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Sophie felt nervous about meeting Benedict’s mentor. Henry Granville had been an important part of Benedict’s life and his progression with his artwork, though Benedict kept trying to tell her his art was down to her lately rather than her old mentor…
But he had been an important part of making Benedict understand that there was a life that he could live with Sophie. That whilst society might shun them, he didn’t need society, all he needed was Sophie. Benedict had told her about his speech a few years ago.
And though he had been nervous about it, he had sat Sophie down and told her about his past, including his double dalliance with Mrs Granville and Genevieve Delacroix.
Sophie had been a little shocked but not surprised. She had figured that Benedict would have a past with women and that he had a bit of a reputation with women, not like his brother’s but still, she knew he was a bit of a rake.
She knew about Sir Henry Granville’s parties as well. She knew their reputation, both the art ones he held as part of respectable society, and the ones that were only known by a select number
She knew of those parties because some of the other maids that she worked with who would often model at these parties and one or two of them had engaged in some of the extra activities and she’d heard in a lot of detail about those activities and was rather looking forward to being married to try some of the things out that she heard about but in the meantime, she felt a little sick to meet the Granville’s.
Benedict told her what he had witnessed and seen.
He had told her that whilst he had not mentioned her by name at the time, Henry knew about Sophie’s background, but not who she really was. As far as Henry was concerned Sophie was a maid.
Sophie knew that she would receive no judgement from the Granville’s but it hadn’t stopped her from feeling nervous about meeting them.
She had been a ball of nerves since Benedict had suggested it so that it wasn’t at the Wedding Reception that she would meeting them, and she had found meeting Genevieve the day after she had heard about her and Benedict’s affair, to be rather weird and a little stressful since the woman had been fitting her for her wedding dress.
To meet Lucy Granville on her wedding day may give her some sort of heart failure so she had agreed to Benedict’s proposal that they go for tea the afternoon before they left for Kent.
Violet had agreed, as Lucy and Henry were married they were an acceptable chaperone, and she had no idea about Benedict’s past with Lucy Granville.
The day of Sophie’s meeting the Granville’s arrived and she felt quite nervous as she got herself ready. She had told Violet she was quite able to get herself ready and that she was in no need of a ladies maid and though Violet and Benedict said she should have one, she had backed them down to at least let her get through her wedding and honeymoon before they would acquire one…
And the second Ladies maid in the Bridgerton Household was getting Violet and Hyacinth ready for their journey to Kent where the wedding would be taking place.
Sophie was able to spend an hour getting herself ready and fretting over what to wear, before she ultimately decided on a dark green dress. It was one of the few items that Genevieve had already prepared that would fit Sophie without any sort of adjustments being required.
After tea with the Granville’s Sophie would be going over to Bridgerton House for the night before they would leave for Kent the next morning and then the wedding the day after. It had been a whirlwind of a day and she felt exhausted but she was determined that she would meet the Granville’s before the wedding.
Benedict made his way over to Number 5 to collect his fiancee, wearing a green waistcoat and Violet chuckled to herself as she went to collect Sophie who was talking to Hyacinth in the parlour.
“What is so funny, mother?” Benedict asked as Violet walked away
“You’ll see” Violet replied with a wave of her hand and when she reappeared two minutes later with Sophie, he saw what was so amusing.
They were matching. The colour of his waistcoat was almost identical to that of Sophie’s dress, to the point he was sure that his tailor had either taken the fabric from Genevieve or she had provided the fabric to his tailor.
Sophie beamed and giggled “You’d have thought we had planned it” she grinned as Benedict walked over and took her gloved hand and kissed it. It was all he dared do in front of his mother. His ears were still ringing a little from the slap he had received when he brought Sophie home for 7am looking rather dishevelled.
Benedict smiled “you look beautiful” he said taking her arm “mother we shall go directly to Bridgerton House from the Granville’s. Kate will be expecting us. I hope this is acceptable”
“Very well, I shall see you tomorrow at Aubrey Hall, Benedict, I swear if you do not behave yourself, I will render your wedding night, and honeymoon entirely useless” Violet warned as she watched the newly engaged couple make their way out of the house into the waiting carriage.
