-

"Foreign beauty, give me a break."

I muttered under my breath as I read the first article of Lady Whistledown. I sighed and shook my head, putting down the article and turning your head towards the window. I got closer and peeked outside of my carriage.

"London, you have certainly not changed."

I said to myself in my head while admiring the parks and roads.

"We shall be arriving shortly, Miss Bennet."

I heard the conductor say from the front.

"Thank you, sir."

I replied loud enough so he can hear.

He was indeed right. We arrived in a short amount of time and I was surprised at how my house has changed. Before heading out, I took out my fan and hid my face while heading out of the carriage. I went down the first step and a servant quickly held out his hand.

I kindly accepted it and went down the other steps. I took a moment to properly admire my house and to notice all of the changes my parents did.

After taking my time to look at it, faced my head towards the door and walked towards the entrance. The servants opened the door for me and I entered my lovely house.

I was met with my parents standing inches away from me with no expressions on their faces. But it soon disappeared when my father walked towards me with a smile on his face, his arms wide open to embrace me into a hug.

"My beautiful flower."

He said and hugged me tightly than he ever has.

"I've missed you so much, my dear."

I didn't hug him back at first but soon did after. "I've missed you too, Papa."

I answered with my eyes getting a little watery but I didn't left my tears fall.

We broke the hug. He cupped my cheeks and kissed my forehead.

"Welcome home, Elena." He said with a smile on his face.

I simply nodded and he moved away so I can see my mother. She still had no expression on her face and neither did I.

During my whole life, it was very hard for her to show me love and care. I even thought Papa was the only one who loved me. But I know deep down she cares about me a lot.

I looked down, a little embarrassed of the situation but she called my name. "Elena."

She called and I looked up. Now, she had a smile on her face.

"You look beautiful than ever."

She complimented me.

I let out a small chuckle.

"Thank you, Mama."

I then suddenly hear loud footsteps grabbing everyone's attention. I looked towards the stairs and saw my younger sister running down the stairs like a maniac.

She stopped in her tracks and looked at me.

"At last, you have returned!"

She exclaimed and resumed to run down the stairs.

I smiled and also jogged towards her. I took her in my arms as soon as she was close enough. I embraced her tightly and soon released.

"It was horrid without you, sister. Ever since you have left, Mama's attention was constantly on me or Lizzie. Thank goodness you're back." She sighed happily holding, onto my hands.

"It's good to be home. Oh, and I have a present for you."

I turned around and indicated to the servant to bring me the gift.

They kindly gave it to me and I passed it to my sister. She hurriedly ripped off the wrapping and her eyes widened.

"Sister! This is the novel I've always wanted. How did you get it?!"

She flipped the book over, not believing her eyes.

"I found it in a small shop in Paris. Might I say, I was also quite surprised it was there."

Bella didn't hesitate to swoop me into another tight hug, squeezing the shit out of me.

"You truly are, the best sister ever."

She said and released the hug.

"Don't tell Lizzie."

"Speaking of Lizzie, where are my other siblings?"

I turned around and asked my parents.

"I thought Arthur and Elizabeth were coming back before me."

"Their trip is delayed, dearest. They shall return the day of your revelation. And Thomas is out with his friends."

My mother explained while fanning herself.

After 3 years of not seeing each other, my brother would rather see his friends than me. Rude.

-

"El, please. I said I was sorry."

My brother Thomas whined for my forgiveness while he followed me up the stairs like a puppy.

"How dare you go out with your mates the day I return?! Absolutely absurd."

I replied, joking a little to tease him.

"Please, sister. Let me make it up to you." Thomas said which caught my attention.

I stopped going up the stairs and turned around to face him.

"What do you propose, brother?"

"A round of fencing, just like old times."

Oh what a mistake that was, a few minutes later I beat the shit out of him.

-

It was 6 in the morning and everyone was still fast asleep in the Bennet house. Except for Elena, of course. She quietly got out of her room, trying not to make a sound and headed down the stairs. She tip toed towards the back door to get out but a voice from behind stopped her.

