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Benedict hadn’t meant to fall asleep next to Sophie, he really hadn’t…
Yes, he had been exhausted after their post-bath love making and he had closed his eyes but it wasn’t supposed to be an entire night thing. He had meant to wake up, give Sophie a gentle kiss and take his leave so that his mother would never know that he had been there…
But the fates and the Gods had decided to have a laugh with him and put the fear into him by making him sleep through the entire night with his soon to be wife in his arms…
And Violet… she couldn’t resist. When she had opened the door to Sophie’s room to get her up so she could break her fast and then they could head straight into the Village to get some items for the wedding, she hadn’t expected the scene in front of her.
In the aftermath of the storm and getting Sophie back into the house, getting a bath and what she had assumed was Benedict taking his own bath and then going to sleep, Violet had never even thought that Benedict would have snuck down the hallway to his betrotheds room.
With the entire Bridgerton Family in residence… she didn’t think her son would have done that but alas, she had been wrong.
She wasn’t too mad at them, she knew it had been a long road for them to get to this point but the temptation to scare the living shit out of her son, well that… she couldn’t resist.
~*~
Violet had been filled in on everything she had missed whilst Benedict had run through Aubrey Hall like the hounds of hell were nipping at his feet before he threw himself on his horse and took off after her.
Kate had gotten Sophie a little drunk a few days earlier and she’d spilled the beans on her entire past… all of it.
Kate had spoken to Benedict in an effort to find out if he would marry Sophie, if there was the opportunity… Benedict had jumped at the chance and Kate had left for London the following morning with Daphne, the Viscountess and Duchess meaning business.
Whilst they were away, Benedict learned that Sophie was the Lady In Silver and they had had a huge argument which had been the catalyst for Sophie asking Anthony, as the head of the family, to find her a new position.
Anthony had agreed to help her find something and wrote her a letter, which Benedict had found and resulted in a huge argument between the two brothers, part of which Sophie had overhead and she’d left as Kate and Daphne and returned.
Mrs Gibbons and Humbolt had gone to Violet and explained Sophie had left after saying something about Lord Bridgerton firing her, and she’d ran out in the middle of the storm, on foot, and Violet had barged into Anthony’s office furious with her son thinking he had fired Sophie without talking to her.
It was as she barged in, Kate was explaining to her husband and Benedict about her conversation with Sophie, which Benedict was now aware of the details after his argument with Sophie, and how she’d been to London with Daphne to iron it all out.
Lady Penwood had been well and truly threatened, and with Posy, her youngest daughter giving them the final piece of blackmail they needed (and had brought the young girl back with them for her protection, after Lady P had flown off the handle)
And it turned into chaos as Benedict had utterly panicked that Sophie had left, let alone having left on foot and after yelling at his brother and nearly strangling him thinking he had indeed fired Sophie and it had just been a huge misunderstanding, Benedict had taken off on his horse and found Sophie.
From the brief conversation Violet had with the two of them whilst the maids sorted the bath’s out for the pair, he had found her, they had talked and he explained everything and asked her to marry him.
Violet had learned about the rendezvous at Benedict’s lodgings a few weeks earlier and had explained Anthony had sent off a special licence and they would marry on Monday, providing neither of them came down with a cold.
Sophie was made aware that Posy was there and was now under Violet’s protection as she went off for her bath and to warm up.
Violet had arranged for all of Sophie’s things to be moved to a proper family room rather than a servants room, where she belonged and she had, rather foolishly, assumed that Benedict would not do anything inappropriate in their family home with his siblings around… but she had been wrong.
She knew she would have a lot to do so she’d dressed quickly that morning and went to wake her future daughter-in-law but as she opened the door, she hadn’t expected to find her son, arms around his future bride, her head resting on his chest, both clearly still asleep and his dark green robe on the floor.
There were no other items of clothing strewn around the floor and she could see that Benedict’s chest was bare and she knew without a shadow of a doubt that he had no breeches on, under the coverlet.
She smiled at how adorable they looked together and her heart ached at how much it reminded her of how she used to sleep with Edmund, and just how much her second son looked like his father in that moment…
But the devil in her, couldn’t resist walking over to her son’s side of the bed, her demeanour changing to one of stern seriousness, her brow set as she tapped her son on the shoulder.
“Hmmmmmph” he grunted and with his hand that wasn’t wrapped around Sophie, who Violet was realising was also not wearing any clothing, but thankfully her bosom was covered by her son and the coverlet, swatted at her hand.
She did it again but harder.
“I’m sleeping,” he grunted.
“Benedict William Bridgerton… you better wake up this instant” Violet said, pleased there was a slight edge of irritation to her voice rather than one of amusement.
Benedict’s eyes flew open instantly as he let out a loud curse which caused Sophie to stir, her eyes flew open, saw Violet’s face and she let out a shriek.
“I… I… Lady…” she stammered as she scrambled to cover herself with the coverlet, her entire face going both deathly white and bright red all at the same time as Violet saw the look of complete horror and shame cross her daughter-in-law’s features.
Benedict was trying to stammer some sort of coherent words as Violet, unable to help herself, burst out laughing.
