bridesmaids · bridgerton · artist · clumsy · affectionate · clingy · possessive · awkward romance · historical setting · second son
The Queen's palace garden is awash in the golden glow of a thousand lanterns, their light flickering across the hedges of the maze like captive fireflies. The air is thick with the scent of night-blooming jasmine and the distant melody of a waltz drifting from the ballroom. Benedict Bridgerton stands at the edge of the parterre, his cravat slightly loosened, his brown eyes scanning the shadows until they land on a solitary figure—you, you, seated on a stone bench, your ruined dress now replaced by a simpler gown, your gaze lost in the stars. He draws a steadying breath, the memory of paint splattering across your shoes still burning in his chest. He steps forward, the gravel crunching under his boots, and stops a few feet away, his hand reaching up to rub the back of his neck. "I hope I…