Work Text:
“Your fiancé is very sweet.”
Having been lost in her thoughts at that very moment, worrying, Sophie snapped back to reality, looking up towards where the voice had come from.
“Sorry?” she asked.
“Your fiancé,” the nurse clarified, smiling sweetly as she tucked the blanket around Benedict’s sleeping form. “You two must be very happy.”
Sophie looked towards Benedict, snoozing quietly in the hospital bed next to her, his left hand held tightly in hers, his right hand and two fingers covered in cotton and blue fiberglass. Blue because it was her favorite color as he’d said, something Sophie had told him was not true because green was her favorite color and blue was his, but the additional pain killers the nurses had given him when he arrived at the hospital had made Benedict pretty nonsensical.
He looked so peaceful as he slept. Chest rising and falling at a steady beat. Sophie was grateful he was no longer conscious and in pain, the drugs had only been able to provide so much comfort as the orthopedic doctor spent almost an hour trying to reset the bones in his hand. Just to avoid surgery. Benedict had grimaced and groaned throughout it, teeth gritted as the muscles in his jaw tightened with each jerk and move the doctor made, it had left Sophie wincing on his behalf as she watched, sitting at his side and squeezing his good hand while the doctor worked. It was what any good girlfriend would do.
Which is why she was confused by the nurse saying he was her fiancé.
Looking back towards her, Sophie frowned. “He’s not my fiancé,” she told her. “He’s my boyfriend.”
“Oh, sorry,” the nurse replied quickly, looking surprised. “He said you were his fianceé earlier so I just assumed–”
“It’s alright,” she assured her. “I think it’s just the drugs making him a little loopy.”
“Well, he seems to care about you a great deal,” the nurse said back, smiling again.
Sophie forced herself to smile politely back, but, in all honesty, she wasn’t entirely sure about that. Tonight had been, for all intensive purposes, a shit show. She didn’t think Benedict ever wanted to speak to her again after how she’d behaved. She didn’t think his family ever wanted to see her again. Not after what she’d done.
God, she’d so thoroughly and royally screwed up, hadn’t she? Made a complete and utter ass of herself in front of Benedict’s entire family. They must be furious with her right now.
It was probably better she just ended it. Her stepmother was right, getting back together with Benedict was a mistake. It wasn’t going to work out. All she was doing was just delaying the inevitable.
Once Benedict woke up and the drugs had worn off, she would tell him he didn’t need to worry about breaking up with her. She’d end things then and there, and they could just go their separate ways. Like they’d done once before. All of this was just confirmation about how stupid she’d been to even think it would work with Benedict. No matter how much her heart felt like it was breaking away into tiny pieces, that she’d been right to believe it was all too risky. She was always going to get hurt.
And then her phone buzzed.
| Twenty Four Hours Early |
Unknown: Whore
Unknown: If you think I’ll let u get away with this you're wrong.
15 missed calls from Unknown Number.
7 voicemails from Unknown Number.
Unknown: Ur nothing but a bastard.
Unknown: U r a slut just like ur dead mother and he’ll realize that 2.
12 missed calls from Unknown Number.
5 voicemails from Unknown Number
Unknown: U should b grateful ur father isn’t around to see this.
“This will be enough,” Agatha Danbury assured her simply, as she flicked a perfectly manicured nail over the screen of Sophie’s phone. Her nails were long and sharp, a dark wine color, matching the shade of lipstick the older woman was wearing today.
And Agatha’s lips were pursed as she read over the text messages Araminta had been sending her, a look of disdain carved into her already cold features. All the messages she was reading were from the past week. Ever since Sophie had been bailed out of jail and the charges against her of theft and burglary were dropped. The messages she was scrolling through barely scratched the surface of the years of harassment she had on her old, decrepit iPhone. All from her stepmother.
“We can probably get her for harassment now as well as fraud,” Agatha told her. “And this should be enough for a restraining order. I’ll file it today. Unfortunately, for now, all you can do is block the numbers, or get a new phone. If you choose to keep the phone, make sure you keep any messages you get. Especially the voicemails. We’ll use them in court.”
Sophie nodded her understanding.
Noticing how silent she’d been throughout the meeting, Agatha gave her a comforting smile, reaching over to lay a hand on top of hers.
“How about you go tell that lovestruck boyfriend of yours to take you shopping and to buy you a new phone,” she suggested, the smile on her face shifting to mischievous, knowing smirk.
“Oh,” Sophie shook her head. “I couldn’t ask him to do that–”
Before she could say anything else, Agatha was pressing a button on her phone.
“Coral, please send Mr. Bridgerton in,” she said into the intercom system.
“Yes, Mrs. Danbury,” the voice of Agatha’s secretary, Coral, chirped from the other end, and it only took a few seconds for the office door to open and Benedict quickly slipping into the room.
“Everything alright?” he asked, slowly approaching the desk.
Agatha nodded, leaning back in her chair. “We’re just about done here. I’ll be filing a restraining order on Ms. Baek’s behalf as well. With the messages she showed me, it’s evident we get one in place for her ASAP. But I’m going to need to keep this phone in the meantime to be safe, so I suggested it be a good idea for her to get a new phone and a new number.”
Like a little soldier receiving orders, Benedict nodded. “Of course.”
Sophie sighed. “I can buy my own phone,” she told them.
“Consider it an early birthday present,” Benedict replied, kissing the top of her head. His hand came to rest on her back.
“My birthday was two months ago,” she reminded him and behind her Agatha softly chuckled.
“Then it's a late birthday gift,” Benedict clarified with an easy shrug.
“Get out of here you two lovebirds,” Agatha ordered, shooing them out. “Before the shops close.”
“Thank you again for meeting with me, Mrs. Danbury. I truly appreciate it,” Sophie said for the fourth time since the meeting had started, rising from her seat. “And I truly appreciate all the help you're doing for me.”
“It was lovely to meet you Ms. Baek,” Agatha returned with a smile. “I’ll contact you when I have an update.”
Familia Bridgerton
Violet added Sophie to the chat.
Violet: Hi Sophie. I thought it would be easier just to put u in the main family chat so you could get everyone’s numbers again here instead of everyone just individually texting you.
Violet: Everyone please say hello and add your names so that Sophie knows who's who. She had to get a new phone so her number changed.
Sophie: Hello 👋
Hyacinth: Sophie already texted me and got mine so were good ☺️☺️
Eloise: Eloise
Daphne: Hi Sophie. This is Daphne.
Simon: Simon. Daphne’s husband.
Francesca: Hi Sophie. Francesca here 🙂
Kate: This is Kate. Anthony’s wife.
Anthony: Anthony.
Gregory: This is Colin
Violet: That’s Gregory, Sophie.
Colin: I’m Colin
Colin: You do this all the time, Gregory.
“You’re sure I don’t need to bring anything tonight?”
“Just your beautiful smile,” Benedict told Sophie as he pressed a kiss against her cheek.
“Benedict, I’m being serious,” she told him.
“As am I,” her boyfriend returned with a chuckle, wrapping his arms around her. “It’s fine. Daphne always brings the food and my mother always has enough booze in the house to open up her own liquor store.”
