#bridgerton one shot
Text
NOT FOR HIM — BENEDICT BRIDGERTON
masterlist
pairing: benedict bridgerton x reader [plus platonic anthony x reader where he’s being a matchmaker/shitstirrer]
description: you may not have been the season’s diamond, but your debut had caused quite the stir in many a man’s heart — your childhood best friend benedict bridgerton included. however, given that the viscount had decided that he would marry this season, benedict cannot see why you would choose him over his brother.
warnings: kinda tiny bit of angst (if you squint) into tooth-rotting fluff !!! tiny bit of suggestive benedict at the very end but it’s not much !
author’s note: this is basically like a reverse to the anthony one i wrote because i have a big ol’ soft spot for benedict too after my latest rewatch. enjoy !!! [edited, but not thoroughly — will be returning to do so asap]
“You look astonishing, Y/N,” Benedict’s eyes were wide when he saw you, “Absolutely astonishing.”
You blushed crimson under the intensity of his gaze, “You don’t look too bad yourself this evening, Lord Bridgerton.”
You never called him that — you’d known him far too long to consistently comply with formalities — but considering that it was one of your very first balls of your very first season, you had to be the picture of manners.
“It is so strange to hear you call me Lord Bridgerton,” Benedict screwed his face up, “Even if it does give me some small hope that you might consider me too as one of your many suitors.”
You shook your head gently with a laugh, “Oh, Benedict, as if you would wish to court me.”
Before he had a chance to retaliate with stern disagreement at your idea that it was such a preposterous notion, your eyes snapped up to see his brother entering the ballroom.
“Ah,” you grinned, noticing that he had spotted you both immediately and was on his way over to you, “It appears your brother has finally arrived!”
You didn’t look at Benedict for long enough to see the frown on his face at your apparent excitement.
For years, everyone around you had speculated about the closeness of your relationship with Benedict.
Granted, you were close with the whole family, but the tenderness with which Benedict treated you had always teetered on blatant romance even if neither of you had seen it before.
Of course he was aware of it now — he’d realised he was in love with you long ago as silly young teenagers, and now that you were finally out in society (emphasis on finally, as you had delayed doing so as much as possible) he had hoped to make that clear.
But of course your eyes were fixed on his brother, the Viscount, who had finally decided he wished to marry and therefore seemingly snatched all of your attention away from him.
“Good evening, my lord,” you curtsied, and Anthony laughed, “Such formality! How are you enjoying your first ball, Y/N? I trust my brother has not let you leave his side?”
You giggled, and as much as Benedict adored the sound of your laughter he couldn’t help the clenching of his jaw at his brother’s remark and your evident amusement.
“He has taken great care of me, undoubtedly,” you smiled, hands resting on Benedict’s upper arm for a moment as you leaned into him, “How do you feel about your first ball on the hunt for a wife?”
Anthony scoffed, “Consumed with dread, as expected,” he joked, “Brother, would you mind if I stole Y/N away for one dance? Only so that I might enjoy one last moment of vague freedom before I endure the onslaught of mamas I see staring me down?”
Benedict swallowed thickly, because yes he very much did mind you being stolen away to dance with a man who could provide for you so much better than he could.
He had always been second best to his brother, but never with you.
And now he felt rather ridiculous as he nodded meekly and watched you saunter away at the side of his own brother, who would never love you like he did nor treat you as more than a friend and a commodity necessary to the life of an important man.
“Of course.”
You smiled shyly over at Benedict as you followed Anthony away, and made a mental note to confront him about the sad look gracing his features as you did so.
“My brother is staring daggers into my skull already,” Anthony chuckled as you took your positions to dance, “I rather wonder why he was not dancing with you if he is so bothered by my doing so.”
You bit your lip, “We have danced together twice already, Anthony. In fact, I’ve danced only with him so far tonight. I feel… safe with Benedict. This is all so terrifying.”
As Anthony beamed down at you knowingly, you realised quite what he had initially said, “Whatever do you mean by him staring daggers? Why would he be doing that?”
“Oh, my dear Y/N, you must see that my poor fool of a brother is overcome with jealousy at our interaction,” he laughed as though it was the most obvious thing in the world, “Particularly now that I plan to marry. He quite clearly thinks that it is you I wish to do so with.”
You looked down at your feet for a moment, suddenly feeling shy.
When you remembered that you were talking to a man you knew like he was part of your own family, however, your head snapped back up — a smirk gracing your face.
“Oh, am I not to become Viscountess? I so had my hopes up!” you feigned a gasp, “In all seriousness, Anthony, why on earth would Benedict think we might marry and more so why on earth would he care so much?”
Anthony heaved out a deep sigh at that as you danced, almost irritated by your blatant ignorance to what was so clear.
“I don’t believe I should tell you the answer to that if you are somehow quite unaware of it yourself,” he shook his head, briefly meeting the eyes of his brother as he spun you, and smiled almost teasingly at him, “I hope that after stealing you from him for this dance he might finally discuss it with you himself.”
You rolled your eyes, “You jest, Anthony, because if you are trying to imply that he has affections towards me I’m sure you are sorely mistaken.”
Anthony stopped abruptly, quirking his eyebrow at you, “You truly are oblivious?”
You looked at him curiously, doe eyed and inquisitive as you waited for him to continue — or to resume dancing so you didn’t continue to feel all eyes on your frozen frames.
“Right, very well. I am going to walk away now, all smiles,” he informed you, plastering a smile on his face and nodding at the onlookers as he kissed the back of your hand to show no ill-will had halted your dance, “I would suggest that you get some fresh air, perhaps? My brother might… Come to check on you.”
You forced a smile as he silently moved away from you and towards the buffet table at the other side of the hall.
With a sharp breath you took his advice, despite your confusion, and lifted your skirt a little to busy your hands as you traipsed out of the ballroom and onto the balcony.
Like clockwork, Benedict Bridgerton found himself at your side in mere moments.
“Are you waiting here for my brother?”
The tension in the air was palpable, his voice low as he failed to hide the disappointment at his suspicions.
“Not for him, no.”
“Then for another?”
“I suppose so.”
“Apologies, then. I’ll leave you to it.”
You spun on your heel now as he turned to leave, touching his shoulder, “No, Benedict, I was waiting— for you.”
“For me?”
The incredulous smile on his face made your heart swell with hope — perhaps Anthony was right.
Maybe what you had spent all these years perceiving as friendship truly was reciprocated love all this time.
“Anthony claimed he believed you jealous, and that you thought we were attached,” you giggled, and he swore his heart melted at the sound of your gentle laughter, “And I was utterly unsure as to why you would believe that, let alone be jealous of it. But then he told me to get some fresh air and that you might find me here and I became hopeful.”
“Hopeful?”
“Yes. Hopeful that perhaps the feelings that have steadily grown on my part throughout the time I have known you might be returned. That perhaps you were not joking when you said you hoped I might consider you a suitor this season,” you blushed crimson as you served him your honest feelings on a silver platter.
He cocked his head to the side curiously, not quite believing you entirely though you were evidently being sincere, “Do you not wish to marry my brother?”
You scoffed, quickly covering your mouth with your hand at the outburst, but then sighed as you looked deeply into his eyes, “Of course not, Benedict.”
“But he is a Viscount — he could offer you so much more than I, and he seemed taken with you.”
“He was taken with making you jealous enough to confront me, my dear Benedict. He spent our dance essentially telling me to wise up and talk to you,” you bit your lip nervously, “Because he knows that I have long loved you, and believes that you feel the same.”
The curious smile on his face grew now into a beaming grin, his hands flying to take yours within them and bring them to his lips for a gentle kiss.
“I—, Y/N, I cannot— I cannot even begin to express the joy that those words have brought me,” the words tumbled from his lips like he couldn’t think fast enough to convey his feelings, “I have been in love with you for as long as I can remember. I settled for cherishing mere friendship because I feared I would not be… I would not be the man for you beyond that.”
You shook your head, “Benedict, surely you know how dear you are to me? I— at the very least in my heart, you are the man for me. I’ve been certain of it for so long and that is why I feared entering society so much. I didn’t want to marry for the sake of marriage and have to have the man I truly love as a mere friend. You are more than enough for me, Benedict, I feel safe with you — you are home to me.”
“And you are home to me, Y/N,” he was trying so very hard not to kiss you, his words soft and delicate as his breath fanned over your face due to your newfound close proximity, “If you would allow me to… I would like to court you. In fact, I would propose to you now if I was to allow my selfishness to take control. But I want you to be sure it is me you want, even if it hurts to see you dance and converse with others.”
“You’re all I could ever want, Benedict,” you spoke like it was utterly obvious, “And when you do propose, you can be certain of my acceptance. For now I am happy to share every dance with you and pretend we need to get to know each other to form an engagement. We have all of the time in the world.”
“We do.”
You were both breathing heavily, eyes glossy with the sheer emotion of the confessions you had just shared.
“I wish so badly that I could kiss you right now, but I fear I may not be able to control myself in future once I do,” his voice was barely above a whisper as you licked your lips, swallowing thickly.
“I wish— I wish you might kiss me too,” your reply was hardly even coherent, too love drunk to properly formulate your words, “More than anything.”
He was still holding onto your hands, and so he brought them up to ghost another kiss over them again, settling for this as he fought his urge to press his lips to yours instead.
“As you said, my love, we have all the time in the world,” there was a subtle undertone of what you might describe as lust in his tone now, intertwined with the love struck lilt he had been speaking with.
Your breath hitched in your throat as his lips ghosted up your forearm briefly before he brought them back down to your hands.
“And I cannot wait.”
———
horny benedict at the end to satiate my own need for that despite the intention for this to just be fluffy hahaha. hope you enjoyed !!!
feel free to keep requesting — and in the mean time here is my masterlist.
#bridgerton#benedict bridgerton#benedict bridgerton x reader#benedict bridgerton imagine#benedict bridgerton imagines#benedict bridgerton fluff#anthony bridgerton#benedict bridgerton one shot#bridgerton one shot
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Reunion Of Sorts-Anthony Bridgerton x Basset!Reader
(GIF credit to @mrsbridgerton)
Requested by anonymous: ‘Hi! If your requests are open I'd love to request an Anthony Bridgerton x Basset!Reader where the reader's Simon's sister. Prompts 14 and 15 please? Thank you so much, your works are amazing!’
14) 'It's only good news depending on how you look at it.'
15) 'I just wouldn't have expected this!'
Characters: Anthony Bridgerton x Basset!Reader, Simon Basset x Basset!Reader (siblings), Daphne Bridgerton x Reader (platonic), mentions of Bridgerton family
Meanings: (Y/N)=Your name
Warnings: Just extreme fluff!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Are you quite alright, (Y/N)?" Simon asked his sister as they journeyed in their carriage.
(Y/N) had started fanning herself a little faster."I don't know why I'm so nervous. I just hope to make a good impression."
"Of course you will. I'm sorry you haven't met them sooner."
"I could have at least met your wife at the wedding, if I had been invited."
"We have been through this, (Y/N)."
"Yes, and I'm not trying to argue with you, Simon. I know you married in haste, and I know why, but you must admit, you've left this far too long. You have a son now!"
"You have been cooped up in that house with your matron as father intended. I think she would have had my head if I tried to get you out of there."
They laughed together.
"Simon?"
"Hm?"
"I am very excited to meet your wife and my nephew."
As usual, the Bridgerton house was abuzz with excitement and chaos. Eloise didn't understand why she had to dress up so much for this visit, Gregory and Hyacinth were bombarding everyone with questions about Simon's sister, Colin and Benedict tried but failed to escape the madness, Anthony watched everything unfold and Daphne nervously bounced her baby boy on her knee.
"Daphne, do not fret. His sister will love you." Anthony tried to reassure his sister.
"What if she's like their father? What if she heard all the rumours about us and judges me for it? Simon has never spoken of her, I have no idea what to expect."
"I met Simon's sister many, many years ago. She was nothing like the things you are dreading. (Y/N) was a lovely, respectable young lady, I'm sure she hasn't changed."
Daphne let a small smile grace her face, trying to convince herself that everything was fine. Simon had kept his family such a secret, she just wanted to ensure that his sister would want to stay and be part of theirs.
Simon playfully rolled his eyes as (Y/N) asked how she looked, not in vain, but in anxiety. Her dress was beautiful, her hair perfectly in place, her jewels glistened but they weren't ghastly, nothing was wrong. Her nerves were getting the better of her. Just as she was about to ask again, the carriage stopped. Simon chuckled at her panicked look, already stepping outside.
He held out his hand for her."You'll be absolutely fine. Just be you."
(Y/N) took a deep breath before taking her brother's hand, being extra cautious to not fall on her face, especially since the entire Bridgerton family were stood on their front steps.
As head of the household, Anthony was ready to start introductions, until (Y/N) lifted her head, showing her dazzling features. He had only admitted to himself that he had a fancy for her when he was younger, though who wouldn't? She was beautiful, smart and didn't try hard to impress anyone; she was just joyful to be around. (Y/N) had never pined for Anthony or tried to grab his attention at every moment, or any man for that matter. He definitely considered her a friend, he was somewhat angry at himself he hadn't written to her over the years. But seeing her now, it was a mystery as to why she hadn't been married yet? That was quickly solved when he remembered Simon was her brother.
Simon stuck beside his sister until Daphne stepped forward. They shared a short but loving kiss, before Simon took their son into his arms, cooing and laughing as the baby gurgled. (Y/N)'s heart melted at the sight.
"Oh, how we've missed you." Violet beamed, greeting her son-in-law.
"I apologise for the delay, the weather was not suitable for travelling. Nevertheless, everyone, this is my sister, (Y/N) Basset."
(Y/N) curtsied as all eyes were on her."Thank you for welcoming me into your beautiful home. I have been so excited to meet you all."
"Well, why don't we go inside? We can have proper introductions in the warm." Daphne hid her nerves, presenting herself well.
Everyone agreed, leading (Y/N) inside. The family lined up like soldiers, with Anthony stepping forward to introduce everyone.
"I hope I don't have to reintroduce myself." he teased.
"Of course not, how could I forget you, Anthony? After all the trouble you and Simon got into?"
He chuckled, but cast a worried look towards his mother. He quickly continued.
"My mother, Violet, sisters Daphne, Eloise and Hyacinth, and my brothers, Benedict, Colin and Gregory."
"And your nephew." Simon added.
(Y/N) reached out a finger for the baby to hold."Yes, he's bigger than I thought he would be."
"Children do grow so fast." Violet said.
"But you're here now to see him grow." Daphne quickly added. "And we're all very happy that you're finally here."
Everyone knew that it was Simon who had kept (Y/N) away. He loved his sister with all his heart, which is why he never saw her; she was living a happy life, he didn't want to dampen that.
"The chefs have prepared a marvelous lunch. The table is all set if you are hungry now?" Voilet asked.
"Oh, yes, as long as everyone else is."
As soon as (Y/N) agreed, Colin, Eloise and the two youngest were off. They were starving, even though they had eaten only a few hours ago. (Y/N) giggled to the relief of the others. They slowly followed behind, but Simon was hesitant. (Y/N) gently nudged him forward.
"Go, see your family. I have all the time in the world to get to know Daphne."
Simon thanked her, still carrying his son as his other arm wrapped around his wife. Another arm appeared in front of (Y/N), ready for her to take it.
"May I escort you to the table?" Anthony said.
"Thank you, I much appreciate it."
They both knew they were being dramatic, though it was sweet of Anthony to make the gesture.
"How many years has it been?"
"Too many."
"I'm sorry your brother hasn't involved you. If the...situation between him and Daphne had been different, I know you would have been here straight away."
"I know. And I understand how stressful that all was. But as said before, I'm here now. I must say Anthony, I have missed you."
"Really? Even after all those times Simon and I riled you?"
"Yes. Although annoying, you both had your tender moments. I remember one evening, you and Simon were returning from your club, and you both had found yourselves in a quarrel with some other members. They followed you home, and I was waiting by the back gate to sneak you back inside. They were closer than expected, and do you remember some of the horrible things they said to me?"
"Unfortunately I do. And I unfortunately remember what happened next."
"It was very chivalrous for you to defend me, though you needn't have fought. Your nose wouldn't stop bleeding!"
"But you were right by my side, holding a handkerchief for me."
"Yes, because if you got blood on the carpets, you would have something worse than a bruised nose."
The pair were laughing to themselves as they walked into the dining room. Most were already seated. Anthony guided (Y/N) to her chair, next to Simon, who stood to tuck it in, but Anthony beat him to it. Simon watched his friend's moves very closely, knowing deep down that Anthony was just being polite; however, he wasn't too fond that they were sat opposite each other, able to gaze into each others eyes.
Simon tapped his glass with a knife once everyone was sat, standing with said glass in his hand."Before we begin eating, I would like to propose a toast."
Everyone immediately grabbed their own glasses, except Eloise, taking her time as she huffed; couldn't they at least toast after the meal?
"To my sister, (Y/N). I am so happy that you're here with me, with us. I'm sorry I haven't been a better brother but that will change now. And I can't wait for you to get to know this loving family, who made me one of their own, as I know they will you."
"To family." Benedict finished.
"To family." Everyone cheered.
"Now the food. Please." Eloise needed a plate in front of her.
All through lunch, Simon kept a close eye on his sister and Anthony. He was awful at keeping up with conversations, slow at eating, he just had a weird feeling when he glanced at them both. Simon constantly apologised to Daphne, blaming the long journey for his daydreaming.
However, Anthony and (Y/N) might as well have been dining at their own table. They were in full conversation, of course others chimed in to join, but they couldn't stop reflecting on the past and laughing. It was impossible to not notice how well they were getting along, and Violet had a glint in her eye as she saw how much Anthony was smiling. He never smiled this much, and the way he was looking at (Y/N) reminded her of how her husband used to look at her.
After dinner, they retired to the drawing room, sipping on fresh lemonade as Hyacinth showed off her new skill on the piano. Simon sat with his child in his lap, Daphne by his side, and although he was thoroughly enjoying the time with his family, he couldn't stop gazing over at his sister.
Unsurprisingly, (Y/N) and Anthony were cosied up, still smiling ear to ear as they continued talking. How could they have so much to talk about?
"Let's put him to bed Simon, for a nap. He's getting fussy." Daphne interrupted his thoughts.
Simon didn't want to cause a scene, agreeing to put their son down together. Even as they left the room, Simon's eyes lingered, and he immediately became tense once they were out of sight.
"Has my brother dazzled you?"
Simon was quiet as he laid down his son."Hm?"
"Well you haven't stopped staring at him all night."
He sighed."Was I that obvious?"
"You were indeed. Would it be so bad?"
"What?"
"Would it be so bad if my brother loved your sister?"
"Daphne-"
"Has he been disrespectful? Has he done her wrong? Has he done anything that we did?"
He was stumped. Although his brotherly instincts were kicking in, wanting to protect (Y/N), realistically he knew Anthony would never hurt her. Anthony was trustworthy, he knew him inside out and just from tonight, there was something there.
Simon didn't reply, but Daphne knew he wasn't ignoring her. She could see him thinking it all over as he walked to the window.
"It's only good news depending on how you look at it."
"I know, but it will be fine-"
"No, look!"
Daphne quickly joined her husband at the window, trying to see what he was looking at. Down in the gardens was Anthony and (Y/N) taking a stroll. The pair were lit by the setting sun which was casting a beautiful orange and pink glow across the garden. Although they had not stopped talking through the afternoon, now they were silent, both silently worrying that the other had no more to say.
"(Y/N)-"
"Anthony-"
The spoke at the same time, pausing for a moment before laughing. Anthony said nothing, being a gentleman and letting (Y/N) speak.
"I was just going to say how much I have enjoyed our time together. It feels as if no time has passed since the last time I saw you."
"How long will you stay?"
"Sorry?"
"Well, are you staying for a short visit? Or perhaps an extended time?"
"Simon and I have not discussed that as of yet. I am to be staying with a friend of mine who lives in the Ton, so I shall be here for a little while."
Anthony couldn't help but smile."Good, that is good news."
They were quiet again as they continued walking, only taking small steps as they wee nearing the end of the garden. They were standing close to one another, and although they had linked arms before and been sat on the plush sofas, this held more tension. Perhaps it was the way neither of them wanted to startle the other, despite their desperate want for affection. As their minds drifted off to where this was leading, their hands ever so delicately brushed. Both were startled, halting their steps and looking at each other.
"My apologies-"
"Anthony, it's fine. I...I just wouldn't have expected this."
Anthony thought for a moment, glancing down at their hands that were no longer close. He didn't like it. He wanted to be bold and take the next step, even if it was just holding one another's hand. But this was Simon Basset's sister. And it was (Y/N), who he had the upmost respect for.
"Miss Basset?"
"Anthony, why are you calling me that?"
"May I enquire into the address of your new lodgings?"
"Yes? Why?"
"So that I may call on you in the morning?"
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Innocence Lost — Anthony Bridgerton
Summary: You’ve just been married to Anthony and your wedding night approaches. You have some reservations, but Anthony makes all your anxieties melt away.
