𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐄 difference between a sin and a clandestine longing? A yearning that pulses silently beneath the surface, sheltered away from a place where love is tightly defined and drawn by ancient hands. Can a heart so full and so p...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
୨⎯ ༻♛༺ ⎯୧
THE BALL HAS BEEN SHIFTED OUT TO the gardens. For some peculiar reason, the ton has been invited to roam the outsides of the Featherington estate rather than enjoy the warmth of the inside of the home. That is not to say Siena does not enjoy being able to relish in the cool breeze that runs through the air out in the yard. With the refreshment that feels chilly against her gloved fingers and in the comfort of silence surrounded by her chattering brothers, she looks around, her instinct always searching for one particular head of brown which she does not find.
Renzo and Peppo's conversation with some of the men that surround them has started to bore her after a good couple of minutes of pretending to care. And so the girl places her hand on the two boys' arms and excuses herself before escaping the small gathering to head over for a glass of something... more bitter. She makes sure to give some ladies and mamas pursed smiles and refrains from giving wrong impressions to the males that stand beside them. And it is only when she reaches the beverage table that she allows her frown to return and a small sigh to ease out of her red lips.
"The champagne has grown rather warm," her head turns when a voice speaks beside her, bringing a small smile to her face at the sight of the second eldest Bridgerton grinning back at her, "Go on, try it."
Siena takes a sip, scrunching her nose and nodding, something that would have made Eloise beam like a romantic if she was the one in front of her instead of Benedict, "Yes, it has. But it is the taste I enjoy, not the temperature of it."
Benedict raises his eyebrows and tilts his head in agreement, clinking his own glass against hers, "Hear, hear," the girl laughs, drinking alongside him, their eyes looking at each other even through the sip, "Ah, delightful."
The brunette puts her glass down for a moment to readjust the veil over her forearms, "Are you simply saying that?" She asks, making him cringe and put his own glass down.
"The Featheringtons don't have the finest taste for champagne, do they?" Siena giggles, the boy always managing to make her bubbly with laughter, "I suppose it is alright, though. I have not come here to drink."
Siena gives him a shocked look, "Well, that is odd. What have you come here for?"
Benedict leans back against the table, the two of them now staring at the crowd instead of at each other, "As Eloise's companion."
The name always seems to weaken her, this time more in a debilitating kind of way, "I see."
There is a pause, but Siena can almost taste how eager Benedict is to say something he doesn't seem to find the courage to. He stammers and takes a deep breath before eventually shifting his body off the table and turning to the shorter girl before him.
