-

Later that night, Elena sat in front of her mirror. Wearing her formal gown, her hair all beautifully done and wearing the jewelry that Elizabeth bought for her. Without being noticed, Elizabeth was leaning against the doorway behind her all dressed up as well.

"Look at you, all pretty and dressed up." She chucked and started walking towards her.

"Are you excited?" She came up from behind.

"It is only a ball, Lizzie. Nothing more." Elena answered without emotion. Elizabeth realized something was bothering her.

"Is something wrong?" She asked.

"Nothing is wrong, sister. I'm quite well."

"I know my sister. I know that you are not comfortable with something." She said again.

Elena turns around all frustrated. "If you should have something to say, Liz, say it." She snapped and turned back.

"Just tell me what you're feeling, Lena. I know you had no one for the past 3 years, but I'm here now." She put a hand on Elena's shoulder. Elizabeth took a chair and placed it next to her. She sat down.

"It's strange..." Elena started. "I tried finding a man, that I felt comfortable with, a man who respects me, a man who treats me like a human being and not just a woman, but none of these suitors match."

A smile appears on Elizabeth's face. "I think that's because you already found him."

Elena turns to the side to look at her. "Whatever do you mean?" (Please keep in mind that Elena is new with love. Her emotions and feelings get mixed up)

Elizabeth chuckled. "Oh, Elena. I understand this is new for you. Now, there's no easy way to put this but... I think you've fallen in love with Benedict Bridgerton."

-

Inside his study, Arthur writes something at his desk. He glances up when he sees his mother entering with a folded paper.

"Will you be joining us at tonight's ball, Arthur?" She asked.

"I have accepted the invitation." He answered, continuing to write on his paper.

"Perhaps you might cast your eye over this list before the event, then." Lady Bennet hands him the paper.

He looks up at her and then looks back down. "I do not need it." He answered, knowing that's it's a list with names of single women.

"And why not?" Lady Bennet asked again.

"Because I already have someone, mother." Boom the truth that he has been hiding is out.

"Oh." Lady Bennet sounds happy. "Do tell. Do I know her? What is her name?"

"You do not know her. And her name is Edith. She lives in America where I used to work."

"Oh. Well." Lady Bennet shrugs it off and heads out the room.

"You're not mad, are you?" He asked, concerned.

She turns around with a fake smile. "Of course not."

-

Daphne was scanning he room anxiously, trying to find the Prince Friedrich. Out of nowhere, Cressida comes beside her.

"Daphne! You look beautiful, as always." She compliments her with an irritated voice.

"Thank you, Cressida."

"You could have chosen anyone. You have gentlemen lined up to pay you tribute. Yet you did not hesitate to steal my chance for happiness away, did you? I knew the marriage market would make rivals of us, but I never thought you capable of being my enemy."

"The man made his choice, Cressida. What did you expect me to do?" She said and walked toward the prince.

-

Elena did the same as well. She looked around the ball room nervously, finishing another glass of champagne. She sees a tray coming near her so she puts the empty glass and takes another one and starts to drink.

"Elena, how many glasses have you had?" Elizabeth asked her sister.

"I don't know, 4? 5?" She drunkly said.

"Yeah, well, you can't wash your feelings away with alcohol." Elizabeth tried stopping her from drinking.

"Pfffffffffff. What?! Who said anything about feelings? I didn't say anything about feelings, I don't even know what feelings are."

Elena was very nervous. She knew exactly what Elizabeth was talking about and she knew she was in love. But this is all knew for her and she was scared about being in love. But she wasn't completely drunk so that's good.

"Ok I'm taking that away from you." Elizabeth snatched the glass away from Elena and drank it.

"Rude." Elena muttered.

"Miss Bennet?" Her heartbeats picks up a faster pace when she hears the voice from behind. Lizzie cursed me. I wasn't feeling like this when I was with him before.

She slowly turns around and sees none other than Benedict Bridgerton.

"I do hope there's room on your dance card for the two of us." Benedict says.

"O-of course, my Lord."

Benedict gently takes her hand and they make their way to the dance floor. Elena looks back at her sister with a flustered face. Elizabeth smiles and gives her a thumbs up.

The music starts and the couple begins to dance. While they were dancing, Benedict noticed that Elena was avoiding eye contact.

"Elena?" Benedict called.

"Mhm?" She glances up to him and it was the worst mistake she ever did.

"Are you alright? You seem to be acting differently." He asks and twirls her.

"I think I had too much champagne." Elena lied. She was sober enough to know that it wasn't the alcohol that was doing fine. They did not talk for a moment, they just let the music guide them through the dance.

"Before coming here, I went to Mr. Granville's studio." Benedict broke the silence.

"You did? That's wonderful. And did you like it?" Elena asked with a smile.

"It was very pleasing, I got to meet more amazing artists." He smiled back.

"I'm happy to hear that, Benedict."

They switch dance partners for a moment and they come back to each other.

"Uh. I- I actually wanted to thank you..." Benedict stuttered.

Elena tilted her head. "For?"

"What you said to Mr. Granville. About my art and stuff, no one has ever done that for me. Even if you exaggerate a little about my sketches, thank you."

"I only spoke the truth, Benedict, I did not exaggerate. You truly do have a talent for art. Like the completed drawing of me you gave me when you first came to my house. A smile was plastered on my face when I first saw it and it lasted a long time. And when I first glanced at your sketches, I was truly amazed. And last but not least, Sommer set house. Only a true artist, judges like that."

Benedict did not know what to say. He was lost in his words. What Elena said really hit him hard. He just stared at her with sparkling warm eyes while they danced.

