A/N: This is my first attempt at a regency romance story. My OC is greatly inspired by one of my favorite book series called 'the bear and the nightingale' and I recommend everyone to read it.
Many things, like in the Bridgerton universe, will also be fictional and not historically accurate like titles and dukedoms etc. I will try my best to keep it close to reality and historical events.
~X~
1813
"Vasilisa… Vasilisa!"
The young woman in question blinked twice, before meeting the eyes of her worried mother. They were traveling by coach to London for the season, and the raven haired girl had rather rudely headbutted the widow of the door, leading her face to be pressed against it until she was awoken.
Vasilisa Burton, age 20, was daughter of Sofia Burton who had some years prior married the Duke of Hampshire. Noah Burton. This was her, Vasilisas, third season. Her mother and stepfather had both encouraged her to try her best. Yet she felt no pressure, sure her dearest mother kept insisting how well several of her previous courtigers had treated her last season despite being a commoner's daughter and an immigrant. Sofia was sure that this was the year her daughter would finally find a good match. Well she would've found a good one last year, and the year before that Vasilisa had argued. If it weren't for Noah.
Noah Burton had found Russian commoner Sofia and her 16 year old daughter at the docks of London mere hours after they had arrived as stowaways in a Swedish smugglers ship. Vasilisa had fallen ill, and the duke had taken them under his wing with haste. It hadn't taken long before he had utterly fallen for Sofia, who had only a year prior become a widow. It had been the scandal of the year, it was even still to this day a scandal. 'Temptress', 'Harlot', 'Witch'.
Such words were Sofia Burton now used too, and she wished more than anything to keep her daughter from such disgraceful and misplaced hatred. She needed to protect her daughter, and a proper Englishman would solve all of her worries. But Noah was a picky man, not just any gentleman could waltz in and propose. She was a duke's daughter after all. He was overprotective and demanded she be under constant watch so that a scoundrel couldn't find his way into her heart, as he loved her just like any father loved their daughter. He brought her tutors to learn how to read and write english, and musicians to teach her the piano and the harp and artists to teach her how to paint. She was an educated beautiful woman, and not just anybody would do.
"I'm sorry mama" Vasilisa yawned which made Sofia huff and hit her lightly on the knee with her fan.
"Behave" Was all that Sofia said, before smiling slightly and once more directed her eyes towards the passing landscape. Her mother loved nature more than anything, she could stare at it in wonder for hours upon hours. Just taking it all in that she was still here. She was alive. Vasilisa smiled and rolled gray eyes, not very ladylike. But it was okay to behave like this with her mother. Soon they saw the sprawling city of London tower around them, their town mansion was right at the edge of Mayfair bordering Hyde Park. It was not the grandest of them all, but it sure turned heads whenever the Burtons were in town. One would kill for their fortune, their mansions and their beauty.
"How are you feeling?" Sofia asked her daughter in russian, Vasilisa shrugged her shoulders and grimaced. She was a woman of few words, rarely would she speak unless she had too and her deep russian accent to her english made her often embarrassed to talk. But she enjoyed talking to her mother, as russian was their secret thing. Their secret language.
"Raise your head, for noone will do it for you" Sofia hissed as they ventured out of the carriage and inside their mansion. It was the same as the year prior, not one thing out of place. While their luggage was being carried in by the servants, the women of the house retreated to the library for some reading and tea. Hours passed, then, a quick knock came at the heavy wooden door.
"Mrs. Burton, Lady Danbury is here to see you" The footman, Giles, presented, and both women smiled.
"Please bring her in, and present some tea for us in the salon dear Giles" Sofia said and stood up from the chair which she had been sitting on and ushered Vasilisa to do the same.
"Certiantly, my lady" Giles bowed quickly before making haste at his mistress' request. The women moved to the salon where Lady Danbury was already in.
"My dear friend" Sofia said and hugged the one woman who had accepted the russians with a warm embrace after her marriage to the Duke of Hampshire.
"My darling, just as beautiful as ever! And Vasilisa don't just stand there in the corner like some houseplant" Lady Danbury said and ushered the quiet young lady out of her shell to stand before her. Vasilisa, frail and short, had long raven locks like her mother and a striking harsh face. Strong cheekbones and a slightly hooked nose made her look like no other woman in the ton. Her gray eyes were that of an eye of the storm, the most dangerous dark waters people fell under a spell for. When the girl had been 18, and had debuted for the first time, the Queen had proclaimed her as Incomparable. But sadly none of the ton agreed and kept their heads turned away from her. But this season Lady Danbury knew just the match for her.
