Gwendolyn Blackwood, Age 20

"Dearest, Reader. It has come to this author's attention that the long-awaited Blackwood Family has returned from their trips to Egypt. The famous Blackwood carriage was seen driving past Grosvenor Square, and a certain Arthur Blackwood was seen admiring the scenery, as if he hasn't been living in London his entire life."

"Gwen, my love. We've arrived at the house." Nefertiti Blackwood spoke, making Gwendolyn open her eyes from her slumber.

"We still have a few miles before we get home entirely, Effie. Let the girl sleep a little longer." Arthur Blackwood spoke, his eyes not leaving the scenery around them.

"A lady must rise early." Nefertiti reminded them.

"Mama, please, just a bit longer?" Gwendolyn may be 20, but she acts as if she's 10 sometimes.

Nefertiti only nodded with a smile. The family never really talked to each other. All three of them were introverts and preferred the little things.

Arthur loved the scenery and had plenty of scenic paintings in Blackwood Manor, while Nefertiti loved words. The library in Blackwood Manor brought the bookshop in town to tears with how many books there were, while Gwendolyn adored music. She could play any instrument you could think of.

Harp, pianoforte, violin, cello, bass, anything really.

The family soon arrived at the Manor and Gwendolyn went straight to her room and flopped onto her bed. "Marthaaaaaa!" A woman in a black dress, white apron and collar soon approached the room. "My lady! Welcome back!" Martha always had a big smile on her face, one that could light up the room and made Gwendolyn's heart swell.

"Has the season begun already?" Gwendolyn asked, kicking off her shoes and laid on her bed, as Martha placed her shoes at her door.

"Yes it has, my lady. The Danbury Ball is tonight, and you were invited." Nefertiti entered the room. "Please send a message to Lady Danbury saying we'll be attending her ball this evening." The Countess said, as she held a book in her hand.

"Yes, my lady." Martha bowed and left the room, leaving the mother and daughter alone. "Mama. Will I have another dress made already?" Gwen asked, as she played around with various trinkets in her room.

"I've had one ready before we left for Cairo, my dear. Now, please be ready by sunset so we may leave on time. Thank you, love." Nefertiti left the room, leaving Gwen to her thoughts.

As much as she seemed excited for this season, she was worried. She'd debuted last season and had not found a match yet. But she couldn't really care anymore. All she'd wanted in her life was to lay in bed with her cat, Scruffy, and listen to harp music for the rest of her life.

Was that too much to ask for?

That sunset, Martha had helped Gwendolyn into a beautiful light pink dress, with what seemed like silver stitchings of trees at the bottom. Gwendolyn's hair had been put into a half-up half-down hairstyle.

"You look absolutely beautiful, My Lady." Martha said, Gwendolyn giving her a small smile in thanks.

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Anthony had just about had it with the Danbury Ball, in all honesty. All of these suitors we're terrible people for his two sisters, Cassandra and Daphne, and all he wanted to do was go back with Siena.

That was until the Blackwood family entered the ballroom.

Arthur Blackwood smiled politely at everyone, as his wife Nefertiti Blackwood, held onto his arm as she radiated joy, nodding her head at everyone, while their only daughter smiled and politely bowed her head.

That was when Anthony's world slowed down.

Gwendolyn was beautiful. She was perfect.

Her dark blonde hair could put chocolate into a competition for who was most vibrant. Her blue eyes clearer than the sky, and her skin was just magnificent.

I guess you could say Anthony had found the girl to be his bride.

He had known the Blackwood daughter ever since Colin became friends with Florence Edwards.

"Well, well, well. It seems our eldest brother is falling for another. Doesn't it seem that way, dear brother?" Brandon Bridgerton asked his twin brother about their elder brother.

"It appears so, Brandon." Benedict said, a smirk on his lips as he slipped his champagne.

"Enough. Both of you. Go dance with some debutante and leave me be." Anthony shooed them both away, the Bridgerton boys leaving while howling with laughter.

