This idea has plagued my mind ever since I watched Bridgerton. I'm not quite sure how it will work and it definitely will not be factually/historically correct/accurate but we move. I don't know when I'm going to update this next (fully aware that I have others to update I will get round to them eventually) but I hope you enjoy and let me know what you think :)
It had been nine years since Nicola Alexander had lost her parents to the turmoils of the sea. She would've been left an orphan, to fend for herself; had it not been for her uncle Leonardo Dalton, Duke of Kent - a title passed on to him from his late brother Victor, Nicola's father. A title that would soon pass on to Nikki in the event of her wedding; something that had yet to be relayed to the young woman.
She was twenty-one now and of age. Leo had spent what time he could preparing her for this time. Although, he had reached a point in which he could no longer guide her. She needed a female influence, someone to lead her in the right direction and teach her things a man was incapable of teaching. She of course had Charlotte, her companion. But he needed someone with more experience of the world. So, he had called upon her mother's older sister, Samantha Ryan to join them for the next couple of months - at least until the season was over.
There had been arrangements made for Nikki's hand, her childhood friend and neighbour Harry Cunningham; her superior by only a few years. But it had been a deal made between the families the moment Nikki had been brought into the world. It was not a decision that Leo had agreed with upon his learning of it. He had known Edward Cunningham, Harry's father, for a number of years; he had been friend of the family for as long as he could remember.
Edward was a greedy, power hungry man. And he had always been rather interested in the fortunes of the Alexander family; any opportunity to seize their wealth he would take. Even marrying his first born son to their only daughter.
Thus the plan had been made. But that didn't mean Leo couldn't interfere. Nikki had only known this life; this house, this garden and spending her childhood with Harry. She had not experienced life outside these four walls. She had not met with others and now that she was of age, Leo had wanted her to have a choice. He wanted her to fall in love, truly and deeply. She had not been shy in her boasts about her affections for Harry over the years but Leo had known that it had only been her sheltered view of love.
Perhaps she did love the boy but Leo could see that the burning wasn't there. She didn't yearn for Harry.
He had wanted her to have a chance to make her own decision and fall in love with someone just as he had his late wife. He missed his wife Theresa every day and there was not a time where he didn't long to hold his daughter Cassandra just once more. Nikki had been like a daughter to him and he loved her as if she were his own, and he wanted the very best for her.
That was why he had wanted her to look elsewhere other than Harry Cunningham. He had known of the boys antics, of what he would do with his spare time. He was not against it, a man was well within his rights to experience the world. But Nikki deserved better than Harry's arrogant view of it.
The sweet melody of the piano reverberated around the room as Nikki's fingers pressed down on the keys. Leo had been stood by the window watching the gardens, a disappointment in his face as he caught sight of Harry himself walking around the perimeter, a young lady on his arm; the pair unchaperoned from what he could gather. He bowed his head, letting out a sigh as he turned to face his niece, none the wiser.
Her blonde curls framing her face as it screwed up in concentration. Her tutor on the bench next to her turning the sheet music as she played. She had come so far since she had started learning and he was sure that she no longer needed to have someone by her side guiding her, but she had insisted. And Leo, not wanting to hurt her feelings, had agreed.
Leo cleared his throat, interrupting her playing. Nikki glanced up at him, her lips twitching into that infectious smile of hers; the innocence and purity radiating off her. He moved to cover the view of the window, he hadn't wanted her heart to break at the sight of her childhood sweetheart paying another woman attention.
"Ms. Ashton could you give us a moment," Leo spoke softly at the tutor who had just bowed her head and left the room without a single word. He moved to join Nikki on the bench, his finger brushing one of her ringlets from in front of her eye, to sit behind her ear. "It won't be long until the new seasons first ball."
Nikki sighed, turning away from the older man as she picked at the skin around her fingernails, "You don't have to remind me uncle," she breathed. She had been anxious about the forthcoming occasion for a long time now, it had been playing at the back of her mind. Now that she was of age, she was expected to attend such things in the search of a husband.
But she had no plans to make herself known to other suitors, she only had eyes for one man. She was just waiting for the question to be asked. And she knew that it wouldn't be long until he would ask it, it was only a matter of time. They had spent nearly every waking moment of their lives together so there was no reason for him to not be in love with her as much as she loved he.
Leo plucked one of Nikki's hands in his own, stopping her before she drew blood. It had been a terrible habit she had picked up from when she was younger and he had spent so long trying to stamp it out of her but she had been too stubborn to let him win that battle.
"Your aunt is coming to town," he began, suppressing the chuckle as she rolled her eyes at him. "I have asked that she stay with us for the foreseeable future. At least until the season is over. I cannot provide for you in the way that she can Nicola. You need to learn how to become a lady. One who will catch the attention of a fine gentleman and will live her life freely and happy, and in love."
Nikki retracted her hand, "But I do not wish to go in search of a husband," she spat. "I have someone already, and he loves me dearly. He will propose to me one day uncle, you shall see. There is no reason for me to attend these atrocious balls, I won't allow it. And I certainly won't allow my aunt to come anywhere near me with her proper ways of going about such things."
"You are a lady now Nicola Alexander, whether you like it or not," he warned. "And as a lady, you are expected to attend these balls and find worthy suitors. And you can't know that Master Cunningham will propose to you. He may have other intentions."
