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"I thought I'd find you out here."
Eloise turned around from where she was sitting on the swing to find Benedict walking towards her. "Brother! Why are you out here? I'm surprised you haven't snuck into Sophie's room by now."
Benedict laughed, moving to sit on the swing besides her. "Ah, you know me too well I see. I tried, but it seems Footman John is quite scared of Mrs. Wilson."
Eloise huffed a laugh in response, before responding, "Well. It doesn't seem I know you quite as well as I thought. Considering just how much you've managed to hide from me. I must admit, I'm impressed brother."
"Oh please, you were too busy hiding from Mama and trying to get Hyacinth to forgive you to pay attention to what I was doing."
"I suppose you have a point there."
They sat quietly for a few moments, gazing up at the stars.
Unsurprisingly, Eloise broke the silence first. "You could've told me, you know. I would've supported you. And kept your secret."
Benedict looked at her, nothing but sincerity in his eyes. "I know, Eloise. It's not that I didn't trust you. I did almost tell you, a few times. But truthfully, I didn't know where to start. It was all so complicated, and then everything happened with Francesca, and then, well, now, here we are."
Eloise took this in, seeming thoughtful. Then she responded, "Well, it's not too late to tell me now. If you wish. I do enjoy a good story."
Benedict grinned. "If you insist, sister, then I suppose I have no choice but to entertain you. Where shall I start?"
"At the beginning, of course. My gosh, brother, I knew you were daft, but-"
"Do you want to hear it or not?"
"Fine. I'll be quiet now. Proceed."
Benedict raised his eyebrows, testing her. She stared back, determined.
Benedict gave in. "Alright. Well, you heard how we met in the country, I assume. I saved her, she saved me, as any typical fairy tale goes-"
"Oh please, as if you ever picked up a book even as a child-"
"I thought you said you'd stay silent, sister. Or should I stop?"
"... Apologies."
"As I was saying before you predictably interrupted. During that time at My Cottage, Sophie was the only company I had aside from the Crabtrees. So naturally, we spent a lot of time together. We talked, about a variety of things. My childhood. My art. Her interest in literature. Her love of nature. Before long, I found myself opening up to her. And her to me. Then, when the time came for us to leave, it hit me how much I was dreading our departure. That was the moment I knew this was different than anything I'd ever felt before. I've felt affection. Excitement. However, what I had with her was raw. Real. But-"
"But you knew it would all change the moment you came back to Mayfair. And so you wished you could stay there, in a different world. You wished you could pretend, for even just a second more, that it was reality."
Benedict looked at his sister in surprise. He did not reprimand her for interrupting this time. "I- well, yes. Exactly. Couldn't have worded it better myself."
Eloise quickly changed the subject, seeing the questions in Benedict's eyes. "I find it hard to believe you were a perfect gentleman, knowing how much of a rake you are."
Benedict turned slightly red, but still answered, "I would have you know, I am the epitome of a gentleman. Nothing untoward occurred. Not even a kiss by a lake, for instance."
Eloise grinned, and they both started laughing.
"Well, what happened after you got back? Were you two just sneaking around under our noses this entire time?" Eloise asked.
At this, Benedict's expression turned into one of embarrassment and shame. "Ah. Regarding that. I may have almost... mucked it all up."
Eloise's eyes narrowed. "Mucked it up how?"
Benedict coughed. "Imayhaveaskedhertobemymistress."
"Pardon me?"
Benedict looked at the floor, and said quietly, "I asked her to be my mistress."
For a moment, Eloise could not move. Then-
"YOU ABSOLUTE RAKE!" she screeched, jumping up from her swing. She took her scarf off from around her shoulders, and started hitting her brother with it. "You are unbelievable I can't believe I am related to you-"
"I KNOW, I know!" Benedict responded, moving his arms to block the blows. Unsuccessful, he eventually grabbed the scarf, forcing Eloise to stop. "I know. It was wrong of me. I realize now what a terrible mistake I made. I admit it. I am a rake. I have spent every day since beating myself up about it. And I plan to give another proper apology to Sophie once I am able to sneak past John."
Eloise finally calmed down a bit, and settled back on the swing. However, she still continued to glare at her brother.