They were back at the apartment, after buying a new phone which Benedict had only been able to convince her to pay for half of. Sophie had been adamant that they would split the cost and she’d pay him back later, much to his annoyance. She refused to let him pay for it entirely. Had since they started dating–since back when they met again out in the countyside–it was halfway or he couldn’t pay at all. But that was over now and now they were busy preparing for tonight’s events.
Bridgerton Family Game Night. A rather big ordeal in Benedict’s family, according to him and his siblings.
And it was Sophie’s first time attending one.
The game still had to be picked but Benedict had it on good authority that it would be Pictionary. His mother was choosing, since she had been the one to decide they could have another game night after their Password Kerfuffle years before, and she’d alluded to him she was going to pick his game.
Historically, Benedict had always won whenever they played Pictionary. Starting from when he was seven years old and had absolutely decimated his older brother while paired up with their father. He was so good, his siblings had all collectively voted to ban the game and the game would always mysteriously be misplaced whenever a game night occurred. Only to reappear, unsurprisingly, days later back in its original spot.
The biased bastards. It wasn’t Benedict’s fault he was the only sibling blessed with artistic skills.
But their mother held the ultimate veto power in their family, ever since the Risk Revolution of ‘09, and if she chose Pictionary there was nothing the others could do about it.
“I feel like I should at least bring flowers or something,” Sophie remarked.
“It’s fine, Soph,” Benedict assured her. “You really don’t need to worry.”
“I love you Benedict, but for some reason I can’t shake this feeling that I should do something. Something just feels off,” Sophie replied. “I just feel like something is going to go terribly wrong tonight.”
But Benedict only laughed. “It’s family game night. What could possibly go wrong?”
Familia Bridgerton
Violet: Alright, I’ve picked the game for tonight.
Violet: Pictionary 😄
Benedict: ♥️♥️
Benedict: Wonderful choice as always mum
Colin: Oh for God’s sake
Gregory:
Hyacinth: Mother.
Hyacinth: Mother. Why have you forsaken us??
Simon Bassett to Penelope Featherington
Simon: It’s Pictonary
Penelope: 😫😫😫
Penelope: Omg is she trying to convince Sophie to leave him??
Simon: I’m thinking the lack of marriage proposal from Benedict is beginning to drive her crazy.
| Later that Day |
“Sophie! It’s so wonderful to see you!” Violet beamed as she moved forward and wrapped Sophie into a tight, welcoming hug.
“It’s good to see you as well Violet,” Sophie replied as she hugged the older woman back.
In the chaos of the past few weeks, she hadn’t had much of a chance to see her former employer. Her and Benedict getting together, getting falsely arrested, getting out of jail with help from Benedict and Violet, and then her and Benedict getting together, Sophie hadn’t had a lot of time to check in with the other Bridgertons. It was nice to finally get a moment to breathe and relax.
“Come in. Come in,” Violet motioned for them to come into Number 5.
As they entered and took off their coats, before following Violet into the back of the house and into the kitchen, where most of the family seemed to be in the midst of celebrating, pouring drinks and preparing snacks for the night. Chatting amongst themselves or ordering other siblings about.
“Good to see you again,” Daphne said as she hugged Sophie.
“Same to you,” Sophie replied. “Do you need help with anything?”
“Colin got a keg!” Gregory announced to them from the other side of the room, practically vibrating with excitement.
“A mini keg,” Daphne quickly clarified as she pulled a tray of pigs in blankets out of the oven. “And you are going nowhere near it.”
“But–” Gregory started.
“No buts,” Anthony finished, speaking sternly over his shoulder from where he was by the kitchen table, pouring himself a drink. “You are not even remotely old enough to be drinking. End of story.”
Benedict came over to where his brother was, clapping him on the back as a way of saying hello as he started to pour himself a drink as well. While Sophie began helping Daphne with the appetizers and setting them up onto the trays Eloise and Francesca were helping to carry into the living room. The house filled with chatter and laughter as they set up for the night's events.
“Colin and I are heading upstairs to relax before the game,” Anthony told him. Their pre-game tradition. Glass of whiskey and a round of mockery as to piss each other enough their competitiveness streak would ignite, before they would join the others. “You coming?”
“Yeah, be there in a second,” Benedict replied, seeing that Sophie was safe and comfortable, chatting away happily with his sisters.
Eloise Bridgerton to Penelope Featherington
Eloise: Hey. Hate to be a bother but can you go find Colin and ask him where he hid the Pictionary board? He’s not responding to my messages and Mum will kill me if I don’t find it.
Penelope: Sure
“You know I’m now on my own,” Colin told them with a disappointed sigh. “Single tonight and single in life. Because you two can't keep it in your pants. Who am I supposed to go to Glastonbury with now?”
He was slumped in one of the leather seats that always sat in their father’s old office, pouting at them both like a petulant child would. His glass of whiskey hung loosely, far too loosely for Anthony’s liking, from his hand as he rested his wrist on the arm of the chair. He’d been loudly complaining for the past ten minutes, that they both sucked ass for getting into relationships.
“Why don’t you ask Penelope out then,” Anthony suggested simply. “I’m sure she would go with you.”
Benedict nodded in agreement. “You two are practically two peas in a pod. And she likes you enough for some reason.”
But Colin just laughed loudly at the suggestion, waving them off. “Penelope? Why on earth would I ask her?” he asked them, dismissively.
Anthony and Benedict exchanged pointed glances with one another. As if Penelope's crush on their younger brother wasn’t well apparent to their entire family except for Colin (and Eloise somehow). Both of the elder Bridgerton sons had begun questioning whether or not Colin also had feelings for her too, based on how they’d seen the pair interacting as of late. But whether it was out of ignorance or denial, they had yet to figure out.
“Because you’re friends,” Anthony pointed out.
“That’s always a good foundation to have with a partner,” Benedict added.
“She’s Eloise’s friend. Not mine,” Colin corrected with a shrug. “I assure you both, I have no interest in ever asking Penelope out. I’m fine with how things are between us.”
“Oh!” a soft voice breathed out, quiet enough it had only been heard due to the silent lull that followed Colin’s comment.
They all turned and found Penelope standing in the doorway behind them, eyes wide and a stunned, hurt expression of her round face. She looked winded. As if she’d been punched in the gut. And it didn’t take a genius to realize she’d heard everything they’d just said.
And Colin, realizing, had quickly lost his dismissive jovial air, sitting up in his seat and quickly stuttering out. “Pen, I didn’t mean it like–”
But Penelope had already spun around and walked away, as quickly as she could, to which Colin jumped up and tried to follow.
“Pen, wait!” he called out, disappearing into the hallway.
Benedict and Anthony watched awkwardly, brows raised, as their brother raced after her. It was followed by what sounded like hushed arguing occurring at the end of the hall, another bad sign. They couldn’t make out the words, only Penelope’s voice furiously saying something to their brother, before Colin let out another “Penelope wait!” and footsteps descended the stairs.
“Well, he’s fucked,” Benedict announced after a moment, taking a sip of his drink.
“Maybe he’ll finally come to his senses,” his brother replied.
Benedict chuckled at the suggestion. “That will be the day.”
“How are things with you and Sophie going?” Anthony then asked. “Enjoying the honeymoon period?”
