𝐄𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐘𝐎𝐔; benedict bridgerton

𝟎𝟔.

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𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐈𝐗

SOMETHING HAD CHANGED in Benedict, changed since the first time he'd seen Victoria, since the first time he'd spoken to her and since their last meeting in front of the Fernsby house.

He couldn't explain how, but he could definitely tell that he was changed. He didn't tend to undergo many metamorphoses, but it was never too late to start.

The world seemed lovelier now, even though he could see her problems, he understood that Victoria's thoughts about his reputation weren't the best and that a large part of that was his fault, but he was determined to change that.

He was a changed person because he wanted to improve and do more good than before. Look, he'd never been mean, but his lack of attention to the world outside the Bridgertons' house made him rather spoilt, as Anthony had said at the Arts Academy party and Victoria seemed to say with her gaze.

It hurt, but it was necessary for him to grow and mature, just as Anthony had done and Victoria seemed to have done a long time ago, he too should undergo the metamorphosis that would do him the most good.

Coming out of his thoughts, he began to realise how amazed he was by the place around him. His green eyes ran over the walls, the objects and even the floor.

Kate and Anthony's house gave the impression of exactly who they were and seemed to have been built with love, but of course Benedict knew better.

It was only because, impressed as he was with how much he had wasted, spending time on futile or trivial things, everything now seemed new and beautiful.

"Benedict!" Anthony exclaimed, snapping him back to reality. "Kate's been explaining to you for an hour about the balls we're planning to give and you're travelling!"

Benedict straightened up on the sofa and, with a thoughtful look on his face, listened to what the woman was saying, this time a little more attentively than before.

He used to come on Saturdays to visit the two of them who lived in a comfortable mansion further away from the centre of London, enjoying married life. Perhaps it really was the best decision to make, since since the wedding their lives seemed to have become less interesting for Lady Wistledow.

During their visits, neither brother mentioned Benedict's entry into the Academy, it was a subject that hurt him and Anthony seemed to have forgotten, but Benedict knew they could talk about it another time.

"Brother, I feel I have interrupted you long enough," said Benedict, getting up from the sofa.

"I'd ask you to come back soon, we haven't had a chance to chat about the nice girl you always talk to in public," Anthony replied, winking.

Benedict didn't blush, he paled; he hadn't realised that Anthony had already found out about Victoria. Anthony was really attentive to new news.

"We'll love to meet her," Kate added with a pleasant smile.

He never used to get giddy over a woman and now that had changed, he cared that the whole family knew and by God, all that was missing was his mother.

"How do you know?" He questioned quickly and with a certain apprehension.

Anthony walked over to a corner table and reached for Lady Whistledown's latest leaflet.

"She had it delivered yesterday. It's a shallow report on society and an in-depth one on the week's most noteworthy liaisons. I must say that yours with the girl is one of them," explained Anthony with a sly smile as Benedict read the leaflet voraciously.

The younger man's eyes ran along the lines, perplexed, highlighting some specific parts:

Mr Benedict Bridgerton is running around like a puppy chasing a girl whose name starts with Vic and ends with Toria. It's really interesting how these two relate and I'm there to unravel it.

"That woman is diabolical," thought Benedict in distress, still not understanding why he cared so much about what she wrote.

"It's quite a monologue Benedict, but don't mind. Anthony and I just find it amusing and remember that we've been through the same thing," commented Kate, exchanging amused glances with her husband. "We must say that although she doesn't want to, she's a good matchmaker."

Kate's conclusion made Benedict pale even more, Victoria and he were in no way a couple, how absurd!

"You're wrong, I must say. Victoria and I are just good friends who tease each other," he stopped when he realised he had said the wrong thing since that was exactly how his brother had married Kate. "But that doesn't mean anything. I have to go now."

He quickly left the place without waiting for an answer, leaving Kate and Anthony nodding and smiling.

The old Benedict would have felt distressed or even frightened. This evolved version was happy and energised, even if he was pale.

After leaving Anthony's house, he had no idea where he was going. Benedict wasn't a man for making plans, but now he seemed to be plotting a course for somewhere different from where he was. It was a tremendously strange but good feeling: to feel lost and yet not be lost.

Well, if he was going to do something then he should start at the beginning. With the money he had at the moment, he headed for a shop selling art materials.

There he would breathe and find what he needed to get his thoughts out of his head and onto paper, so that he could find the answers to what ailed him without ailing him.

He carefully chose the colours he would use to paint, making sure that he chose all the colours he could find in different shades.

A born artist as he was, he wasn't surprised when he began to smell the paints—for many it wouldn't make a difference, but he liked to feel what he was going to use to build something.

Engrossed, he didn't notice when the shop owner approached, ready to strike up a conversation:

"Sir, I can see that you have a natural love of painting..."

Benedict turned round, looking curiously at the man, capping one of the jars of paint he had opened.

"Yes?"

"It's just that I've noticed that you really like what you do and you seem to be a painter," the man continued, pausing. "It may seem strange, but I'm bringing together people who come to my shop or are referred by friends of mine for an art club, specifically painting and.... as I see you're one of ours, I'd like to invite you."

Benedict was surprised, not knowing what to say despite his clear interest in the proposal.

"Are you inviting me? Really?" Benedict asked, unsure.

The other man nodded and Benedict smiled sincerely. He was surprised that this man hadn't even seen his paintings or work and was already inviting him to a place where he could show his art! Something inside him brightened at the prospect that people really did think he was talented and he replied:

"It would be my pleasure if I could accept."

The other smiled openly at the affirmative.

"I really appreciate it, could you give me your name?" Asked the man gently as Benedict answered him. "I'm Graham Davies. You're the missing member of our group!" He exclaimed happily.

Benedict could only smile in response. As soon as he left with the new materials he had bought, he reflected on joining the Club and felt extremely happy. It was all he had ever wanted, to be part of something was what he needed at the moment.

If I could, I'd keep that feeling in a box so that whenever I could I could feel it and remember how good it felt to be complete.