Work Text:
The Dish Washing:
Benedict Bridgerton’s arm slammed on the mattress jolting him awake. He went to wrap his arm around his bride only to find her not there. His eyes scanned the room to no avail, Sophie had started her day without him. He rolled out of bed and stumbled into the living room hoping to find her with only no sign of life. He looked out to the gardens where she loved to read and it was empty. He headed down towards the stables when he caught a glimpse of her in the kitchen window. He sighed and bowed his head in defeat knowing what she was up to.
Though Sophie loved Benedict, she still struggled to live a noble life. Benedict headed inside toward the kitchen where he caught her washing the dishes.
“Sophie” He breathed out.
“Breakfast is on the table sweetheart.” She continued scrubbing.
“Soph. Please stop.” He sighed.
“No,” she replied.
“Sophia Bridgerton” He snapped using her real name.
She turned to face him with a pot in her hand. Her nostrils flared up and she spun the pot handle in her hand.
“Bendict I said no.” She repeated.
“Sophie, you don’t need to do that.” He countered. “Please eat breakfast with me; Mrs. Crabtree can handle the dishes.”
“I can finish this.” Sophie spoke. “Plus Mrs. Crabtree made breakfast then went to visit her daughter.”
“You don’t have to,” Benedict replied.
“But I want to,” she protested. “Benedict, please just let me do this.”
Seeing how upset she was he decided to just sit down and eat breakfast. She finally finished the dishes and sat down next to him recalling the book she had been reading. Though he wanted to speak up again about how she didn’t have to do housework; he was perfectly content just listening to her voice.
The Laundry Service:
It was a few weeks after the dish washing incident. It was a rare sunny spring day at My Cottage and Benedict had just got paint all over his new pants. He sighed in defeat and went to the bedroom to change. He looked out the window to see Sophie reading in the garden like she always did on the rare sunny days. She looked so ethereal soaking up the sunlight while reading. He changed into some new pants and went down to the kitchen and placed the ruined ones on the table for Mrs. Crabtree.
Stuck in his work Sophie came a few hours later to remind him that it was dinner time. He looked outside to see the sun setting and decidedly put his paint down to join his bride. When he got to the dining room his pants were laying out on the clothing line outside the window. Mrs. Crabtree set down their food in front of them and started to walk away.
“Thank you for working so fast on my pants Mrs. Crabtree!” Benedict smiled.
“What pants?” Mrs. Crabtree looked perplexed.
“My pants on the clothes line.” Benedict pointed out the window.
“Oh, um wasn’t me” Mrs. Crabtree stated. “John did you wash Mr. Bridgerton’s pants”
“No, it wasn't me.” Mr. Crabtree answered his bride.
All three sets of eyes turned to Sophie.
“Mrs. Bridgerton, did you wash his pants?” Mrs. Crabtree accused.
“Yes” Sophie looked down in defeat. “It’s just I came in and you were working on dinner. So I just figured to help out.”
“The lady of the house doesn’t help out.” Mrs. Crabtree retorted.
“But” Sophie started.
“Mr and Mrs. Crabtree, thank you for dinner. Can you give me and Sophie a moment alone.” Benedict started.
Mr. and Mrs. Crabtree quietly left the room and Benedict set down his utensils and grabbed his bride's hand.
“Sophie” He hesitated.
“Ben” She started in defense.
“No please listen” He continued. “Thank you for washing my pants, but Mrs. Crabtree is right. You don’t need to do the housework. That is what Mr and Mrs. Crabtree are for.”
“So I should just lay around all day.” Sophie barked.
“Persue your passions, you love to read. I have a whole library for you and a garden that you love.” He protested. "Your maid days are over. You can rest now."
“I do love that garden, in fact I’m gonna go sit outside with the birds. ” Sophie stormed out of the room.
“Sophie” Benedict jumped out of his chair.
“Leave me be Bridgerton” She yelled back.
Benedict decided to take a deep breath and finish his meal in silence. When he finished he went back to his painting to cool off from their argument.
3 hours later.
Benedict sat back and looked at his easel. The work wasn’t done but his candle was burning low and frankly so was he. He decided to retire for the evening and go to his bedroom. When he entered Sophie was sitting in the chair mending a shirt. The sight of her working made his blood boil and he finally broke.
“Sophia Maria Bridgerton” He barked.
Her head snapped up and she set the shirt down.
“Do we have a problem?” She smirked.
“Yes you are mending my shirt.” He snapped.
“I thought you would be grateful.” Sophie protested.
“I am” He sighed and got on his knees in front of her chair. “I’m grateful when Mrs. Crabtree does it. I don’t like seeing you work and I just wish you could accept your new life.”