Word Count: 579
Warnings: Insecurity, some anxiety, light smut
At last, you were wed! You didn’t think the moment would ever come, and yet, now Anthony Bridgerton was finally all yours. You could have sworn that the smile on your face hadn’t broken since the pronouncement of you being joined as husband and wife. It brought a sense of joy that you never thought you could feel.
As the door to the carriage closed you and Anthony off from the happy crowd of well wishers, you dropped your hand from its ceaseless waving and let out a sigh of utter bliss as the muscles in your cheeks found some rest.
You looked to Anthony, and met his eyes, a silent exchange that conveyed multitudes. Joy, exhaustion and relief were felt simultaneously between you. There was only one thing that look didn’t convey.
It had hardly entered your mind until the carriage pulled to a stop. Now wed, you went to the Bridgerton’s countryside estate where you would be totally alone for the first time.
Your trip into the house was a blur. Anthony had taken your hand and led the way, but your mind, despite its tiredness, was elsewhere entirely.
Now, as you stood in the dimly lit bedroom, the anticipation in the air nearly suffocating. The flickering candlelight cast dancing shadows across the ornate wallpaper, and the lacy nightgown you wore felt both delicate and daunting. Your heart raced at the sound of the soft knock on the door. You heard yourself grant him entrance and then there he was. Anthony Bridgerton, your husband.
He stepped closer, the look in his eyes expressing the deepest tenderness, as he gently took your trembling hand. "My love," he begins, his voice soothing, as if he was able to sense your apprehension, "there's no need to be frightened. We can take things at whatever pace you require. I promise to cherish and protect you always."
Your anxiety begins to ease as his words wash over you like a warm embrace. Anthony's touch is gentle and reassuring as he guides you towards the bed. His eyes locked with yours, the safety in his gaze was unwavering, and his lips curled into a smile. "I don’t want to disappoint you,” you quietly confessed.
“Nor I you,” he replied. “Though I cannot promise you perfection, I can promise something else. My devotion to your pleasure.” You take a deep, shaky breath, feeling a shiver run down your spine. What once was insecurity was now replaced with desire and endless trust. You’d be just fine in Anthony’s hands and you don’t know why you ever doubted it.
As the two of you slowly made your way through the motions, you gave yourself over to him fully and he delivered on his promise. He took his time in warming you up, trailing kisses over your body, ghosting fingertips across the parts of your skin that he was able to see and touch for the first time.
When he finally entered you, the sensation was smooth and easy. The pain you’d heard of and feared was nonexistent. Anthony didn’t push, didn’t rush. He was gentle in accommodating himself to you and you to him.
You made love several times that night, each time leaving you just as satisfied as Anthony. As you lay by his side afterwards, you considered yourself lucky. Perhaps the luckiest women of the ton. You could lay with your husband knowing that your love will only grow stronger with each passing day.
For anon
Forever Tag: @baubeautyandthegeek, @ghostsunderstoodmysoul, @immyowndefender, @valencethefriendlychangeling, @crimsonwidow666, @rebelbossheart, @thedailyspiritualist, @orangeisnttheonlyfruit, @woman-simp, @aperol-with-izzy, @leonoralessoem, @ellepossum69, @lakita-fisher, @nclgsticore, @ayanthegreat28, @analuw, @luvlesavyy, @rukia-28, @malfoyfeed, @aliciabrower, @bitchr-mkay, @sparrowspixie
Anthony Bridgerton: @retvenkos, @ladyrooster39, @riveranddoctorsong123, @theamazingworldofcarol, @esposamultifandom, @elorasfandomsandocs, @littlsstuff, @freyathehuntress, @m-rae23, @floresferae, @onlinecemetery, @bigbluegiants, @edit-me-prettyplease, @angelmenace
#anthony bridgerton#anthony bridgerton one shot#anthony bridgerton x reader#bridgerton#bridgerton one shot#request#send requests#requests open
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Bridgerton request please :)
bridgerton child is travelling the world or convincing anthony to travel the world
xoxo your favourite girl
AN: This is only because your'e my best friend, I will not be doing anymore Bridgerton requests istg.
Don't Get Caught
Fem!Reader x Platonic!Bridgerton Family
"I will not hear any more of this nonsense." Anthony hissed, as you had once again asked him for permission to join Colin on his travels.
"You aren't even listening to me." You stressed, gripping at the silk of your dress. "I will never get this chance again. Mama tell him."
Your mother turns away from Daphne with a pitying expression, looking between your pink face and your eldest brothers.
"You know why you cannot my dear. You will soon be ready to find a husband, and you will not find a suitable husband if you are halfway across the world."
"Well, what about Colin and finding a wife!"
"Colin's travels are to enrich his education, it will increase his reputation amongst the women." Anthony answered, and your head snapped back to his with narrowed eyes.
"I was not speaking to you, brother."
"Tone." Your mother reprimanded, and as you looked across the room you saw this was a losing battle. So, holding your head high you dipped your head in farewell and marched our of the living area.
You were not giving up.
As night fell upon the Bridgerton household, you were already poised and waiting by your door. The dim lamps from the hallway, giving you a slither of vision as you watched Benedict, the final one, enter his chambers for the night.
Then you were off, silently closing the door, you made your way to the window and popped it open. The cool breeze hit you in the face, but you were too determined now to be deterred by some bad weather.
So, without looking down you shrugged on your traveling bag, and began scrambling down the side of the house. By the time you reached the bottom your knees were bruised and bloody, and your palms burned from the gritty exterior.
"Uh, should you be down here?" You yelped, clutching the small bag to your chest as a boy came out from the shadows. You didn't recognize him, and he didn't seem to be one of the boys Anthony hung out with.
"Yes, my door was simply in a jam."
"So, the window was the next best thing?" You stared at him, huffing as you marched past. "Miss, Miss!"
"What!" You spun to face him again, "What could you possibly need from me at this hour."
"You dropped this." He held up your velvet pouch of money, and came to stand by you. "I'm Theo."
"Give me that... Please." He shrugged, opening the pouch and taking a few coins as you gasped and snatched what remained back. "So, you bother me because you are a thief."
"Nah, I'm simply taking my wage your brother said you'd pay. Come on, poshie." Theo marched past, and your legs started on their own accord as your mind spun.
"Anthony paid you?"
"Who? No, this one was... Benedict. He said make sure my sister gets to the carriage. Seemed off his head."
"Was that all he said." You ask meekly, finalizing your counting of the final coins as you slotted them back into the pouch to safely put away.
"He also said. I don't know how she'll do it, but tell her she better not get caught."
You let out a breath, nodding to Theo as the carriage Colin would take at first light came into sight.
If Anthony didn't kill you, your mother sure would.
------------
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𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐬𝐨 𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠, 𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐬𝐨 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭
₊° - 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐨𝐧!𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫!𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫
₊° - 𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩. 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺/𝘯 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘺𝘦, 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴, 𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘸𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨?
(𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘪𝘴𝘦, 𝘬𝘢𝘵𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘵)
☾ ⋆*·ﾟ:⋆*·ﾟ:⠀ *⋆.*:·ﾟ .: ⋆*·ﾟ: .⋆
𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘆, 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵, 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲, 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗽𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀. 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿’𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 <3
₊° - 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭
𝘪 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘢 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭 (𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢) - 𝘥𝘶𝘰𝘮𝘰
𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘱 (𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢) - 𝘥𝘶𝘰𝘮𝘰
𝘐𝘐 𝘧𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘤𝘦: 𝘷𝘪𝘷𝘰 - 𝘷𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘥𝘪
𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘬𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯,𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 - 𝘬𝘳𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐞... from their family's grasp and were hidden in the background of the ballroom, quietly observing the debacle happening in front of them.
"So many dimwits." Eloise muttered, her voice laced with annoyance, “Look at them— parading in their silly, shiny dresses.”
It received a snicker from her sister next to her, “You’re wearing a silly shiny dress.”
Eloise rolled her eyes, "Do not remind me," She made a move to walk away, but she was tugged back by her elbow.
"What- Where are you going? Do not leave me here all alone!" Y/N whisper-yelled, slightly panicked at the prospect of being left alone in a room full of strangers.
Eloise sighed and dropped her arms to her side in a tired huff, "I hate it here."
"Eloise, please?”
"I think the sole reason you're not being approached is standing right here, next to you,” She gestured to herself, her ballspende dangling around her wrist, “I am the local lunatic. I am fairly sure that boys will be lining up in front of you as soon as I take my leave. Toodles." She grumbled as she stuffed another pastry in her mouth before turning to make her leave, but the man approaching them had almost made her choke on her bite as she tried to finish it as fast as she could. Her cheeks were filled like a squirrel, and even if Y/N knew her sister wasn’t one for proper etiquettes, even this disgusted her.
“Eloise?” Y/N noticed the pure horror on her sister’s face.
"The Prince is coming! Quick!" She mumbled through her full mouth, trying to quickly swallow her bite down, and harshly nudged her sister's side so the girl would straighten her posture.
From the other side of the room, Viscountess Kate hadn't lost sight of the girls for even a second but had decided to give them their space, knowing how she had hated the times where her mother or Lady Danbury had breathed down her neck during such occasions. However, she excused herself from Violet's side as soon as she saw the royal approach her sisters-in-law. She excused herself left and right as she softly pushed through the crowd.
Before the two Bridgerton’s had time to prepare, prince Felipe of Spain had already stopped before them to properly introduce himself. His hand was held up to Y/N, an invitation to get acquainted. Feeling somewhat alienated by the whole sudden turn of events, Y/N Bridgerton looked at his outstretched hand in bewilderment. Then her eyes went up to his face, where a gentle smile was waiting for her. She bit her lip to withhold a word of profanity from leaving her lips when the tip of Eloise’s shoe harshly hit her ankle, but she took the sign and held the prince’s hand before curtsying. Eloise quickly bowed as well, albeit less gracefully, and watched as prince Felipe planted a gentle kiss on her sister’s knuckles. He momentarily turned to Eloise, acknowledging her prescense,
"It is my pleasure to meet you both.” He dipped his head to the side, growing unsure, “I am not from here, so forgive me if your name is lost on me. But before you tell me— might I ask where your chaperone is?” Prince Felipe noticed the two girls standing alone, not finding it appropriate or respectful to strike a conversation without someone there to oversee the encounter.
Y/N looked to her right, where Kate suddenly appeared in her signature purple coloured dress that flowed freely behind her and swayed through the crowd, her beauty almost stealing their thunder. But the Prince still only had eyes for the young woman in front of him.
“Forgive me, your Grace.” Kate curtsied and introduced herself before turning to the younger Bridgerton’s “Allow me to introduce you to Lady Eloise and Lady Y/N Bridgerton.” She squeezed Y/N’s lower arm in a motherly manner, her eyes filled with pride now that she looked at the two girls in their exquisite dresses. They hadn’t been that young when Kate first met them, but oh my had they grown into two beautiful ladies.
“Ah, Bridgerton!” Prince Felipe nodded in recognition, and all three women had to withhold a wince, afraid only the drop of their name had just ruined any chance they might have had. Of course, the prince knew about them. The Bridgerton's had been the talk of the city. For obvious reasons, both good and bad.
Felipe gave Eloise a gentle smile as well, who hoped there were no remains of the pastry coating her face, but it was clear to anyone that he had approached the two sisters to talk to Y/N. People had started to stop and stare and Violet gasped in admiration and put a hand over her mouth once she realised where Kate had walked off to.
“Anthony-” Violet tapped her son’s arm to get his attention, her eyes never leaving her daughters on the other side of the room. Anthony followed her line of sight and pursed his lips in curiosity. Though the young prince of Spain was known to be a gentle soul, it was still Anthony's younger sisters they were talking about, so with narrowed eyes, he watched his wife and sisters talk to his Majesty.
Prince Felipe turned back to Y/N after having noticed most of the ball had stopped after his entrance, and were now staring.
“I was up there, watching for a while, preparing. I noticed you almost right away,” A hint of a blush appeared on the apples of his cheeks at the small confession, “I did not want to bother you at first, afraid you might not have felt well because you kept to yourself, but it seems that the men here should be ashamed of themselves to let a young woman like you stand on her own the whole evening and deprive her of a lovely dance." He spoke near perfect English, and the accent that was heard was a nice touch to his character. His sentence would've sounded a bit too cocky, had it not been for the genuine tone of voice and the bashful smile on his face that both left Y/N completely baffled.
Of course, they had let her stand to the side, not asking her for even one tiny dance. No one wanted anything to do with any Bridgerton, not anymore. But the prince wasn't from here, so even if he did know their family, Y/N wasn't so sure if he was aware of everything that had happened.
"Oh-“ She swallowed, sneaking a quick glance to her right, to Kate, who gave her an encouraging smile, “Your words are too kind, your Grace." At a loss for what else to say to the man in front of her, Y/N’s eyes wandered to the people behind him, only momentarily. But it had been enough for her to make eye contact with the woman approaching the crown prince of Spain.
Her sun kissed skin perfectly complimented her emerald ballgown, and her equally as green eyes mended wonderfully together with her brown wavy locks. Each and every girl that night had her hair neatly tucked away in a fashionable and ball appropriate hairdo, but this girl seemed to not care about etiquettes or traditions, as her wavy locks were only slightly held back by a clip on the back of her head, the rest of her hair falling down her back and chest and flowing freely.
Y/N caught herself enamoured by the mysterious woman now coming to a stop behind the prince,
Too focused on the woman, she adsentmindedly mumbled out, “Your Spanish- it’s formidable.”
Eloise's snort made her look up and realise her mistake, "I mean- your English, pardon me, your Grace.“ Her cheeks and ears turned crimson, suffocating her even more in this stuffy ballroom.
But Felipe only smiled, finding it adorable, “It is quite alright, Lady Y/N." Prince Felipe noticed who she was glancing at and put his hand on the brunette’s back, softly guiding her to stand beside him, "This is my sister, princess Graciela.”
Both Eloise, Kate and Y/N curtsied immediately, but the Spanish girl let out a breathy chuckle, "I know how painfully uncomfortable it is to bow when the air is being squeezed out of your lungs by a corset, so, please, rise." She too spoke perfect English, and Y/N found herself smiling at hearing the woman's voice, which had sounded like honey gliding off a silver spoon.
With a raised eyebrow, the prince switched the attention and brought it back to why he had approached the Bridgertons in the first place, “Lady Bridgerton, would you do me the honour of a dance? I would regret it deeply tomorrow morning if I had kept you standing here." Felipe’s voice brought Y/N back to the young man in front of her. She curtsied and nodded gently, letting the prince take her hand to guide her through the dancing couples who had quickly continued their waltzes.
Although hesitant, Y/N still knew she couldn't refuse the prince's request for a dance, even if she had rather stayed back with Eloise or perhaps try to exchange a few words with the prince's twin sister. Refusing a prince meant people would talk and that meant she would inevitably be the next scandal in the Whistledown. Their family had dodged that bullet before. Trying to do so a third time would be a dumb move, especially if she could prevent it by just dancing with the boy. Any other girl would have found it a great honour, so why did it not make her heart beat faster? Because, in all honesty, she could care less about a dance.
Violet Bridgerton watched with an anticipating grin on her face, but tried to play it down as she saw every other mother watch her way in envy or amazement. First Daphne, now Y/N? What was their secret to catching the eyes of dukes and princes? The look on Anthony's face was hard to read. His chin was raised and the usual stoic expression washed over his face as he looked through the room, meeting the gazes of everyone staring between them and the royals, but somewhere underneath, mixed with the protectiveness he still felt when another man held one of his baby sisters close, there was pride and joy bubbling under the surface. And hope, hope that Y/N, just like Daphne, would find her happy ending, something that their father would have wanted too.
As Y/N's sister and closest friend, Eloise had no trouble reading the girl's troubled features. Her kind eyes twinkled and her face displayed a gentle smile, at least that was what a stranger would see. To Eloise it was clear that her sister could not be feeling more out of place. It was evident in Y/N's eyes and by the way she glanced at the boy guiding her. Her heart wasn’t in it. She wasn’t smitten like every other girl if they so even looked the prince’s way. Eloise snorted to herself and continued eating the pastry she had stuffed away mere moments before.
"Not your thing either, I take it?”
Eloise turned around in an instant, smiling cheekily, curtsying clumsily, before quickly wiping her mouth with the edge of her sleeve, something that would've earned a pointed comment from her mother, had the woman not been too focused on Y/N and the prince.
Princess Graciela now stood beside her, hands tucked together behind her back as she scanned the crowd, an amused smile on her face after having seen Eloise's reaction to her presence. Kate glared slightly, but she meant well, wanting to keep Eloise in line, especially in front of a royal.
The princess continued, "Not my type of night either, but I am afraid I had no other choice— part of my birthright.” Her eyes set in disdain as she mumbled the last few words, almost as if she was ashamed others might hear her. She leaned closer to whisper into Eloise’s ear, “See them looking? They stare and stare but they are too frightened to even approach, let alone ask me to dance. As if I am made of pure arsenic.” She tutted quietly, “Another thing that comes with being born this way…” Princess Graciela’s eyes glazed over, as if she was thinking of something else, her mind wandering off, “-but that... I am grateful for."
Eloise chuckled, completely forgetting to stand straight and act properly in front of a royal, "Well, too bad I can't use that excuse. My mother has threatened to kill me if I keep rejecting dances.” She turned to the right, where Kate stood a few steps to the side, a smile on her face as she watched Y/N dance with the prince. Rendering it safe, Eloise continued, “Why are you thankful for that? Are you not like all the other girls who just love to have a dance with charming, gallantly young boys?" It suddenly seemed to dawn on Eloise again who she was talking to, and a look of panic struck her face. Graciela waved her off, liking how Eloise was talking to her like a friend, not bowing down to lay at her feet because she was a royal.
“Is she your friend?" Princess Graciela nodded towards the couples dancing together, “The woman my brother already seems to be enamoured by.”
Eloise followed the princess' line of sight and shook her head, "Sister, actually.”
She heard the princess hum beside her and she too focused back on the crowd, where her sister was being guided along the dance floor by the prince.
Y/N seemed to have trouble looking the poor boy in his eyes, as her eyes instead scanned each and every face but his. Eventually, they landed on her sister’s, then on the princess standing next to her. As they locked eyes, the look on Y/N's face changed like it hadn't before, like it hadn't when Felipe had looked her in the eye previously, or even now when he was holding her close. Y/N quickly looked away when she was guided around, thankful for the disruption of their eye-contact as she could hide the slight blush on her face. Though it could have clearly passed off as a healthy blush due to all the dancing.
“She looks like a gentle and wise young woman."
"Silly and stubborn, you mean." Eloise let out a laugh, before she realised she couldn't afford to ruin Y/N's chances with the prince, "Oh- um, sisters... you know? Always having it out for each other..." She let out a breathy chuckle, knowing she needed to set this right quickly, "Y/N is a lovely sister. She has a habit of naturally making people feel at ease. She’s generous and always interested in learning new things- oh, best not to forget the fire in her belly that all we Bridgerton's have. She excels at painting, but finds solace in playing musical instruments too. Violin, especially. The amount of times I wanted to throw that fiddle of hers into our estate’s pond because she kept playing and playing…“ Eloise rambled, but was content with the entertained smile on Graciela’s face that made it clear she had helped made an impression.
"She sounds like a pleasure to be around," Graciela spoke, her eyes not having left Y/N at all, even if the girl had made it her duty to ignore the princess’s gaze from now on. “You're Bridgertons, right?”
"Oh no...” Eloise shrunk and made a face, “You've read Whistledown?"
“Of course, I have. Doesn’t everyone find it thrilling to read about secret rendezvous and scandals?”
Eloise winced slightly, knowing all that the Whistledown had said about her and her family, “Right… thrilling.”
Graciela noticed something was afoot, and clarified herself, “It shows we’re human after all, and that we’re all the same in one way or another. And don’t fret, I’m smart enough to know that a rumour is just that— a false story. Even if they do make for the most delicious and entertainingly ridiculous tales.“ She gave Eloise a playful smile, trying to ease her nerves. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, Lady Bridgerton." Princess Graciela walked away and disappeared into the crowd of dancing men and women, until Eloise caught sight of her again as she appeared dancing with a young boy right next to Y/N and the prince.
“I thought you said you wouldn’t dance?” Felipe quirked an eyebrow and smirked playfully as he spoke to his sister. He turned Y/N around before his hands moved back to appropriately hold onto her waist.
Graciela grinned wickedly, “I was feeling bold.” Her eyes locked with Y/N's and the corner of her mouth quirked up. Y/N’s eyes widened ever so slightly before she forced herself to finally look into Felipe’s eyes instead.
Felipe rolled his eyes at her jesting and brought the attention back to the girl in his arms. "Free spirit, that one.” He clarified, smiling, before grabbing Y/N's hand to twirl her once more, sending the ends of her dress flowing before they wrapped around her legs. "You're different." He noted, quirking his head to the side while he examined Y/N's face with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Different how, your Grace?" Y/N loosened her grip on his shoulder, feeling suffocated by the situation and all the eyes on her. She focused on the golden embroidery on his collar instead.
"Forgive me for being so blunt, I don't mean to come across too self-assured, but you're... not besotted with me, not like the others are." He sounded insecure as if he had ruined his chances by saying something so stupid.
"Your Grace, I’ve only just met you." Y/N let out a gentle smile, as she was taught. She straightened her posture once more, keeping up the act.
