Are you planning on continuing the Bridgerton Sirius Au?! It is soooo good
Hello lovely I am still writing for the Bridgerton AU!!! I am rather slow at writing sometimes so my posts might be a pretty sporadic. I hope this update satiates the hunger for Bridgerton Sirius as I try to figure out where to go next with them. I really hope you enjoy ♡
Sirius Black x Fem!Reader who is out for an afternoon stroll.
AN: Regency AU / Bridgerton AU. A sprinkle of jily and a dash of Sirius at the end.
WC: 1,869 ♡
Sweat clung to your skin as the summer sun bore down on London through a never ending cloudless sky. The air was heavy with a thick heat, the occasional breeze doing little more than teasing relief before disappearing.
Your wrist already ached as the fan in your hand fluttered tirelessly. It was unfortunately your only real defense against the sweltering afternoon.
The park, despite the heat, was overflowing with members of the ton. Ladies wandered the winding paths beneath colorful parasols while gentlemen gathered beneath the shade of the lining trees.
Beside you, your cousin, Lily, shook her head fondly before stepping closer angling her parasol just so its shade covered your already sun warmed shoulders.
"Surely Mother told you the sun would be strong today." Her green eyes flickered toward you. "Why didn't you bring a parasol?"
Her hand reached up, tucking a loose strand of copper behind her ear just as the breeze caught it once more.
You sighed. "She did," you admitted, fanning yourself at your neck in a futile attempt to cool down. "I simply didn't think it would be... this strong."
Lily's lips twitched, clearly resisting the urge to laugh.
In every letter she'd sent over the years, she'd described London's summers as fair and pleasantly mild.
Comfortable.
Never once had she mentioned feeling as though the sun had made a personal enemy of her.
So why was it that the moment you arrived for your debut, the weather had chosen to become anything but fair?
Surely...
You must be cursed.
It would explain quite a lot, actually especially considering your disastrous debut before the Queen.
Heat rose to your already warm cheeks at the memory.
You still could barely meet your aunt's gaze after the spectacle you'd made of yourself. Aunt Susanna had insisted no real harm had been done assuring you that everyone stumbled now and then, but that did little to soothe your pride.
Your heel had caught on the lace trim of your gown the moment you stepped back from your bow.
It was just one mistep and it set the tone for your entire season.
Her Majesty had been gracious enough not to acknowledge it, carrying on as though nothing had happened at all.
The ton, however, had not been nearly as kind.
Your name had begun circulating before the final debutante had even left the presentation hall. By the time the first ball of the season arrived, the story had already grown beyond recognition. Depending on who one asked, you had either tripped over your own feet clattering to the floor, fainted before the Queen, or nearly brought Her Majesty down with you.
The ton did adore embellishment.
Perhaps you ought to have delayed your debut another year.
Maybe two...
No one would have thought twice if a baron's daughter from the countryside had postponed her entrance into society. The journey alone was reason enough. Instead, your parents had sent you to London to stay with your aunt, hopeful that a season among the ton might lead to a 'respectable' match.
So far, all it had earned you was humiliation.
With another sigh, you glanced toward your cousin.
Lily was vibrant as ever. A true beauty of the ton and had been on the marriage mart for just over a year.
Not because she lacked offers.
Quite the opposite in fact.
Lily had been named last season's diamond. From the moment she'd made her debut gentlemen had practically lined up for the chance to court her. Every bouquet, every invitation, every carefully rehearsed declaration of affection had ultimately paled in comparison to one particular suitor.
The Prince.
He had fallen for Lily at first sight during a royal ball, and from that evening onward there had been little doubt where his affections lay.
Now only the blessing of the King and Queen stood between them and an engagement.
You couldn't help but be happy for her even if the comparison made your own prospects feel impossibly bleak.
"What am I to do?" you murmured, fan snapped shut as your hands drop to your side.
Lily looked over, an amused twinkle in her eyes.
"I'm sure you'll find a match," she said with an encouraging smile. "You're beautiful."
You gave her an unbelieving look. "You're one to talk."
A laugh escaped Lily as the two of you continued down the winding promenade, the maid accompanying you both following four paces behind. Gentlemen tipped their hats as they passed while ladies offered polite nods under the trim of their parasols.
You pointed your fan in Lily's direction.
"Your life is practically set, Miss 'I Have Prince James's Affections.'"
A rosy blush spread across her cheeks. "His parents could still say no." She counters.
You raised a skeptical brow.
"The same Queen who declared you last Season's Diamond?" you asked. "I somehow doubt Her Majesty will require much convincing."
Lily's smile softened, though uncertainty still lingered in her eyes. "I've yet to meet James's father," she admitted quietly. "What if he doesn't approve of me? I am only a Baron's daughter." Her shoulders slumped ever so slightly.
Before she could spiral further into her worries, you reached over and lightly tapped her arm with your fan.
"Hey."
She looked at you.
"Out of every eligible lady in the kingdom, and beyond," you said, "he chose you."
Your voice softened.
"He could have courted anyone." Your hand lightly holds onto Lily's arm in a means to comfort.
"But he didn't. He chose you, and he is still choosing you." Offering her a small encouraging smile you add, "So have a little faith in him."
