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Bridgerton Collection Volume 1 (Bridgertons)

Page 107

by Julia Quinn


  Maybe about being born. Maybe this one was going to attack life with a smile. Good humor would be her weapon of choice.

  What a splendid human being she would be.

  “Araminta,” Posy said suddenly.

  Sophie nearly fell over from the shock of it. “What?”

  “I want to name her Araminta. I’m quite certain.” Posy stroked the baby’s cheek, then touched her gently under the chin.

  Sophie could not seem to stop shaking her head. “But your mother . . . I can’t believe you would—”

  “I’m not naming her for my mother,” Posy cut in gently. “I’m naming her because of my mother. It’s different.”

  Sophie looked dubious, but she leaned over to get a closer peek at the baby. “She’s really quite sweet,” she murmured.

  Posy smiled, never once taking her eyes off the baby’s face. “I know.”

  “I suppose I could grow accustomed to it,” Sophie said, her head bobbing from side to side in acquiescence. She wiggled her finger between the baby’s hand and body, giving the palm a little tickle until the tiny fingers wrapped instinctively around her own. “Good evening, Araminta,” she said. “Very nice to meet you.”

  “Minty,” Posy said.

  Sophie looked up. “What?”

  “I’m calling her Minty. Araminta will do well in the family Bible, but I do believe she’s a Minty.”

  Sophie pressed her lips together in an effort not to smile. “Your mother would hate that.”

  “Yes,” Posy murmured, “she would, wouldn’t she?”

  “Minty,” Sophie said, testing the sound on her tongue. “I like it. No, I think I love it. It suits her.”

  Posy kissed the top of Minty’s head. “What kind of girl will you be?” she whispered. “Sweet and docile?”

  Sophie chuckled at that. She had been present at twelve birthings—four of her own, five of Posy’s, and three of Benedict’s sister Eloise. Never had she heard a baby enter this world with as loud a cry as little Minty. “This one,” she said firmly, “is going to lead you a merry chase.”

  And she did. But that, dear reader, is another story . . .

  Copyright

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  “An Offer From A Gentleman: The 2nd Epilogue” was originally published as an e-book.

  “An Offer From a Gentleman: The 2nd Epilogue” copyright © 2009 by Julie Cotler Pottinger.

  Meet the Bridgerton family teaser excerpts copyright © 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 by Julie Cotler Pottinger.

  AN OFFER FROM A GENTLEMAN. Copyright © 2001 by Julie Cotler Pottinger. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.

  Digital Edition SEPTEMBER 2015 ISBN: 978-0-06-242408-2

  Version 10052020

  Print Edition ISBN: 978-0-06-235365-8

  * * *

  Meet the Bridgerton Family

  The Bridgertons are by far the most prolific family in the upper echelons of society. Such industriousness on the part of the viscountess and the late viscount is commendable, although one can find only banality in their choice of names for their children. Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory, and Hyacinth (orderliness is, of course, beneficial in all things, but one would think that intelligent parents would be able to keep their children straight without needing to alphabetize their names).

  It has been said that Lady Bridgerton’s dearest goal is to see all of her offspring happily married, but truly, one can only wonder if this is an impossible feat. Eight children? Eight happy marriages? It boggles the mind.

  ~Lady Whistledown’s Society Papers, Summer 1813

  * * *

  * * *

  The Duke and I

  Who?

  Daphne Bridgerton and the Duke of Hastings.

  What?

  A sham courtship.

  Where?

  London, of course. Where else could one pull off such a thing?

  Why?

  They each have their reasons, neither of which includes falling in love . . .

