That morning i woke up with a new sense of joy. I had my family here and apologies had been made after such a long time of strife. As i sat reading, i was interrupted by someone knocking on my door.

"Come in" i called out wiping my tired eyes. "I made you some tea" Beth revealed herself. I hesitated to speak as she sat on the edge of my bed. "Good morning" i greeted with a hint of coldness.

We still haven't spoken properly to one on one since our argument yesterday. She handed me the tea. "No biscuits then?" i questioned playfully. She laughed at my comment.

"Juliet, i'm so sorry for how i spoke to you yesterday. You haven't changed since you got here, i understand you just simply have to fit in. It was hard enough for me with one night of it.
I just miss having you at home, It's great that Emma's there but it's not the same" she said.

"You don't need to apologise, Beth. You are right, i have changed. I've changed a lot ever since i've got here. Everyday i feel as if i am being watched. I feel like one bad move and Lady Whistledown will ruin everything. I just, i don't want to let anyone down" i told her.

Beth held my hand. "Don't speak like that. You are my sister, you couldn't let me down. When Emma couldn't be there and mother was ill, you took care of me. You taught me how to read, how to write, you taught me how to be my own person. I can never thank you enough for that" Beth teared up. Hearing her say those things made all of this worth it.

It felt as if i had been holding it in for so long. I did miss home whilst i was here, but i also felt i was loosing myself more and more everyday i spent here. I think that's another reason why i am so fond of Benedict. He brings out the real me and still somehow enjoys my company.

She quickly came to my side and embraced me whilst kissing my cheek. We stayed like that for a while until Lady Danbury shouted that i needed to get ready.

I let Beth pick out my dress today before we both hurried downstairs. "Miss Bennet, there is a guest here for you" said Lady Danbury. I lit up, it was Benedict, it had to be.

I ran to the drawing room. My smile faded as i saw who it was. "Miss Bennet" the man said. It was Henry Brooke's. "Mr Brookes... What a... Wonderful surprise" i said faking my smile.

"I apologise for coming so early, i just haven't been able to stop thinking about you since the ball" he said with a large smile. The man was harmless and quite sweet so i entertained him. "Well, that is quite alright Mr Brookes. Speaking of the ball, how is you foot?" i asked. "Oh, it is quite alright, no need to fret."

There was a minute of awkward silence. "Would you like some tea?" i asked. "Oh yes, tea would be lovely thank you" he said as he sat down.

"So, is this you art work?" he asked pointing at my easel with an unfinished painting. "Oh yes but please, do not judge me off this piece, it is not finished" i said. "My drawing book is on the table if you would like to go through it."

He opened the book and saw the standard portrait of Lady Danbury's flower garden, my sisters, other sites i have seen since i've got here and more.

"These are extraordinary" he said. I chuckled at his kind words. As he was going through the pages, he saw one drawing that caught his eye. It was a man with big eyes, a smile unlike any other and hair so messy it looked as if he had just gone riding on horseback. He realised who it was right away.

"Here you go" i said handing him the cup of tea. He seemed to be in a trance. "Mr Brooke's, your tea?" i said louder snapping him out of his daze. "Oh yes... Thank you" he said closing the book right away.

We talked for what felt like hours though Lady Danbury said it wasn't more than one. Even though the man seemed lovely, his conversations were most certainly not. They were dreary and predictable like all the others.

"Wow look at the time, i must be off. Mama is dragging me to the ball tonight. Will you be going, Miss Bennet?" he asked whilst collecting himself. "I will be, Mr Brookes" i answered with a half smile following him out. "Well then, i shall see you there."

I walked him to the door where he stood in place awkwardly. He slowly leaned in and gave me a small peck on the cheek. I smiled at him but i'm sure he could see the disgust on my face.

He scurried away as i quickly shut the door. When i looked behind me, i saw Simon, Emma, Lady Danbury and Beth all standing in the hall trying to hold in their laughter.

"Oh shut it would you" i spat walking past them. As i scurried upstairs to get ready for the ball, i heard their laughter echo the house.

A couple of hours later, Simon, Lady Danbury and i arrived to the ball. In the carriage, Simon had let me know that him and Daphne were no longer an item.

I was quite confused why Daphne was not with Simon anymore but when i got into the ball i could see why. She was dancing with Prince Freidrich. I had heard that the Queens nephew was arriving but i most certainly did not know he had taken interest in Daphne. I could tell Simon was uneasy seeing them together.

I searched through the crowd for any familiar faces until i spotted Anthony. I was about to hurry over to him until i saw him in a vexed trance whilst staring at the opera singer on stage. I connected the dots in my head that the woman on stage must have been the same opera singer that Emma had caught him with.

She was quite beautiful but i wanted to smack him for choosing her over Emma. I then saw Penelope talking to Colin Bridgerton. I often see them together at these balls. They would make quite an adorable couple.

"Miss Bennet" i heard a snarky and unfortunately familiar voice say. I turned to see Alice Carter. She wasn't with her goons as usual. "Miss Carter, how are you this evening?" i asked pretending to care. "I am quite well. You haven't embarrassed yourself tonight yet, have you? We wouldn't want Lady Whistledown writing about it again now would we."

"May i ask Miss Carter, have u done something to offend you? It seems you have been less than fond of me ever since i arrived" i tried to speak kindly. She looked at me up and down. "I have no problem with you Miss Bennet. I do however have a problem with the fact that no one has ever seen you here and now the whole ton won't speak or anything else but your arrival" she spat.

"Well, i am sorry that the ton is so nosey and wants to know more about me because i am new, but you are a fortunate looking girl Alice. Maybe if you fix your manners then you could find someone that makes you happy."