“Good. Busy, but good.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean the lawsuit with her stepmother has been taking up a lot of her time, and then having to move all her stuff into my apartment. And also help Posy move out of her mom’s. We haven’t had that much time to spend together. Just her and I,” he explained. “And now the gallery showing is only a month away. Which has been taking up a lot of my time, which I hate. Because it means more time away from Sophie. But I need to get these last two paintings done so I can get them over there in time. You’re going to attend, right?”
Anthony hummed, a familiar hum he’d heard before, and Benedict could only sigh.
“Yes, brother?” Benedict asked.
His older brother only shook his head. “Nothing, I’m just surprised that you’re still committing to this.”
“Well, this gallery showing has been planned for a few months now,” Benedict reminded him, trying to hold back as much sarcasm as possible. “Be pretty shitty of me to pull out now.”
Anthony sighed, taking a deep breath. “I didn’t mean it like–”
“I know exactly how you meant it brother,” Benedict quickly interrupted, pushing himself up out of the seat and heading to the door.
“Benedict!” his brother objected behind him, but he’d already slipped out the door and down the stairs. Left alone now, Anthony only let out a quiet curse. This was exactly what he’d been trying to avoid.
Colin Bridgerton to Penelope Featherington
Colin: Pen, I’m really sorry. I swear I didn’t mean it like that. You’re one of my closest friends. Of course I care about you.
Colin: Can we please talk?
Colin: Pen?
The game was able to get off without further incident. Colin’s attempt at hiding the game had been revealed, leading to him being read the riot act by his mother as the others finished setting up the game and snacks on the coffee table.
For the most part, partners were paired up together, except for Kate and Anthony. Simon and Penelope had successfully been able to convince the pair to team up with others this time; Kate with Hyacinth and Anthony with Francesca. Meaning Colin and Gregory had teamed up together, while Eloise paired up with Penelope. Since Penelope, pointedly, refused to team up with Colin. Odd, given she usually always asked him to be her partner.
And Sophie was, unsurprisingly, paired up with Benedict.
“You know I’m not really good at drawing, right?” she told him gently as she stared at the game’s set up. She’d been worrying about tonight for the past few days, especially since she didn’t find out the game they were playing until tonight.
Pictionary hadn’t been a common game she played growing up, not that she ever really played board games. Or did all that well in her art classes. Her father would occasionally play Go with her, since it was one that could be played in silence and Sophie seemed to be the only one in the house with the same level of skill as him.
When she was little, she and Posy would sometimes play Pretty Pretty Princess. Whenever Araminta and Rosamund were out on one of their mommy-daughter dates. But even then, it usually led to her and Posy just playing dress up for the most part with the different accessories and pretending to be royalty instead of playing the game.
And with how the others had been talking about Game Night, Sophie had picked up quickly that they took it very seriously.
“We’ve got this in the bag,” Benedict whispered an assurance to her as the game began, kissing her on the cheek. “I know it.”
Simon Bassat to Penelope Featherington
Simon: Okay. So far so good.
Penelope: If they all keep this up we might be okay tonight.
Penelope: Maybe we get lucky and they don’t scare Sophie into never speaking to any of us again.
Simon: 🤞🏾🤞🏾🤞🏾
“How is that supposed to be a unicycle?” Gregory declared loudly, shocked.
“Shut it, fetus,” Eloise snapped as she continued cleaning the board.
“I’m impressed, El. You somehow made a unicycle look vulgar,” her littlest sister added. Leading to a chorus of ‘stop it, Hy’ or ‘knock it off’ from their siblings.
And to which Eloise responded by throwing the white board pen at her. It hit Hyacinth in the chest, bouncing off her and onto the floor, where it rolled towards Violet.
“And you’re annoying!” she shot at her.
“Eloise Bridgerton!” Violet warned. “Enough!”
Furious at the slight, tensions already having begun boiling between the two over the last two round, Hyacinth picked up her half drunk can of coke and threw it at her sister. Who just so happened to be sitting near to where Eloise was standing. But Sophie, thankfully, dodged at the last second, letting out a small squeak as she did. Benedict pulled her away at the same time and smacked the silver can aside mid air before it could even come close to hitting her. It made an impact with the ground behind the coach. Spilling carbonate dark liquid over the clean, beige carpet.
“Hyacinth!” Violet yelled, aghast. Daphne was already on her feet with paper towels, rushing over to clean the mess before it left a stain.
“Oh. My. God,” Eloise said slowly, stunned by her younger sister’s actions. “You’re actually insane.”
“I hate you!” Hyacinth yelled at her. “You’re my least favorite sister.”
“That’s enough! Both of you,” Violet yelled, silencing the pair before their fight could continue. Taking a deep breath, she turned and said. “Benedict and Sophie, it's your guy's turn. Let’s all calm down and let them have their turn.”
Benedict nudged Sophie in the side supportively, giving her a crooked smile. “We’ve got this,” he said, handing her the pen.
Sophie hoped he was right.
Simon Bassett to Penelope Featherington
Simon: Jesus christ she can’t draw
Penelope: I know
Simon: I know she said she was bad at art but this.
Simon: this is bad
Penelope: I know
Simon: PENELOPE SHE CAN’T DRAW ANYTHING!!!
Simon: Ben’s going to lose his mind!
Penelope: I KNOW!
“A comet!”
“No.”
“An alien?”
“No.”
“Um…uh…an octopus!” Benedict yelled out at the last second, noticing the sand in the timer was about to run out.
But Sophie shook her head once more. “No, but your close–”
“And that’s time!” Anthony gleefully announced, slapping the table in his excitement. His voice cut them off, preventing Benedict from having another chance to guess.
Sophie cringed as she watched Benedict’s face fall into his hands. They’d only been able to one more measly point that round, with Sophie’s lack of artistic skills making it difficult for Benedict to discern what her drawings were. While Benedict had no issue with drawing the different items, only needing to make a few lines before Sophie made her guess, and she was always right on the first go. But the moment it was her turn, Benedict found himself at a loss over what exactly it was she was drawing.
And now, Sophie’s anxiety was slowly beginning to get the better of her. Feeling embarrassed and making her already terrible drawings worse.
Her boyfriend let out an exasperated groan, realizing they were now three points away from being in the bottom (behind Kate and Hyacinth), before rubbing his hands over face and sitting back up.
“What exactly is that?” he asked her, voice tight, pointing at the board behind her.
“Um…a starfish,” Sophie told him, glancing over her shoulder at the very poor attempt she’d made at drawing one.
Benedict blinked, looking from her to what was essentially a scribble on the white board behind her, before taking a deep, deep breath and holding it in for a moment. His hands clenched into tight fists on his lap.
“Okay. It’s fine,” he said calmly. “We’ll try again next round.”
Signior BeneDICK, nobody marks you
Francesca: Is it just me or does anyone else think we should separate Benedict and Sophie right now???
Francesca: I’m worried he’s about to seriously upset her.
“Okay, that’s it! I can’t do this,” Benedict announced, loudly, rising to his feet. “You’re drawings are abominably shit, Sophie. I can’t work with this.”
