Chapter Text
-Benedict-
Benedict always felt he was the most observant of his siblings. Maybe it was the artist in him that found the gift for details, but whatever reason he felt the rest of his family lived with their eyes shut. Anthony was always busy with something, whether his own love life or something involving the family. His blindness was somewhat excused as he was the Viscount. His younger sisters tended to live more quietly to themselves. They did not tend to find themselves in others' business, with the exception of his sister Eloise, who might have been the nosiest person on the Earth. Although, even with her penchant for being where she shouldn’t, her nosiness could be short sighted if it was not part of her own selfish intentions. The youngest two siblings weren’t really part of society yet, and his mother, while he was sure she was privy to most, had a lot of children to watch. Which left his younger brother, who may have been the most blind fool in the entire ton. His brother's feelings and the feelings of those around him were displayed as if it were a massive chandelier, but his brother may as well have worn a blindfold.
Case in point, tonight at the Featherington Ball, Benedict was walking around a corner when he noticed multiple things at once. First, he heard his brother laughing with a group of men he wasn’t necessarily fond of. Second, he saw Miss Featherington running away from the group crying. And he realized immediately his idiot brother did not notice her at all.
With a sigh, he decided to follow Miss Featherington, trying to reach her before she got too far. She stopped for a moment to catch her breath. They were still in view of the party, and therefore not out of propriety. He reached out and touched her shoulder. She jumped and turned around clutching her chest.
“Mr. Bridgerton, I’m sorry. You scared me.”
He put his hands up in a surrender gesture. “My apologies Miss Featherington. I just saw you run past, and you looked upset.”
“I’m fine, I just.. I don’t..” She wiped her eyes and looked down, not finishing her sentence.
“So, it was my brother then?”
She looked up at him somehow guilty. He frowned. “Well what did he say?”
“It doesn’t matter.. I don’t care.”
Though her voice broke at the word. Benedict sighed. His brother was due for a beating, and he and Anthony would love to have a reason to knock him around. “It does matter. Please tell me what he said. I’ve needed a good reason to knock him senseless. It has been far too long.”
Penelope gave a half hearted smile. But it was cut short by her sigh and more tears. She looked at him and said, “Fife was asking Colin if he was courting me, after seeing us dance together. Colin said, ‘I would never court Penelope Featherington. Not in your wildest fantasies.”
Benedict closed his eyes and curled his hands into fists. He could not believe the moron would say something so casually cruel. Colin loved the girl for god’s sake! He knew he loved her since he was a child. He had watched them. He thought for sure they would end up together. And now, he so easily broke someone he knew he cared about. Benedict was thinking about all the ways he was going to berate him later when he heard Penelope speak again.
“It’s fine. I mean, I know he would not court me. I just wish he said it differently. I did not ask him to court me. I would never! “
“He is a prized fool.”
“And it wasn’t like I was in good standing with the ton before. I had zero prospects and now that a Bridgerton has claimed me unworthy of even dreaming about, I shall never find a husband.”
He looked at her and realized the depths that his brother's words would cause ruin. If this had been said by someone else, their social standing might have brought them back, but the Featherington’s reputation has been in tatters. And Penelope was not a big personality that could withstand such a barb. Penelope cut off his thoughts once again.
“Please do not talk to Colin about it. I do not wish for his apologies and whatever half hearted attempt to fix it he would give. He is leaving tomorrow anyway. He can ruin me and leave. That is our story.”
“Miss Featherington, please let me..”
“And not Anthony either. He is too busy right now and does not need to worry about someone like me or about Colin.”
He frowned and crossed his arms. “I don’t like it. I wish to make this right for you.”
“I don’t think there is anything you can do.”
He thought for a moment. There was something he could do, but it would have to wait until Colin returned next season. And if it didn’t work he would come up with another plan and then just beat Colin up for fun.
“Can you do me a favor?”
“Of course, Mr. Bridgerton.”
“Please call me Benedict.”
She smiled. “Okay, Benedict. What do you need?”
“I need you not to dwell on this night. My brother is an absolute moron, idiot and prized ass,”
She blushed at the language but smiled. He continued.
“- but he loves you.”
She scoffed. “Oh, he definitely does not.”
“You love him.”
She blushed even more. Bingo.
“I.. don’t. I mean we’re just.. friends?” She finished lamely.
“Miss Featherington..”
“Penelope.” He paused. “If I call you Benedict, please call me Penelope.”
He laughed. “Penelope, please listen to me. I have watched you both since you were children. You both turn into smiling fools around one another. I have not experienced love, but I have witnessed it, and I know it when I see it.”
“Well, I don’t think Colin has witnessed it like you have. Not around him or within himself. Maybe except for Marina”
It was Benedict’s turn to scoff. “No, that girl was nothing more than an infatuation. He is blind. Rushing about trying to just experience life as if it were fleeting. Though maybe the loss of our father has made him thus.”
Penelope nodded. “ I can understand that.”
“Of course you can. So, don’t think about this night as he is just in the presence of stupid men who like to belittle women and push men to speak of crude things. I am sure that he was simply embarrassed someone caught his unrealized feelings for you.”
“Well, I will do my best. But I can’t be sure the ton will also forget. I rather think they will make sure I remember.”
“That is where my favor comes in. Listen, do you trust me? I know we don’t know each other very well, but we have grown up near one another.”
Penelope looked at him with questions in her eyes, but he could see where she seemed determined to set those questions aside.
“I trust you.”
“Good. Then whenever the next season starts and Colin has returned, I will start my plan.”
Her eyes got big. “What plan?”
“Didn’t you say you trust me? I have a plan. But it will have to wait. I fear we have been talking too long as it is for propriety's sake. I do not seek to put you in the spotlight anymore tonight. Good night Penelope. We will reconvene soon.”
He winked at her but saw that she managed a smile before they both walked their separate ways. He was walking back towards the rest of the party when Colin rushed over to him.
“What were you doing talking to Pen over there by yourself?”
Benedict laughed and rolled his eyes. “Brother, I didn’t think you would care. I rather thought you did not want to court the girl.”
Colin narrowed his eyes. “We’re friends… but I.. but she.. You shouldn’t be alone with her.” He finished and crossed his arms.
“I was not alone with her. We are in sight of everyone at a party. I am allowed to talk with a lovely woman, Colin.”
“She is not a lovely woman, she is my Pen.”
Benedict raised his eyebrows and smirked. “Oh is she?”
Colin looked flustered. “I mean, she is my friend, Pen. And she deserves better than you.”
Benedict clutched his chest. “Ouch. Do you not wish the best for your brother?”
“No.” Colin said, smirking back.
“Well, we shall see.”
Benedict walked away laughing. Colin called after him, the smirk leaving his face. “Benedict! What do you mean by that?” The seed has been planted and the plan has begun.