Alright, I posted twice a day everyday leading up to the day of season threes release so it would all be out! I hope you enjoyed! I will now be binging the first four episodes even though I have work in the morning! Don't hate me! You should know by now I like hurting my characters feelings! XOXO 3 BROOKLYN
Chapter Sixteen: The Viscount Who Loved Me
Anthony did not show up first thing in the morning as expected. Letty looked out her window when she heard a carriage arrive at midday, barely seeing Benedict stepping out of it through the rain. She opened the front door, ushering him inside quickly.
"Kate has been injured," Benedict told her.
"What?" she asked in shock.
"I was on my way here and my valet told me he saw Anthony riding like a mad man towards Danbury house with Kate in his arms. We followed. She was riding a horse and it bucked her off. She has hit her head. The surgeon is there now. We must go," Benedict told her.
"Yes," Letty nodded. "Sophie! I need my boots and a coat!"
Sophie and Letty rushed through the house, Letty changing her dress to something heavier to protect her from the rain. Sophie helped her with her boots before Letty pulled her coat on and rushed back to Benedict. They ran from the house, climbing into the carriage and heading to Danbury house.
"Is Anthony alright?" Letty asked as they rode.
"I do not know," Benedict sighed. "He ran from the house when I asked what happened. I barely got the story out of him before he had gone on his horse. Where would he go?"
"To his apartment," Letty sighed. "He'll be hiding in his office there or at Bridgerton house. I'm surprised he didn't show up on my doorstep. He usually does when he's upset."
"Are you and Anthony doing something behind my back?" Benedict asked, catching Letty completely off guard.
"What?" she asked in shock.
"If you are, you can tell me," Benedict's voice had grown soft, as if preparing for the worse.
"Benny, I have been in love with you since last season. Maybe before that. Why on Earth would I go behind your back with your brother, who is in love with Kate, by the way."
"He doesn't know he is in love with her," Benedict shrugged.
"I assure you he does. He admitted it to me just yesterday when he came to tell me that we would be wed in two weeks' time," Letty stated.
"Really?" Benedict asked. "So, you aren't in love with Anthony?"
"I can see why you came to that conclusion," Letty offered. "We do spend quite a bit of time together. I look up to Anthony, admire him. He is like the brother I always needed."
"In two weeks, he truly will be," Benedict smiled. "I am sorry for assuming something outward was happening."
"It is fine. Just, don't do it again," Letty smirked, leaning against Benedict's side and shivering slightly. "Good Heavens, the rain is freezing."
Letty and Benedict ran into Danbury house, Benedict stopping to speak with a maid about Kate's condition. Letty ran up the stairs, finding Mary holding Edwina while she cried, Lady Danbury pacing outside the room.
"Letty!" Edwina yelled, rushing to her.
"I'm here," Letty promised, holding Edwina tightly and leading her back to the bench she had vacated. "I'm here."
Benedict joined them a few moments later, leaning against the wall and just watching Letty as she comforted Edwina. He wouldn't admit to Letty that he was imagining her comforting their child instead. The surgeon finally exited the room, telling everyone that he had done everything he could. He explained there was swelling and he wouldn't know more until Kate woke.
"And when might that be?" Benedict asked.
"I am not sure," the surgeon admitted. "It could be a few hours, a few days… a few weeks."
"Weeks?" Edwina gasped.
"I shall return tomorrow to check her over," the surgeon stated and Benedict led him out of the house.
"Let's go see her," Letty whispered to Edwina, pulling her to her feet and into the room.
Letty placed Edwina on the chair beside the bed, watching as Edwina immediately grabbed her sister's hand and began crying again. Mary did the same on the other side of the bed and Letty sighed, unsure of what to do. Lady Danbury pressed her hand against Letty's back, leading her from the room. Once they were down the stairs and in a sitting room, Benedict joining them, Lady Danbury began speaking.
"Thank you both for coming," she told them, voice sounding rather grave. "Where is Anthony? Why was he with her?"
"We don't know," Benedict answered but Lady Danbury looked to Letty.
"I haven't seen him since he escorted me home from the ball last night," Letty assured her.
