Love & Duty 2 (b.b)
Summary: you thought you could handle a loveless engagement with a nice man. But he isn’t Benedict
AN: part 2 of love and duty! I felt like having the conclusion be in the first part was a little too much for one chapter so I split it up
The Duke of Bedford is now engaged to Lady Y/N Norrington! After a secretive courtship, Miss Y/N will at last be a duchess.
But what happened with Miss Y/N and Lord Bridgerton? The pair had spent numerous afternoons with one another after sharing a loving dance together.
Rumor has it, Lord Bridgerton is quite infatuated with the soon to be Duchess of Bedford. One can only imagine how this news will make him feel.
Whatever the scandal, I am always the first to know.
Lady Whistledown’s Society Paper, 1815.
Benedict read the pamphlet and crumpled it up in his hands. He supposed now it was official. He had lost you to the Duke and everyone knew it too. All morning, he was getting stares of pity from his family.
If only he had acted upon his feelings sooner, it would be his engagement with you that would be announced. “Are you alright, Benedict?” Eloise asked her older brother. “I’m fine.” He spoke. “I am sorry this happened.” She said. “Me too.” He spoke quietly.
He returned to what he was doing on his canvas, which was the same subject of his most recent portraits and sketches. They were all of you.
If you detested balls and garden parties before, you most certainly did after your very prolific engagement. You wondered if this is what Daphne Bridgerton felt like when engaged to Simon.
For days since your engagement was announced by the infamous Lady Whistledown, it was endless invitations, small talk and hours of fake smiling.
This was not the life you had imagined for yourself. There was no love in your relationship with the Duke and you felt it was sucking your soul from you.
Of course, your mother was thrilled. Lady Whistledown having announced your engagement and mentioning the fleeting and budding romance you had with Benedict Bridgerton.
Though your mother did want you to get married to a man with a title and security so you would be taken care of, she could see the toll it was taking on you.
She had such high hopes for you when you were introduced to society and deep down, she wanted you to find a match for love. Not a match simply out of obligation.
One of the afternoons you had spent with Benedict, your mother watched from the window of your estate. She saw the way your eyes shone brighter, your smile was bigger and you seemed happier with him.
On one of the rare evenings you had at home alone, your mother found you reading near the fireplace in the sitting room. “Hello, dear. What are you reading?” She asked, sitting in the chair across from you.
“Jane Austen, as I do every day.” You joked. “Darling, I am going to ask you something and I want you to answer me honestly.” Your mother said. You closed the book with furrowed brows and looked at her, signaling her to continue. “Are you in love with Benedict Bridgerton?” She asked.
Seeing various emotions flash across your face was all the answer she needed. “I am, mama. But it is too late. Father will never let me end this engagement with the Duke. No matter what my feelings are.” You spoke. “Y/N, it is very rare for one to find the person they truly love. Only few find them and that is something I do not want you to let go.” Your mother said.
“Father says I have a duty to you and him to marry the Duke. I would rather not disappoint him, no matter how much it breaks my heart.” You told her.
“When you think of the person you love your heart should not break. You are a grown woman, Y/N, you can make your own decisions. But do not sacrifice your happiness for the sake of another’s.” She told you before bidding you goodnight.
You sat in your chair, staring down at the book in your hand. You had never been told you could make your own decisions before and you did not know how to act upon those words. You were torn and you did not know what to do.
The next morning, you were with the Duke and his mother and father, discussing wedding details for your upcoming ceremony.
Of course you were only allowed to smile and nod along to whatever choices they were making.
“There is one last thing, darling. After the wedding, it would be most appropriate if you restrained yourself from seeing Lord Bridgerton.” The Duke said to you.
“I beg your pardon?” You questioned. “Lady Whistledown said herself, he is infatuated with you. We cannot entertain his so called feelings for a married woman.” He explained. “Benedict is my friend.” You said. “I am sorry, my dear, but he cannot be anymore.” He said.
You thought the man had gone entirely mad requesting that you stopped seeing Benedict. Regardless of your feelings for the man, you were to be married and you would take your vows very seriously. You would never do anything to tarnish them.
“So I suppose that means I have to stop seeing Anthony and Colin as well? Because God forbid they show any amount of care for me.” You sassed back. “Y/N.” Your father scolded.
“And while we are forbidding each other from seeing other people, after we are married, I ask that you stop seeing Siena Russo. I know that is where you sneak off to every evening.” You said.
The room fell into a tense and uncomfortable silence. The only sounds being that of the rain pattering against the windows.
“It is not fair, is it? Asking the person you are to be married to to stop seeing someone. I am only friends with Benedict, you and Siena are much more. I am not daft, I know everything.” You added.
“Y/N, that is no way to speak to your husband.” Your father interjected. “This man is not my husband! I should not be forced to marry someone for you! This is supposed to be about me, is it not? Well, I am deciding that this engagement is to be over. I apologize, your Grace, but I cannot go through with this wedding.” You said, rather loudly.
You waited for a rather harsh and crude reaction from the Duke but you received a grateful hug and a thank you. He was being pressured into the marriage as much as you were.
Without even thinking clearly or rationally, you all but ran towards the front door of your home and to the stables.
You got atop your horse and rode all the way to the Bridgerton estate in the pouring rain.
“Lady Norrington, what are you doing riding in the rain?” The butler asked. He saw you approaching and before alerting any member of the Bridgerton family, he went outside to meet you.
“I need to see Lord Bridgerton.” You told him, as he helped you off the horse. “I will get him for you, please wait inside.” He replied, escorting you into the house.
You were drenched and soaked to the bone, the chill of the late Spring rain setting in. You were positively insane for showing up to the Bridgerton’s home in the state you were in but you could not wait any longer.
“Y/N? You are soaking wet, are you mad?” Benedict questioned you, as he entered the room. “If I am to be perfectly honest, I just might be.” You joked. “What are you doing here?” He asked.
“I ended the engagement with the Duke. I could not go through with it because I love you. You are my first thought in the morning and my last in the evening. I do not care about what my duty is anymore, I am not sure I even know the true meaning of the word. I do not want to be without you anymore.” You confessed.
“Y-You ended the engagement?” He asked. “I did. Both of our hearts belonged to different people.” You answered.
Benedict did not speak at first, afraid he was dreaming and he was going to wake up in his bed soon.
But instead he let out a small laugh as he cupped your face in his hands. “Yes, you are absolutely mad.” He said before he kissed you deeply.
It was a moment that was rather overdue and you both were reveling in it. ‘I have to ask your father for your hand.” He said when you parted. “I believe he is not fond of you at the moment.” You laughed. “I do not care. I want you to be my wife and I need to be your husband. Before another Duke takes you away.” Benedict said.
“There is no man who will take me away.” You said. “I adore you.” He commented quietly. You smiled up at him a s he kissed you once more.
