Hello everyone! This Regency era AU is something I've always wanted to do, so please don't kill me if it's terrible; I tried to make it as realistic as possible. Also, I'm just getting started with finals at school, so this isn't going to be very fast, but I'll try to upload at least every two weeks. Hope you like!

I wake up to the maid pulling back the curtains. The light gets into the room so I pull the covers over my head and bury my face into the pillow.

"Good morning, miss. Mr. Oswald has requested you were awoken early so you would be prepared when the guests arrive."

I realise it's Friday, which means tomorrow night is the ball my father insists on organising for my mother's birthday. She loved balls, and she always took care of every detail so everything would be perfect. After she died, he decided to honour her memory with a ball on her birthday. I never complained because even though balls mean a lot of work for me, I know it makes him happy to see everyone having a nice evening, just like she would have wanted.

I push away the covers and get up -not without a little bit of a fuss-, pulling down my chemise. I pull a light red dress over my head and sit so the maid can fix my hair. There's no time to lose in the hours before a ball, especially when we have guests staying at the house.

Traditionally, I'm too young to be hostess -I'm only eighteen-, but someone has to look after the preparations and my father is certainly not going to do it. At least until the doors open, I run the house.

After lunch, I ask the housekeeper about the guests that will arrive earlier to settle in. My cousin Edmund, my father's friend Sir Arthur and his wife, Lady Desmond, and...

"Miss Amelia Pond?"

"Lady Desmond's niece. She's coming with them as I understand, miss", the housekeeper explains.

"Very well. Make sure their rooms are prepared and call me when they arrive. I'll be at the garden."

She makes a bow and leaves, so I walk to the library and find the book I'm reading to take it outside with me. The large garden is where I spend most of my time, usually reading everything that comes across. As a child, my mother tried to get me interested in drawing, sewing and playing the piano, but I had neither interest nor skills for any of that. She was quite frustrated with me, until she found me at the library reading Romeo and Juliet at twelve years old. After that she allowed me to read whatever I wanted, as long as I continued with my lessons.

Other thing I really enjoy is spending time at the kitchen, watching the cooks work and occasionally helping. It's not proper for a lady in my position to cook, but I can't help it but feel relaxed while baking pastries.

I sit on the grass, reading my novel, but I get distracted by the scenery around me. It's autumn, so the leaves are falling and the gentle wind moves them around. I stare at the quiet river, thinking about how everyone is probably expecting me to start looking for a husband. I can't say I'm very interested in the subject. But then again, no one is asking for my opinion here; the gentleman that appeals more to my father will inevitably become my husband. It's not that I don't trust my father's judgement, but I wish I could have a say.

And besides...well, I shouldn't be saying this, but I find myself more interested in a different kind of company. It's vile and corrupted, but I can't seem to get those ideas out of my head. Wherever those thoughts might come from, it is my duty to push them away and carry on as if none of this had ever occurred to me.

The worst part is, my cousin Edmund is coming to stay for a week. I have known him since we were children, and I know my aunt Lydia has always wanted to pair us. At first I thought he wouldn't be interested, and he would look for a wife elsewhere, but the last time he was here I noticed he had developed certain...affection for me, and it scares me to think he might do something as silly as proposing this time.

I'm thinking about all this when a servant girl comes for me, telling me Sir Arthur's carriage was arriving. I fix my dress and promptly walk to the main entrance to receive them.

The first one to come down is of course Sir Arthur, followed by his wife, who he helps down. I greet both of them as the servants start to get their trunks. They have so many anyone could say they would be staying for a month.

However, a third person comes down from the carriage and gets my full attention. She's a tall, ginger girl with perfectly white skin. Her entire appearance, together with her peach-coloured dress, makes her look like a magical creature out of one of the stories my mother used to tell me.

"Oh, Clara, this is my niece Amelia. We wrote your father to tell him she was coming with us..." Lady Desmond is talking to me, but I almost didn't catch what she said.

"Yes, yes, of course. I just didn't think...well, that she would be..." So beautiful? I should control my words better, I'm being impolite.

"So young? Yes, there's quite an age difference between her mother and I." Lady Desmond doesn't look happy...Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I basically just called her old.

I nod and smile, apologising for my impertinence, but mostly because I don't know what else to say. "Mrs. Hudson will show you to your rooms. Please, do make yourselves at home."

I walk inside the house with them, chatting about their journey. Just after we leave Lady Desmond and her husband at their room, I realise that the room prepared for Miss Amelia was the one next to mine. Now I understand her presence here: she has been placed there to be my friend. I believe my father probably has a hand in it; he has always been worried about my difficulty to make friends, so he saw Amelia as a chance to give me someone to interact with.

I decide to play along with his plan; after all, I wanted to know more about this girl anyway. I wonder who will be lucky enough to have her as a wife.

"I am at the next room. Don't hesitate to call me if you need it." I smile, showing my best hostess' skills. "We're having tea in half an hour, in case you want to eat something."

"Brilliant, I will be there." She gives me a stunning smile and goes into her room. I'm sure back home she has a number of gentlemen hoping to be worthy of her affection.