Prologue

Dearest Gentle Reader

It is with the greatest joy and sheer excitement that I announce the arrival of a new Bridgerton story.

For the moment, let us refer to it as Series Two B.

So!

We start on February 14th 2025 with a taster.

This is a day, I am told, many of you generally refer to as 'Valentine's Day.'

It's a day on which love , be it - at its beginning, the accepted norm , recently ended or about to die, love for show, a mere pretence, unrequited, or , God forbid, adulterous – love is the main , if not sole subject of the entire day, and night if you are so fortunate.

With this in mind, I think it most appropriate that the taster's subject matter abuts* what many of you will be very busy dreaming of , swooning over and or , possibly, having nightmares about.

The taster title or should that be teaser title ? is 'When Love Comes to town.'

I borrowed this title and acknowledge its inspirational smooth jazz version as performed , you know where, by the legendary B. B. King and friends Bono and co.

Dearest reader, we shall delve into the tragedy, trauma and treasure of new love, old established love, returning love, out of the blue unexpected amour, and impossible love.

The taster will be released early on Friday 14th February, for your delectation and comments.

Thereafter, hoping that I have enticed you into wanting more, I shall seed and feed your Bridgerton fix further with at least six chapters published at 3 - 4week intervals.

Finally, for now, to whet your whistle, & without too many spoilers, I hope , please find below a scene setting introduction to our new protagonist, Princess Aurora and, if you are curious, a selection of the cast list - new and familiar – that you will meet in our Series Two B journey.

Scene setting intro

King Karl II and his wife, Queen Marianne, are at their wits end. Their youngest daughter, Princess Aurora, will soon come of age and shows no signs of amending her wild, aka 'unwomanly ways!'

Aurora knows it is her duty to marry but continues to insist on a life that bears more than a token recognition of her as an individual person.

She is well read, plays several musical instruments exceptionally well, speaks four languages fluently and is learning a fifth, and most importantly, she is both kind (mostly) and intelligent.

For her embroidery is anything but a favourite pastime.

Her favourite pastimes include spitting contests with the castle grooms, climbing trees, astride horse riding, hunting , and butchering and cooking wild animals she herself has shot or trapped.

Of late, she has added disgusting, and thereby dismissing, each suitor that is courageous enough to visit the castle to ask for courting permission.

She likes very much to wager with her siblings about how quickly she can make these 'boy' suitors disappear, usually in a state of dismay, never to return, after she presents herself in the reception room, fresh from the hunt, dirty, covered in blood and mud, stretching entrails between her fingers as if it is yarn.

If the sight and smell of her does not make the suitor cover his mouth and mumble some unintelligible excuse as he makes a hasty exit, Princess Aurora extends a filthy, blood-soaked hand in welcome, accompanied by a huge, blindingly irresistible smile and announcement of her name and full title.

In light of such behaviour, Aurora's father, King Karl II reluctantly agrees with his wife's suggestion to send envoys to England to beg - Yes! to beg! - Queen Charlotte, his sister, to assist with their dilemma.

Of course, they want their daughter to be happy and to have a successful marriage. However, they cannot ignore Napolean's boundless ambitions to be all powerful and dominant.

Aurora's marriage , to the right Prince, has the potential to boost power and economy, and strength and security for Mecklenburg-Strelitz and her corner of Germany. It's a political duty in the first place, and a love match in second place, if that is possible.

Well versed in such matters, Queen Charlotte is keen, along with her coterie of supporters, to help prepare her favourite God-daughter and others like her, practically and thoroughly for life as a Queen, be it in Europe or Africa.

The idea of some form of 'finishing school' that goes way beyond embroidery, looking pretty, petting Pomeranian dogs all day long, and frequent childbirth duties aligns with Queen Charlotte's own ambitions for her grand- and great grandchildren. She is more than willing to assist her brother.

And so, in the Ton, a new type of season evolves: The Winter season

Thus, the Ton is about to host:

a number of new -possibly exotic- royals, their waiting staff and entourage, which will include a wealth of boisterous, 'rich- beyond -compare' suitors;

gifted artists and entertainers from far and wide;

and select members of the nobility.

Amongst other events in series 2b there will be a royal barge travelling in stately fashion from London to Kew, pre-Christmas ice skating at Kew, Educational teas at various locations, and a number of Lady Danbury's acclaimed evening soirees .

To mark the end of 'The Winter season' we shall attend a masked ball …

Of course, dearest gentle reader, along the way there will be tears, laughter and joy and so much more.

This is not another Great experiment!

Amongst others, Lady Whistledown and Madame Delacroix will be busy, very busy indeed.

*abuts – a clever play on words used in the Queen Charlotte story, when a newly widowed, younger Lady Agatha took up rambling (more fun word play!) and strayed onto the land of her handsome gentleman neighbour , Lord Leger, and in to exotic, erotic territory far beyond the reach of the 'Great Experiment.'

Signing off, until February 14th with love

Paulette Holmes (Author and one off, stand-in here for Lady Whistledown)

P.S. Feel free to post feedback on this submission, if you wish.

Amongst others, the cast includes:

Brimsley, The Queen's man

Chef

Dowager Viscountess Violet Ledger (nee) Bridgerton

Envoy no.1 ( For King Karl II)

Envoy no.2 ( For King Karl II)

The Honourable Edwin Bridgerton, younger brother, to the Dowager's late husband, Edmund

Gregory Bridgerton, youngest son of the Dowager

King George III

King Karl II, formerly Duke Adolphus, still brother to Queen Charlotte

Lady Agatha Danbury

Lady Whistledown

Lord Alfred Debling, still single, still kind, still searching

Madame Delacroix , still our fabulous Ton Modiste

Princess Aurora, teen Queen-in-waiting

Reverend Mother Superior

Queen Charlotte of England and Ireland

Queen Marianne, wife of King Karl II

Reynolds, The King's man

Before we proceed, we must deal with the standard legalities, should we not?

The concept of this series is mine but the framework it is built on is based on characters and storylines originating from the amazing Julia Quinn and the behemoth that is Shondaland, and, of course, the incredible Shonda Rhimes. I salute you.