"And where do you think you're going, young lady?"

The voice said.

Elena slowly turned around to see her father standing with his arms crossed and a newspaper in his hand.

"I was thinking of cleaning the backyard, Papa."

She told him, trying not to sound suspicious.

"At 6 in the morning?"

Marquess Bennet raised his eyebrow.

"What can I say? I am an early bird."

She let out a fake laugh.

Her father just stood there not believing her.

She growled and gave up.

"Fine, you caught me. But I just wanted to take a small stroll. I promise I'll be back before noon. Please, Papa."

She clapped her hands together and begged for his approval.

The marquess sighed and shook his head, looking down.

"Very well. Just wear your hood"

A smiled appeared on the young lady's face as she approached her father and kissed him on the cheek.

"Thank you, Papa."

She whispered to him and headed out from the back door.

-

After a few hours, it has already become 10:30. The people of London were already strolling around the parks and the ladies were already at the modiste.

Meanwhile, Benedict Bridgerton was walking around the streets greeting everyone he sees while he was heading towards his usual thinking spot, deep inside the woods.

And inside the woods, there's a small field where he would go everyday. Once he arrived there, he went to his seating spot which is underneath this big tree where he likes to do his sketches.

He took his seat and leaned his back against the tree. He took out his pencil and notebook and started to look around for something that he could draw.

He could've drawn a butterfly or a flower or even the sky, but he decided to draw this girl who caught his attention while he was looking around. He was captivated by her beauty.

She was not that far from him, only a few meters away. She sat on a blanket while reading the newest novel of Jane Austen; Pride and Prejudice. She was indeed beautiful. By the way she was simply reading her book made her look like an angel from heaven. The girl had a very soothing and calm face where if you looked at her for a second, you would instantly fall in love with her.

Benedict took his time to admire her before he started to sketch her face.

-

The next day, Benedict returned to the exact same spot at the exact same time to see the lovely girl again. But this time, she wasn't there. Benedict looked all over the place for her but still couldn't find her. He soon gave up and decided to continue draw her by memory.

-

Yet again, the girl did not appear the next day either and Benedict was very disappointed. He continued to draw her by memory, again.

He struggled as he drew, trying to remember the important details of the girl. He was so caught up in the sketches that he didn't realize there was a person standing right behind him, observing his art.

"Is that me?"

Said a soothing voice from behind causing him to jump. He stood up and turned around to be met by the girl he was drawing. He took a few steps behind being a little nervous.

The girl stood in front of him and smiled. The wind making her beautiful hair and gown float.

"Uh..."

Benedict completely froze not knowing what to answer. The girl took advantage and snatched the sketchbook from his hand to look at his sketches of her.

"Wait, that one's not finished yet..."

He tried stopping her from looking, but she was just too curious.

"Wow, you draw very well."

The girl complimented Benedict with a wide smile on her face, adoring the way he draws.

"Oh, thank you..."

She took her eyes off the sketches and looked at him.

"I've never had anyone draw me before. How exciting!"

She exclaimed and continued to admire them.

Benedict was still nervous and the girl noticed. "Are you alright, sir?"

She asked him a little concerned.

He faked smiled, trying to not look suspicious. "Ah, yes I am completely alright. It's just that I've never showed my sketches to anyone."

"Oh, my apologies. I shouldn't have just taken your book."

The girl apologized, handing it back to Benedict.

"Please, don't apologize. I'm very glad you like them."

He told her, letting her keep looking at the drawing.

She gave him a warm smile and resumed to admire the sketches.

He hesitated to ask a question at first, but eventually told her.

"If you are not busy, perhaps... you could stay? So I can proceed to draw you."

"You want me to model for you?"

"In short, yes."

She thought about it and decided to stay. She handed back his sketchbook to him and sat on the green grass in front of him.

He also sat down and started to draw.