“And I wish you could accept my old life.” She retorted.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Benedict leaned back
“Do you know how hard of an adjustment this is for me? To sit around all day when for many years of my life I was constantly working and on my feet. It’s not a switch I can just turn off.” A tear shed. “Benedict I like being useful and I like keeping busy.”
“But I don’t want you to feel like you have to earn your keep. You are my wife and I love you. You don’t need to do anything except be here with me.” He spoke.
“If you really love me then you wouldn’t get so defensive when I did chores. It’s a big house Benedict. There’s plenty for me to do.” She ranted.
“I don’t want you to do anything. That’s the whole point Sophie. I married you because I love you and wanted to make sure you never had to serve anyone ever again. Especially me!” He retorted.
“We’re not at Bridgerton house anymore. I’m not serving you. I don’t wear a maid's uniform. I simply am doing a task that I know I can do.” She yelled “I think it’s best if I sleep in the guest room tonight.”
“No” Benedict boomed.
“Excuse me” She sat up
“We don’t go to bed angry. We don’t do that.”
“Ben”
“Get in the bed.” Benedict ordered.
Sophie got up and threw the half mended shirt on the ground and slid under the covers. Benedict walked over to the other side of the bed and joined her.
“Good night. Mr. Bridgerton.” Sophie gritted her teeth “I love you”
“Benedict. Darling. Benedict.” He seethed. “I love you too. We will talk in the morning.”
Sophie slept soundly next to Benedict as he laid facing the ceiling. Sophie was right and he knew that he was too harsh on her. I mean after working for years even though he couldn’t understand he could see the comfort it brought her. Doing dishes, washing pants, and mending shirts were natural to her in a way painting was for him. If he wanted a happy and loving marriage he needed to show his wife that he understood her. So he thought up a plan and then got out of bed. He scrambled around the room in the dark trying to find some paper to write on. Once he finally got his plan written out he decidedly started to put the plan in action. Before walking out the door he took one last look at Sophie. She was snuggled in her pillow and had a soft smile across her face. The sight brought a boyish grin to his face.
Benedict went to the servants quarter to where Mr and Mrs. Crabtree slept. He carefully slid the paper underneath the door and walked back to his bedroom. When he came back he placed her head in his neck. Finally able to rest his eyes for the night.
The next morning Sophie woke up and sprawled her hand out on the bed in search of her husband. Unfortunately, her hand fell flat and her eyes flew open and scanned the room. She jumped out of bed and put on her robeWalking down to the library and upon inspection his easel hadn’t been touched this morning. She walked downstairs to the living room to no avail then outside to the lake where he wasn’t swimming. Still perplexed, she walked toward the kitchen to ask Mrs. Crabtree if he had gone to town. Last night she had taken it too far, but it was unlike Benedict to get angry enough to leave.
Sophie walked in the kitchen to see Benedict laying out an assortment of toast and jams on the table. His crooked smile lit up after seeing her walk in and he motioned her to sit down.
“What’s all this” Sophie asked, still looking around for Mrs. Crabtree.
“I wanted to show you that I accept you, all of you and I want to create a new life with you. But, I want you to see that I will try my very best to assimilate to your old one. So I told the Crabtrees to take the morning off and made us breakfast. Well toast and jam.” Benedict spoke.
Sophie couldn’t believe her eyes. She knew Benedict loved her, but to try to make her more comfortable by making her breakfast defied everything she knew. Benedict was willing to try new things and do work that no one of his social class had ever done just to make her happy. Benedict sat down next to her and started to eat his food. Sophie tried to stifle her tears by biting into the breakfast, and somehow that only made things worse. She dropped the toast and started to cry.
“Man that bad huh. Well I guess there is room for improvement.” Benedict teased.
“No, no it's not that.” She waved her hands. “This is the kindest thing anyone has ever done for me. Thank you.”
“I’m sorry about my actions with you doing chores. It was unfair for me to expect you to change your entire life. I just want you to be happy, that's all.” Benedict spoke up.
“I am happy! Oh Ben, me doing the little task has nothing to do with any dissatisfaction. If anything it brings me joy to do them because I’m helping out the man I love. I like to get my hands dirty and get to work. It’s the way I am.”
“I know another way you can get your hands dirty.” Benedict winked.
“No, we can't,” Sophie gasped.
“Sure we can, Mr and Mrs. Crabtree have the morning off, remember.” Benedict kissed her.
“Do the dishes and then we’ll see” Sophie grinned and leaned back into the chair.
“Yes ma’am Mrs. Bridgerton.” Benedict eagerly grabbed the dishes and started washing them.