#without having the financial security the Bridgertons have

[maevelin]

Between two villains

Now apparently given the misogyny of Bridgerton universe's society the women are products of it.

That does not change that some of them, each for their own way of survival, had turned into harsh people, lacking empathy at times, and becoming bad parents too. From victim to villain.

So we have Portia Featherington VS Mrs. Cowper (Cressida's mother).

Funnily enough in the way Penelope had been bullied by Cressida so has Portia by Cressida's mother in some subtle ways or more direct and Portia played along in the way she knew how to play the game.

But in the end, Portia actually got all her three daughters in LOVE marriages (something the Bridgertons are known to do but here we have less credit but...even in much more difficult conditions we get three out of three! Love for all.), providing them security and secure futures. Her means...were questionable at best but when push came to shove Portia Featherington put her daughters above herself and mind you she is not an example of a good mother since she has also treated her daughters and Penelope especially quite poorly for a long time.

However there are lines Portia would not cross with her girls. And when Colin went to Cressida to evoke her mercy she made the comment about one having their family's support.

Colin never understood that this is not a given. He has been raised in a loving family, in secure environment and he gets that love for granted.

The same cannot be said for the Featheringtons and certainly for Cressida but at least in Penelope's case in the end we saw that the love of family was there. Portia, Prudence, Philippa, Penelope and Mrs. Varley, each with their own -toxic and non toxic ways- had formed a family that supported each other and at the end they wanted to become better people and stood for each other.

The same cannot be said about Cressida's parents.

[mariemariemaria]

i really dont know whats driving all the pro-corset nonsense but its so annoying. girls were put into corsets from young ages, sometimes before they even reached puberty. mothers were often the ones forcing their daughters to wear corsets even though they didn't want to and rebelled against it. honestly i think being critical of corsets is important when discussing today's insane beauty and weight standards for women. 'tiny waist' crazes came in and out of fashion and waist goals could be as small as 16 inches, which is insane and there's no way you're gonna convince me that that's healthy or normal or feminist. how is that any different to women having weight or thinness goals that prioritise their beauty over their health? how is the fluctuating fashion for different waist sizes any different to how different women's body shapes go in and out of fashion these days? body shapes which are so extreme that they are impossible to achieve without either starving yourself ('herorin chic') or getting surgery (bbls). i think we do a disservice to ourselves if we ignore the similarities and dont learn from history tbqh

[girlkisser13]

snow on the beach

"i’ve never seen someone lit from within" "blurring out my periphery" "my smile is like i won a contest" "and to hide that would be so dishonest"

pairings: colin bridgerton x fem!reader

warnings/tags: mostly angst. childhood best friends to lovers.

summary: after one of his many travels, colin comes back home to see that you are engaged to someone else.

in the sun-dappled gardens of aubrey hall, colin bridgerton and miss y/n y/l/n had spent their childhood years in innocent joy. their laughter had filled the air as they climbed trees, chased butterflies, and whispered secrets beneath the ancient oaks. yet, as the years progressed, those simple affections deepened into something far more profound.

as the two of you grew older, your feelings for him began to shift in subtle yet profound ways. one evening, on the eve of colin’s departure for yet another of his travels, you found herself alone with him in your favorite garden alcove. the moonlight cast a silvery glow over the scene, illuminating the quiet turmoil in your heart. you could not let him leave without confessing the emotions that had burgeoned within you for so long.

“colin,” you began, your voice trembling slightly, “before you leave, there is something i must tell you.”

he turned to her, his expression one of curiosity and mild apprehension. “what is it, y/n?”

drawing a deep breath, you continued, “i have long cherished our friendship, but of late, my feelings have deepened. i love you, colin. more than a friend, more than anything. i needed you to know before you go.”

for a moment, the world seemed to stand still. colin’s eyes widened, but he said nothing. the silence stretched on, each heartbeat echoing like thunder in your ears. finally, he turned away, his thoughts a whirlwind you could not fathom.

