Austen or Bridgerton, pick your Regency.

[ladys_night]

regency romance au

PROMPTS

( 1 ) dancing; whichever dance -- and remember, the waltz was initially frowned upon for how close partners were -- you are dancing. maybe your dance card is full and you'll move on to the next admirer. maybe this is the partner you've had your eyes on forever. whichever it is, enjoy this one dance.

( 2 ) subtle touches; helping her down from the carriage, touching her hand in a crowded ballroom, whatever it is, tonight you're communicating with small gestures and subtle glances.

( 3 ) note passing; have something to tell the one you like but no chance to do so in person? surely there is a servant willing to run an errand or two for you...

( 4 ) awkward carriage rides; you're alone in the carriage without a chaperone. what to make of it?

( 5 ) arranged marriage; your hand was promised to this person. do you like them? do you hate them? will you come to some sort of arrangement?

( 6 ) absconding to the moors; obligatory smut option.

( 7 ) rich/poor; you're from different social classes and your liason would be frowned upon if people knew.

taken from here.

Comments

Let me know if anything needs tweaking!

[examinedlife]

Asher wouldn’t agree that timing was everything, but it did take on a particular relevance when his return to London coincided with the start of the social season. Not that he had much choice in the matter. He was on a bit of a deadline to record his latest observations from his travels, and had written to the head of the Lewis family about his findings. His mother’s family had been longtime friends of theirs, and even after her disappearance the remaining relatives on each side stayed close. Asher had been invited to reside with the Lewis clan for the season to be close to Oxford where he was expected to give an upcoming lecture rather than his own estate far remote in the countryside. He wasn’t such a curmudgeon that he would refuse such a hospitable offer, and it did truly make good sense.

He also knew it meant that he’d have to participate in the hustle and bustle that came with the season, so the Lewis family wouldn’t receive gossip about their guest being rude.

After the first party though it had been near interminable to fulfill that good promise. It all felt rather inane and silly, and to stave off the many courtship attempts he’d found himself speaking mainly to Darcy. Punch in hand and theory on his tongue, they had engaged in conversation. At first it had been simply to keep others from approaching, but he’d found the talk stimulating. Enough so that when the next party came around, they had hatched something of a plan.

Stepping out of the carriage, he held his hand towards her and smiled. Leaning in he whispered, “Ready to put on a show, then?”

[stemtypeoflady]

The season. It was the bane of Darcy's existence. It was her debut season which meant her singular focus should be finding a suitor to marry. She felt confined in her limits and expectations as a young, unmarried woman. Her family was decently well off. She'd have a respectable dowry, but it was her mother and grandmother's dearest hope that she'd marry well. Maybe even a man with a title. Darcy was too much like her father. It was her father who encouraged her love for reading and for science. She loved figuring out problems and building things. She loved learning how things worked.

It was an unappealing trait in a woman. She was expected to be well read, talented at singing and the pianoforte as well as embroidery. She was expected to be an excellent conversationalist. She was able to do all that, but she wanted more than that. Her greatest dream was attending university even though she was barred from it.

She dreaded all the balls and galas and parties. She spent the evenings always carefully navigating conversations and dances. She loathed the eyes that watched her and sized her up. When Mr. Davies arrived, he became the answer to her problems for the season. She could keep suitors at bay if she kept him close. It had been easy to devise a plan with him. He has a clever mind that she appreciated.

"Let's pray the evening goes by quickly," she replied, taking his hand. Her pink lips were twisted in a wry smile. "I fear my feet may not survive otherwise."