"Oh look at you" Lady Danbury gushed, and she never did that to anybody. Sofia stood behind her beaming with pride.
"Thank you, Lady Danbury-" But Vasilisa scolded herself. Her accent is too thick. Her mother had complete control and barely any accent left. Some words you noted if you listened closely. But Vasilisa was far from perfect.
"Are you still sending her to the tutor I recommended?" Lady Danbury asked Sofia, and Vasilisa fled like a coward towards a sofa, her freckled cheeks burning. The two older women started a long talk of the ton and of Vasilisa. Tea was served and the afternoon flew by. Then, when the afternoon sun burned the most intensely through the windows of the townhouse, another knock came at the door.
"Mrs. Burton, Miss Burton, Lady Danbury… the Duke of Hastings is at the door, he claims he was invited my Lady Danbury" Giles announced.
"Ah yes, please invite him in" Lady Danbury said, she looked to her old friend for permission. As her scheme needed to start before the season swept poor Vasilisa into a grueling schedule of balls and other courtiers.
"Please show him to the salon dear Giles" Sofia said and nodded to her most trusted companion within the household staff. The elderly man confirmed his order and turned out of the salon back to the entrance of the estate.
"I know it is improper as the season hasn't even started… But I just couldn't wait as he too just got here" Lady Danbury argued, knowing that Simon spent all day with lawyers and the like, a well deserved dinner with the beautiful Russians would cheer him up.
"Who is he?" Sofia asked, and looked with suspicious eyes towards her daughter and then back at her friend. Vasilisa looked, at the very kindest of descriptions, bored out of her mind.
"I am but his mentor, since he was a child really" Lady Danbury told them, and stood up with a beaming smile as the gentleman entered the room. Vasilisa, who was almost nodding off again, now blushed something fiercely as she wiped some sleep off her eyes before standing to greet the Duke.
"Let me introduce my best friend, Sofia Burton, Duchess of Hampshire and her daughter Vasilisa Burton" Lady Danbury said, as always taking control of the evening as usual.
"My pleasure, I'm Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings. I'm sorry I come this late when the visiting hours-" Simon started but was interrupted by Sofia. Who now had a certain sparkle in her eyes.
"Oh nonsense, everybody is welcome to us" Sofia stated, her acting horrendous and Vasilisa wanted nothing more than to argue against that claim. As their family kept to themselves more often than any other family of the season.
"Please stay for dinner" Lady Danbury said and Sofia, the Duchess of Hampshire, nodded eagerly to make him agree. Simon, trying not to chuckle at her hostess and his mentors' behaviour, just smiled with a painfully obvious smile.
"Of course" He said, charming as ever. It was then that he finally got a look at Vasilisa. As the other women towered over her, it was easy to miss her.
"Nice to meet you, your grace" She said, her voice sounding as gentle as a gust of wind in spring. She carried herself as tall as she could and she truly looked the part of a Duke's daughter.
"Simon has been away for many seasons, only coming to London to finish up some business this year" Lady Danbury said while returning to her seat in the sofa.
"It is Vasilisa's third season" Sofia said, and once more did her daughter grow quiet. The mother realised that she had made it way too easy for her to do so, and reflected throughout the evening with their guests how her daughter truly acted around other nobles. It was as if she hadn't accepted that she belonged there. As the sun set, the company moved to the dining hall, where dinner was presented. It was grand, as usual. Duck and other expensive wonders was brought out with each course. Simon had been seated next to Lady Danbury of course, across from Vasilisa. The two made simple conversation, and Simon realised that she might be leagues more complex than what he thought. And now he needed to know the true Vasilisa Burton.
"Maybe I will find you at the Danbury ball next weekend?" He asked rather bluntly, making Sofia gasp and turn to her friend. Who smirked.
"Save me a dance?" Vasilisa asked, blushing and her left hand shaking. Like it always did when she was nervous, but this evening her knuckles were positively white.
Simon huffed a deep chuckle, which made the poor girl melt in her chair. "I'm supposed to ask that"
"Oh" Vasilisa had never felt the urge to drive her silver knife into her chest more prevalent than at that moment.
"But I will, be your first that is" Simon said, and received a scolding glare from his mentor at the inneodo.
"Yes" Vasilisa whispered, her head hidden as to save some of her grace. Meanwhile Lady Danbury smiled, Vasilisa was perfect. A bit too meek for her liking, but one couldn't find a kinder heart on the continent than hers. If anyone could truly become Simons' companion in life it would be her.