“y/n, i…” he faltered, unable to find the words.

disheartened, you nodded, forcing a brave smile. “safe travels, colin,” you whispered before walking away, your heart aching with the weight of unspoken words.

the months passed slowly. you threw yourself into the demands of the upcoming season, but your heart remained shadowed by colin’s silence. summer brought with it a suitor who showed a keen interest in you. with your family’s financial situation growing precarious, his attention was both a blessing and a burden.

your family estate, once thriving, had fallen on hard times. your father’s investments had failed, and the pressure to secure a suitable match was immense. the suitor’s wealth and status seemed like the perfect solution. he was kind, attentive, and clearly smitten with you. but your heart belonged to another, a man who had not spoken a word since your heartfelt confession.

when colin returned to london, he found you distant and reserved, a stark contrast to the spirited girl he remembered. the danbury ball was always a grand affair as the first ball of the season, but colin’s heart sank as he watched you dance with a lord, your engagement now the talk of the ton. his heart twisted in anguish as he saw the resigned look in your eyes, the sparkle that had once been there now dimmed.

unable to bear it any longer, colin interrupted your dance, his eyes blazing with determination. “may i have this dance, miss y/l/n?” he asked, though it was more a demand than a request.

the man across from you frowned. "we are in the midst of a dance, bridgerton."

colin's gaze did not waver. "i was addressing miss y/l/n, not you."

taken aback, you hesitated before nodding reluctantly. "very well, mr. bridgerton."

as the two of you began to waltz, colin leaned in, his voice urgent. "y/n, you cannot marry him."

your eyes flashed with anger. "and why not, colin? my family's funds are dwindling. i have no other choice."

colin's grip tightened on your waist, his voice desperate. "he is not right for you, y/n. he does not deserve you."

you pulled away slightly, your expression one of deep hurt. "and who, pray tell, is right for me? who deserves me?"

he opened his mouth but said nothing, the silence spoke volumes. your eyes filled with tears of frustration. "it is too late, colin. i have no choice. my family’s funds have gone down, and i must secure my family's future."

"if it is your family's funds and reputation you are concerned about, marry me," colin implored. "i have far more wealth than that man you have chosen to marry."

you laughed bitterly. "no, colin. i will not enter into a loveless marriage. you do not love me."

"and you love him?" colin questioned.

"i believe i can grow to love him in time," you declared.

"that is not real love," colin protested.

"do not speak to me of "real love," colin!" you yelled, your voice breaking with emotion. you turned and fled into the garden of the danbury estate, your heart a storm of conflicting emotions.

"y/n, wait," colin called, following you into the night. he caught you by the hand, his voice choked with emotion. "i was a fool, a coward. i did not know how to respond, but i have never stopped thinking of you. please, forgive me."

you whirled around, your eyes blazing with anger and hurt. "you dare to say this now? after i bared my heart to you and you left me without a word? you are ruining my chance to save my family!"

desperation gave him courage. he cupped your face in his hands, his voice a fervent plea. "y/n, i love you. i always have. please, do not let this be the end."

you pulled away from him, walking further into the garden, "you had your chance, colin. you left me with nothing but silence."

he caught your hand once more, his heart pounding against his ribcage. "y/n, i have been away for far too long, and in that time, i have come to realize something of great importance. when we were younger, i made a promise to you— a promise that i would never be dishonest with you."

you turned towards him, your gaze remaining steady. your arms were crossed protectively over your chest, a subtle barrier against the world.

colin took a step forward, his eyes earnest. "it is with that promise in mind that i must confess something i have hidden for far too long. y/n, i have never met anyone so filled with light as you are. your presence brightens every room and every moment. your smile... it is as if you have won a contest, and the prize is the joy you bring to those around you. i love you, deeply and truly."

your guarded demeanor softened slightly, a crack forming in the fortress around your heart.

a heavy silence followed his confession. your lips parted slightly, but no words emerged. your posture remained rigid, a shield against the vulnerability you surely felt.

his heart ached at the sight of your guarded stance. "y/n," he said gently, "please, let me show you what i cannot express merely in words."

before you could respond, he kissed you, pouring all his love and regret into that single, searing kiss. for a moment, you resisted, but then you melted into his embrace, the intensity of your shared emotions overwhelming any lingering doubt.

when the two of you finally broke apart, your eyes were filled with tears, but also with a glimmer of hope. "colin, you hurt me deeply," you whispered. "but i cannot deny my heart."

he held you close, his voice a whisper against your ear. "y/n, i will spend my days proving to you that my love is true. please just give me the chance."

you looked up at him, "colin, i... i have waited so long for you to say these words. i feared i would never hear them."

he gently brushed a tear from your cheek. "i am sorry for the pain my silence caused you, but i am here now, and i will not leave again."

your arms slowly encircled him, your embrace warm and full of the affection you had long harbored. "and i believe you, colin. i truly do."

with a final, lingering kiss under the starlit sky, you and colin had found your way back to each other, your love rekindled and stronger for the trials it had endured.

