are you still working on the Elijah mikaelson Bridgeton fic?
I'm sorry it took so long 😭😭 Lots of life changes have been occurring. But here it is, a small blurb of what could be the start of a series if you guys like it.
The Social Season
Pairing: Elijah Mikaelson x reader Summary: The Mikaelsons have returned to London for this year's social season. No girl had ever caught Elijah's eye before, until now. Word Count: 2772 Masterlist
London 1814
The London social season had been in full swing by the time the Mikaelsons had returned to the city during one of Lady Danbury’s events. Elijah and his siblings had barely walked through the doors before ruthless mamas began to smooth our their daughter’s dresses while eyeing them from across the room. Elijah was the prize, certainly, but if any woman was to catch a Mikaelson son at all they would consider it a win. Rebekah had also never had a difficulty keeping her dance card full.
It was well past the first soiree of the season, but it was the first that the Mikaelson siblings had made an appearance at. The marriage-minded missus of the city (and their mamas) always kept a keen eye out for them. While they may not have had the status of the Duke, the Mikaelson family was both well known, respected, and equally as feared. Not even Lady Whistledown dared to write more than their names.
“Must we return to this god-awful city every year?” Niklaus groaned as the wave of young bachelorettes swarmed towards them.
“Speak for yourself,” Kol smiled, watching the ladies with a much different expression. “I rather like being adored.”
“Mikaelsons!” they all heard coming from the opposite direction. Upon inspection they saw none other than Anthony Bridgerton advancing towards them. Rebekah and Elijah turned toward him with bright smiles with Niklaus and Kol tended to the hoard of ladies with empty dance cards.
“Bridgerton,” Elijah greeted with a smile, meeting his arm in the middle to shake his hand in greeting.
“You’ve missed a great amount in the short few weeks you’ve been absent this season.”
“Yes, well, we had some family business to tie up back in the states across the water.”
“No matter, you are all here now. You must join our family for a promenade sometime soon so I might regale you with all the happenings from the season thus far.”
“I’m sure we’ll catch up plenty with a reading of the last couple Lady Whistledown issues,” Rebekah remarked with a small chuckle.
“Yes but surely, sister, as you know as well as I Whistledown doesn’t know everything,” Elijah corrected before turning back to Anthony with a smile. “We’ll be glad to join you, Bridgerton. You shall name the day.”
“Fantastic! Oh and we must not forget the ball my mother is hosting at our estate in the country. You’d all be welcome there as my guests if you so desire.”
“I would be honored, my lord,” Rebekah said with a smile, bowing her head slightly. It was no secret that she fancied the man. Her whole family could see it. While Rebekah had no intention of being courted or heavens forbid marrying anyone, she could still dream about the life she might live were she able to. The beautiful family that might surround her. The number of children she and the viscount might have been able to have together. But that was nothing more than a fantasy. Precisely the reason that Elijah was hardly ever seen taking any young ladies to the floor. He felt it foolish to fill them with futile hopes of him proposing. Every respectable lady of the ton desired marriage, children, a real family. Something none of the Mikaelsons would be able to provide.
Nonetheless, the Mikaelsons always appeared before the ton each year during the height of the social season just long enough to maintain appearances. Not to mention, Kol had not found an easier afternoon snack than that of a young lady hoping for a betrothal. They never killed any of the members of the ton, of course. Such a high standing society member would surely be missed. Nothing a bit of the vampires’ own blood and a little compulsion couldn’t resolve.
“You must meet my dear cousin,” Anthony stated after a brief moment. “She’s come to live with us after the passing of her mother, my aunt.”
Anthony turned as he beckoned you over to them. Elijah sighed as he looked down at his feet, readjudsting his posture to be more proper as he awaited your arrival. When his eyes met yours, however, his reluctance towards the introduction vanished.
“Mikaelsons,” Anthony continued. “This is my cousin, miss Y/n Ledger.”
“A pleasure,” you said with a polite smile and a perfect curtsy.
“The pleasure is mine,” Elijah replied quickly, offering his hand for you to take. Once you softly placed your hand into his, Elijah brought it ever so slowly up to his lips as he touched the softest kiss to your gloved hand; an action that did not go unnoticed by Rebekah, nor the ravenous mamas behind them. Elijah was not one to give more than a curt nod to young ladies introducing themselves. “Lady Ledger-”
“Just miss Ledger,” you corrected. “Lady Ledger was my grandmother.”
While the response was simple, it answered many of Elijah’s questions. For one, you were not married. If you had been married you would either hold a title as a lady or hold a different last name than your grandmother. Second, your mother was not married. Had your father been a Ledger himself, your mother would hold the title of Lady Ledger, not your grandmother. As that title is still her grandmother’s to hold, your mother hadn’t married a lord to gain the title herself. Thirdly, she must be related to the Bridgertons through the sister of the current vicountesses Bridgerton.
