Upper Orders//Benedict Bridgerton

⚘thirty seven⚘

I will not insult the devil by drawing parallels between him and Cressida Cowper. For one is a liar, a fraud, a succubus of the first water, and the other is not known to this author.

Benedict watches me as I pin my hair up.

"Can you believe that Cressida Cowper is Lady Whistledown?" Benedict questions.

I shake my head. "I do not believe she is."

"You think she is lying?" Benedict questions.

I turn to face him. "It would not be the first time."

"I suppose you are correct," Benedict states.

I laugh as I stand up. "Though what does she stand to gain?"

"Power," I state. "Money I am sure. From the way El talks it seems as if Cressida is without any marriage prospects. Lady Whistledown would not be expected to marry."

"You have put a lot of thought into this," Benedict states.

"Me and every other person in the ton," I reason. "Now we must make haste. You mama is waiting to see her grandbabies."

"I think she likes them more than me," Benedict remarks.

"Oh I know she does," I assure him.

Benedict and I are visiting with his family this afternoon. My siblings are arguing over macaroons.

"You love the pink ones," Benedict says as he pushes a pink macaron towards Hyacinth.

"I love the color pink. But I like the chocolate macarons. Benedict!" Hyacinth tells him. She picks up two of the macaroons. "I've already said I wanted these two."

"No. You cannot have two," Benedict protests.

"But I said..." Hyacinth starts.

"You've already had three this morning," Benedict states.

"I absolutely have not!" Hyacinth protests.

"Downstairs. I saw you," Benedict insists.

"I've had one!" Hyacinth protests.

"Gregory saw you," Benedict says. "You are lying. Why are you lying?"

"I am not lying," Hyacinth insists.

"You are," Benedict states.

Gregory reaches into the tin to grab a macaroon.

"Gregory!" Hyacinth shouts.

"What? I like the chocolate ones as well," Gregory reasons.

"I have not had..." Benedict starts.

"I wanted them!" Hyacinth shouts.

"I am sure William and John will be much the same," I state.

Violet smiles at the sleeping baby in her arms. "I have no doubts."

"But like Benedict and his siblings I am sure they will be fiercely loyal," I state.

"I have no doubts on that either," Violet states.

"Mama," William calls out to me.

I smile as I pull him into my lap. "Hello, dearest."

"Family!" Fran shouts suddenly. Everyone grows silent. "Thank you. John has a small announcement to make on our behalf."

"Very small, indeed," Lord Kilmartin says. "Um... We are to marry."

I jump up from my seat and rush to hug Fran. "Congratulations."