It had been two days since Benedict had seen Madeleine and he missed her terribly. It seemed that each time he went over to see her, she was out with her uncle, or her uncle had some other excuse for why he could not see her. A knock at his door pulled him from his thoughts and his mother peeked her head in.

"Good morning, Dearest. There is a letter that has come for you. From Madeleine." Benedict's eyes widened and he nearly jumped up from his desk, taking the letter.

"Thank you, Mother." He grinned at her and she smiled back before leaving. Benedict sat back down and carefully tore open the letter.

My dear Benny,

It feels dramatic to say that I miss you after only two days apart but I cannot help it. We have spent nearly every waking hour together for the past couple of weeks and this is quite a change. I fear my uncle has been creating plans specifically with the goal to keep us from seeing each other. Every day it is something, a walk with his friends, a game of pall mall with his business partners, anything to keep me away from the house.

My mind is consumed by thoughts of you. I wish to see you, to hold you, to spend time with you just the two of us. Perhaps we can think of a plan if we put our heads together, what do you think?

Yours always,

Madeleine

Benedict could not keep the smile off of his face as he read the letter, feeling rather giddy. He immediately took out a paper and pencil to write back to her.

My beautiful Madeleine,

If you are dramatic to say that you miss me then I must be absolutely hysterical. I miss your touch, your smile, even the smell of your perfume.

Let us meet in the garden tonight, well after your uncle has gone to sleep. You can find a way to sneak out, can you not? I surely hope so. I will be there at Eleven o'clock, waiting for you.

Adoringly yours,

Benedict

He folded up the letter and sealed it before bringing it downstairs and asking the maid to deliver it. The maid nodded and left the house and Benedict sighed, smiling.

"Brother, you seem to be in good spirits." Colin had just come down the stairs, clapping him on the shoulder. Benedict grinned at him.

"Madeleine has written to me, we are going to meet in the garden tonight. I simply cannot wait to see her."

Colin smiled, it made him happy to see his brother this way. "Ah, so that is the reason for the grin plastered on your face then. That is wonderful, Ben." Benedict chuckled and nodded and the two walked to the dining room where the family was gathered for breakfast.

That night, Benedict tapped his foot against the floor anxiously, watching the clock. It seemed as though the hours dragged on especially long since he had written to Madeleine that morning. It felt like it had been ages when the clock finally struck eleven. He jumped up and grabbed his coat, sneaking out of the back door to the garden. He sat on the bench by the tulips, not taking his eyes off of the Sinclair house. Madeleine's light was off, and he assumed she was going to walk out the door any second.

Ten minutes passed, and then twenty, and his spirit was beginning to falter. Surely, she had received his letter. The maid walked it over herself. He leaned back and looked up at the stars, a half an hour more passing with no luck. He sighed in defeat and stood, walking back to the house with his head hung low.

He wondered why she had not come, if she was unable to sneak past her uncle for some unknown reason. He laid in bed and held her letter in his hands, reading it over and over, her words bringing a soft smile to his face.

Across the yard, Madeleine lay in a similar position, but with empty hands. She had not heard back from Benedict and it was making her rather nervous. She racked her mind but could not seem to figure out why he had not written back. She sighed and turned over, deciding that she would send another letter in the morning.

The next morning, she had breakfast with her uncle as they had for the three days prior, a fake smile glued to her face. There was undeniable tension in the air, but neither refused to back down and be the first to break. The Alaister bloodline was a stubborn one if anything.

When she was finished, she excused herself and nearly ran up the stairs to her room. She sat at her desk and pulled out a pen and paper.

Stubbs,

I wish to see you badly, will you meet me tonight in the garden? I will be there when the clock strikes half past ten. I truly can not wait to see you, Benny.

Yours faithfully,

Oly

She sealed up the envelope before rushing downstairs to give it to the maid before her uncle saw her. The maid left out the back door to deliver the letter, having previously agreed to be discrete. Madeleine sighed and smiled, hopeful that she would finally see him.

"Madeleine, we are to have tea with the Cornings this afternoon. Will you be ready in an hour?" Her uncle came from the dining room, his hands crossed in front of him. Madeleine smiled politely and nodded.

"I will meet you down here in an hour, uncle." She turned and returned upstairs to get ready.

Benedict sat in the drawing room, a sketchbook in his lap. He had asked the maid to deliver any mail personally to him and he waited eagerly. He could not focus on his sketch, his mind full of hope that she would write to him and explain why she did not meet him the night before.

Anthony sat at the round table with a newspaper and Daphne sat across from Benedict, a crochet needle keeping her busy. She glanced up at Benedict, who seemed rather anxious this morning, and then to her oldest brother. The two shared a knowing look and Daphne put down her needle, clearing her throat.

