A Gamble // Benedict Bridgerton

Chapter Two

Word Count: 3,503 words. 

Warnings: None. 

Evelyn would never forget the night that she truly met Benedict Bridgerton. It was months ago at the White's Club, before the last season had truly ended and it was a gamble. In fact, it had been as such from the very beginning of the game. Evelyn did not gamble, not seeing any particular benefit to such childish things. To gamble one's money away was entirely too stupid, but it was harmless. At least, it seemed as such. The gamble had not begun that night, at least not in her eyes, but when she remembered it almost a year later, she would realise that their first conversation had been the terms and conditions of such a game.

Evelyn had been so angry with herself and frustrated at her mother - for what reason she could not quite remember - that when she entered the house on that single Tuesday afternoon, she had convinced herself that she would become so consumed by alcohol that she would not be able to leave for days. Of course, doing such a thing was entirely impossible, the youngest Princess had tried before, but found that it had only resulted in a rather unwanted talking match with her mother. She detailed it as talking as her mother did not scream. The Queen Charlotte did not scream, and she did not shout at her children, except when they failed to stand straight for their portrait – of which the King never attended.

There was a loose leash on Evelyn, one that her older siblings did not have the luxury of sharing. The ton saw it, and any stranger to the Crown could see it too, but they all came to the same assumption. She was the youngest of sixteen, the child that had been born seven years after the last. The surprise, and the burden. In truth, her freedom was as a result of a much more important issue, but she talked little of that to anyone, and anyone who knew never mentioned it.

When Evelyn would recall this story to her dear brother Edward, she would certainly summarize. It had begun with a single drink and a flirt from a nearby noble. She did not remember him being of any high-standing family, but he spoke with a grace that was taught from childhood. One drink led to two and so on until she could feel the familiar tingle that often accompanied drink. That was when the three brothers had walked in, and that noble was forgotten about. He had vanished when she turned to him next.

Evelyn knew them, there were very few nobles she did not know. The Bridgerton's were a family name, and she had only been shocked to see one of them there. Colin Bridgerton did not suit the atmosphere that he had walked into. A kind soul, and young, he would much rather grand balls and organised events. Evelyn had no doubt that he had been dragged there by Anthony, the eldest. She was both shocked and entirely unsurprised to see Benedict there. It was certainly the place that an artistic bachelor such as Benedict Bridgerton would attend, but for some strange reason, on that particular night, she found her eyes drawn to him more than they had before. Perhaps it was the new suit that he wore, or rather the odd look that he entered with. She knew that he had been there before – by the ease at which he greeted the owners.

It was later that night, when she met said gentleman, that she would recall most clearly. Evelyn remembered how she was first introduced to Benedict Bridgerton – of course they had crossed paths before, but never in such a conversational setting. She was watching Colin, noting the awkward stance that he took while scanning the room, Anthony at his side.

Of course, he had been guided into the back of the house, where it was highly uncommon to see a single body properly dressed. The drink and conversation sat as the house's front, while the back could almost be viewed as a brothel. Evelyn wondered if Colin Bridgerton knew exactly where he was.

Certainly, he had suffered lately, and it showed, partially due to the debacle that was Miss Marina Thompson, cousin to the Featheringtons.

"He's like a bull in a China Shop." Those were his first words to her. The first observation made by the Bridgerton brother.