It is said that second-born sons have all the fun. This much is certainly true for Benedict Bridgerton, free from the burdens held by his eldest brother, the Viscount. One must wonder, how does the second eldest Bridgerton spend his time?
To the to...
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Madeleine and Benedict had been staying at the Bridgerton house for nearly two months now and everybody was on their toes, eagerly awaiting the baby's arrival.
"Madeleine, you must lay down!" Benedict urged, laughing as he guided the girl back to bed. Madeleine groaned dramatically, getting back into the bed.
"I am going to go absolutely insane just laying here forever! This baby better hasten it's arrival lest I lose my mind first." She sighed, pulling the comforter over herself.
Benedict chuckled at her dramatics and sat on the edge of the bed, opening a bag he had brought with him.
"Here, these will help you pass the time, will they not?" He pulled out a few novels he had purchased for her, handing them to her. She smiled eagerly and nodded, looking through the books.
"I do believe these will do the job, thank you!" She grinned, kissing his cheek before immediately opening one of the books.
He laughed and kissed her forehead, leaving to help Anthony with some paperwork. He was absolutely dreading it, but he thought it rather nice to have a distraction while he impatiently awaited the birth of his son or daughter.
More often than not, Madeleine would comply and stay in bed for about an hour at most, before she would become bored out of her mind. In these times, she would quietly wander to the drawing room where the other Bridgerton siblings would keep her company.
"Wow, it only took you forty five minutes to become restless this time." Colin teased, checking his watch as Madeleine entered the drawing room. She laughed and swatted at his head, plopping beside him on the settee.
"I would like to see you lie in bed all day and not go crazy." She smirked, nudging him. He laughed and nodded in concession, handing her one of the sweets from the table next to him.
"Daphne, that sounds wonderful. Is it a new piece?" Madeleine asked, watching as Daphne played the piano. The younger girl smiled and nodded.
"I wrote it just the other day, I have yet to give it a name though." She sighed, closing the piano. Eloise snorted from the sofa on the other side of the room, standing and coming to join the other two.
"If you must play at all hours of the day, the least you could do is give it a name." She jabbed at her sister, grabbing a cookie and sitting across from Colin and Madeleine, Daphne soon joining her.
"Speaking of names, have you and Ben yet decided on one?" Colin quipped, turning back to Madeleine.
"Well, we were thinking Isabella for a girl, after my mother. And Edmund, if it is a boy. I know it may be considered unoriginal or cheesy, but we think it a rather sweet tradition." She laughed softly, placing a hand on her protruding stomach.
"I agree, I believe it is quite a beautiful tradition." Daphne gave her a warm smile, sipping at her tea.
"What is a beautiful tradition?" Benedict's voice made Madeleine's eyes go wide as she attempted to shrink into the couch and be hidden by Colin's frame next to her.
Benedict looked up from his pocket watch and glanced at his family, narrowing his eyebrows in suspicion as they all stifled their laughter.
"What? Did I miss something, the butt of a joke perhaps?" He stopped when he rounded the couch and saw Madeleine, clicking his tongue in dismay.
"Oh, do not even begin to admonish me. None of you would manage being stuck in a room for hours on end." She groaned, sitting up straight and glaring at Benedict as he laughed. He gestured for Colin to move, sitting beside his wife.
"I suppose the sofa is not much different from a bed. At least you are resting." He chuckled, kissing her temple and grabbing a cookie.
She nodded, grinning in triumph and leaning into him as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder. Colin and Eloise were now enveloped in their own debate, which was not unusual.
"Nigel Berbrooke is an absolute disgrace of a man and I highly doubt that you would enjoy staring at those brown and yellow teeth all day, let alone make love to such a man." Eloise argued, making Colin roll his eyes.
"I am not saying he is a good man, not in the slightest. I am simply saying that there may be other options if the Duke does not wish to marry." He jabbed back.
"I would appreciate if the two of you would not make such decisions on my behalf, I am right here you know." Daphne chimed in, shaking her head in dismay.
Madeleine laughed softly at this, rather enjoying the entertainment. She gasped abruptly when she felt a sudden wetness between her legs, sitting up straight. Benedict looked at her in alert, sitting up as well.
"What is it, love? Is it the baby?" He kept his hand on her shoulder, concern in his eyes. She nodded, looking up at him with wide eyes.
"I think it is time."
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"Push, my lady, you must push!" The doctor ordered, holding her legs open. She screamed out in pain, holding Benedict's hand so tightly she thought she might crush his bones. He brushed her hair back, matted in the beads of sweat on her forehead.
"One more, big push!" The doctor called out, immediately followed by a blood-curdling scream as Madeleine pushed as hard as she could. The wails of an infant reached her ears and she sobbed in relief, collapsing into Benedict's arms, exhausted. He cradled her head, gently stroking her cheek.
"You did it, my love." He pressed a kiss to her forehead, both looking at the doctor as he lifted the baby.
"It is a girl, your lordship." He handed the baby to one of the nurses, who delicately cleaned her off and swaddled her in a small blanket. Tears streamed down Madeleine's cheeks as the nurse handed her the baby, cradling her to her chest.
Benedict watched, eyes wide in awe. He slowly took the child's tiny hand in his, her little fingers wrapping around his pointer finger as she calmed down.
"She is absolutely and utterly perfect." He whispered, tears welling in his eyes. The baby cooed, staring up at Madeleine with wide eyes. She smiled and nodded, gently cupping the baby's head.
"Would you like to hold her?" She smiled up at him, holding the baby out in her arms. He nodded eagerly, gently taking her from Madeleine. He held her to his chest with such gentleness as though he thought she might simply break if he moved the wrong way.
"Welcome to the world, little Isabella." He cooed, smiling down at her. Madeleine teared up again at the sight, so enamored by the picture of him holding their little girl. He sat in the bed beside her, smiling at their baby.
Her little hands found their way out of the loose swaddle and reached up, barely brushing against Benedict's chin. He laughed softly and took one of her hands in his as she wrapped her fingers around his again.
"Oh, you are going to be so loved, little one. You already are." He pressed a gentle kiss to her hand, unable to take his eyes off of her.
"You are right, she is absolutely perfect." Madeleine smiled, leaning her head on his shoulder as they both stared in awe at the little baby they had created.
