Chapter Text
The sound of the front door of the Bridgerton's home closing behind Colin resonates through the house, tears stream down the dowager Viscountess face when she hears the noise, whilst Anthony settles for pinching the bridge of his nose in a move he often makes when seeking to calm his nerves.
A horse being struck with a wip and its following whine, indicative of the animal's discontent, could be heard even from the drawing room's window which conveniently looked down onto the street; the Viscountess grimaces, murmuring underneath her breath but loud enough to be heard by more than one of those present in the room, "so much for that little shit calling himself a gentleman".
Violet Bridgerton, who now was, once again, sitting in the rooms sofa next to Daphne, who was seeking to placate her, lifted her gaze to look at the occupants of the room, she feels torn, she is not blind to the divide that had grown within her family by product of Colin's actions, actions that she herself condemned. Despite all, till the present day, and until Mrs. Sharpe had placed Eloise's letter in her hands, she had held onto the hope, in her heart, that somehow, her family would find a way to come back together over time; but, if the dowager Countess had thought even for a minute that Anthony might reconsider his stance on for all effects disinheriting Colin in practice, the scoff that left Benedict's mouth in response to Kate's words all but cemented the knowledge that no one within the room save her, held any sort of hope that her third son would exhibit remorse for his actions, that they would move forward without facing more loses, although she knew it an impossible feat to accomplish, because for all her daughter may hope that Theo Sharpe (the boy that held Eloise's heart, against all reason) may be alive somewhere in the continent, she knew the odds did not align with her daughter's hopes. Furthermore, Anthony had not lied, even if by a miracle Eloise were to find Mr. Sharpe, there been other boy, friend of both her daughter and her second born son, who had been caught in Colin's scheming and lost his life.
Auggie's gurgles from the place where he sat on the carpet at the feet of his father made Daphne shift her attention from her mother to her son, the slight movement of the Duchess's body, aiding in bringing back the dowager Viscountess from the recess of her thoughts to the present.
"I need to take my leave", the words that Susan Sharpe utters at Benedict, despite not being loud finish breaking the silence of the room.
More than one Bridgerton and former Bridgerton (for Daphne's surname upon becoming the Duchess of Hasting's changed to Basset) scrambled for words, Kate presses her hand into Anthony's compelling him to speak with Mr. Sharpe's mother, to offer his aid in whichever way he could, at the very least to offer his apologies, even if his words would not solve anything. Violet too seeks words to express her regret, she wishes to know if Eloise had left any other parting words for them, besides the ones she had taken the time to pen down, yet the words and sentences she construes in her mind have no time to travel to her mouth, for next words she hears are those of her second born son:
"Please Susan, do allow me to accompany you home in a carriage", Benedict speaks to Mr. Sharpe's mother with a familiarity that fails to go unnoticed.
"There is really no need, I am quite fond of walking and although the air is crisp, I do think walking home will allow me to gather my thoughts, despite my best intentions and doing what my conscience compelled me to do when coming here, I've never claimed to be a saint Benedict"; nothing of the words in Susan's reply to Benedict is a lie, she stood by her decision to spare the Bridgerton family the anguish that she had not ceased to feel ever, since her son had been illegally conscripted to serve in the military.
Other than the few spare comments Eloise had shared with her, of her elder sister's efforts to exercise her connections to find information of Theo's whereabouts, and her eldest brother's limited efforts upon learning the truth of her son's forced disappearance, truth was that Susan Sharpe knew very little of the reality of Eloise's family life, hearing out loud the words written by the girl she had come to love as a daughter of her own, because of the love she bore for her son and that which he bore for her, breaks her heart, a part of her wonders if her family actually deserved the kindness, but then, she steals a glance at Benedict's face, his eyes are red rimmed, there are bags below them which speak of his concern, and she is reassured of having done the right thing, the walk to Mayfair was justified, if anything to spare him, for she cannot bring herself to deny a modicum of comfort to the man, that in whom, when she looked into his eyes as she finished suturing a wound upon his forehead, she’d seen reflected, the same dreamy and romantic spirit (which others may believe naivitee), that Theo held, that which made men dream of a more equal and fairer world.
"Mrs. Sharpe please, I have wanted to", Anthony struggles for words, he feels the press of Kate's hands in his and that gives him the courage to continue to speak, even if his words come out scattered, "when", he sights and recomposes himself, "after we learned of what transpired with your son, I told Eloise that if you had need for anything to please let me know, and I stand by it, if you want for anything Mrs. Sharpe, if I can be of any help".
