Happily Ever After

[Benedict Bridgerton]

I'm not bound by                                  

The day had been absolutely wonderful. While it was not a grand affair -- which was very much how Benedict preferred it -- it had consisted of family. And that, was what mattered. Family, of which Sophie was now officially part of. It made Benedict's heart swell with happiness, to know that he could proudly call her his wife. After all they had been through, and against all odds . . . they now were in a carriage, on the way to My Cabin to enjoy the coming time of their honeymoon. Far removed from society, and no social barriers between them. Benedict was eager to start on this journey with her . . . a journey of marriage. ◈   ◈   ◈  ◈  ◈ Though they had enjoyed the . . . intimacy -- on a couple of occasions -- this would be different. No more doubt, no more curfews. His mother had even held her superstition of not seeing the bride before the wedding, and with all the family's excitement to prepare Sophie for the wedding -- since she had no family of her own, apart from Posy -- he had barley been able to spend time with fiancé at the time. They were most certainly make up for lost time now, for he would have her all to himself. Smiling, he held her hand in his and turned to look at her as they were seated in the carriage, on their way to their home. "Did you enjoy the day?" He asked her, wanting to her if the ceremony and reception was to her liking. Wanting to know if she was happy . . . if it was all she desired. Tag Sophia Beckett

                        the rules of society.

[Sophia Beckett]

She . . . She was married. The idea was almost surreal as she rode with her husband to My Cabin--a charming name he had given his hidden home. Hidden as it was his place away from the world. Their place now. Their home away from the world. Theirs because she was his wife.

Benedict's words summoned her mind from thinking, and she turned her face up to look over at him. She smiled, and just watched him for a moment before replying. "It was perfect," She assured him, "I am only trying to make myself believe it's real." Because she wanted it to be so much. Tightening her fingers over his, she lifted their hands up so she could place a kiss on their linked fingers. Looking back up at him. "I missed you in these last few days." She had gotten to see him so little until she found herself in the Church with him.

_{Tagged: Benedict Bridgerton}

[Benedict Bridgerton]

Tag: Sophia Beckett

i' m    n o t    b o u n d    b y 

THE RULES OF SOCIETY

Benedict's smile grew -- as if that was even possible -- hearing her state that their wedding was perfect . . . trying to believe it was real. Similar thoughts constantly entered Benedict's mind. Fearful that this was all just a glorious dream and that he would eventually open his eyes and face the reality of their forbidden love. He continued to her at her, allowing all guards to drop only this time . . . there was no need to be wary of prying ears and wandering eyes around them. They were married, she was his wife . . . and everyone else -- mainly the ton -- be damned.

◈   ◈   ◈  ◈  ◈

"And I you," he told her softly. "Agonizingly so," he added on with a teasingly dramatic tone, but sincere none the less. Knowing he could be with her, but not be in her company for those days was difficult to bare. However, this was the result and he knew that they would be able to make up for lost time. "But now we have all the time to ourselves, my love," he continued. "To both ensure that this is not merely a dream, and to grow tired of each other's company that we so lacked these days past," his smile reflective of the jest in his voice. For he truly knew that he would never grow tired of Sophia Beckett Bridgerton.

[googlefont=Edwardian Script ITC]

[Sophia Beckett]

Sophie laughed at his words, knowing that they were meant lightly, and not in truth. She had come to learn the difference between the light words and the real words in a short time with him. It was so easy to be around him in ways that it had not been easy before. Her whole life had been walking on a frozen river while waiting for the ice to break. Now it felt like summer, and she could finally just be . . . Sophie. Thanks to him. He gave her that--not by marriage, thought that was a huge part of it. But by seeing her like that, and giving her the chance to be what he saw.

"I am not sure of growing tired of you, but I have every intention of growing tired with you." She returned in the same manner, making one of the first jokes toward their love making that she had ever made. One she hoped she was making correctly. It felt so natural to make the words come, and she knew that without his love she would not have been able to make the joke before.

