An Arrangement

[Elizabeth Davenport]

Elizabeth's fingers danced over the keys on the piano. A lovely melody rang through the music room within the Davenport Estate. It was a surprise that she was able to focus on stringing anything together at this point, given how weighed down her mind had been lately. Elizabeth had been doing quite a bit of thinking and had come to the decision to propose something quite unorthodox. Then again, she was fairly certain they would not be the only married couple with such an arrangement. But Elizabeth didn't care about any of that. She realized that one of the most important things in her life was Benedict and his happiness. 

Of course, her own happiness would be taken into consideration as well. Elizabeth would get to spend her days with her dearest friend and even if the two were not in love, that did not mean they could not be happy with one another. She would get to continue to see not only her family, but his as well. She could spend her days playing the piano and reading books. Elizabeth could have the life she wanted so desperately to have and she saw no reason why it would not work. 

"Benedict," Elizabeth spoke, her fingers continuing to move over the piano keys. "I've been doing quite a bit of thinking and I've come to the conclusion that I believe we should marry." Her eyes flickered to him for a moment, before returning to watching her fingers move across the keys.

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Tag: Benedict Bridgerton  

credit to Laura of Adox

[Benedict Bridgerton]

I'm not bound by                                  

A comfortable silence filled the air and Benedict took the opportunity to practice his sketching. Inspiration often came to him in full force and he supposed . . . no, he knew it was because of the very person who often inspired him, only this time in a far deeper way. The nature of his relationship with Henry was of course a secretive one, though Elizabeth had found out and much to Benedict's relief . . . she did not seem to treat him any different. So such moments of comfort and peace, were not ones he would take for granted. ◈   ◈   ◈  ◈  ◈ Elizabeth then suddenly spoke of marriage, of them getting married and Benedict paused the stroke of his charcoal for the briefest of moments, keeping his gaze on the paper and then proceeding to continue his drawing as he responded to her statement. "Very well, I shall play along," he began to say. "Who do you propose to marry?" He questioned. "For it would be far easier for you to wed than I." Since, a marriage to a man was not exactly possible . . . which only caused Benedict to wonder what trail of thought in her mind had led to such a statement. One that he clearly was not taking seriously . . . and one that he quite clearly misunderstood. Tag Elizabeth Davenport

                        
                            the rules of society.

[Elizabeth Davenport]

His calm demeanor and lack of a real reaction was cause for concern. Had he not heard her properly? "You," she replied. "Come now Benedict, do not pretend to be daft." Elizabeth rolled her eyes and her fingers stopped playing the piano. The melody ceased within the room and Elizabeth set her gaze on Benedict. "I've been giving it quite a bit of thought and I think it could make us both quite happy," she said.

Elizabeth rose from the wooden bench and strode across the room, sitting on the chaise across from where Benedict was sitting. "I must marry soon and you know your mother will not let you remain a bachelor if she has any say in it. We both love one another, just in a different way. If we marry then you can continue to have a life with the person you love. I just . . . want you to be happy, Ben." Elizabeth waited for his reaction, knowing she had tossed quite a bit at him.

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Tag: Benedict Bridgerton  

credit to Laura of Adox

[Benedict Bridgerton]

I'm not bound by                                  

"You." This time upon her response, Benedict paused his sketching for longer as he raised his gaze towards her and . . . started laughing. She was telling him not to be daft and, how ironic it was for she was making such an amusing jest. But then . . . she kept talking. Kept explaining and Benedict's laughter started to ease until it was silenced. Left was a less than amused expression as his eyes ever so slightly widened, watching her as she seated herself across from him. He took in her tone, her expression, her demeanor and . . . "Dear God, you're not actually kidding." She was serious. He wasn't even sure he had fully registered the magnitude of what she was saying. The implications. The surprise of it just took him over. ◈   ◈   ◈  ◈  ◈ "Elizabeth," he began to say, sitting in an upright position so that he was seated properly across from her. "While I am flattered that I may very well be the first man you have ever proposed to, please tell me you are just practicing for another in which case, I would very much like to know the gentleman's name." Because . . . surely, she was not serious. His words held a bit of a teasing tone because deep down, he knew that she was. And his trying to play it off, perhaps was just a form of denial in his state of surprise that she would suggest such an arrangement. As he somehow and somewhat acknowledged . . . the full extent of what she was saying had not quite processed in his mind. Tag Elizabeth Davenport

                        
                            the rules of society.