"You can indeed do something for me Lord Bridgerton", Susan speaks, and for a moment Anthony hopes that something good will come out of this day, he is prepared to offer gold and whatever else Mrs. Sharpe may need to make it throughout the winter comfortably, he knows it is not enough, but there is not much else he can do, or so he thinks.
"For a start, I would appreciate it if you were to refer to my son by the name I gave him, that is Theodore, though he prefers Theo, for whilst he is indeed my son, he is his own person". Susan's voice is not loud, but neither is that of someone who cowers before others because of whatever titles they may hold.
"Mrs. Sharpe, please, what my family has done to you, to your son, to Theo, I know we cannot remedy with words or gold, but", it is Kate who speaks now, taking over from Anthony who seems as though he was struck in the face, for all that Susan has asked of him is to acknowledge that the injustice upon her son be recognized, that he acknowledges that Theo is (is, because she refuses to believe he no longer exists) a man, skin, bone, soul, and a name, his station in life being lower than that of them, but she wants his humanity to be acknowledged.
"I have no need for your gold Lady Bridgerton", Susan interrupts Kate, "I have my work, which is enough to support myself, there may have been some in your family who thought me no more than a kitchen wench, and whilst there is no shame in household work, for it is a decent job, the truth is that my sewing sufficed, over the years, not only to put a roof over mine and Theodore's head, but also helped me to provide my son with an education, albeit limited, but enough to enable him to apprentice in a high skilled trade and not waste away in the mines, as many good young men do ".
Anthony grimaces upon hearing Susan Sharpe speak the words of 'kitchen wench', the words are specific enough to let him know that she is aware of the words that Colin used to refer to her, and how he embedded them with a despective connotation; she is not outright chastising him nor his family for their wrongdoings, those of his brother, but also his own; for it was him, him who failed to denounce his brother in time, and prevent the tragedy that now befalls both their families, an innocent man likely death in prison, Theodore Sharpe presumed to have fallen in Waterloo, and Eloise and John traipsing in the remains of war-torn Europe. Yes, it been Colin who had started it all, but it been him who had deluded himself into believing that, even if by a miracle, things would find a way to sort themselves, his wrongdoings, had also been grave, upon reflection he could now acknowledge that were his father alive he'd feel ashamed of him, for Edmund Bridgerton had always fought for what was right, not only for his family but for all, he never would of have thought of the Bridgerton name as more valuable than the life of a single human being, "Mrs. Sharpe, please I beg of you, I am aware that not only my brother's actions but my own have cost you greatly and that gold won't compensate the trials you've been through, it won't bring back Theo, nor time, but please, if there is anything I can do".
Susan gives the young Lord a sad smile, before she speaks, his regret indeed has come too late, "Lord Bridgerton, as you have stated, there is nothing to be done at present, all I beg of you is that if you have news from the continent, from Eloise or John, to please let me know, I care deeply for the safety of both, and", she does not get to finish her petition straight away, for Benedict steals the word, "you need not ask, if we are to have news, I shall see to delivering them to you in person".
"Thank you", Susan replies with true gratefulness to Benedict's reassurance, Anthony seconds his brother's words "of course, I know it is much to ask, but please, if you were to receive news before us".
"You can rest assured that I shall see that they are delivered to your family Lord Bridgerton, alas, I did not have a chance to finish my request before", Susan holds her hand in a signature move which begs her interlocutor to allow her to continue to speak without interruption, "I beg that, when the time comes, you do not intervene to spare from the delivery of justice to those who deserve to have it handled to them”.
"You have our word madame", Simon Basset speaks for him and Anthony, who seems shaken by the words that fell from Mrs. Sharpe's mouth, but also at the small smile she had chanced at Daphne who sat besides their mother who remained lost in her grief for the moment, and blissfully unaware of the justice that would come, sooner or later, for her third son.
"Thank you", Susan replies succinct, both Daphne and Simon offer her a nod, whilst Anthony closes his eyes in silent acceptance.
"I do insist on seeing you home Susan, if you will please oblige me, allow me to walk with you", Benedict insists, receiving a nod from Anthony for his gentle disposition.
"Thank you really, I have an errand to run here in Mayfair and I am not entirely sure as to how to get to the place I am going from here, as this is not the usual route I take, I'd be happy if you were to show me the way", Susan concedes.
"Of course", Benedict replies, and after some more goodbye polite exchanges are made, he finds himself on the street besides Susan asking, "Where is it you need to go?"
"I am to visit the Countess Emily Cowper's home, she took notice of my work at the costuming department at the Opera Hall, and has been my client for many years, I believe her home to be just a few blocks away from here, but for the life of me, I cannot seem to centre myself at present", Susan speaks with honesty.