Felipe immediately wished he could take it back, feeling like a fool. "Yes! Which I am grateful for! I meant... you don't seem to care about my royal status. You're calm… collected and you don't giggle at everything I say, even if it isn’t funny at all."
Seeing the Prince squirm before her, took away some of the pressure she was feeling. So, she replied, “Should I? Giggle at everything you say?"
Felipe saw the playful smile across the young Bridgerton's face and let out a relieved sigh, "No! Please, don't!" He laughed heartily, "I much prefer it this way. Would you-"
Felipe got interrupted as the couples switched, Y/N landing with a random man who gave her a kind smile, Felipe landing with one of the obsessed girls he had previously mentioned. His eyes scanned the crowd, not leaving Y/N's face as soon as he found her again.
"He can't keep his eyes off of her!" Violet gushed, nudging Anthony who remained quiet as he stood with his hands behind his back, quietly observing the whole ordeal.
On the other side of the room, Eloise noticed the same— though it was princess Graciela who couldn't keep her eyes off Y/N from her place in the room. She knew how this worked, Graciela was just looking out for her brother, it was nothing different from Anthony throwing dangerous glances the prince's way, or when Kate would shoo away each and every man she deemed not worthy of her younger sister Edwina. It was only fair that princess Graciela, as a woman, would be able to read the women her brother curtsied better than he himself, especially if one of the girls already made his heart thump loudly against his chest. Being royal probably added additional stress. She couldn't blame Graciela for being too careful.
The young man who was now dancing with the Bridgerton, seemed too shy to even look her in the eye or strike up a conversation, afraid he'd be too much of a disappointment after the Prince of Spain. He barely even touched her, feeling Felipe and everyone else in the room watching him.
"Where's Eloise?" Violet suddenly realised, knowing that Eloise would probably try to sneak out now that Y/N was the centre of attention. She looked to her eldest son, who saw the conflict in her eyes. She didn't want to miss a second of Y/N's first steps into the Ton, especially now that she had the attention of a royal, but she also very well knew Eloise would take the first carriage home if she got the chance.
"I’ll keep an eye on Y/N. And I need to deal with them," Anthony noted, his attention shifting to the group of boys hesitantly approaching him— suitors for Y/N who only now seemed to see the girl’s potential after the prince had taken the initiative.
Violet looked at her dancing daughter once more, knowing she would be alright with her eldest brother there. However, a distant but striking memory made her grab her son's sleeve and whisper in his ear, "Don't you dare make another one of those stupid mistakes as with Daphne and Lord Berbrooke."
"I won't! I promise."
Violet nodded curtly, lifted up her skirts so she wouldn't trip, and quickly made her way out of the room, in search of Eloise.
The dancing couples switched partners once more, and Felipe all but groaned when Graciela smoothly danced her way in front of Y/N, the girl's hands snaking to softly rest on Y/N's waist, even if the Bridgerton girl seemed shocked and unsure of her new dancing companion. The princess ignored the looks she was getting, the gasps people were letting out, or how she heard her brother call out her name in protest.
With wide eyes and pure terror in her eyes, Y/N quicky muttered, "Your Grace, I'm sure this isn't how this dance is-"
"You almost look repulsed. Have you never seen two girls dance before?" The princess teased, a challenging look in her eyes as she tilted her head to the side, taking in the small details of Y/N's features that she could now make out from their new close distance. ”Should we not be able to dance without a man? Have they not taken enough from us already?" She said it so easily while she looked around, greeting people left and right with a wide smile, as if she hadn't just put each man around her in a bad light. “Why are you all so modest over here?”
Y/N let out a shaky sigh, one filled with nerves and the fear of rejection, judgement and shame. Graciela held her tight but still ever so gently. Dancing with Graciela was so different from dancing with Felipe. It wasn't only the obvious male and female differences, like their height or the lack of big muscles in the girl’s arms holding her close. While Felipe had smelled of nothing to Y/N's liking, Graciela smelled fresh yet sultry... like mystery, like flowers blooming in the night, where no one was ever around to see but that didn't stop them from blooming anyway. Y/N’s eyes quickly glanced around the room, seeing confusion and disapproval on the faces around her.
Even if their dance encounter had barely lasted ten seconds, the princess noticed the hesitance in Y/N's steps, and horror on the Bridgerton's face, and so she let go, a childlike grin on her face as to not alarm the spectators, showing them they were just two young girls being silly at a dance. Nothing more. Nothing less.
“I apologise, Lady Bridgerton.“ Her voice came out as soft as a whisper, and as everyone twirled their partner around, she disappeared into the hands of another while Felipe made his way back to Y/N Bridgerton.
And with that, Y/N's mood was ruined. She couldn't quite put a finger on why, but something caged inside her had felt like another cage had just locked her further away. This was proof she would never be truly happy, never be able to live her life like she wanted to. She would always only be able to be someone others wanted her to be, she could only show what others wanted to see. Because they were always watching, that was just the way it was. Even now, strangers looked at her and narrowed their eyes. Either they saw a tainted Bridgerton or a naive little girl, but whatever it was, she hated it. She hated how she had to dance with men she didn't ever want to grow old with, just to appease the ton. It was her life, was it not?
A cold sweat suddenly coated her neck, and she felt lightheaded at all the twirling and waltzing. The stuffy air wasn’t doing wonders either. She needed to get out of there, and quick.
She took a step back and stumbled out of Felipe’s arms, “I need to look for my sister." She quickly came up with, using all her energy on trying to focus on the path out and thus forgetting the proper formalities. She rushed off the ballroom floor, through the crowd and out of the room, painfully aware of all the eyes on her as she left, and how she had left the crown prince of Spain all on his own, who was too stunned to move as he could only watch her run away from him. Heat rose to her cheeks immediately at the thought and at the realisation that she could very well be the talk of the city tomorrow, especially if Lady Whistledown had seen it all unfold as well. But she knew she couldn’t go back now. Even the chilly weather outside could not help cool her down, but at least she was alone.
© 𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗲𝘀𝘀
𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘆, 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵, 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲, 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗽𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀. 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿’𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 <3
#bridgerton!sister#bridgerton x reader#bridgerton imagine#bridgerton one shot#bridgerton fanfic#eloise bridgerton x reader#bridgerton/you#bridgerton x you#bridgerton x yn#kate sharma x reader#bridgerton sibling#bridgerton x sibling#bridgerton!sibling
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More Than Just A Pretty Face
Benedict Bridgerton x Reader
Masterlist - Join MyTaglist!
Written for my Year of Olympians, part of a bigger challenge being run by @yearofcreation2023 which features a ton of awesome creators and runs all year! Go check it out if you haven’t already!
Fandom: Bridgerton
Prompt: Hera; The Queen, Women, Family
Summary: Benedict runs into a woman who might just be the love of his life at a friend's underground artist party, but things might get complicated outside the walls of the artist's haven and in plain sight of the rest of the world.
Word Count: 3,745
Category: Fluff, little bit of angst maybe? Not *really*...
Putting work into an AI program without permission is illegal. You do not have my permission. Do not do it.
Benedict smiled to himself as he stumbled down the dimly lit hallway, people crowding in on either side of him. He was absolutely sober as far as substances went, but drunk and giddy on the feeling of being surrounded by so many artists, living lives happily as themselves and nothing more. No expectations of families or the Ton could reach them here, and it was a thrill like none other to join them any night he could.
After making a quick pit stop to grab himself a drink (he didn’t want to spend the night completely sober, after all), he continued to wander the hallways, looking for a place to pick up a paintbrush. This was one of the few locations he felt completely free to do so, with no outside pressures to weigh on him, and he’d be damned if he didn’t take advantage of it.
He swung through the doorway of a salon towards the back of the house and, as he’d hoped, found a circle of canvases around a few models in the middle. He started for an open canvas, but stopped dead in his tracks when he saw what one of the other artists had painted on theirs.
The light and colors seemed to jump off the canvas, representing the subjects in a more abstract and yet equally beautiful way. The brushstrokes and blending combined into a unique style, truly unlike anything he’d ever seen before.
“This is… incredible,” he breathed, having drifted unconsciously over to stand beside the artist, getting a better look at the canvas in the process. He blinked a few times, trying to shake the stupor, then turned to face the person responsible for the masterpiece before him.
His breath caught in his throat as he made eye contact with the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.
“Cat got your tongue?” asked the woman with a raised eyebrow. She surveyed him critically, not looking entirely friendly, and his heart stuttered a little in his chest.
“I… I’m sorry,” he said. Was he stammering? He hadn’t been nervous around a girl since the time when Anthony had been his only sibling!
“What do you want?” she asked, continuing to stare him down mercilessly. He cleared his throat and took a deep breath, trying to gather himself as he looked between her and her artwork.
"I’m terribly sorry to bother you,” he said, clearing his throat and gaining just a hair of his regular confidence back. “I just couldn’t stop myself from coming over when I saw this masterpiece.”
She turned to him with a scowl, but it quickly changed to a look of surprise when she found him referencing her painting.
“You came over here because you liked… my painting?” she asked, her tone an equal mix of suspicion and pleasant surprise. Benedict raised an eyebrow and gave her a lopsided smile.
“Well what else?” he asked, a slight teasing tone to his voice.
The woman glanced down, unable to completely hide a smile that broke onto her face before she looked back at him. “I… historically, when strange men approach me, it’s nothing to do with my skills or who I am as a person.”
Benedict shot her a roguish smile, all of his normal comfort and confidence finally returned. “Fortunately for you I suppose, even the most beautiful woman in all of existence can’t quite outshine this incredible painting.”
She stared at him, her eyes dancing with light and mischief as a smile again tugged at her lips. Despite her best efforts, she was clearly fighting a losing battle to remain stoic and critical.
“The most beautiful woman in all of existence?” she challenged, humor in her tone.
“I’d certainly say so,” he said, beaming at her and feeling a swell of pride at how flustered she seemed to become. “I’d have to go sing the news of who I’d just found to strangers in the streets, but it’s been overshadowed by the news of having found the most wonderful painting in the whole of existence.”
She laughed, and the sound sent jolts of electricity racing through every inch of his body. They shared a smile, and any doubts Benedict might have had about the truthfulness of his statements evaporated. They were facts, and nobody could change his mind.
“Well come on then, you flatterer,” she teased, patting the seat next to her. “If you’re here it means you’re an artist too, so let’s see what you’ve got other than a prolific affinity for flattery.”
He beamed at her as he took the seat next to her, securing a paintbrush and artist’s palette of his own.
“I can’t promise I’ll live up to anything like what you’ve painted, but I’ll certainly do my best.”
She shrugged. “Art is subjective. Anyone who tries to make objective value statements is a fool.”
He laughed, feeling lighter than he had in ages.
“I suppose you’re right.”
The pair spent the rest of the night and even the first few hours of the morning painting, laughing, and talking together side by side, making art and more importantly enjoying the creative space and their time with each other. Despite his initial moment of being tongue-tied, Benedict couldn’t believe how easy it was to talk to this woman, like they’d known each other for ages and not just a few hours. He knew his brothers would mock him, but with each passing second he could feel himself falling deeper and deeper in love.
When the time came to say goodnight and for each of them to go their separate ways, his heart broke a little in his chest. Still, he said goodbye all the same, both of them promising to meet again the next time one of these gatherings happened. Benedict resolved with his entire being to make it happen, no matter what, and even that was barely enough to actually get him out the door.
For the next week, Benedict found himself completely distracted by thoughts of the mystery woman he’d fallen in love with in a matter of hours. He hardly thought of anything else, and his head was even more in the clouds than usual, much to the annoyance of his siblings. Anthony finally managed to snap him out of his daydreaming long enough to drag him to a long-awaited ball that had been the talk of the Ton for quite some time, although Benedict had done his best to avoid the commitment.
“The Queen herself is going to be there, along with plenty of high-ranking, eligible young women who only come out for the absolute highest society events,” lectured Anthony as the Bridgerton carriage approached Lady Danbury’s house, where the ball was to be hosted. Benedict sighed and stared out the window; he’d already heard this speech a thousand times. “Now that Kate and I are married, it’s your turn to start looking for a wife.”
Benedict rolled his eyes, knowing just how much it would irritate his brother.
“Suppose I want to die a male spinster,” he said, deciding to have some fun bothering Anthony. Anthony, as predicted, glared and sighed heavily through his nose, which immediately lifted Benedict’s spirits. He gave his brother a mischievous grin, and then it was Anthony’s turn to roll his eyes. Benedict’s fun was cut short, however, when the carriage at last arrived to the ball. Now he’d have to suffer through endless pleasantries and vicious Mamas trying to set their daughters up with him for the evening, with no support from his brother.
As predicted, the start of the night was incredibly boring. Benedict grabbed a drink as soon as he was in the door, and spent the next hour or so ducking every social encounter he could. He hovered on the edge of the room with Colin and Eloise, until finally, Anthony tracked him down and dragged him by the elbow back into the main room.
“The Queen just came out with her daughter,” Anthony hissed into his ear as they moved through the crowd. “You need to at least make an introduction.”
“Anthony, I don’t even know where to begin explaining to you how much I do not want to court the Queen’s daughter-”
Benedict had been in the middle of hissing back a terse response to his brother when he caught sight of the woman Anthony kept shoving him towards. Y/N, the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen and the best artist he’d ever met, stood next to the Queen in an absolutely magnificent dress, chatting politely with a suitor she didn’t appear to have much interest in. His heart stopped dead in his chest and his legs almost gave out under him. Anthony, unaware that Benedict’s world had suddenly stopped spinning, continued to push him over, until Benedict fell forward, almost knocking straight into the woman he’d spent every spare moment and then some thinking about.
She turned to him in surprise, her face lighting up for a brief second at the sight of him before her courtier’s mask quickly dropped back into place. Even that brief crack in the polite, vague interest was enough to make Benedict’s heart stutter in his chest. He just kept staring at her, still a little dumbstruck, until he heard someone clear their throat from his right.
“Mr. Bridgerton.” He turned to find the Queen herself staring down at him with raised eyebrows. He quickly righted himself and tried to regain his composure. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Y/N disguising a laugh as a cough, and had to resist grinning and shaking his head.
“Your Majesty,” he said instead, dropping into as low a bow he could. He stayed down for longer than usual, and when he finally straightened, the Queen looked grudgingly pleased.
“I assume you’re also here to speak to my daughter, now that you’ve paid your respects, like every other unwed man in this room?” she asked, a slight tone of amusement to her voice (much to Benedict’s relief).
“I…” he glaned at Y/N, slightly unsure of himself, but when he found her smiling back at him that confidence immediately returned. He turned back to the Queen, back straight and a smile on his face. “Yes, M’am. I’d love the chance to speak to her, if you’d allow me and if she’d have me.”
The Queen gave him the smallest smile of approval, then turned to her daughter.
“Well, Y/N? What do you say?”
Y/N smiled slightly at Benedict, then sighed dramatically and flapped her fan around before dropping it back at her side.
“I suppose,” she said, flailing dramatically a bit more before taking his arm with a smile. “Mr. Bridgerton, shall we?”
Benedict beamed back at her, his whole body feeling like it was about to combust in the best way possible. They strolled off through the room, walking rather quickly towards the exit to the garden, where they might actually get a bit of privacy. Anthony beamed approvingly at Benedict as they went, and Benedict made sure to shoot him a glare in response.
Every man in the crowd they passed gave Benedict a look to put his pointed scowl towards Anthony to shame, jealous venom rippling off every one of them. Benedict completely ignored them all. He was in heaven, and no one could ruin it if they tried.
Quickly, the fresh air of the garden washed over Benedict, and he took a deep breath in before letting out a contented sigh. He slowed his pace, Y/N slowing to match him as they transitioned into a relaxing stroll.
Once they were far enough away from the ballroom, definitely out of earshot of any nosy, problematic courtiers, Benedict turned to Y/N with an arched eyebrow.
“The Queen’s daughter?” he asked. She turned to him, a slightly accusatory look on her own face.
“Says a Bridgerton son, a member of one of the most prestigious, talked-about families in the Ton.”
“First of all, you and I both know talked-about often does not equal prestigious,” he said. Memories of everything to do with Daphne and Anthony as they went through the creation of their marriages flashed through his head. What nightmares. Entertaining, but nightmares. He shook it off, then continued, “And second, being the second son of a notable family is distinctly different than being in line for the throne, as well as the most sought-after woman in all of England.”
She gave him a small smile, the first he’d seen from her that was tinged with sadness, none of the light or attitude he’d come to enjoy seeing from her to be found.
“Surely you can see why I wanted to escape it all for a bit, then. Most wanted woman for my position and the power I offer a husband, and maybe my looks. Nothing else. Nothing of substance.”
Benedict felt as if an arrow had been shot straight through his heart. He stopped dead in his tracks and stared at Y/N, who came to a stop a few steps later to stare back at him curiously.
“Have you truly been made to feel this way?” he breathed, his stare never leaving her face. He remembered her mentioning something of the sort when they'd first met, but not with so grave a tone. She hesitated, giving him a scrutinizing look similar to that one a week ago before she'd realized his more innocent and sincere intentions, then finally sighed, apparently deciding to give him her trust for a second time.
“It’s more than being made to feel that way, Benedict,” she said softly. “I can see it and know it in every interaction I have with suitors who approach me.”
“Y/N…” Benedict took a step forward and reached for her hands, his heart squeezing at her words, but then thought better of himself and stepped back. He took a deep breath, then met her eyes, doing his best to convey nothing but absolute sincerity. “I almost didn’t come to this little party tonight, for the same reasons. My brother finally forced me to come, and now I’m very grateful he did, although I’d never tell him that.”
Benedict shook his head, momentarily distracted by the idea of how obnoxiously smug Anthony would be if ever told he was right, then managed to refocus on Y/N and the issue at hand.
“What I’m trying to say is… every time I come to one of these things, especially now that Anthony is married, I have nothing but piranhas and sharks circling me, trying to convince me to marry them or their daughters. I have money, and I’m the next closest thing to the head of the Bridgerton family, and that’s all anyone ever seems to care about.
“I can’t pretend to understand exactly what it’s been like for you, since I have quite a bit more autonomy than you, both as a man and as a second son. But I can imagine what you mean when you say you’re usually looked at for superficial traits and what someone stands to gain from marrying you, and nothing else. And if I’ve ever played a part in making you feel that way, then I am truly, deeply sorry. You deserve far more than that.”
Benedict watched Y/N, his heart absolutely hammering in his chest. He wasn’t even sure what he was hoping for, but her reaction felt incredibly important to him all the same. She glanced down, lips pursed, then met his eyes again with a small smile and that twinkle in her eyes that he’d come to love so much. He could’ve collapsed on the spot from relief and happiness.
“I can happily tell you, Benedict, that you’re the first man I’ve met in a long, long while who doesn’t make me feel that way, and never did. So… thank you, for that.”
He beamed back at her, his heart soaring and making him feel as though he was floating.
“Well, I’m very glad to hear it. Perhaps, if you’re interested… I could do more of that?”
She raised an eyebrow at him, a small smile playing on her lips as she took a few steps closer to him.
“And what exactly do you mean by that?”
He grinned, leaning in closer to her. His whole body burned, and he thought he could see a bit of the same excitement on her face.
“Well, as much of an honor as it would be for me to be allowed to court you the traditional way, it can be a bit… boring. As two fantastic and creative artists, we should be able to do a bit better than that, don’t you think?”
Her smile took on a bit of a giddy quality as she continued to look at him, and Benedict felt himself getting sucked into the same energy, riding high as he continued.
“What say you we have another artists’ rendezvous next weekend, at that same mutual friend’s house? We can find an empty room—surely there will be one in the entire house—and then draw, paint, and talk to our heart’s content. You can tell me about your favorite artists and things to do when no one else is forcing you into courtly activities, and I’ll tell you my favorite ways to upset my siblings and about the time my brothers and I almost stole the neighbor’s dog thanks to a game of dares that got wildly out of control.”
“I would like that very much,” she said, beaming back at Benedict. He swore her light put the shine of the sun to shame, and the warmth emanating from her made him completely forget the cold of the night air in the garden where they spoke. “But I have to ask… what shall we do in the meantime? After all, next weekend is an awful while to wait.”
He could’ve done cartwheels right then and there. Instead, however, he controlled himself enough to smile back at her and speak.
“Well… what would you like to do?”
She grinned, then glanced around their surroundings. Once she seemed satisfied that no prying eyes were watching too closely, she grabbed his hand and pulled her to him, linking her arm through his to return to the way they’d been walking before.
“This is going to be quite forward of me,” she warned, smiling all the same as they resumed their turn about the garden. Towards the far end, they turned back before getting improperly out of sight of any other people, making a slow, steady return towards the party they’d so badly needed an escape from.
“I’d expect nothing else from such a bold, strong woman such as yourself.”
“Well… what if, on top of our unusual form of courting that you so brilliantly suggested… we did the normal, proper society courting as well?”
Fireworks exploded in Benedict’s chest, but he did his best to tamp them down and sound somewhat put together when he responded.
“Do you mean regular courting as in… publicly spending time with each other, after I call on you to make clear my intentions to get to know you and, perhaps eventually… propose?”