Simon pressed his clenched fist to his mouth, biting down hard to prevent himself from saying anything. He caught Penelope in the corner of his eye, the redhead currently covering her face in disbelief. They should have seen this coming. Should have stopped the two from pairing up the moment Sophie had mentioned she couldn't draw while she was helping out in the kitchen.
Meanwhile, Sophie, stunned by her boyfriend’s sudden declaration, could only blink in surprise as she watched him turn away from her. She didn’t even have a chance to say anything in her defense as he loudly said. “Kate! You wanna swap?”
Sitting on the couch across from him, Kate’s brows popped up in surprise as she looked up at him. “I’m sorry?”
“Do you want to swap partners?” Benedict clarified. “I swap Sophie for you.”
“Benedict,” Violet gasped from where she was sitting next to Kate.
“Oh no. No way. You do not get to swap partners mid game,” Anthony yelled, inflamed. “I will not allow this.”
But Kate, who didn’t even need time to make her decision, ignored them.
“Absolutely I will,” she replied, knowing there was now a chance for her to at least beat her husband in the ranking if she paired up with Benedict now. With their combined skills, they could probably even place second behind Simon and Daphne.
Rising from her seat, Kate crossed over to where Benedict was sitting next to Sophie. To where Sophie was awkwardly watching them with a confused look, having not fully realized what had just happened.
“Benedict, you can’t just swap partners,” Violet scolded her son.
“Rule 7 of the Bridgerton Game Night Terms of Engagement. Two losing teams are allowed to swap partners if all parties agree,” Benedict parroted to her, glaring at his older brother as he spoke. Rules their father had written up with his siblings decades prior.
Pinching the bridge of her nose, Violet muttered something that sounded like ‘I hope you’re happy up there, Edmund’ before looking over at Sophie and giving her a gentle, polite smile.
“Sophie, do you want to swap partners?” she asked, pleading silently with her eyes that Sophie would say no.
But the poor girl didn’t seem to notice. Looking like a lost baby deer, glancing between them all, Sophie hesitated. Unsure of what she should do. She wanted Benedict to win, and knew she was holding the team down, but she couldn’t ignore the pang of hurt stabbing her stomach. Was she really that bad?
“Sophie?”
“Um…I don’t mind,” she finally politely said, not wanting to cause further strife. A response which had six of the Bridgerton siblings groaning in despair.
Benedict kissed her cheek. “You’re the best,” he said.
Realizing she had to give up her seat next to Benedict so Kate could sit next to him, Sophie rose up to her feet and crossed over to the couch. Taking the spot that had opened up next to Hyacinth. Still not one hundred percent certain she had just heard what she'd heard.
“It’s fine, Sophie,” the youngest Bridgerton told her. “We’ll put these assholes in their place.”
Elders AF (NO infants allowed)
Eloise: I’m sorry.
Eloise: Since when did Hyacinth become a code breaker?
Daphne: I’m actually shocked.
Colin: Sorry, we all saw that right??
Colin: Like what the fuck just happened??
Anthony: Do you feel happy about your partner choice now Benedict?!
Benedict: Since I’m currently kicking your ass? Yes. Yes I am 🖕🏻
“A plane!”
“Yes!” Sophie replied, relieved. She grabbed another folded piece of paper off the table and began reading it. Ready to draw the next item.
“Time!” Anthony grumbled at them loudly, a second before the sand had run out. Not that it had mattered.
Hyacinth let out a high pitched squeal, cheering as she high-fived Sophie, who was returning to her seat. Somehow the pair were a dream team, able to identify the other's drawings like they were psychically connected. Much to the stunned surprise of the others in the room. They’d just gained six points during that round. Meaning they had just snatched fourth from Anthony and Francesca. Benedict and Kate had already snatched it from them a round earlier, now in second and neck in neck with Daphne and Simon for first.
“You two have to be cheating,” Gregory commented, stunned by what he’d just witnessed. Something the other Bridgertons were also beginning to believe. There was no way Hyacinth alone could tell what Sophie’s drawings meant.
Hyacinth scowled at him. “You’re just jealous that I understand Sophie better than the rest of you do,” she snapped at him, annoyed. “But I’m not surprised at all that we're beating you all. Sophie and I are like this,” she said, crossing her fingers.
“Children, please,” Violet said, rubbing her temples as she took another sip of her wine. Having long realized her mistake in allowing this night to occur. “Who’s next?”
“Eloise and Penelope,” Anthony replied.
As the pair jumped up from their seats, Eloise giving her partner some last minute tips, Sophie took it as an opportunity to check her phone quickly. Finding a message had come through during the last round.
Missed call from Agatha Danbury
Agatha Danbury to Sophie Baek
Agatha: Sophie, do you have a moment? My apologies for reaching out so late, but I wanted to speak with you about this sooner than later.
“Um…I’m just going to use the restroom quickly,” she told her partners, getting up from the couch.
She left the room before anyone could confirm they heard her. Only Francesca seemed to notice her leave. The others were two absorbed watching the argument that had broken out between Kate and Anthony. After Kate noticed him calling time two seconds early.
And Sophie waited till she was in the bathroom upstairs before calling Agatha back.
Anthony Bridgerton to Colin Bridgerton
Anthony: We need to stop this.
Anthony: I am not losing to Kate again.
Colin: Agreed.
Colin: We need to take Benedict out of the game. I love him, but this isn’t a fair fight with him playing.
Colin: Any ideas?
Anthony: I may have one.
“Hello?”
“Ms. Baek,” Agatha’s voice rang through the phone. “Apologies for the late night call, but I thought it best to update you on where we stand on the case. I didn’t want you to accidentally hear from Bridgertons before I had a chance to speak with you directly, but some new information recently came to light.”
“Oh!”
“Unfortunately, it's not good news.”
“I see…”
“We were able to track down Mr. Selwin, your father’s solicitor,” Agatha explained. “Unfortunately he passed away about two years ago.”
Sophie felt her stomach drop. Mr. Selwin was the only other witness to the will being signed besides Araminta. The only other person who could confirm the one she’d been showing off for years was a forgery.
“His son has since taken over his practice,” Agatha continued. “And he’s agreed to check the records belonging to his father. To see if he still has his copy of your father’s will. If he does that will be enough to prove the will Araminta has been showing is fake. If not, if we can’t find a copy, it will be our word against hers. Posy’s testimony will help, but will have a bigger battle without this.”
“Okay,” was all Sophie could get out.
“I know it isn’t what you wanted to hear,” Agatha said. “But I’m hopeful that we’ll get what we need for the suit. But I did get the restraining order filed. The hearing will be Tuesday. We’ll go over everything then as well.”
“Of course, thank you.”
“I’m sorry this wasn’t the update you wanted. That I didn’t have better news.”
“No, no, I understand,” Sophie said. Her stomach twisted into a tighter knot.
This was a mistake. The lawsuit. She should never have filled it. It was just going to create bigger problems for her, and for Benedict. It was stupid of her to believe–
“Ms. Baek?” Agatha’s voice cut in, sounding concerned.
“Sorry?”
“Are you alright, Ms. Baek?”
“Of course. I’ll be fine. Thank you so much for letting me know,” Sophie quickly said, wiping the water she felt building in her eyes.
