Chapter Text
Another ball. Another show. Another lie.
Prudence Featherington stood gasping behind the closed door of her fathers old study, head leaning against the frame, barely holding back tears. Her hands shook violently, and the air she so desperately needed refused to come. Prudence felt the tears stinging her eyes now roll down her cheeks, dripping off her chin onto her hideous low cut orange dress.
It was the first ball Portia Featherington had hosted since the marriage of Penelope and Colin. Another means to hide what little funds they had left. Pen’s marriage to Colin did little to change that. Mama thought she was doing a splendid job hiding their dire situation but that was where she was wrong. Penelope knew, Mama knew, and Varley knew–but none of them ever suspected that Prudence was fully aware of the happenings of the home.
That was the genius of it all. Prudence was not as thick in the head as everyone saw her to be. All of it was a masterplan to never marry. No one wanted a stupid and unattractive pover as a wife. Portia made it her life’s goal to sell off her daughters, but no man wanted Prudence–and that was just how she wanted it to be.
From the day she saw her father first hit mama was the day she vowed that she would do anything in her power to remain unmarried. That meant turning into the biggest airhead London had ever seen. Prudence saw her plans working from the moment she dabuet into society–the fainting spell was genius on her part and she remembered giggling in bed that very night for causing such a disgraceful scene.
The only thing that made it even possibly not worth it, was the fact that she could easily say that no one knew her. Not really.
No one knew that Prudence Featherington’s favourite pastime was birdwatching, or that her favourite colour was yellow, or that she really was a good singer and she was good at piano forte. No one would ever know that she danced the waltz to herself in the confines of her room, that she was well educated in art and drawing, or that punch was her favourite drink.
It was all a price to pay to remain a free spirited spinster. Prudence promised herself that one day she would get to go back to her happy ways, just like she was in her journals, but that was not for a time yet. She still had at least two seasons left before her mother gave up her matchmaking. At least with Phillipa and Penelope both paired with those they loved, Prudence had the weight off her shoulders.
What hurt so much was the fact that Prudence loved both her sisters desperately. Penelope was such a joy to be around, and Phillipa made her laugh–even if Phillipa was genuinely a ditz sometimes. It was all necessary to be as cruel as she was to her youngest sister–but that never stopped her from crying in her room at night and praying for forgiveness to whatever gods there were. Prudence wrote a letter every night to Penelope to apologise for all the hurtful things she had said against her sister, and sealed it in a box she was determined to one day give when it was safe to do so.
Prudence was not one for marriage herself but she was that both her sisters had fallen deeply in love with their husband and future husband. She had even orchestrated so much of bringing them all together. When father refused Albion, Prudence found a way to scrape together her funds and pay Albion all that he was meant to have for Phillipa’s dowry–she swore the man to secrecy and made him swear to love Phillipa till the day he died. He said he would marry her even without the dowry–but Prudence knew that he had to tell his parents that he received payment.
With Colin she had thought she would kill two birds with one stone. The thought of marrying Cousin Jack was downright sickening. Prudence found out the man was a scoundrel and sent Colin an anonymous letter informing him about every shady deal, and every man he had scammed. As expected Colin uncovered the plot and sent Cousin Jack packing, leaving her without a fiance and once again free.
Unfortunately the cad had gone on and screwed it up when he had all but announced to the eligible gentlemen that he would never dream of marrying Penelope. It took a lot of work to finally get Penelope to talk to him again, and for Colin to finally admit his feelings for the woman he had always loved. A well organized carriage ride by Prudence and the two were engaged happily and loudly, assuredly, and fervently proclaiming their love. She knew Penelope was Lady Whistledown and she also knew that that would be both of their breaking points when Colin found out. It all turned out splendidly in the end. Prudence could not be happier for her sisters, truly.
What she didn’t expect was the crushing reality that she would be stuck at home with a mother who thought less of her than a grapefruit, and a maid who adored mama. She had no sisters, no friends–the only person she had was not even human. When Penelope moved into her own home with her new husband, she left behind the dog Marina had been gifted by one of her many suitors. That dog was Prudence’s only companion, the only thing that knew her heart was pure.