Now she seemed to be the nervous one, fidgeting a bit as they got closer and closer to returning to the party. Benedict watched her with a smile, enjoying this brief role reversal.
“Well, I mean, that is… if you’d be interested in that. Of course there’s absolutely no pressure, I wouldn’t want to make you feel like you had to-“
Benedict came to a stop again, taking Y/N’s hands and pulling her to a gentle stop with him. They were only a few steps from the doors of the ballroom now, in clear eyesight of many guests of the party as Benedict smiled lovingly at this wonder of a woman he’d somehow lucked into meeting.
“Y/N… I can think of no greater honor than being allowed to court you publicly, perhaps with the intention to propose. Despite the fact that I will hear endlessly about it from my brother, I am quite confident you would be worth it.”
Y/N beamed back at him, joy clearly written all over her face. The two shared the purest, happiest smiles and held each others’ stares for a few more beats, then finally, Y/N cleared her throat and moved to take Benedict’s arm again.
“Of course, any potential proposal would hinge on our non-traditional method of courting going well,” she said as the two of them at last headed back towards the ballroom.
“Obviously,” Benedict agreed, ignoring the jealous looks of the other suitors around him and the smug expression he could see on his brother’s face even from across the room. “I could never shackle myself to someone without knowing she would be more than a pretty face to stand next to me, with whom I’d have nothing in common.”
He shot Y/N a mischievous sideways look and found her beaming back at him. Then, at the sight of Anthony quickly crossing the room, either to speak to him or to try to speak to Y/N (and either way ruining the moment), he spun to speak to Y/N again.
“So, in the name of proper courting… may I have this dance?”
“Of course you may,” she replied, a happy smile still on her face. He took her hands and they spun onto the dance floor together, then once they were chest to chest to begin the routine, she whispered so only he could hear, “And don’t think I didn’t realize you asked me to dance in order to avoid your brother.”
Benedict gave her a quick wink, then twirled her out from him in the opening moves of the dance. They were a bit sloppier than everyone else around them, which earned them both some disapproving looks from their family members, but neither of them cared.
They were both happy and having fun, and after spending so much of their time in court absolutely miserable, they deserved this. Although they couldn’t spend the entire night together, no matter how much they both wanted to, they took the moments they could and found solace in the fact that they’d be together again soon, and in a place where they’d be in private, enjoying each others’ company for hours with no interruptions. It was too early to declare it to anyone, his brother and Y/N included, but Benedict had fallen completely and totally in love, and he couldn’t wait to spend every possible second in his future with the woman he felt certain was his soulmate.
#year of creation#Bridgerton#benedict bridgerton#benedict bridgerton x reader#bridgerton fanfiction#bridgerton imagine#bridgerton one shot#benedict bridgerton fanfiction#benedict bridgerton imagine#benedict bridgerton oneshot#regency era#the bridgerton family#the bridgertons#the bridgerton siblings#anthony bridgerton#the queen#bridgerton fanfic#daphne bridgerton#eloise bridgerton#colin bridgerton
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I Really Care About You - Anthony Bridgerton
Masterlist
Emails I Can't Send Masterlist
Summary : When Anthony sees you in the arms of another man, he remembers how he sabotaged your relationship because of his feelings.
Warnings : set in 1807 so Anthony is 23, angst, sad ending, maybe some grammatical mistakes as English is not my first language, tell me if you see some or if I missed any warnings.
Word Count : 2.8k
French Version on Wattpad
French version on Tumblr
Song mentioned : Piano Concerto No.20, K466 by Mozart
Songs inspiration : When I Was Your Man by Bruno Mars and Decode by Sabrina Carpenter
Leaning on the wall, Anthony Bridgerton is looking at you from afar. As he sees you dancing, a smile on your face, he can’t help but do the same. He knows how much you love balls, how much you love dancing at the rhythm of the strings. When your dancing partner makes you sway, Anthony feels a memory coming back to him.
It was two years ago. Anthony had started courting you a few months before that. You knew him only by name but you had been intrigued by him. At first, he wasn’t opening up to you, only giving you a few moments of his times, but bit by bit, you had started to grow closer to each other. As you got to know each other, you had discovered a new side of the serious man who was crumbling under responsibilities. Even if you felt like he hadn’t shown you his whole self yet, you were already thrilled to see he had broken his shell a bit with you. Therefore, you had let your feelings take over, allowing yourself to fall in love with Anthony Bridgerton. Besides being a good catch, like your father wished, you felt deep down you’d be well with him. There was no doubt, you could picture yourself being with Anthony forever.
So, at every ball, you were dancing with him as much as you could. Of course, you would be dancing with other men as well. After all, you loved dancing with anyone, even if the Viscount was your favourite partner.
That night, Anthony had invited you for the first dance of the night. When the first notes of Mozart's Piano Concerto No.20, K466 could be heard, you had started to waltz, your eyes deep in his just like his were in yours. If a stranger could’ve seen you, they would’ve thought you were newly weds as your gazes were full of love. Anthony couldn’t stop admiring your beauty. Everytime he thought you couldn’t be prettier than the day before, you proved him wrong. As he was a bit more under your spell, he couldn’t help but share his thoughts with you.
“You are radiant, Miss Y/L/N.”
“Thank you, Lord Bridgerton. You are handsome as well.”
“Not as much as you. Your dress is beautiful. You truly are breathtaking.”
“Be careful, Mister Bridgerton, people could be mistaken and think you want to ask for my hand.” You laughed, trying to hide your discord.
“Would you say ‘yes’ ?” He genuinely asked you.
“First, you shall talk about it with my father, then I will give you my answer.” You answered with a smile.
“After our dance, I shall talk with him.”
“I really care about you, My Lord.” You admitted.
“As do I, My Lady.”
At that specific moment, you both had only one wish, kissing each other, but the presence of the good Londonian society prevented you from it. You only felt his lips on your right hand clothed with a white glove when the dance was over. His eyes hadn’t left yours when he softly kissed your hand.
But now, it’s Lord Egerton who is kissing your hand with as much tenderness as he did two years ago. Anthony looks away when he sees your face brighten at this touch. Anthony is too lost in his thoughts, he doesn’t notice the group of gentlemen coming toward him, Lord Egerton is among them. He only realises their presence when he hears your dance partner making an announcement with a proud smile.
“Lady Y/L/N has accepted my proposal yesterday.”
“Congratulations !”
“You two look happy together.” The men state.
“We are getting married in a few months and I cannot wait. I have never felt that way before.”
Anthony says something polite before his eyes land on you. From afar, he sees you talking to other women. You removed a glove to show your engagement ring. You’re deep in the description of your proposal when you feel a gaze on you. Quickly, you glance around and find Anthony. You see him observing you with a sad look. For a second, your heart feels heavy but you pull yourself together and put your attention back on your friends. You try to get Anthony out of your head, reminding yourself he’s the one to blame for this situation. He doesn’t have the right, with one look, to make you feel guilty because you’re moving on while he’s the one who ruined everything.
You had been engaged with Anthony for three months and still madly in love. Your wedding wasn’t planned for another six months. Your mind was always set on wedding planning. There were only a few moments during the week where you’d allow yourself to do other things. That day, you were doing needlepoint, you had forgotten about it since Anthony’s proposal. You were putting the needle back in the cloth when you got interrupted by one of your servants, telling you about Anthony’s arrival. You allowed him in. You put your embroidery on the table next to you and you stood up to greet your fiancé. When he arrived, your smile grew bigger like it always did when he was in the same room as you.
“Lord Bridgerton, I was not expecting you today.”
“I know, my apologies, but I had to talk to you.” He informed with a serious expression and your smile left your face.
“Of course, is something the matter ?”
“May we sit down ?”
“Please.”, you agreed as you showed the couch and sat down, “My Lord, you are worrying me, are you well ?” You questioned when he had sat down next to you.
“What I have to tell you is not easy, Lady Y/L/N. I… I wish to break our engagement.”
Following his announcement, you stayed silent for a second, wanting to be sure you understood correctly. When you realised you hadn’t mistaken, you opened your mouth several times, hesitating before succeeding to talk.
“What ?”
“I do not wish to marry anymore. I wish to wait a few more years. I am sorry.”
“I do not understand, Mister Bridgerton. Have I done something wrong ? If it’s the case, I apologise.”
“You haven’t done anything wrong.” Anthony reassured you quickly, making you frown.
“Then why did you change your mind ? I am sure we can find a solution. Lord Bridgerton, I care about you, I can wait a few years if it is what you really wish for.”
“I cannot ask you for this. I will not change my mind.” He affirmed, avoiding your gaze.
“Can you at least give me an explanation ?” You pleaded with teary eyes.
“I made myself a promise and if I marry you, I know I will betray it.”
“What promise ?”
“To not have a marriage of love.” Anthony stated, confusing you a bit more.
“I do not understand you.”
“I am the Viscount Bridgerton, I need to find a woman who can be the perfect Viscountess, like you, but I do not want feelings. But these last few weeks… I realised I loved you. I am sorry to hurt you this way.”
It took you a second to assimilate his words. Finally understanding what he said, you stood up from the couch, stunned. You put yourself in front of him, your confusion visible on your face.
“Are you really saying you love me so much you do not want to marry me ? What do you have against marriage of love ? Don't you think it is better to share your life with someone you love ?”
“I do not wish for this.”
You stopped talking, thinking about what this new information would mean for you. When it finally hit you, you stood up, your breath quickening.
“Do you have any idea of how humiliating it is ?”, you questioned rhetorically, a tear rolling down your cheek, “Everyone is expecting our wedding and no one will understand because I do not understand myself.”
“I will take care of the rumours, if that is your fear.”
“No matter what you will say, people will think something is wrong with me because you decided to break our engagement.” You exclaimed, emphasising on the pronoun ‘you’.
“I am deeply sorry, Lady Y/L/N.”
“I do not want your apologies. I want a clear explanation, Lord Bridgerton.”, you retorted, frustration growing bigger, “I would have never thought our feelings would be a valid reason to stop our courtship. Well, our feelings, I shall say my feelings. If you really loved me, you would not be doing that.”
“I assure you that I really care about you.”
“How do you want me to believe you ? You were only interested in me because you saw me as a young woman from a good family, matching the criterias that are expected from me as a wife. They always told me if I was polite, considerate and attentive, I would have no problems finding a husband and yet, even when I match those meaningless standards, I am not enough. What have I done to deserve that ?” You cried, looking up.
“Even if you do not want to, believe me when I say it is not your fault. You are good enough. More than enough, even. The real reason I refuse a marriage of love, it is because I do not want to be the cause of pain.” He clarifies.
“The more you explain, the more I am lost.”
“After my father’s death, my mother was devastated.”, he started to explain, standing up in front of you, “She was barely there for me and my siblings. I had to take care of everything instead of her. I do not want the woman I will marry to experience a similar situation. I do not want to be the reason for a future heartbreak.
“You cannot let your father’s death prevent you from loving.”, you said, losing a little bit more hope, “Even if I could never understand it, I know his death affected you but you cannot lock your heart away. Anthony Bridgerton, I am begging you to reconsider your promise.”
“I will not do it.” He repeated, sure of himself.
“Very well then.” You let your anger win over you and give him back his ring.
“I deeply apologise.”
“That is enough.”, you interrupted him, angry, “I do not want to hear anything anymore. Leave, Lord Bridgerton. Please, show him the door.” You ordered the servant closer to the entrance.
You didn’t make sure he heard your order, too shaken from your conversation. You left the room, trying not to cry even more. You went upstairs, wanting to close yourself in your bedroom. When you arrived, you heard Anthony walking through the doorstep. When you walked in your room, you collapsed on the floor, heartbroken. You couldn’t believe it was real. You hadn’t prepared yourself for this discussion when you had seen him entering. You thought back at his words and tried to find what you could have said to make him change his mind. Maybe you could have avoided this situation if you had found the right words.
Wanting to rest from your dance, you’re drinking some champagne while you’re talking to your fiancé. You had met Henry Egerton the year after your break up with Anthony. You had danced a few times and talked a bit but you still weren’t feeling ready to move on. You were still too busy to analyse your relationship with Anthony, trying to find a flaw to bring him back to you, but it was a lost cause. Only when you understood this, you had accepted to mourn the future you would never have before getting closer to Lord Egerton during this social season.
While you’re talking with your fiancé, you’re telling yourself how lucky you are to have found him. He is not and will never be Anthony but you know you can be happy with him. He proved to you that you deserve to be loved and you’ll forever be grateful to him for that. You’re laughing at one of his jokes, which he alone has the secret, when you look on your left, feeling someone getting closer. Anthony is in front of you with a neutral expression on his face.
“Lady Y/L/N, may I have this dance, please ?” He asks.
“I apologise, My Lord, but I am currently talking with-”
“There is no problem”, Henry interrupts you with a smile, “I need to talk with Lord Featherington anyway. Go dance, dearest.” He affirms walking away.
“Very well, it seems like I have no other reasons to turn you down, Lord Bridgerton.” You state as you put down your glass on a table nearby.
Anthony gives you his arm where you put your hand, like you used to. The familiar contact brings you back two years ago, but you try to stay focused. You bow before getting in position, waiting for the sound of the violins and pianoforte. When Piano Concerto No.20, K466 starts, you’re mentally cursing at the musicians. They really couldn’t have chosen another music ? But for Anthony, this song sounds like a sign. Even if it’s a reminder of a time where you were happy together, it still belongs to you, despite the distance.
Anthony and you start waltzing in silence at first. You don’t even dare to look at him, your eyes searching for your fiancé. You see him talking with the Featherington patriarch, like he said he would. While you’re swaying , you look for another distraction whilst Anthony keeps his eyes on you, appreciating the closeness of your body against his. Most likely for the last time before you’re officially married. However, Anthony doesn’t want this last exchange to be silent.
“We were dancing on this song when I told you I wanted to marry you.” Anthony reminds you.
“What do you want, Lord Bridgerton ?” You ask, dryly.
“I heard about your engagement. I am happy for you, congratulations. He seems to be a good man.” He says genuinely.
“He is, I can assure you. We talked a lot and we are sure we want the same things in our lives.”
“I am sorry I broke up our engagement. Sometimes, I think I should not have done it.”
“Stop it, please.”, you beg him, not wanting to hear anymore, “You cannot tell me this, especially not now. I spent the last couple of years of my life trying to find a solution to sort out our relationship. I spent my days over analysing it, hoping I’d find the signs that could have told me you never wanted a marriage of love, I also searched for a way to make you change your mind. I spent my nights awake trying to understand your sudden change of heart. Now, I wonder why I let your confusion keep me up at night. I’m so tired, Lord Bridgerton. All is done, there is nothing left here to decipher. There is nothing to change. Nothing could have changed what happened. I finally accepted it and walked away from it, something I learned from you. At least, our courtship was not totally vain. So please, do not tell me you regret your choice. It is too late.” You affirm, looking at him in his eyes.
“You are right. It was improper from me. I apologise.”, he states and you sigh with relief, “However, let me say I should not have acted that way. It was not honest on my behalf. I should not have let you hope. Even if, I admit it, I was first interested in you because I knew you would be a perfect Viscountess, my feelings for you were real. I did not show it properly during our courtship but I want you to know it. I would have been lucky to have you by my side. And I know Lord Egerton will be. But above all, I hope he will realise his luck. I hope he will treat you better than I did. I hope he will always be close to you, he will always dance with you, I hope he will give you all of his hours. All the things I could not do, but I should have done. I wish you the best, Y/N.” He says with a light smile.
You keep your eyes on him trying to assimilate his words. It takes you a few seconds before being able to speak with a tender look.
“Despite everything we went through, I hope you know I wish you the same. But above all this, I hope you will find the woman who would make you reevaluate yourself. The one who will make you realise you deserve a life full of love, no matter your fear of pain. I, unfortunately, could not be that woman, but I know she exists. I just hope you will find her before it is too late.
The musicians play the last note so you stop your movements. You both keep looking at each other with regret and remorse visible in your eyes. You bow without breaking eye contact, taking in this last moment in your mind.
“Goodbye, Anthony.” You murmur before walking away from his life.
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{This is my side blog so I'll be answering comments under the username @marie-sworld}
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Bittersweet in my mouth || COLIN BRIDGERTON
PT 2
PROMPT: “People warned me about you. I didn’t listen… God I wish I did.”
Requested?: No
Ship: Colin Bridgerton x reader
Warnings: AFAB pronouns, angst, colin being a cunt (please let me know if I need to add anything else!)
Summary: idk it’s just pure angst at this point
(gif by @bonniebirddoesgifs)
“Fine, she’s behind me.”
“What?”
Y/N poked her head out,
“Hi.”
“Eloise please leave.”
“No way, brother.” She stood there with her arms crossed,
“Eloise,” Y/N grabbed her shoulder, “I’ll be back soon ok? Let me just talk to him.”
Eloise nodded, and left to resume her conversation with Penelope.
Y/N just stared at Colin and shrugged,
“So? What do you want to tell me?”
“I wanted to apologise. It was unwise of me to imply that you won’t do well on the marriage market.”
Y/N let out a unladylike snort, before covering her mouth,
“You could definitely say that Colin.”
She paused, as if in thought, then turned back to face him,
“I wouldn’t have cared if the comment came from an ancient, balding lord. But it hurt because you said that Colin, you know how worried I was about me being able to attain a respectable husband. And your comment was like a dagger to my heart. And for your information, I could easily get a husband, but I’ve been holding myself back for someone, who I now see doesn’t deserve me.”
As she said this she took a step closer and closer to Colin, who simply stared at her with a dumbfounded look on his face.
“Who did you hold yourself back for?”
“You, Colin.”
“How could I hold you back? What do you- Oh.”
“Yeah Colin. I’ve waited, and waited. And every time you spoke about some other charming debutant you broke my heart. But then you would be so charming to me, touch my arm for slightly too long, and that would give me a glimmer of hope. Hope that maybe you felt the same way. And this cycle continued, and it broke me every time.”
As she finished her rant, she let out a shaky breath. She turned to walk out of the secluded area of the garden, but Colin lurched forward and grabbed her upper arm,
“Y/N wait-“
She screwed her arm out of his loose grip,
“Colin no, you can’t fix this now. You’re engaged now, remember?”
She stared at him, with a hint of fury and- a sense of hatred? As Colin opened his mouth, she spoke again,
“People warned me about you Colin. I didn’t listen and I allowed myself to be stuck in your trap. God, I wish I did listen…”
She walked out of the secluded area, leaving Colin stood there, shoulders slumped and a defeated look on his face. He wished she would look back but she didn’t. How he yearned to tell her he felt the same…
He felt a pat on the back and looked down, it was Eloise,
“Let’s get you a drink brother, you look like you need one.” He allowed himself to be pulled by her to the drinks table.
AAAAAAH OMG I FINALLY PUT OUT PART 2. i’m so sorry it’s taken so long, i literally have no excuses, but i finally finished because someone commented they were looking forward to part 2. and i’m a people pleaser what can i say 🤷🏻♀️ anyways i hope you enjoyed reading it, and once again and any constructive criticism is welcome as i did not edit this.
thank you :)
- caitlin/sage <3
taglist (cause people actually want to read it???):
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the same person who asked this
Hi there. Can I request a Anthony Bridgeton x ftm reader slightly set in modern era where they have twins and Anthony's family loves the reader and is okay with there relationship. I just want fluff with a (little too big of a) dash of angst. Something domestic where they go on a vacation and them all running around the garden and at the end of the night after the twins go to sleep y/n and Anthony spend time alone just talking, cuddling and swaying to music while looking in each other's eyes...im just a simp for fluff and angst.
Sorry if this is too specific or non-specific and if you don't feel like writing it then it's cool. Thank you ❤️
Just Shut Up and Kiss Me
FTM Reader
Pronouns- He/Him
Word Count- 523
Summary- After a long day at the ocean with the twins, you and Anthony finally get some quality time together.
A/N- MODERN TIME PERIOD! It's not exactly like the request I hope you still like it :)
Sorry for the lateness I've said in another post but it is due to the Flu and I have many chronic illnesses so it took me a while to get back to baseline.
The twins were more rambunctious than they were at the estate which I did not even know was possible. I guess vacations bring out the energy in all of us. We spent the day together at the ocean and they could not contain their excitement.
To be honest, though any public body of water raises my anxiety. Even after top surgery, I feel like I should be wearing a shirt but Anthony eases my nerves. He has been with me through it all even if he was a bit uneducated about the subject at first. Eloise helped him research everything about top surgery and we played board games all throughout my recovery. Anthony acts as quite the buffer as well, his handsomeness certainly distracts from me. Anthony still encourages me to feel good in my skin with the salacious comments he whispers in my ear. Even with his encouragement, it is still very tiring to fight those feelings all day.
I am grateful that the kids poured all their energy into creating intricate sand castles and destroying them. By the time we got to the summer home, the kids were so exhausted they passed out the minute their head hit their pillows. I felt exhausted myself from the sun, the crazy twins, and many emotions of the day. After tucking the children in I planned on going to sleep but Anthony had other ideas.
"Come on darling I have something to show you," Anthony says dragging me away from the twin's room practically giving me no choice.
"Anthony what has you in such a tizzy," I laugh at his usual antics.
