The Earl's Daughter (Benedict x OC)

Silence

It was silent, never had a room been so quiet in my life. You could hear a pin drop on the dark wood floor. Slowly one by one everyone congratulated us but I didn't want them to speak. I had embarrassed myself for the good of my family. My father rushed over and grabbed my wrist to guide me into Anthony's study. I could tell he was furious with what had just happened and I tried to hold my composure. He looked over at me with an ice cold stare then threw a book at one of the shelves. This is one of the few times I had ever seen him blow up like this.

" I thought you were trying to get away from this man and instead you got engaged!" He yelled, His blood must have been boiling. " Trust me, I didn't want to." I answered. " Then why would you!" He yelled as drank from a bottle of rum. " Because he has Samuel, He promised his body in exchange for me to be his wife." I explained, my father's anger slowly turned to grief. " You didn't have to do that, your mother and I could have found a way," " But you didn't and I'm doing this for the family." I responded. That was possible the first time I scolded my father. " We will make sure we get Samuel and don't have to marry him," He said as he walked out.

As soon as he slammed the door, tears came pouring out of me. I didn't want to marry James but their was no stopping it, Samuel needed to be saved. I rubbed my sleeves on to my cheeks to wipe the tears from my sadden face. Their was a mirror beside me, looking into its smooth surface. I made faces till I finally was able to smile and made my way back with the crowd.The rest of the day felt numb, everyone was congratulating us but they all were faking it as usual. Nobody understood how I could become engaged after everything I have said or Whistledown has written about me. But I didn't even care about any of this or this trip anymore. After a few hours, Father took me home. It was a silent ride back, I wanted to talk to him but the words never reached the tip of my tongue. When we got back to the ton, black iron gates were a blessing and curse because I knew I was back home. Servants swarmed the carriage and quickly grabbed our stuff. Mother and Ariel were just sitting in the drawing room talking about the wedding since it was a week away. They seemed happy but when they saw us their smiles drifted away due to our mood. Father explained the situation, they too were disappointed in me but they understood the lengths I went to protect us. I have always tried to protect this family, even though I wasn't the one to uphold the Radcliffe legacy. The room started to close in on me as they started to sound like birds squawking at each other. The yelling surrounded the room and I just couldn't take it anymore and went to my bedroom. I needed to process what just happened but my door flew open.

" How could you!" Ariel yelled. " Oh I'm sorry, I didn't realize that I was ruining your season but marrying to get our brother back! " I yelled. " I don't care about being diamond of the fucking season, I have calculated every moment of my life for our family." She cried. The room became quiet.

" What could you have possibly done for me?" I asked coldly. Ariel took a deep breath to regain her composure. " I am the first born better known as the legacy holder. I know you have always wanted to live your life and never be tied down. With me securing this match I have been able to provide that for you." She explained. " You don't love Lionel?" I questioned, Ariel tensed up. "I care for him, But he has many things that we just don't have here, like a legacy." " We have a legacy..." She cut me off. " We had an ancestral legacy in Germany that makes everyone here small but we have no legacy to have certain luxuries here."

When those words came out of her mouth, I finally understood how my sister behaved for once. Ariel was doing the same thing as me but in the only way she knew how: to secure a match to uphold a legacy. I jumped up from my bed and hugged her and for once it felt real for once. We finally could connect as sisters. It was sad to think that our brother's death made us come closer, but in a way it was what we needed. Ariel sat down with me and we talked about the dumbest things and about her wedding. It felt nice to talk to her till we passed out.

The sunlight slowly made its way to my room with its bright light. I couldn't ignore it anymore so I decided to wake myself up from my beautiful sleep. It had been about a week since the hunting trip and despite all the chaos that was happening between my family and Lord Nachtnebel, my sister and I could never have been happier when we were together. was to accompany me the whole night since word spread that we were engaged. You could tell the Ton was shocked that I was engaged to someone as distinguished as him but they didn't know any of what was going on behind closed doors. Emily was dressing me in a dark red gown with embroidered roses along the sleeves and trim. She then slicked my hair back into the perfect bun with two curls laying on my cheeks. I put on dark red gloves covering my bruises from James' tight grip. As I walked downstairs to see Lionel and James making conversation with my parents. They were still on edge about my brother's body but James said it would be at least two weeks before he came. Watching James stare at me was like a wolf finishing its prey off. He was licking his lips and you could see in his eyes he was fighting the urge to grab me. The carriage ride to the party was awkward and made me want to jump out of the window but I didn't have the guts. Once we got to the party, I put on a smile and was forced to stay by James' side. Trust me, I wanted to get away and drink till I fell to my knees but everyone was watching. But suddenly someone tugged on me and pulled me away from James. Secretly hoped for Benedict to be pulling me but it was Eliose in all her glory.

" How come you are now engaged?" Eloise questioned bluntly. "Eloise, things change." I answered. " To be honest I thought you would have ended up with my brother, " She replied.

"No he is just a friend," I stated. " I can see the way he looks at you, he has never done it, not even to Delacroix." she answered. " Thank you for reminding me of that." I muttered. but she heard me. " What I mean to say is..." She was cut off and my arm was grabbed again.

" Why did you leave me?" James questioned angrily. " I'm sorry lord Nachtnebel it was my fault, my sister and I wanted details of the wedding," Daphne said as she walked in front of me. "Fine, but don't keep my Rose from me for too long," He said angrily. I hated being his possession. " If you want to talk to Benedict, he is outside and we will cover for you." Daphne replied. "Why are you helping me?" I asked. " Because nothing should get in the way of the truth," She whispered in my ear. I knew what she meant by that. " Now follow us near the ladies and sneak out after." Eloise answered.

We walked together and once I saw that James was distracted I walked out onto the back patio. I was nervous to talk to Benedict because I know he is hurt but he knows that we had an arrangement. Feelings shouldn't have grown but they have for the both of us unfortunately. But we need to move on and do our duty. Turning around to see Benedict in the moonlight was a sight that ease my nerves and made me feel safe. But I could tell he was sad and didn't want to talk. I walked over anyway but stood behind a column so nobody would see us alone together. I know I said I had a duty but I wanted to throw it away when I was with him. I could imagine a life with him becoming a famous painter and me on his side as he set his work in a gallery and we would travel doing everything we loved. I could see children as well and we would go on hunting trips and just celebrate everything we desired with the whole family together. My gloves started to slide off showing my bruises from James' grip. I could tell Benedict noticed when he grabbed my hand. But I pointed his eyes towards my face, I didn't want him to look at my imperfection that James caused.

" Why are you marrying him?" Benedict asked, still holding on tight, but in the affectite way. "You know why I need my family to be whole again." I answered. " But I.." Benedict didn't want to finish that sentence. " Benedict, you are a good friend. I truly thank you for everything," I replied, holding his hand. Trying to not get distracted and confess my love. " My Rose, you shouldn't be here talking to him without me." James interrupted. " Don't go near her," Benedict answered. " Unless you fucking want her reputation ruined right now, back off." James growled. " Stop! Both of you! I'm done with tonight and would like to go home," I said and stormed off.

Ariel saw me come in from outside and knew it was time to leave, Lionel left the group of lords and walked us towards the carriage. I just needed a few more days and I knew everything would go back to normal hopefully. Once we got home I took a bottle of Gin from my father's study and drank it till I fell asleep.