Benedict winced under her gaze, and added, "But then I planned out a life for us at My Cottage? And spoke up against Anthony. And confessed my undying love to her? Does that uh. Make up for it at all?"
Her gaze only softened slightly. "Maybe. I think you should beg for forgiveness a little more. You do know she's already too intellectual for you?"
Benedict laughed. "I am aware, sister."
"Was that it?" Eloise asked. "Before the whole prison thing?"
"Ah." Benedict said. "There's actually one detail I've left out. I do believe you will be the first person besides Mother to know."
"Oh?"
"She didn't just go to prison for stealing the shoe clips. She was also charged for impersonating nobility. As it turns out, she snuck into the Masquerade Ball. As the Lady in Silver."
Eloise just gaped at Benedict.
He laughed at his sister. "This may be the first time I have seen you speechless."
"I-". Eloise didn't know what to say. Benedict laughed again.
"She's quite impressive, is she not?" Benedict smiled.
Finally finding her words again, Eloise responded, "Why, yes she is, Brother. If you don't treat her well, I might just steal her away. Or I will smack you again. With a book this time."
"The threat is not needed."
Eloise took in the solemness of his voice, his eyes. "I know. You are a good man. And it's obvious to anyone with eyes that you are fully infatuated with her. I know I jest, but I've always seen how kind your heart is."
Benedict smiled softly in response. "Out of all the siblings, you always did understand me the best, Eloise."
"The same goes for me, Brother."
They fell into a comfortable silence again.
"Eloise?"
"Hm?"
"You say I knew you best as well. However, why do I get the feeling I'm not the only one who has been keeping a secret for quite some time?"
"I do not know what you mean, Brother," Eloise said, avoiding eye contact.
"I'm not trying to push. However, I did share with you. I simply wish for you to know you can share with me, too."
Eloise contemplated for a moment. Benedict stayed quiet, letting her collect her thoughts.
"Truthfully, Benedict... I am jealous."
"Of?"
"You. We were once both the outsiders of this family. Now you have Sophie. And you must know, I am beyond happy for the two of you. Truly. The fact that it all seems like it will work out despite the ridiculous prejudices of society is wonderful. It’s just… why is there only a solution now, and not when-" Eloise cut herself off, realizing she had revealed more than she'd meant to.
Benedict’s eyes widened a little, finally understanding. Softly, he asks. “Does this have anything to do with why earlier, when we talked about My Cottage, you were able to perfectly articulate my feelings into words? Is it perhaps because… you’ve felt them too?”
“Surely you recall my scandal during Anthony’s marriage season. As incredible as the radicals and the assemblies were, they were not the only reason I was on that side of town.”
She paused, and looked up at the stars. Her eyes grew distant, as if her mind had gone elsewhere. “You had My Cottage. I had a printshop. It was dusty, filled with the smell of smoke and ink. I had my pamphlets, full of grand ideas. Ideas of freedom, equality. Of a better world.
And I had someone to with whom to debate about them. Someone who challenged me, corrected me. He’d opened up this door, to this separate world.”
She finally looks at Benedict. There are tears in both of their eyes. “But that world wasn’t mine. It couldn’t last. So I came back to reality. To the balls and the dresses that never fit me quite right.”
“I’m sorry, Eloise,” Benedict said, voice full of pain for his sister. “I’m sorry you couldn’t make that world last like I did.”
She laughed softly, painfully. “It’s alright. That door closed long ago. I’ve moved on now.” She wondered who the lie was for; Benedict or herself.
Benedict reached forward and grasped her hand. “Perhaps we can one day find a way to open up that door again. If you’d like. Together.”
She said nothing, and just embraced her brother instead. She wondered if that was possible. Before today, she never would’ve thought so. But after witnessing the bravery of her brother, of Sophie… she let herself hope. Just a tiny bit.
They separated from the hug, and Benedict said, “I’ve missed this. Being on the swings with you. We should do this more often.”
Eloise smiled in return. “I should like that.”
They sat on the swing a little while longer, enjoying the moment. But they knew no matter how much things changed, it would always be them, together; them and their swings against the world.