limerence || benedict bridgerton

vii | the look of love

"How does a lady come to be with child?" Eloise exclaimed bursting into the sitting room. Alexandria choked on her tea in pure shock and glanced at Benedict and Colin who were holding in their laughter.

"Eloise what a question!" Violet said walking over to Eloise with panic over her face at the question and because of Hyacinth and Gregory.

"I thought a lady needed to be married?" Eloise questioned. "Apparently that's not even a requirement" Eloise added. "Eloise that's more than enough!" Violet said and Eloise shut up and plopped herself next to Alexandria on the sofa.

"I take it the two of you know?" Eloise asked Colin and Benedict. Alexandria couldn't help but let a giggle out. "You know?" Eloise said in surprise. "I didn't say that" Alexandria smiled. "You know!" Eloise exclaimed and Alexandria said nothing.

"Don't look at me!" Benedict said. "Have you ever visited a farm?" Colin said and Benedict smacked him round the back of the head and now Alexandria was belly laughing.

"How do you know?" Eloise asked Alexandria again. "Well.." Alexandria trailed off before craning her head and both Colin and Benedict.

"My brothers told you?!" Eloise said in disbelief. "They're bad influences!" Alexandria exclaimed. "And they're not exactly quiet about their... endeavours shall we say?" Alexandria said quietly.

"Eurgh!" Eloise said disgusted holding her ears so she wouldn't hear anymore. "You just completely outed us!" Colin exclaimed and Alexandria simply shrugged.

"How am I more innocent than you?" Eloise asked disbelievingly. "I mean we both read romance novels".

"Your brothers have corrupted my innocence" Alexandria said sarcastically and they all laughed.

"I hope you three aren't encouraging improper conversation" Violet said pointing a look at Alexandria, Benedict and Colin. "Never!" Benedict said.

"In fact me and Benedict were going to take our sticks out...." Colin said cheekily, making Alexandria double over with laughter.

"Colin Bridgerton!" Violet exclaimed her eyes widened. "A round of fencing!" Colin said innocently.

Colin and Benedict made their way out towards the garden and Alexandria and Eloise followed.

"What did you all get up to this week?" Alexandria asked out of curiosity. "Well we played a game of pall mall" Colin said simply. "With the Sharmas" Eloise added which made Alexandria's eyebrows rise.

"Anthony seems to be pretty serious about Edwina" Alexandria observed. "I would hope so he is perusing her and i'm pretty sure he will propose to her" Benedict said which made Alexandria stop.

"I'm shocked... quite frankly I didn't expect him to persue Edwina at all really" Alexandria said. "What makes you say that?" Eloise asked curiously.

"Can't you see it? It obvious he likes Kate" Alexandria shrugs. "How?" Benedict asked, his curiosity getting the best of him.

"The way they look at eachother, they know what the others feeling just by simply looking at eachother. Their love for eachother runs so deep it extends beyond feelings" Alexandria smiled. "The look of love".

Benedict was stunned to say the least. Alexandria perfectly encapsulated the way that she makes him feel, he was unsure if Alexandria would ever reciprocate his feelings back. The look that came over Alexandria's face as she spoke so warmly was pure utter joy which made Benedict smile.

"Poetic" Colin said gobsmacked at Alexandria's 'speech'. "I didn't observe them that closely, but come to think of it you're right" Eloise said.

"As I always am" Alexandria smirked. Alexandria and Eloise sat down and watched the men fence together. Occasionally Alexandria would wince at how close they came to hurting eachother.

"Shall we head back inside now? There is a chill in the air." Eloise suggested rubbing her arms to which everyone agreed and started heading back inside., It was a particularly chilly day for late May.

"Alexandria!" Daphne called once the four of them were back inside. "Daphne! How are you" Alexandria asked. "Oh i'm doing great! This little man is keeping me on my toes" Daphne said bopping August on the nose.

Little August put his arms out towards Alexandria and Daphne happily passed him to her. Alexandria began speaking to August in a baby voice and he squealed.

"Well he certainly likes you!" Daphne smiled. Benedict couldn't help but smile seeing the interaction between Alexandria and August and the pure joy on her face as August put his little fingers through Alexandria's hair.

"What brings you here anyway?" Eloise asked curiously. "Oh I'm helping mama prepare for the Hearts and Flowers ball this evening" Daphne said.

The Bridgertons and Alexandria were all happily talking amongst themselves when Daphne piped up with "Edwina is a diamond of course but I would've expected Anthony to go for someone more... challenging a bit like himself".

"Maybe he's had a change of heart and doesn't want to be married to an exact replica of himself. If we had a lady version of Anthony as an in law we'd all suffer" Benedict joked and Alexandria smirked knowing Kate was exactly like Anthony.

"Lex has an interesting theory don't you" Eloise smirked and Alexandria widened her eyes at her. "Oh?" Violet said. "Oh it's nothing it was silly" Alexandria dismissed. "I wouldn't call it nothing. You were pretty convinced" Colin said and Alexandria secretly sent him a rude gesture.

"Well... Have we ever considered the possibly that he's in love with Kate?" Alexandria murmured. "Well that's interesting indeed" Daphne said thinking. "It's possible" Violet said, considering Alexandria's theory.

"Anyways where is our dear brother?" Daphne asked. "Oh probably upstairs sulking in his office" Benedict suggested.

*****
just a mini filler chapter before the ball in the next chapter! as i've mentioned before some details in this story are tweaked and some scenes from season 1 are inserted. please let me know if you like this story :)

all that was in my head when i was writing this chapter was no 1 party anthem by arctic monkeys hehe