"I will not have you talk about my friend in such a way," she huffed and crossed her arms, refusing to look in his direction now. "He loves me, I know he does. And he will offer marriage to me."
"Very well," Leo got to his feet, no longer wishing to argue with her. "But you still have to let yourself known to the town and you have to be seen courting Master Cunningham before he is to propose to you. And how will he do that if you choose to reside in this house for the rest of your life?"
He did not wish to lose his temper with her but she could be so obstinate on times. He left her alone in the room for a few moments, giving her the opportunity to gather her thoughts before he sent her tutor back in to finish the lesson.
It had been but a few days later when Nikki's aunt Samantha Ryan had arrived at the house, eager to get started with the young girl straight away. She had only a few weeks until the first ball of the season and she needed to get her behaviour in order.
Nikki was on horseback as she approached the house, hers white whilst Harry's was a dark bay. She let out a sigh as she spotted her aunt's chaise outside the front doors, she knew what that had meant. And she had every mind to turn her horse around and gallop into the sunset. But alas she had no choice in the matter and she had to go along with her uncles wishes if she were to marry Harry.
She glanced over at the young man, feeling her heart rate pick up at the sight of his strong jawline. As a child she would refuse the insinuation that they would ever be more than friends but as she grew, she had become quite fond of him and those feelings only became stronger; even more so now that the season was approaching and it was time for her to find a suitor. How could she possibly look for another when she had one right there?
Her head turned in the direction of her name being called, her uncle. He was stood on the front waving his arms at her, having noticed her presence now. There was certainly no way of getting out of it.
"I shall see you tomorrow," she spoke, a small smile on her face as Harry gave her a tip of his hat and disappeared in the direction of his own estate. She could already see the servants approaching, ready to help her down from the horse and take it back to the stable. But she shook her head, refusing the help; she wanted to waste as much time as possible.
She pulled on the reins, guiding her in the direction of the stables. She didn't often come down here - if at all, her uncle had always forbade it. If she wanted to go for a ride, she would always have to send for the horse to be brought to her.
But she ignored her uncles disapproving looks in the distance and made her way to the stables. There was not a person about - not anyone she could see anyway; just the horses. They had much more than was necessary, even more so now that her own had provided them with a little surprise a few months ago.
She skilfully dismounted herself down to the ground, her hand smoothing down the horse's neck as she whispered to her. Her hands wrapped around the reins to guide her inside to her stall. Nikki was about to get ready to untack her saddle when she heard a voice coming up behind her.
"Miss Alexander," the Northern Irish accent strong as he edged closer to her. "I'll do that."
Nikki took a step back, not taking much notice of the boy as she gave him her thanks and left him to it. In truth, she didn't have much practice in the tacking and untacking of the saddle - it had never been her job - so it was relief that the boy had turned up before she had made a fool of herself.
It was but a small walk back the grounds which had been far from ideal. But she was going to have to face the wrath of her aunt and uncle sooner or later. And both were waiting impatiently for her in the drawing room.
"Nicola Alexander, where on Earth have you been?" Her aunt Samantha stood up, marching over to her. She looked her up and down, tutting as she caught sight of the mud staining her hems. "I can see why you have called upon me Leo. What have you been doing child? How can you expect to find a husband when you continue to frolic through the gardens as if you were still only five years of age?"
Nikki's mouth set firm in place as she shrugged her shoulders.
"You will answer me Miss Alexander. Your uncle may have you allowed you to act in this way but I will not tolerate it. You must learn to be a lady now that you are to attract suitors," she was stern with her words but it did not deter Nikki in her stubbornness. Sam was now turning to Leo, "Is she always like this?"
Leo raised an eyebrow, not sure of how to answer, "It is hard to say, she's usually polite. But I have noticed in the coming years that she is not fond of being told what to do," he relayed to the older woman. "That is why I have called upon you. My experiences of young women are limited and I'm not sure of how to cope with them, not at this age. And Miss Alexander is proving to be unlike most. It wouldn't be a lie if I told you that I have never met a girl quite like her. I have no idea where she gets it from."
"It's not her mother that is for sure," she moved to stand next to Leo now; the pair glaring at Nikki. "Caroline was ever such a sweet girl, I always admired her countenance. Even at such a young age she was able to leave an impression on most that had met her. She would be disappointed to see how her own daughter had turned out."
Nikki bit down on her lip, fighting against the temptation to snap. She could take the disapproval of her behaviour but she wasn't much a fan of bringing her mother into it - the mere mention of her name was striking a nerve. She had missed her mother so dearly and forever longed for her to still be with her now. But she knew that the last thing her late mother would think of her now was disappointment. If anything, she would be proud to see her daughter standing her ground - at least she hoped that would be the case.
Sam stepped forward once again, placing her hands on Nikki's shoulders, their eyes connected as she spoke, "From today you are to listen to every word I say. You are to do as you are told and you are to not argue against it," she dropped her hands but the eye contact remained. "You are to stop with the nonsense with this Harry Cunningham, at least until I am satisfied that you are fit for marriage."
There was a lot Nikki had wanted to say, a lot she had wanted to argue. But she knew it would be of no use, she'd only end up in a worse position than she was already. And if she were to marry Harry then she was going to do her best to get through her aunts 'training' as quickly as possible.