"Benedict? Why, Juliet what's happening!?" Alice exclaimed. "Alice! Go!" i shouted. Alice was confused, but ran to try find him. This was like nothing i had experienced before. I felt as if my heart was about to jump out of my chest and my throat would close up completely.

I ran outside as Alice ran to find Benedict. Alice looked around at everyones faces until she spotted Benedict speaking to Anthony and the Sharma's.

Alice scurried towards him. "Miss Carter?" Benedict said in confusion. "Benedict, come with me" Alice said gasping for air. "What? Why?" Benedict questioned.

"It's Juliet" Alice mumbled. Benedict's face dropped. Without hesitation, he followed her.

I made my way around the side of the building as to not be seen. I was grasping my throat for air. Juliet!" Benedict exclaimed as he saw me in my state. "Hey, what's happened?" Benedict said grabbing my shoulders lightly. I just shook my head not able to speak.

"Listen to me, breathe, okay?" Benedict said trying to help. I grabbed onto him tightly as tears formed in my eyes.

"Remember last time this happened, you felt as if you would never breathe again but you did. Just listen to my voice" he said softly.

Anthony and Kate both ran outside after seeing the hastle. "What is going on?" Kate exclaimed. "Miss Sharma, with all due respect, you should back up" Anthony said in a condescending tone.

"I'll have you know, Miss Bennet is a very close companion of mine so, no Mr Bridgerton, i will not back up" Kate said pushing past him. Kate and Anthony continued bickering as Alice was telling them to shut up.

Benedict saw that i was getting visibly uncomfortable with everyone surrounding us. "Would everyone fuck off now!" Benedict shouted. It went silent as everyone was shocked that Benedict had snapped at them. They slowly backed up and Benedict turned back towards me.

"Hey, it's just me and you. By the way, did you hear? My brother should he back from his travelling soon. To be honest with you, i don't even know where he has gone. I think it was Greece? Spain? America? He rambles on in his letters too much" Benedict said.

Benedict continued rambling on for another few minutes. I looked at him with a confused look. "What are you talking about?" i asked him. Benedict smirked and it clicked in my head. I was so focused on Benedicts rambling, that my breathing had slowed down.

I took a sigh of relief. A smile slowly crept on my face as i lunged into Benedict's arms for an embrace. "Thank you" i said quietly. I felt him squeeze me tighter as to say, "any time".

I then backed up remembering the others were still there. I stood up slowly looking at the ground. "Miss Bennet, are you... Are you quite alright?" Kate asked with concern.

"I am fine. My apologies for making all of you worried" i replied. "Okay, but... What was that?" Anthony asked. Benedict gave Anthony a "shut up" look and Anthony crossed his arms and looked at the floor.

"We should... Make our way inside" Alice said pushing Anthony and Kate through the door. Benedict turned towards me as there was a moment of awkward silence.

"Juliet, can we speak now? Properly" Benedict asked. "Okay, may i start?" i asked. "Of course" Benedict said. "Why didn't you write to me? I told you that if you write a letter and pass it onto Lady Danbury, she will send the letter to me" i said.

"Juliet, i wrote you a letter every day for 357 days" Benedict said with a small smile. My mouth dropped to the floor. " You... What?" i said in confusion.

Benedict took a step towards me. "I wrote you a letter, everyday since you left. I wrote to you everyday until you came back" Benedict said. My eyes widened in perplexity. "I... I'm sorry. I thought you did not wish to see me again after i left so abruptly" i said.

Benedict fingers brushed against mine. "Of course i wanted to see you. Juliet, my feelings for you never changed" Benedict said. I then realised, my feelings for Benedict never went away. I simply just pushed them deep down.

I slowly went on the tips of my toes, leaning into Benedicts lips. "Benedict!" we heard a voice say. Benedict quickly pushed me down, as to not be seen. "Mr Brooke's!?" Benedict said with an anxious smile.

I covered my mouth as i gasped. "How have you been?" Mr Brooke's asked. "I... I am well, and you?" Benedict replied. "Yes i'm fine..." he responded. You could feel the tension in the air.

Mr Brooke's began to walk towards Benedict to get closer. "No!" Benedict blurted out. Mr Brooke's took a step back. "I mean... I am... Busy over here" Benedict said awkwardly.

