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frost-queen · 15 days ago

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Composer of music // part 2 (Reader x Benedict Bridgerton

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Summary: A surprise visit brings music to the Bridgerton household once more. Something stirring inside of Benedict as his sister helps him unlock what is in his mind. Setting off the search for a necklace that belongs to the runaway girl. [series]

The suddenness of piano music this early in day brought many confusion into the Bridgerton household. Two doors opening simultaneously. Two heads popping out to stare as confused to each other as possible. Anthony and Benedict sharing a funny look of wonder. Listening in to the piano tickling.

Hearing as the music was smooth. No wrongs. Both their eyes widened. The very same question written clear on their faces. Could it be? Hurrying out of the door. Hasting themselves down the set of stairs into the entrance room. Taking a turn to barge into the drawing room. Anthony shoving the door open with a loud pant.

The music abruptly stopped. A sweet face blinking back at him before settling with a warm smile. – “Francesca!” – Anthony called out. Rushing into the room to hug his sister. Benedict on his tail. She got up just in time before Anthony could smother her in a hug.

“You are back!” – he called out, tightening his grip around her. Francesca tapping him gently on the shoulder to allow her a breather. Anthony pulled away, keeping her at arms-length. – “Where is John? Is he here?” – Anthony questioned, looking around curiously.

Benedict took that as his cue to slip in a hug with his sister. – “How have you been?” – he asked her. Francesca smiled shyly down. – “I have been well. John is not here.” – she informed seeing that Anthony was still looking around for him. The confusion on his face made her chuckle.

“Why not?” – He called out with slight horror. Francesca moved away from the piano, touching his arm. – “Do not worry. John has returned with me. He is simply out for some supplies.” – she answered. That seemed to satisfy him. – “Since when are you back?” – Benedict questioned.

Francesca looked shyly away. – “Since… yesterday.” – she mumbled out. Anthony’s eyes widened. – “Yesterday?!” – he repeated in anger. Benedict hushed him for making such a fuss about it. Anthony swallowed his next words back in, not wanting to argue on such a lovely day.

The door swung open once more. Violet, Gregory and Hyacinth running in. Embracing Francesca with warmth. Kate walked in after them, heading for Anthony. All welcomed their family member after such a long time. It had been a while since they had seen her.

To Scotland she had gone with John… and Eloise. John returned not a moment later, joining the little family reunion. All sharing stories in the drawing room. John more talkative than last time. With passion he spoke of his time with Francesca.

When the reunion had died a bit out, went everyone about his day once more. Hyacinth and Gregory had convinced… uhum forced John to join their little game of cards with Anthony and Kate. Francesca sat by the piano, playing a new piece she had learned in Scotland.

Her gaze drifted over to her brother Benedict. Watching him sit in the armchair. Legs over the side. Sketchbook on his lap. The scribbling of pencil on paper filling the silence between her pauses. She toned her piano playing down. Gently pressing on some keys. Tilting her head curious hearing a humming come from him.

A humming as his foot gently bounced in the air. Francesca listened in. Tilting her head a bit to the side. Observing. Letting it seep into her mind. Her fingers hovering over the keys. With one gentle touch she pressed down a note. Furrowing her brows as it was not quite right.

Pressing another key, it felt right. Letting her other hand join. Tilting her head slightly to the other side. Letting her fingers play the melody she was trying to decipher. Glancing over to her brother from time to time. Keeping a keen eye on him to see any changes.

She smiled bashfully down when he noticed. Benedict lifted his head up confused before looking in shock at his sister. Francesca chuckled loudly at his funny expression. – “How… do you know it?” – he asked her, swinging his legs from over the side onto the ground. Francesca shook her head.

“You were humming it.” – she gestured at him. Benedict blinked confused, his brows slightly furrowed. Francesca stared at him how oblivious he was about it. Benedict got up coming to join her. Leaning onto the piano. – “Where did you hear such a melody?” – she asked him with curiosity. Benedict looked shyly down with a smile.

