#lovedtwice

   With seven siblings, it sometimes felt impossible to have individual moments between them all. He was close with Anthony and Colin, due mostly to age and gender, and to Eloise for almost the opposite reasons. But he’d missed so much of his younger sisters’ lives -- being away at school, or just being away. There was a guilt that echoed in the silence sometimes, when he realized he’d left a letter unanswered for too long, or that he hadn’t been home in months. He never was foolish or delusional enough to think himself a perfect man, or anything near that, but he did do his best to make amends and make up for his own errors in judgement. His devotion to his family would be unfailing -- his chosen family, and his born family. Francesca herself.

   He felt a gentleness in him around her that almost reminded him of being around Daphne, but was so uniquely her own effect too. But there was something so very sad in the sentiment she posed aloud, so poignant that he nearly flinched from its weight striking him. Instead, Benedict blinked and drew a slow breath before letting it out again. “I have,” he admitted without hesitation. “When I was younger, I thought regrets or simply wanting the past back wasn’t worth the time of day. And then it became an obsession,” he continued, thinking of the months he spent looking for Sophie before he knew her name, and the years he spent glancing over his shoulder should she appear in the most unlikely of places. “It occupied so much of me. And now, I think I have returned to my opinions of youth.” His features pulled crookedly, lines betraying more of his age. He gave a half smile in his sister’s direction, guessing ( fairly accurately, he thought ) the reasons she was asking this of him. Still, he wanted to ask, to hear it in her words. “What has you thinking like that?”

@lovedtwice​:  did it frighten you? / for daphne from frannie 

         each brigerton lady seemed to bloom differently than the last. while their petals seemed to frame their fair features, and leave the sickly perfume clinging to their skin, they all required different circumstances. more sunlight, less water, perhaps a few of them even needed weeks on end without being tended to. daphne in many regards had not been afforded those luxuries. as the first brigerton lady to be paraded around this season, to be married, the doors she opened were extensions to her sisters. it was a legacy and expectation that she had set, that her sisters would benefit from. 

           there’s a kind smile that crept up, a shake to her head. “ no, not fear. ” while many of the woman here married for status, daphne had married for love. inspired by the love story she knew all too well. the one they had all grown up with and were borne from. “ marrying simon was the easiest choice i could have made. he is my best friend. i gravitated toward him at the dances, and he made me laugh. his company, flowed like the river, seamless and without effort.” they had begged the queen herself to bless the marriage, to expedite it. “ being married has not always been what i’ve expected, but it’s never been fear that’s worried me.” there is a pause as daphne adjusted herself in the chair. 

Penelope turned her head in surprise to her sister-in-law at the question, her mind scrambling to figure out the reason why she had been asked. While she currently had her own suspicions about the matter, she had hoped that she had hid it successfully from her husband and his family. She did not want to get Colin’s hopes up if she was not completely sure she was with child. 

​it was a rare treat indeed when francesca came back to bridgerton house, back to london, to visit them from scotland. yet, like every bridgerton sibling, kate adored her. there was not a single thing left unprepared, no table cloth unstraightened, no sweet left unplated and no child left uncounted for. edmund, miles and charlotte were all stood in line, forced to hold hands and look as innocent as possible for their aunt’s arrival. of course, they would become unruly moments after but it was the attempt that mattered in kate’s eyes. it was so rare that the entire family got to be together, in the same city, these days and so, kate considered it a special occasion. 

the carriage pulling up outside had the viscountess brimming with excitement. a large grin etching onto her lips. if only anthony was present rather than having been called away to do some sort of work...though, he would be back in the evening, once his sister had had the opportunity to rest.

@lovedtwice​ asked: “You ask a serious question, I’ll give you a serious answer.” / for hyacinth/gregory from francesca @ lovedtwice !

“Frannie...” perched on the couch, Gregory made for a pathetic sight; eyes bloodshot from riding all day, hair sticking up everywhere and his lips curved perpetually into a pout. Not prone to melancholy moods, he could usually be counted on to offer a smile or a quick joke. Just, sometimes, once in a blue moon really, he felt something clawing at his throat, screeching to get out. “I’m serious, I can’t -- you are all so happy. Is this a trick?” from the second they said ‘I do’ his siblings seemed to live in a perpetual state of bliss. Francesca, he knew, had suffered a huge loss, but she seemed to have regained her light after her wedding to Michael. 

  @lovedtwice​ ​  asked :     ❝ I don’t think you’re an idiot at all. I mean, there are elements of the ridiculous about you. ❞ / for colin from frannie @ lovedtwice !                                     bridget jones starters   ( accepting!! )

he considers this one for a moment,   lips pursed, before shrugging.    he’ll take it.  as far as compliments from francesca go, sometimes  ‘ not an idiot ’   is the best one can hope for.           ❝  wherever i cannot be a success, i aspire to be ridiculous, ❞      he retorts with a nonchalant wave of his hand.       ❝  and god knows, i’m successful at enough, it’s not a busy job.  ❞           his extended hand turns to her, as though this is an incredible achievement, and he gives a little mock - bow.          ❝  and of course, you, my dear sister, have never made a fool of yourself a day in your life.  ❞