"You know, brother, the way to a woman's heart is to her stomach." Desmond said, sipping his lemonade.

"Who told you that?"

"... Myself."

Anthony ran his hands down his face.

Desmond had always looked up to Anthony. He wanted to be like his brother, but at the same time he wanted to be himself.

"Desmond. Be serious for once in your life. You're good with the ladies, right? Do me a favor and and I'll do whatever you want." Anthony asked his younger brother, who pondered, sipping on his lemonade.

"Alright. Get to know her. That's base one." Desmond said, before moving on to tease his older brother.

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Gwendolyn was chatting with her close friends, Wilhelmina Trowbridge and Florence Edwards.

"I brought you two souvenirs from Egypt! I'll have to give them to you the next ball we attend or maybe even in two days time for some relaxing." Gwendolyn spoke, completely unaware of Anthony's gaze, but Florence and Wilhelmina smirked at each other.

Gwendolyn had a crush on the eldest Bridgerton for the longest time.

"Yes, you certainly have to give it to us the next ball we attend." Wilhelmina smirked.

"You absolutely must! I've always wanted to see Egypt made items. I've always wanted to go to! And Prussia, Korea, France, Greece-"

Wilhelmina cut off Florence with a smile.

"You want to travel the world, Flo. You must take us with you!" Wilhelmina said, turning to Gwendolyn, who had been uncharacteristically quiet for some time.

"Right, Gwen?" Gwendolyn's eyes had been locked with Anthony's eyes the entire time. Wilhelmina smirked before tapping Gwen's shoulders repeatedly.

Gwen jumped before looking at Mina in shock. "Yes?" She asked, pushing her hair behind her shoulders. "Flo must take us with her to the countries she travels too, right?" Mina said, making Gwen shrug and Florence snort.

"Don't look now, but Viscount Bridgerton is on his way over. And that, is our cue to leave. Good look, Gwennie Gwen Gwen." Florence said, leaving with a giggling Wilhelmina.

"Miss Blackwood." Anthony greeted, bowing his head and Gwendolyn giving a little curtsy. "Viscount Bridgerton."

"Miss Blackwood, may I have the honor of the next dance with you?" Gwendolyn smiled and agreed, allowing Anthony guide her to the dance floor as the music started.

"Oh, Artie, look. Gwendolyn is dancing!" Nefertiti said excitedly, making Arthur quickly look at the dance floor to see his only daughter dancing and giggling with the Viscount Bridgerton.

"Oh dear, next thing you know he'll propose then their married and then babies-" "Arthur Maxwell Blackwood calm down, you're going to fast." Nefertiti laughed at her husband, who frowned before smiling as she gave him a chaste kiss on the cheek.

Nefertiti and Arthur Blackwood's relationship had many wives envious of them, as their husbands never even loved them or showed them any affection. Many of these women married for a title, not love, so of course they'd be envious of one of the very few couples who'd married for love.

"Besides, they could just be friends. Of course, I'd love for them to get married, but we shouldn't force anything on our dear Gwendolyn. She would resent us for it." Nefertiti said, taking a sip of her champagne. "I suppose so. Viscount Bridgerton is a good man. Very lucky as well in our gentlemen's club. He'd provide well for our dear Gwen." Arthur said, making his wife nod.

As the song ended, Gwen and Anthony had gone off to the sidelines and watched everybody else dance. "So, please do tell about how your trip was in Cairo." Anthony said, making Gwen shocked. Other then her friends, no one ever wanted to here about what she'd done. "Are you sure, My Lord? I should warn you that I do start to ramble at some point when I speak." She said shyly, making him shake his head. "Oh, I do not mind. Please."

That night, the feelings Anthony and Gwen had for each other grew, and Anthony knew, that he and Gwendolyn Blackwood were meant to be.

Author's Note

I'm alive bitchesssssss
how've you been how's life
did you miss me 😏😏😏
n e ways I might post the beginning to the other stories either today or tmr so yeah
have a good rest of your day/afternoon/morning/night/evening and any other time of day it is