you are in love, BENEDICT BRIDGERTON

HEARTS AND FLOWERS

the next morning, alison knocks on the door of a spare study room, already knowing that benedict will be in there painting as he had been a majority of his stay at aubrey hall so far.

benedict's heart quickened a little as he heard the knock, he knew exactly who it was, and a mix of emotions swirled within him as he recalled his actions the night before. he cleared his throat before calling out. "come in."

the driftwater girl slowly makes her way inside the study, poetry book in hand, and closes the door behind her all before smiling softly and walking over to a sofa-chair beside the bridgerton man's canvas.

benedict turned towards her, as she gets seated in the chair. "you're up early." he observed, feigning nonchalance but unable to hide the subtle hitch in his voice.

"maybe so." alison chuckles. "you've worked off your hangover, i see."

benedict cringed slightly at the mention of his previous night's antics. "thankfully, yes." he admitted, running a hand through his hair before continuing to paint. "i'll never try anything of colin's ever again."

"well since you are now all the better, i suppose that proper congratulations are in order."

a small smile tugged at benedict's lips as his eyes stayed glued to the canvas. "congratulate me on what, exactly? not dying from embarrassment?" he jokes.

"the academy, you twit!" alison stands, laughing slightly as she does so, which makes him immediately place his paint brush and palette on the stool next to him and turn to her.

her actions are followed by a pleased smile from him, he'd almost forgotten in the haze of his embarrassment that he was in fact going to the academy. "right, yes. the academy." he chuckles. "i still cannot believe that i got in, to be honest."

"i can." she tells him softly.

"oh, really? and why is that?" benedict stands before her, his expression is hunting for a meaningful answer from her. a certain validation that only she could give, for some reason.

"i mean-" alison notions to the painting that he is in the middle of creating. "-you have a real talent."

benedict glanced down at the canvas in front of him, the half-finished painting of the countryside landscape. "ah, this?" he said, trying to sound nonchalant, but secretly basking in her praise. "it's not finished yet."

"well it's still beguiling, almost as much as the artist who paints it." she dramatizes jokingly, quoting what he said last night.

his cheeks flushed pink at the mention of his words from the previous night. despite his embarrassment, he chuckled and raised an eyebrow. "i see that you remember my intoxicated ramblings."