherington's cousin has arrived, madam.

Now, remember to be kind, ladies...

and charitable.

The poor are our burden.

Oh!

She's beautiful.

Good afternoon, Lady Featherington.

Well, if this is not a sight for my sore eyes!

My condolences, Your Grace, for your father.

- Very kind of you. - Kind of me?

You hated the man.

It is so wonderful to see you, Lady Danbury.

Words I do not hear often enough.

Come.

You must excuse the, uh, disorderliness.

As you know, I'm to host a ball this evening.

Yes.

I have managed to keep the details of your return quiet.

But when those vulgar mamas discover

that there is an eligible duke present at tonight's fete,

I shall be able to keep such a secret no longer.

That is what I was hoping to discuss.

I have only returned to London to deal with my late father's affairs.

I'm afraid it leaves me no time to... socialize.

And so, whilst I appreciate your most gracious invitation,

Lady Danbury, I must ask you to accept my regrets.

Your regrets...

are denied.

- I suppose a brief appearance-- - Excellent.