"I just want to show you something as mesmerizing as your eyes," He says with a goofy grin.
I blush and try to hide my face, "Stop you're going to make me gag."
"You know you love my romantic words," he laughs deeply.
I roll my eyes, "Don't get too full of yourself."
"You already know I am full of myself that's why you married me handsome." He smirks
"Yeah, sure that's why," I laugh.
"Enough of denying how perfect my personality is look up," he says gesturing to the sky.
I go to make some stupid witty remark when I look to the sky.
"There are so many stars here you never see this many in London!" I gasp in awe.
"I have always wanted to take you here ever since I met you Y/N. The moment I saw your eyes they always sparkle when you are talking about something you are passionate about just like these stars."
I feel my whole face start to turn red which in turn makes my face even redder because now I am embarrassed about being embarrassed what a vicious cycle. I try to turn away to sass Anthony about being too gooey again but he pulls my face towards his.
"Don't you ever hide your feelings my love because you make every emotion a work of art." He says suavely making me want to smack him.
I roll my eyes, "Just shut up and kiss me."
"That I can do," he smirks wickedly.
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(Not) the same as it was - Ch. 5 | A Bridgerton Series
Series: (Not) the same as it was
Pairing: Anthony Bridgerton x OFC (Josephine Wescott)
Word Count: 1.9k
Summary: A young Anthony and Jo are reunited in the aftermath of Edmund Bridgerton’s death. In 1814, Anthony Bridgerton tries to make amends.
A/N: We're back! Apologies for the heartbreak in this chapter (but perhaps the angst makes way for a lil something-something?)
previous part // next part
series masterlist
Aubrey Hall, Kent, 1803
“Oh, Anthony,” Josephine murmured as she embraced Anthony tightly. “I am so sorry.”
Josephine’s family returned to Kent as soon as word came. Mrs. Saville, Jo’s mother, was eager to be by Violet’s side and support her closest friend through this loss. And Jo was desperate to see Anthony.
Josephine had never experienced a loss. Not one of this magnitude. But she could only imagine that it was devastating for Anthony. She wanted to support him through this grief. They would be sharing their lives together, and she was desperate to prove that she was up for helping Anthony shoulder this burden.
“There are some things that we need to speak of,” Anthony replied.
Jo nodded as she let go of Anthony. She’d barely noticed that Anthony hadn’t truly embraced her in return until she moved to take his arm and realized he hadn’t offered it to her.
Instead, they walked separately as Anthony led them into the side gardens of the Bridgerton estate.
“Whatever I can do to help you, Anthony, please, say the word,” Josephine told him as they moved away from the house.
“Yes, exactly,” Anthony replied as he stopped walking, turning to Jo abruptly.
“I cannot marry you.”
Jo merely stared at Anthony in shock.
“I’m so sorry, Jo, believe me, I am, I didn’t intend to string you along,” Anthony continued. “But trust me, this will be better for us both in the long run.”
Jo, for perhaps the first time in her life, did not speak. Her mouth remained uncharacteristically closed as her expression shifted from one of confusion and shock to poorly restrained sadness as she realized this wasn’t some sort of poorly executed joke, nor was it a mere deference of their inevitable marriage.
He was throwing her off.
“One day you will thank me for this,” Anthony added.
Jo’s head had begun to shake as she still struggled to form words, her thoughts and fears prompting a loose ramble as she tried to understand what was happening.
“No, Anthony, I love you, I- I’ll wait as long as you need, I’ll be patient and when you’re ready then we can-”
“No,” Anthony stated firmly. Harsher than he’d intended to. It felt like a slap across Jo’s face. “I will never marry you.”
“But…,” Jo stuttered.
“I don’t love you,” Anthony told Jo. It was almost impossible for Anthony to get out the lie. But he needed Josephine to let him go. And this would do it. He was certain of it. Even if the barbed words scarred his own mouth as he spat them out.
It would break her heart. And his heart too. But it would save her from a lifetime of regret. From the complete and utter destruction that his mother was currently experiencing.
She would thank him. One day. When he left this earth and she was still here.
Anthony’s mother was practically comatose. She hadn’t left her chambers since it had happened. She wouldn’t speak. Barely ate. The doctor was still unsure of whether or not the baby would live.
Anthony refused to put Jo through that.
He loved her, so he needed to let her go.
“I have much to attend to so I will take my leave,” Anthony said as he tried not to look into Jo’s face, to be faced with her silent tears.
“Goodbye, Jo,” He added before he turned and made his way back to Aubrey Hall, turning his back on her.
And Jo stood in the Bridgerton’s garden, watching Anthony disappear through the door before she finally felt her legs give out from under her as she fell to the ground and a sob broke through her chest.
He had never looked back.
It was weeks later that Anthony and Jo spoke again. Josephine had tried to speak to him at Edmund’s funeral, but Anthony had resoundly ignored her. After that, she’d resigned herself to the fact that Anthony would not change his mind. Not anytime soon. And though her mother would be staying to support Violet, she insisted that Jo and her father needed to return to London.
Jo had been out on a morning ride when she spotted Anthony out on his own early morning ride. Before it had been improper for the two of them to ride together alone, they’d frequently shared early morning rides through their families' property.
“My father and I are returning to London, tomorrow,” Josephine called out to Anthony as she cantered her horse toward him.
“Safe travels,” He replied with a polite nod.
“Do you have anything else you wish to say to me?” Jo asked. She didn’t hide her disbelief. She didn’t want to. And she couldn’t have if she tried.
She and Anthony had known each other their entire lives. She’d never once expected him to ignore her. To act as if they were strangers.
“Not particularly, is there something you wish for me to say?” Anthony asked.
“No, I suppose not,” Josephine replied with a hiss.
“Goodbye, Anthony,” She muttered before she urder her horse foward and took off back toward her house.
Saville House, London, 1814
“Anthony,” Jo stated as she looked up from her correspondence in surprise. She had been so focued on her letter that she’s heard her butler announce someone but hadn’t been listening to the name until she look up to see Anthony Bridgerton standing before her. “What are you doing here?”
“Lady Wescott,” He greeted her with a small bow.
Anthony hadn’t been to Jo’s family’s London house in over ten years. Not much had changed. It was small and cozy.
“I felt I owed you an apology,” Anthony told Jo as he stood awkwardly in the middle of he sitting room. “The things that I said yesterday were… unkind.”
“Yes,” Jo replied with a nod of agreement. “They were.”
“And I am sorry,” Anthony replied.
Jo nodded, quietly waiting for him to continue.
“You said things that were unkind as well,” Anthony added when Jo didn’t reply.
“You want me to apologize to you?” Jo asked as her eyebrows shot up.
“Well,” Anthony stammered.
“You are a ridiculous man, Anthony,” Jo replied as she shook her head in disbelief. “After everything you haven’t changed a bit.”
She should have realized that Anthony would expect an apology of his own. He could never uflly own up to his mistakes, why would he start now.
“We both said things that we regret,” Anthony reiterated.
“We? The two of us are not a unit, Anthony, you made certain of that,” Jo muttered as she pressed a hand to the top of her head. “I told you what you needed to hear.”
“We’ve both made mistakes in the past, Jo, and you know that the same as I,” Anthony replied. Why was she being so impossible? If anyone hadn’t changed since they were young, it was Jo. She could never just let things go, could she? The stubborn little minx.
“We were both foolish and young! You expect me to believe your marriage was a happy one? That you did not regret marrying the Earl?”
“They are hardly the same thing,” Jo hissed as she stood from her desk abruptly.
He had nearly made the same mistake last night. Trying to act as if she had thrown him over, instead of the other way around.
“You married someone else!” Anthony shouted at her.
“Because you told me you would never marry me!”
“I had just lost my father!”
“I am keenly aware of that fact!” Jo spat at him. “I could have been patient. I told you as much. That I’d wait as long as you needed. And you told me that we could never be together. That you didn’t love me. So I apologize for not seeing how any of that has changed.”
Anthony fell silent. He’d held his breath without even realizing it as he realized he wasn’t othe only one who seemed to remember their conversations all these years later.
“I do not want to fight with you, Anthony,” Jo finally said with a deep sigh as she finally regained some semblance of calm. “We will never agree on this. That is plainly clear to me now.”
“You cannot pretend that my actions were not a direct result of yours. You forced my hand. Do not expect me to apologize for your own misgivings.”
“I…I am sorry. At the time…” Anthony trailed off as he tried to explain his teenaged logic. “Well, I thought it was the only thing to do. And some part of you must have agreed because you listened.”
She’d married the earl a few months after they’d left. Obviously, she hadn’t truly meant it when she said she’d wait for him.
“You broke my heart, Anthony,” Jo replies as she holds onto the back of the chair so tightly her knuckles turned white. “I had to marry. I had no choice.”
Aubrey Parish, Kent, 1803
Her father explained to Jo why her mother had been so set on the season on the carriage ride back to London.
Jo had a comparable dowry thanks to her mother’s inheritance, but her father’s income could not support her parents and Jo forever.
She would have to marry. And if Anthony Bridgerton was no longer interested… well, she would have to look elsewhere. Her parents had spared no expense on her season. It would be a struggle to afford another one next year if she couldn’t find a match by the end of this one.
When they returned to London the news of the spectacular end of Anthony Bridgerton and Josephine Saville’s courtship had already made the rounds twice over.
The rejection of a man who was now a Viscount had left Josephine adrift. Most of the young men in London saw Anthony’s rejection of her as a final stamp on her rejection as a possible bride. She’d spent the next few weeks standing on the edges of parties and balls. A true wallflower with an empty dance card and a stormy disposition to match.
It wasn’t much later that her father introduced her to Lord Wescott.
The wedding was set for August. In Kent at the parish church.
The last time she had been in the church had been for Edmund Bridgerton’s funeral only two months earlier.
The wedding felt similarly somber in Josephine’s heart.
But she couldn’t help but wonder if Anthony would attend. The Bridgertons had all been invited. Violet was still unwell. But she’d seen Benedict in town when she’d arrived and he’d told her the children would attend. Neither one of them spoke of Anthony.
A part of her imagined that she would walk down the aisle and Anthony would burst into the church and object.
That he would rescue her.
Because if he had ever truly loved her? He would stop the wedding.
But that didn’t happen.
Josephine Saville walked down the aisle arm in arm with her father and she walked back down the aisle Lady Josephine Wescott.
It was arm in arm with her new husband that she saw him. As they were walking down the aisle she saw him, standing in between little Eloise and Frannie, staring back at her with a polite smile, clapping along with everyone else as she set off to start her new life.
And it was in that moment that Jo’s heart well and truly broke.
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Promenading With a Twist
A/N: Okay, here it is! My first Bridgerton fic. I hope you enjoy it. The divider I used in this was made by @firefly-graphics
Summary: Y/n Bridgerton feels it is her duty to get her eldest brother to have fun; and she takes her job very seriously.
Characters: Anthony Bridgerton, Benedict Bridgerton, Violet Bridergton, Lady Danbury, Bridgerton!Reader
Warnings: uhhh... none I can think of... maybe time period inaccuracy because there is a chance of that
Word Count: 1,292
*gif is not mine*
Y/n is the youngest child of Edmund and Violet Bridgerton, twins with Hyacinth; and her eldest brother’s worst nightmare.
Don’t get him wrong, Anthony loves his baby sister; but she holds the trophy for being able to rile her brother up the most. She can get under his skin like no one else.
Y/n believes her eldest brother is always stressed out, reading ledgers and working to provide for their family; but he never takes the time to have fun.
So Y/n made it her sole job to force her brother to have fun as much as she can.
Most of the time, she just does harmless tricks or innocently questions his actions; but sometimes she takes it too far and Benedict has to intervene between the two siblings.
Y/n Bridgerton loves spending time with her family, but she would rather be in her room alone than promenading around, watching her older siblings looking for their future partners.
Anthony is walking stiffly next to her as he watches Eloise ignore every man who attempts to talk to her, making sure Benedict sticks to her side.
“Why are you upset now, brother?”
Anthony glances down at his baby sister, hating how well she can read him. “I am not upset, Y/n.”
“Whatever you say, brother.” Y/n says with a roll of her eyes.
Anthony frowns down at her, not a fan of the attitude but knowing she is right and he shouldn’t take his annoyance at Eloise out on the young girl; so he restrains from scolding her.
That is, until Y/n starts mocking him by squaring her shoulders and marching besides him.
He lays a hand on her shoulder, stopping them both. “If you are going to mock me, you can walk with Mother and Lady Danbury.”
Y/n gapes at her brother, anger rising in her chest. “But Lady Danbury scares me!”
“Now, young lady.”
Y/n stares up at her brother, her brain trying to think of a way to convince him to take his words back, but nothing comes to mind. So with a loud huff, letting Anthony know she is upset with him, Y/n turns on her heel and starts walking to where their mother is talking with Lady Danbury.
Anthony bites back the smile threatening to show as his sister unintentionally imitates his angry walk.
There may be almost two decades in between them, but Y/n reminds Anthony of his younger self, how he was before their father died.
Y/n drags behind the two older women, reminding herself to not roll her eyes at the topic since it seems Lady Danbury has eyes in the back of her head.
She glances in between the two women, her eyes narrowing at seeing her brother laughing with some woman who she doesn’t even remember her name.
Benedict looks over his shoulder, making sure his youngest sister hasn’t run off. When Y/n is stuck with the females of the family, she takes advantage of their neglectful nature to watch the child.
Not that Benedict believes his mother is neglectful, far from it actually, but the viscountess sometimes forgets just how mischievous her youngest is.
Speaking of mischief, Benedict curses under his breath when he sees his sister’s mischievous smirk. Only trouble follows after that look. Before Benedict can make it to his sister, Y/n bumps into her eldest brother as they walk past him, causing him to lose his balance and fall into the pond.
“Y/n Bridgerton.” Benedict admonishes as he rests his hands on her shoulders.
“What?” Y/n looks up at him, smirk still in place. “He needed to cool off.” Her smirk turns into a victory smile when Benedict chuckles.
Benedict tries to stifle his laughter when his mother and Lady Danbury arrive at his side, but he knows he’s doing a terrible job at it.
“Y/n!” Violet exclaims.
“What, it was an accident.” The young girl exclaims.
Violet huffs, not believing her daughter for a moment but when she glances at her eldest who is struggling on getting out of the water, she can’t help when a small giggle escapes between her lips. She glances at her friend, relieved to see a smile on her face.
Benedict chuckles again when he sees that his mother is not angry with his sister, but smooths his features when he glances at the eldest sibling; who is just about out of the water.
“Run, run.” Benedict whispers to his little sister, gently shoving her to get her moving.
“What? Why?” Y/n questions. She was too busy gawking at her mother and Lady Danbury as both women seem amused at her antics to see her angry brother pull himself out of the water, his murderous glare aimed at her.
“Y/n, run!” Benedict pushes her this time before stepping in front of his brother who attempts to grab the running eleven year old.
“Y/n Bridgerton!” Anthony shouts, glaring at the people who are laughing and cheering on his sister who is getting away.
Benedict immediately puts his hands up, hoping to avoid his brother’s wrath when that murderous glare is now on him. “Now, brother. It was a harmless trick and-”
“Harmless?! I am soaking wet!”
Benedict bites the inside of his cheek to keep himself from laughing, but his brother sees right through him if that glare means anything.
Y/n was able to avoid her brother for the rest of the morning as she decided to ride with her friend’s family who was kind enough to drop her back off at home. Her mother will not be pleased that she rode in the carriage of another family but she needed to give her brother time to cool off before she’s within arm’s reach of him.
She slowly steps into the house, listening for any signs of her eldest sibling. She sighs in relief when all she hears are the maids getting supper ready.
She makes her way up the stairs and to her room where she immediately notices the metal bathtub in the middle of her room.
She shrieks when strong arms wrap around her waist, pulling her into the air.
“I think it’s time for a bath, sister.”
Y/n struggles in her brother’s arms. “Anthony, put me down!”
“Don’t worry, sister, I will.”
At her brother’s words, Y/n realizes just how much closer they are to the bathtub. “Anthony, don’t you dare! Ahh!”
Anthony laughs at his sister’s screams, folding his arms over his chest as he bends forward from laughing so hard.
Y/n wraps her arms around her body, pouting. “It’s cold.” She whines.
Anthony grows serious at his sister’s words, reminding him as to why the water is cold. “Ah yes, that’s what happens when you ride with another family and are hours late.” He leans down, his eyes stern. “Bridgertons ride together no matter what the situation is at the moment. Understand?”
Knowing her brother is right, Y/n nods her head. “Yes, brother.”
For a moment, the viscount just smiles down at his baby sister, his love for her showing in his eyes. He places a hand on her cheek. “Thank you, sister. I needed some laughter today.”
Y/n smiles up at him, glad he’s not upset her. “It was funny, wasn’t it?”
Anthony rolls his eyes as he helps her out of the bathtub. “It is now, yes.” He gently leads her away from the bathtub. “Why don’t you get out of those wet clothes and I will have a maid add some hot water for your bath.”
Y/n nods her head. “Thank you, brother.”
“Anything for you, my little sister.”
Forevers: @desiredposion @theseakrakence @simonsbluee
If you would like to be tagged in my Bridgerton fics, let me know!
#anthony bridgerton x sister!reader#benedict bridgerton x sister!reader#bridgerton!reader#violet bridgerton#lady danbury#bridgerton one shot#bridgerton#anthony bridgerton#benedict bridgerton
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Eavesdrop- Benedict Bridgerton
Pairing: Benedict Bridgerton x Reader
Characters: Benedict Bridgerton, Colin Bridgerton
Warnings: N/A
Request: Anon- The link to your rules isn't working for me(on mobile) so I hope this request follows your rules but a bridgerton Benedict x fem!reader where reader is a close friend of Daphne's so she's always out and about and has a crush on Benedict but she isn't sure if he likes her back until she overhears him practicing a courting proposal on Colin and he's like "(Name) will you marry me" etc but he keeps changing it because none of it seems right to him until the reader reveals herself and it's a classic Hallmark happy ending?
Word Count: 486
Author: Charlotte
“Y/N, would you allow me the honour of courting you?”
Your heart skipped a beat at the sound of Benedict’s voice. You had known Benedict since you were quite young due to you being close friends with his younger sister Daphne and spending most of your time at the Bridgerton home. You got along well with all of Daphne’s siblings, but you had always had a soft spot for the second oldest son.
In all the years that you had known Benedict, you had formed quite a crush, but you never believed that he would like you in return, so it was beyond a shock to hear him asking you to court him. It would have shocked you more if he had actually said it to your face, as currently you were walking through a hall in the Bridgerton home and accidentally overheard him asking the question from inside a room.
You paused at the door, hesitant to eavesdrop but also intrigued by why Benedict would be asking such a question.
“Would you like to court me?” He asked again.
You took a step closer to the door, almost pressing your ear up against the wood.
“Shall we start courting?” Benedict asked, this time seeming almost exasperated.
A chuckle came from the room but not from the man you had been listening to.
“I think the first was probably the better option,” a second man, you recognised the voice of being Colin, said.
“I don’t want a better option, I want a perfect option,” Benedict sighed. “I don’t want to mess this up. I care deeply for her, and I fear that she doesn’t feel the same.”
“Do not be a fool Benedict,” Colin chuckled. “She is completely infatuated with you; you could do nothing and just ask her the damn question and she would be happy to say yes.”
Your heart was in an uncontrollable flutter, and you became somewhat lightheaded just from the thought that the man you had cared for over so many years could care about you too. In the moment panic in your mind, you stumbled against the door, only now finding out that the door wasn’t fully closed, accidentally flinging it open. You managed to catch yourself against the open door but the two men in the room were now aware of you being there.
“H-how long have you been there?” Benedict panicked.
“Only a moment,” you squeaked, your cheeks becoming warm and your hands starting to sweat.
Colin gave his older brother a shove, making him stumble a couple of steps towards you. Benedict tried to clear his throat, peering back to his brother as if for encouragement.
“Y/N,” he croaked. “Would you… maybe you would like to… would you do me the honour of courting me?”
A smile stretched wide on your face, feeling as though you had just stepped into a dream.
“It would be my honour.”
#Eavesdrop#Anon#Request#Benedict Bridgerton#Benedict Bridgerton Imagine#Benedict Bridgerton One Shot#Bridgerton#Bridgerton Imagine#Bridgerton One Shot#Charlotte
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A Lady Of The Greatest Honor - Simon Basset
Summary: All the other ladies may be charmed by the rakish Duke, but you do not consider yourself among his admirers. Yet somehow he finds your attitude towards him amusing and seeks your friendship if nothing else.
Word Count: 1,191
Warnings: Heavy use of sarcasm
As three of the season's debutantes tittered at a remark one of them made about the newly arrived Duke of Hastings, you merely rolled your eyes at their naïveté. To think any of them stood a chance with such a notorious rake was the stuff of romance novels. You certainly had no intentions upon him yourself. You only hoped to secure a good match that also happened to be an all around good man.
Let the frivolous girls enjoy their senseless flirting. You couldn’t stand to see it yourself, but what concern was it of yours if the other ladies flung themselves at the unattainable Duke? At least it improved your chances of a proposal from a worthy man who actually sought a wife.