“You shouldn’t have to deal with this alone,” Agatha told her. “Take care of yourself tonight and if you need anything, don’t hesitate to call.”
“I will. Thank you Ms. Danbury,” Sophie repeated her thanks again.
Agatha said a gentle goodbye, reminding her to go spend time with Benedict and to have fun, before hanging up. Leaving Sophie to stand awkwardly and quietly in the far too big half bath Number 5 had.
And cry.
Anthony Bridgerton to Colin Bridgerton
Anthony: You got it?
Colin: Yeah, bringing it now.
“Deep breaths, Baek. Deep breaths,” Sophie said as she stared at herself in the mirror. She took another deep breath, filling her lungs with air before blowing all of it out of her mouth. Hoping it would help her finally stop crying and focus on cleaning up her face.
A knock on the door snapped her from her thoughts.
“Sophie? Are you alright?” It was Francesca.
Quickly clearing her throat as she wiped her eyes again with another tear soaked tissue, Sophie tried to make herself sound as if she hadn’t spent the past few minutes crying.
“Yes,” she replied, voice croaking immediately and making her clear her throat once more. The second time round she sounded better as she called out. “One moment.”
Blowing her nose once more and tossing all the evidence into the toilet, since denial had always been easier for her than asking for help, Sophie flushed it all away and turned to the sink. Washing her hands and dabbing some cold water under her eyes to help with the swelling. Sophie made sure to do as much as she could in the short amount of time she had to conceal her upset.
Her eyes were still red and swollen, her cheeks flushed pink, but Sophie hoped the dim lights in the hallway outside would make it harder for Francesca to notice as she opened the door and finally stepped out.
“Hey,” she kindly said to Benedict’s sister, trying to sound nonchalant.
Francesca had a concerned look on her face as she gave Sophie a once over. “Are you okay?” she asked.
“Of course,” Sophie told her, smiling. “Never better.”
Francesca frowned. “You’re sure?”
“Positive,” she lied, forcing the smile to remain on her lips.
But Francesca still didn’t seem to believe her.
“Listen, don’t take what Benedict’s saying to heart,” she told her gently. “He’s usually not this bad when it comes to game night. I mean it. He's usually never this vitriol.”
“Oh, it’s fine, really,” Sophie assured her. “I didn’t mind swapping. If it made Benedict happy.”
“Still, he was an asshole for doing that. He could have handled it better,” Francesca replied.
Silence filled the space. Both Francesca and Sophie were quieter individuals, neither knowing how to move the conversation on from the awkwardness nor address the obvious elephant hanging out in the hallway with them. Only one of them was going to need to say something, and Sophie was about to, so she could make her way back downstairs. But Francesca beat her to it.
“Is it the lawsuit?” she asked, tentatively.
Letting out a breath she’d been holding back, Sophie only nodded.
“I’m so sorry you’re going through all of this,” Francesca said.
“It’s fine. I’ve dealt with worse,” she assured her, throat tight.
“I’m sure it will work out,” Francesca said next. “Everyone here is in your corner. Especially Benedict. You shouldn’t feel like you’re dealing with this on your own.”
Downstairs, Anthony and Colin meanwhile were putting their plan into action. Which was by moving the mini keg from the kitchen and into the living room, so they could get close enough to Benedict to drop it. Not enough to hurt him, but if they held it at the right place they could keep him out of the game for the rest of the night.
Somehow they were able to maneuver themselves closer and closer to their brother, all while their siblings yelled at them to put the keg back in the kitchen. That there was no reason for it to be in there, even though they said they were moving it for everyone's convince. The noise from downstairs momentarily increased by their ordering.
Sophie then let out a sigh. “It’s alright. I’m handling it. You really don’t need to worry. I’m sure everything will be–”
But she was then cut off by what was occurring downstairs. Because, before anyone could stop them, the mini keg dropped out of Anthony and Colin’s hands, falling swiftly and rapidly to the floor. Higher up then either of them had planned for it to be.
And directly onto Benedict’s hand.
Sophie didn’t see what happened, there was no way she would have been from her position in the house, but she certainly heard it from the hallway upstairs. A sudden, loud and harrowing scream of pain from downstairs. A scream from Benedict. Benedict was screaming, she realized. One of genuine agony and hurt that made her stomach flip before dropping to her feet. Feet that were already hastily moving towards the stairs. Sophie practically raced by Francesca, forgetting all about their conversation.
She raced down the stairs, trying to get to Benedict as quickly as she could, hearing voices begin to amp up from the living room. Getting louder and louder as too many people began speaking over one another.
“What the fuck, Anthony?” Simon yelled.
“What is wrong with you two?” Penelope’s alarmed voice could be heard shouting.
Sophie only quickened her pace. Trying to get to the room as quickly as she could, forced to push past Benedict’s siblings, all standing now. Crowded around the coffee table, to get through and see what had happened.
Benedict was still sitting where she’d left him, on the floor, leaned against the couch and panting heavily. His face deathly pale from shock as he clutched the wrist of his right hand tightly, face twisted into a grimace. Sophie’s heart seemed to stop at the sight of him. Seeing how small and terrified he looked.
And his hand looked no better. Even from a distance she could see it looked inflamed, that it was already swelling, with a crescent shaped cut over his fingers and already bruising knuckles. And there was blood seeping slowly from the cut. Dripping off in two small lines as his hand shook.
Both Violet and Simon were by his side, Simon providing first aid while Violet tried to comfort her injured son. Simon gently held Benedict’s injured hand as he looked it over, trying to gauge how bad the injury was.
“Why on earth would the two of you do such a thing?” Violet furiously demanded from her sons, the worry she’d been showing to Benedict disappearing in a flash as she glared up at them.
“We didn’t do anything,” Anthony argued, defensively and almost childishly. One would assume from his tone he didn’t care, but his wide eyes at the sight of Benedict’s hand seemed to hint that he was just as surprised at how badly injured his brother was.
“It was an accident,” Colin quickly added, looking rather green.
“I saw you!” Eloise then accused, pointing a finger at them. “You purposely dropped it.”
“It was an accident,” Anthony repeated, swallowing uncomfortably. “We were just trying to move it out of the way.”
“Fuck. You. Anthony,” Benedict cursed between breaths at his brother, to which Simon gently shushed him quietly ordering him to be quiet and to breathe. He let his head fall back against the couch, taking another deep breath around the pain. Sweat had begun to form on his forehead. With every spasm his hand made, he groaned.
“You need to go to A&E. We’re going to need to get this x-rayed,” Simon told him, before looking towards his wife. “Daph, call an ambulance please.”
“I’m already on the phone with them,” it was Francesca, phone pressed to her ear as she calmly went back to speaking with the operator. “They should be here soon.”
Crouching down next to him, concern etched onto her face, hands hovering over him unsure if she could even touch him, Sophie asked gently.
“Are you okay?”
Benedict grimaced but nodded. “Never better,” he groaned out.
He tried to smile but his jaw was locked tightly from gritting his teeth. His broken hand was now different shades of pink and red from both the blood and the swelling. The limb shaking from the pain no doubt racing through his nerves.
