Eloise Featherington: Bridgerton

19| Choices

As I went back I saw women in the streets staring at the carriage and the moment I walk out of the carriage I was dragged by Portia Featherington rashly inside the Featherington house. I could see she looked pale and was frowning grinning her teeth. She was panicking. She quickly took a seat and despair was all around her face.

"Why did not you tell me?" She asked angrily.

I could sense the tension. All of this was a lot. Losing her patience she again addressed me "Now what are we suppose to do? Everyone is bickering about us. Everyone will talk about us and we will not be invited to any parties. It's worse than ever. Finally things were okay but again we are back to troubles." She sat angrily.

Interrupting our conversation I saw Benedict entering. He was hurrying and his face was more serious than ever. He looked at me worriedly. I see he was here to check on me. I silently asked him to follow me outside without words. While we walk away I saw Miss Portia silently staring at both of us.

Taking him in my room I quickly locked the door. Standing next to it for a moment I closed my eyes took a deep breath and turned around.

In a guilty way Benedict asked me "Are you okay? Eloise."

"Yes" I said with a straight face.

"Do not worry I will do everything in my power to take him out." He tried to calm me down.

I suppressed my anger and folded my arms around my chest and looked straight at him. After trying to avoid for a moment he finally confessed.

"I know it happened because of me. Due to my recklessness I have troubled names of our families and even your married life. I was so caught up with my urges.... Eloise..... Pen sent me a letter. He asked me to make arrangements and take me with you. You should leave. You should not live in such misery. I promise I will make things okay..... Why do not you think of it as a trip? ... Eloise? Answer me."

"A trip? A trip Benedict? Queen threatened me to kill my husband he is in prison for God sake and I am suppose to run away. Leave the person in prison who offered me everything without asking for anything. Do you even know how much I ... lo..." and I could not talk further. Was I in love with Pen? Why did I felt like drowning? Why was my heart at so much trouble. I tried to hold myself again.

Slowly I walked towards my bed and sat there silently. Benedict slowly walk towards me. I saw he tried to pat my shoulder but could not. As his hands shiver.

"You need to leave now Eloise. It's not running away. You will hurt him even more by staying here. He does not want you to be in such dark place. You know how people behave here. Think about it intellectually.... We will leave at midnight then.... Okay Eloise?" He questioned.

Without getting a response I saw him leaving room with defeated feet.
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Benedict Pov:

I could feel daggers of shame stabbed in my chest. Making my heart bleed. With pure ambition I took the carriage and was on my way. I knew what to do. I wanted Pen out. I have never seen Eloise in so much pain. With my beating heart I knocked at the door of Rutherford house.

In an elegant way I took my hat out and nodded with a meaningful smile. I saw some weird expressions at Lady Rutherford face. I knew she was mostly all by herself at this time of the hour. As she took me to the hall. I took a seat and took a bite of a cookie.

She ordered to leave us alone.

"Pardon me for disturbing you at this hour but I am here to ask for your consent." I said with a smile.

"For what?" She took a seat as well. She was confident her behaviour was completely different.

"I am going to tell Queen that I was involved in the scandal and if necessary your name as well." I looked at her face to check her expressions.

"What will happen then?" She counter questioned me.

"He will be free then." I answered ignorantly.

"He will be still charged for being Lady Whistedown. I was expecting you to come anyway you must not have thought about it."

"But He will be alive." I said.

"A living man who will probably be thrown out of ton snatched off his assets. You think it will be a good thing for your sister and Pen? What about you Benedict? What about your family honour and reputation? What about your reputation?

Your sisters, your brothers what about them? What about me? Can you imagine what will my husband do to me? I am pregnant as well Benedict." She said with content.

"Pregnant? What?" I was in shock.

"Yes I am. About two weeks now. Nurse told me it's a son this time. What will happen to the baby?" She said confidently.

"You are not surprised or worried?" I could not get the grip of it.

"Oh my silly Benedict. I accept that I was swept away by you. But I also wanted a son to maintain my life so I kept going on even after constant threats." She said with a smile.

"What?" I glared at her.

She slowly walked towards me leaning close to my neck she whispered silently "Do you think it was for love? Do you love me? Or do I love you?" 

She slowly moved her hand around my chest and looked at me with a cunning smile.

"Things cannot be undone. Benedict. Are you selfish enough to just get rid of your guilt. You will destroy your own family and even your own son?"

She put her head on my chest. She looked content. Slowly she gave me a little kiss on my closed lips while I stood there like a statue.

"I want you to never come here again. It will hurt your own son and keep your mouth shut. You cannot do anything just try to adapt and let nature take its course. Goodbye Lord Bridgerton." She gave me a smile again and walk out on me.

At midnight

It was the last time I saw her. I could see how happy she was and how naive I was.

It was almost midnight. As I was asked I manage all things. Secretly we sneak all assets and stuff of Eloise close to the Featherington house I waited for Eloise inside the carriage.

Soon I saw Eloise walking slowly with a servant leading her. Silently she took a seat with me and carriage started its ride. She looked so weak.

I did not know what to say to her to calm her. She looked miserable. Her head was down and she sat idly. In a moment she asked "So I can leave Pen without knowing if he will be killed or not? Or I can stay here and face all the chaos?"

"He will be fine. I will try my best. Please try to calm yourself and trust us." I pleaded

"How?" She questioned.

"I... I do not know but I promise..."