“Pardon me, Miss Ledger. Would you care to do me the honor of a d-”
“Y/n, surely you must join me for a cool glass of lemonade,” Rebekah interrupted, linking her arm through yours as she dragged you away to the drinks table.
Elijah stood dumbfounded as you both walked away. Rebakah knew it was improper to interrupt, but after living for 800 years she couldn’t come to care. Elijah watched your expression closely. He expected a protest, or for you to at least look back towards him. There wasn’t a chance you didn’t catch what he wanted to ask you. Any other lady would have jumped at the opportunity to be led to the floor by a Mikaelson. Especially by Elijah, being the eldest for all intents and purposes.
As soon as the two of you were gone, Elijah was swarmed by the ton much like his brothers were just moments before. Nikalus and Kol could not agree to another single dance, having agreed to partner with a different lady for each one, so naturally the crowd has turned next
‘’ towards both Elijah and Anthony, knowing this was the season the viscount longed to secure a wife.
Anthony looked towards Elijah with raised eyebrows as he let out a deep sigh before having to face the wolves.
---
As the week went on, Elijah and Rebekah agreed to join the Bridgerton family in a turn about the park in Mayfair. Rebekah loved their family. She envied Violet’s ability to have so many children. A life she longed for herself. Elijah, on the other hand, wanted to know more about you.
“Bridgertons,” Elijah greeted the family with a nod as they approached. “Miss Ledger,” he said toward you.
“My lord,” you greeted back with a smile and a small bow.
“Would you care for a turnabout the lake?” he offered, holding his arm out for you.
“Oh,” you said with a slight tone of surprise, looking back at the Bridgerton family. Before you could find the words to accept or deny, Violet spoke up for you.
“She would love one,” Violet beamed with a nod, pulling you forward to take his arm.
You chuckled in defeat as you wrapped you arm around his, hand resting on the crook of his elbow.
The two of you had barely gotten ten feet from the rest of the family before he bagan to bombard you with questions. You didn’t mind, of course. Most most began conversations this way, especially when “interviewing” their potential matches.
“So I really must ask,” he began. “How is it that you’re not married yet?”
You chuckled at his question, one of the ones you expected to hear first. “Well, my mother had me out of wedlock. If it wasn’t for or connection to the Bridgertons then I would be labeled a bastard child and thrown out of society entirely. Instead, my mother trained me from a young age so I could have the perfect match. She was determined. Too determined. Her determination ended up turning away a lot of possible suitors.”
As you spoke, you noticed Elijah was genuinely interested in what you had to say. He wasn’t spaced out as you rambled on, he didn’t seem annoyed or simply waiting for you to be finished. He wanted to know about you. About your life.
“As the seasons past, and I got older, everyone began to lose interest. I’ve been officially put ‘on the shelf’ as they would call it, at the ripe age of three and twenty.”
“Yet you still attend events with the rest of the ton?” he questioned.
“Living with the Bridgertons comes with a surplus of invitations,” you explained with a smile. “And Eloise needs encouragement through her first season.”
Elijah let out a laugh at that. “I pity any man who tries to tame her.”
“Not possible,” you rebutted with a laugh of your own. “Eloise is one horse that cannot be tamed.”
As you continued to walk, you noticed many eyes turned to stare at the two of you.
“And what of you?” you asked him. It was his turn to answer your questions.
“What of me?”
“Surely you have your number of available matches. Why have you gone so long without securing one?”
Elijah chucked while glancing to the floor, watching your feet walk in sync. “In truth I’ve never had the desire to settle down with anyone,” he explained. “It didn’t seem like the type of life I was meant to live.”
“And now?” you asked. Both of your steps had halted as you turned to face one another, his eyes searching yours as if trying to find the words to answer you.
“Now…” he began, not truly knowing what his answer was. “Now, I’m not sure what the future holds for me.”
The two of you stayed in silence you a couple moments longer, stuck searching the others eyes for answers to questions you didn’t know. It wasn’t until you remembered where you were that you tore your eyes from his, clearing your throat.
“We should make our way back,” you said simply. “They’ll be serving tea under the gazebo soon. Would you and your sister care to join us?”
It was Elijah’s turn tp clear his own throat, facing back towards the path in front of you as he continued to walk.
“Indeed,” he nodded. “That would be quite agreeable.”
After a few moments of silence, you spoke up again. “You must join us in Aubrey Hall next week.”
“Yes, Lord Bridgerton mentioned retiring to the country for a ball his mother is hosting.”
“He’s invited the Sharma family to join us before the rest of the invited guests arrive, I insist your family do the same.”