Now she quietly sobbed in the closet, heat aching like it often did when she was reminded of the fact that no one knew her or her heart. The ton saw her ugly appearance and bitter heart. Inside she loved deeply, but no one got to see it.
“Freedom.” She whispered, choking on a sob.
That was the only thing she could do to remind herself that she was protecting herself from the violence her father showed her mother many times over during his life. That was why she killed him–well she paid the gentlemen whose father owed money to to poison him. She loved papa, but she knew that if he saw who he had become from the loving man he was when Prudence was first born…he would want to die too.
Prudence was almost tempted to poison her mother too, but she knew that would only ensure her own doom. Prudence was set to inherit it all since Cousin Jack left and she was the only family left. She would be open market to any old man in need of a house and young wife. Too bad…
“Freedom.” She repeated.
Some days it almost didn’t seem worth it, well at least when she felt exceptionally lonely without Phillipa, or the fact she couldn’t go to Pen either because she had to play the part. Prudence’s hands shook and she dabbed away her tears, trying to pull herself together so she could once again put on her mask of craziness.
She pushed herself off of the door and moved to pour herself a glass of brandy, the hidden strong stuff that Varley snitched when she thought mama wasn’t looking. Mama wasn’t looking at anything but herself anymore.
The brandy burned her throat and warmed her stomach in the best way. It made her feel like someone was giving her a hug and it was soothing. Some days Prudence just wanted to be cradled like her father used to before he went insane. Now the only love she got was from the fluffball whose only form of communication was to bark.
She scoffed and threw back the rest of what was in the glass, relishing the burn. The drink gave Prudence the strength she desperately needed to face the ton again. If she didn't, her mother would surely send a search party after her–perhaps scandalise her again like she had done with Cousin Jack.
Just as she gulped down her second drink, the door to the office flung open and shut so fast Prudence almost imagined she had imagined it. Almost. If it were not for the gentleman mirroring exactly what she had been doing before up against that same door, eyes closed, breathing heavily.
A beat of a second later, the man’s eyes opened to reveal deep brown hues. Strangely wise, yet free spirited and wild. Prudence blinked as their eyes met. It only took the gent a moment before he yelped and gripped his chest–an action that shouldn’t hurt, but she was familiar with. Many men responded that way in the same room as her–that was how it was supposed to be.
“Miss Featherington, forgive my intrusion.” Benedict Bridgerton cleared his throat and fixed up his coat to come around himself tighter as if he thought she would try to rip it off of him.
“There is nothing to forgive, Mr Bridgerton.” Prudence found that her voice was slightly slurred. It must be because her mother starved her much like she had with Penelope. Prudence hadn’t eaten a thing and yet she had already downed two heavy drinks.
The handsome man across the room seemed to notice this too.
“Are you quite alright?”
She knew he was only being a gentleman. He had his mental foot halfway out the door since the moment their eyes locked.
“Is anyone out there truly alright?” She asked. Inside she was screaming at herself to shut up. Unfortunately all she could do was continue, “Anyone who ever tells you they are alright is internally screaming at you to save them.”
Benedict raised his brows in shock. Clearly she needed to pull it together. Benedict quickly noticed the crystal glass in her hand and chuckled. He seemed to understand now what was happening.
“Is this how you normally are with a drink, Miss Featherington?” Ben took a step closer, clearly his own need for a drink in mind. “You are quite loose-lipped.”
She poured him one without hesitation and clinked her newly filled glass with his.
“Of that I am aware.” She felt the fuzz in her mind grow with every sip, “but it takes away the pain.”
Benedict hummed in agreement.
There was growing silence and neither of them said anything. Neither knew how long they stayed together before Prudence finally spoke.
“Is she happy?”
“Pardon?” Ben faced her.
“My sister, is she happy?” She knew that there were tears pooling her eyes but she found that she was too tired to care. Tonight was one of those nights where she debated if all her cruelty was worth it.