You danced with several men at the ball that night. A couple of them were complete bores, but you did your best to maintain a polite smile nonetheless. One or two had potential, but you soon tired of the night's events to warrant going back out onto the dance floor and making another attempt at a connection tonight.
For the remainder of the evening, you retreated to the outer edge of the room in observation of the rest of the ton in attendance. You did not see the ceaselessly spoken of Duke arrive to a halt next to you. "Is the lady not dancing," he asked if you.
"Certainly not with the likes of you if this is your way of asking."
He chuckled darkly. "I was only curious. The rest of the ton seems to be inexhaustible tonight."
"I suppose I just tire more easily," you replied flatly, trying to hide your embarrassment in assuming his intention when approaching you.
"Or perhaps you’re just more sensible than the others," he said. You opened your mouth to reply, but he’d gone before you could utter a word.
It was later, after the ball, that you found your thoughts drifting back to the Duke of Hastings. He was still a rake, that much was an indisputable fact, and one with no intention of taking a wife, but he had surprised you. He wasn’t the villain you made him out to be. You’d judged him too harshly, though you wouldn’t go about admitting as much to him.
The next time you saw him was at another ball, two days later where he approached you again. "I’m starting to think you may be in search of a wife after all, if we keep running into each other like this," you greeted with a wry grin.
"Don’t let the rest of the ton know, or else I’ll never have a spare moment to speak with you again," he teased back.
"Hmm, I’m not sure if that would be a bad thing or not," you pondered aloud, making sure he heard.
"Very funny."
You smiled at this, deciding to quit your endless ribbing at him in favor of a more earnest question. "What does bring you over to my corner of the room again? Surely there are many young ladies demanding your attention."
"That is precisely it. They demand, persistently, might I add. With you there is no pressure to be forcibly kind. You don’t have that expectation of me."
"Don’t I," you asked. "How can you know that for sure? Perhaps this is merely my tactic in attempting to secure you as a husband."
He laughed. "Then it is surely more effective than any other lady's method in getting my attention. Though I truly do not wish to impede your own search for a match, so if you wish me to go, I shall."
You considered it but a moment before offering your reply. "Stay. The lecherous old Mr. Higgins has made himself my pest for the night and I could use a plausible excuse to avoid him."
"Then do let me take you out for a dance. Lady Danbury will be disappointed if I don’t dance with someone tonight, and it may improve your offers if you’re to be seen with me."
"Aware of our own self worth then, are we," you jested.
"Only that of my rumored status, for I do not see myself in the same light as many of the ton do."
Offering you his hand, the Duke led you to the dance floor as you asked another sincere question. "Then how do you see yourself?"
"As a solitary man who has the world at his fingertips." His eyes sparkled with possibility at his own answer and you couldn’t help but smile in response. A family would certainly change his level of freedom to explore as you’d heard he was wont to do.
You danced the rest of the waltz in a comfortable silence, keenly aware of the many sets of eyes upon you. "Your Grace," you suddenly spoke, deflecting to a more formal way of addressing him in your growing unease.
"It is perfectly acceptable for you to address me as Simon when it’s just the two of us who can hear."
You paused when the song ended, and looked him in the eyes. "Simon," you breathed, testing the name on your tongue.
"Yes, my lady?"
"Thank you for the dance." It was the most genuine thing you’d said to him during any of your interactions.
"Thank you for accepting."
The two of you parted for the night after that. You danced with a couple more dashing lords, but none held your attention. It was unfair of you to give them hope of courting you for the season. Your heart wasn’t in it. In fact, your heart was quite confused.
You sat at home the following afternoon, playing piano for your family as you awaited the arrival of any gentleman callers. "There is a suitor for you," it was finally announced, interrupting your playing.
"Did he leave his name," you inquired.
"He refused," came the reply. Turning your head away from curious gazes, you smiled, having a sneaking suspicion of the man's identity.
"Send him in."
Not a minute later you looked up from the piano to find the Duke of Hastings standing in your home. "Lady Whistledown is going to start thinking I’ve tamed the ton's most infamous rake," you teased him.
"Let her think and say what she likes. I simply enjoy your company and wish to spend more time in it. If you have no other callers today, then I’d like to promenade with you if you’ll allow me."
The room was silent enough to hear a pin drop as your family awaited your answer. He’d come here for you and while you couldn’t confirm his intentions in doing so, you would be hard pressed to refuse him and miss out on an evening spent in pleasant company. "I believe my day is quite free," you said at last.
While you used to consider yourself a lady of the greatest honor, perhaps your morals could bend to open yourself to something akin to love if not love itself, even if the man in question was a well known rake. If you could change, was there not a possibility that he could as well?
Simon Basset: @retvenkos, @ladybridgerton39, @riveranddoctorsong123, @idk1323611, @theamazingworldofcarol, @esposamultifandom, @littlsstuff, @danimorgan1708, @ghostsunderstoodmysoul, @triorio
#simon basset#simon basset one shot#simon basset x reader#bridgerton#bridgerton one shot#request#send requests#requests open
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Hearts Divided: Chapter Two - Reunited Hearts
Chapter Description: Now back in to London, Y/n awaits the moment they might once again see the Bridgerton family and in particular, Benedict. After making the acquaintance of Sir Granville and his wife Lucy, Y/n is unaware of just how close they are to seeing their long lost friend again.
Chapter One: A Bitter Separation
Chapter Three: Resentment
Pairing: Benedict Bridgerton x GN!Reader
Warnings: None!
Words: 4.4k
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Though you had spent eleven years of your life in London, the city seemed new and unfamiliar. As you rode through the once familiar streets, your eyes scanned all the familiar shops, as well as all the new ones. Your mother noted the ones she wished to stop into, as your father and brother discussed something quietly.
Your sister stared agape out the carriage window, even more excited than your mother. She had only been six when you had left London, so it was now even more unfamiliar to her.
Your heart seemed to be in such a flutter, that you could not focus on anything anyone was saying, you only wished to be walking around the city again. Mostly in hopes of running into familiar faces. So, not long after you made a tour of your rented home for the summer, you were happy when your mother took you and your sister into the city to order some clothes for the upcoming ball.
As you turned into a nearby shop, you noted it was called The Modiste. You looked around at the fabric that layered the walls, as your mother began to talk to the dressmaker.
As you admired a long soft lilac ribbon, a soft voice spoke from beside you, “Beautiful isn’t it?”
You looked over to see a woman with dark skin and a kind face. You smiled at her. “Yes, very.“
She smiled at you before talking softly. “I apologize if this is forward, but I do not recognize you. And I do love a change in face. I am Lucy Granville. And this-” She motioned for a man, who was standing nearby. “Is my husband Sir Henry Granville.”
You smiled at both of them and curtsied potielty. “It’s a pleasure to meet you both. I am Y/L L/n.”
You saw recognition cross their face, as Sir Granville spoke. “Ah, I have had the pleasure of meeting your father. Though it was some years ago.” You could hear the restraint in his voice, as he seemed suddenly regretful of the introduction.
“I recall him having spoken of you when I was a child.” You noted with a smile.
Your father did speak of him often, but usually in a tone of disdain. Though you knew it was only because your father never did appreciate an artist's mind or career.
Sir Granviell forced a smile. “I am glad to have had a memorable impression. I must say, it was quite a shock to everyone when your family left so suddenly.”
“Yes.” You spoke softly. “It was quite a shock to me as well.”
They shared a look before looking back at you. “Your family has been missed in the city, I am glad to know you have returned.”
You could sense something in his voice that showed he was forcing his happiness at the news. You smirked ever so slightly and spoke softly. “Do not worry yourself Sir Granville, you need not lie to me. I am sure people are more alarmed at our return, than they are pleased.”
Neither Sir Granville or his wife could hide their shock and amusement at your comment as they suppressed surprised smiles.
You continued, “And might I say Sir Granville, that I had the pleasure of seeing some of your art work when I was last in London. Though my father could not appreciate it as he should, I am glad to note I have always had an appreciation of art, which he himself has never been blessed with.”
Sir Granville let out a soft surprised laugh, as Mrs. Granville grinned at you. “Thank you very much for the kind compliment. It is true, your father never seemed to enjoy my art, or any art in general.”
He shared a look with his wife. “May I ask how long you and your family are in the city?”
“Only for the season.” You noted, and the regret behind it was obvious to them.
“Well, I hope that while you are in town, you will honor us by accepting an invitation to one of our dinner parties.”
Surprise crossed your face for a moment as you considered what he said. “I am gratified at your kindness, but I would not wish to force my family's presence on you.”
“Oh no, you misunderstand.” Lucy Granviell began in a soft voice. “The invitation is solely for you.” She winked at you and you cocked your head slightly. There seemed to be something behind her voice that expressed, this was not any ordinary dinner party.
You glanced at your mother and sister across the shop, who was so busy discussing dresses with Madame Delacroix that she had not once looked over at you.
You smiled at the couple and curtsied. “Then, I would be honored.”
“Wonderful.” Sir Granville smiled.
After giving you their address and the time of their next dinner party, they left the shop with smiles and kind comments. And you were left with wonder and excitement. You managed to befriend some of your fathers most despised people. And you loved it.
But now, you must think of an excuse to get away from home to attend their party. Remembering some old friends that moved to London about five years ago were still in town, you decided you would excuse calling on them.
Your thoughts were interrupted as your mother called you over, telling you it was time to leave. Dinner would be served soon, and you must return quickly. As you walked back out onto the streets of London, your eyes passed over every face, as you desired to recognize someone. As your eyes passed over the familiar face of Lady Portia Featherington across the road, you felt a jolt of excitement.
She was not who you first wanted to see, nor who you really cared to see, but at least she was someone you knew. As you saw her face change from curiosity to recognition, you saw as she began to rush down the street, before whispering to a group of women. You glanced at your mother, who seemed so preoccupied with which store to go in, she did not seem to notice.
You felt your heart begin to hammer in your chest. It would not be long before everyone knew of your return. You wondered how people would react, but most importantly, how would the Bridgertons react?
The next morning, as the Bridgertons sat around the breakfast table, Eloise read over the most recent Lady Whistledown. She knit her brows in deep thought as she read over the name of a family who had recently returned to London. She recognized the name but was not sure from where.
Speaking up, she called out across the table. “Who are the L/n’s?”
Violet, Benedict and Anthony all stopped and looked up. Collin squinted in thought, as Francesca, Gregory, and Hyacinths starred in uncertainty.
“What?” Violet asked, with a tone of confusion as she glanced at Benedict who had a look of confused alarm.
“The L/n’s. Apparently they have returned to London. I have a faint recognition of the name, but apparently it’s very important.”
Benedict reached across the table and tore the paper from Eloise’s hand, who responded with a startled gasp.
Benedict read over the words with intent before he looked at his mother. “She’s right. They’re back. Lady L/n was seen exiting the Modiste yesterday evening with two of her children.”
Violet swallowed and was lost in deep thought for a moment, as Anthony watched Benedict closely. Benedict felt his heart hammering in his chest as the only thing that ran through his mind was you.
“So? Who are they?” Eloise asked incredulously.
Violet was shaken from her thoughts at Eloise’s question. “Oh. Well. The L/n were close friends of ours. Their second born, Y/n was, well-”
She looked at Benedict who bit his lip a bit and broke in as he looked at Eloise. “My closest friend.”
Eloise looked at him in surprise, as her mother spoke again.”Yes. Y/n was very special to all of us, often me and your father saw Y/n as another of our own children. You were only two years old when…”
“When what?”
“Well.” Violet began, unsure of how to say it. “Something occurred between Charles L/n, and your father. A fight of sorts, that ended the relationship between our families. Not long later, the L/n family moved away from London.”
“What kind of fight?”
“We don’t know.” Anthony finally broke in. “Father never told us.”
“I remember Y/n!” Collin broke in as he looked at Benedict. “You and Y/n used to pull me around the house on a rug!”
Benedict smiled at the thought and nodded. “I wonder what Y/n’s like now.” He said as he looked at his mother.
She smiled softly and Anthony spoke. “Hopefully still nothing like the rest of their family.”
Eloise frowned, still unsure of what to think. “Well, it says they are back for the season, so maybe you’ll get to see them?”
Violet and Anthony shared an anxious look as Benedict looked back at the paper, reading over it once more. He really did wonder what you were like now. Did you adopt your fathers disdain for the family? Did you miss them? Would you even remember him?
Benedict’s thoughts were full of you all throughout the day. When he went to town he looked around with hopes of seeing your face. It wasn’t too long later that he realized he might not even recognize you. It had been over ten years since he last saw you, you might look like a completely different person.
As he headed to Sir Granvilles house, you remained present in the back of his mind. Wondering if he would see you at the next ball, and what he would do if he did.
As you entered the Granville home, you were shocked to find no evidence of a dinner party at all, but a bustling party of a different sort. Lucy walked you around the house, as you watched in awe at the variety of activities. Gambling, card-games, artists painting nude models, people in the corners kissing and embracing. Others were drinking and smoking heavily around the house.
Your heart was hammering as you realized what sort of society the Granvilles encouraged. But you were not disgusted or afraid, you were intrigued, and for the first time in a long time, felt as though you did not need to hide your emotions behind a polite and emotionless gaze.
“So, what do you think?” Lucy asked curiously as she watched you stare agape at your surroundings.
“I think if I had misunderstood your invitation, and brought my family with me, they would have dropped dead immediately.”
Lucy giggled a bit as she took your arm in hers and showed you the refreshment table. “Get yourself a drink, and then go ahead and mingle. If you find yourself too overwhelmed, come and find me.”
You smiled in thanks at her as she walked away from you. You already felt overwhelmed, but decided to embrace it. This was all new and exciting, and you had no desire to run from it. The season was upon you and you knew of the unpleasantness that was meant for you in the weeks ahead. So, you knew you might as well embrace what excitement found its way to you.
Taking a drink of your choice, you began to look around at the people. Some met your eyes and smiled, a mixture of politeness and flirtatiousness from various people. You gulped as you avoided the eye contact that seemed to be inviting more attention than you were ready for.
Looking around another part of the house, your ears caught on Sir Granville as he saw someone enter into the house. “Bridgerton!” He called with a grin, and you felt your heart stop.
‘Bridgerton? Which one?’ You stared at the entrance, and saw whoever he was talking to was hidden behind a small group of people. You moved your head to attempt to see around them, your mind racing and stomach clenching.
As Sir Granville began to walk into the opposite part of the room with the Bridgerton, you caught a glimpse of their profile. Was it Anthony or Benedict? Seeing a smile spread across their face, you felt your heart flutter in recognition.
“Benedict.” You muttered softly under your breath. Your heart began to race as familiarity and nostalgia rushed over you.
You saw his profile as he disappeared into the other room, and you couldn’t help but notice how handsome he had grown. Though you were not surprised. They were always considered to be a very attractive family.
Without thinking, you found yourself walking through the crowd into the same room he had gone into. Your eyes searched the crowd for him, but you felt disheartened when you did not see him. You let out a disappointed sigh before you turned. As you did, your shoulder bumped someone behind you.
“Oh, my apologies!.” You said in quick reply, as the person turned around.
Your breath hitched in your throat as you found yourself face to face with Benedict.
He smiled politely at you. “No, please, pardon me.”
He could see the surprise and hesitance in your face, and thought you must know who he was. Studying you a little further, he found not only that he thought you very attractive, but that he recognized you, but he was unsure from where.
“I’m sorry, do I know you? You seem familiar.”
You opened your mouth, but found yourself unable to speak. He was much more attractive up close, and you found yourself afraid to tell him who you were. He cocked his head slightly, wondering at your behavior, and why you seemed to be so shocked.
“Ah, there you are.” Lucy’s voice seemed to break you from your thoughts as she appeared beside you. She had known of a past relationship between your two families and was glad to see you reunited. “Mr. Bridgerton, I see you have reunited with a friend.” She smiled at you.
Benedict became even more curious at this comment. “Have I? I did feel as though we had met before, but I am having trouble placing where and when.”
Finally finding somewhat of a voice, you spoke softly. “We did know each other. But it was many years ago.”
You saw Benedict’s face slowly change from curiosity to realization, as he heard your soft voice that seemed to rocket forward so many memories he seemed to have forgotten.
As his mouth fell open in surprise, Lucy smiled “I will leave you two alone.” Before walking away.
“Y/n?” He asked with a tone of shock.
You nodded your head and smiled shyly. “Hello Benedict.”
He let out an incredulous laugh, and suddenly taking you by surprise grabbed you and pulled you into a tight hug. Letting out a surprised laugh you hugged him in return before he pulled away. He left his hands on the side of your arms, and had a grin on his face.
“I had heard your family returned, but I had no idea when or if I would see you.”
“Yes, I was unsure if I would see any of you as well.”
Memories of why you had left flooded his mind suddenly as he looked around. “Come, let’s go somewhere else to talk.” You felt a rush of heat rise up your neck as his hand slipped into yours as he pulled you through the crowded room.
Following him through the crowd, you eventually found a deep window sill to sit on. As you sat you began to tell each other how you had been doing, and not long later, you felt as though you were no longer strangers. As though you had never been at all.
“Oh, Benedict.” You suddenly said as you placed your hand on top of his. “I was so heartbroken to hear about your father’s passing. I wished so badly to come back.”
He smiled sadly, “It was hard for all of us. It would have made it easier if you were there too. I’m sorry you were unable to be there.”
You frowned and asked cautiously. “Did he ever…tell you what happened, between our fathers?”
Benedict shook his head, “Never. It died with him. Did your father…?”
You shook your head. “No. I still have no idea what happened. But, he still seems to hold that horrible bitterness.” You looked down, ashamed of him.
Benedict watched you closely. You were still the same, kind, patient, loving. But you had grown into your looks, and had become more attractive than anyone else in your family, or at least, he assumed so.
Before he could say anything, the two of you were interrupted by Sir Granvilles approach. He smiled at the two of you, “There you are Bridgerton, I thought I would find you painting.”
“Painting?” You asked with growing curiosity.
Benedict smiled a bit coyly as you smiled at him. He remembered the two of you often sneaking each other drawings or paintings you had made for each other. “Oh yes, he is quite the artist. Some of his work is in the show room, if you’d like to see it.”
You sat up with excitement and Benedict fumbled out, “Oh, no, no, it’s not finished.”
“Oh who cares Ben!” You said quickly, “Unfinished or not, I want to see how you’ve improved since we were children.”
Standing up, Sir Granville led you away as Benedict followed you with his eyes, and a soft smile. The way his heart leapt when you called him ‘Ben’ sent him back in time. You two had been so close, and just before you had been taken away from him, he had found himself feeling more for you than he could understand back then. But now he did. He knew exactly what he was beginning to feel, and he knew exactly what was returning.
Following you into the showroom, he entered to find Sir Granville pulling out his unfinished paintings from the drawer. He watched as your face changed as you admired what he painted. Looking up, you caught his eye and smiled. As he approached you spoke with admiration. “These are wonderful Benedict.” You complimented.
He smiled a bit awkwardly and looked at Granville who was smirking. “Thank you. I am still learning the technique though.”
“Artists are always still learning.” You muttered and Granville hummed with a pleasant surprise.
“Very true. Do you paint Mx. L/n?”
You smiled shyly. “I love to, but-” You spared a glance at Benedict. “My parents insist I use my time “more wisely”, but I paint or draw in secret whenever I get the chance.”
“Well, you have the freedom to do as much as either as long as you are here.” Granville said with a smile, which you returned.
“I believe I will take you up on that.”
Not too long later, you and Benedict were sat side by side, easel, and canvas at the ready, as you both began to sketch the likeness of the model before you. You smiled as you began to sketch, and Benedict, stealing a glance of you every few minutes, admired the grace of your hands as you drew.
As you talked some more of your lives, Benedict broke in with a suggestion that excited him. “You must come by and see the rest of the family!”
You felt a jolt of excitement at the idea, but it was immediately followed by fear. Benedict could see this on your face and frowned a bit. “Don’t you think you could sneak away?”
You thought for a moment. “If they find out, they will be so angry, they might send me away from London.” You muttered softly, but feeling a resolution take over you looked at him. “But I want to see them. So I will.”
He smiled at the determination in your voice, and you both began to compile a plan so you could show up to see them.
The next morning, you dressed quickly, anxiety rushing through you. You thought back on the previous night with Benedict, and how happy you had been with him, and how sad you were to leave. But now, as you got ready to go see the rest of the family, you felt your stomach clench in suspense.
You convinced your father to let you go out for the morning, to go shopping around town as well as to admire the view. He was hard to convince, as you could sense the suspicion in his gaze and his questions. But he finally gave in when he received an invitation himself to go see some old colleagues.
You knew the visit could not be long, for fear of making the rest of them suspicious as well. Quickly leaving the house after breakfast, you made sure to go the opposite direction of where their home was, before taking a distant route back.
Benedict stared at the clock in impatience. The family had just finished breakfast and were now sitting around the family room deciding what to do for the day. Daphne had arrived the evening before to visit for the weekend, everyone was home, and he knew it could not be more perfect. He knew that only a few of them would remember you, but he wanted you to feel welcomed back, so that you did not doubt you had been missed all these years.
