Dinner For Ben

[Sophia Beckett]

[ ✿ ] my muse attempts to cook dinner for your muse.

_{Tagged: Benedict Bridgerton}

[Benedict Bridgerton]

I'm not bound by                                  

Benedict had arrived home late from one of the parties held as Granville's house. His time spent there was . . . more focused on art, rather than any other pleasures that he may have otherwise found there. One of which had not entirely ended well. And the other reason being . . . there was only one woman he sought to be with. And she, would be waiting for him at home. Well, not really waiting for him exactly. But she would be there. And sometimes seeing her was both enough, and not. Her presence an unwavering comfort, yet only further remind of how much he desired her . . . a desire that went beyond just physical. ◈   ◈   ◈  ◈  ◈ As he entered the estate, he took notice of how quiet it was; his family most likely asleep. The servants were also most likely in for the night and Benedict did not wish to disturb them. But, as he had eaten quite an early dinner, he found himself hungry and made his way to the kitchen to see if anyone was still awake, or if there was anything left from dinner. Though once he descended the stairs, he started rummaging about looking for something . . . to no avail. ◈   ◈   ◈  ◈  ◈ He did not wish to disturb the cook at this time, and he clearly had no idea how to prepare a meal himself. Hearing footsteps he spun around to see someone who immediately brought a smile to his lips. It was as if it were meant to be, for them to have a quiet moment together . . . despite how much she tried to avoid it, or him. So he could not resist the tease that so effortlessly came whenever he spoke to her. "Did you follow me down here?" He asked with playful accusation. Tag Sophia Beckett

                        the rules of society.

[Sophia Beckett]

Sometimes it was hard to sleep. Memories of her life before here, memories of the abuse, kept her awake when she longed for sleep. Sophie often felt alone in the world, and had for her whole life. Sitting up in bed, Sophie tried to think of something she could do to remove the feelings and memories and aid sleep.

Perhaps stepping out into the garden? She knew just walking the gardens during the day was not allowed, but with everyone to bed, perhaps no one would know. Slipping on a simple dress, and shoes, Sophie did not bother to take a candle with her. She knew the way by now.

The way just happened to take her through the kitchens--where she found Benedict--MR. BRIDGERTON--there. He turned and smiled, and Sophie had to fight to keep from smiling back. Her souring mood from moments ago already forgotten, more so then a walk could ever had done. "Are you going to cook?" She asked, ignoring his question about following him down here, and the tease that had eased her mood, and rather asked something else. Because the idea of him knowing how to use the kitchen was more then surprising. Which her tone had even suggested.

_{Tagged: Benedict Bridgerton}

[Benedict Bridgerton]

I'm not bound by                                  

She countered his question with her own, though he did not fail to notice that his was unanswered. That however did not mean that he would leave hers to the same fate. "I uh," he began to say, glancing around the area and knowing . . . that was unable to cook. Anything really. They had been raised with household staff and had no need to learn such skills. "Merely came down to see if there was anything left from dinner," he further explained. ◈   ◈   ◈  ◈  ◈ And so in answering her question, no he was not here to cook. For he did not know how. Deciding to go back to his own question, he folded his arms across his chest, and titled his head to the side a little as he looked at her. "And what are you doing here Miss Beckett?" He asked teasingly. "Apart from following me," he further playfully remarked. His question, now transforming into an assumption . . . for such was the price to pay for avoiding it in the first place. Tag Sophia Beckett

                        the rules of society.

[Sophia Beckett]

He was hungry. After being out for most the night, which she knew he had been. For some reason she always felt in tune to knowing when he was here and when he was not. As if she were a pianoforte and he the time pace. She should not feel sorry for him, and yet . . . . and yet. It was the an yet that told her more then the rest of her thoughts.

"I did not follow you here. I did not know you were here." She told him, not going to admit she had trouble sleeping. "Do you need help?" She asked, wanting to make sure he could fend for himself before she left him be. Though to admit . . . she also wanted a reason to linger, without admitting to herself or to him that she wanted to be around him. Because admitting that she longed to spend time around him--with him--was dangerous. Because she could want such a thing. He a noble, and she was a maid in his mother' household.