Sophie didn’t know what to do. She had no idea how to comfort him. Didn't even know if she should touch him. Especially as she watched him grimace and groan whenever Simon gently touched the swollen fingers, trying to keep his hand and wrist from moving too much.
But she at least knew who was at fault for this.
Looking over her shoulder at Anthony, she glared at him. Both furious and stunned by what he and Colin had done.
“You!” she snapped.
“What?” Anthony replied, alarmed.
Sophie pushed herself up to her feet quickly as she whirled on him.
“What the hell were you thinking?” she yelled.
“It was an accident,” Anthony retorted back, still playing defense.
Anthony only scoffed, which seemed to ignite something inside Sophie. The fuse burning closer and closer to the bomb that had been sitting in Sophie's chest all day.
“How was that an accident? Why did you even feel the need to bring it in here?” Sophie demanded, moving towards him.
“You’re making a big deal out of nothing,” he simply barked at her and something finally snapped.
Sophie would look back on this moment and wonder what exactly it was that caused her to react the way she did. Her therapist thought she probably just snapped because of all the stress she was under at the time. The years of pressure, abuse and anxiety had finally boiled over and she just lost it momentarily. Benedict thought it was because she knew how important his art was to him, while Kate always told her it was Anthony facing karmic justice for the first time in his life.
But she hit him.
Sophie sucker punched Anthony Bridgerton. Hard and right in the face. With all the strength and force she could muster. Her fist connected with his right cheekbone and while it felt as though she’d hit a plaster wall, Sophie was too busy seeing red to let a little pain stop her.
The moment her hand connected with Anthony’s face a gasp went throughout the room. Hands slapping over mouths in shock as silence followed quickly behind.
And the force of her punch knocked him to the ground. Anthony stumbled back, tripping over his feet before he landed straight on his ass, his back hitting against the hardwood cabinet, momentarily rattling the glasses and porcelain inside. He sat there, stunned. Clatching at his jaw. His face throbbing painfully from where she’d hit him.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?!” she yelled.
“Me? You just hit me!” Anthony shouted back.
“You dropped a keg on your brother’s hand! Are you insane?” Sophie continued to yell, her voice raising louder and louder with each word.
Behind her, and unbeknownst to Sophie, Hyacinth had quickly taken her phone out and begun filming. The device was held in front of the youngest Bridgerton’s face as she focused on getting the video in the best quality she could. And with the best angles.
“Who the hell decides that maiming someone is the best way to win a game?” Sophie practically screamed.
As she began to lecture Anthony furiously, the rest of the Bridgertons could only watch in stunned silence. Having never expected this kind of reaction from sweet and quiet Sophie. Who might as well end every sentence with ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ that’s how polite she’d always been while working for them. But this new side of her appeared to have no issue with ripping Anthony a new, pointing out every error he’d made over the past few hours.
“And I don’t give a shit if you're Benedict’s older brother. I might be 5'2” but I swear to God if you ever try to loom over me in an attempt to intimidate me again Anthony I will. Kick. Your. Ass!” she ended with a yell.
“Get him Sophie!” Eloise yelled, laughing.
“Be quiet!” Sophie immediately snapped, and Eloise’s mouth snapped shut in surprise.
Sitting on the ground, staring up at his girlfriend with an expression of pure adoring wonder and awe was Benedict. Somewhat delirious from the pain at this point, he stared, mouth open, up at Sophie as she returned to furiously lecturing Anthony, before her sharp eyes caught Colin in the background, trying to quietly escape the room without being noticed.
“And you!” she yelled at Colin, pointing a finger at him. Seeing her attention was now focused solely on him, Colin hesitantly took a small step back.
“Yes?” he weakly asked.
Down the hall, the front door bell rang. The paramedics had arrived. Francesca quickly left the room to get them.
“Anything you’d like to say for yourself?” Sophie demanded loudly.
The only thing that might have spared Colin from her ire in this moment would have been him being smart enough to apologize for his actions.
Unfortunately, as had already been observed earlier that night, he wasn’t currently containing any.
Colin shrugged nervously. “I just really don’t see how it's a big–” he started.
But he wasn’t able to finish. Sophie slapped him across the face before he could get another word out. The sound echoed through the room, followed by another round of gasps from the others, before she spun on her heels and stormed out of the room to follow Francesca and get the paramedics.
We are sisters. We stick together.
Eloise: Can I just say
Eloise:
Eloise: God. I think I’ve ascended to a new plane of existence.
Eloise: That was the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.
Francesca: Incredibly hot.
Hyacinth shared a video.
Hyacinth: 💁🏻♀️You’re welcome everyone
Eloise: HYACINTH I LOVE YOU!!
“Hey, Benedict. How are you feeling?” Simon gently asked as he approached the parked stretcher Benedict was laying on.
Kate had come with him. The pair of them wanted to check on their brother-in-law before he was loaded into the ambulance and taken to the hospital, since all of his siblings were currently too busy arguing with one another to check on him themselves. A paramedic was injecting another couple milligrams of morphine into him, while her partner spoke with both Violet and Sophie about what had happened, all were standing nearby.
“Hey,” Benedict slurred out when he saw them.
His face was still pretty pale. His hand currently splinted, bandaged and stabilized as the paramedics readied him for transport to the emergency room. The morphine had already made him loopy and disoriented, as well as drowsy. Benedict was blinking slowly, looking as though he was trying to force his eyes to stay open each time.
“I know he hasn’t said it yet, but Anthony is really sorry about your hand,” Kate stated, tentatively apologizing on behalf of her husband. Testing the waters.
But Benedict didn’t seem to believe that, as out of it as he was. He merely frowned back at her between narrowed, sleepy eyes.
To which Kate only sighed. “And I’ll make sure he apologizes.”
“Sophie says she’s going to go with you in the ambulance,” Simon told him. “John’s swinging by to drive Violet over.”
The mention of Sophie’s name seemed to reverse Benedict’s mood. He smiled at the thought of his girlfriend, giving a pleased hum.
“She fiancee,” he then slurred out happily.
Simon and Kate both frowned, exchanging glances with one another over Benedict’s form. Benedict had shown them a ring the week prior. Told them he planned to pop the question to Sophie soon and asked them to not tell any of his siblings. That none of them knew.
Had he finally asked her?
“She’s what?” Kate then asked slowly, clarifying.
Benedict sighed, a dopey smile pulling at his lips. “Fiancee.”
“Sophie?” Simon asked and Benedict’s smile widened.
“Oh my God, did you finally propose?” Kate asked, excitedly.
Benedict only leaned back happily in the stretch, letting his head roll slightly to the side as he hummed happily, continuing to watch Sophie as she spoke with his mother. It was enough of an answer for the two of them. Regardless of how present Benedict was in the conversation currently.
“Congratulations,” Simon told him, giving his good shoulder a squeeze. “I’m honestly surprised she said yes after what you put her through tonight.”
“Thank you,” Benedict said, eyes half-lidded. He looked about ready to lose consciousness at this point.
“Alright, let’s go,” one of the paramedics, Simon was pretty sure he’d heard him say his name was Pete, announced before Simon or Kate could say another word. The older man nodded to his partner, who began walking over with Sophie.