After that day, they met up at the park every day. They would go under the big tree and talk or Benedict would draw more sketches of her. And yet... they never asked each other their names.

-

It was an exciting day for the people of London, but not much of an exciting day for Elena. That's right, today is the day where the Bennets host a welcome home ball for their daughter.

But Elena was disappointed that she was going to loose the privilege that no one knows who she is.

"Tighter."

Lady Bennet said to the maid. She tightened the corset around Elena's waist as she let out a a small scream.

"Mama, I can barely breathe in this thing." Elena turned her head to her mother and held onto her stomach.

"A lady does not complain, Elena. You must look your best for tonight's ball."

She said walking around her to closely look at Elena.

"To be clear, Mother. I don't recall asking for this ball."

Elena snapped at her mother, with her voice raising a little.

"And must I really go to a castle, just to be judged by the queen?"

"She's your godmother, dearest. And she's been dying to meet you since your birth."

"Then why did you keep me locked away from the world?!"

Lady Bennet glared at her and sighed.

"Elena I understand how you feel."

She said which caused Elena to scoff.

"But this is what's best for you. You'll find yourself a good husband and-"

Lady Bennet was interrupted when she heard the noise of a carriage arriving and neighs of the horses. It also grabbed Elena's attention so she ran towards the window and looked out.

Her face lightens up as she sees the carriage in front of her house.

"It's Arthur and Lizzie!"

Elena exclaimed and ran out of her room towards the entrance.

Going down the stairs, she pushed through her brother and sister who were going up the stairs.

"Ow, Elena?!"

Isabella screamed as she looked at her older sister run towards the entrance.

She opened the front doors and saw her dear brother who saw her too. She smiled and ran towards Arthur, jumping on him. He also wrapped his arms around Elena and spun her around.

"Goodness, Lena. You've become even more beautiful since the last time I saw you."

He mumbled into her shoulder as she hugged him tighter.

"I'm sorry I didn't come home earlier."

"I don't care, I'm just glad your back."

Elena said and he put her down.

"I am, and I will be here during the whole season. By your side."

She looked behind him and noticed that her sister wasn't there.

"Arthur, where's Lizzie?"

"I'm sorry, I should've written you. Lizzie will be returning a little later."

He told me as his face saddened.

"Oh, it's fine."

Elena looked down, trying to hide the sadness from her face.

"But, hey." Arthur lifted up her chin.

"I have a gift for you. It comes with a target, a bow and an arrow."

A huge smile appeared on his sister's face. She clinged onto his arm and they started walking into the house.

"You are my favourite sibling. Did you know that?"

-

The time has finally come. The people of London were now waiting for the gates to open. This revelation was the talk of the whole week and they are all excited to meet the young girl.

"What do you think, Mama? Do you think she's pretty?"

Hyacinth asked her mother as the Bridgerton family got off the carriages.

"I'm sure she is lovely, dearest."

The Viscountess Bridgerton replied to her daughter.

———

While the guests we're getting settled in the house, Elena was in her room, all alone, sitting in front of her mirror. She fiddled with the necklace her aunt gave her, to calm her down.

She snapped her head towards her door, when a knock caused her to jump. Turns out, it was her father.

"Hey there, little flower."

He smiled at his daughter.

She returned the smile, but with a weak one and turned back her head towards the mirror.

"Hi, Papa."

He put his hands on her shoulders and kissed her cheek.

"You have nothing to worry about." He whispered.

"Shall we?" Lord Bennet held out his hand.

Elena happily nodded and accepted his hand. They got out of the room and walked towards the ball room.

She could hear her mother already talking to the public.

"Ladies and gentlemen! It is my great honour to present to you for the first time, Elena Bennet."

She shouted and got out of the way.

2 servants opened the door to reveal the young marchioness herself. She walked out into the public, closing the fan that was in front of her face to reveal her face.

The whole crowd gasped, all captivated by her beauty. There was even a man that spat out his drink.