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𝐟𝐢𝐯𝐞: 𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭
 𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭.

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1812

The Bridgerton household was relatively quiet for a Saturday morning.  

With the Viscount & Dowager Viscountess out on a business trip, the second Bridgerton son was left in charge (much to the dismay of Miss Woodbury, their governess for a good three months). 

After the Bridgerton daughters were dismissed from their lessons, Augusta sat by the window of their schoolroom as the soft July breeze cascaded her features. Her classes with the Bridgerton daughters were quite eventful for the morning. There was another misunderstanding between Daphne and Eloise after much teasing about the eldest daughter's debut into society next year. Eloise thought that their traditions were stupid which led to a verbal quarrel since Daphne disagreed and was quite enchanted with the idea of finding true love through dancing and promenades. Though Augusta had the same views as Eloise, she had to mediate the dispute between the two in order for them to continue on with their lesson. 

Footsteps thumped on the floor urgently and the door of the schoolroom was slammed wide open to reveal a panting Benedict and Colin Bridgerton as if they had just ran for miles. Augusta furrowed her brows at the sight and thought: what on Earth was ─ 

"We have a dilemma." Benedict told her. 

Augusta narrowed her eyes up at him. "Which should concern me because. . ." She was never fond of the second Bridgerton son after the childishness and utter lack of common sense he displayed to her within their first meeting. 

"It concerns our sister." 

"Which one?"

"Eloise." 

"Ah." She stood up and busied herself with sifting through their work for the morning. "She's quite the spirit. Don't fret over her. With her wit and charm, she will be able to marry well. . .somehow." 

Benedict shook his head. "No, no. She's gone."

"I beg your pardon?!" Augusta exclaimed. What on Earth did he mean by 'gone' ? 

"She has ran away." Colin informed her with a mouthful of biscuits and another five in his hands. "Would you happen to know where she could have went, Miss Woodbury?" 

Augusta tried to recall and one particular event popped up in her mind. The conversation happened two days ago. 

"Would you like to accompany me, Miss Woodbury?"

"Hm? To where?"

"A meeting of women who want to fight for their right to higher education." 

"How exciting! I will ponder on it."

Augusta blinked at the two Bridgerton brothers. "She went to a meeting." 

Daphne and Francesca had arrived both who looked out of breath and sweating. With them was Gregory and Hyacinth. Daphne shook her head. "Eloise is not here nor in our gardens."

"I will find her." Augusta told them, gathering her coat and hat. 

Truth be told, she felt a pang of guilt for even expressing her excitement at Eloise's offer. She remembered answering that she would think about it. And ─ good Lord ─ if Violet Bridgerton found out that one of her daughters had snuck off to an event the governess was excited of, then Augusta would have a lot of explaining to do. 

As she was making her way towards the door, she heard footsteps behind and turned to see Benedict following her. "What are you doing, Mr. Bridgerton?" 

Benedict shrugged, pulling on his coat. "I am going to find my sister. Is it not obvious?" 

Augusta opened the door and hurriedly walked down the steps of the Bridgerton mansion. "I can do it myself. You should stay here and look after your siblings." 

"Colin can do that." His looked up towards the sky. "Are we not bringing an umbrella?"

She shook her head. "It's not raining." 

"It could." 

"I am much more concerned about finding your sister, Mr. Bridgerton." 

He fell into stride with her. "You can call me with my given name, Aggie."

Augusta turned to him, studying his whole body. "No." She stated blankly. 

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"I never knew meetings could be this fun!" Benedict stated excitedly as he and Augusta moved through the crowd of women. 

Augusta rolled her eyes (she did so even if he couldn't see the action). "Calm your lust, Mr. Bridgerton, and find your sister."

"Lust?" He asked, shocked. "It's the shouting that makes this interesting." 

There was a stage in front of it all and a simple woman with her plainly-styled brown hair and high-waisted cotton pants. She held a paper in her hands and was shouting with her whole chest. Augusta stopped walking, making Benedict bump into her. She was completely mesmerized and in awe by the women's passion for equality. 

"We are not below men!" She cried out and a series of agreements rang through the crowd in the form of shouts or mumbles. "We only appear to be inferior to them because we are not allowed higher education!" 

"If only the government can see this, then the inequality can be remedied. We should be treated as beings who posses rational thought and not merely be succumbed to our appearances and status to determine how valuable we are. I do not wish women to have power over men; but over themselves!" 

She felt Benedict tap her shoulder. "Hey, Aggie, there she is!" 

"Oh, stop calling me that!" 

Augusta turned her head and surely she saw Eloise's dark hair. Beside her, was Penelope Featherington who looked more terrified rather than excited at the woman in front. They started to walk towards them. As they neared, Eloise's face paled. 

Benedict was the first to reach the two girls, cutting in front of the governess. "Eloise! What the bloody hell were you thinking?" He scolded her. "We were worried sick!" 

"Brother, I'm sorry." Eloise gulped. "But, is this not exciting? A meeting on women getting the same type of education as gentlemen do." 

Penelope clung her to Eloise's arm once another rumble echoed throughout the crowd. "This seems more like a riot than a meeting to be honest." 

"As much as I do agree with you, El, you should have told us." 

Sighing, Augusta told her. "I cannot believe I am uttering these words but your brother is correct." She tipped her head to the door. "Come on now. We must get you two home before we find ourselves in trouble with your mamas." 

"What did you say, Aggie?" Benedict teased as they walked through the crowd once again with Eloise and Penelope going in front of them. "I was error-free?" 

"I said you were correct. Don't flatter yourself, Mr. Bridgerton." 

