At home, the next morning, I catch Simon sneaking in once again. I do even bother trying to give him a disapproving look, I know he does not care. Yet he stops to talk to me this evening. "Sister. You are up early. Are you always up this early?"
"I do not sleep well. I find it difficult to stay in bed after the sun has risen. Did you sleep well?" I raise an eyebrow as I watch him and I am surprised when he pulls the dining room chair out from beside me so that he may join me.
"I did." He pauses. "You have something you wish to say to me. Do you not?"
"It is not so much something to say as it is something to ask. You... you do not intend to marry Daphne and so why do you... dance with her? And buy her flowers? And... make her think that you do intend to marry her. I simply do not wish for you to make a fool of my newest friend brother, that is all. She is a good woman and she is kind and she is beautiful and you... you have such potential to ruin her. Do not do it."
"You sound just like Anthony, except he says it with much more aggression, bared teeth and fists." He let's out a small sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I do not wish to embarrass Daphne, that is in fact the last thing I wish to do."
"That is what you shall do by not marrying her though, I am ever so confused as to how you struggle to see that?" I watch him, frowning slightly. This is probably the most that my brother has ever spoken to me before. "Simon if you... if you have honest intentions then you must tell me, for I am only worried of what it shall mean for both of you."
"I have honest intentions, Delilah." He now stands, stretching his arms upwards as he yawns loudly. "Now, if you shall excuse me, I must bathe before I shall be forced to join the Bridgerton clan at the park. They are having some kind of picnic I believe, I am sure they should enjoy your company. I have heard that you have rather captured their attention."
"They are merely my friends. I cannot say I have had many of those."
"I cannot say so either. Anthony is my oldest and my best friend, but he is also my only friend." With a subtle nod and purse lips, he leaves the room and I follow suite. I bathe and I dress and although I have not been invited, I join him as we meet the Bridgertons. "Lady Bridgerton, you are looking just charming this fine afternoon."
"You are too kind, your grace."
"May I?" Simon makes no excuses before he collects daphne and whisks her away so that they may promenade.
"Lady Bridgerton. I do hope you do mind my invading your picnic. Simon mentioned it and I could not possibly resist." I smile, and she nods, making sure I know it is no bother. I do of course wish to talk with the two brothers but I should tell the viscount of the information I have learnt from my brother this morning. "Viscount Anthony. I could rather do with a walk in this fresh air, should you wish to join me?"
He scowls at me, sucking his lip but stands and grapples my arm. Say what you will about my brother but at least he is gentle with Daphne, Anthony drags me away from his family as though I am a small child who is to be punished for their short and unreasonable temper. "What is it?"
"I spoke with Simon this morning and he swore that his intentions are completely and truly honest." I shrug and watch him, pulling my arm away from his clumsy grip. "That is all I wished to tell you so you need not grasp onto me like you are about to attempt a kidnapping."
"He said the same to myself yesterday as well. I do not know, my lady, I do not know whether I trust him or not. It still seems strange to me. Unless you believe I am overreacting?" He questions me, tilting his head a little. I am shocked that he does ask for my opinion, I did not think he would care so much about what my thoughts on it were.
"Perhaps he is not all that we thought he is. I do think it is a situation we must keep a close monitor on for Daphne's sake but... he spoke of how you are his truest friend. Maybe you should learn to trust him." I narrow my eyes slightly, shrugging and smiling as we walk past a group of giggling debutantes. "A group of your admirers?"
"I do not have admirers and I do not wish for them either. The ladies of the ton are... not for myself."
"So there is someone who is for yourself? But she is not a member of the ton?" I raise an eyebrow as I glance back at the gaggle of girls who continue their gazes at him. "What is she? A prostitute?"
"Don't you-" He begins, composing himself and grunting, breathing in deeply as he tries to stop himself from shouting at me. "She is nothing of the kind because she does not exist. I am not in love and I am not... I... I do not wish to speak to you any longer, you have outlived your purpose."
"Outlived? That feels rather dramatic I must say. What happens now, you shall take me outside and shoot me in the head?" I chase after him, grinning. "Who is she?"
"Why?" He snaps. "Are you jealous?'
"Jealous of a woman who would have to deal with you the entirety of her existence? You said it best yesterday when you deemed it a nightmare." I continue to grin, following him. "Tell me who she is."
"Leave me alone."
"I should like to know who she is!" I grab his wrist as he did mine and he spins around, his face close to my own and I breath sharply in. "W-well?"
"It is not relevant to you and so you shall keep your nose out of my business."
Author's note
Hi guys! Only me again.
This book hit 2k today and the first Benedict one is on almost 60k!! I'm buzzing so much, I just had to share!
Hope you're still enjoying this, let me know what you're thinking!
All my love,
Ruby x
The picnic continues and I slump down in the chair by the side of Colin, who raises an eyebrow as he looks at me. "Lovers quarrel?"
