Bridgerton - The Lost Royal

Chapter Eight

Benedict

Most women I meet are eager for my attention, certainly when they are all dressed up and ready for a ball. Sophia, however, once again proves she is the opposite of most women I have met. Unlike Hyacinth, who stalked past me with full confidence only seconds ago, Sophia has no haste.

She holds onto the banister cautiously, and is clearly unaware that I am right behind her. Slowly, she starts to descend, ducking slightly, as if she is attempting to make herself invisible. I can see my younger sister assisted with her hair, as they both have long curls laying on their shoulders.

The dress she wears is a deep shade of blue, yet not dark. The dress matches her eyes, I notice, which is slightly problematic since I currently cannot see her eyes and I therefore must have remembered what color they are. I need to pull myself together here, she is leaving in mere hours, surely I cannot care that much.

After taking multiple careful steps I start to follow her and she turns around,

"Will you stop doing that?" She asks, giving me a full view of her gown.

"I didn't think you'd notice me." I reply, closing in on her.

"I am a professional thief, Benedict, of course I can tell when someone stands behind me." She sighs and I allow my eyes to scan her entirely, which she does not seem to enjoy. The careful and slow movements she did earlier have been replaced with quicker steps and I go after her.

"Hey, sorry, I didn't mean to-.." We get to the bottom of the stairs and she finally stands still.

"You look really... good." I say, regretting it right away.

She laughs, "Good? that's all?" She looks down at herself, "I've never looked better."

"Are you ready?" I ask, extending my arm. She looks at my elbow intently and sighs,

"Not really," she replies, yet takes my arm and lets me escort her outside where we enter the carriage Hyacinth and my mother are already in. The ride to the ball doesn't take long and we all listen to Hyacinth, who lists all the suitors she wishes to talk to tonight. Not necessarily because she wishes to marry them but more as a social experiment to find out how dense they are.

Sophia is quiet. Her eyes keep wandering towards the window and although she laughs with my and my mother whenever Hyacinth makes a witty remark, she seems sad. Just as we lock eyes and I want to ask what's on her mind, the carriage stops and we step outside.

We meet Colin and Penelope outside, as they arrive right behind us, and they both greet Sophia. For a second I am afraid my brother might bring up words like 'thief' or 'criminal' but he stays polite and kind, even more than usual. Since Kate and Anthony are nowhere to be seen we enter the grand building as a group of six.

Not for long, however, because Hyacinth seems overly determined to find Sophia a husband and takes her away from us the moment she spots a candidate. I watch from a distance as Sophia talks to Lord Oxford, who I've spoken a couple of times. He is a decent man, educated, rich, a fine match. But not for her, surely?

"Brother." Anthony's voice rips my eyes away from Sophia. "You're staring." he says it like a warning. I turn to him,

"Anthony, good to see you." I say deadpan.

"She leaves tonight, correct?" He says, ignoring my greeting,

"Yes, she does." I reply.

"So explain to me then why you are looking at her like you love her." Anthony sounds serious as ever and I choke on the air.

"I'm sorry?" I cough.

"I've watched Colin fall in love, then Francesca and then Eloise. I've experienced it myself. You are falling for her Benedict, whether you like it or not. And it stops, right here, right now." Anthony decides.

I'm taken aback, searching for the right words, "I am not in love with her, Anthony. I could never be in love with someone like her, she's a thief." I say desperately, knowing fully that the entire sentence was a lie. I could easily fall in love with her, no matter where she came from.

Anthony looks at me angrily, but his expression changes back to neutral quickly and his eyes move from me to something behind me. I turn to so see Sophia, with an expression on her face that feels like a knife has been stabbed into my heart. She heard me. She heard everything I just said. I open my mouth to say something but she's already gone, hidden somewhere in the big crowd.

I take a step forward but Anthony lays a hand on my shoulder, "Benedict, please. Be sensible."