“Don’t worry she doesn’t mean that. She wants more Grandchildren” Benedict grinned as he saw the flush on Sophie’s cheeks once they were out in the June sunshine.
“Benedict” Sophie hissed, her face going more red. Benedict’s words had turned the waiting footman red in the cheeks as he looked at Sophie and Sophie just wanted the ground to swallow her.
She might have enjoyed listening to the stories the other maids and footmen would tell, and might enjoy the attention from her soon-to-be husband but it didn’t mean she wanted the entire world to know what they were doing.
That and they weren’t even married yet, the fact she had anticipated her wedding vows four times already… was enough to have her redder than a raspberry.
“Oh bish” Benedict said as he helped Sophie up into the carriage “it’s nothing they’ve not heard or seen before with my brother and his wife” he said climbing in after her and sitting next to her on the seat.
“And… my darling, when we leave for our honeymoon from Aubrey…” he said, leaning in and whispering in her ear as the door shut and they heard the footman getting onto the carriage and readying the horses to depart “nothing they won’t hear from us the moment we set off”
“Benedict!” Sophie practically yelled, slapping his shoulder as her entire body flushed with embarrassment and as much as it pained her to admit it… anticipation.
Benedict just laughed and pressed a kiss to the pulse point in Sophie’s neck, a place he had learned would make her moan with unbidden passion.
Sophie bit her lip to avoid it as he moved back to ear and with a husky growl whispered “I’d give you a little preview of the pleasure that can be had in a carriage… but the Granville’s do not live that far away and I fear if I were to hear you moan and scream as I tasted you… we would never make it to tea”
Sophie swallowed, sure her entire body was completely red with embarrassment as she decided two could play that game “well then Mr Bridgerton…” she said in what she hoped was a seductive voice… “it is a shame and I would offer to use my mouth and taste you but alas… I fear we will not make tea and I find myself rather… parched right now but if you are a good boy during tea and through supper with your brother and Kate… then perhaps I shall reward you in kind tonight… if you are able to make it to my bedchamber without being caught”
Benedict blinked and looked up from Sophie’s neck where he had been lavishing kisses, shock and arousal evident on his face.
“You… You…” he stammered, unable to find the words as he heard every little innuendo and he felt is cock twitching in his breeches.
Sophie burst into fits of giggles as she saw his face “you minx”
“You started my darling” Sophie replied innocently smoothing down her skirts “perhaps you should sit opposite me rather than next to me so that we are not tempted and you can be a good boy ” she teased
“Minx! Behave” Benedict grumbled as he started trying to think of mathematical computations to get his growing erection to subside.
“You started it” she said sweetly.
“Oh what did I do to deserve such a wonderful wife” he chuckled shaking his head
“Do you need help with that?” she grinned gesturing at his rather obvious bulge
“You just said we do not have time…” Benedict grumbled
“Well no, you said it, I just repeated it, but I was more thinking I could tell you about the time I watched one of the footmen cleaning up after a party and tripping down the stairs with a rather full chamber pot…”
Benedict gagged at the image in his head but it worked, any thought he had about Sophie sucking him, or him disappearing under her skirts, had gone and his erection had gone down quicker than the time he had forgotten to lock the door and his mother had walked into his room when he was 16.
“Oh that… that’s just…” he gagged again but Sophie was too busy giggling away in her seat.
“It worked didn’t it?” she asked innocently.
“I do believe you might be the death of me my love” Benedict said putting an arm over her shoulder as the carriage continued it’s short journey
“Perhaps but you will die a happy man”
“With you by my side for the rest of my life… I absolutely will be a happy man” he smiled warmly, pressing a loving, gentle kiss to her lips.
Sophie smiled, their little chat and teasing had done a lot to make her forget her nerves about meeting Sir and Lady Granville and as the carriage came to a stop Sophie felt perfectly relaxed and she couldn’t help but wonder if that had been part of Benedict’s plan.
“Come on my love, I do not wish for us to be late, Henry’s cook makes wonderful shortbread” Benedict smiled brightly.