“I heard it from her music box.” – he let slip. – “Her?” – Francesca said surprised. Benedict felt awkward, turning his head away. – “Who is she?” – she asked making some room for him on the piano stool. Benedict exhaled deep coming to join her. Arms resting on top of the piano with his sketchbook underneath his hands.

“I… I do not know…” – he responded. Francesca’s eyes fell on the sketch within his book. – “I know nothing off her.” – he added staring out into the distance. She let the sketchbook slide closer to her with a few fingers. Looking at the sketch of a necklace. A circle within a flower. Petals sticking out of the circle.

Benedict leaned a bit closer to her. – “This was the necklace she was wearing. She could open the music box with one of the petals.” – he informed her. – “So you know one thing off her.” – she responded, seeing him frown. Francesca gave him a typical sisterly glance. – “You simply must search for the necklace, then you’ll find your girl.”

Benedict laughed loud at how easy that sounded. – “I… I don’t even like her that much.” – he answered scratching his chin nervously. His sister came leaning in against him. – “And yet you were humming a song that came from her music box.” – she whispered to him.

Benedict turned red with shame that he was lying to himself. Francesca nudged him with a smile. Placing her fingers on the keys once more. Playing the tune he had hummed from your music box. Benedict watched his sister’s play. Pulled strongly back to that night of the masquerade’s ball. The vivid memories returning of the girl leaning against the balcony.

How her necklace opened the music box with the melody he hadn’t been able to get out of his head ever since. The way he held her into a waltz. Her sudden soft singing. All came rushing back in, letting him feel as if he was there once more. All alone in a room with her. Dancing.

It was the memories that made him blurt out the next words. – “Sun goes down but we are here together.” – he let out. Making his sister quirk her eyebrow up to him. Surprised that there were words attached to the melody and that her brother knew them so clear.

Curiously since he proclaimed to not like the girl attached to it so early. A smile curled up to her lips, already knowing enough. Understanding what his mind couldn’t process yet. His heart blooming for the mystery girl. The runaway girl. – “Fireflies glow like a thousand charms.” – he mumbled further as if it was only yesterday that he heard those words. Francesca smiling to herself as she kept repeating the same melody till it was burned in his mind.

Francesca let her head rest on his shoulder, stopping her playing. – “Tell me you’ll look for her.” – she let out. Benedict swallowed hard. Gaze falling onto his sketch of the necklace. – “I’ll try…” – he responded touching her arm as she wrapped it around his.

Within a fortnight the next ball came around the corner. All waiting in the hallway for the carriage to be prepared. A happily Francesca with John on her arm came hurrying over. – “I’m coming too.” – she let out. Her brothers staring fondly confused at her.

They turned to look at John, who gave them a simple clearance of his throat. – “There was no changing her mind.” – he told them. – “Shall we go.” – Francesca suggested looking very clear over at Benedict. He furrowed his brows in confusion. Slightly frightened of the newly found eagerness within his sister’s mischievous eyes. She pulled John with her, taking Benedict by his arm to drag along.

Anthony sighed deep, batting his eyes up to the heavens. One kind gesture of Kate made all his worries melt. Violet followed along. All stepping into the carriage. Francesca gave a teasing glance at Benedict. Benedict let her know with his eyes to knock it off.

Anthony noticed something strange happening between the two of them. Slightly bothered that he couldn’t follow and was left out. Certainly the two of them had been sharing something he was not aware of. Kate shushed him to not get so worked up over it.

His siblings were allowed to have secrets from him, although Anthony thought so not. Benedict stared out of the window gap to look at the scenery. To watch the heavens darken with bright stars. Little dots colouring the skies like a painting. Feeling his heart flutter just that bit more, the closer he got to the estate.

Perhaps some part of him was excited to meet you again. If only he knew who you were. The carriage coming to a stop made him swallow hard. The door opened as he got out first. His mother right behind him. John helped Francesca out. Anthony the same with Kate.

