The Harringtons are said to be the most respectable and prestigious family after the royal family. One must commend the Viscount and Viscountess on their incredible choice of names for their children—Jamie, Julian, Jordan, Jared, Juliette, and Justine—an impressive decision to name all of them with the letter J.
The sight of the Harringtons is indeed beautiful: from their eye color to their hair, to their similar bone structure and height. This author wonders if the Viscount and his wife—the Viscountess—can even tell their children apart.
Ah, this author would also love to remind you—gentle readers—that the Princess is to return to royal duties starting this debut season. Whether she intends to marry or not, this author does not know—but intends to find out...
Lady Whittleby's Society Papers, 22 February 1812
"She is back!" Cecilia Harrington screamed as she crumpled the gossip sheet of the ton in her hand while entering the elegant drawing room.
Her son Jamie stood up, already bored of the gossip that was about to unfold—both about the writer and whatever madness she had written this time.
"She wrote about us again. This time, she focused on your names," Cecilia said.
"And why in heaven's name should that bother us?" Jamie asked as he walked over to his father to attend to whatever household matters needed attention.
"She also mentioned that the Princess is back and is to resume her duties," Cecilia added, making her way toward Jamie and her husband.
"I still don't understand why the council can't just appoint a male heir to take over the palace duties. What does a woman know about governance?" the Viscount said in annoyance—a statement that prompted Cecilia to smack the living daylight out of him.
An action which surprised the children, Jamie included.
"Just because she is a woman doesn't give you the right to speak down on her," Cecilia snapped angrily.
"What I mean is that the council doesn't take lightly to situations like this, and from what I've seen of the Princess, she doesn't appear to be someone capable of taming the members of the council," he muttered.
"And you know that how? Do not speak about someone you know nothing about just because of their appearance. I think it is high time the council stopped questioning whether a woman should ascend the throne. The majority of women out there are more sensible than the men currently seated on that council. It's a known fact," Cecilia said as she walked over to Juliette.
"Before you start a conversation regarding the ball or the modiste—I don't want to go to either. I don't want to visit the modiste. The clothes are embarrassing, and I can't even fathom why you would think I'd wear those things to the ball," Juliette said, glancing through the gossip sheet.
"This is your debut season. Everything has to be perfect, and your clothing must reflect your social standing," Cecilia said, making Jamie chuckle as Juliette whispered, "Help me."
Jamie Harrington absolutely adored his family. He was the firstborn and eldest son of the six children, and he did not take that for granted. He loved being with them, talking with them—but he absolutely hated debut season. It was the one time his mother would ask about his intentions to marry.
He wanted to get married, but every time he attended a ball, he was bombarded by ladies who were either dumb, annoying, or worse—a combination of both.
"I do hope you intend to make the most of this season, Jamie," his mother said as he walked toward the door, trying to escape.
"And I hope you don't intend to force me into making decisions for this season like you did the last time," Jamie replied as he walked away.
The season had barely begun, and already his mother had every intention of getting him married.
"Jamie Harrington, you finally decide to grace us with your presence," Amir, the Duke of Wexham, said as Jamie entered the gentlemen's club owned by Amir's brother. The club was where every eligible member of the ton gathered for drinks and conversations—usually about the women recently presented to society.
The former, Jamie enjoyed. The latter, he absolutely detested.
"I thought being a council member to the palace meant avoiding places that might tarnish your image."
"I find it hard to believe that visiting my brother's club would tarnish my image. And might I add, the council cares very little about what I do outside the palace," Amir responded as Jamie took a seat beside him.
"And I hope that at the next council meeting, you will join us in asking the Princess to step down from her position," Caspian, the Earl of Mayhem, said as he joined the conversation, took a drink, and headed toward the door.
"Is this how the council discusses matters of the throne? Is it truly such a big deal that a woman is set to ascend it?" Jamie asked as Caspian walked away.
"I despise the fact that only Lord Kingsley and I support her claim. I fear her skin color is of more concern to them than her gender," Amir said, sipping his drink. The gentleman was clearly frustrated.
"She's just a lady. Her only duty should be to serve her husband and see to the household. The kitchen and the children are all she needs to worry about. She has no business with the council or the palace," Lord Wembley said as he took a seat beside them.
"I imagined that being a lord would require common sense—but clearly, common sense is not so common," Jamie said, disgusted.
"Pardon me?"
"I always thought council members would have some intelligence. Apparently, I was wrong. Let me advise you—think before you speak. And do not go near my mother or siblings talking nonsense like you just did," Jamie said, standing.
"You do realize you're speaking to a council member? I deserve respect," Wembley barked.
"And you think I should respect that garbage you just spewed?" Jamie asked before turning to Amir to bid him goodbye. "I'll see you another time—when there are fewer idiots around."
Jamie didn't know why the statement had struck such a nerve—but it had. He didn't usually involve himself in matters of the ton, but he hated that women were so often looked down upon.
He'd grown up in a home where his parents treated each other as equals. His father always ensured Cecilia had a say in decisions. She managed the family accounts and took charge when needed.
Jamie longed for a partner like his mother—someone captivating, someone he would love deeply. Someone who understood society's expectations but didn't bow to them. Someone who loved him, flaws and all. Someone who believed her place was beside him—not just in the kitchen.
"You look as though you're angry at someone—or about to kill someone," Julian said as Jamie walked into the art room. Julian, the second Harrington child, was either in this room or his own. He hated conversing with anyone except family, and Jamie often wondered what would happen if Julian, next on their mother's list, was pushed to marry.
"I'm just angry that Lord Wembley believes a woman's only purpose is the kitchen and childcare. The man is insufferable," Jamie muttered, pouring himself a drink.
"I can imagine Mother's reaction to that—especially after this morning's event," Julian said with a smirk.
"I fear she'd beat the daylight out of him. I can't believe someone so daft is on the council."
"Or he truly is daft," Julian added.
"While you two are busy debating whether someone is daft," Jared interrupted as he walked in, "why are you not ready for tonight's ball?"
"There's a ball?" Julian asked as the two scrambled out of the room to dress.
"Where have your minds been? Mother's been excited about it for days. The Queen and Princess are going to be there!" Jared yelled after them.
"I expect the two of you to be responsible—this is Juliette's first ball as a debutante. Did you really have to be late?" Cecilia scolded as they entered Simmons Hall.
"We were... busy," Julian said simply.
"There she is," Cecilia whispered, directing their attention.
"Isn't she beautiful? The Princess—she's even more breathtaking than Whittleby's gossip sheet described."
Jamie could not agree more. She was beautiful, enchanting—and far more than words could describe. He was lost in his thoughts until Jared nudged him back to reality.
"Lord Wembley is, in fact, a fool—and very daft, might I add," he said, but Jamie was still completely captivated by the vision before him.