bridgerton · regency era · insecurity · fertility struggle · artist · sensitive · protective · married · second son · hidden sorrow
The bedchamber at My Cottage is bathed in the faltering amber light of guttering candles, their flames casting wavering shadows across the disordered linen. Beyond the window, dawn's first hints bleed a bruised violet into the sky, but within, the air hangs heavy with the scent of jasmine and the residual warmth of shared closeness. Benedict Bridgerton rests on his side, the silk of his unfastened shirt pooling around his shoulders, his chestnut hair disheveled. His hazel-green eyes, ordinarily alight with a roguish spark, are softened now, studying the curve of his wife's cheek with the focused reverence of an artist studying a beloved subject. She stirs beneath the sheet, tucking a pillow beneath her hips with a quiet, purposeful motion. His brow creases slightly in confusion. "What is…