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Benedict should have known it was too good to be true. The ball was going far too well, everyone so far had loved Sophie, the new Mrs Bridgerton was a delight and as he walked around the room with Eloise, whilst Sophie was dancing with the Duke of Hastings, he was revelling in people’s nice words and compliments about his wife.
They had stuck to a simple story, a version of the truth, that he had met Sophie in the country, that she was the daughter of a cousin of the Late Earl of Penwood, hence the family resemblance.
It had been at a local assembly they had met, fell in love, and married. Their courtship was conducted via letters, and when he visited the country. When people had asked about her family they had lied and said her parents died a few years earlier and she had been staying with a family friend.
People didn’t pay much further into that. Daphne and Violet had been very careful as to who they invited to the end of the season ball, the party that was celebrating Benedict and Sophie’s marriage and Benedict had not expected to run into any of them here.
Benedict and Anthony had paid Mr Phillip Cavender a visit the day Benedict got engaged to Sophie and they had made it very clear, that he was not to say a word, that he was not to breath in Sophie’s direction, that he wasn’t to even suggest that he knew her and where he knew her from otherwise they would have him dragged through the mud for his behaviour that night.
Cavender had been too terrified to do anything but nod and agree. Despite outward appearance’s he wasn’t stupid. With the Bridgerton’s and the Duke of Hasting’s most likely to be involved, he would be ruined and the scandal it would cause him… well it was easier to shut up and as he was still desperately pursuing Cressida Cowper, he agreed.
What Benedict had not banked on… was one of the other two belligerent drunk idiots from that night.
Eloise had been taken to dance by an Earl, quite unable to work out why she could not, she had agreed, reluctantly and Benedict was stood with his sister-in-law watching as Sophie was now dancing with Anthony. Kate had asked to sit this one out, having already danced once with Benedict, when Sophie was dancing with Colin, it was when they heard it.
“I know her”, it was a greasy, oily voice and Benedict knew it well… it was the man, if you could call him that… who had, had his hands all over Sophie “I’d recognise them tits anywhere”
“Benedict…” came Kate’s warning voice but it was too late, Benedict had seen red, not caring about public decency, behaviour or that this was his sister’s home, he whirred around.
“I beg your pardon” he said, his voice as cold as ice, his glare hot with fury as he glared at the man.
Heasley flinched, realising who it was in front of him, but drew himself up to his tallest height, which was still a good five inches shorter than Benedict “You married the housemaid” he said sneering. His voice was quiet enough than no one would clear but it cut through Benedict.
“Excuse me but that is my wife” Benedict practically roared. “And you will do well to treat her with some respect”
Heasley snorted “respect? God she must be excellent in bed…” his words were cut off by Benedict grabbing him by the throat
“Benedict!” Kate said, rushing to his side.
“You will apologise!” Benedict said his hand still on the man’s throat as he spluttered and gasped.
“I… I…” he stammered unable to say anything.
Anthony and Sophie had heard the commotion as they danced and had started making their way over when Benedict’s hand had shot out and grabbed the mans’ throat and Sophie had gasped running over, Anthony hot on his heels, Simon coming after them as well.
Daphne who was pregnant stayed where she was but there was enough of a commotion that everyone was looking over now.
Sophie ran over “Benedict, what are you… OH MY” she gasped as her eyes locked on who it was, and she went instantly pale
“Benedict! Unhand him!” Anthony said putting his hand on his brother’s arm. “We are in PUBLIC” he hissed.
“This… vermin” he spat, as he released Heasley who dropped to the floor gasping “was there that night”
“Oh god… oh god” Sophie was gasping, her heart going a million miles an hour.
Anthony turned to his wife “take Sophie away from this… please, take her to the drawing room and get a brandy” he said to his wife who nodded, looking down at the spluttering man.
Violet was making her way over, seeing the paleness of her daughter in law, the fury in her son’s eye, she knew something had happened but seeing Anthony and Simon seemingly had it under control rushed to her two daughters’ in law and led them out of the room, ignoring the whispers that were rushing around the room.
Simon grabbed Heasley by the jacket and hauled him to his feet “what happened?” he said, his eyes on Benedict.
“I heard comments… about my wife… and her… assets” he said, trying to find the words that were diplomatic, whilst ignoring the rage that beat in his ears, the fury pounding against his ears, trying to ignore the urge to demand satisfaction, to challenge the scum to a dual, or a boxing match to beat him to a bloody pulp.
He had expected comments about his wife’s faux background, but this… this would not be born.
Anthony turned furious eyes on the man who was rubbing his throat “you’re insane” the man croaked at him “all of you”
“That is my sister-in-law you are talking about” Anthony said, his tone every inch the aristocratic Viscount that he was,
“And mine” Simon said, pulling himself to his fullest height “and this is my home” he said furious.
Heasley finally had the sense to pale “I beg your pardon your grace, I did not mean to disrespect your home”
“No? Only my sister-in-law” Simon said menacingly.
Benedict was flexing his fists again and growled.
“You will leave this moment” Anthony said
Heasley scoffed “I did not think you would encourage your brother to marry a servant”
Benedict lost it, again, and he launched himself forward, only for Anthony to grab him “Benedict!” he said at his brother, furiously “either get hold of your temper or go see your wife” he said, his tone stern as he jerked his head around, there was still an audience.
