Work Text:
May 1817
Benedict Bridgerton was back on his desk. The honeymoon was almost over and he had to prepare to return to everyday life. He started with a review of the accounts. The expenses in Our Cottage was not as diverse as it had been when he was filling in for the Viscount back in London but they were still a handful. He had to see to his investments and also think of how to set up his own art establishment now that he was very inspired and intent on pursuing art as a career. The trust fund left by his father, the late Edmund Bridgerton, was plenty but now that he was thinking of starting a family, he wanted to earn his own money.
“Are you busy, my dear?” came the sweet voice of his wife.
“Never too busy for you, sweetheart,” he replied.
“Why are you so tense?” She asked. She looked at all the papers. “What are these for?”
“Well, I am looking at some of my investments and expenses,” he replied.
“May I help?” She asked.
“No. I do not want you to worry about these,” he replied.
“If you want, you can start thinking of qualities you want in your staff or questions you want to ask as you interview them next week,” he added.
“Staff?” She was surprised, “whatever do we need staff for?”
Benedict finally looked up from his ledgers. He said, “Your staff. We have some temporary staff here to tend to the property once or twice a week in addition to the Crabtrees. You certainly saw them before. But now I am thinking of hiring them full time. Now that you are the lady of the house, you can hire and train them as you wish.”
Sophie giggled a little nervously. “I saw them, and I think they are excellent but we do not need full time staff here. We are only two people here. Mr and Mrs. Crabtree shall be back next week. They are enough”
“They are not. They are great but also very old and easily tired. They were great caretakers when I was not here full time but if we are to live here during off season, we need more people. I am not thinking of a giant crew like the one we have at Bridgerton house, but you certainly need a lady's maid, a cleaning maid and cook for the kitchen. I need to call back my valet. I love it when you help me but it is just more convenient for both of us. We also need more gardeners and a footman.”
“I do not need a lady's maid, Benedict. I don't want people helping me get dressed. I can manage on my own. As for the rest, a temporary staff is fine. I can manage the rest alone like I have been doing the past two months. We are just two people”
“Not for long,” he replied, “what if you are with child by the end of this month? We will certainly have children. And I grew up with seven siblings. I am thinking a smaller number but quite a brood of our own”
Sophie blushed. Her children. All legitimate and loved by both parents. It was nothing short of a dream. Benedict had a hard time believing it too. Until last season, he never wanted to marry let alone think of having kids of his own. Now he was eager for a family with Sophie.
“If you are with child, you might also need an additional maid and one more for the child,” he made a note of it in his journal.
Sophie looked in wonder. She never thought she would have a loving husband let alone a family or an army of servants. She needed time to get used to it. She might never be used to it. However she was not to argue more with Benedict as he tried to make their lives easier. They would not be serving just her obviously. They would also be serving him and he was used to all these services.
She settled herself on his lap. He dropped a kiss on her hair. His attention was still on the ledgers and journals in front of him.
“I will be honest. I am not used to it, but I shall try my best” she promised.
He kissed her forehead. “That's all I need my love”
She peeked through his papers and saw some funds allocated for a gallery.
“I am thinking of pursuing art for a living,” he said.
“That shall be wonderful!” She replied, smiling. “You will do great”
Benedict smiled realizing he was becoming more serious, more responsible and he had people around who were proud of him. With Sophie by his side, everything will come easier.
THE END