The carriage door opened and Benedict alighted first, offering his hand to Sophie who climbed down and looked up at the small townhouse situated about 10 minutes from Mayfair.
It was quaint and reminded Sophie of Benedict’s bachelor lodgings just a little less grand.
Sophie followed Benedict up the stairs and when he knocked the door opened, there was no butler but an older gentleman beamng “Bridgerton! I feared you had gotten lost… or decided not to come!”
“Granville, I would never miss the opportunity to have your cook's shortbread. It will be a while before I am back in London after tomorrow” Benedict grinned at his mentor.
“Come in, come in. I gave the butler and the likes the afternoon off, just a chance to chat you know. Get to know one another” Henry smiled as he peered at the blonde on Benedict’s arm.
“Thank you” Benedict said as he gestured for Sophie to lead the way into the house.
Once in and the door was shut Benedict made the introduction between Sophie and Henry.
“Sir Henry Granville, allow me the pleasure of introducing you to my fiancee, Miss Sophia Beckett… Sophie, this is Sir Henry Granville, my mentor and friend” Benedict said
Sophie bobbed a curtsey and offered her hand to Henry as was custom “It is a pleasure to meet your Sir Granville, Benedict has said such wonderful things about you and your art” Sophie smiled sweetly
“And he has told me such wonderful things about your my dear, and has not done justice to your beauty with his words” Henry smiled “but please… call me Henry, we are amongst friends are we not Miss Beckett”
“Very well Henry, then i insist that you call me Sophie, it is what my friends call me” Sophie smiled
“Come on we best make it into the sitting room before Lucy comes thundering out looking for us” Henry grinned
“Oh I am sure she won’t take lightly to you saying that Henry” Benedict chuckled.
Henry laughed “oh I have no doubt but she was just ensuring the cook made enough biscuits as she knows how much of a fiend you are for them” he said as he led them down the hallway towards their drawing room.
Benedict beamed and Sophie chuckled “perhaps I should ask Lady Granville if her cook would be prepared to give us the recipe”
“If you ask really nicely I am sure she could” Henry said as he opened the door to the drawing room and he led them into the room where Lucy was waiting. She stood instantly and looked at her husband through narrowed eyes
“It does not take that long to open the door, I know James normally answers the door but it isn’t that heavy” Lucy teased
“Sorry dearest, but I couldn’t pass an opportunity to tease Benedict” Henry grinned
“Well that’s even worse, you know you are meant to share in that particular pleasure” Lucy smirked as Benedict walked in the room with Sophie on his arm and Sophie giggled and Lucy looked at her and Sophie felt her entire body go red wondering if it was perhaps a bit inappropriate for her to giggle.
She also wasn’t sure if her blush was due to the fact that her soon to be husband had slept with this woman and she felt a little self-conscious about that. How did one act around a former lover of one’s soon to be husband?
“Lucy, may I present Miss Sophia Beckett… Benedict’s Fiancee… Miss Beckett may I present my wife, Lady Lucy Granville” Henry said making the introductions.
Sophie bobbed a curtsey “it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance Lady Granville” Sophie said, suddenly feeling very timid and shy.
“It’s wonderful to meet you too, Benedict has told us so much about you that I feel we are friends already, so please call me Lucy, I am sure Henry has already told you to call you by his name” Lucy smiled warmly, seeing the way the younger woman was looking a little uncomfortable she wanted to put her at ease as best as she could.
“He did. That would be lovely thank you” Sophie said
“Why don’t we all take a seat as I am sure I can see Benedict about to start salivating at the smell of the biscuits” Lucy laughed gesturing to the sofa.
Sophie laughed “he is a Bridgerton, be grateful it wasn’t Colin or Gregory, they would have been gone already”
“I saw them at your brother and sister’s weddings, I thought the older one was going to swallow the entire plate of sandwiches whole” Henry chuckled
“That would be Colin,” Benedict said as he sat down next to Sophie.
“How do you take your tea Sophie?” Lucy asked
“Milk with two sugars please” Sophie replied politely as Lucy handed Benedict his tea and a plate of the biscuits.