"Find him," Lady Danbury told the two, talking more to Letty than Benedict, before standing and leaving the room.
Letty sighed, taking Benedict's hand and leaning into him a bit. He laid his head on hers, taking in the smell of the rain that clung to Letty, the scent of grass underneath that which offered him comfort anytime he was near her. Finally, they stood, deciding it was time to find Anthony and get some answers from him and make sure he was alright.
Letty had been right about Anthony needing to show up on her doorstep. They were heading towards Bridgerton house when Sophie waved them down, calling for them to follow her. Anthony was sitting in Letty's office, unmoving as rain dripped off of him. Letty kneeled in front of him, her hand resting on his as Benedict simply watched on.
"Anthony?" she asked softly and his eyes met hers.
He broke down into tears, sliding onto the floor and hugging Letty tightly.
"I've got you," she whispered to him, arms wrapped around him as she simply held him. "I've got you. What happened?"
"I went to propose," he sobbed out. "I went to propose and she wasn't there. I went after her on my horse. Her horse got spooked and bucked her off. She hit her head on a rock. She wasn't moving, Letty. She wasn't moving."
"She's alive," Letty promised him. "We just came from Danbury house. She's alive. She's just asleep. They aren't sure when she'll wake but she's alive."
Anthony just cried harder, gripping to Letty painfully. She knew he was breaking his promise about not letting her be bruised again, but she couldn't bring herself to care as she held him. Benedict just stared in shock, sitting in the chair close to them and watching as his elder brother broke down in Letty's arms. He understood then just how close Letty and Anthony were, how they worked so well and how there were no romantic feelings between them. They were truly brother and sister in everything but name, something that would be changing very soon.
Two weeks later, Letty was sitting in the Bridgerton sitting room beside Benedict. They had married earlier in the church, her aunt and Eloise sitting on her side and the rest of the Bridgertons on the other. There had been no party or large celebration, just Helena and the Bridgertons in a church with an archbishop residing over the whole affair. Her father hadn't even showed up, sending the deed to the house along as a gift for Letty and a note saying not to disgrace him again. Letty's monthlies had come as normal, causing her to cry in relief when she'd woken up to bloody sheets. Now, everyone was arguing over the Featherington Ball.
"We're not attending this Featherington Ball, are we?"
"Oh, I do not know," Violet sighed. "I suppose it is a good thing we were invited."
"Even I received an invitation," Letty offered.
She didn't mention that Lady Featherington had delivered it herself, demanding Letty show.
"On my walk this morning I was given the cut direct. Twice," Violet complained. "At least Lady Whistledown does not seem to be writing about it."
Letty thought of Penelope burning her quills and flinched slightly.
"She does not seem to be writing at all anymore," Colin pointed out. "Is that not right, El?"
"Eloise, uh, perhaps a stroll with Penelope might clear your mind," Violet offered.
"The last thing Penelope needs is to be seen consorting with the like of me," Eloise stated.
"How about a walk with me then?" Letty asked. "We can be cut together as sisters."
"No one informed me that we have lost three staff in the last month?" Anthony stormed into the room and Letty groaned, sensing the bad mood. "These are precisely the things I must know about. Colin. Would you care to inform me about anything?"
"I do not take note of staff changes," Colin seemed confused and Anthony seemed angrier for it.
"What about our accounts? You do not seem to take note of them either, since I spent the last two days balancing our books, only to discover you have taken out a rather large sum."
"Excuse you. I helped with that," Letty glared at Anthony, trying to draw his ire to her rather than anyone else in the room.
"Shouldn't you be on your honeymoon?" Anthony asked.
"We aren't leaving until Kate awakens," Letty crossed her arms over her chest and Anthony stumbled back slightly at Kate's name before recovering.
"What did you need the sum of money for?" Anthony demanded of Colin.
"If you must know, I was exploring an investment with Lord Featherington," Colin stated.
"This is just what makes the difficulties in this household. No one gives any though as to how it must be managed," Anthony complained.
"He is one and twenty, Brother," Benedict spoke up and Letty had to bite her cheek to keep from telling him to shut it.