As he heard a knock on the door, he jumped up from his seat, “I’ll get it.” He said as he fled the room, leaving the others to look around at each other in confusion.
“Did anyone else think that was odd?” Eloise asked as she looked around, gaining the nods of everyone else.
A few moments later, Benedict walked back into the room and cleared his throat. “We have a visitor.” He spoke with a coy smile and everyone stared in wonder.
Opening the door, you stepped into the room with a shy demeanor, and a polite smile. Violet, who, unlike Benedict, knew your face immediately, stood with a gasp. “Y/n!” She said with pleasant surprise as you smiled back at her. “Hello Vi-, Mrs. Bridgerton.”
Approaching you quickly she hugged you, and smiled gladly at you. Anthony stood with a smile, as Daphne stared in surprised wonder. Colin himself smiled and looked at the younger children who looked curiously on.
“I’m sorry to come uninvited, but I very much wanted to see you all.” You said politely.
“Oh, never apologize Y/n.” Violet spoke softly. “No matter what happened in the past, you are still more than welcome here anytime.”
You smiled fondly at her, and pushed down the emotions you were feeling overwhelmed by. You looked behind Violet as Anthoy approached with a smile.
“Hello Anthony.” You said happily as he stopped in front of you.
He took your hand in his, patting it fondly. “It’s wonderful to see you again Y/n.”
Next, Collin and Daphne approached, who you were more surprised to see all grown up. And Daphne, who was clearly pregnant, made you feel as though you had aged an eternity. You greeted them, and were surprised to find that they remembered you. Next you were introduced to the rest of the children, Eloise being the only one you had known of before.
After the introductions, you sat around and talked with them for a while, learning of the past years of their lives, along with Daphne’s marriage to the Duke, and their expected child.
Violet was pleased to find you still as pleasant and kind as you had once been, and that you had grown into the attractive, polite, and mature adult that both she and Edmud had known you would. For years she was afraid that you would adopt the hatred your father held for them. And though she was sad to learn that your father still held on strong to the mysterious resentment, and that your sibling grew to accept it, along with your mother, she was more than happy to know you never gave in.
When you were resolved to leave, afraid you had been gone too long, you said goodbye to them all. You would all be attending the upcoming ball the next evening, and were sure you’d see each other there. Though you had a feeling, with your father’s presence, it would only end in displeasure.
Violet, upon walking you to the door, invited you to come back whenever you could. At the door, you smiled sadly at her, “I know it is late to give you my condolences, but I just wanted to tell you how sad I was to hear of Mr. Bridgertons passing, and how much I wish I had been here. I wish I had the chance to see him one more time.”
Violet held a melancholy smile. “I am sure he would be very proud of how wonderfully you turned out. And I only wish he could see you again. And I must say, I am so sorry we could not do anything to stop you from being taken from your home so abruptly.”
You thanked her, and hugged briefly before she escorted you out, reminding you once more that you were welcome to return any time. You left with a wave, and began to head back home. You felt such a sense of belonging that you had missed for so long, you wished desperately that you could stay.
‘Perhaps father will marry me off to someone who lives in London. That way I would never have to leave again.’ The thought quickly filled you with repugnance, to marry a stranger solely to stay here filled you with horror. Before you could stop it, another thought popped into your head. ‘Unless it is not a stranger I marry.’ Following this thought, the image of Benedict passed through your mind. But just as quickly as it came, you shook the thought away. How had you so suddenly changed from thinking of him as a friend, to thinking of him as a future spouse? You laughed at yourself, but knew that underneath the refusal, it was not such an unpleasant idea, in fact, it seemed to feel you with a warmth you could not shake.
xx End xx
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A Secret Romantic-Benedict Bridgerton x Reader x Eloise Bridgerton (Platonic)-(Part 4/?)
(I DO NOT OWN THIS GIF, I GOT IT FROM GOOGLE AND DO NOT KNOW THE ORIGINAL CREATOR)
Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3
MASTERLIST
Tags: @marvel-ousnesss @myficplace-blog @yelenas-lova @rockbumlowlavxnder @s-unflowxr @appledressing @xceafh @seppys-return-to-madness @ellesmythe @too-many-fandoms-and-what-abt-it @nycbaby21 @teenagedirtbag087
Summary: Benedict and (Y/N) are the talk of the Ton, and Lord Belby doesn't like it one bit. His plans seem to fall apart, but he is soon plotting something else.
Characters: Benedict Bridgerton x Reader, Violet Bridgerton x Reader (platonic), Eloise Bridgerton x Reader (platonic), Daphne Bridgerton x Reader (platonic), Anthony Bridgerton x Reader (platonic)
Meanings: (Y/N)=Your name
(Y/L/N)=Your last name
Warnings: Some arguing, but mostly fluff
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
(A/N: I finished Season 2 of Bridgerton a while back, but what did everyone think? It didn’t have me as gripped as the first season but I still really enjoyed it, my obsession for Benedict has come racing back! I’m also so sorry for the wait, I actually didn’t realise how long it had been since the last part!)
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“An invitation has arrived for you ma’am.” a maid announced to Violet as she entered the drawing room.
Violet thanked her as she opened the delicate paper, a smile appearing when she read it.“Lady Danbury is throwing a Summer Day at her estate!”
Eloise, who was in her usual spot with a book, rolled he eyes, knowing she would be up for another night of looking for suitors. Benedict’s attention was caught now, wondering if (Y/N) would also be there. The other Bridgerton’s were not as fussed about the event, at least there would be games to pass the time.
“Oh how lovely. Oh, Eloise, that new dress of yours would do very well for this event, the new one Madame Delacroix made-”
“Yes.” Eloise snapped, a sarcastic smile on her face.“Thank you for still dressing me mama, even at this age.”
Violet huffed.“You seemed so vibrant at the (Y/L/N)’s art event last week, I would like to see it again.”
“We will all attend mother. It will be another chance for Benedict to meet with Lady (Y/N).” Anthony smirked.
Benedict hoped he wasn’t blushing as much as he thought he was.
“Of course dear, I didn’t forget about her.”
“You two seemed to be getting along quite well.” Collin pointed out.
“Yes, I suppose we did.” Benedict replied, finding himself getting embarrassed.
“She truly is a beautiful woman, smart and kind too.” Violet beamed.
“I was surprised she wasn’t deemed the diamond of the season.” Hyacinth said.
Benedict smiled at his sister’s words. How right she was. But it also made him glad, because it meant that not all men were flocking to her, well, not as quickly anyway. He had never been interested in a woman like this before. He always brushed off the idea of marriage until Anthony was wed, but it seemed he was going to be the first brother to marry. Benedict wanted to speak to her all the time, hold her, paint her, write poetry about her; and he had been so close to kissing her.
“How sweet of you to say.” Violet smiled at her youngest.“Now, Benedict dear,” she sat beside him,“we need to make a plan-”
“Oh mother, I do not need to plan how I will speak with Lady (Y/N).” Benedict sighed.
“I have no doubt that your conversation flows freely, it is the other suitors you need to be wary of. You said yourself how many there were when she was called upon.”
“I don’t think he needs to worry about that.” Eloise spoke up.“Lady (Y/N) has a mind of her own, she will be having this same conversation with her parents.”
“Well, let us hope you are right, Eloise. I personally would not let this woman get away if I were you Benedict.”
(Y/N) felt tense at her family breakfast, hating how the seating arrangement had been made. She had not realised that Lord Belby would be staying with them for the week, his excuse was that it was in the final stages of being refurbished, and he wanted to see his home for the first time in all its glory. So when (Y/N) saw Lord Belby seated across from her at breakfast, she found it hard to keep herself composed.
She tried to hide behind the latest issue of Lady Whistledown, only to be more disappointed when she saw she had wasted her ink on Lord Belby.
'And dear reader, we have a new face amongst us in the Ton. The creative Lord Belby introduced himself at the (Y/L/N)'s Art Exhibition, and it seemed he has caught the attention of many young ladies already. He has already achieved what many gentlemen this season have failed to do; gain a woman's undivided attention.'
(Y/N) slipped the paper under herself on the chair, she didn't want to give Belby a chance to read it, it would only boost his already enormous ego.
Her parents did not know of his rudeness at their event, she thought it would disappoint them to see her disrespecting their guest. And Benedict was not here to save her today, she hadn’t stopped thinking about him since.
“Lady Danbury has issued out invitations, she is holding a Summer Day.” Lady (Y/L/N) told the table.
“What a marvelous way to head into the summer season.” Lord Belby said, and (Y/N) wanted to roll her eyes.
“Well, I should hope a certain Lord Bridgerton will be in attendance.”
(Y/N) couldn’t help but smile widely at her mother who was also excited.
“Now darling, we mustn’t get too ahead of ourselves.” Lord (Y/L/N) said.“He is only one of the many possibilities on the table.”
“I don’t see this as a bad thing. They get along very well.”
“They have met twice.”
“And they will meet many more times this season. (Y/N), we shall head to the modiste this afternoon.”
“You don’t have a dress already?”
“Not for this occasion, especially when (Y/N) could be speaking with her future husband.”
Belby quietly chuckled.“Not Lord Bridgerton I hope.”
“And why not, Lord Belby?” (Y/N) finally spoke.
“Well, after that scandal with his younger sister and the Duke last season-”
“Oh, forgive me for speaking out, Lord Belby,” (Y/N)’s mother giggled,“but no one cares about that anymore. And they are a very happy family. Besides, that will all be forgotten about once (Y/N) and Lord Benedict Bridgerton are the newest couple.”
Lord Belby only humoured his hosts, not wanting to be rude. He thought it would be easy to persuade the mother that he was a perfect match for their daughter, the father took no convincing (not when Belby flaunted his wealth), though know he had a challenge on his hands. Maybe if he had gone to the ball prior to his art exhibition, he might have nabbed one of the prettiest girls in the Ton before this Brigderton boy. There was still time.
Madame Delacroix had a satisfied smile on her face as the (Y/L/N)'s walked in. The mother was obsessed with dressing her daughter in the finest and most up to date dresses, meaning more money for the seamstress. (Y/N) did love looking elegant too, and seeing as she had Benedict to impress, she was more invested in the fabrics than usual. Just as Madame Delacroix started sizing up the young woman for another dress, the bell above the door rang again, turning the ladies' heads.
"Ah, Lady Bridgerton, I shall be just a moment." Delacroix smiled.
"Thank you." Violet replied as she approached."Lady (Y/L/N), Lady (Y/N), this is a lovely surprise."
Eloise could have rolled her eyes. Violet had forced Eloise to go shopping with her, before she and the couch became fused, she was always sat there with a book. They had no reason to come into the modiste, but Violet saw an opportunity to know her potential in-laws better.
"My, (Y/N), that colour looks radiant on you." Violet complimented.
(Y/N) grinned, hiding her slight nerves."Thank you. Eloise, are you here for a new dress?"
"No, I have far too many at home as it is." she said without thinking, knowing her mother had just sent her a look.
(Y/N) hid her laughter, but smiled knowingly at Eloise
"No we are just here for some accessories, aren't we?" Violet said.
"Well, seeing as Lady Danbury is having a lovely Summer Day, we thought it was a good excuse to buy another dress." (Y/N)'a mother joked.
"Yes, we are also in attendance. I do hope we run into each other again."
"I have no doubt we will all be spending time with a Bridgertin or two."
The mothers may as well have winked at each other, giddy at the thought of their children seeing one another again. Eloise just smiled at (Y/N) before she was dragged away, everyone knew her and Benedict liked each other, why were they being so secretive?
The three eldest Bridgerton boys used the sunny weather to their advantage, brushing up on their fencing skills. Benedict was supposed to be the umpire on the sides as Colin and Anthony sparred, but he couldn't concentrate.
"That was clearly a foul!" Anthony huffed."Benedict, are you not paying attention?"
Benedict shook his head, as if he were shaking off something."Sorry, I was simply daydreaming."
"Probably about the Lady (Y/N)." Colin teased.
"I know you like her brother but could you please give us your time just for fencing?"
"I actually wasn't thinking about her." Benedict slightly lied."I was wondering about Lord Belby."
Colin relaxed onto the nearby bench, much to Anthony's annoyance."Oh, I didn't know you had called on him as well."
"Very funny. What do you two know about him?"
"Well," Anthony knew that the activity had stopped now,"he's not a very good gentleman, and that's putting it lightly."
"How do you mean?"
"He is good with the ladies, but that only means he talks to and uses a lot of them. And I mean proper ladies, not ladies of the night."
"A dishonourable man living in the (Y/L/N)'s home, and they don't even know it."
"No, I'm sure Lord (Y/L/N) knows nothing about that side of him. His daughter certainly wouldn't be around Belby, that's for sure."
"You are worried he will try to woo her, aren't you?" Colin asked.
"I mean, yes, a little, but I know she doesn't like him."
"Then you have nothing to be worried about."
"It just doesn't seem right."
"Well, lucky for you, she seems to dote on you for some reason. We all know you two will be attached by the arm at Lady Danbury's next event."
The Ton was buzzing as everyone invited to the Summer Day made their way to Lady Danbury's estate. Would Lady Whistledown write about today? Or more specifically, would she write more about the new Lord Belby or the next potential engagement?
(Y/N) found it hard to keep her breathing steady as they walked out to the garden. Thee were lots of people looking at her, strangers who she had never spoken to were suddenly making small talk. Her parents were taking it all in, enjoying the attention, their daughter was the talk of the ton. Belby had also tagged along (well, technically he was invited), meaning (Y/N) clung to her mother's arm. She didn't want to give Belby a chance to grab her. It seemed her mother didn't mind either, she actually didn't want Belby near her daughter, she didn't want people getting the wrong impression that Belby now had her.
"Lady Danbury," Lady (Y/L/N) greeted as the family saw their hostess,"an exquisite day by your hand as usual."
"I appreciate the high praises from you just arriving. But I must say, I was happy with the quick response from my invitation."
"Of course, we love any event you host."
(Y/N) wished her mother wasn't so pleasing. She sounded desperate for validation.
"You are always welcome in my home. And how could I miss seeing the most talked about suitors of the ton? Imagine, my event was the day you two finally announced something special."
(Y/N)'s father nervously chuckled, ending up spluttering everywhere. The group watched him as he recovered himself.
"Lady Danbury, you are bold with your words."
She had a smirk on her face."I am excited is all."
"The pair have only spoken a couple of times-"
"If I recall correctly, wasn't there a similar couple in our midst, professing their love for each other and marrying quite swiftly? And everyone thought them to be the sweetest pairing of the year."
(Y/N) smiled at Lady Danbury, who winked back. (Y/N)'s parents had fallen in love quickly, as Lady Danbury said, everyone knew it was a solid and secure marriage that would be filled with happiness. However, the word' love' threw her for a second. She no doubt had feelings for Benedict, and she knew he felt the same, but that word had very strong meanings behind it; it wasn't a word you tossed around lightly.
"I do think Miss (Y/L/N) should like to take a walk with me. Shall we dear?" Lady Danbury was already turning away.
Before her parents (or Belby) could protest, (Y/N) scurried to the woman's side, a giddy feeling in her stomach. This woman was her saving grace.
"I felt suffocated under all that pressure, did you?" she started.
"My parents just want to make sure that they are doing their best for me."
"You are safe with me girl, you can speak your mind with no consequence."
(Y/N) was hesitant. Was this a trick? Did her parents put Lady Danbury up to this? But she so wanted to express her true feelings.
"I love my parents dearly, with all my heart, but they seem conflicted with each other on the matter of my courting."
"They are arguing?"
"No, not arguing. My father seems more hesitant than mother."
"Men always are. And your father's job is to protect you. I would not fret. You have found a good man and a doting family to marry into."
There was another big word-marriage.
"I know the Bridgerton's well. You could not have chosen better."
"That is reasurring to hear."
"When you're young, you think your parents know everything, that they are avke to make all your decisions for you. But that's not the case when it comes to love. You have to be sure that you want to be with this person for the rest of your life. And that can only be decided by you. Do not let others influence you."
(Y/N) sighed."It's a big decision."
"You are having second thoughts about your suitor?"
"No!" she had exclaimed all too quickly."No, I don't. Which I why I'm confused. I don't know why I am so nervous if I'm sure that I like him and that he feels the same about me. Surely I should be calm and collected, I have nothing to worry about."
"You don't. But unlike a lot of people here, you are not just marrying for money. You are lucky that your parents wanted you to be happy. You're nervous because you have taken a liking to the Bridgerton boy, you don't want anything to ruin what you have. There's a lot to think about, and it doesn't help that you have all eyes on you. Especially Lady Whistledown."
"No, it hasn't. That's the only thing I wish we didn't have, everyone asking us questions about our courtship. Or pretending to he our friends just to get the gossip."
Lady Danbury and (Y/N) had walked to a more secluded area, they were still in sight of everyone, but the guests were situated around the refreshments, cakes, games, music and their own circles of friends.
"You have a good head on your neck girl, you are not blind to the way our society works. Do not doubt yourself or what you want. Don't let other influence your decisions when it comes to love."
(Y/N) nodded.
"By any chance, do you know much your guest, Lord Belby?"
"Besides the fact that he is egotistical and thinks himself better than others?" She gasped, realising how rude she sounded."I have spoken out of line, I apologise Lady Danbury-"
"Just as I suspected. And I am glad you voiced your opinion truthfully. I don't trust him. But it seems your father does."
Lady Danbury looked back to the Lord in question, seeing that he was already watching. It clicked for her that Belby was here for more than a bit of representation. Another figure caught her eye in the distance, a familiar family entering her garden.
"Well, it seems we must end our talk, Miss (Y/L/N)."
The young girl followed her gaze. Oh goodness, would her heart ever steady?
"Come, let me escort you to him."
(Y/N) was glad she hadn't sipped on any lemonade yet, she would have hiccups from the nerves. Lady Danbury seemed to be making haste, walking far too fast for (Y/N)'s liking.
Violet spotted her friend and future daughter-in-law straight away. Dragging Benedict forward, they met the pair, the rest of the Bridgertons catching up to their mother.
"Lady Danbury." Violet grinned.
"Ah, the Bridgertons are here, the party can really start now."
"(Y/N), don't you look beautiful. Benedict, doesn't she look lovely?"
All eyes darted to him. He was stuttering over his words, flustered that everyone was being so awkward about this."Yes, yes she does."
(Y/N) kept her smile, hiding her disappointnent in his words.
"I believe Lord and Lady (Y/L/N) want to speak with you. Shall I take you to them?"
"Why yes, of course."
The two ladies were laughing as they walked away, no doubt diving into a thorough conversation about the match. (Y/N) was nervous with the rest of the Bridgertons family standing before her, including some she had not yet met.
"Oh, (Y/N), you have yet to meet the rest of my family. This is Daphne, the eldest of my sisters, and the two youngest, Gregory and Hyacinth."
"Lovely to meet you all."
(Y/N) hadn't met the youngest before but she had spoken to Daphne briefly in her season. It was silly, but at a cafe, (Y/N) had ordered a cake as she usually did (she had an undeniable sweet tooth), only to offer it to Daphne when she saw how upset she was at the other table.
"Have we met before?" Daphne asked, trying to place (Y/N)'s face.
"Oh, yes, we have actually." (Y/N) was glad she was the one to bring it up."I gave you the last chocolate cake at that cafe, you looked like you were having a bad day, and after the waitress told you that there was no more cake left, I had to give it to you."
How could Benedict not melt at that? She truly had a heart of gold.
"Yes of course! You didn't look like you wanted to give it away."
"No, I must say, when it comes to sweet things, I am not one to share."
"Oh how peculiar that we meet again in these circumstances."
"We are going to play bowling brother." Hyacnith announced to Anthony before her and Gregory ran off.
"Shall we take a walk?" Benedict held his arm out to (Y/N).
"Why don't we all join you?" Anthony suggested.
"Brother-"
"It is a lovely garden to walk around, is it not sisters? Daphne could help me look for Eloise's potential suitors. "
Eloise's eyes shot wide open, suddenly looking for an escape. Daphne knew Anthony was only doing this because he wanted to know more about (Y/N), though she also knew that the couple wanted more time together. When Daphne tried to deter her brother's plan, he just linked his arm with hers and Eloise's, before walking away. Benedict sighed as they followed, their arms linked too.
"I am sorry about him. My brother doesn't understand how rude he can be sometimes."
"I understand. He just wants to know who I am. If I had any brothers I'm sure they would be the same."
Benedict looked down at her, and she met his eyes, blushing under his stare."You look exquisite today. I am sorry I did not tell you earlier, I was-"
"Bashful?"
"Yes, I guess I was. You are glowing."
Lady Danbury didn't hide her feelings as Lord Belby voice his opinions on (Y/N)'s courtship.
"Even Lord (Y/L/N) has said that it is far too soon to be making any decisions."
Lord (Y/L/N) found himself stuck for words once again."I-I didn't quite say it like that."
"I can count on one hand how many times they have met."
"Lord Belby, you seem to be very involved with Miss (Y/N)'s love life. I did not realise you were family." Lady Danbury said.
"I am not."
Violet did not like how forward he was."I think (Y/N) and my son are quite well matched."
"So do I." Lady (Y/L/N) added, giving Violet a small nod. They were definitely on the same page.