[thebluemallet]

My Favorite Portia Featherington Moments

Throughout all three seasons of Bridgerton, Portia Featherington has been a complicated character. On the surface, she's completely unlikeable. She treats Penelope poorly. Her fashion sense is excessively gaudy. And she seems either unaware or willfully ignorant of the social faux pas she makes from day to day.

But she is also a survivor who was dealt a shit hand in life with her useless husband. And she did what she had to do to ensure the safety and well-being of her daughters in desperate times. So here are a few of my favorite Portia moments.

10- Showing Marina What Her Future Holds

When Portia finds out that Marina is pregnant, her first instinct is to protect her girls and her family's reputation. She wants to send Marina away and back to the country but she can't because of her useless husband's dealings. George hasn't answered Marina's letter telling him about her condition. Without knowing that George's fate has already been sealed, Marina's insistence that George will come for her seems naive--especially to Portia.

When Marina refuses to even entertain the idea of being married off quickly to an older man in need of an heir who won't ask too many questions, Portia, like the Ghost of Christmas Future, shows Marina what her life will be if she continues to hold out for George.

It's a much-needed wake-up call but it does not work on Marina. The forged letter may have seemed cruel at the time, but if I were in Portia's shoes, I would have assumed the worst of George, too.

9- Confronting Her Husband

When Lord Featherington puts a premature end to the courtship between Albion Finch and his middle daughter Philippa, Portia is outraged. A man has taken an interest in one of their daughters, seems besotted with her, and wants to marry her. What possible objections could there be?

When she tries to press him for answers in public, Lord Featherington uses his position as a man and a husband to silence her. But when Portia uncovers that he has gambled away all of their money--including their daughters' dowries--her husband is revealed for the sniveling coward that he is. Outside of the eyes of society, he is a weak man who can't curtail his vices even for the well-being and future of his family.

They may not like each other, but even Portia wasn't expecting this level of betrayal from her husband.

Cry those crocodile tears, Archibald! I don't feel sorry for you whatsoever. I'm Team Portia on this one.

8- "You find things to love, my dear."

Even a blind man could tell that Portia and Archibald were not a love match. She married him for security and he failed to even provide that. But she managed to find silver linings in the many clouds of her marriage.

Her talk with Marina in the final episode of season 1 gives the audience more insight into the kind of woman Portia is and how strong she had to be to endure her marriage with her late husband for so long. It's the kindest and most motherly we've seen her be all season. And her talk gives Marina the final push she needs to do what needs to be done to protect her babies.

Portia, as we'll see, is better off without her deadbeat husband. She has more strength than she gave herself credit for in this scene. And she has the three best things her husband gave her by her side.

7- "I am a MOTHER."

After the death of Archibald, the Featherington women are in financial stasis until the new Lord Featherington finally shows up. When Cousin Jack finally arrives some things are starting to look up. But he is making some questionable decisions right off the bat.

Portia is, once again, at the mercy of a Featherington man who makes piss-poor financial decisions when Cousin Jack comes into the picture.

She navigates the situation as best as she can, even getting into his fraudulent gemstone scheme when she's backed into a corner with no way out. Desperate times, desperate measures.

After Colin uncovers the scheme and Cousin Jack proposes not only running away from the country, but even leaving Prudence and Penelope behind and sending for them later, Portia has had enough. If you think this woman would ever seriously consider abandoning her daughters to save her own skin, then you don't know her at all.

Portia doesn't always make the right decisions. Portia doesn't always say the right things. Portia is far from a perfect mother. But she'll ALWAYS choose her daughters over mediocre men who only care for themselves, and for that, I'll love her forever for showing Cousin Jack the door.

6- Sex-Ed With Philippa and Prudence

The moment Philippa said that she and Albion were "very passionate" I KNEW that we were in for some comedic gold.