This entire thing was going to end up in Whistledown, he just knew it. Benedict growled.
Simon turned to Heasley “I am assuming you have not spoken to your friend Mr Cavender in the last few weeks…”
Heasley paled again.
“You have two options here” Anthony said, his eyes flashing furiously
“One, leave immediately, never speak of this again, you have never met Mrs Bridgerton before and you will retain your place in London Society, outside of any of our presence of course”
“Or?” Heasley asked a little belligerently.
“Or we will make it known that you did in fact know Mrs Bridgerton and that you, like your friend, and other friend… attempted to rape her… in front of witnesses…”
Heasley paled.
“How long do you think your reputation will last… and how long do you think Miss Green will remain interested in you…” Simon said with a glare that would have made the Devil himself cower.
“Oh, and you shall apologise to my brother” Anthony said .
Heasley swallowed, looked around between the three men, all towering above him menacingly, his friend he had been talking, had moved away, and legged it and he was quite alone, and everyone was watching.
He had no choice “Apologise, Bridgerton… I meant no offense” he said, Benedict glared at him knowing it was not meant “and please apologise to your wife on my behalf, clearly I have her mixed up with someone else” he said before nodding his head to the Viscount, the Duke and then Benedict before turning.
“Oh, and Heasley…and pass his same message to your friend… Fletcher was it…” Benedict said, his eyes narrowing.
Heasley nodded his head and ran from the room quickly.
Anthony turned on Benedict “the hallway… now…” before turning to Simon “can you” he said nodding his head to the crowd.
Simon nodded and moved into the crowd, to explain it was just a misunderstanding, it was nothing and that Mr Bridgerton and Mr Heasley had a minor disagreement, and Mr Heasley had mistaken Mrs Bridgerton for someone else and that they could all resume the party…
Anthony dragged his brother into the hallway “Benedict, we are in BLOODY public! What were you thinking!” he scolded his brother.
Benedict glared at his brother “I am sorry, but he was commenting on Sophie’s tits, and how he knew who she was… I saw red… realising who it was…”
“Yes and grabbing him by the throat and fighting in public is the way to deal with it. And at your own party for god’s sake!” he yelled at his brother.
Benedict ran his hand through his hair “I did not think”
“Clearly!”
“But if it was Kate… if someone had said that about Kate…” Benedict said, his own defence, a low blow but he knew it was true. He had seen Anthony fly off the handle when someone had even suggested that Kate might have been compromised.
Anthony sighed “Next time just get me… or Simon, or both of us… do not think with your fists!” he said “there are far more gentlemanly ways to get rid of cretins like him…”
“Just be grateful I didn’t challenge him” Benedict said haughtily.
“Well, you know I’d have offered to be your second” Anthony said with a chuckle.
“Thank you”
“Let’s go make sure Sophie is alright?” Anthony said, with a sigh, his voice laced with concern.
Benedict swore, having forgotten Sophie had seen one of her tormentors and ran off through Hasting’s House and threw open the door to the drawing room with a cry of “Sophie… oh my love are you alright?”
Sophie ran to him, in a decidedly unladylike manner and hugged her husband.
Violet looked at her two sons and asked Anthony “what happened?”
“It is all taken care of… he will never darken our doorway again, any of us” he said, his words directed to Sophie mostly who was clinging to her husband.
“It was agreed that he had mistaken her for someone else” Simon said as he marched into the room “the party appears to believe me, they are carrying on…” he said with a small smile.
“Are you alright?” Sophie asked Benedict
“You’re asking me if I am alright?” he said, his eyes twinkling with surprise.
“Come, let us give them a moment” Kate said “we should re-join the party or people will think things are a miss” she said.
Violet and Anthony nodded and left the room.
“Are you alright?” Sophie asked again
“I am fine now… are you?” he asked, his hand on her cheek, caressing it.
“I am. It was a shock… but I am just… I am sorry you had to deal with him” she said sadly.
“Do not apologise for him” Benedict said “he is gone now, he will never bother us again, if he values his reputation”
Sophie’s eyes looked downcast “I knew… I knew we would have…”
Benedict placed a finger over her lips “shush…” he said “you need not worry everyone else loved you, I was practically skipping around the room listening to everyone gush over how much they love you… how they think you are perfect. No one else cares… so please…” he continued, his eyes boaring into hers lovingly. “Please do not think anymore and just think, two more weeks and we will be off to My Cottage, ready for some much-desired alone time” he grinned at her, a wicked glint in his eye.
Sophie blushed “I shall try” she said.
“That is all I ask” he said leaning down and kissing her. “Now come, I wish to dance with my wife again…”
“But we have danced twice already” she said as Benedict grabbed her hand and dragged her from the room
“And I plan to dance with you at least two more times” he said “I do not care if it not de rigueur … If I want to dance with my wife… I will” he said.
Sophie laughed and let herself be dragged from the room.
The following morning when the last Edition of Lady Whistledown of the season arrived, it mentioned nothing of the fight, but it did mention that Mr Bridgerton was very much in love with his new wife, and that, it was refreshing to see a man not care of social conventions to show that he loved and adored his wife…even if it could have been deemed scandalous.
And Benedict, for the first time, was pleased at his mention in Lady Whistledown.