Benedict looked at her curiously. The man was undoubtedly attractive. His dark hair, dark eyes, devilish smirk, and paper-cutting jawline was clearly a crowd favourite, with the ladies and the men if those art stories were correct. Prudence tried not to notice the looks of the gentlemen around her, but Benedict Bridgerton was one she found herself unable to ignore. By no means was she prepared to marry the man, but that didn’t mean she didn’t want to be one of the women he smiled at.
Now that he was looking at her like she had leprosy, she just wanted to crawl away and cuddle her dog, Lemonpie–her favourite dessert.
“Penelope is very happy with my brother. They are no doubt in love.” Ben answered, still very much considering calling this woman a doctor, or at least taking her drink away from her.
Prudence smiled through her spilled tears, “I am glad to hear that. Penelope deserves the world and more. I hope for your brother's sake that he keeps her happy, else he will find that he would much rather have stayed in Spain.”
“Miss Featherington, I think that is enough to drink.” Ben reached to take her glass, but she just laughed and moved it out of his reach.
“Just one more.” She whispered, half crying half smiling.
“I fear if you have another you will faint.”
“I am not a lightweight, my lord.” Prudence scoffed jokingly. “It is merely because I have not eaten. Once I have had a decent meal–”
“You have not eaten at all?” Benedict pushed himself from the desk they were leaving on. “Why not?”
“Lord Bridgerton, you do know that society deems it rather unexceptable to ask a lady about what or how much she consumes? It is much like a woman not enquiring about the number of women men bed in a week, I’m sure.” She raised her brows.
Benedict choked on his drink, so taken aback by her response.
“Come now, you have heard worse, I have no doubt.”
“Not from a wellbred lady such as yourself.” He exclaimed, amusement lacing his dark eyes.
Prudence found that rather comical.
“Wellbred. I am not a horse.” She went to take another sip but Ben snatched the glass from her hands. “Excuse you.” She cried out and went to reach for it.
“I think not.” He laughed as she tried to reach it, but he extended it above his head, and considering his height, she was no match to reach it. “You have had enough.”
Prudence poked her tongue at him to which he laughed.
“I will jump for it.” She threatened, very serious.
Ben laughed, “I’d like to see you try.
Nothing like a challenge, Prudence took off her arm length gloves and chucked them on her fathers desk before poking her tongue to the side in concentration. She gaged how high and how she was to manoeuvre without spilling it on herself.
Prudence jumped but missed and Ben found this exceedingly hilarious. She laughed too and began to find that her tummy was hurting from how funny this was. She tried again and again but each jump was less than the last from laughing. Benedict was laughing too and found it all rather comical.
“One more.” She begged, trying to contain her giggles.
“Be my guest.” Be wiggled the glass around to tease.
One big leap and her fingers grazed the glass. As her feet touched the floor again, her shoe caught on the rug causing her to slip backwards. In her haste to find purchase, she gripped onto Ben’s coat. He was unbalanced and came crashing down with her, the glass's liquid content spilling down Prudence’s neck and bodice just before they crashed in a heap. Ben had just enough sense to keep his weight off her but she still got the brunt of the impact. He heard wheezing and he feared he had crushed her.
“Miss Featherington, are you well–”
He stopped when he saw that she was laughing. Her hand was over her mouth as she tried to contain it, but it was all too hilarious. Prudence couldn’t seem to get over it all. Benedict found her laughter contagious and joined in. His arms grew weak from laughter and so he rested his head on her bodice as he gasped for air and moved to adjust his arms.
“M-miss Feathering-ton.” He laughed, breathlessly, “W-we need t-t-to–”
“Y-your f-face.” She wheezed again.
Neither of the two could find it in themselves to stop this moment. It was all too much fun.
“What is the meaning of this?!” A shrill shriek filled the office.
Both Benedict and Prudence turned to face the door where Fife, Cressida, Portia and Lady Danbury were standing. The air almost seemed to be sucked from the room and Prudence felt as though she was going to be ill.
“Mr Bridgerton, you better have an explanation for why you are atop my daughter!!” Portia screeched loud enough for the entire house to hear