"I didn't say that. But (Y/N) should keep her options open whilst deciding."
"For who? For you?" Lady Danbury could play this game.
"Why not? I am an eligible gentleman aren't I?"
"A gentleman indeed."
"I think the ladies are in need of some refreshments, shall we Belby?" Lord (Y/L/N) ushered him away."You're going to mess this up if you keep speaking out of term."
"I'm messing this up? You're the one who promised me your daughter's hand!"
"Well, that was before she fell for this Bridgerton."
"So stop it. You're her father."
"I don't want to!"
"What about our deal? The entrepreneurs I was going to bring to you?"
"I don't need your help Lord Belby. I just thought I could kill two birds with one stone; marry my daughter and get some money. But after seeing her with the Bridgerton boy, I can't break her heart like that. And I have enough money, I don't need yours or anyone else's. Our deal is over."
Lord (Y/L/N) swiftly left, hoping Belby wouldn't come after him. He didn't, but he was angry. Why weren't things going his way like they usually did? What happened to his charm? Why did (Y/N) want Benedict when Belby could be so much more interesting for her? It was nonsense.
However, Belby didn't like losing. He refused to lose. So as he tried to call himself down, a devious plan formed in his head once he spotted Eloise Bridgerton, all alone, seeming to be sneaking away from the party. A wicked smirk twisted onto his face as he went after her. A young woman like that shouldn't be alone, anyone could come along and do something to her.
#benedict bridgerton#benedict bridgerton imagine#benedict bridgerton imagines#benedict bridgerton x reader#benedict bridgerton one shot#benedict bridgerton fanfic#benedict bridgerton fan fic#benedict bridgerton fanfiction#benedict bridgerton fan fiction#bridgerton#bridgerton imagine#bridgerton imagines#bridgerton one shot#bridgerton x reader#bridgerton fanfic#bridgerton fan fic#bridgerton fanfiction#bridgerton fan fiction
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Choice - Benedict Bridgerton
Masterlist
Speak Now TV Masterlist
Summary : You are in love with Benedict but you have to marry another man.
Warning : angst, happy ending, feeling trapped, maybe some grammatical mistakes as English is not my first language, tell me if you see some or if I missed any warnings.
Word count : 4.3k
French version
Song inspiration : Speak Now (Taylor's Version) by Taylor Swift
Your wide open eyes on the ring in front of you, you’re speechless. You knew this day would come. This dreadful day where Duke William Edmonstone would put a knee down and would ask you the question that sounds like a death sentence. You raise your gaze and look around you in the ballroom. All the guests of the Duke’s family are waiting for your answer impatiently. It looks like everyone knew this ball was for this specific event.
Setting your eyes on your right, you find your mother. She nods with strength. You look down on the man in front of you and force a smile.
“I would be honoured to be your wife.”
At your sentence, everyone cheers. Glad, William stands up and puts the ring on your finger. He kisses your left hand, knowing it’s the only proper physical contact he can give you.
Your fiancé abandons you to talk with his friends while you stay put, paralysed. You can’t believe you just pronounce your own condemn. You only want one thing : to run away from here as fast as possible. However, the arrival of young women of the ton prevents you from it. They start talking about weddings, decorations, vows and even babies ! You listen to them without giving your full attention and answer from time to time to be polite. The ring on your ring finger weighs more as the second goes by.
During the whole night, you stay in this numb feeling, not knowing how to act. You should be happy to have secured a match yet, you can’t help but feel sad. You wish there had been another man at the end of the ring.
When you come home from the ball, you keep acting like a puppet until you get in your bedroom. As soon as your door is closed, you let go of a sigh. You get closer to your dressing table when your maid enters your room. She invites you to sit down in front of your mirror to undo your hair. She takes two pins off then your mother makes an apparition and she dismisses your maid. Your mom gets behind you and keeps undoing your hair. You don’t know the reason why she came to see you but you know she’s going to tell you in a few minutes. When your hair is finally loose, your mom puts her hands on your shoulders and looks at you through the mirror.
“You do not seem happy, my child.”
“I am, mama. I just cannot believe I am finally getting married.” you say with a fake happy tone.
“You have doubts. No need to deny it. I used to be at your place before. Tell me what the matter is.” your mom tells you with a soft voice.
“I am not sure I am made for the Duke.” you admit, avoiding her gaze.
“What do you mean ? You have been raised all your life to marry a man of his rank.”
“Is his rank that important ?”
“Of course, it is !” your mom answers as if it was obvious, “You cannot marry a man whose rank is inferior to ours. The Duke is perfect. Furthermore, he is a nice man and he will give you a decent life.”
“But, I do not love him, mama.”
“Love !” she exclaims, rolling her eyes. “Love is not important when it comes to marriage. You must choose your survival before thinking of something as futile as love.”
“I wish I could have a marriage of love.” you insist, looking down.
Your mother puts a finger under your chin to make you raise your head to her.
“Do not worry about love, you will discover it when you will have children.”
“Do you not love papa ?”
“I care about your father dearly. And one day, so will you with the Duke. Y/N, finding love in a marriage is something rare. The small portion of people who do are lucky.”
“The Bridgertons seem like a lucky family then.” you mutter.
“All of these doubts are because of the second born Bridgerton, is it not ?” your mother questions, arching a brow. “No matter if they are a respectable family, he is a second son and even if he was the first born, he would only be a Viscount. You cannot keep having what you two share.”
“I do not know what you are talking about.” you deny, clearing your throat.
“My child, I see the glances you give to each other.”
“Mama, I promise you-”
“I know nothing happened.” she cuts you off with a smile. “I haven’t said anything because I trust you. I knew when the moment would come, you would make the right choice, in other words : marrying the Duke. However, you must stop talking to him.” she orders with a firm voice. “I noticed it quickly and you should be grateful I was the only one. If Lady Whistledown were to write about it, it could ruin your marriage. Have I made myself clear, Y/N ?”
“Yes, mama.” you sigh.
Satisfied by your reaction, your mom kisses your cheek and leaves the room. Your eyes fill with tears and you quickly make them disappear when your maid comes back to help you out of your ball dress.
Since your proposal, you can’t sleep. Your nights are busy with your thoughts. Your fears are taking over, despites your mother’s attempts to reassure you. Like she confirmed to you several times, you did the right thing by accepting the betrothal, the Duke Edmonstone is a good catch and only three years older than you. He’s also a good looking man and cultured. You should feel fortunate. You could have found yourself with an old and disrespectful man. Yes, the Duke will give you a decent life. Notwithstanding, the Duke is not the only matter in your mind ; you don’t want your life to change. You don’t want to have to leave your childhood home for an unknown place with a man who doesn’t care for your mind. Above all, you don’t want to say goodbye to Benedict.
You two met a few months ago and you bonded instantly. You’ve never felt this before. You feel like someone finally understands you. Your passion for the art has helped your relationship a lot. It’s not rare for you two to sneak out to a more discreet location during social events. Nothing scandalous ever happened, like you promised your mother, unless falling in love is considered as such. Benedict didn't officially court you because your father is always saying his daughter will never marry a man who isn't, at least, an Earl, let alone if he’s not a first born. In other words, your relationship was doomed before it even started but it didn’t stop you from getting closer. Now that you have to marry, you have to leave Benedict behind. Your mom hasn’t stopped reminding you to do it several times. You thought about the way you’re going to tell him ; you ended up deciding it’s better to go straight to the point. You don’t want to make yourself suffer even more so it’s useless to make a tragic speech to bid farewell.
The next vernissage seems the perfect moment to do it. You’re sure he’ll be there. Generally, Benedict avoids balls. He, sometimes, makes an apparition only to see you in a beautiful dress and sneak out with you to discuss your ambitions in life. Consequently, the events regarding art are the only occasions where you know you’ll find him.
Once you’re at the gallery, you walk slowly, admiring the paintings carefully. Your mother is not really far away, even if she keeps a distance to allow Benedict to talk with you.
You enter the second room where there aren’t a lot of people. You stare at the painting depicting a forest during a summer day when Benedict appears next to you. Seeing him, you play with your gloves, needing a way to evacuate your stress. By your side, Benedict smiles as he looks at the tableau in front of him. You turn your head and from afar, your mother gives you a sign to hurry. You sigh before clearing your throat and avoid his gaze.
“Benedict, we should stop seeing each other.”
“Because of your wedding ?” Benedict asks after a long second of silence.
“I cannot risk a scandal now.”
“Of course. Congratulations on your engagements.” he states emotionlessly.
Without holding forth, Benedict doesn’t glance at the other paintings and goes to another room. Your eyes sting however you pay no mind to it. You did the hardest part. You can’t cry now or people will wonder why you’re in such a state after exchanging a few words with Benedict. You quickly blink and when you’re sure you’re not going to cry, you go to your mom. She locks her arms in yours to comfort you.
Benedict is officially a part of your younger self's past. You, now, have to focus on your future newly-wed life.
The next month is rythmed by the wedding preparations. The Duke insisted on having a marriage quickly. You got asked for your opinion for the reception but you let your mother handle everything. You don’t want this wedding so what does it matter if you like it or not ?
You haven’t seen Benedict since then and this hasn't helped with your gloominess. You wish you could leave everything behind and go find him, unfortunately you can’t make this choice so you keep getting ready for your new life. All your life, you have been raised to be the perfect wife but now your mom is taking things to another level. Given that you’re a future Duchess, she wants to ensure you won’t make a single mistake. She wants you to be perfect. If she lets you have one flaw, she’s worried your future husband will decide to abandon you. Lately, the pressure is more suffocating than your corset. You can’t breathe anymore and you feel like you’ve passed out and no one is paying attention to you.
Your last day as a maiden goes by at the speed of light. In a blink, the night has fallen and you’re in your bed staring at your wedding dress. You glare at it, knowing everything it represents. It’s a prison embellished by a white fabric. Objectivally, the dress is beautiful, Madame Delacroix has outdone herself, but you hate it. You keep looking at the object of your fear until you hear something hitting your window. You frown yet don’t move. When you hear the same noise again, you leave your bed, glaring one last time at the dress and open your window. On the ground floor, in your garden, you find Benedict. His tie is untied, the first buttons of his shirt are undone and his hair is messy because of the numerous times he runs his hand through it.
“Benedict, what are you doing here ? You need to go.” you order, trying to not speak too loud.
“Please, I need to talk to you.”
“You cannot be seen here. If Lady Whistledown-”
“Give me five minutes.” he cuts you off with begging eyes.
You stare at him, weighing the pros and cons. You miss him, though talking to him would be a mistake. However, your feelings for Benedict are stronger than your morale.
“Don’t move.”
You close your window and take your dressing gown. Before leaving your bedroom, you look at yourself in the mirror. You put back in place some strands of your hair and open your door. You glance right and left before leaving the room, walking on tiptoe. The light of the moon gives you enough visibility to walk down the stairs without falling.
Once you’re in your garden, you find Benedict pacing back and forth. When he sees you, he moves to hold you in his arms and right away, you take a step back. Noticing your movement, Benedict keeps his distance and his arms fall on his legs.
“You cannot stay here, Benedict. I am to be married tomorrow.” you remind him, crossing your arms on your chest.
“I know but tomorrow, I will not be there and I needed to see you.”
“Why are you not coming ? Your family has been invited.” you question, eyebrows furrowed.
“Your lovely mama paid me a visit and she got me to understand I was to stay away from you.”
Hearing your information, you wish you could feel anger for your mother however you’re grateful. You know if Benedict was here, you wouldn’t be able to marry the Duke. Notwithstanding, having Benedict in your garden the night before your wedding is surely no better.
“Nevertheless, I could not let you marry the Duke without talking to you one last time.” he adds.
“What do you wish to talk about ?”
“Y/N, do not marry him.” he announces point blank. “Tomorrow, do not say ‘yes’ or say a single vow. You deserve to marry another man than him.”
“How dare you say that ? The Duke is a gentleman. He will treat me right.” you get mad.
“But do you love him ?”
“I care about him.” you answer him after a silence.
“So you do not love him.” Benedict specifies, seeing right through you, “You cannot marry a man you do not love. You deserve to be with someone you love and who loves you back.”
“Love is not important. I need to think about what's best for me and the Duke is the best option.” you argue, your mother’s words resonating in your mind.
“The best option according to whom ?”
“I do not have another choice, Benedict. I cannot afford to be picky. I do not have the luxury to tell my mama I want to wait before getting married or to focus on my art. I cannot afford to make that choice, contrary to you.”
“It is not too late to make another one.”
“You are being insensitive right now. You cannot come here, the night before my wedding, and tell me to not marry the Duke.” you retort with teary eyes.
“If you loved him, I would not have uttered a word, but it is not the case.”
“And what do you propose instead ? Because if I leave the Duke at the altar, I will be without an option.”
“I will be here for you.” he promises as if it was a magic remedy.
“You cannot be serious.” you sigh, rolling your eyes. “Did you think about the scandal it would cause ? Your family’s reputation would be destroyed and your sisters need to marry as well.”
“It would be worth it. I love you, Y/N and I know you love me, too.”
“The fact is, it does not change anything about my situation. Tomorrow, I will be married and I will finally be what I have been raised for all my life : a faithful wife.”
“Faithful !” Benedict laughs humorlessly, “And you think your dear future husband had the same education as you ? The Duke might act as a gentleman but he keeps seeing other women and he will keep on doing so after you are married. He does not have any regard for you. He just wants a wife. He cannot give you what you truly want.”
“And you think I do not know that ? I am well aware of this fact. Except the world is like this and I cannot change it.” you affirm, desperately.
“Is there not a thing I could say to convince you ?”
“My destiny has been written for a long time. You need to leave me alone.”
“Very well, but before this,” he starts, getting closer to you and you let him do it, “would you allow me to kiss you ? I have wanted to do it since we first talked.” he adds putting his hand on your cheek, “And I wish to do it before you’re someone else’s.”
“Benedict, it is improper.” you object, without moving.
“If your future husband can currently be with another woman, I think you deserve to make the choice of kissing someone you really love before it is too late.” Benedict mutters but you stay sceptical. “No matter if you accept to give me this honour, just know you will not hear from me ever again, I promise you.”
You stare in Benedict’s blue eyes, trying to resist the temptation of tasting his lips. Your mother’s words and the fear of finding yourself on the first page of Lady Whistledown’t next issue are the only things holding you back. However, when Benedict's second hand touches yours, your mind doesn’t think of these things anymore so you hold your hand before whispering.
“You may kiss me.”
With a smile, Benedict leans in and softly presses his lips on yours. You kiss him back in an instant. You wish you could kiss him since the moment your eyes met his. Like you expected, his lips are soft and fit perfectly with yours. You kiss lovingly, enjoying this moment, this last choice you made.
Without adding something else, you leave Benedict alone and get back home while he leaves your grounds.
The guilt isn’t eating you alive, only joy is exploding in yourself. You will always keep this moment in your mind and you know it will nourish a lot of your nights when you’ll be next to your husband. You don’t regret kissing Benedict because, for the first time in your life, you finally put yourself first. Arriving in your bedroom, your wedding dress seems to judge you but you pay it no mind and lay down on your bed. At the same time, the joy leaves your body, not for remorse, but for sadness ; you will never live this moment again. You will never feel this feeling again.
When the sun rises in the sky the next morning, your stomach twists. Meanwhile you’re getting ready, you live an out of body experience. Your body's here and dressed up however your mind is lost in the memory of the night before. This memory is nicer than your reality.
When you’re at the door of the chapel, you gain consciousness again. You know this is your last moment as Y/N Y/L/N. You take a deep breath whilst your father comes next to you. He gives you a comforting smile, seeing your state.
“Do not be afraid, my dearest. You are ready. Your whole life has been made for this moment.”
You cannot count how many times you've been hearing this since you're out in society. It's supposed to make you feel better and yet, it only makes you feel even more trapped.
You don’t answer your father, fearing you might throw up on him due to the stress. Your father makes sure your veil is set correctly on your head then he locks his arms with yours and guides you through to the chapel. The music starts playing and for you, it doesn’t sound like a wedding song but more like a death march. You walk down the aisle, your heart beating loudly in your ears and your flowers are practically strangled by your grip. While walking, you take notice of the guests, wanting to avert your attention from your future husband. When you glance on the right side of the aisle, you find the Bridgerton family. Violet Bridgerton’s eyes are filled with softness that helps you to feel more at ease, despite the fact you’d still like to run away. Taking a closer look at the Bridgerton family, your eyes find Benedict. You do your best to not show your confusion. He wasn’t supposed to be here. You don’t understand what he’s doing here. He cannot be here. You have to go through with this wedding. Not wanting to be more disturbed, you finally dare to watch your future husband. He looks good in his suit yet, you can’t help but think Benedict is more handsome.
When you’re at the altar, your father kisses your forehead before letting you go to the Duke. Once your father lets go of your arm, you want to catch him and beg him to not let you go. You don’t do it. Tightening your grip on your bouquet, you give a forced smile at the Duke. The music stops and the Archbishop announces to the guests they can sit down. When they did and the ceremony has finally started, tears form in your eyes.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony ” he states solemnly.
The word ‘matrimony’ echoes in your mind and you can’t listen to the Archbishop’s voice anymore. You can only watch the scene unfold in front of you until you willingly press a finger on a thorn from your bouquet to bring you back to reality. You can’t dwell in your own world anymore, you have to face your truth. In spite of yourself, you look furtively at Benedict before landing your gaze on the man in front of you again. At the same time you get back in the chapel, you hear the Archbishop exclaim :
“If anyone thinks this man and this woman shall not be joined together, speak now or forever hold your peace.”
After the Archbishop's sentence, there is a silence for a second and you’re afraid your fast heartbeats can be heard. You wouldn’t be surprised to find your heart out of your chest.
As there is no protest, the Archbishop opens his mouth again to finish the wedding when your name echoes in the chapel. Every pair of eyes, yours included, land on the same spot, on Benedict, standing on his feet with a broken but determined gaze.
“Y/N, I know I told you I would leave you alone but I cannot.” he starts with trembling hands. “You need to hear me out, do not marry him ! You should not be obliged to marry a man you do not love… I love you too much to let you make this mistake.” he adds and at these words, Anthony tries to make him sit again in vain. “If you become his wife, you will not be happy, you will be miserable. We both know it. You should not be marrying the wrong man. You have always told me you wanted to marry a man you love dearly and who supports you in everything. And this man is not the Duke.” Benedict carries on and you feel the heat in your cheek. “I am not saying you should marry me, if this is not what you wish for, even if I would be honoured to be your husband. Just please, do not become his wife.”
Following his tirade, Benedict takes a deep breath. The room is filled with horrified looks, especially Anthony’s and your parents. No one knows how to react, not expecting this interruption. Benedict doesn’t pay attention to the others, he is only looking at you as if you were alone in the chapel. You can see all the tenderness and love he has for you.
As for you, your eyes are wide open in shock. Benedict’s intervention cut your growing anxiety off and you stay on your feet, not moving an inch. You don’t dare to say a word, not knowing what is going to happen next. The moment stays frozen in time for a whole minute before Anthony stands up and forces his brother to leave the chapel. Your eyes follow the two Bridgerton brothers until they’re out of sight.
Once everything is calm again, the Duke takes your hand to bring back your attention to him. He asks if they can resume and to answer him, you let your bouquet fall at your feet. You mutter a quick apology and walk up the aisle while your father is ordering you to come back.
As soon as you’re outside, you find Anthony reprimanding Benedict. Without paying a mind to it, you throw yourself at the man you love. Taken aback by your gesture, Anthony takes a step back. Understanding the situation, the Bridgerton first born knows he has to handle a delicate situation so he goes back to the chapel. You keep embracing Benedict in your arms for several seconds before putting your hands on his cheeks and kissing him with passion. Benedict stumbles, surprised by your action, before deepening the kiss. You keep kissing until you’re out of air. When you break the embrace, you keep your hands on both sides of his face, joyful tears in your eyes.
“You are right. I cannot marry him. I know what we have just done will have consequences but I do not care. I want to be with you. I want to be able to choose and I choose you. It is you I want by my side. I love you, Benedict.” you confess with a genuine smile, the first one in a month.
“I love you so much.” he answers, pecking your lips.
“I am so glad you were around when they said ‘speak now’. Had you not intervened, I never would have had the strength to run away.”
“I told you I would be here for you.” Benedict reminds you, stroking your cheeks. “We should leave while they are still in shock.”
You agree and Benedict takes your hand. You look at each other with love and without wasting another second, you run out of the place, you undo your veil and let it fall down on the ground. You know you’re in a complicated situation but it doesn't matter to you. You love each other and you will get married and even if it means going to another city and suffer the wrath of your parents once you’re back. You chose each other, it’s all that matters.
Masterlist
Speak Now TV Masterlist
{This is my side blog so I'll be answering comments under the username @marie-sworld}
#marie swriting in english#benedict bridgerton x fem reader#benedict bridgerton#benedict bridgerton x reader#benedict bridgerton x you#benedict bridgerton x y/n#bridgerton one shot#bridgerton#Benedict Bridgerton one shot#Benedict Bridgerton angst#Spotify#marie swriting with music#marie swriting with speak now tv#marie swriting with taylor swift
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