  * * *

  * * *

  The Viscount Who Loved Me

  The season has opened for the year of 1814, and there is little reason to hope that we will see any noticeable change from 1813. The ranks of society are once again filled with Ambitious Mamas, whose only aim is to see their Darling Daughters married off to Determined Bachelors. Discussion amongst the Mamas fingers Lord Bridgerton as this year’s most eligible catch, and indeed, if the poor man’s hair looks ruffled and windblown, it is because he cannot go anywhere without some young miss batting her eyelashes with such vigor and speed as to create a breeze of hurricane force. Perhaps the only young lady not interested in Lord Bridgerton is Miss Katharine Sheffield, and in fact, her demeanor toward the viscount occasionally borders on the hostile.

  And that is why, Dear Reader, This Author feels a match between Anthony Bridgerton and Miss Sheffield would be just the thing to enliven an otherwise ordinary season.

  ~Lady Whistledown’s Society Papers, 13 April 1814

  * * *

  * * *

  An Offer From a Gentleman

  The 1815 season is well under way, and while one would think that all talk would be of Wellington and Waterloo, in truth, there is little change from the conversations of 1814, which centered around that most eternal of society topics—marriage.

  As usual, the matrimonial hopes among the debutante set center upon the Bridgerton family, most specifically the eldest of the available brothers, Benedict. He might not possess a title, but his handsome face, pleasing form, and heavy purse appear to have made up for that lack handily. Indeed, This Author has heard, on more than one occasion, an Ambitious Mama saying of her daughter: “She’ll marry a duke . . . or a Bridgerton.”

  For his part, Mr. Bridgerton seems most uninterested in the young ladies who frequent society events. He attends almost every party, yet he does nothing but watch the doors, presumably waiting for some special person.

  Perhaps . . .

  A potential bride?

  ~Lady Whistledown’s Society Papers, 12 July 1815

  * * *

  * * *

  Romancing Mister Bridgerton

  April is nearly upon us, and with it a new social season here in London. Ambitious Mamas can be found at dress shops all across town with their Darling Debutantes, eager to purchase that one magical evening gown that they simply know will mean the difference between marriage and spinsterhood.

  As for their prey—the Determined Bachelors—Mr. Colin Bridgerton once again tops the list of desirable husbands, even though he is not yet back from his recent trip abroad. He has no title, that is true, but he is in abundant possession of looks, fortune, and, as anyone who has ever spent even a minute in London knows, charm.

  But Mr. Bridgerton has reached the somewhat advanced age of three-and-thirty without ever showing an interest in any particular young lady, and there is little reason to anticipate that 1824 will be any different from 1823 in this respect.

  Perhaps the Darling Debutantes—and perhaps more importantly their Ambitious Mamas—would do well to look elsewhere. If Mr. Bridgerton is looking for a wife, he hides that desire well.

  On the other hand, is that not just the sort of challenge a debutante likes best?

  ~Lady Whi
stledown’s Society Papers, 26 March 1824

  * * *

  * * *

  To Sir Phillip, With Love

  . . . know you say I shall someday like boys, but I say never! NEVER!!! With three exclamation points!!!

  ~from Eloise Bridgerton to her mother, shoved under Violet Bridgerton’s door during Eloise’s eighth year

  . . . I never dreamed that a season could be so exciting! The men are so handsome and charming. I know I shall fall in love straightaway. How could I not?

  ~from Eloise Bridgerton to her brother Colin, upon the occasion of her London debut

  . . . I am quite certain I shall never marry. If there was someone out there for me, don’t you think I should have found him by now?

  ~from Eloise Bridgerton to her dear friend Penelope Featherington, during her sixth season as a debutante

  . . . this is my last chance. I am grabbing destiny with both my hands and throwing caution to the wind. Sir Phillip, please, please, be all that I have imagined you to be. Because if you are the man your letters portray you to be, I think I could love you. And if you felt the same . . .

  ~from Eloise Bridgerton, jotted on a scrap of paper on her way to meet Sir Phillip Crane for the very first time

  * * *

  * * *

  When He Was Wicked

  TRUE OR FALSE?

  True Michael Stirling is in love with the one woman he cannot have.

  True Michael Stirling is in love with the one woman he cannot have.

