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Time seemed to fly by as Benedict and Elena walked back arm in arm towards her home, lost in conversation and laughter. It wasn't until they reached her doorstep that they realized how much time had passed. The sun was casting golden rays over the neighborhood. Luckily it was still early so no one was around.
"Right..." Elena spoke up, turning to Benedict. "I guess I should clear things up with my parents." She said, fixing Benedict's crinkled shirt. "Should anything bad happen, I will write you a letter and have a footman deliver it to you privately."
"You'll be alright, darling." Benedict said softly, reassuring her. "But no matter what happens, I will always love you."
Elena smiled at him as he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. She glanced up to meet his eye. "Goodbye, my love." Benedict said before walking away from the doorstep.
𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧
It was around 6:00 as Elena slipped through the back door of her home. She moved quietly, tiptoeing in the still-dark house, not wanting to wake anyone. She was just about to go up the large stairs and make her way back to her room when she heard the sound of someone clearing their throat echoed through the silence, freezing her in place.
Standing a few feet away from her was her father, arms crossed and wearing a monocle. His gaze was intense and unyielding, and it made her feel on edge.
"Good morning, father." She quietly said.
Lord Bennet's eyes traveled over her, taking in her disheveled state. Her nightgown was rumpled, her hair was in a messy braid, and her coat was much too large for her. He also noticed that her shoes were covered in dirt, evidence of her being outside.
"Good morning, indeed." He mumbled with a warm smile. He didn't seem mad. "How about we have a small talk in my office, flower?"
Elena returned the warm smile and nodded, following her father as he lead her to his study.
They walked silently to her father's study, Elena's heart racing the whole time. Once Lord Bennet sat down, she told him everything that happened in the past hour, fiddling nervously with her fingers as she spoke. Once she finished her tale, he was quiet for a moment, processing the news she had relayed to him.
"Lena, are you completely out of your mind? Your mother would never approve-"
"I care not for her approval." Elena cut him off. "I care for my happiness, I care for my freedom. Mama does not care for any of those things."
Lord Bennet exhaled and thought for a moment. "His family's wealthy, to be sure and I've heard good things about him. But this is the same man who insulted you that we're talking about. He broke your heart like you meant nothing." He said with a puzzled face, concerned that his daughter has lost her self-respect.
