𝑾𝑯𝑰𝑺𝑷𝑬𝑹𝑰𝑵𝑮 || 𝑨 𝑩𝒓𝒊𝒅𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒐𝒏 𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚

02. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑹𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒏

CHAPTER 2:
The Rose And The Thorn

‎ .˚ * ꒰ঌ✦໒꒱ * ˚.

"YOU'RE GOING TOO far!" Genevieve shouted after the boy ahead of her, her voice a mix of panic and excitement that echoed through the bright afternoon.

The sun painted warm golden hues across the sprawling garden, but Benjamin hardly slowed his pace.

Instead, he dashed forward, a blur of mischievous energy, reveling in the thrill of exploration.

Against her better judgment, she could feel an irresistible pull to follow him, an adventurous spark igniting in her heart despite her instincts screaming at her to stay safe.

Benjamin, with a glimmer of excitement in his eyes, reached the tallest tree in the Bridgerton backyard.

It towered like a sentinel over the landscape, its branches dancing with the winds of spring.

He turned to Genevieve, flashing a grin that only heightened her apprehension.

"Come on!" he called down with unabashed enthusiasm. "We'll be up in the clouds! It's so high!"

Swallowing her fear, she took a deep breath and began to climb.

The heavy fabric of her dress was cumbersome, tangling around her legs and hindering her progress.

Each rung of the gnarled tree bark was a battle, every inch an uphill struggle against the fabric that felt like it had a will of its own.

Nonetheless, she pressed onward. The thrill of adventure outweighed the terror that clutched at her gut.

She recalled the countless tales of bravery and camaraderie that fueled her love for storytelling, she could be the heroine of her own story if she tried hard enough.

"Genny!" Benjamin's voice broke through her racing thoughts.

He had settled himself comfortably onto a branch that appeared sturdy and secure.

He beamed at her, typical Benjamin, always setting the stage for a new adventure, never imagining the consequences.

"Come on! It's amazing up here!"

She finally reached him, her hands wrapping around the rough bark as she steadied herself.

With a gentle but firm tug, he pulled her up onto the branch beside him.

They were not in the clouds, as Benjamin had imagined, but the view from their leafy perch was breathtaking.

They could overlook the Bridgerton backyard, a lush expanse of green punctuated with flowering bushes and shimmering pathways that wound like ribbons through the landscape.

It was a postcard-perfect scene, framed by the distant hills fading into the horizon.

"Look at that!" Benjamin said, his voice a blend of awe and mischief as he pointed to the sprawling grounds below.

Genevieve turned to him, and she couldn't help but laugh; they exchanged glances of sheer delight.

Time seemed to suspend as they shared that innocent moment, two childhood friends suspended above the world, leaving the troubles of reality behind.

"What time is it?" she asked, a sense of urgency creeping into her voice.

"Must be close to four," Benjamin estimated, his feet dangling playfully off the side of their makeshift throne.