They hold one hand and they move around each other in a circle. After that, the music ends and they stop dancing.

But they did not leave the dance floor. They stayed there holding each other's hand and getting lost into each other's eyes. Elena finally felt relaxed and Benedict got nervous now.

They snap back to reality and look around.

"E-excuse me." Elena says and leaves Benedict alone. He stares after her as she goes to her family.

-

"I need a moment. To refresh myself, your highness." Daphne breathes nervously. She leaves the prince and tries to get outside.

Elena sees Daphne getting pale and the young ladies asking her many questions. She excuses herself from a lord and rushes towards her.

"Daphne? Are you alright?" Elena asked but she couldn't respond. She just continued to breathe nervously. "Alright, let's get you some fresh air."

They head outside to the patio and Daphne leans on a brick railing and heavily inhales and exhales.

"There, love. Deep breaths, deep breaths." Elena whispers while gently patting Daphne's back.

She slowly starts to calm down. "Thank you, Elena. But I must have some time alone."

Elena gives her a warm smile. "Of course. I'll be back in a few minutes." She says and heads back inside.

-

A few minutes later after Elena left Daphne alone, Anthony comes rushing towards her with a worried face. He grabs her by the arm.

"Where did Daphne go?!" He asked, nervous.

"She's outside getting some air." Elena simply answered.

"Come with me." He said and hurried outside with Elena following him. They go to the patio but there were no sign of her.

"Where is she?" Anthony asked again.

"She must have gone deeper into the garden." They both go into the garden. As they go deeper, they hear moaning and grunting.

They make a turn and they spot Simon and Daphne making out.

"Bastard!" He runs to them, pulls Simon away from her and starts to punch him to the ground.

"Anthony!" Daphne screams as Elena covers her mouth out of shock.

Elena pulls Anthony away from Simon. "Anthony, enough!"

Simon slowly stands up.

"You will marry her." He tells Simon, pointing at Daphne.

She shoots her head at her brother. "What?"

"Immediately. We can only hope no one saw you take such liberties, and my sister is saved further mortification. You will marry her!"

"I cannot marry her." Simon sadly says.

Daphne's mouth hangs open. She could not believe the words coming out of Simon's mouth.

"You have defiled her innocence, and now you refuse her hand?" Anthony frowns. "I knew you were a rake, Hastings, never thought a villain!"

"I cannot marry her!" Simon growls.

"Then you leave me no choice. I must demand satisfaction."

"A duel? Anthony, you cannot—" Elena's cut off by Anthony.

"He dishonours my sister, Miss Bennet. He dishonour my family and the very Bridgerton name." He steps forward to Simon. "I have misjudged you, indeed. You have duped us both, but I shall not see my sister pay for my own misdeeds. We will settle this as gentlemen!

"But even so, if one of you gets killed, the blood will be on Daphne's hands! She cannot live with that guilt!" Elena looks at the 2 men.

"I shall see you at dawn." Simon says completely ignoring Elena.

"I do not understand. You would rather die than marry me?" Daphne asks Simon with tears in her eyes.

"I am truly sorry..."

-

"Lena!" Elizabeth called again. Elena snaps back to reality. She looked around and saw that's she's in her carriage with her brother, sister and mother.

"Are you feeling sick, darling? You look awfully pale." Lady Bennet gently grabs her daughter's hand and rubs it.

"I think I just might have a headache." Elena touches her forehead. "A good night sleep is all I need."

-

"I want you to know I am not angry with you. I do not blame you for what transpired." Anthony tells his sister while escorting her through the house.

"Do not treat me like a child." Daphne looks at her brother. "I did this."

"He took advantage of you."

"No less than I took liberties with him."

"You do not understand. I should have protected you better. Or even, Miss Bennet should've stayed by your side."

"Do not blame this on her! She has done nothing but help me! Do you think because I'm a woman I am incapable of making my own choices? Is that it, brother? Do you even care that Simon has dishonoured me, as you say, or is it your own male pride that you seek to satisfy?" She removes Anthony's coat and thrust it to his chest.

"You are to go on up to bed." He commanded her, walking towards his office.

"You cannot duel him. It is illegal, to name but one reason. You could both be arrested, let alone killed. There must be another way .

"What would you have me do? I do not take this decision lightly, but this is the way things are handled amongst gentlemen. If this were to become known——

"I could live with that. What I could not live with, like Elena said is the duke's death on my hands. No yours, however tempting that way be at this very moment."

"It is more than just your honour at stake. It is your sisters' too, the entire family name. It has been decided."

"Oh this is madness!" Daphne turns and sees Benedict approaching them.

"What is it?" He asks.

Anthony walks towards him. "You and I need to talk." He takes Benedict by his arm and drags him to his study. "Daphne, bed!"

They enter and he slams the door at Daphne's face.

-

"I will need you to stand as my second." Anthony tells Benedict while opening his pistol box.

"What if you get yourself killed?" Benedict asked.

"Then the title and estates will pass to you." Anthony answers. Benedict gazes up at him out of shock.

"And if you kill Hastings?" He asked again.

"I shall have to leave the country. You'll be head of the family in every way that matters."

The two brothers stare at each other until they hear muffled chuckling from outside the study.

"Of course not. You are clearly sober." Colin says, making a drunk Lady Bridgerton laugh.

The boys peek out and see their younger brother escorting their mother up the stairs.

"And I'm sober enough to know when you're being impertinent. Good night, dear."

"Good night, Mother."

Colin turns to the side and spots his brothers in the study.

"Come here." Anthony whispers.

"Good god. Did someone die?" Colin said, tired of the drama 🙄