"Is no one allowed to make their own decisions?" Eloise added.
"You, keep doodling," Anthony told him. "I'll have your wife make you sleep on the couch."
"No you won't," Letty rolled her eyes.
"And do not ask me to speak on your activities," Anthony glared at Eloise. "I wouldn't know where to begin."
"May I be excused?" Eloise asked, standing and leaving the room.
"I must go too," Colin stated, standing from his spot. "But do not worry, Brother. I shall send you notice of every step I take today."
"Yes," Benedict stood, taking Letty's hand and leading her out of the room. "Doodling awaits, I suppose."
"What are you doodling?" Letty smirked as they headed towards her house.
"I'll show you when I'm done," Benedict smirked, holding the front door open for Letty to step inside of the house.
Letty simply rolled her eyes, smirking as they walked inside.
"Anthony did make one point though," Benedict smirked.
"What's that?' Letty smiled softly.
"We are on our honeymoon," Benedict smirked before picking Letty up and carrying her towards her room.
Letty let out a giggle as they headed to her room. The rest of the day was spent in bed, Letty learning more about her own body and Benedict's in the process. The next morning, Letty stretched, reaching over in bed to find Benedict gone. She sat up, looking around in confusion before her door opened and Benedict walked in with a tray of food. She let out a small laugh, sitting up with the sheet covering her body.
"I brought you breakfast in bed," Benedict smirked.
"You didn't make the food, did you?" Letty asked.
"No," Benedict shook his head immediately.
He sat on the bed with Letty, placing the tray between them before feeding Letty a strawberry. Letty hummed as juice fell down her chin and onto her chest. Benedict moved forward immediately, sucking the juice from her chest and causing Letty to moan at the feeling. The food was set aside in favor of other activities, the two eating once they were done. Benedict left for the academy later in the day, kissing Letty quite a few times before finally leaving. Letty smiled as she watched him go. Eloise barging into her home not long after was a surprise though.
"I'm going to find her," Eloise announced.
"Are you? Even without her publishing at the moment?" Letty questioned.
"Theo has given me new information," Eloise offered.
"I'm sorry. Did you say Theo? As in the person you are supposed to be staying away from?" Letty questioned, staring at Eloise with a raised brow.
"I know," she groaned. "But, Letty, please. She is using Madame Delacroix to pass the papers between herself and the printer. She sewed the papers into silks to do so."
Letty's heart skipped a beat, thankful that Eloise had jumped to Delacroix and not herself..
"El, I love you. So much. You cannot keep doing this though," Letty sighed. "I want to support you but I cannot do so if you do not learn from your mistakes."
Eloise sighed, taking Letty's hand.
"Our dream of a home with just us and Pen is no more. You have Benedict and Pen's mind is elsewhere. I just wish to have something to hold onto. Figuring out who she is will be that thing for the time being," Eloise explained and Letty sighed, nodding and sending Eloise on her way.
Anthony showed up as Letty was dressing for the ball that night, Benedict not having made it home yet.
"You look panicked," Letty stated, putting her earrings in place.
"She is awake," he breathed.
"She is?" Letty asked, eyes widening. "Did you go see her?"
"I did," he nodded. "I asked her to marry me. She told me she is leaving for India as soon as she fixes things with Miss Edwina."
"Oh, Anthony," Letty sighed, standing and going to him. "Speak with her at the ball. Try to convince her to stay."
"I don't think anything I say will convince her."
Letty and Anthony stood in silence for a moment before Sophie walked in.
"It is time, Miss Everly," Sophie told her.
"Is Benedict…?" Letty trailed off.
"No, miss," Sophie shook her head and Letty sighed.
"I thought honeymoons were supposed to be cheerful," Anthony stated as he led Letty from the room.
"Yes, well, he knew I did not wish to marry yet. I think he feels rather guilty over it," Letty sighed.
The two walked across the street just in time to meet up with Violet, Eloise, and Benedict.
"There's my husband," Letty smirked and Benedict smiled widely, offering his arm.
