"Ms. Josephine" I heard Mrs Torres shout from downstairs.

"Ms. Josephine you must come down the carriage is waiting outside"

I looked in the mirror. I looked like the perfect debutant. Lips and cheeks lightly rouged, white dress, diamond family jewels, and of course the obnoxious feather in my hair. I've been dreading this day for years. 

I made my way downstairs as slowly as I could, hoping that someone would stop me from getting into that carriage.

"Honey" My mother looked at me "You're beautiful" She said with a huge smile as she hugged me.

Don't let this fool you. My mother is the most wicked beast you could encounter and I can only imagine the show she'll put on now that I'll be out in society and looking for a husband.

My mother isn't from a wealthy family. She's from St Giles. My father only married her because he felt obligated to do so after she got pregnant with me. They never loved each other and I fear I might've contributed to that by not being born a boy. My mother struggled to get pregnant for a second time and they never ended up having another child which means my father doesn't have an heir. My mother is hell-bent on marrying me off in my first season so I can produce one for them as fast as possible and she can lay back and not stress about her precious new life being taken away from her ever again.

As I walk out to the carriage I spot Olivia and her family leaving their house. She lives two houses away. Her mother and her four brothers accompany her as they get into two carriages. She has two older sisters one younger brother and three older ones. Both her sisters married well so she will too probably. We smile at each other and I get into the carriage.

"Oh, I can't believe this" my mother says as she starts touching my hair "Can Mrs. Torres do one thing correctly?"

"It's quite alright mother" I say pushing her hand away from my head.

"Could you not be yourself for just one day Josie?" she looks at me in disbelief.

"Oh why because this is the most important day of my life and I risk ruining our family's name if I don't act like a shallow thoughtless young lady?" I ask crossing my arms and looking at her.

"Don't talk to your mother like that Fifi" My father says in a bored voice not even looking up from the paper he's reading.

"Why do I even try?" My mother says looking out the window.

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The sun is slowly setting on the horizon as we approach Blackmore house. The Blackmores always host the first ball of the season where the fresh meat a.k.a the debutants get paraded around and presented to society.

The carriage comes to a halt. We've arrived. I step out the carriage door and look around. I see a few other girls walking in wearing the same dress as me. Then I spot Olivia.

"Liv!" I shout as I walk up to her.

"Lady Carlton" I bow my head to her mother.

"Oh Josie, you look wonderful" She says smiling at me "I'm sure you girls are going to have an amazing time tonight. Being a debutant is so exciting"

"Josie dear, it's time to go inside" my mother says as she comes up to us " How do you do Lady Carlton?" she looks at Olivia's mother smiling.

"We're doing well, we're all so excited for Olivia and I can only hope that she is as fortunate as her sisters were and finds love early on." Lady Carlton says "What about you Lady Livingston? I'm sure Josie's been looking forward to tonight"

"On the contrary" my mother says "Well you know her, always full of thoughts and independence" I can feel the tenseness in her voice.

"Well independence is good for a young woman nowadays" Lady Carlton says smiling at me.

"I suppose" my mother responds.

We walk inside and up the stairs to find all the debutants getting ready for their grand entrance.

"Oh there's your father Josie" my mother says and she waves at my father "Alright then, I'm going to find Lady Gulliver, and don't trip while you're walking down" and with that, she is gone.

All the debutants get ready and Lady Blackmore comes up to us.

"Just as we practiced. The order is based upon the first letter of your last name so please form a line accordingly. When I call your name you walk downstairs curtsy and then wait for a gentleman to come up to you. After everyone was called upon and has found a partner the first dance shall start" 

Everyone gets in line and ready. Even though I don't put my life on this night my stomach is still turning whenever a name gets called and my turn approaches

"Miss Olivia Carlton, presented by her mother the dowager Lady Carlton"

Olivia's name is called and I watch as she walks down the stairs. Everyone's eyes are on her and as soon as she steps off the last step a gentleman comes up to her, kisses her hand, and takes her aside.

"Miss Winnipeg Dowling, presented by her father Lord Dowling"

I watch as each and every one of these girls walk the stairs with ease and confidence like they were meant for this. As for me, with each passing minute I want to leave more and more.

"Miss Georgina Locke presented by her brother Lord Locke"

"We're next" I said looking at my father who just patted my back as we walked to the staircase.

"Miss Josephine Livingston presented by her father Lord Livingston"

We started walking downstairs and I felt more eyes on me than I would've liked. As we reached the end of the staircase a young man came up to me kissed my hand and introduced himself as my father stepped aside and found my mother.

"May I have this dance, Miss Livingston?" He asked looking at me. I nodded and we walked off to the side to let the remaining debutants get introduced.

He wasn't the least bit ugly, I just hated everything to do with this night. Perhaps if I wasn't so against it I could even enjoy a good-looking young man wanting to dance with me.

"I'm Mr. Lucas Norman" he looks at me smiling. He has light brown hair paired with hazel eyes and I reach to about his shoulders.

"Nice to meet you Mr. Norman" I smile and bow my head.

It is now time for the dance as all the debutants are now paired up. Me and Mr. Norman take to the dancefloor.