And I was RIGHT.

At first, Portia thinks her biggest problem with the Featherington Heir Race is Prudence. But at least she can relate to Prudence's problem of not enjoying the marital act. Poor Portia's not even aware that it can be enjoyable for both parties.

But to her horror, BOTH of her married daughters are the problem. Prudence isn't having sex because she doesn't like it and Philippa isn't having sex because she has no idea what it is.

You can see the wheels turning in both Prudence's and Portia's heads when Philippa asks that infamous question.

If Lady Featherington went home that night and screamed into her pillows, I wouldn't blame her.

5- Chaperoning Polin

Portia's finally realized that she's been a little lax with chaperoning Penelope over the years. No matter, she'll make up for it now and chaperone her daughter when her fiancee comes for a visit!

Colin and Penelope are just not used to having a chaperone and they have no idea how to conduct themselves with one in the room. Colin looks downright annoyed every time he sees Portia out of the corner of his eye. Penelope's staring at his lips the whole time and probably wants Colin to compromise her again right there on the window seat.

But the real comedy of this scene is knowing that Penelope is already pregnant. So the chaperoning was too little, too late.

4- Finally Bonding With Violet

For most of the series, Portia and Violet have gotten along like oil and water. They're not great friends like Penelope, Colin, and Eloise. They don't hang out at social events. Portia is envious of the Bridgertons and their social clout. Violet barely tolerates Portia on a good day. And as much as Violet loves Penelope, you can tell in 3x05 and 3x06 that she's not looking forward to having Portia as an in-law.

But when Colin and Penelope are on the outs just before their wedding, the two mothers have finally found some common ground.

3- Handling Lady Whistledown

I was not expecting Cressida to actually tell Portia that Penelope was Lady Whistledown. I thought she'd make a vague comment that Penelope would have to play off as nothing and then she would work with Colin and Eloise to overcome the Cressida threat.

But no, Cressida really tells Portia.

The threat of Cressida's blackmail hanging over her daughter's head and what this could mean for the Polin marriage is enough for Portia's protective mother instincts to kick in and she teams up with Colin and Eloise to find a solution and protect Penelope.

And she gets extra brownie points from me because one of her first reactions to learning about Whistledown is to point out that Penelope was the one to write horrible things about herself. ("The things you wrote! About your family! About yourself!")

Yes, Portia's angry about Penelope's secret and what she's done as Whistledown, but she puts that anger on the back burner for a short time while she tries to navigate her family through their latest crisis. To paraphrase what she said to Cousin Jack at the end of last season: she and Penelope are on the same team.

2- Portia and Penelope Finally Talk

Portia might have put her anger to the side when she found out about Whistledown, but it returns when Penelope finds out that Portia kept the money Cousin Jack had embezzled from the ton.

Portia and Penelope finally have it out and mother and daughter realize that they are more alike than they had previously realized or were even willing to admit.

1- Portia as a Grandmother

Portia started out the season anxious that none of her daughters would have a son and secure their family's future. By the end of the season, she's a grandmother to two granddaughters and one grandson--the new Lord Featherington. Her family's future is finally secure at last.

Now that she has her grandchildren, Portia will finally be able to relax a little. It must have been hard being in survival mode for so long. Now she can enjoy her life and watch all three of her daughters have marriages filled with love and happiness.

[jsvausvqbd]

Portia Featherington is a woman of her time, she knows what financial insecurity feels like and what having less privilege than others looks like (she’s still part of the ton but can’t be compared to other families like the Bridgertons). That’s why she encourages Pen to marry by saying that security is romantic; this way she can enjoy all of her interests without worry. Violet Bridgerton can only go on and on about a love match for her children because they are rich and enjoy a good standing amongst the ton people, they are extremely privileged.

The discourse surrounding Portia reminds me of an idiom my mom uses a lot, it roughly translates to: when hunger walks in through the door, love goes out the window.