“Sophie dear, it is quite alright… please. Do not worry. I am rather pleased we have the special licence…” she said, chuckling as she made her way to the door “but Benedict, if you are not out of this room by the time I come back with Anna to dress Sophie… I will render your honeymoon pointless. Do I make myself clear?” Violet asked with a pointed look at her son who was almost as brilliant a shade of red as Sophie.
“Yes Mother”
“Oh… and Benedict…” Violet said as Benedict went to cover his face but his eyes flew up to meet his mothers “I’m going to have Sophie’s room moved next to mine… try this again before your wedding…”
“I… I won’t” he stammered, shaking his head and wanting to ground to swallow him whole as Anthony and Kate made their way past the door, glanced at what Violet was looking at, burst into laughter as Sophie buried her face into her pillows.
Benedict waited til his mother closed the door, grabbed his robe and after profuse apologies to Sophie, kissing her and promising it will all be okay, he ran out of the room only to find Anthony waiting for him in his room still chuckling heartily.
Sophie on the other hand, spent the day entirely mortified and hardly talking despite Violet’s assurances that it was fine and that she didn’t have anything to be ashamed of. Violet had decided not to inform Sophie that she was aware of their previous entanglement.
Kate had assured her that she and Anthony, as well as Daphne and the Duke had been found in far worse positions… at least they weren’t in the middle of the act… but it didn’t do anything to quell Sophie’s despair.
It was later that evening that Violet, having overheard Sophie talking to Benedict about why she felt so ashamed, did manage to talk Sophie around and out of her embarrassment.
Benedict had tried to ask for his mother’s permission to just sleep next to Sophie and promised to keep his hands to himself but Violet just glared at her son until he had hung his head and stomped off like he had done as a petulant child having his art supplies taken off him for trying to sit on two year old Colin’s head.
Violet knocked on Sophie’s door a little after they had retired for the evening, having attained Benedict’s promise he would not try and sneak into Sophie’s room again, no matter how much he wanted to.
There was the tiniest squeak of “come in” from Sophie was sitting staring at her new clothing and goods that had been purchased for her during the shopping trip and Violet noticed how red Sophie went.
“Oh Sophie dear, You have nothing to be ashamed of, I assure you, many women have anticipated their wedding nights and more will do so I am sure…” Violet said in a motherly tone “and doing so just saves me having to have a little erm… pre-wedding night chat ”
Violet had been sure the colour on Sophie’s cheek’s couldn’t get redder but she had been wrong.
“But seriously, I understand why you’re so upset and ashamed but I assure you, you are not any sort of fallen woman and should you have conceived a child, it would not matter, you are to marry in a few days time, most people will assume, much like Anthony is, that your child is a honeymoon period baby” Violet said
Sophie just blinked at her. “But…”
“No buts. No one will be aware of your past outside of the family. Lady Penwood will not breathe a word should she value her reputation, and that of Rosamund…” Violet explained “and she will never bother you again. As far as the world is aware, Charles and Jane Beckett are your parents, who both died a few years ago, the reason why you did not return to London after the masquerade and why you left in a hurry…”
Sophie blinked “but… if…”
“There is no way anyone else would be any the wiser. Daphne and Kate have done a wonderful job with the story and Lady Danbury is prepared to vouch for you as well. Noone outside of the Bridgerton family will be aware of the truth… you need not be ashamed of your birth Sophie. It is not who you are… and who you are… is an incredible kind hearted woman who despite everything you’ve been through, is the sweetest, most gentle soul. You are exactly the kind of woman I wanted for Benedict and I see why he has adored you from the off… Never be ashamed to love one another Sophie. Physical intimacy is as much a part of that as everything else. It is not the easiest of things for me to talk about but I know love when I see it”
Sophie watched the older woman in fascination and felt something stirring inside of her as she listened.
“Benedict is different to his siblings, he’s always seen what others need, he’s cared for everyone and been a source of comfort for me and his siblings when he has had no one and it fills me with shame to realise that i’ve not perhaps always been the mother he deserved, relying on him when he needed me almost as much as I needed him. He reminds me so much of his father, not just in his looks but the way he loves so please… never hide from that. Benedict has a lot of love to give and I see the way you look at him, the way you looked at him when you thought no one was looking, in the same room but ocean’s apart” Violet continued.
“You see Benedict for who he is, rather than for who his family is, for what he could offer you. Much like he loves you for who you are, not because of your past but because of your heart and soul and it's why you need to leave your past where it is… it does not define you sweetheart. You need never be ashamed to be yourself with us, Benedict loves you for who you are… and the girls and I adore you for all of the same reasons” Violet finished, placing a motherly hand on Sophie’s cheek to wipe away the few tears that were shimmering in her eyes.
“Thank you” was all Sophie managed before she threw herself into Violet’s arms, and for the first time in her life… experienced a mother’s love.
As Violet left the room, she was sure she saw a swish of a very familiar dark green robe whipping back around the corner and laughed, “like father like son” she sighed wistfully as she made her way back into her room.
She could have gone after him and scolded him but damn it, they were far too bloody cute… and she knew how much she wished she could spend just one more night in Edmund’s arms… so who was she to stop Benedict wanting his love in his arms.