Letty smiled, taking his arm and allowing him to lead her inside. Once inside, Letty took a deep breath, looking to Benedict for her strength. He gazed down at her, love and admiration in his eyes before he led her to Eloise. He elbowed Eloise's side, offering his free arm.
"Steady," he told her and the three gave Violet reassuring smiles.
"And ready," Eloise nodded before Benedict led them further into the house where the ball was in full swing.
People stepped aside when they saw the three, whispering slightly as they moved along. Letty looked to Eloise, holding herself straighter to remind Eloise to carry herself well. Eloise nodded, shoulders going back and chin raised high as she left Benedict and Letty to search for Pen. More murmuring began and Letty turned to see Edwina, Mary, Kate, and Lady Danbury enter. Edwina pulled Kate onto the dance floor, the two laughing as they danced with one another. Letty found Anthony watching Kate with the same look Benedict gave her.
"Pathetic," Letty smirked, shaking her head.
"Hmm?" Benedict asked.
"Anthony looks to Kate how you stare at me," Letty told him. "And Colin is stealing Pen away for a private conversation yet again. With the Bridgerton luck, Colin will have to marry Pen if they get caught alone. Or it'll be me that catches them."
Benedict let out a small laugh.
"Penelope and Colin?" Benedict questioned.
"Do you not see it?"
"They are merely friends."
"Friends don't look at friends that way," Letty told him as they moved around the edge of the room. "Oh, look. They've returned and are dancing together."
"Colin just looks after Pen how I used to look after you," Benedict stated before his eyes widened. "Oh, good Heavens. Colin looks after Pen how I used to look after you."
"Finally seeing it?" Letty smirked.
"How do you see these things?" Benedict questioned.
"I tend to watch people," Letty shrugged. "Speaking of watching Anthony and Kate are just over there now."
"What do you think they are speaking of?" Benedict asked curiously.
"Who knows," Letty shrugged. "Idiots in love, they are."
"He's offering his hand."
"They're dancing."
"People are leaving the dance floor and talking."
"Shall we give them more to talk about?"
"I would love to dance with my beautiful wife," Benedict smiled, leading Letty to the floor.
Letty and Benedict began dancing beside Kate and Anthony, the two couples causing whispers to break out. Letty was lost in Benedict's eyes and arms, smiling brightly as he spun her around. Finally, people came back to the floor. The song ended and Lady Featherington sent everyone outside.
"I should find Colin. Start playing matchmaker to him next," Benedict smirked.
"You work on him. I'll find Pen."
The two broke apart and Letty just barely caught a glimpse of Pen heading up the stairs. She followed along quickly, reaching Pen as they turned the hall to her room. Pen was smiling, cheeks red and happiness clearly on her face, excitement in her eyes. They moved to Pen's room, stopping when they reached the door and found it ajar. Pen pushed the door open, finding her room completely destroyed and Eloise standing in the corner as they rushed inside.
"Eloise?" Pen asked.
"Where did you get all this money?" Eloise questioned.
"What are you doing going through my things?" Pen demanded.
"Answer. Me."
"It's none of your business," Pen was shaking and Letty's eyes were wide as Eloise stared at them with a blank expression.
"And what exactly is your business, Pen?" Eloise questioned, a fire finally lighting in her eyes. "Hearing you repeat all that gossip tonight, it struck me, because I have never heard you like that. You might have said those things before, but tonight was the first time I, in fact, heard you say them. It sounded so familiar, your words. Not just the context or subject, but the pattern. It sounded written, almost. Why do you think that is?"
"Because you have been reading too much Whistledown," Letty spoke up.
"And you. You've been helping her by hiding the papers in silks and having them delivered to the print shop," Eloise stated, having finally figured it out.
Letty knew she had to do something, say something.
"Lady Whistledown's voice is simply echoing through your head," Pen offered.
"I thought so too, at first. But then I also thought about how the two of you were always clinging to that wall, collecting all sorts of morsels of gossip. How when I expressed my dislike for the naming of the diamond at the beginning of the season, Whistledown disavowed the whole thing shorty after. How you were one of the only people who could have known about Miss Thompson's pregnancy and Letty's mother."
