Benedict Bridgerton Regency Imagines || Benedict Bridgerton

Goodbye, Hello

"Goodbye, Benedict," you whisper.

"Am I supposed to just let you go?" his voice wavering, looking out at the gloomy horizon, the wind teasing at his hair. You stand outside Aubrey Hall, saying your last goodbye. Behind you, the carriage that will take you to the life you do not want awaits.

"Benedict I..." you don't finish the sentence, looking down at your hands as you wring them; you know there is a tear in the corner of your eye but are determined not to wipe it away, as if that would somehow will it out of existence.

"I thought we had something special," he says quietly, forlornly.

"We do," you hiss fiercely in response.

"So why are you doing this?" he looks back at you sharply, a world of hurt behind his soulful eyes.

"What choice do I have?" you decry.

"You could choose me?" it's an impassioned plea but has a desperate tinge of a man who knows it's a futile attempt.

"In any other lifetime, you know I would, in a heartbeat," you exhale and grab his hand. "But it's not about me; it's about saving my family." The tear that threatens now starts to roll down your cheek ."it's not fair, but this is the deal that has been struck. I would do anything to save my family from ruin, just as you would sacrifice anything for yours."

He hates that you have pointed that out—the truth.

"If there were any other way, I would not marry this ogre of a man...." you assert fervently.

"I could pay the debt! I could see your family freed from this!" he exclaims, exasperated. "Yes, I would need to sell my cottage and borrow money from my brother, but he is a generous man; I'm sure he would give me good terms."

"I could never ask you to do that. Sell your home, be in debt. Not for me." you shake your head violently.

"I'd do it in a heartbeat," he utters vehemently.

"I know you would", you reach up and touch his cheek, "but I would never allow it. I could not live with the burden of that favour, and I could not be the reason you do not have the life to which you are accustomed. That you deserve."

"I'd prefer to be poor with you than comfortable without," he says quietly.

"Please don't make this any harder than it is," you plead, real tears rolling now; you take a deep breath in and out. "I love you, just know that. I'm tired of pretending I'm not. So if we cannot be, I just want you to know that." You grab his head and bring his forehead down to touch yours. "I love you, and I always will."

"Why should you have to suffer for the sins of your abhorrent father?" he hisses, pressing his forehead against yours. "Pay for it with your life, your freedom."

You don't have anything to say to that, so you just swallow hard and hold onto his forearms as he holds your elbows, swaying slightly, not moving your head from his.

"You know, If this ogre you're marrying dies, your family's debt dies with him," he says, pulling back slightly and with a menace that you didn't think him capable of.

"Don't do anything stupid, Benedict," you warn.

"I'd kill him with my bare hands if there was a chance I could get away with it." It's a growl through gritted teeth as he looks sideways, his jaw ticked.

"I have been researching," you whisper quietly after a pause, "about alchemy, about herbs and tinctures and things that can fell a man."

"Don't. Don't risk it," he inhales sharply. "What if he discovers you?"

"I can play the contented wife if I know there is an expiration date," you assure, "he will never suspect. I'd prefer to die trying than live that life," your breath tremulous.

"I love you," he confesses urgently. Your heart stops and breaks at the same time.

He takes your hand and presses something into it. It's a small rock, orange, almost red, and shaped like a heart. "Take this. It's a talisman. I want this back," he whispers ardently. "When you return to me, I want this back." It's almost an order.

You nod, and with a quick squeeze of his hands, you back away before you can do anything foolish like kiss him and change your mind.

——

The sun streams into your carriage as it rolls down the familiar drive towards the beautiful family home you long to see. As it hones into view, you break out into a smile that you cannot contain.

Your hand clenches hard around the most precious object of your possession. The item you believe saved your life—your good luck charm. You are certain it has the magical properties that bestowed a heart attack on the menace of your existence. But now it's time to return it to its rightful owner.

Butterflies roar in your stomach as your carriage slows and you fling open the door before it's even come to a stop or your footman has had the chance to help you.

He is already running down the steps to greet you, and you collide with each other. He lifts you off the ground into his arms, and you spin around.

"Wait," you giggle ebulliently, "I have to give you something."

"What?" his voice is a breathy lilt as he places you gently back on your feet. You grab his hand and place the rock onto his palm, closing his fingers around it.

"Thank you," you whisper.

He smiles and places his forehead against yours, staring into your eyes.

"Oh, I almost forgot," you say lightly.

"What else?" he questions curiously.

"Hello Benedict," you whisper.