#silvercinders

an   arranged   marriage   was   the   best   compromise   he   and   his   mother   could   come   up   with.   it   would   give   benedict   the   freedoms   he   wanted.   it   would   also   make   it   so   that   his   sisters,   three   still   unmarried,   would   not   have   their   own   matches   affected   by   rumors   of   his   behavior.   and   once   violet   bridgerton   set   her   sights   on   something,   there   was   no   gentleman   nor   lady   whom   could   stop   her.   an   eligible   bridgerton,   with   a   healthy   living   set   up   by   his   father   and   his   own   investments   ?   what   young   lady   would   not   want   that   ?   he   can   hear   his   mother   and   brother's   words   in   his   ear,   even   now,   after   the   contracts   have   been   drawn   up.   he   hadn't   imagined   the   most   beautiful   woman   he'd   ever   seen   to   walk   into   his   mother's   sitting   room   some   weeks   ago.   he   had   dropped   his   tea   cup   the   first   time   she   had   laughed   at   a   joke   he   made.   such   things   were   not   the   foundation   of   a   marriage,   not   one   like   his   parents   or   daphne   and   simon.

still,   they   are   to   wed   tomorrow.   he   has   no   idea   what   that   will   entail   with   an   arrangement   like   that.   for   now,   benedict's   arm   wraps   around   hers   as   they   walk,   their   mothers   behind   them   speaking   no   doubt   of   floral   arrangements   or   seating   plans.   far   enough   away   so   they   do   not   hear   their   words,   but   not   so   far   that   it   would   be   considered   improper.   does   she   feel   as   anxious   as   he   ?   worse   ?   he   can't   imagine   how   overwhelming   it   is   for   a   lady   to   be   thrown   into   this.   he's   not   expecting   the   bluntness   of   her   words   however.   they   had   little   time   to   truly   talk   before   now.   did   young   ladies   know   of   mistresses   and   affairs   ?   his   brow   furrows,   ❝   miss   gun   i-   ❞   he   can't   help   the   shocked   grin   and   delighted   and   slightly   awkward   laugh   as   he   turns   to   look   at   her   properly,   ❝   i   never   thought   about   how   we   would   speak   of   such   things.   ❞   he   admitted,   continuing   their   walk.   ❝   i   will   tell   you   anything   you   like,   as   long   as   you   plan   to   do   the   same.   ❞   his   voice   lowers,   ❝   if   you   plan   on   seeing   other   men,   they   will   need   to   be   extremely   careful.   ❞ 

@silvercinders said: "Would you like tea or something stronger?"

he offers her a grateful smile, a touch of amusement behind his eyes. " tea would be lovely. thank you, " he says, setting his bag on the kitchen table. while something stronger would certainly be more fortifying against the cold, rainy night outside, it has always been his policy to avoid drink while working. and, in truth, he is so often working, he rarely drinks much at all... but after being called anxiously to the bedside of one of the young ladies of the house, he won't refuse something warm before venturing out into the darkness once more.

" as i told your mistress, there is nothing to fear, " he says reassuringly as he moves to stand by the heat of the fire. " miss li's fever has already broken - with a few days' rest, i expect she shall be entirely herself again. "

@silvercinders asked why hire someone, when you can just do it yourself? &&benedict&sophie

Benedict looked at his wife, blushing a little ❝um…because I don't know how to?❞ he had seen how hard it was for Mrs Crabtree to tend the garden, and he was just telling his wife Sophie he would look into garnders ❝i don't know how to do a great many things❞ he never cared about that before, but Sophie could do so much stuff, that he felt almost like an idiot for not knowing how to do any household chores 

to say that her family hasn't treated sophie kindly would be an understatement. she may have been a servant at penwood house, but that didn't mean her mother and her sister should have treated her like the dirt under their many shoes — all of which sophie washed and wiped away for years. although posy has never been more than a little impatient with her ( she's certain she's driven sophie mad every time she frantically asked her to look for something she misplaced ), she had always felt guilty about never standing up for her. was her different attitude towards sophie a kindness, or was it just... different? "it wasn't right how i just let them speak to you that way. ever since we were children. i should have at least built up the courage to tell off rosamund."