"It was me!" Letty yelled and two sets of eyes landed on her. "I figured out about Marina's pregnancy and, when Pen did not tell Colin quickly enough, I published it. I wrote of my own mother in hopes it would throw yours off my trail. She didn't quite believe my story. Pen discovered what I was doing at the start of the season and I promised to help her family's financial issues if she did not tell you. That is where the money is from."
"You ruined yourself?" Eloise asked in confusion.
"The queen came to me. She told me that she believed it was you but, after quite some thought, she knew it had to be me. I had to do something to convince her it was neither of us. I'd hoped my ruin would cover yours enough to save you. I was trying to protect you."
"Is that what you were doing?! By writing about me in your latest sheet? By telling the entire world about things I trusted you with? To ruin Benedict's reputation in the process?!" Eloise yelled and Letty flinched.
"Only to convince the queen it wasn't us. It was the only way to save you."
"The only person you were interested in saving was yourself," Eloise scoffed. "All so you could keep making money at the cost of everyone else. At a cost to Miss Thompson, to my brother, my entire family, your family! We accepted you into our family. Was that part of the plan? You were scared Benedict would change his mind again so you let word out of what you two had done to trap him?"
Letty saw the opening that would break her heart.
"Yes," Letty whispered and Pen gasped. "Benedict is always changing his mind. He had already purposed but I was scared he would change his mind again and leave me. I wanted to save you but secure my marriage to him."
"You dragged Penelope down with you," Eloise was in shock of Letty's words.
"I wrote what I wrote and I gave it up. I gave it up for you, for Benedict."
"So he knows what you've done?"
"No," Letty shook her head.
"He will," Eloise growled out, leaving the room in a rush.
Letty felt her knees give out and Pen just barely caught Letty.
"Why, Letty? Why did you do that?" Pen questioned.
"I couldn't let her hate you," Letty cried. "I couldn't."
"She's going to tell Benedict what you've said," Pen shook her head. "I have to find her. I have to stop her."
"No, please. Don't leave me," Letty cried, clinging to Pen. "I can't."
"Okay," Pen nodded. "Okay. Let me go grab some water. I shall be but a moment."
Letty sat on the floor in Pen's room, waiting for her to return. It was a while before she did, tears in her own eyes. Letty opened her arms and Pen went to her, crying and telling Letty what she had heard Colin saying to the other gentlemen in her search to tell Eloise the truth. Letty led Pen to her bed, laying her down and pulling the blanket over her. She waited until Pen seemed to be sleeping before leaving, heading to her own home for the night.
She found Benedict waiting for her in the entrance hall, his bags packed at his feet. The two stared at one another, fear in Letty's eyes and anger in Benedict's.
"So, it's true then?" he demanded.
Letty didn't want to do this. She didn't want to lie to Benny, her husband, the man she loved. But she had to protect Penelope.
"It is," she whispered.
"You ruined yourself," Benedict gasped. "You ruined my reputation, the reputation of my family, you tried to ruin Eloise, you trick Penelope into keeping your secret, me into marrying you."
"Benny, I…"
"Do not call me that!" Benedict yelled. "You may be my wife but I want nothing more to do with you. Goodbye, Letitia."
Benedict grabbed his bags and left quickly, Letty moving out of his way without a fight. Once he was gone, Letty sank to the floor, crying until she fell asleep. She woke in the morning to Anthony shaking her shoulder gently.
"Letty?" he asked, voice full of worry.
"Anthony?" Letty asked in confusion before everything rushed back to her. "Oh. Oh, God no."
"Would you like to explain to me why Benedict has moved back into his apartment?" Anthony asked voice soft. "The story I am being told makes little to no sense."
"I… I can't…" Letty looked into Anthony's eyes and broke down.
Anthony pulled her close, hugging her tightly. Letty didn't even notice Kate in the room as she moved around the pair, kneeling down so she could hug Letty as well.
"I can't," Letty cried, shaking her head roughly.
"Tell me the truth," Anthony whispered… and she did.
Gentle reader, you thought I was silenced, but you thought wrong. And if there is one thing you should know by now, it is that this author cannot keep quiet for long.
Yours truly, Lady Whistledown.