Of course, this is a romance show first and foremost, but I still wanted to touch on this as I’ve seen far too many people shit on Portia’s character when if anything, she’s the most realistic one out there

[bohemian-nights]

Once more I’m quite unsure as to why everyone feels the need to ignore the source material. Season 3 not being about Benophie still boggles my mind because why???!??!! Not to be a hater but Colin is uninteresting and unattractive (no hate to the actor he’s just not my type) to me. And I personally can’t stand Penelope (once again no hate to the actress) so I’m not really interested in this season tbh. On a side note there is a possibility to make Sophie a illegitimate granddaughter of Charlotte especially since in Queen Charlotte she says along the lines of how there are 50 illegitimate grand babies that [she] the crown ignores.

I know what you mean anon. Nothing against either of the actors playing the characters or the fans who like the ship, but Polin just isn't my cup of tea.

We all have our faves and mine is Benophie. I’m a Benophie and then a Franchael girl through and through.

That being said, despite me being a Benophie girl I don’t mind that they’ve skipped over Benedict. I mean I was initially pissed the hell off about it, but I think I understand now why Shonda did what she did.

This is gonna sound nonsensical, and weird, and is probably going to piss someone off(lol I’m the queen of that apparently👑), but there have been back to back to back interracial couples in Bridgerton.

I’m almost positive Sophie is going to be Black(🤞🏽) and while this show prides itself on diversity, I think they wanted to give white audiences a bone. So for that reason, she chose to push Polin’s season ahead.

Plus I think Shonda sees herself in Penelope(writer, “working woman,” the wallflower, and hater of other women💀).

I’m kinda glad she did push Polin’s season forward given what happened with the strike situation…

I do not mind waiting another two years for Benophie. I’ll “suffer” through this season for them and who knows, this season may surprise me and I may end up loving it 🤷🏽‍♀️

Now regarding, Sophie’s parentage, it would be interesting if they made her an illegitimate grandkid of Queen Charlotte and see how she has to deal with that. How the queen interacts with her, as well as the rest of the ton.

(I don’t think that in this scenario her being a bastard would be hidden or not common knowledge).

I know some people aren’t too fond of Sophie being Black🙃 a maid while Benedict is who is.

Her being QC's illegitimate granddaughter would be a way to kinda pivot from her being a maid while keeping the fact that she’s a bastard without a proper place in society.

I feel like the former is less important than her being the latter. She’s more than just her employment.

Sophie has to deal with the fact that she was robbed of a proper childhood, protection, financial security, love, and a sense of belonging. Yet she still manages to be a kind considerate human being with staunch morals and principles.

(I love girls who’ve been through so much, but still manage to survive and thrive. I blame Jane Eyre).

As long as Shonda tackles those issues and we see Benedict falling head over heels for her(even when he thinks he’s fallen for two different women🤣)I’m good with whatever happens.

The show has already made a lot of changes to the book. Some good some bad, but making Sophie one of many bastard grandchildren of the crown makes the most sense and has the potential to be the most interesting(for me at least).

[fandomlovingfreak]

Sejanus Plinth x Coriolanus Snow

Wattpad I AO3

Rating: General Audiences

Word Count: 1065

Disclaimer: I do not own The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Bridgerton or any of the characters. This work is not created for profit or financial compensation, and is a transformative fair use work in accordance with Section 107 of the United States Copyright Act.

General AU Notes at the End of the Chapter

Summary:

"Besides, your attendance is far more important than mine." Coriolanus purses his lips at that comment. Ah, yes, the true reason he must attend these blasted soirees.

Marriage.

Bridgerton AU

------------------------------------------------------------

Enjoy

There's a rest in the music as Sejanus leads Coriolanus to the dancefloor as the rest of the unmarried members of the Ton find their next dance partners.

"So," Sejanus is still holding his hand as they wait for the people to take their place in the dance, "Are all the events like this one?"

"In what way?"

Sejanus smiles, "So... stiff and..." he lowers his voice, "Crowded."

Coriolanus blinks at him, a bit surprised, "Whatever do you mean?"

The American shrugs, "It's just- how does one... form any sort of meaningful connection in such a crowded space?"

"Well, it would hardly be proper to," he twirls his hand to the implied, "in a more private setting."

"Would it? I just don't see how dances and chaperoned walks are effective in the search for a spouse," Sejanus says with a small smile, "Wouldn't it be better to learn if you are compatible with someone by engaging in more intimate discussion?"

Coriolanus couldn't agree less. Everything Sejanus said went against the carefully and strictly implemented rules that kept families like Coriolanus's significant. Who knew what would happen if they rocked the boat, even in small manners like this.