[Elizabeth Davenport]

He laughed and laughed and Elizabeth rolled her eyes. She would chalk it up to him not knowing how to handle her suggestion. Soon enough he would come around to what she was saying and realize that she had a point. "I'm not," she confirmed. Her lips pursed as she thought about how to best convince him that she had taken everything into consideration. Of course, there was always a chance that he would tell her he did not wish to accept her arrangement and if that were the case then so be it. Elizabeth would never force him into doing something he did not wish to do, but she would also make sure that he understood her reason and that this was her idea first and foremost. 

"Don't you think if I held affection for another, I would tell you?" She asked, raising an eyebrow and bringing a little back of teasing into the conversation. It would have to get serious again and they both knew it. "I have been thinking about this for weeks. I have thought of every implication and what I would be giving up. But I assure you, what I would be maintaining from this is far more precious to me than the sacrifice." She looked at Benedict to try to gauge his reaction. No doubt he had not been expecting this from Elizabeth.

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Tag: Benedict Bridgerton  

credit to Laura of Adox

[Benedict Bridgerton]

                                                  I'm not bound by the rules of society.                                

Though he had started a tease and she continued it . . . the content of conversation was sobering him beyond the ability to tease. Which, did not happen often between them. But what else could be expected as his mind was catching up to what she was saying. What she was suggesting. "No, you haven't," he said in a more serious tone. He of course was not accusing her of lying by any means when he disputed her words of having thought of all the implications; of what she would be giving up. ◈   ◈   ◈  ◈  ◈ "For if you did, then you would recognize that you have nothing to gain in this . . . arrangement." She would be giving up the chance to fall in love. To . . . to have children. Benedict's mind was suddenly racing with everything that this could mean. She spoke of sacrifice and while she said it in a way to convince him that this was a good idea . . . he could only think of all she would be sacrificing. Not gaining. "You deserve far better than what I can . . . " Give her, which was really nothing. "That what you . . . " Are even suggesting. "Than me." He finally corrected. Because this, would not be the marriage she deserved. Not even close. Tag Elizabeth Davenport

                        
      

[Elizabeth Davenport]

He tried to insist that she hadn't thought of what she was giving up, but truly, Elizabeth had. It was why she had spent weeks mulling it over instead of going to Benedict with it immediately. Of course, it had only appeared like a small inkling of an idea but the more Elizabeth entertained it, the more it made sense. It would by no means be an easy thing but she'd made peace with it weeks ago. The things she was giving up were things she could stand to lose. 

"Of course I have things to gain from this arrangement," Elizabeth said, a frown on her face. "I get to spend my days with someone I can stand to be around and someone that I care for quite dearly. I get to continue to spend time with not only my family, but yours. If I were to marry anyone else I would have to give those things up and you know it. I will not have to go to an uncommon amount of balls and events if I do not wish to. I can spend my days minding the house but enjoying my time playing piano and reading books. Is that not the life I have always wanted?" For Benedict had known her since birth and knew the way her mind worked. 

Elizabeth reached out and grabbed onto Benedict's hand, giving it a squeeze. "Yes, it would not be a love match like our parents and I would not have children," she spoke. "But we love one another, just in a different way. And we will have plenty of nieces and nephews to quell my desire for children." Elizabeth had always assumed she would have children because that's what wives did but she'd realized it made no difference to her. "You don't need to make a decision now, but I do believe you should think about it. I have, and as your dearest friend, I think you should trust me when I say I have thought of everything."

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Tag: Benedict Bridgerton  

credit to Laura of Adox