_{Tagged: Benedict Bridgerton}

[Benedict Bridgerton]

I'm not bound by                                  

Hearing her deny his accusation only made his playful smirk remain upon his features, amused by her denial. Though, he would not doubt it were true. But then, it also begged the next question . . . one that was curious enough to forgo the opportunity to tease her further. At least for the time being. "Then, what is it that brings you down here?" He inquired. Surely she had eaten for the night . . . was something else troubling her? He knew that technically, it was not his place to ask. But he could not help it. Formally attached or not, he cared deeply for her. And found himself unable to bare the thought of anything troubling her. So he wished to help bring her ease -- for as much as he knew she avoided him, he also knew that he could be someone who could help. If she allowed him to be. ◈   ◈   ◈  ◈  ◈ She asked if he needed help and he . . . did. But more than the need for assistance was the desire to remain in her company. "If it not too inconvenient?" He asked, ensuring that there was choice in his question. That he was making no demand and it was more a request for help, not an order for it. His views on servants and any class lower than his own differed from the general norm of society. The social circles in which he found himself in also deviating from what society deemed appropriate. She was far more special to him than just any household staff member. She was Sophie. Not his Sophie but whether she knew it or not, he was hers. Tag Sophia Beckett

                        the rules of society.

[Sophia Beckett]

He asked her again, and she decided that perhaps is she was slightly more honest with him his curiosity would be satisfied. She did not tell many of the abuse she had ran from. "I had trouble sleeping, and was going to walk the garden." She admitted, and moved closer into the kitchen. Moving toward the pantry, she pulled out some of the left over bread and sat it on the counter.


"Did they not feed you?" She asked, trying to find out if he was at some party or ball, or some fancy event. Trying to prevent herself from wondering he he danced with a lady, or what he did. She was not jealous, but envious. And there was a marked difference between the two. Jealous implied that she was hurt because he did it and it was not with her, while envious said she just wised for things to be different. Wished she could trust someone to let them close. Wished there was not a world of difference between their classes. Wished she could be part of his world.

_{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 did not wish to inconvenience her, yet . . . she knew him well enough to read him. And that there was no chance that he was going to be able to create a proper meal. So it was either look the fool in front of her, or accept her help and hopefully not remain idle himself in the process. "What was it that kept you awake?" He wondered, his tone void of teasing or flirtation. Genuine offer to listen if it was something serious that caused sleep to elude her. And with her question, well, it was only fair to answer if desired answer himself.

◈   ◈   ◈  ◈  ◈

"Inadequately," he said with a bit of a smile. "It was more an occasion for drink rather than proper food," he explained. With the late hour, it too made sense . . . but Benedict often stayed beyond the time most others did. Resulting in a rather late dinner. "Perhaps I could learn from you," he continued. "So that next time I find myself in a similar circumstance, and you not there to save me from it, I will know what to do." This time, his voice held a bit of teasing but also, he meant his words for he did not like to see her work tirelessly . . . especially for him. He wished to help where able.

[Sophia Beckett]

He asked her about what kept her awake, and it was a different tone than he used with her. Gone was the charm, and there was something else there. Something that made her want to tell him her secrets. Something that asked her to trust him. She wanted too. She wanted to tell him, and let him see her. She wanted to let him be strong for her--but Sophie was not sure she knew how to do that. She had been all she had for so long. Fighting to stay afloat in her own storm. "Just dreams." She half gave him, not used to saying more.

She much rather focus on his other words. "You wish to learn to cook?" She repeated and even began to almost smile with the words. Though she wondered about the time when she would not be there. Perhaps she was reading too much into them? Or did she only now realize she liked his words that hinted toward years to come and they were still around each other?

Looking around the kitchen for something easy to show him, she settled on some meat and cheese. It was not cooking, but it would fill him better than teaching him to make a stew. "Would it not be easier to get some meat and cheese for you to add to bread?" She offered, wondering if he really wanted to know how to cook or if he just wanted to know how to get food without waking others? The idea of him cooking was charming, but she did not know if it was practical.

_{Tagged: Benedict Bridgerton}