limerence || benedict bridgerton

xi | cigarettes and decisions

Alexandria and Benedict had always had a secret code for when they needed the other. It was late at night and Alexandria was about to get into bed and fall into what she dreamed would be a slumber.

Lying in bed trying to get to sleep was proving rather difficult for her as there was a blinding light which was shining through her sheer curtains, she found this rather odd as it was completely dark outside. Alexandria got up and walked to her window pulling the curtain back to see the light was coming from the Bridgertons home.

She located the source of light to be coming from Benedict's room window, She saw him standing there with a torch and he kept clicking it on and off which was Benedict and Alexandria's signal for them to meet with eachother. Alexandria grabbed her torch and flashed it on and off to let Benedict know she had received his message.

Seeing as it was almost one o'clock in the morning Alexandria didn't want to change into her dresses that she would wear in the daytime but also didn't deem it appropriate to wear her nightgown out. Alexandria opted for something that was a lot more dressed down, she decided to go with a pair of black trousers. Her mother would kill Alexandria if she even knew Alexandria owned them.

Once Alexandria was finished, she crept out her room and made her way down to the servants staircase and exited the house that way. When she was in the street, she hurriedly made her way across to Bridgertons garden trying not to be seen by anyone.

Alexandria got to the garden and spotted Benedict sitting at the swings with a cigarette to his lips. "Hi" Alexandria said when she approached. Benedict instead of answering, looked Alexandria up and down and raised his eyebrows.

"What is it?" Alexandria said sitting down on the swings next to him. "You're wearing.... trousers?" Benedict said confused. "Well I couldn't exactly leave in my nightgown" Alexandria replied.

"Want one?" Benedict said holding out his pack of cigarettes. "Please" Alexandria said and plucked one from the packet. "I'll help you light it" Benedict said. Alexandria put the cigarette between her lips and Benedict couldn't pull his eyes away from her plump red lips that were wrapped around the cigarette so perfectly. "Benedict?" Alexandria said. "Sorry" Benedict said snapping out of his daze. He lit a match and held it to end of the cigarette and cupped his hand around.

"Thank you" Alexandria said taking a long drag and rolling her head back when she exhaled. "That was satisfying" Alexandria smiled as Benedict just stared at her dumbfounded. "What's wrong? Why'd you flash me" Alexandria said and then giggled at her choice of words.

"Careful with your choice of words" Benedict laughed. "It's the academy..."

"Oh no, has something happened Ben?" Alexandria asked concerned and shuffled closer to Benedict placing a hand on his arm.

"No nothings happened it's just.. Well as one of my assignments we've been set to paint someone. But specifically a woman" Benedict said awkwardly. "And well I have no one to ask, so i've just sat wallowing that I'll fail or get kicked out because I have no one to paint" Benedict huffed.

"Oh Benedict you are so dramatic!" Alexandria laughed and Benedict furrowed his brows. "There's plenty of beautiful women in Mayfair you could ask and I'm sure they'd be falling at your feet just so you would paint them" Alexandria giggled.

"I cannot just simply go up to a woman and ask to paint her! This is exactly why I am wallowing" Benedict exclaimed. "Well... There is another possibility" Alexandria said glancing down at her feet avoiding Benedict's eyes.

"Tell me.." Benedict said encouraging Alexandria to elaborate. "I could be your muse" Alexandria said. "Lex... You don't have to" Benedict said but secretly he was happy that Alexandria had offered as it would save the awkwardness of painting a random woman.

"But Benedict I want to! It would be a new experience for me and I saved you from getting kicked out!" Alexandria smiled. "Alright then!" Benedict smiled. "Great!" Alexandria squealed.

"Now I can be your muse always, you won't be able to escape me" Alexandria joked. Benedict wouldn't mind that at all, Alexandria has always been his muse. He got better at drawing and painting portraits purely because he would draw Alexandria's face in his sketchbook over and over, since they were children.

"Thank you so much Lex, I am so grateful" Benedict smiled and pulled Alexandria into a tight embrace. "It's no problem at all Benny" Alexandria smiled.

"Stop with that god awful nickname" Benedict said cringing. "Aw you don't like the nickname Benny? Too bad" Alexandria laughed.

"I best be off, It's getting late and I would rather my mother not throw a fit when she realises I sneaked out" Alexandria said getting up and throwing the last remains of her cigarette on the ground and stamping on it.

"See you in the morning, Alex" Benedict smirked knowing Alexandria hates that nickname. "You are a pest!" Alexandria groaned.