tired but stubborn little heart.

Kind of obsessed with the idea of Benedict initially making more of a conscious effort to appear tidy and put together when he and Sophie first make their debut in society as newlyweds instead of keeping to his perpetual state of disarray—clothes askew, hair disheveled, and cravat crooked. This is because his wife deserves nothing but the best in her partner, someone who spends each day striving to put out the absolute best version of himself for her so everyone in the ton is well aware how lucky he feels to be her husband.

And so, each morning Benedict leaves their bedroom impeccably dressed…that is, until Sophie catches on to the uncharacteristic behavior a couple days in, then spares no second to return his cravat back to its formerly crooked state. When he gives her an imploring look, she responds in her typical, no-nonsense tone that the change, though appreciated, is entirely unnecessary when she loves Benedict exactly as he is, mess and all. That remark renders his sartorial efforts altogether pointless when it pushes him to tear both of their clothes off in his frenzied haste to get her in bed...

Hours later, after passionately, loudly, and energetically working through their argument (😏), they settle on a natural compromise. Each morning, as per their unspoken ritual, Benedict dresses himself in a manner he deems suitable enough to stand beside the perfection that is his beautiful wife, leaving the finishing touch for Sophie to "fix" his cravat just as she helped him with the button on his shirt not so long ago...