,wallflower' • BRIDGERTON

chapter 6

【6】

hopes point of view

I sat upon the marble bench in the garden the Bridgerton's acquired. The bench I sat on faced a large window so you could see inside of the home. I held a rose in my hand and I picked a petal off, examining the sweet color of red. It was nearing 11 and I still was not asleep, I just simply did not feel of exhaustion.

I sighed before letting the petal fall from my fingertips, it swayed its way down before landing on the pavement. I picked another petal again and inspected the petal's flaws, but found none.

"Hope Buckingham."

The sound of Benedict's voice echoed through my ears and I halted my movements with widened eyes. Lord have mercy on my soul. I breathed out in a guilty manner and I turned my head to see Benedict, he looked to be almost ready for bed since he didn't have his black tailcoat on and the buttons on his blue vest were unfastened. His hair was messy and unkempt.

I squeezed my face slightly as a smile formed on my lips. When he didn't return one the expression lessened.

"Go on then, chastise me," I said, looking back at the flower in my head. I heard him sigh before taking a seat next to me. "Is that somehow... soothing?" He said in a soft voice.

"In a way, it's also a shame because I love roses," I said before chuckling softly, once I picked off all the petals I was only left with a green stem and bud. I threw it back into the grass and my eyes trailed off to the sky, I watched the moon glisten.

Silence passed by and I dared say that the moon had changed my dull mood to a thoughtful one.

"Suppose I desire something different." I started, Benedict turned his head to the side to look at me. "How do you mean?" He asked with slight confusion in his eyes.

"Just... different. I watch Daphne, and all of these other women prepare for these balls, dealing with quite exhausting suitors. And I realized something, I realized this something when I was talking with Lord Davenport. I could never fall in love with someone in that way. Having to be judged by society and other people's stares and looks... Suppose I want a different life, a different journey to love."

I looked down at my lap and fumbled with my fingers

"I suppose in this life I cannot acquire neither," I said. Benedict glanced down at the pavement before back at the sky. "Then I would say... that you are not the only one." He said, I immediately turned to look at him with furrowed brows. A silence settled and he looked back at me, I smiled softly and looked back at the sky.

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The Lady Bridgerton was called upon to have tea with the Queen Herself. And let's just say it was an interesting arrangement. After the event, Lady Bridgerton was quick to invite Lady Berbrooke, Lord Berbrooke's mother. And she certainly spoke good of her son, even though they were a possible lord.

The conversation was dull but Lady Bridgerton had other plans. Turns out Lady Berbrooke's handmaiden spilled some gossip about Lord Berbrooke. Apparently, he has a son from a maid he refused to provide for and he sent them both away to live off scraps.

And the plan was to tell everyone in town the information so the Bridgerton's could be rid of the man forever.

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