Authors Notes: IT'S SOPHIE SEASON! I'm so excited for Benedict and Sophie in season 4! Polin will always be my favorite couple but Sophie probably my favorite female LI so I'm excited to see her on my laptop! Can't wait for the casting announcement!
Sorry it took me so long again! I'm trying to get better about writing on a schedule but I'm still not quite there yet! I am going to try and get the next chapter out this week!
Hope you enjoy!
Chapter 5: What Excitement?
April 7, 1813-Day After the Ball
Sophie POV
When calling hours started and Sophie felt Araminta would be thoroughly distracted, she went down to the kitchen to sneak out the servants entrance. She had let the housekeeper, Mrs. Gibbons, know that she was going to the market in case it took longer than expected. If Simon did remember hopefully she would only have to return to this place to get her few possessions.
Thankfully Hastings House was only a few streets over from her own so it took no time at all for her to walk there. She walked confidently up the steps, but she hesitated to knock. What if she was wrong? What if her brother-in-law didn't remember their family. What if she was just going to make a fool of herself?
Before all of her negative thoughts could make her turn around and walk back to the Penwoods, the door opened.
She almost jumped off the steps. The Hastings' butler stood in the doorway staring at her. "Can I help you with something Miss?"
She took a deep breath and said, "I needed to speak with the Duke. If you could just let him know that Sophie Beckett was calling. He should know who I am."
The butler's eyes looked curious. He most likely noticed her uniform and drew all sorts of conclusions. But he still moved to the side to let her into the entryway. He closed the door and led her to the Drawing Room to wait.
Once she was left alone she started to take in her surroundings. Though the Bridgertons mainly gathered at Bridgerton House or Number 5 for tea or meals, she had spent some time in this room with both the duke and duchess. It amazed her how much Daphne had done to lighten this room. Right now it was very dark and dreary. It definitely needed a woman's touch.
She started to hear noise in the hallway and then clearly heard Simon's voice say, "You are sure she said her name is Sophie Beckett?" She could hear the strain in his voice. Then urgently, "Where is she?"
She heard footsteps right outside the door and then all her fears fell away. The door opened and Simon walked in, but the reason Sophie was so happy was that she saw the recognition in his eyes. In that moment she knew she wasn't alone.
Simon POV
When he woke this morning he felt such relief. He just had to wait until after calling hours before he made his way to his godmother's house. But at least he knew that he wasn't alone. He would have help earning his wife's love again.
He was in his study when his butler informed him that he had a visitor. "Did they give a calling card? I'm not expecting anyone to visit today." He thought maybe Anthony sensed something was different with him yesterday and decided to stop by. Then he realized the Anthony of this time has not seen him in years and wouldn't notice a change in attitude.
"She did not have a calling card. She is dressed as a ladies maid so I would not think you knew her but she insisted I tell you her name and that you should recognize it."
For a moment he was confused. Whose ladies maid would be coming to see him that he would recognize the name. He only knew a few by name and he didn't see Penelope sending Rae to give him a message when the plan was to see him at afternoon tea.
"Well, what was her name?"
"She said her name was Sophie Beckett. She looks to be dressed in…" But Simon didn't let him finish his sentence. He was out of his chair and heading to the door. He knew what house colors that particular ladies maid would be dressed in and he needed to see her for himself.
"You are sure she said her name was Sophie Beckett?" He asked to make sure he did not imagine him saying that.
"Yes, Your Grace." His butler stated with a confused look on his face.
"Where is she?" Simon asked belatedly realizing he did not know where to go.
"I showed her to the Drawing Room."
"Thank you, that is all. I will ring if we need anything else." With that dismissal he all but ran the rest of the way to the Drawing Room. Because there was only one reason Sophie Beckett would be calling on him in this time.
He could see it in her eyes when he opened the door. She knew him. Not of him, but truly knew him.
Penelope POV
Watching callers come to visit Marina was not something that Penelope had ever wanted to relive. She especially didn't want to relive seeing her husband as one of those callers. But there he was in the crowd of men, really they were all acting like little boys, fighting to earn Marina's attention.
Colin did at least break free from the group for a minute to talk to her, but she could tell he wasn't truly focused on her. She could tell he came over because he was not going to get close to Marina for the time being.
Truly the most exciting thing to happen was receiving Lady Danbury's letter requesting she come for tea. She was expecting it but it still made her feel giddy that the conversation really happened last night! She showed the letter to her mother and asked if she would be allowed to go. She half expected an interrogation about why Lady Danbury was interested in her, but all her mother said was yes.
Penelope belatedly realized that she would most likely ask all of her questions tonight when she returned. Portia didn't want to draw attention with the questions now. She was too focused on trying to push all of Marina's callers on Prudence and Phillipa.