Despite the consistent insults to Coriolanus's world, he was set on seeing if this man could be his ticket to restoring the Snow's wealth. If it meant being pleasant and not arguing with the foreigner over the semantics of proper society, then so be it.

Anyways, it wasn't like Coriolanus would step out of line with Sejanus and shame himself. That was unthinkable, even in his desperate situation.

He makes sure his smile is still charming as he replies, "Oh?"

"I'd like to know you better," Sejanus gets to the point, "I don't see how we can... properly do that in the short moments we're allowed to be in each other's company."

The idea that Sejanus wants to know him better bodes well, but what he was asking of the Viscount was simply scandalous. Though it is perhaps easier to trap this man in a scandal, was it worth the gossip that would inevitably spread about this possible marriage if his attempts were to become fruitful? Definitely not. The Snows already were on the edge of being found out, so it was better not to draw more attention to himself.

Besides, who really needed to know their spouse before the union? Coriolanus knew plenty of people who married for fondness and financial security, and he thought they seemed content enough.

"What would you like to know that you cannot learn in the presence of a chaperone?" Coriolanus asks despite himself, too curious about what straightforward questions this man could have.

Sejanus smiles again, a sort of-- tenderness in his brown eyes, "I mean, I'd prefer a quieter setting where I could talk to you without the interruption of others- and the festivities."

The music begins before Coriolanus can make another polite declination. Instead, he's quieted by the way Sejanus's large hand lands on his waist, making his already delicate frame look positively tiny.

"Are you okay?" Sejanus asks as they begin the steps of the dance, "You look surprised. My mother tells me I am too forward. I'm sorry if I've offended you at all. I just--" they complete the first turn, "I've been-- quite taken with you from a distance and have hoped to meet you and speak with you."

"You've noticed me before tonight?" Coriolanus asks curiously, wondering where this supposed first glance had taken place. They pull away from each other briefly, trading partners for a few steps before returning to each other. To Coriolanus's great pleasure, Sejanus has a slight blush gracing his cheeks.

"Out on my daily ride. I've seen you... walking with a blonde woman in the square."

"Tigris," Coriolanus's voice comes out as a soft whisper as Sejanus pulls him slightly closer, their noses nearly brushing. 

Really, this dance was much too seductive, Coriolanus thought.

"Pardon?" The words are practically spoken into his ear before Coriolanus moves into the next steps of the dance, moving to face his partner once again. His hand lands on the man's shoulder. He's quite broad, Coriolanus notes as he glances at his gloved hand on the expanse of Sejanus's shoulder. Normally, it would bother Coriolanus that his partner was much taller, but with Sejanus-- he almost appreciated it. 

"The... blonde Lady is my cousin, Tigris. She likes to take strolls in the afternoon and often asks me to accompany her," He explains. He realizes his mistake quickly, tacking on, "When I am, of course, not busy with my duties as Viscount."

"Naturally," Sejanus agrees, not pressing him, "She's very beautiful, your cousin. Is she unwed? Or perhaps betrothed?"

"Unwed, yes. Betrothed, no." He doesn't mention that to fix that for his cousin; he must make a match with someone like the man he's dancing with. It wasn't important for Sejanus to know his motivations for their introduction. Nor would it be helpful for him to succeed.

Sejanus pauses momentarily, "Is she your elder?"

"She is," Coriolanus responds; they continue to dance. He would not admit it, but Sejanus was quite the dancer, easily falling into leading without room for argument. He realizes how little he minds now; usually, he would lead in any dance with any other partner, but it felt... oddly fine letting Sejanus have the lead... for now.

The dance ends, but Sejanus doesn't loosen his grip on Coriolanus's waist and hand, their eyes lingering longer than necessary.

"What can I do to continue our time together?" Sejanus's voice comes out hushed.

Coriolanus is at a loss for words, drowning in the deep brown of his partner's eyes. "I could call on you... tomorrow."

"You do not wish for me to call on you?" Sejanus asks, bewildered.

Their London mansion was a mess; the parlor was in deep disrepair, not at all fit for a gentleman caller. He'd need to keep up appearances if he were to pull this off. Of course, if they did choose to marry, they'd naturally live in his ancestral properties, and Sejanus would find out about the sticky situation his new husband had been hiding.