"What?"
"You and Anthony?" Colin grins at me, shrugging. "Oh, come off it, Delilah. It could not be any more obvious. You know that the emotions of love and hate are almost identical?"
"Where did you read that? In a scandal sheet? Do not be so absurd, Colin. You are quite ridiculous." I roll my eyes back at him, groaning as Benedict now jumps down beside me. "And what could you possibly want?"
"I heard you are in love with Anthony and not myself and I wish to know why." He pops a grape into his mouth and shows me his teeth, raising both eyebrows. "I heard Colin teasing you and I thought it should be more fun if I were to join in."
"You can laugh and joke and mock all you like but the simple fact is that it is not true. I find your brother disgusting, repulsive, the thought of him makes me wretch!" I exclaim. I am becoming defensive and that is not at all helping the situation. They continue to laugh and do not stop no matter how hard I scowl at them. "You two can shut your mouths or I shall shut them for you. Your brother is an awful human being and I should never wish to spend a minute longer with him than I have to... is that Lord Berbrooke? My goodness, what has happened to his face? He is even more hideous than he was before."
Berbrooke waves a sheet of paper in front of Anthony's face, announcing loudly to all that can hear: "here it is! A special marriage licence for my marriage to Daphne."
"You shall not need a licence since you shall not marry her." Anthony excuses himself from the conversation he was having with his mother to speak to the bumbling baron. "You must leave, and quickly. Do not make more of a fool of yourself."
"I shall not do, you shall. I have this and that means I shall wed Daphne."
"It most certainly does not!" Daphne shrieks but Simon keeps a grasp on her so she might not do anything more.
"Lord Berbrooke, perhaps you shall be more comfortable if we spoke about this elsewhere, you look in a great deal of pain." Lady Bridgerton attempts to diffuse the situation but of course this does not work.
"Perhaps I am now speaking to the true head of the Bridgerton household since the viscount seems to have not a clue what he is doing." Smugly, he thrusts the paper at Anthony who grasps it to read it. "Your father should be ashamed of what you have done to this family, viscount. But never fear, I shall help you. Our families union shall save your reputation."
I can see Daphne beginning to get herself rather upset and I can see Anthony breathing deeply in and out. No one appears to wish to say anything in a rebuttal, and so I shall. As I have mentioned, Berbrooke is one of the only lords I knew of before I came to London. He knew my father and I knew a lot more of him that he might think. After all, I was only a child and so they assumed I should not understand secrets and whispers. But what they did not know is that I was a rather smart child with a very good memory and that memory shall serve me well today. "Lord Berbrooke, how is Winnie?"
"What?" His smug face falters as he stares down at me. "Lady Basset."
"Yes, that is me. We did not need to establish that. I merely asked you how Winnie is?" I stand and I move so that I am by the side of Anthony, raising an eyebrow at the baron Berbrooke. "Last I knew she was with child."
"I do not know of what you speak." He glares at me insistently as he makes it clear he should like for me to stop.
"You do not remember the servant girl you got pregnant? I can describe her to you if you should like! She was slightly taller than I myself am currently. She had blonde hair that fell to her shoulders and one of her eyes was blue whilst the other was green. She was quite unmistakable!" I tilt my head, smiling a little. "I heard you sent her away and refused to provide for the child."
"And who shall believe what you have heard against what I say?" The lord bares his teeth at me, looking around to explore who is hearing what I have said.
"Oh, perhaps no one. But shall you wish to risk it? I am sure that I shall find a way to spread such a rumour to Lady Whistledown. Or perhaps you should prefer that I will not do such a thing if you leave Daphne alone." I offer him a sweet smile, taking the marriage license from Anthony's hands and giving it a once over. "So shall I keep this or should you like it back, Lord Berbooke?" He mumbles for a moment, looking back and forth between myself and Anthony. "Tick tock, Berbooke, I do not have all day. I have a ball I must attend tonight, I cannot stand around much longer and wait for your response."
"Keep it." He hisses, turning on his heel and storming away.
It is silent for a moment, but I break this up with the loud tear of the marriage certificate as I rip it into two and push it against Anthony's chest. "I believe somebody owes me a thank you?"
"Delilah, I cannot ever thank you so much." Daphne beams and wraps her arms delicately around me to thank me, letting out a content sigh. "I could think of nothing worse than having to marry such a... such a... buffoon."
"He is indeed." I smile to her and gently pat the back of her head. "Hopefully he shall be called away to the country on alleged business and we shall never see his disgusting face ever again. I must say, I got far too close to him there. I was sure his breath was toxic."
"That was... impressive. Thank you, Lady Basset." It shocks and stuns me when these words come from the mouth of Anthony, who looks at me and nods, holding the two parted pieces of paper in his hands. "Thank you."
"Do not mention it.'