"Brother, it seems as something is troubling you. Is everything quite well?" She asked gently, watching Benedict with caring eyes. He looked up and sighed, giving her a tight lipped smile.

"Everything is fine, Daph. I am simply waiting on a letter from Madeleine." She nodded, now understanding the source of the anxiety.

"I am sure she will write, perhaps she has been occupied." She gave him a hopeful smile and he nodded.

"Yes, perhaps." His gaze drifted past her and out the window to the Sinclair house, wondering if that was the truth. He was pulled out of his thoughts when the door opened and he quickly turned to see who it was. His hopes were dashed when Eloise walked in and he sighed, turning back to his sketchbook.

"Wonderful to see you too, brother. Don't act so excited." Eloise smirked, her tone laced with sarcasm. Daphne smiled and shook her head at the girl's antics as she took a seat beside her.

"Benedict was hoping that you would be the maid, he is awaiting a letter from Madeleine."

"Ah, that explains the disappointment. Do you think she has reconsidered your relationship and that is why she has not written?" Eloise teased and Benedict shot his head up, giving her a glare. Daphne frowned at the girl and swatted her arm gently and Eloise only chuckled in response, opening her book. Anthony sighed and stood up, placing his newspaper down.

"Brother, I think it a nice day for a fencing match, care to join me?" He exited the room before Benedict could answer, leaving him no choice. The younger one sighed, setting down his sketchbook and following his brother outside.

"It will do you no good to sit and wait, you must get your mind off of the matter. She will write, but it will seem like ages before she does if you simply sit and think about it." Anthony gave his brother a pointed look, handing him one of the swords. Benedict knew he was right, and he nodded, before getting in position.

An hour later, the two nearly exhausted, they decided to call it a day. Colin had joined them at some point, but he did not participate, he simply made incessant mocking comments. Benedict messed up the boy's hair and laughed as the three headed inside together. He certainly felt better, it was a good idea to spend time with his brothers and get his mind off of Madeleine. As they walked inside, the maid approached the group.

"Mr. Bridgerton, a letter has arrived for you." She smiled politely, handing him the letter. His eyes widened and he grinned as he thanked her and took it, nearly running upstairs to open it. Colin and Anthony shared a look, laughing at their brother's excitement.

Benedict's brows narrowed as he read the letter, and he bit his lip and began to fashion his response.

My dear Oly,

I waited for you in the garden last night, hoping to see you. I will be there again tonight, at half past ten as you wrote. I hope to see you this time.

Yours with love,

Stubbs

He handed the maid the letter, going through the same process as they had the day before. He bit his lip and stared out the window, watching as the Bridgerton maid handed the letter to Lord Alaister. He was certain Madeleine would receive it now, perhaps last time the maid had left it in the mailbox and it had been lost.

At ten that night, Benedict rushed downstairs, sneaking out quietly to the garden as to not wake anyone. He sat on the bench in the same spot, waiting anxiously to see Madeleine. Her light was on this time in her room, and he thought that was a good sign.

Madeleine covered herself with her shawl and snuck down the main stairs, heading toward the back door. She had not received a response from Benedict, but she intended on going to the garden as she had said, in hopes that he would be there.

"Madeleine, what are you doing up at this hour?" She cursed inwardly as she heard her uncle's voice behind her and she turned, seeing him standing in the doorway with a half-drunk glass of whiskey.

"I simply could not sleep and I thought some fresh air might be of help." She smiled politely, praying he would not interfere. He narrowed his eyebrows and walked past her, seeing the Bridgerton boy sitting on the bench across the yard.

"Going to meet Benedict, then? You know better than to lie to me, Madeleine. And you certainly know better than to sneak out at such a late hour to meet some boy." He lectured, a stern look on his face.

"But-" She protested only to be interrupted by him.

"No buts. Up to your room, now." His tone left no room for argument and her heart sank. She fought the urge to say something nasty to him and simply stormed past him, heading up to her room.

She walked over to the window and looked down, considering climbing out of it but deciding against the idea when she saw how far of a drop it was. She sighed as she watched Benedict, who sat on the bench with a disappointed look on his face. She tapped against her window as loudly as she could without alerting her uncle but Benedict could not hear her. Her heart ached as he stood eventually, retreating back into his house.

She immediately sat down and began writing a letter to be delivered straight away in the morning.

Benedict,

I need you to know that I am not intentionally leaving you alone in the garden. I wish to see you more than anything. I tried to go out just this night, but my uncle caught me and refused to allow me to do so. He is quite a frustrating man. I do not know what we are going to do..

I love you and I want to see you as soon as possible. I am sorry that we are in this situation, truly.

Yours unconditionally,

Madeleine

She sealed the envelope and sighed, setting it down and getting into bed. Her heart ached with loneliness. She closed her eyes, praying that she would see the man she loved tomorrow, before drifting off to sleep.