Hope for the Hopeless

Green-Eyed Monster

The next three balls got no better for Benedict. He had managed one dance with Sophie because his cousin had gotten a dance and felt sorry for him but Sophie had not been impressed and barely spoke to him during the dance.

"Surely you're not considering Roger for a husband" he'd asked her.

"No I'm not but he was here early enough to ask for a dance and I am not so rude as to decline..." Sophie said as they'd twirled

"Why are you so intent on cutting me out Soph. What have I done wrong? Just tell me and I'll make it right..." he said to her, almost begging.

Sophie had wanted to tell him, tell him and rant at him as to what the problem was but he didn't want her... that much she knew.

"Nothing. Absolutely nothing. But as I said. I am looking for a husband, I wish to marry. I want to have my own family... you are a friend not a suitor. I do not need people thinking I am considering you, or that you want to marry me when we know it is not true..." Sophie had explained

"People are not so stupid as to think that..."

"Yes but coming to the house when I am getting callers, being in the park when I am trying to promenade..." Sophie said.

This had been true. The last two mornings he had tried to come to see Sophie only to be turned away by Charlie due to the number of callers she'd received.

He'd gone to Will's and White's afterwards and tried to get drunk. He had no idea why this was bothering him so much.

They'd been in the park the day before, Lord Gordon had been walking with Francesca, and Lord Stirling had walked with Sophie before they had swapped and whenever Benedict had tried to cover to speak to Sophie, to ask if she wished to walk with him, or perhaps if she wanted to sit with him by the lake and paint together, one of their favourite pastimes... his mother had squawked him not to disturb Sophie whilst she's being courted...

Lady Whistledown had written in length about how Benedict was sniffing around her, wondering if he was interested in the Season's Jewel... wondering if the Bridgerton charm had finally failed... and was reporting heavily that the Lady Gunningworth had a number of admirers, with the most notable ones being Lord Gordon and perhaps the Earl of Kilmartin, though Lady Whistledown did wonder if one of the gentleman was interested in Francesca as the four spent a lot of time together.

The Earl of Kilmartin was spending a lot of time with Sophie but she knew it wasn't for her, John was shy and was wanting to get to know more about Francesca and as Sophie knew the Bridgerton's and was friendly with her, he was trying to get as much information out of her as possible.

He was also a school friend of William Anderson, and when he'd asked for help with Sophie... he'd been unable to resist.

When the dance was over, Benedict had tried to kiss Sophie's hand as was normal but his lips had barely brushed her glove when she removed it and walked away from him, leaving him in the middle of the dance floor looking confused, thankfully, he had to tell himself, only Penelope Featherington had seemed to see his embarrassment and he walked off, wondering why Sophie's words you are a friend not a suitor were ringing in his ears...

Benedict was confused.

In nearly 21 years Sophie had never snubbed him for others, she's always snubbed them in favour of him but now...

It was like he didn't know her anymore.

He missed his best friend. He always missed her when she was away. Whenever he had come to London for the season he had missed her. He had wanted her there with him to share a dance, share a joke... to roll their eyes together at his idiotic siblings...