He hoped, if this plan did come to fruition, Sejanus would be understanding and... generous.

"No, I shall call on you," Coriolanus replies, removing his hand from the American's grip, "Goodnight, Mr. Plinth."

General AU Notes:

1. There's no homophobia in this Regency Era AU. Marrying someone of the same gender isn't uncommon or discouraged. It's normal for these people. 2. Coriolanus is bisexual. I think it's important to point out because it's often hinted at. But, again, it's not uncommon or odd for a man to marry a man or a woman to marry a woman in this AU. BUT, it's also important to note that Coriolanus would marry ANYONE if it meant he'd gain a fortune. 3. Coriolanus is British, Sejanus is American. This is Regency England. There is no Panem in this AU. 4. The one big thing I kept from Canon is that the Snow's are poor but act wealthy (in this AU it's because they hold a title in society).

I'll add more if needed!

[mariesstudying]

Edit because of some replies I got: I deleted a paragraph about Eloise's reaction to the Marina and Colin thing because I had misremembered and was wrong. Also added an anti-eloise tag because even though I'm not anti-Eloise, the post isn't pro-eloise

I have thoughts about Eloise Bridgerton and I'm dumping them in this post. Before I start dumping I do want to say that in no way am I some Penelope stan who thinks she is perfect in every way and my issues with Eloise are critiques of her character that I’m sure will be fixed once there is more focus on her storyline.

I have 2 problems with Eloise: 1) the fact that she seems to be unable to accept or understand her privilege; and 2) that she can't seem to understand other people's pov's.

Eloise can't seem to comprehend or understand her own privilege. Now I know that we haven't reached her season yet meaning her character development has yet to come but it's so infuriating and irritating to watch Eloise because she is so privileged but can't seem to acknowledge or be grateful for it. I also fully acknowledge that because it's the Regency era, we can't expect intersectional feminism but I'm still annoyed lol. We see her go to these rallies and get Theo entangled in her shit without seeming to be able to understand that whilst what she is doing won't really affect her (just fulfil her curiosity), Theo (who needs a job because he isn't rich) may lose his job. She can't seem to understand that whilst she can get away with not being married, someone like Penelope can't. The Bridgerton's are super rich and that means Eloise could live an unmarried life if she wants to but for Kate or Penelope, financial security in London means marriage. She may think she is above all of the marriage market stuff but for many of the other women in it, it is their way of ensuring they (and their parents and future children) live a safe, comfortable life without the fear of being homeless or without money. I also have a very strong feeling that if these political rallies and events led to the financial and social downfall of her family, she would not be as "radical" as she is. Whilst (like I said), intersectional feminism can't be expected from the Regency period, I feel like these are privileges that can be acknowledged.

She also seems so stuck in her own worldview. I remember all the stuff she said to Daphne in season 1, acting as if Daphne shouldn't be wanting to get married, without understanding why Daphne would want or need to marry and marry well. When she is (rightfully) mad at Penelope for writing about her and Theo in LW, she also doesn't seem to realise that the scandal hadn't really affected her family much at all and also that it's not like someone else hadn't seen her see Theo. Even if Penelope never wrote about it in LW, it still would have gotten out, like the Queen knew for fucks sake. She always gives me the vibe of "if you don't understand or agree with my worldview, then you are what is wrong with society" without bothering to try and understand other people's views, just shoving them off as "wrong". She also doesn't seem to understand that Bridgerton's status is almost unbreakable, relatively little effort is needed for them to maintain their status in society and scandal doesn't affect them at all or if it does, it doesn't affect them for long. For others, especially the Featheringtons, don't have the same privilege. 1 wrong move and they lose everything, they are ridiculed and looked down upon by a lot of society.

LMK if I should do more Bridgerton posts (if I do, I won't do the books because icba with anything other then the show lol)

[sandalaris]

There's (potentially) going to be 8 seasons of Bridgerton, plus Queen Charlotte and any other spin offs, and my shipper, fandom brain started to trying to put some of my OTPs into Bridgerton AUs. Naturally my first thought was Kate/Anthony are Derek/Casey from Life With Derek.