Sophie took Benedict’s good hand and gave it a squeeze, watching as his head turned towards her and he gave her a smile. One she returned with a small, pained smile of her own. Worry filling her dark eyes.
“Let us know how it goes,” Simon said.
Sophie nodded. “Will do. Thanks again for everything Simon.”
Eloise Bridgerton to Penelope Featherington
Eloise: Where are you? I need a smoke break after seeing all that blood. You wanna come?
Eloise: Hey.
Eloise: You okay?
Eloise: Pen?
Penelope: Hey. Sorry. I’m already home. I’m not feeling all that well.
Penelope: I think the blood kind of got to me.
Eloise: No worries.
Penelope: Let me know if Benedict is okay or not.
Eloise: Will do 👍
Penelope Featherington to Colin Bridgerton
Penelope: Stop messaging me. I don’t want to talk to you right now.
“Ow,” Anthony hissed as Kate pressed the ice pack to his face.
“Oh, the poor little baby,” Kate said in a mocking voice. “Does your whittle face hurt?”
“Kathani, she punched me,” he told her, flatly.
“She punched your whittle face?” Kate added, smiling, continuing to use the mocking baby voice. “The whittle baby got punched in the face?”
Anthony only stared at her, lips pressed tightly together. Practically a pout if you asked Kate. He’d been silenced momentarily as he took in what she was saying, that she was not taking his side on this. Then he narrowed his eyes at her.
“I’m going to get no sympathy from you, am I?” he then asked, flatly.
“Nope. You were an ass,” Kate replied, voice back to normal. “Even I agree dropping that keg on your brother was going too far.”
“It was a mini keg,” Anthony repeated for the millionth time, exasperated. He took the ice pack from Kate and held it against his face, not wanting her to assist him any longer given her apparent lack of sympathy.
“You dropped it on his hand. His hand, Anthony. His first gallery opening is in a month and he told you he still has to finish a few paintings for it. You know how important this is for him. He’s been stressing for weeks over it, on top of everything that happened with Sophie,” she replied, serious now. “I thought you said you were trying to support him with his art.”
Anthony looked away from her. “I am,” he said, sullenly.
“I know you’re upset he quit the practice, but–” she started.
“I didn’t do this out of revenge!” Anthony immediately interjected, appalled.
“I wasn’t going to say that. Even though it might look like you did,” Kate told him, muttering the second sentence under her breath. “What I was going to say was that you need to speak to him about that instead of getting all passive aggressive about it like you always do. Giving him the cold shoulder is just pushing him further away.”
Anthony looked away, not making her eyes but proving Kate right about her assumption. While he’d made it look like he was only annoyed about Benedict not being professional and giving notice before he quit, leaving Anthony to reassign his clients to other solicitors and hire someone new, Kate was pretty sure that wasn’t the actual reason.
Anthony let out a sigh. “I don’t know why I’m so upset with him. If he had just told me–”
“I think the reason he didn’t tell you was because the last time he did, you tried to talk him out of it,” Kate reminded him, recalling the disaster that had been Benedict asking to take a sabbatical so he could go back to school and focus on art this time.
Now that had been a fight. It all started because Anthony responded to Benedict’s request by telling him the practice was too busy for him to take a vacation for doodling (as he’d so stupidly put it). Kate was still furious at him for saying that. She knew they would have been fine without him but Anthony had become far too used to having his brother around for support to allow it.
And Benedict had (predictably) not reacted well to the doodling remark, leading to what was now considered the worst argument to break out between any of the Bridgerton siblings since Hyacinth, age seven, gave Eloise an impromptu hair cut while she was napping on the couch. Kate had not been around for that one but had been told the incident had divided the household into two factions for the three months it took for Eloise’s hair to grow back.
But this time it had been between Benedict and Anthony. A rarity since even before their father’s death. Kate wasn’t surprised Benedict had chosen malicious compliance in response. Going above Anthony’s head to ask Agatha Danbury instead, who had no issue with it.
Then he pulled a disappearing act. Which she agreed was a tad overdramatic. It had taken a week for any of them to realize he wasn’t even in the city. His work phone conveniently left in his office and all calls to his personal one going to voicemail. It had taken Violet sending him a very choicely worded email threatening to report him missing if he didn’t respond to her in the next twenty four hours that Benedict finally texted the family chat to tell them he was fine and had just gone to a house he’d bought in Wiltshire to cool down. He’d be back soon.
That fight had been over a year ago, and the hatchet had been somewhat buried when Benedict got back to the city after his three months were up. Anthony had begrudgingly apologized for his remarks and told Benedict he could take the sabbatical, and Benedict forgave his brother for what happened (but still chose to resign months later).
And Kate had noticed that, since then, Benedict had gotten a little more closed off with his brother, not coming around for dinner as often as he used to and not showing up to every family function as was the norm for him, but she was pretty sure much of that had been due to the secret relationship with Sophie that had been happening behind all of their backs in the months leading to his resignation. Followed shortly by Sophie resigning as Violet’s assistant.
“In my defense, he probably wouldn’t have met Sophie again if I hadn’t,” Anthony tensely replied, which was true. Benedict only ran into Sophie again because he’d been in Wiltshire the very same time as she had.
But the tension was still noticeable between the two brothers. Kate had some suspicions that Benedict may be, if only subconsciously, still quite upset with his older brother for being so unsupportive of his dreams. And after tonight, possibly less subconscious about it moving forward.
“You two need to talk it out. Non-violently,” Kate told him. “Go check on him tomorrow at the hospital. He’ll probably be more lucid then. Bring him his favorite take out and apologize for how you acted. You and Colin.”
“Well, I don’t know how easy that will be given he has a little chihuahua guarding him at the moment,” Anthony grumbled.
“I think if you text Sophie and apologize for being an ass, she might just let you in to speak with him,” she then put forward. “Trust me, I think she is probably more apologetic about hitting you than you think. Even if she was justified.”
“Why did I marry you again?” Anthony asked with a sigh.
“Because you love me and I’m the only one on Earth willing to put up with you,” Kate replied swiftly, smiling smugly at him. She went about grabbing two glasses from the cabinet and placing them on the counter next to her.
Her husband let out another breath that sounded very much like an exhausted sigh, letting his head fall back. His body relaxed. The tight air usually circling around him disappeared given the lack of witnesses being around them currently.
“You think he’s okay?” he asked her.
“Ah, so you do regret your actions.”
“Kathani, not now.”
“I think we will have to wait to hear from your mother,” she informed him gently. She’d grabbed a bottle of bourbon and poured it into the glasses, before handing one to her husband. “And I’m going to text Sophie later anyway. If we don’t hear from Violet, she’ll probably know.”
Anthony took the glass she held out towards him, swirling the dark amber liquid around before downing it in one go.
“I’ll go see him tomorrow,” he announced. “After Sophie leaves.”
Kate only scoffed. “Good luck with that. I doubt she’s leaving his side any time soon.”
| Now |
BSSG Group Chat
Kate: He has a ring!!!!!!!!
Kate: Why’d you think we didn’t even question him calling you his fiancee?!?!?! We thought he’d finally popped the question!!!!!!!
Sophie still couldn’t believe it. Rereading the text message again once more.
