,wallflower' • BRIDGERTON

chapter 28

Anthony's eyes widened in surprise. "What..? Wait how? When?" His mind raced with questions.

"Right after she ran away from the wedding ceremony... She found out about her being a princess and it only worried her more about marriage. So... I proposed to her out of convenience for her. But, I just couldn't imagine her marrying anyone but me." Benedict confessed as Anthony looked at him with a mixture of disappointment and surprise.

Benedict sighed, his admission heavy with conflicting emotions.

Anthony's stern expression softened, understanding dawning in his eyes. "Benedict, you have got to announce this to the family... and... you must do right by her. Some day you may have to provide her with children, one day you may have to force your conflicted nature aside and admit your feelings for her. She is probably already torn apart thinking she has to marry someone who is not in love with her."

Benedict looked over at his brother, who seemed to be thinking about the very words coming out of his mouth. If Anthony had only taken his own advice he would be canceling the wedding already, preventing Edwina from any more heartbreak.

✑

Hope stood in the opulent grand hall, surrounded by plush velvet cushions adorning every seat. The hall exuded an air of regality, and at its center, on an ornate pedestal, lay a crown adorned with glistening rubies. Each gem caught the sunlight, casting a radiant display of colors across the room.

The young woman's eyes are fixated on the crown, a symbol of power and responsibility. She couldn't help but imagine the weight of it on her head, the cold metal against her skin, the jewels reflecting not only sunlight but the expectations and duties that came with such an emblem of authority.

A hushed anticipation hung in the air as Hope contemplated the possibility that this crown might one day rest upon her brow. The grandeur of the hall seemed to amplify the gravity of the moment, and a soft breath escaped her lips as she allowed her shoulders to relax. The coolness of the velvet beneath her fingertips offered a stark contrast to the warmth of the sun's rays filtering through the tall windows.

Yet, despite the outward calm, her heart raced within her chest, a pulsating reminder of the stakes involved. The grandeur of the hall and the sparkle of the rubies couldn't entirely dispel the internal conflict, the swirling emotions that accompanied the prospect of wielding such authority.

Hope's gaze remained fixed on the crown, and in that moment of reflection, she acknowledged the complexities of her own ambitions and the intricate dance of fate that might lead her to this coveted position. The grand hall, with its regal ambiance, became a stage for her inner deliberations, a silent witness to the dreams and aspirations that resonated within her.

As she inhaled deeply, the scent of polished wood and rich fabrics filled her senses. The grandeur of the surroundings offered a momentary respite from the outside world, but the persistent drumming of her heart served as a constant reminder that the journey to the crown if chosen, would be both exhilarating and demanding.

"Do you like that one?" The Queen's voice cut through the young woman's reverie, jolting her back to the present. Swiftly, she pivoted on her heels, her attention now fully captured by the regal figure before her. There was no bow in acknowledgment; instead, a glance laden with a discernible distaste met the Queen's gaze. The subtle but palpable disdain etched across the young woman's features tugged at the Queen's heartstrings, adding an unexpected layer of complexity to the interaction.

"I suppose," Hope said, with a slight tilt of her head. "I wore it, for His Majesty's golden jubilee," She said, picking up the crown with her gloved fingers. Her mother gave her a certain look, one that echoed with maternal love. She glanced over at Brimsley who stood at the entrance of the hall, he walked up to Hope and gently took the tiara she had already worn off her head, while her mother put the crown on hers.