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Sophie had been followed around her place of employment before. When she worked for the Cavender’s whenever Phillip was at home he would practically stalk her around the house, attempting to grab her and molest her at any given moment but this… this was something entirely different.
Benedict Bridgerton just followed her around like a puppy following his mother. Sophie had found it amusing and disconcerting the first morning when he appeared as she was going to breakfast and then again following her breakfast. She had foolishly thought it was a one off, but every day for the last week he had been there.
Literally in her shadow.
The only time he hadn’t been there was when Sophie was aiding his sisters in their morning and evening ablutions.
She has assumed that today, as the family were visiting the Viscount and then were going to visit the Duchess that afternoon so she thought she had time to get her chores done and she would get to do so uninterrupted.
Mrs Wilson had gone out and some of the other maids had their day off but Sophie had some mending to do and she was in the process of tidying Hyacinth's dressing room when she felt a tingling sensation in the back of her neck.
She knew that sensation and she didn’t even bother to turn around as she heard the tell tale footsteps coming closer to her.
“Don’t you have somewhere else to be?” She asked, as she did not even bother to turn around to face him.
Benedict chuckled, as Sophie knew he would, “no need to be so hostile” he said with a smiles
“Well considering I know your family is gathering with your brother and then visiting your sister, there is no reason for you to be here, other than for your own nefarious interests and I’m working so…” she said as she turned to walk past him.
Benedict’s hand shot out and grabbed the skirts of her gown and pulled her into him. “My intentions were strictly honourable” he said jauntily as Sophie snorted “or they were until I saw how fetching you look today”
Sophie sighed “please don’t”
Benedict held her close to him “I can’t… you know I can’t” he whispered.
His hands clutched at hers and her heart broke as his blue eyes met hers. She saw the pain and the desire in them, the want and longing that she knew would be reflecting back at him.
“Please Benedict” Sophie whispered, her voice catching as she looked at his lips, her own tongue darting out to wet her now very dry lips.
“Tell me to stop, tell me to leave and I’ll go” he whispered back at her, his hand snaking around her waist holding her closer. He meant it, he didn’t want to be that Man. He felt his honour hanging by a thread and he wanted her. He wanted her more than he had wanted anything in his life.
He needed her and she needed him. He hated the rules, he hated that she would not come home with him but at this moment, he needed her lips on his or he was going to combust.
Sophie didn’t say anything. She just tilted her head ever so slightly, her eyes on his lips and Benedict knew what they meant and so he leaned down the extra inch and captured her lips with his.
The tenderness of the action nearly caused Sophie’s legs to give way, if she had not been in his arms she would have collapsed at the motion.
Their lips moved together as their hearts beat as one, lost in the moment, this one perfect moment where there was no social differences. The moment when they were just Benedict and Sophie.
They were a couple who loved one another but it ended quicker than it had started as another pair of footsteps came up the hallway and Sophie jumped backwards from Benedict.
Her heart was hammering in her chest as the butler walked up and the moment was lost.
Sophie ran up the stairs to her room, her heart thumping wildly in her chest at how close they had come.
She had to be careful, she had to leave… she vowed from that moment she would leave if Benedict came into the room.
And that worked well for a few days until he found her in the garden and they kissed again, this time not realising that someone had indeed seen them…