When they had made it outside, thunder rumbled through the sky. All four looked up to see dark clouds gathering and it wasn't long before a shower of raindrops started to fall. Immediately, Benedict and Augusta started to rid their coats and swaddle them to the younger girls. 

"You know what else I was correct about?" Benedict teased. Augusta could only scowl at him as he pointed to the sky. "I was correct about bringing an umbrella."

"It wasn't raining when we left!" Augusta exclaimed. "We will have to run back then." 

"In the streets?"

"No, El, through the clouds." Eloise made a face at her brother. 

Augusta shrugged. "You choose between running or waiting for the rain to pass by." 

Sighing, Penelope and Eloise shared a look before dashing off, their giggles echoing the streets of the Ton. It was only Augusta and Benedict left. 

"We could always wait for the rain to stop, Aggie." Benedict joked, a wicked tone in his voice. "Perhaps we could converse ─ "

"I'm leaving!" Without another thought, Augusta turned her heels and sprinted down the street. 

Benedict heartily laughed. He knew that would be funny. "And, I'm following!" 

Since that day, Benedict somehow wanted to be always two steps behind her. Maybe it was in the way she ran ─ tempestuous and carefree and always up for adventure. 

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PRESENT DAY 

"What about the duke?"

"The duke has not proposed, mama. I'm still considering my best course."

"Wise girl!" Anthony gloated.

"And, Lord Hardy is a fine option. Although, he is rather boastful. . ."

Benedict Bridgerton listened on as their mother questioned Daphne about her choices for the ball. All he could do was make faces at the absurdity of the topic. What was so gratifying in dancing and how could anyone possibly have an enriching conversation while dancing? He was yet to find the answer to these types of questions if he only danced with the ladies his mama would push his way. Fortunately for Benedict, he would slip out of his mother's grasp after profusely (but politely) declining her requests to dance with the ladies.

Benedict drunkenly tipped his chair back on it's two legs ─ a habit his parents had always scolded him on ─ as his mother gently chastised Daphne. "My dear, why do you always complicate matters so?" Eloise had taken a seat beside her sister. 

Their mother went on, "You must simply marry the man who feels like your dearest friend."

"Oh? Oh, is that it, mama?" Daphne replied dryly. "How very simple indeed!"

Benedict met Eloise's gaze. They both snickered at their sister's tone and their mother's oblivious agreement.

Hyacinth quizzically looked at the exchange and turned to her mother. "We just marry our dearest friend, mama?" She asked from her spot on the floor, not only catching Gregory's attention to the conversation but the rest of her siblings as well.

"Exactly, my dear."

Hyacinth turned to Benedict with a delighted look in her wide eyes to which he met with a confused frown. She bounced excitedly and declared. "If that is so, I believe Benedict should marry Miss Woodbury then!"

At that moment, he had fallen over his chair. Laughter erupted around the room with Violet smiling knowingly behind her cup of tea.

"I agree!" Gregory announced.

"Do you need help getting back on your own two feet, brother?" Colin teased from across the room. "Or are you too preoccupied racking through your brain on how to ask dear Miss Woodbury?"

"Ask me what?" A new voice queried.

Luckily for Benedict, he had regained his composure in his seat as a chorus of greetings was being said to the governess.

He glanced towards Augusta who had just entered their drawing room. She wore her usual pair of a long and plain dark-colored skirt with a wide belt and a blouse buttoned all the way to the top. Her hair was in it's usual neat bun but it was a guarantee tendrils of her light-brown hair would fall by the afternoon. She stood with her back straight and hands clasped firmly behind as she waited for an answer from any of the nine Bridgertons.

Hyacinth and Gregory stood up from the floor and flocked to their governess, clasping each of her hand in theirs.

Colin smirked and asked. "Miss Woodbury, have you ever been proposed to?"

Augusta blinked at him. "Uh ─ " She cleared her throat. "Pardon?"

Gregory tugged at her hand and repeated the question whilst adding. " ─ And would you say yes?"

Eloise waved dismissively. "It is just a silly question, Miss Woodbury." As she said this, Benedict threw a biscuit towards Colin which had smacked him right on the cheek.

"Oh. . ." Augusta eyed Benedict's actions oddly. "Very well. Let's proceed to our lessons before your brother starts throwing condiments."

When they were out of earshot, Eloise smirked. "Are you still with us, brother? Or has the air left your lungs at how lovely Miss Woodbury looked this morning?"

Daphne nodded, joining in on the fun. "I agree. She does look rather lovely this morning. Did she do something different with her hair?"

"I am fine, sister." Benedict replied with a tight smile. "I am perfectly fine. And, no, she did not do anything different with her hair." He clicked his tongue. "She is too uptight for that."

"Is that what is stopping you from marrying her, Benedict?" Anthony asked, pretending to nonchalantly flip through the newspaper. "Her choice of hairstyle?"

Shaking his head, Benedict stood up from his seat and announced exasperatedly. "Bloody hell, I am not marrying Aggie! For all we know, she and I would be at each other's throats day and night!"

"Some do say communication is the secret to a healthy marriage." Violet jokingly added.

"Unbelievable!" Rolling his eyes, Benedict grabbed his coat and sketchbook with the intent of catching a bit of peace and quiet in the boys' old schoolroom.

(He was, however, proud of himself for getting a closer look at the shape of her eyes in order for him to draw them more accurately.)

AUTHOR'S NOTE
the woman
in the meeting is
supposed to be mary
wollstonecraft, a feminist
ICON who was very
passionate about women
having social and
educational equality.
go check her out!!