After delaying it as long as she could, Isabel Asturias is ready to make her debut onto the marriage market. Like every other mama in town, Lady Asturias hopes to gain an audience for her daughter with the season's most eligible bachelor, the Viscou...
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After a few more kisses and caressing of Isabel's cheek, Benedict thought it best to return to Grosvenor Square before his siblings or mother would wake.
He changed out of his wet clothes and sighed contently as he buried himself under his duvet. He didn't feel cold as he should, for his heart was warm with a newfound feeling. Benedict closed his eyes and tried to sleep, but the memory of the moments shared with Isabel were replaying in his head.
Benedict managed to get less than an hour of sleep before he was disturbed by light knocking on his door.
"Benedict, dearest? May I come in?" his mother said.
Benedict merely groaned, and she took that as a sign to enter.
Violet was perplexed, to say the least, by the sight of Benedict on his bed looking drunk on something other than whiskey.
"Benedict, are you feeling quite well?" she asked.
"Not in the slightest."
Her motherly instinct kicked in. "Oh goodness. Whatever is the matter?"
"Love."
The concern on Violet's face shifted to amazement. She couldn't keep a smile off of her face.
"How wonderful! It is Miss Asturias, is it not?"
Benedict lifted his head to look at her. He furrowed his brows in confusion. "How did you know?"
Violet chuckled. "I am your mother, Benedict."
Benedict let out a breath. "Everyone else knew, too, I take it?"
Violet smiled sheepishly. "Most have guessed it, yes."
Benedict stared at the ceiling with his hands folded upon his torso, his eyes swimming with unreadable emotions. Violet allowed herself to get carried away by her thoughts she no longer had to hide from her son.
"Oh, how exciting, to have two matches this season! Now I'll need three to make up for it next season, and that seems unlikely given Eloise—"
"Well, I haven't gotten to the proposal part yet," he interjected absentmindedly.
Violet's cheerful expression froze before it morphed into disbelief.
"Don't tell me you're not planning on marrying her," she said with a light chuckle, sincerely hoping he was joking.
"That is not what I meant," Benedict quickly clarified. He was still learning not to mince his words when it came to such matters of the heart. "Just... how do I know if this is what I want? I have never had the inclination for marriage before, and I was not expecting my heart to be won so suddenly."
"It will not be easy for you to reconcile, it seems. But if she has truly captured your heart, and she is your dearest friend and confidant, then you will be blessed with a life of happiness, I am sure of it."
The reassuring words from his mother were all Benedict needed to feel sure of what he must do.
But just as he was starting to feel at ease, the reality of the current situation in the Bridgerton household washed over him.
"What about Anthony?" he asked his mother, which made her shift in her seat.
She paused, then said, "Do not let his situation interfere with your happiness."
"Thank you, mother."
✣ ✣ ✣
Just as he expected, Benedict found his older brother in the study poring over papers with his hand gripping his face. The sound of paper flipping cut through the silence.
"Anthony, could I speak with you?" Benedict said from the doorway.
"Can it wait? I'm very busy," Anthony said, gesturing to the paper in front of him.
"It really can't, actually," Benedict said, stepping into the office towards his brother.
"Alright, then," Anthony said, stacking some papers and putting them to the side. "What is so urgent?"
"I..."
Benedict hadn't thought of exactly what he wanted to say, and now he was struggling to find the right words. He had barely come to terms with his feelings himself, and he wasn't sure what he should convey to Anthony.
But Anthony was staring up at him with an expression that grew more annoyed and confused with every second, so he had to say something.
"I am in love with Miss Asturias. And I plan to marry her."
Anthony did not say anything for several beats of Benedict's heart, and Benedict wished he could read his brother's impenetrable expression. Finally, Anthony spoke.
"If you have had the privilege of finding a love match, then I am truly happy for you," he said with a tight smile. But Benedict could see in his eyes that something was amiss.
"You do not look happy," Benedict said.
Anthony sighed. "It is just the stress of impending nuptials." Anthony looked back down at the papers and added, "I am to dine with the Sheffields in two days time."
"The Sheffields?" Benedict must have been more out of the loop surrounding his brother's engagement than he thought. He seemed to have missed a chapter while he was spending so much time with Isabel.
"Miss Edwina's grandparents."
"Ah. Yes. Well, I was hoping we could find time in between all of this preparation to have Miss Asturias over for dinner—"
Anthony looked back up at him. His eyes went dark. "I am sorry, brother, but I do not think that will be possible."
Benedict scoffed.
"I do not mean to upset you, brother. We all have a lot on our schedules while we prepare for the wedding. But we will deal with this as soon as it is over, I promise." The smallest of sympathetic smiles twitched on his lips, so fleeting that anyone with a less attentive eye than Benedict might have missed it.
Benedict knew his brother was being sincere. Anthony's mind was too distant and clouded to deal with anything but his own wedding. It was etched into the lines on his face that he wished it were not consuming him as it did.
"I understand," Benedict said a bit more quietly, before exiting the study.
So much for not letting Anthony get in the way of his happiness.
❀
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