“Thank you,” Benedict said, putting one of the biscuits straight into his mouth and eating it happily.
“So Sophie, Benedict told us a bit about you but I have to say, and I hope you will forgive me for being forward, but you have a remarkable accent for a former housemaid” Henry said
Sophie nearly dropped the tea Lucy was handing to her, she had expected some questions and it had been the one she had been asked most of her life, from the moment she started working for Araminta she had been plagued by people saying she was so well spoken for a maid.
“I…” She stammered
Benedict put his hand on her leg as Henry blushed “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…”
“No… it’s okay” Sophie managed to say. “I…” she blinked, not sure what to say or how to answer and looked at Benedict with a little bit of fear as she had no idea what to do or say.
“You can tell them the truth, out of everyone in London, they won’t say anything I promise” Benedict said.
Lucy and Henry looked at one another confused before Lucy spoke “we… we know what it is like to keep a secret, if you want to share… I promise it will come to our graves with us”
Henry nodded “whatever happens in these walls, stays within these walls and doesn’t get spoken about”
Sophie swallowed, took a sip of her tea. She knew from Benedict had told her that she could trust these people, Henry had kept his own secret for years, Lucy kept that secret and went along with the ruse in public. Lucy had never said anything about the parties or her own affairs and kept her husband’s secret.
Benedict took Sophie’s hand and squeezed them “i trust these two with my life, outside of my family, these are probably the only two i’d trust with the truth”
“Okay…” Sophie replied with a deep breath “will… will you help me?” she asked Benedict who nodded.
Over the next 45 minutes Sophie told Henry and Lucy of her past, the second time she had told her story and probably the last as she had no intention of anyone else ever finding the truth. It would be the last time she spoke of it, the story that Violet had told would be the one that would be her future and her past.
Henry and Lucy listened carefully to what they were being told and did their best to keep the horror of Sophie’s past off their faces.
They were shocked to find out what Sophie had been put through and were stunned even more when Benedict told them how Sophie had punched Lady Penwood.
“Wow” Lucy said in a little awe “I mean… I never liked Lady Penwood… One of the models used to work for her and said she was a bitch… if you’ll pardon my french” she blushed a little
Sophie laughed “I mean… she was to everyone but she really hated me”
“I…” Henry said looking at Sophie with wide-eyed shock.
“What is it?” Lucy asked her husband
“I… i think i may have met you as a child” Henry said blinking rapidly and Sophie looked at him with just as much shock on her face as was one his
“I beg your pardon?” Sophie said “You… how?”
“Well… it was just when I was starting out in the field fresh from University, my father and older brother knew your father… and he asked if perhaps I wanted to come to Penwood to practise my portrait skills. Your father wanted a new one and I remember seeing a small girl, you must have been about 9 years old in the Library, wearing a little white dress, no shoes and hair down climbing on the tables to reach for books”
Sophie gasped, her hands flew to her mouth. “You… You were… you were the one who got Cendrillon down for me!”
“I was! Lord… I had always wondered what had happened to the Earl’s Ward but when I enquired with Lady Penwood…” Henry’s face turned pale and he tasted acid in his mouth
“She told those in the village that knew about me that I’d died…”
“SHE DID WHAT?!” Benedict roared, the last of his biscuits on the plate falling to the floor at his outrage.
“Oh come on Benedict, what else was she going to do? There were precious few people who knew who I was or about my existence. I didn’t… I didn’t realise anyone in London knew about me” Sophie said softly. “But there were people in the village that knew about me, and i’d heard her telling someone about a week after my father’s will was read and she told me about the changes…” she smiled sadly.
“If I had known…” Henry said
“Please… don’t. There is no need to concern yourselves with ifs and what if’s and buts, what matters now is that it is in the past, we need no longer concern ourselves with what occurred in the past. Any of what happened in the past” Sophie said with a smile on her face “I am alive, I am safe and that woman can no longer hurt me”
“You are incredible” Lucy said, a breath of awe leaving her as she chuckled at the “in awe” look of sheer adoration of Benedict’s face “if I was in your shoes I am not sure I’d be so bright and perky about the entire thing”
“The way I look at it, yes I can be bitter about what happened to me but what is that going to achieve? I’ve got so much more to look forward to in my life than I ever thought or dreamed possible… by looking back and sulking on what happened means she won… and I refuse to let her dictate or ruin my life anymore” Sophie replied
“That is a very good attitude to have” Henry replied “though Benedict. I do have a question for you?”
