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You love Benedict, you have loved him since you were sixteen, your friend since childhood. Mr. Bridgerton and your father had always been good friends, but despite the death of Benedict’s father your families had stayed connected. The one thing that always makes you nervous is when he goes to these untraditional parties for artists. You know there are plenty of beautiful women there and you are always nervous he will find someone else and take her home.
So, when your husband walks through the door of your London home, kindly gifted to you by your father for your wedding as he decided that he much preferred your family’s country estate, you feel a bit more relieved. You approach him, as he staggers his way through the door. You had never seen him so drunk in his life. You know he shouldn’t be walking so help him to his office and set him down on the couch before leaning in for a kiss.
Just before your lips meet his, he places a hand over his mouth shaking his head.
You give him a confused look, before leaning forward again, though he keeps his hand over his lips.
“Can’t,” he mutters shaking his head before let out a rather loud laugh that you can only describe as absolutely adorable. “Married.”
Oh. He thinks you are someone else. You might otherwise be offended, but the fact that he’s refusing to do anything with a woman he believes is not his wife makes you feel better and it leaves a smile on your lips. You still stand by the edge of the couch in case he makes an attempt to go walking off somewhere.
Benedict just keeps shaking his head before letting out another laugh and removing his hand from his lips. “You look just like her. My wife. Would you…” He burps, “happen to secretly have a twin?”
You are still amused, but you shake your head. “No. I only have an older sister.”
Benedict nods, staring up at the ceiling. “Well she’s very pretty. Her eyes shine beautifully. Reminds me of the stars. Makes me feel like I am sitting among the night sky.” He smiles and your heart flutters as he continues talking about you, not realizing who it actually it is. “And her smile!” He places both his hands over his heart, nearly blushing. “What beauty it beholds. What I would not do to make her smile all the time.”
You just nod, smiling from ear to ear, badly wanting to just kiss him, but you have a feeling he will just deny you so you sit and listen to him proudly talk about you.
“She is quite beautiful, pretty, absolutely stunning. More beautiful than Venus herself I dare say. She has this laugh that reminds me of the bells of the most beautiful church. What I could give to hear that every moment of every day.” He smiles, that adorable sweet smile that had you falling in love with him the moment you met the man. “She looks beautiful in everything she wears. Even looks good…” he says the last part at a whisper, but he blushes as he says it making you think he said ‘nude’ which makes you laugh. “She has a heart of gold. I do sketches—did you know that? I think she is nearly every sketch I do these days. I only wish I could capture her beauty more accurately.” He sighs. “She is beyond patient with me. She helped care for me when I was horribly sick even though we had the staff to do that. She has this fire inside her that will warm my heart. She gives me this look when she is upset with me. I tell you I love her more than life itself. She is my best friend and I will happily have her in my company for the rest of my days. I just hope she feels the same way.”
With those words you knew he was completely your’s. Yes, you thought to yourself, I absolutely feel the same way. You have never been so happy to be Mrs. Benedict Bridgerton.