"Busy? Doing what?" Mr Brooke's questioned. "The bathroom was occupied so i decided to go out here" Benedict said with a fake laugh. Mr Brooke's looked at him with concern and disgust.

"Oh... Very well then. I'll leave you to it" Mr Brooke's said walking away. I decided i wanted to mess with Benedict a little... For old time sake. I slowly ran my hand up Benedicts leg.

Benedict let out a loud groan causing Mr Brooke's to turn around swiftly. "What was that?" Mr Brooke's asked. "Oh nothing!" Benedict said with a smile. Mr Brooke's nodded and mumbled to himself in confusion.

"You are a horrible person" Benedict said as i let out a loud laugh. "Why on earth would you do that?" Benedict exclaimed. I continued to laugh as Benedict rolled his eyes but, he eventually gave in and joined in with my laughter.

Benedict and i stayed outside for a little while longer, just catching up on all the things we had missed. I then heard Lady Danbury calling for me so i crept my way back inside without her realising i had left.

As we all made our way into the carriage, i felt Kates concerned stares on the journey home. We talked about Edwina's potential suitors and her future plans as she is now the diamond of the season.

When we arrived home, i said goodnight to the Sharma's and was on my way to say goodnight to Lady Danbury. I knocked on her bedroom door, and she told me i could come in.

"Did you enjoy the evening?" Lady Danbury asked. "It was... Interesting to say the least" i replied with a smirk. "Well, i did not see you for nearly half the night, where were you?" she asked.

"I was with Alice" i replied calmly. Lady Danbury gave me a concerned look but brushed it off. "Lady Danbury, do you happen to know if anyone else wrote me a letter while i was gone?" i asked.

"I do not believe so, why?" she questioned. "Oh nothing... Must have been a mistake" i replied. "Who are you talking about?" she asked.

"Mr Bridgerton mentioned he had sent me a couple of letters but i never seemed to get them. I just wondered if there was anything important in them" i said. "Well dear, i assure you i did not get any" she replied.

I nodded my head slowly. "Can you believe Edwina is the new diamond?" i said with a soft smile. "Well, with me and her sponsor...Yes" she replied with a chuckle.

"I wonder who she will marry" i said. "Well i'm sure someone with her looks can get whoever she wants. Im sure she is someone you would like to paint a portrait of, no?" Lady Danbury said as she took of her large, heavy necklaces.

"What do you mean?" i asked with a chuckle. "Well that is what you say isn't it, you paint things that want to be painted" Lady Danbury said.

"Well yes, i guess i would. Maybe i'll ask her if i get my inspiration back... Well, i best go to bed" i said leaving the room. "Goodnight dear" she replied.

I was about to shut the door until i froze. I slowly turned around and my eyebrows furrowed. "How did you know that?" i asked. Lady Danbury turned around. "Know what?" she questioned.

"I never told you that" i said. "I'm sorry Miss Bennet, you will have to explain" Lady Danbury said in confusion.

"I paint things that want to be painted". I never anyone that because i thought it was embarrassing or people would not understand it. How did you know?" i said taking a step closer to her.

"You did tell me dear... You must have when you were painting in the drawing room" Lady Danbury replied uncomfortably. "Lady Danbury, did you take my letters?" i questioned.

"I beg your pardon" Lady Danbury replied in an offended tone. "You did, didn't you?" i said with a scoff. There was a long moment of silence.

Lady Danbury looked at the ground as she shook her head. "I had too Miss Bennet" she said quietly.

"Why on earth would you do that?!!" i shouted. "After you left, there was, gossip around the ton about you and Mr Bridgerton. If people were to find out that you two were still writing, they might think those rumours were true. I did it to protect you" she said.

I stood there in shock. "Did you do it to save my reputation, or yours Lady Danbury?" i asked. Lady Danbury stayed quiet as she looked at the ground.

I shook my head as i left the room. "Miss Bennet wait" Lady Danbury called out as she trudged after me. I ran to my room and locked the door. Lady Danbury knocked a couple of times, but gave up eventually.

I was beyond furious. Lady Danbury knew how upset i was about Benedict not writing to me. And, why did she not just tell me and let me decide if i wanted my reputation to be "ruined".

I laid in bed, and grabbed my drawing book. I scrolled through the pages until i got to a drawing i drew of Beth before she passed.

I stared at the drawing. "I need you Beth. God i need you right now"