𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐈𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐍 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 -- 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐨𝐧

𝑋𝐼𝐼𝐼

Dearest Readers,

This week, Lady Campbell shall host her annual ball during the social season. She is noted to have the grandest -and most expensive- balls of the Ton. The desired diamond of season, Miss Marie Hackley, is still not in a state to attend social events. Benedict Bridgerton, who was courting the diamond throughout the season, may still be searching for a bride to the happiness of the young ladies and mamas of the season.

Lady Whistledown's Society Papers, 28th June 1815

꧁𑁍꧂

Lady Campbell's extravagant ball was that evening, and Esther was dreading it. All day she felt a sickening, spinning feeling inside her stomach. She had been praying that she would throw up so that she was unable to attend. But she knew her father would of still made her go.

Marie was still bed bound and Anne struggled to leave her bedchambers for breakfast in the morning.

As she sat in front of the vanity table, allowing her lady's maid -Isabella- to apply rouge onto her cheeks and lips, she held back the tears collecting in her eyelashes.

She wore an expensive light blue dress of silk with a long trail which flowed behind her. Pearly white gloves stretched up to her elbows and her dark curly hair was styled perfectly in a bun. Dangling from her ears and around her neck were shining diamonds.

"All done, Miss Esther." Isabella quietly informed as Esther rose from her chair. "Are you quite alright, Miss Esther?" She asked with a concerned look plastered on her face. "I am perfectly fine, thank you."

But as Esther descended down the staircase she felt a sick feeling in her stomach. Henry inspected his daughter before firmly nodded and holding out his arm to walk her to the awaiting carriage.

"Where is Anne?" Esther asked her father in a gentle voice. "She is in no state to attend social events." Henry firmly replied as he helped his daughter step into the carriage.

It only took a few minutes to arrive at Lady Campbell's ball. She was an old wealthy hag who had been widowed years ago. Ever since her husband's (a Duke) death, she had been spending his funds on lavish parties.

Esther let out a gasp of amazement as she stepped into the bustling ballroom. Hundreds of candles lit up the room with a warm golden glow and a large champagne tower peered down at the dance floor.

Suddenly, an ancient gentleman appeared in front of her, moving faster than she expected for someone his age. "Lord Wesley, just the gentleman I hoped to see." Henry grinned beside his daughter.

Esther recognised the gentleman as the Duke of Kent. His beady eyes were hollow and sunken into his head, his teeth were rotted and wonky and his lips were thin and crusty. The Duke's pale discoloured skin was carved with wrinkles.

"This must be the alluring Miss Esther." The Duke grinned with his horrid teeth as he kissed the girl's hand, lifting it closer with his swollen pudgy fingers. At this moment, Esther was thankful to be wearing gloves.

"Give us a spin girl." He ordered Esther. With wide eyes she looked up at her father who glared sternly at her. Hesitantly, she slowly began to spin around, allowing the Duke to inspect her closely.

"Esther, go dance with the Duke." Henry ordered through gritted teeth into her ear. She let out a deep sigh before holding out her hand for the Duke to take and lead her to the dance floor.

His clammy sweaty hand held onto her waist as the music became. She froze still as he leaned closer in and inhaled deeply through his nose. "You smell delicious." He murmured under his breath.

Esther tensed herself up, uncomfortable in the grasp of the ancient Duke. She was far too disgusted to notice Benedict who glared at the Duke from the corner of the ballroom.

The Duke danced much slower than what was usual; his stiff joints seemed to be failing him significantly. Esther attempted to faze out, focusing her gaze on anything than the hairy mole erupting from the Duke's chin.

Finally, the song came to an end and Esther could escape his repulsive grip. She felt as if she had to bathe for years just to feel clean again. Esther was desperate for some fresh air, and so she escaped the ballroom for the balcony.

She appreciated that her nose was no longer filled with the stench of sardines and eggs. Her hands gripped onto the railing of the balcony, holding herself up.

Approaching footsteps and heavy breathy made her turn to find the Duke smiling at her, his black rotten teeth on full display.  "Miss Esther, I gave discussed with you father, snd we shall be wed by Sunday." Esther's eyebrows raised as her face dropped in defeat.

"Perfect, so it is all sorted." A wicked smile casted over his face. He reached forward snd gripped his slimy hands wrapped her wrists. She attempted to wiggle out of his grasp as his hands move around snd squeezed her derrière through the silk dress.

"Get off!" Esther shouted as she pushed him away, which was easy as he was rather old therefore weak. Before she could think, she had pulled her fist back and threw it forward, hitting the Duke's jaw which sent him down to the floor cold.

She turned to the doorway in horror when she heard footsteps approaching quickly. "Esther, are you okay?" Benedict asked as he ran towards her.
Without saying a word, Esther buried her face into his chest and began to sob. "Oh, Esther," He sighed as he wrapped his large arms around her.

For once in her life Esther felt truly safe, as if he could protect her from everything bad in the world. "Esther I am so sorry I did not get here faster." Benedict whispered as he cupped her face in his hands, his heartbreaking as he heard her cries.

"Are you hurt? I swear if he hurt you I will-" Esther shook her head. "I am not hurt." She replied as she dried her eyes. Benedict couldn't help but smile at her; she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

His glare then hardened when he turned to the Duke who still laid knocked out on the floor. "Who is this bastard?" He hissed.

"The man my father has planned to marry me off to." Esther was able to get out through the sobbing and sniffles. "You can not marry that scum. He is triple your age!" Benedict exclaimed, his face red with fury.

"I do not have much of a choice." Esther announced as she looked down at the crumbling decaying Duke. "My father, he is in serious debt. My grandmother promised him a grand sum of money if one of his daughters married this season." She began to explain to him as she walked away from both gentleman.

"I do not have a choice." She echoed again, quieter this time as her voice weakened. Esther looked down at the floor, allowing her hot tears to stream down her face and onto her ebony shoes.

"What if I marry you?" A silence fell between them as Esther looked up in disbelief. He quickly took her hands into his. "Benedict," She sighed as she shook her head.

"You should not be forced to marry that pig." Benedict stated as he placed his hand upon her cheek and carefully stroked her hot skin with his thumb.

"But, Benedict, think of the talk that will erupt. What the Ton will say! What Lady Whistledown will say!" Esther began to explain, staring into his amber eyes.

"I don't give a damn what so much as a fly says!" He scoffed as he took her cold hands again. "I love you, Esther. And there is no one else in this world that I would rather marry to save from a ancient pig." He smirked, making her snicker snd shake her head.