"Indeed, the Cowper's home is just a few blocks away, I personally never been to their home, Daphne used to be friends with Miss Cowper, but their friendship cooled off, and Mother has never really been what you would call 'fond' of Lady Cowper, even before she became 'the Countess of Cowper'".
"I am not surprised", Susan chuckles, and Benedict finds himself mystified, the confusion in his face must be blatant for she explains herself "Emily Cowper is not one to mince her words, I can see many a reason as to why she would not fit amongst your mother's circle of friends, as for Cressida, the girl has not had an easy time, Lord Cowper has never been kind".
Benedict bites his tongue from saying that his mother in fact does not count with many true friends other than Lady Danbury, instead nodding at Susan so she will carry on speaking, but then a frown crosses her face, as if doubting whether she should speak the words or not, in the end, something must have compelled her to trust him, for she speaks "what I am to tell you, you cannot repeat to others, the rumours that circulated all those years ago are true".
"What rumours?", Benedict rarely pays attention to the likes of 'Wisthledown gossip', rightfully deeming it as vulgar, but Susan speaks of a distant past, therefore his blindness to said rumours is even more pronounced.
"I've worked many years for Emily, over time, she has expressed fondness for me, going so far as to extend some of her favour to Theo, providing a doctor for him when he contracted scarlett fever as a child, I believe she does consider me something more than her mere employee, I would not call us friends, but I am certainly fond of her, in the same way, I believe her to be fond of me, so what I am to tell you is in strict confidence", Benedict finds himself nodding at Susan's words
"Cressida Cowper is in truth, the natural daughter of Lord Henry John Temple, the Viscount of Palmerston, he and Emily have stayed true to each other over the years".
"The Secretary at war", the words leave from Benedict's mouth as it all comes together in Benedic'ts brain, Susan's words to Anthony, her request, and her detour in Mayfair.
"Emily has offered me her aid, I did not think to reach out to her following Theo's immediate disappearance because I knew not if what had transpired, otherwise I would not have hesitated to ask for her intervention; afterward, when Eloise and your brother found out the encampment where Theo had been deployed it was too late, she was unable to reach Lord Henry whilst the conflict was ongoing, and for that she has expressed her regret. When the battle was over, we waited for news, until the ones that arrived broke my heart, but now, both Eloise and John have made me hope again", Benedict takes in Susan's words, and slowly starts to tie the various pieces of news he's read the last days to the secrecy of Daphne's mention of the ongoing investigation of corruption within the military.
"The newspaper said a retired soldier shot Lord Palmerston; that the man was mentally ill, and he'd been upset over something having gone wrong with his pension" Benedict recited the words recollecting the news he'd read on the paper in passing, he had never been one to pay much attention to political news, but ever since the war broke and people he cared for got embroiled into it, he had started to pay more attention, he stopped walking at the same time as Susan, just before they were to make a turn into the street where the Cowper's home sat, "the newspaper did not report the true, did it?"
"Lord Henry himself paid for that poor man's legal defense, that is telling in itself; Emily mentioned that he was justly overwhelmed when he learned of how the commission system had been further manipulated to enable illegal conscriptions. I must confess that I initially cared not for Emily's comments on the ongoing investigation of the corruption of the military commission system when she mentioned it; I did not think it would be of any help to find what became of Theo, but now, having come face", Susan pauses, but she need not speak Colin's name for Benedict to understand she is referring to him.
Benedict is expectant of Susan's next words, his intuition hints at what they'll be, and despite not being able to negate that he also fears how far-reaching the consequences of Colin's actions may be when they're disclosed to the world, he cannot blame her, "She is aware of my plight, but till today, I do not know what was it that prevented me from speaking the name of the one who is responsible, despite her insistence, for one reason or other, I thought no good would come from having your family's name implicated and discredited by association to your brother, I had not intended to do so, but after today", Susan closes her eyes and lowers her head, its when she raises up her face once again, and her ees settle upon Benedict's that she speaks resolute, "I cannot let the opportunity to bring justice for Theo and make your brother pay slide by, I intend to take Emily upon her word, I will be giving her your brother's name", she lays out the truth, so that Benedict won't be taken aback by the open persecution of Colin and the scandal that may or may not befall upon the Bridgerton name.
"I am sorry Benedict, but he is my son", Susan places a hand upon his cheek as they turn upon the corner of the street where the Cowper's home sits.
"I understand", Benedict exclaims, and even if it pains him, he knows Susan is in the right, Colin does need to pay.