“Yes?” Benedict asked looking at his mentor sceptically
“How on earth did you not realise Sophie was your mystery lady from the ball? I mean… I get that she is slimmer than the pictures you first sketched… but the face…” Henry teased and laughed as Benedict went bright red.
“Don’t tease him, he got enough of that last night from his family. My hair is much shorter than it was back then and the weight has come off my face, not just the rest of my body” Sophie said, defending her soon to be husband.
Henry just smiled and watched the two for a moment with a glance to his wife and they could both see the love and devotion the newly engaged, soon to be wed couple had in front of them.
They sat talking for a little while longer before Henry asked Benedict’s opinion on some art that he was working on and the two gentlemen left the room and Sophie tried not to feel too uncomfortable at being left with the woman who knew Benedict intimately.
Sophie’s fingers started to fidget with the skirts of her dress and Lucy noticed and gave Sophie a small smile “You have no need to be nervous around me…”
“I know it’s just… well… I felt a bit odd around Madame Delacroix yesterday… I’m marrying the man you…” Sophie went red.
“Sophie” Lucy said moving to sit closer to her “as we said earlier, what happens in this house. Benedict was a wonderful experience and I won’t lie, it was a fantastic night but anyone with a pair of eyes can see how utterly devoted he is to you… so I promise you, nothing will ever happen in that area again”
“It’s… I…” Sophie swallowed “it’s not that… well not just that… but I just… wonder if he will eventually get bored of me… he has had such an… array of women to keep him entertained… with just…”
Lucy put her hand on top of Sophie’s “Darling girl, when a man loves a woman, he needs no one else… and he will teach you, and should you feel you need any advice, you can always write to me… I am sure the girls who came to our parties told you things”
Sophie blushed but nodded “they did… I… I find that I am eager to learn”
“Then that is all Benedict will ever need, but if you ever wish to talk, or ask anything you can always write or if you are in London, my door will always be open. Henry wishes to support Benedict in any way he can with his art, and from what he has told us of your encouragement to continue with this work… I am positive we will see a lot of each other over the years to come as Benedict continues to flourish”
Sophie smiled “Thank you Lucy, that is very kind. I do wish to encourage his art, he is so talented! He just lacks confidence”
“Well he could not ask for a more supportive wife” Lucy smiled
Sophie beamed at her “and I believe he could not have more supportive friends, nor could I” Sophie said
Lucy hugged Sophie tightly just as the men reentered the room and Henry chuckled “I think we may find our wives end up as thick as thieves…”
“Don’t you know it” Lucy shot back at them, giving Benedict a wink and Sophie just grinned.
It was an innocent smile but he could see that Sophie had found a friend in Lucy and he was pleased that Sophie had someone outside of their family that knew the truth about her.
Lucy and Henry accepted them for who they were and they accepted Lucy and Henry for who they were. The two couples knew the truth about the other and it was nice for each of them as when Sophie and Benedict would come to London, Sophie would always have tea with Lucy and Henry and Lucy would sometimes come to Wiltshire, sometimes with Lord Wetherby but it was refreshing to be themselves with one another.
Sophie and Lucy would write to one another and Lucy would often include some of her adventures at the latest party her husband hosted and when Lucy found that she was pregnant turned to Sophie for advice.
Lucy and Henry find a place outside of London to raise their daughter Emily, moving further north to York where Henry set up studios and so the two couples saw less and less of one another until Emily turned 19 and they decided it was time for her to make her bow in society…
And they saw one another for the first time in nearly 12 years at the unveiling of Benedict’s fourth work of art being presented to the National Gallery and celebrating its unveiling… for the two sets of parents to realise…
Emily and Charlie… had already met and several months later…The Granville’s and The Bridgerton’s became a family.