I seemed i had touched a nerve. "Just stay away from me" she whispered pushing into my shoulder as she walked passed.
"That didn't look go good."

I looked to see Benedict standing beside me, watching Alice take her leave in such a hurry. "You don't say?" i uttered. He chuckled as he finally removed his gaze from the woman.

"Why Miss Bennet, i have to say you look as wonderful as ever tonight" he spoke looking me up and down. "You have seen me in this dress before" i answered. "Yes, but not in this light. The pale pink enlightens your skin" he said. "Why thank you Mr Bridgerton, would you like to dance?" i asked.

"I'm pretty sure i'm meant to be the one who asks you for a dance, Miss Bennet" he said playfully. "Well then, are you going to ask me?"

"After seeing you almost break Mr Brooke's feet? I'd rather not" he sneered. I gasped playfully turning my back to him.

As he stood behind me, i felt him whisper in my ear, "Oh don't pretend you don't love me." I lost my breathe for a moment. He laughed seeing my reaction.

"Come on, i think they have an art room. I'll leave now and follow me out in ten minutes" he said without even seeing i would agree.

I pulled myself together, taking a drink from the long table until i spotted Mr Brookes. I turned away quickly, hoping he had not seen me. But my plan was ruined when I heard Eloise shout, "Juliet!"

I closed my eyes and sighed realising i could hide no more. The young girl ran towards me in a haste. "Juliet, is Beth here?" she asked.

"No Eloise, i'm afraid my sister is packing as she is going home tomorrow" i answered. "Oh, well, can you give her this? It's just some more thoughts on who Lady Whistledown is and my adress is on the back so she can write to me" she said almost sounding hurt to hear she was leaving.

"Beth has been talking about Lady Whistledown with you?" i questioned. "Why yes, we got into the conversation about it at the last ball and she became interested in my ideas on who it could be."

"Well, i'll be sure to give it to her Eloise" i said. The girl nodded and ran away spotting her friend Penelope in the crowd, dragging her away from Colin. I turned to see Mr Brookes wave for me to join him. I know it was cruel, but i pretended not to see him and made my way to the art room instead.

I saw Benedict looking at all the art work, admiring him from afar. "I like this one" i said making my presence known. "Oh yea, what about this one?" he asked pointing to a painting of a rather dull London street. "I suppose it has good techniques but why would you paint such a boring sight?" i asked. "Well why not? What would you paint instead?" he asked. I thought about my answer for a moment.

"I paint things that want to be painted."

He looked at me for a second with a confused look. "And how do you know if something wants to be painted?" he questioned. "You can tell really. If you see something that makes you feel an emotion, than it wants to be painted. If that's love or joy or sadness. It will tell you it wants to be painted" i said.

The man turned to me. "I never thought of it that way" he said staring this time. He pushed a loose hair out of my face and looked as if he was taking in all of my features.

"You're eyes have a hint of green in them, did you know?" he asked still staring. A smile tugged at my lips at the fact he had noticed such a small detail.

"Do you have feelings for Mr Brooke's?" he asked interrupting the moment.

"What a silly thing to ask" i said as i leaned in and kissed the man passionately. All of a sudden, he picked me up and threw me onto the couch. I laughed as he kissed my jawline down to my neck. Is this the feeling that Emma had warned me about?

Because if it is, i don't see this as a spell nor a curse. I never wanted to stop in truth. "Benedict, people might come in" i urged still giggling at the feeling of his touch. He sighed and hung his head for a moment. "You are right... I have an idea."

I took his hand and we peeped our heads out of the door before running outside. I was getting deja vu from when i had visited his house for the first time.

We ran to the garden and every few minutes he'd stop just to kiss me again. As we got to the middle of the garden, we stopped and decided we were hidden enough. Benedict began to kiss me more passionately than he had ever before.

"If you tell me to stop, i shall stop" he said staring at me. I paused for a moment just to see the seriousness on his face. "Don't stop, please do not stop" i said jumping up to reach his lips.

Benedict brushed back my hair so that he could now devour my neck, his lips leading down to my chest. It was now more than ever i felt as if my corset was crushing my ribs. Perhaps it was because my chest heaved more and more as he continued.

Benedict hesitated for a moment, meeting my eye as i gulped slightly. "I am a gentleman. And you are a lady" he said softly. My eyebrows furrowed. "I will not take you."

I nodded, surprised and perhaps even disappointed. "But, there is more ways to pleasure a woman than simply... Well you know." In truth, i did not know. But Benedict surely did.
His lips found my ear as his voice dropped to a whisper.

"We have much time for all that business."

I felt a shiver run down my spine as his hit breathe hit my skin. I felt his hands find my waist as his lips lingered on my skin. "Benedict?" my words came out in almost a question. He chuckled as he nuzzled into my neck, softly pushing me against the grass. "Do you have a problem, lady Bennet?"

"I don't understand your meaning" i said. My voice changed into a suppressed moan as Benedict nipped the edge of my ears. He slid his hands to my back, gently loosening the knots and the ribbons of my dress.

"Buttons are much easier, i find ribbons to be a challenge" he whispered. I felt frozen as he slowly yet skill fully pulled down my bodice. "I have thought about throwing my honour away many times when i am with you. Even when i spot you across the floor at balls. You are testing my morals, lady Bennet."

I could not answer the man, i was much too consumed with this feeling. He softly cupped my breasts over the thin fabric, his fingers softly teasing the tip of my bosom. He grinned as i squirmed under his touch, but he knew i would not resist whatever this feeling was.

I found myself tugging at his shirt, the pleasure of his touch overflowing my morals. His lips found my breast as i pulled him closer. "So many nights i have dreamed of this" he moaned.
"But it would never live up to reality."