Benedict swallowed nervously looking upon the estate. He stumbled forwards when something had knocked against him. Taking his arm vigorously. Turning his head he saw a giddy Francesca by his arm. Not letting go of it. With a giggle in her smile, she pulled him forwards. John threw his hands up confused.

“They are up to something!” – Anthony let out to Kate with annoyance. Kate hushed him, giving her husband a gentle pat. John offered his arm to his mother-in-law. Going after his wife and brother-in-law that had hurried inside. – “Fran!” – Benedict called out getting pulled forwards by her. Having greeted the host in a haste before his sister dragged him along to the ballroom.

“Fran!” – he repeated pulling his arm hard back to put her to a stop. She blinked surprised, standing in front of him, still holding his arm. – “Why the haste?” – he questioned. – “We are here to find her.” – she let out. Suddenly it became clear to him. The eagerness of her coming along. Locking arms with him instead of her husband. She was making sure he wouldn’t hide away.

She pulled at his arm once more, making him stumble over his own feet to keep up with her. He swallowed nervously at the crowded ballroom. Seeing lots and lots of ladies all around. – “Remember the necklace.” – she whispered to him before dragging him forwards.

“Fran.” – John said having finally caught up with his wife before she hurried off once more. John sighed soft, giving Violet a shy smile. – “A drink Lord Kilmartin?” – she offered. – “Yes please.” – he responded leading her up to the drinks. Francesca came standing in front of a lady.

Letting her gaze go down to her neck. Pearls. She shook her head, tugging her brother along. – “Fran.” – Benedict said between closed lips. Too ashamed that his sister was acting so shameless. She ignored him, coming to look at a lady’s necklace from the side. Rubies.

A few girls stood with their backs to them. Francesca walked up to them, tapping one of them on the shoulder. They all turned, fluttering confused at the two of them. One of them fanned her fan flirtatiously at her brother. Francesca ignored it all, only having eyes for their necklaces. Pearls. Emeralds, Gold.

“Do you wish to dance Mister Bridgerton?” – one of them asked. – “Not interested.” – Francesca said before him, taking him with her. Francesca found her new victim, asking the girl to show her necklace that was hidden under the fabric of her dress. The girl blinked confused but offered to show her necklace with kindness.

“Oh lovely necklace, just not right for me.” – she answered. The girl tucked her necklace offended away. – “Fran!” – Benedict shout-whispered to her out of reach of the girl. – “You can’t just walk up to them and demand to see their necklaces without a proper thought.” – he called out to her.

“We are here to find her are we not?” – Francesca replied with the softest gaze. – “Yes…” – Benedict sighed out, holding both her hands. – “But not like this sister.” – he went on. Francesca bit her lip, looking down shyly. – “I only wanted to help you.” – she answered. – “I know.” – he responded, wrapping his arms around her. Pulling her close to his chest for an embrace. He looked over her shoulder to a couple of girls.

Unable to resist for himself to stare at their necklaces. Hoping one of them was the one he drew. The one he knew. The one that opened the music box. Sadly they were not. With a heavy sigh, he ended the embrace. – “John might be worrying about you.” – he told her, lifting her chin up. She nodded saddened. Having neglected her husband for far too long.

Francesca exhaled soft, wrapping her arm around his. Benedict started to lead her around in search of her husband. Both unable to resist the urge to look around for any familiar necklaces. After a while, Benedict found John and is mother. Wanting to walk over to them if only his sisters hadn’t kept her ground.

“Benedict…” – she gasped out, making him turn his head. His eyes widening seeing a certain necklace. The cord twirling between a pair of fingers, emblem dangling in the air. The girl twirling it, lost in her own thoughts. Staring blindly in front of her. An elderly woman at her side. – “It is her.” – Francesca let out with a smile.

Benedict subconsciously curled up a smile. He got on the tips of his toes when a sturdy man came blocking his view. Making his way across. Benedict trying to look past the man to the girl. Surprised he blinked when the view was clear once more. Yet… where was she?

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