Sophia
"Please Sophia, we were to make a trip to the modiste for me anyway, we may as well get you a new dress too!" Hyacinth pleads as I realise one of the maids has gotten rid of the dress I wore when I arrived here yesterday. Hyacinth catches me looking and stalks past me, opening the closet and taking out a violet-colored dress.
"Here you go, we are having breakfast with the entire family today, to speak of our plans for the ball tonight, you must look pleasantly." she hands me the dress and I take it hesitantly,
"Look, Hyacinth, it's not that I don't want to go..." I begin as Hyacinth helps me get into the dress, "But this not right. I'm not supposed to be here."
Hyacinth gives me a mysterious look, "we'll see about that."
I raise my eyebrows, "What is that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing, we must hurry, come on." Hyacinth takes my hand and drags me downstairs, where I'm greeted by Anthony. My breath catches in my throat as I so much as bump into him. He places a hand on my shoulder to stop me and very slowly, I look up at him.
To my utter surprise, he gives me a soft smile, "Has my sister been bothering you?" he asks. I'm speechless for about a second or two, but then I respond,
"No, I don't have any siblings so this is quite pleasant actually" I say truthfully. He guides me to the drawing room and Hyacinth exits quietly, which makes me nervous. I sigh,
"Look, Anthony, I promise you I shall leave the moment breakfast is finished. I would love to say that all my stuff is already packed, but I do not have any stuff which makes packing rather difficult." I start playing with my fingers as I talk.
"I want you to stay." Anthony states. I stop walking and turn to him,
"I'm sorry?" I ask. surely I misunderstood him?
"I care for my sister dearly, and now that my brother is out of the running she will be all alone. I want her to have a companion, and although you are far from suitable, she does seem to like you. And Benedict told me you did attend finishing school so, I suppose I can allow it." He explains.
I nod, "I appreciate the offer, truly I do but-.."
"There is no but to this, miss Sophia, unless you wish to be handed over to the police." he says determinedly.
My mouth is hanging open, he would do that? Well, the choice seems made for me then, and secretly I could not be happier about it. Together, we join the rest of the family for breakfast and Hyacinth bombs me with questions before I've had the time to sit down,
"Will you do it Sophia? Will you stay?" she asks, getting up from her chair.
I stay silent for a moment, but there's a grin breaking through and Hyacinth has launched herself at me before I can even utter the word 'yes'. Her arms are wrapped around my waist and I freeze in the moment, unsure what to do. Carefully I return the embrace and I close my eyes, I can't remember the last time I received a hug.
Once Hyacinth has let go of my waist we sit down and unlike dinner last night I now feel far more comfortable to join in on some of the conversations. Kate and I discuss the struggle of, well, men, whereas Colin and speak of fencing, a sport I perform quite horribly at.
Still, I mostly observe, and I wouldn't want it any other way. As someone who has grown up without any family at all, being surrounded with such chatter and laughter is rather remarkable, and makes me feel all warm inside. It feels like there's a light bulb stuck in my heart that just sprung on for the first time in forever.
"Oh god..." I hear Anthony groan next to me and I am about to ask what the matter is, when I realise Hyacinth was serious when she said she believed the lost... what was it? Royal? To be alive.
"The baby would be twenty-four years old today, that I know for sure." she states seriously.
"Well what an information, that only leaves about a million people we could be talking about." Colin laughs. Hyacinth crosses her arms,
"You just wait, once I've found them, the queen will owe me and I shall be rich." she says and now we're all laughing. Hyacinth looks over at me,
"Sophia! Why are you laughing? you are supposed to help me here!" she exclaims.
I smile at her, "Of course I will, I'll do anything you want." I say meaningfully. She is the reason I am here, in a beautiful dress, with a full belly. I owe Hyacinth pretty much everything, so if she needs my help to find her prince or princess then I shall.
YOU ARE READING
Bridgerton - The Lost Royal
FanfictionSophia Badger always envied those born as elites, attending balls and wearing fancy dresses. She's spent her life trying to get there; from falsifying legal documents to get into finishing school to learning how to sew her own dresses. Still, withou...
