Chapter Text
Benedict had been waiting for days. Ever since his very secretive meeting with his solicitar a week prior, he had been restless. He always knew he wasn’t the best of liars. But lying to Sophie had proved to be the hardest task he ever taken.
In his defence, it was for a very good reason. He wanted this to be a surprise for her. One last wedding gift, he thought. After many, many gifts he showered his then fiancé and now wife in the past months.
This gift was special. Benedict knew how much it would mean to her. After everything she went through - this was important and he knew he had to do it perfectly.
So here he found himself, eagerly waiting for the mail coach to arrive from London.
Benedict mentally thanked Mrs Crabtree for keeping Sophie so busy with all the preparations and decisions that hiring a full staff for Our Cottaged entailed. She hadn’t notice how nervous and excited he was - or at least he hoped so.
When the coach arrived, he rushed to get the mail. Skipping through them, a few letters from his family - his mother surely, Eloise and Francesca, some from Sophie’s friends, Alfie and Irma. And then, there it was! That letter.
Benedict ran to his study, closed the door and opened. His will.
He chucked remembering his conversation with his solicitor. The man almost looked offended by Benedict’s decision. Claiming how unusual it was to be so generous to one’s wife. Perhaps, Benedict thought, in most marriages. But not his. Never his.
After everything that went down with Sophie and her father’s will and how important it was for her to have it in written, Benedict knew he would make his own will as soon as possible.
Not that he thought Sophie doubted his love for her - never that. But he knew this meant a lot to her and he would do anything to make sure she would always feel safe and protected.
He would make sure of that. Even, if the worst happens, she would be okay.
Benedict read it all throughout to make sure everything was just right. Perfect. Now it was time to surprise her.
He found her in the living room going over some hair accessories. He assumed those would be part, somehow, of the new staff uniform Sophie had ordered. She had been in this endeavour for days. Benedict didn’t dare to question her.
“Love? Could you accompany me to the study for a moment? I have something to show you.”
Sophie looked up at him with that smile that could melt his heart on the spot.
“I hope you’re not expecting me to do any of accounts for you again, Ben. Pretending you don’t know how just so you can stare at me during the day isn’t very gentlemanlike…” She said with a smirk on her face, but still getting up to meet him halfway.
“I would never do that! Well, at least not for another week or so…” He laughed. “But no, this is a gift.”
“Another one? Oh you do spoil me so, husband…”
She held his hand as they went up to his study.
Sophie did not know what to expect of this “gift” Benedict had prepared for her. She lost count of how many gifts he had given her since their engagement. In truth, she did not need them, and at first, even protested against it. Claiming it was a waste of money and time.
But as soon as she said it to Benedict, he quickly shut her argument down.
Their honeymoon had just recently ended - though, Sophie realised, their day to day life wasn’t that much different. And no, she wasn’t complaining.
So when Benedict took her to his study and asked her to seat down as he handed her a piece of paper, she did not protest.
Sophie assumed would be a new artwork of his. She so loved his art, she could spend hours just looking at every detail of his many paintings. Even if Benedict didn’t believe it himself, Sophie felt deep down he would still go far.
But no, it was not something she ever expected to see. Well, not this early on in their marriage anyways.
“Benedict… Why are you giving me your… will?” She looked puzzled at him.
“Well, it’s your gift. Surprise!”
He answered with that crooked smile she so loved as if it was the most common thing in the world.
“I’m not really sure how this qualifies as a gift…”
Before she could finish the phrase he quickly told her to just read it. So she did it.
Benedict had left her… well. Everything. Everything that Benedict owned in his name was now half hers half his. And in the eventual case of his death… she would get it all.
Not only that. Herself and their future, still very much hypothetical children, would also be entitled to everything he ever owned, owns and will eventually own.
There was no room left for discussions and ambiguities. It was clear. Everything that belongs to Benedict, belongs to her.
Sophie felt the tears running down her face before she could even think of properly process any of it.
Benedict was kneeling before her in seconds.
She just looked at him. She didn’t need to say anything. In truth, words felt insufficient.
He understood her. He always understood her. The same way he knew how much this meant for her. The same way he thought in the first place of doing this for her.
He knew how much pain the situation of her father’s will had given her. How, for so many years, she considered the act of leaving something for someone on their will to be a demonstration of love.
Sophie thought she could never love Benedict more than she did the day he asked her to marry him.
She then thought she could never love him more the day they married.
She was wrong in both cases. She never loved him more in this very moment. And somehow, deep down, she knew he would keep proving her wrong.