He had a ring? Benedict had a ring? For her?
She couldn’t wrap her head around it. Trying to figure out why he would want to marry her so soon after they got together. She thought Kate was lying just to convince her to stay.
And then she got a separate message from Anthony.
Anthony Bridgerton to Sophie Baek
Anthony: Sophie. It’s Anthony.
Anthony: Listen, you don’t need to worry about last night. You were right. What I did to Benedict was wrong and I’m sorry. I regret ever thinking it was a good idea and I’ll be swinging by tomorrow to apologize in person to both Benedict and hopefully also you.
Anthony: Please don’t leave Benedict over this. I assure you no one is upset with you and neither is my brother. He truly cares for you and I haven’t seen him this happy in some time.
Anthony: I beg you to please reconsider.
Maybe she'd let her anxiety get the best of her. If he'd gone out and gotten her a ring that had to mean something.
Sophie realized that even after finally truly escaping Araminta, she had still allowed her space in her head. To belittle and control Sophie, and to control her life and future especially. Something Sophie had promised her she wouldn't allow any longer.
Something Benedict had promised to help her get through. She loved him for that.
Sophie wasn't going to allow Araminta to continue controlling her. She was going to stop allowing that horrible woman to take up space in her thoughts, conscious or otherwise. She was going to do things from this point that made her feel happy and safe.
And that was Benedict.
The bed sheet rustled as Benedict moved his leg, a sign he was waking up. Sophie squeezed his hand comfortingly as she watched his eyes slowly blink open. Glancing around the room in a haze before landing on her.
“Hey,” she said softly, leaning forward and reaching out to stroke his hair back. “How are you feeling?”
Benedict just stared at her. For the longest time. He still didn’t have much motor control, his head dropping at times like it was suddenly filled with lead. His pale eyes continued to watch her intently.
“Marry me,” he then asked, although it did really sound entirely like a request. More like a drunken demand.
To which Sophie raised a dark eyebrow at him. She probably could say no, just to screw with him given she doubted he’d remember once the drugs were out of his system.
“I don’t know,” she said, humming, leaning closer to him. “What would I get out of this?”
“I love you,” he slurred, unaware she’d asked him a question. “You’re amazing and beautiful and so so hot. You’re super smart and smoking hot. Did I say hot already? I feel like I did, but it's true. You’re amazing. Only your drawings suck.”
Sophie couldn’t help but laugh. All she could do was laugh. Just the way he was slurring his words, the fact that he was just completely out of it right now. She couldn’t be mad.
“They really suck, they’re like the worst drawings I’ve ever seen, but I still love you,” he added. “Will you still marry me? You and your shitty drawing skills?”
“I’m saying ‘yes’ to marrying you, Benedict, but I’m saying ‘no’ to this proposal. I’d rather you not be hopped up on drugs and in a hospital bed when you're proposing to me,” she told him.
Benedict hadn’t seemed to have heard her past her telling him she said yes. He just let out a drunk sounding ‘yay’ and sighed lovingly as he leaned back against the pillows. He looked quite adorable. Sophie only gave his good hand a loving squeeze and smiled. Everything felt peaceful for the first time in weeks.
And then suddenly, behind her, the door suddenly swung open violently, slamming into the wall with a loud bang. Sophie jumped, spinning around in her chair and finding Violet gripping the door frame as she doubled over, panting for air. She looked winded, hair wildly askew as the strands slipped from her usually tight chignon, breathing heavily as if she’d just run a marathon in three inch heels.
“Mrs. Bridgerton!”
“So-Sophie–” Violet gasped out, leaning against the doorframe. “Do-don’t. Don’t…do it.”
“Mummy!” Benedict cheerfully greeted his mother when he saw her. “Your back!”
“Oh my lord. I…I don’t think I’ve run that fast in years,” Violet told them, pressing her hand over her eyes as her chest heaved. She had to lean back against the doorframe to keep herself upright.
“Mrs. Bridgerton, are you alright?” Sophie asked.
Violet waved a hand at her, taking a moment to catch her breath before she spoke, stepping further into the room as she did. Sophie watched as the older woman took a few more deep breaths, slowly calming her racing heart.
“Don’t break up with him,” she finally gasped out.
Behind Sophie, Benedict frowned. “Why would she break up with me? We’re getting married.”
Violet stilled, frowning back at them. “What?”
“I asked Sophie to marry me and she said yes,” Benedict told her, smiling at Sophie.
Violet looked towards Sophie with a look of alarm, seeking an explanation, but Sophie only shrugged, smiling at her now future mother-in-law.
“He did ask and I did say yes,” she explained, squeezing Benedict’s hand as she looked back over towards him. “However, I told him I’m expecting another proposal once he’s been discharged.”
“But you're getting married?” Violet asked.
Sophie nodded. “That's the plan.”
“Oh! Oh, thank God,” Violet gasped out, placing a hand over her heart.
Relieved, Violet stepped further into the room and took a seat in the chair next to Sophie. Still panting, it took her a few minutes to get her breath back as she relaxed into her seat. Body practically deflating.
“She’s my favorite person,” Benedict slurred.
“Is she now?” Violet said with a brow raised. A smile tugging at her lips.
“But you're still my favorite, mum,” Benedict told her. Then frowned. “After Sophie of course.”
Violet only smiled fondly at her son as she chuckled. “Of course, sweetheart.”
“You're the best mum though,” he told her happily. “You’ve always been the best mum.”
“Thank you, sweetheart. You’ve always been a wonderful son,” Violet returned.
“I know,” Benedict slurred, smug.
Violet only let out another chuckle as she shook her head and turned towards Sophie.
“You’re sure, yes?” she asked. “I don’t want you to feel like you’re being pressured into doing this.”
Sophie only nodded. “I’m positive,” she told her.
Behind her Benedict had gotten a hold of his phone and begun texting someone. Which coincidentally, coincided with Violet’s phone beginning to buzz nonstop. No doubt he was texting the family groupchat.
But Violet only ignored her phone. “Well, if you need any help planning the wedding just let me know. I can send you some venues and catering companies as a start. Oh, and if you need wedding dresses, I have an in at practically all dress stores in London.”
“Of course, thank you Violet,” Sophie politely thanked.
Glancing back to Benedict, she sighed as she watched him struggle to type out a text with his left hand. While still drugged out of his mind. Tongue sticking out as he used all his brain power and focus to type out words on the small screen in front of him.
Reaching over, she took the phone out of his hand, shutting it off as she took it away from him. But Benedict didn’t fight her on it, just slumped back against the pillows, already distracted by the drugs still coursing through his veins. Looking up at her with a dopey smile on his face.
“I love you,” he slurred to her.
She smiled back. “I love you too.”
“I’m so happy you’re marrying me,” he said.
“Well, I still have to hear your sober proposal first,” she jokingly replied and leaned in, kissing him again. “But I think you’ve still got a ninety percent chance of me saying ‘yes.’”
🐝The Children Group Chat 🐝
Benedict sent a picture
Benedict: I lived
| The Next Day |
Familia Bridgerton
Colin: How are you today Ms Soap Beaker?
Sophie: Wonderful. How’s your cheek, Colon? 😊😊😊