“Are you certain?” he asked with raised eyebrows. “We would not wish to be a burden.”
“It’s no trouble at all,” you assured him. “There is plenty of space and I could use the company while Anthony is busy in his dance of courtship. I shall discuss it with the family upon our return.”
As the two of you walked back towards the Bridgertons, you felt eyes on you left and right. Both lords and ladys staring at the pair of you with two feelings on their mind. Confusing and envy.
---
As the Mikaelsons dismounted from their carriage at Aubrey Hall, the entirety of the Bridgerton family was waiting to greet them.
“Lord Mikaelson,” Violet smiled, greeting him with open arms.
“Elijah, please,” he corrected, bowing his head slightly towards her. “You’ve invited us to be guests in your home, its only fair that you might call us by our given names. You know my sister, Rebekah,” he continued, motioning towards his siblings. “And might I introduce my brother, Niklaus and Kol.”
“A pleasure, Lady Bridgerton,” Kol greeted with a bow of his own, followed by Niklaus.
“You have a lovely home,” he spoke up with a warm smile.
“While you’re here you may think of it as your own,” Violet began before motioning towards the front doors. “Please, we were just about to sit down for tea. The Sharmas should be arriving any moment.”
As the group walked into the house, Elijah’s face lit up with a smile seeing you sitting in the parlor, waiting for everyone else.
“My lord,” you smiled, standing up to offer a quick curtsy. “I’m pleased you could make it.”
Elijah grabbed your hand before your eyes raised to meet his, bringing it once more up to lightly caress it with his lips. Your breath hitches in your throat as this time, you weren’t wearing your gloves.
“I wouldn’t miss it,” his said, looking back at you with a smile, you hand staying in his while he looks up at you.
His eyes held yours for another moment before you heard a throat clear behind you. Elijah turned to see Kol with a sly smirk on his face.
“Ah, yes, miss Ledger allow me to introduce my brothers, Kol and Niklaus.”
Both men in question smiled warmly as they each gave the the girl a quick bow.
“Brother,” Elijah continued. “I’d like you both to meet miss Y/n Ledger. Cousin to the Bridgertons.”
“Pleased to make your acquaintance,” you said with a smile of your own, giving a small curtsy.
“Miss Ledger,” Niklaus starting, stepping forward to be next to Elijah. “I hear you’re quite the artist. I myself dabble in painting every now and again, I’d love to see your work.”
Elijah looked towards his brother uneasily. Anyone who overheard him may have taken his comment as a kind remark, but Elijah didn’t miss the calculating grin on his face. He had an agenda.
“An artist?” Elijah repeated with a slight tone of surprise. He wasn’t sure how his brother came to know this.
“Yes, brother. I’ve done my research,” Klaus answered back simply.
“Oh,” you began, a bit take off guard by his knowledge of you. “Well I’ve tried my hand at painting every now and again, but Benedict is the true artist of the family. It’s him you’d be wanting to speak with about it.”
“Miss Ledger I don’t recall ever seeing you on the dance floor,” Kol spoke up next. “You must allow me to lead you sometime. I am, after all, the best dancer in the family.”
“Perhaps the best male dancer,” Rebekah spoke up, seemingly appearing beside him. “Both of you, stop overwhelming the poor girl.”
“Oh, I really don’t mind, Lady Mikaelson.”
“Rebekah, please,” she almost scoffed. “Titles make me feel much too old.”
“I couldn’t possibly-”
“I insist,” she interrupted. “In any case, we are all most comfortable being called by our given names. When one hears the name ‘Mikaelson’ being thrown from across the ballroom we never know for who it is intended for.”
“Very well, Rebekah. Then you all must call me Y/n. Especially here in the country, away from the rules of London society.”
“Lord Mikaelson,” Violet could be heard from behind, approaching the small group in the parlor.
“Again, Elijah really is fine,” he corrected again with a chuckle.
“Elijah,” she repeated, a warm smile on her face. “You really must allow Y/n to take you on a tour of the grounds. I hear you’re quite the reader and my late husband, Edmund, had quite the collection in his library.”
“But aunt Violet,” you started before Elijah could give an answer. “I told the kitchen staff that I would assist in serving the tea.”
Violet waved you off. “I shall send down Eloise to help them. You go on and show Elijah your uncle’s library upstairs.”
“I would love to see it,” Elijah added, urging you with his smile.
“Very well,” you nodded. Elijah help out his arm, motioning for you to go first, following close behind as you led him up to the Bridgerton’s library.
“Might they be needing a chaperone, Lady Bridgerton?” Rebekah asked her with a sly grin, catching onto Violet’s schemes.
“I’m not sure as to who you are referring,” she replied with an innocent shrug, turning back to return to the rest of her family.