  True Michael Stirling is in love with the one woman he cannot have.

  True Michael Stirling is in love with the one woman he cannot have.

  True Michael Stirling is in love with the one woman he cannot have.

  Truth Michael Stirling is in love with Francesca Bridgerton.

  Sometimes there is only one truth that matters.

  * * *

  * * *

  It’s In His Kiss

  Our Cast of Characters

  Hyacinth Bridgerton: The youngest of the famed Bridgerton siblings, she’s a little too smart, a little too outspoken, and certainly not your average romance heroine. She’s also, much to her dismay, falling in love with . . .

  Gareth St. Clair: There are some men in London with wicked reputations, and there are others who are handsome as sin. But Gareth is the only one who manages to combine the two with such devilish success. He’d be a complete rogue, if not for . . .

  Lady Danbury: Grandmother to Gareth, mentor to Hyacinth, she has an opinion on everything, especially love and marriage. And she’d like nothing better than to see Gareth and Hyacinth joined in holy matrimony. Luckily, she’s to have help from . . .

  One meddling mother, one overprotective brother, one very bad string quartet, one (thankfully fictional) mad baron, and of course, let us not forget the shepherdess, the unicorn, and Henry the Eighth.

  * * *

  * * *

  On the Way to the Wedding

  IN WHICH

  FIRSTLY, Gregory Bridgerton falls in love with the wrong woman, and

  SECONDLY, she falls in love with someone else, but

  THIRDLY, Lucy Abernathy decides to meddle; however,

  FOURTHLY, she falls in love with Gregory, which is highly inconvenient because

  FIFTHLY, she is practically engaged to Lord Haselby, but

  SIXTHLY, Gregory falls in love with Lucy. Which leaves everyone in a bit of a pickle.

  Watch them all find their happy endings in the stunning conclusion to the Bridgerton Series

  * * *

  Bridgerton Family Tree

  About the Author

  With tens of millions of copies in print, #1 New York Times bestselling author JULIA QUINN has been called “Smart, funny,” by TIME Magazine. Her novels have been translated into 33 languages and are beloved the world over. A graduate of Harvard and Radcliffe Colleges, she lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest. Look for Bridgerton, based on her popular series of novels about the Bridgerton family, on Netflix.

  Discover great authors, exclusive offers, and more at hc.com.

  Also by Julia Quinn

  The Bridgerton Prequels

  FIRST COMES SCANDAL

  THE OTHER MISS BRIDGERTON

  THE GIRL WITH THE MAKE-BELIEVE HUSBAND

  BECAUSE OF MISS BRIDGERTON

  The Bridgerton Series

  THE DUKE AND I

  THE VISCOUNT WHO LOVED ME

  AN OFFER FROM A GENTLEMAN

  ROMANCING MISTER BRIDGERTON

  TO SIR PHILLIP, WITH LOVE

  WHEN HE WAS WICKED

  IT’S IN HIS KISS

  ON THE WAY TO THE WEDDING

  THE BRIDGERTONS: HAPPILY EVER AFTER

  The Smythe-Smith Quartet

  JUST LIKE HEAVEN

  A NIGHT LIKE THIS

  THE SUM OF ALL KISSES

  THE SECRETS OF SIR RICHARD KENWORTHY

  The Bevelstoke Series

  THE SECRET DIARIES OF MISS MIRANDA CHEEVER

  WHAT HAPPENS IN LONDON

  TEN THINGS I LOVE ABOUT YOU

  The Two Dukes of Wyndham

  THE LOST DUKE OF WYNDHAM

  MR. CAVENDISH, I PRESUME

  Agents of the Crown

  TO CATCH AN HEIRESS

  HOW TO MARRY A MARQUIS

  The Lyndon Sisters

  EVERYTHING AND THE MOON

  BRIGHTER THAN THE SUN

  The Splendid Trilogy

  SPLENDID

  DANCING AT MIDNIGHT

  MINX

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