‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 𝐒𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐄.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

[‍ ‍ ‍solitude.‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ @halfsovl]

⠀⠀“ home ” went from a sanctuary of warmth and light to a cold and lonely hall .

[‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 𝐒𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐄. @N0BLEFATE]

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
she curtsied , before looking back at him with a soft smile .

“ i should like that very much , ” she said , “ i should not like this dance to be the only moment we will ever share . ”
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

[𝐁𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐂𝐓. @anotoriousrake]

“you made dancing at a ball enjoyable since i tend to avoid these.” benedict said with that charming smile of his, bowing again.

“perhaps i shall call on you eventually someday soon?” he suggested with a head tilt. he didn’t intend on dancing with anyone else that night.

[ً @aslovewept]

i choose love.

[‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 𝐒𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐄. @N0BLEFATE]

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
( … ) not spent so much time hating me and blaming me for everything . ”

she eventually looked back at her .

“ even if i have a son , he will not be first in line to inherit the title . ”
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

[‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 𝐒𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐄. @N0BLEFATE]

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
“ perhaps not as a mother . perhaps only a stepmother who does not despise me for being born . ”

that was all she had wanted , as a child . for araminta to care for her in some way .

“ you could have been happier than you are now , had you ( … )
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

[𝘽𝙇𝘼𝘾𝙆 𝙒𝙄𝘿𝙊𝙒. @wickedmournings]

araminta let out a shaky sigh and scoffed as she listened to sophie go on and on. “would you have wanted me as a mother?”

raising an eyebrow, she stepped closer to her. “you wouldn’t.” she stated. “and now i can’t have happiness because again…” she turned her back. —

[‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 𝐒𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐄. @N0BLEFATE]

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
( … ) herself with a smile , “ benedict . ”
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

[‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 𝐒𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐄. @N0BLEFATE]

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
“ i am certain that he is grateful for your help , ” she smiled softly as the dance stopped . they both remained where they were , looking at each other .

“ i had a lovely time in your company , mr. bridgerton , ” she said , before correcting ( … )
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

[𝐁𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐂𝐓. @anotoriousrake]

“he is married now, but at times i do take on some duties, but it seems as if i’m not groomed for it.” benedict chuckled as the song came to an end.

he didn’t let go of her hand, however. in fact, he laced his fingers with hers. his gaze softening.

[‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 𝐒𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐄. @N0BLEFATE]

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
( … ) me from the moment you met me . long before you and father realised you could not give him an heir , long before he died . it was never about that . it only made it worse . ”
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

[‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 𝐒𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐄. @N0BLEFATE]

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
“ that is not true , and you know it , ” she said . she was tired of araminta constantly putting the blame on her .

“ my father loved you and your daughters , your only problem was that he also had room in his heart to love my mother and i . you ( … )
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

[𝘽𝙇𝘼𝘾𝙆 𝙒𝙄𝘿𝙊𝙒. @wickedmournings]

“your father was supposed to love me and my girls, but you always came first. that was the problem. not me or my girls.” araminta could’ve slapped her, but she restrained.

“and the older i got the more it became apparent that i couldn’t produce a male heir to fix that.”

[‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 𝐒𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐄. @N0BLEFATE]

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( … ) her place , for standing where she stood , for bearing a name and title that was once hers . but no . i welcomed you . i wanted you to like me , so i wore my prettiest dress and made sure i was on my very best behaviour . and you despised ( … )
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

[‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 𝐒𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐄. @N0BLEFATE]

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
( … ) manner .

“ perhaps you can ask your brother , sometimes . he might say he does not require your help , but at least he will know that you are willing to give it to him . ”
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

[‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 𝐒𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐄. @N0BLEFATE]

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
“ we all wish we could do more to help the ones we love , ” she said as she looked at him , “ especially when life has been unfair to them . ”

instinctively , without meaning to , she began caressing his hand with her thumb , almost in a soothing ( … )
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

[𝐁𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐂𝐓. @anotoriousrake]

“my oldest brother was forced to take on all the responsibilities at such a young age. sometimes i wish i did more for him.” benedict had a chip on his shoulder.

but it was nice talking to sophie. he never opened up to anyone like this before.

[‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 𝐒𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐄. @N0BLEFATE]

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
( … ) you never accepted the fact that my father loved us , too . ”
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

[‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 𝐒𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐄. @N0BLEFATE]

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
“ competition ? it will be years before your daughters make their debuts , ” she said , “ and do not pretend me being a son would have made any difference . you would have resented me and my mother all the same simply because ( … )
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

[𝘽𝙇𝘼𝘾𝙆 𝙒𝙄𝘿𝙊𝙒. @wickedmournings]

“looking at you every moment reminds me of how much i failed him.” araminta pointed to her father’s grave. “i was supposed to give him an heir.”

she exhaled deeply. “to carry on house penwood. you were a trade off. he has a child at least, but not one that mattered.” —

[‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 𝐒𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐄. @N0BLEFATE]

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
“ i have few stories of my mother , ” she explained , “ and i have her necklace . i wear it every day to remind myself of where i came from . ”

she found it rather easy to open up to benedict , somehow . that was quite unexpected .
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

[𝐁𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐂𝐓. @anotoriousrake]

“there are eight of us so naturally the younger ones don’t remember father very well or at all.” he said, dipping her gently.

“but we make sure to tell stories.” he said with a smile, lifting her back up.

[‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 𝐒𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐄. @N0BLEFATE]

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( … ) securing such a match for her very first season under your care will surely impact your daughters’ future prospects positively . and yet . . you are still not satisfied . ”
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

[‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 𝐒𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐄. @N0BLEFATE]

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
“ so that is what you chose to be with me ? smart , meticulous , brutal ? ” she asked , shaking her head in disbelief .

“ i have tried to understand you since i was a little girl . i thought perhaps one day you would look at me with something
( … )
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

[𝘽𝙇𝘼𝘾𝙆 𝙒𝙄𝘿𝙊𝙒. @wickedmournings]

“times are tough. i would hope you of all people would understand that. your father used to go on and on about your kind heart.” that’s when she rolled her eyes.

“the problem with women these days is they’re so weak and soft. i took everything for granted.” she sighed. —

[‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 𝐒𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐄. @N0BLEFATE]

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
( … ) other than hatred . it is clear now that that day will never come . ”

she looked back at her mother’s grave .

“ if i marry benedict bridgerton , you will finally be free of me , as you have always wanted . and your husband’s daughter ( … )
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

[‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 𝐒𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐄. @N0BLEFATE]

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
“ well . . benedict , then , ” she said , the name sounding strange in her mouth at first . but at the same time , it felt like she was always meant to be saying it .

“ it is rather odd . i do not remember my mother very much , but everyone else does . ”
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

[𝐁𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐂𝐓. @anotoriousrake]

“i’m not one for formalities or tradition.” benedict said with a chuckle, beginning to dance with her and keep in tune with the steps.

“my sister eloise gets told she looks just like our father, so i understand a little.” he explained as he continued to dance with her.

[‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 𝐒𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐄. @N0BLEFATE]

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“ i have never said that ! ” she said , shocked that araminta would ever put such words in her mouth .

“ i have only said that it was not my fault either , which it was not . it was nobody’s fault , and yet i pay the price each and every day . ”
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

[𝘽𝙇𝘼𝘾𝙆 𝙒𝙄𝘿𝙊𝙒. @wickedmournings]

“oh, i see. so, you are blaming me? are you suggesting i wasn’t good enough? i am less of a woman because i couldn’t give your father the one thing he always wanted?”

stepping closer to her, she raised an eyebrow. “i will make sure you have an eventful season indeed, sophie.”