_{Tagged: Benedict Bridgerton}

[Benedict Bridgerton]

Tag: Sophia Beckett

i' m    n o t    b o u n d    b y 

THE RULES OF SOCIETY

Hearing her laugh was truly everything. For all the cruelty that she endured in this world, and all the fading hope that they would ever be together . . . that she would ever be happy . . . hearing her laugh now was never a sound he would take for granted. And today, he was vowed to devote his life to making her happy and filling her own life with joy. Her words added to the elated mood whens he spoke of growing tired with him. That brought a playful smile to his lips, a gleam of intrigue in his eyes.

◈   ◈   ◈  ◈  ◈

"I do like the way your mind works Miss Beckett." He paused for a moment and corrected himself. I mean to say, Mrs Bridgerton." After their last name formality for so long, it felt rather . . . satisfying to be so playful with it now. Knowing, it was no longer their reality. Knowing, that their referral to each other by last name was no longer a symbol of the societal constraints that kept them apart. "And what do you think we shall do to tire one another?" Clear flirtation and suggestiveness in his tone of voice. "Perhaps, go swimming?" He joked, but another reference to a moment that brought them closer together . . . teasingly so.

[googlefont=Edwardian Script ITC]

[Sophia Beckett]

Leave it to her beloved to be able to make their past something light and teasable. "You should do well to remember, sir, that I am now a married woman." She teased him in return. How wonderful that there was nothing between them now. Not her status or reservations about causing a scandal. Just Sophie. Just Ben. Just love. .

He asked about how she planned to tire him, and Sophie could only look into his eyes as she tried to think of something scandaless to day, but she had not known of the passions until recently. She could only think of what they had already done, and know that soon her husband would help her explore the more that there could be.

And yet, once again, leave it to him to bring a laugh to her lips, and a blush to her cheeks. "I still say I was not spying." She pointlessly insisted. And yet, could not look away from him. "Do you think we could?" The idea of swimming naked with him. She wanted that too.

_{Tagged: Benedict Bridgerton}

[Benedict Bridgerton]

Tag: Sophia Beckett

i' m    n o t    b o u n d    b y 

THE RULES OF SOCIETY

Benedict let out an amused chuckle at her teasing words, claiming that she was a married man. Which, obviously she was . . . and he would never take for granted nor minimize the fact, that he was her husband. The luckiest, more blessed man in all the world. "Well in that case, I envy your husband. He is indeed a lucky man," he told her with a smile, revealing his inner thoughts to encourage the tease. When she insisted she was not spying . . . his amused smile only grew at her insistence.

◈   ◈   ◈  ◈  ◈

He could not help but tease her so regarding this as well. "Had you not been, you would most certainly have run the moment you saw me. But, something tells me you lingered." Leaning closer to her, he placed a light kiss upon her cheek, moving towards her ear. "Much to my delight." Even though she had been the reason that he needed to cool off in the first place. Drawing back so that he could look at her to answer her question, he continued. "Of course," he confirmed. "The area is usually quite vacant. We would have the necessary privacy," he commented flirtatiously. The thought of swimming with her this time was . . . titillating.

[googlefont=Edwardian Script ITC]

[Sophia Beckett]

"Envy my husband," Sophie repeated softly, laughing them out more than speaking them, as she found his words amusing. "I shall tell him you find him so." She returned the teased, finding it humorous to talk in pretend with him. She could not imagine marrying any one but him, but if she had then these words would be spoken in a much different tone.

He teased her about swimming, and Sophie lifted her lace gloved hand and covered her face for a moment. "Did you not think I too brazen?" She countered, not admitting she was spying but knowing that she did linger, drawn in by the sight of him. She had never seen such a man before, and to see one bare in all aspects had been shocking--and educational . . . and . . . well she liked it. Looking away had not happened. Even if she had known she needed too. "I have often wondered how you knew it was I." She asked, looking into his face and smiling. No longer timid to ask him as they were now married, and she knew everything had found its place. She had found her place.

The idea of swimming with him brought a blush to her cheeks. It was too brazen but at the same time . . . she wanted it. She wanted it with him. "Perhaps soon then." She suggested. "Though I do not know how to swim. I have never been in water deeper than my knees."

_{Tagged: Benedict Bridgerton}