Once calling hours ended she quickly grabbed her reticule and Rae before heading out the front door. She didn't want to give her mother a chance to change her mind. She didn't take a proper breath until they were safely in the Featherington carriage and on their way to Lady Danbury's home.
Sophie POV
Once the door closed behind him and she heard Simon whisper, "Sophie?" she couldn't hold back. She ran right up to him and wrapped her arms around him.
With tears in her eyes she said, "I thought I dreamed everything. But it was real, was it not?"
"If you mean our crazy Bridgerton family then yes. It was all real." He said as he pulled back to look at her. "What is the last thing you remember before waking up back in this time?"
"Benedict and I had just put Charlie and Alex to bed at My Cottage. I believe it was the night of the Hastings Ball, but we had gone back to Wiltshire after the wedding because Benedict wanted to be back in our home for the remainder of my pregnancy." As she finished her statement she put her hand on her belly almost wishing she could still feel her baby moving.
"That is the last thing we remember as well. I had forgotten you and Benedict weren't at the ball with all of the excitement that happened."
"Who is we? Who else remembers? Any of the Bridgertons? And what excitement? I shall hurt my husband if we missed much excitement because he wanted to rush us all back home." Sophie was practically shouting by the end of it. She had wanted to wait until after the ball to go back home but he insisted. She had been feeling worse during this pregnancy and he was worried.
She saw her brother-in-law smirk before answering her many questions. "I found out that Penelope remembered last night at Lady Danbury's ball when we bumped into each other. The only other person that I know remembers is Lady Danbury." She could see the pain in his eyes before he said the next part. "I don't believe any of the Bridgertons remember. Daphne ran into me last night and there was no recognition. And then I talked to Anthony and it was the same. I haven't seen any of the others but I'm sure Penelope has. I am meeting her and Lady Danbury for tea at Danbury House after calling hours so we will find out then."
She waited for him to answer her last question but he seemed to be avoiding it. So she asked again, "And what was the excitement at your ball? You must tell me even if it is not relevant anymore."
She saw him smirk again before saying, "It is still very relevant in this time period. But I will let Penelope tell you when we see her." He then quickly looked over at her and asked, "How did you even come to the conclusion that I had come back as well?"
"Whistledown of course. She talked about you dancing with Penelope. I would have remembered Araminta and Cressida's reactions if that had happened before. And since I had not done anything to change the outcome I figured it must have been you. Penelope could not very well have walked up to you and ask you to dance."
Sophie saw his eyes narrow when she mentioned her step-mother and step-sister. "Thank you for reminding me. Before we go to Danbury house you must go back to that horror house and get your belongings. I will not have you live through anymore of that torture a second time."
For the second time in this visit, Sophie could feel the tears start to form. "But where will I stay? I can not stay here because there will be talk. I am sure that your staff may already think I could be carrying your bastard child. Why else would a maid from another household request to speak to a duke? And I can not go to Penelope because she has a loyal ladies maid already." She started to feel faint with all of the issues going through her head.
Simon grabbed her hand, maybe to help her calm down. It did help a little but all of the different scenarios going through her head.
"Yes neither of those ideas would work. But you forget that the other person we found who came back with us has a habit of taking in strays. Especially when those strays love the Bridgertons as much as her. I'm sure Lady Danbury would be more than happy to have you stay with her. We all know how Lady Penwood treats you. Even if you hadn't come back with us we would have gotten you out of that house. So go back and get the things you need to leave that place once and for all."
Sophie couldn't stop herself from throwing her arms around Simon once more in happiness. I will go right now. There is still time before calling hours end so Araminta and Cressida will hopefully still be thoroughly distracted. I only have a few things I truly need so I shan't be long."
"I will call for my carriage. Once you return we will leave straight for Danbury house. Penelope will be so happy to see you."
Sophie didn't take any more time before walking out of the house. She didn't want to take the chance of running into her step-mother or Cressida. She made it back to Pennwood house in no time and went straight up to her room. She would tell Cook and Mrs. Gibbons on her way out. She knew they would be happy she was getting out of this house.
When she finished packing her small bag with her few possessions she turned to blow out the candle by her bed. Before she could turn around again she heard a voice ask, "Where are you going?" Sophie froze for a minute before turning around to see the person in the doorway.
Author's Notes: What is the Hastings butler's name? I don't remember and google was not helpful at all! Does anyone remember?
Sophie is leaving Penwood house! Or is she? 😈
Sorry to leave you on a bit of a cliffhanger! I had planned to have this chapter be the Lady Danbury tea but it got away from me and it would have been much longer! I'm waking on the next chapter now so hopefully I'll have it out this week!
Please review! I love hearing all your thoughts about how it's going and where you think it will go!