For a moment, Lily simply looked at you. Then, with a fond shake of her head, she looped her arm through yours.
"You're very good at giving advice."
You sighed dramatically.
"So I've been told."
Lily glanced over her shoulder toward the maid trailing a respectful distance behind them.
"Shall we rest beneath the willows for a while?"
You nodded a little too eagerly.
Shade sounded heavenly.
Together the two of you stepped from the stone promenade onto the immaculately trimmed grass, weaving beneath the sweeping branches of the willow tree. Instantly the harsh sunlight gave way to cool, dappled shade. The air remained heavy with summer heat but at least the relentless sun no longer bore down on your warmed skin.
A relieved sigh escaped your lips.
Martha, the Evans' maid, dipped into a curtsey.
"Would either of you care for refreshments?"
"Yes, please," you and Lily answered in unison.
With another curtsey, Martha hurried toward the row of shops beyond the pond, leaving the two of you alone beneath the dancing branches.
For the first time all afternoon, you allowed yourself to simply breathe. Your eyes drifted shut as the willow leaves rustled softly overhead, their gentle whispers mingling with the murmur of conversation drifting through the park.
Beside you, Lily closed her parasol, letting it dangle loosely from her wrist.
The quiet lasted all of thirty seconds.
"Miss Evans."
A familiar voice, smooth and unmistakably amused.
"It is always a pleasure to see you."
Your eyes flew open.
That certainly wasn't Martha.
Standing a few paces away was Sirius Black.
You recognized him immediately, though he looked rather different from the gentleman you'd encountered in the maze.
His dark hair had been gathered into a loose hold at the nape of his neck, leaving only a few strands to frame his face. Dressed in a navy suit he somehow appeared entirely unaffected by the oppressive London heat wave.
You frowned.
That hardly seemed fair.
"Lord Black." Lily smiled warmly, dipping into a graceful curtsey. "It's lovely to see you."
You hurried to mirror her greeting, bowing your head just enough to be polite while also wishing the earth would open beneath your heels and swallow you whole.
Sirius returned the greeting with an easy smile before his gaze settled on you.
Recognition flickered almost immediately. The corners of his mouth twitched upward. "This isn't Miss Petunia," he observed casually. "Who might this be?"
Without even looking at him, you could hear the smirk in his voice.
Lily glanced toward you expectantly, waiting for you to answer.
Your lips, however, remained stubbornly shut.
After a moment, Lily smiled apologetically. "This is my dear cousin," she introduced. "She's staying with my family for the season."
Something unmistakable lit up in Sirius's silver eyes.
Not recognition.
Triumph.
"Another Miss Evans," he mused. "It seems my list keeps growing."
Lily laughed good naturedly. "It would seem so."
You, meanwhile, had the distinct feeling you'd just made a terrible mistake agreeing to a stroll with Lily this afternoon.
Sirius hums as if debating his words before nodding to himself. "James is seeking refuge beneath the wisteria by the lake," Sirius said, raising a knowing brow toward Lily. "I imagine he'd be rather disappointed if you didn't happen to wander in that direction."
You looked to Lily just in time to see hope brighten her features. A rosy blush had already settled across her cheeks from the heat, but this was different.
You knew just how rare alone time was for the two.
The Prince could hardly stroll through streets of London unnoticed, and every invitation, every dance, every conversation and interaction between them was watched by dozens of curious eyes. Moments like these… quiet, stolen, and wonderfully ordinary were few and far between.
Improper?
Certainly.
Worth it?
Without question.
"He's waiting for you," you said gently. "I'll tell Martha that Lady McKinnon wanted to catch up with you when she returns."
Lily's gaze flickered uncertainly between you and Sirius.
"But..."
Leaving an unmarried lady alone with a gentleman, particularly Lord Black, was hardly proper.
You offered an encouraging smile.
"I'll survive."
Copper brows knit together. "You'll be alone."
"I believe you're taking the greater risk." You wave her off with a laugh.
A grin tugged at Sirius's lips.
"I quite agree."
Lily shot him an unamused look making Sirius lift both hands in mock surrender. "I'm merely saying that if you intend to meet the Prince in secret, it would be wise to do so before someone else stumbles across him." He supplies.
Lily's resolve finally crumbled.
With one last apologetic glance in your direction, she opened her parasol once more.
"Thank you," she whispered before she disappeared down the winding path toward the lake, her pale green skirts gradually vanishing beyond the willows branches.
Silence settled between you and Sirius.
You watched until Lily was completely out of sight before finally turning toward him.
"Surely," you began, fiddling with your fan in hand, "you wouldn't risk your own reputation by accompanying a baron's daughter without a chaperone."
His brow arched.
"My reputation?" An easy smile made its way onto his lips before continuing, "I'm afraid that ship sailed years ago."
Despite yourself, a laugh bubbles up your throat. "Even so."
"We are rather well hidden," he pointed out, gesturing toward the long and obscuring willow leaves overhead.
You tilted your head toward him.
"And yet..." Your eyes met his. "You managed to spot Lily and me."
"An excellent point." Sirius agrees his smile widening.