It wouldn't be exact, obviously, but I can see Derek Venturi as Anthony Bridgerton who's decided it's time to take a wife. Not for the same reasons, his father is very much still alive and not the type of match-make. George did a fine job raising the boys after his wife died, but Marti... She's to have her coming out in the next season or so, and Derek's become painfully aware she's a bit too rough around the edges for the ton's idea of a proper lady. It wouldn't matter so much, her family adores her and dotes on her (she's perhaps a bit spoiled) but Marti has shown interest in being a lady. She wants pretty dresses and fine things and to dance with someone who's not her brothers and it hurts him, knowing none of them can teach her to navigate the more feminine side of things. (I would never change Marti, she's wonderfully her, but I don't think it's too far fetched to think she might want to explore her girly side) Somehow Derek gets it into his head that a wife is just the thing to help her navigate and lord knows George hasn't shown a lick of interest in marrying again. (Derek's rather spectacular and somewhat public heartbreak the season before may also be driving him a bit, but he'd never admit it.)

As for Casey... she is looking for a husband for her little sister Lizzie. When Lord McDonald died, Casey's the one who learned that for all of Dennis's workaholic tendencies and long absenses from his family, he had more debts than could imagined. They aren't broke, but they will be and soon if they don't make other arrangements. Casey's still a dreamer, a feminist, and a control-freak, and so can't fathom that the perfect match for her sister isn't out there or that she can't find him and get him to propose before the season is through. She does pressure Lizzie to tone down her more tomboy-ish habits but it comes from a place of desperation and a misguided belief that there are some aspects of a lady a man should be eased into knowing. Especially since he's going to already be burdened with taking full financial responsibility for her mother. (Casey also has plans to be a governess after she secures her sister's and mother's futures.)

Derek does not court Lizzie. But he does think about it. She and Marti get a long and he finds her interesting and easy to be around, but his feelings are decidedly more brotherly than he would want to have towards a wife. He and Casey though... it would be easier if she weren't so aggravating! They clash from the get-go, and more they keep seeming to mess with the others' plans. He goes to call on a girl, and it seems Casey's already been in her ear about his immature attitude. She goes to learn more about a gentleman for Lizzie, only to find Derek there throwing cunning insults her way before she can ask a question. The fact that they keep abandoning their plans to antagonize each other isn't lost on those paying attention. No matter where they turn, the other seems to be there.

Things would ultimately come to a head when two things happen back to back. First, Derek finally proposes... to Lady Emily Davis (who may or may not be Lady Whistledown) It's done in a sort of desperation when he learns Casey's going to move *handwaves a place* to be a governess. It's not a public proposal, but he does ask and she does accept. This is followed very closely by Lizzie very publicly punching one of her suitors in the nose. It's certainly not the biggest scandal, but Casey is freaking out. During her freak out, without realizing how it sounds, she says some hurtful things to her sister. Nora starts to become clued in then, that there is more going on than just her oldest daughter trying to create some kind of fairy tale romance for her little sister. Especially when Casey responds to Nora's soothing "she can always find someone next season" with a panicked, desperate "we won't have to money next year!" The Venturis are very understanding at this time, or at least George and Edwin are, but when Casey and Derek find themselves in a private moment she spills everything. Her reasoning for being a governess (she used her dowry to buy Lizzie a proper wardrobe for the season and lodging), her bullheaded interrogation of each gentleman (he'll have to take in Nora too and she wont have him be cruel to either of them), her yelling at Lizzie for punching a man who, she admits, very much deserved it (this is her only shot at this), etc, and then they're kissing and neither know who reached for who, but they did and now they are and god, this could be their only chance.... She finds out he's engaged the next day.

She's angry, of course she is. Emily is the only true friend she felt she's made here and she kissed her friend's fiance and he kissed her and god help her she wants to do it again, but he's spoken for and a scoundrel, and a rake, and a complete cad and she can't believe she every thought for a moment he was sweet or thoughtful or- ugh! None of this is helped by the fact that Lizzie is still not speaking to her and Nora is giving her pointed looks that says she knows Casey's keeping secrets and she's never felt so completely alone.

Derek on the other hand makes his own small, minor scandal when he breaks off the engagement with Emily. He does it quietly and with no small amount of guilt, but to his utter surprise Emily is ecstatic, and completely relieved. She's rather taken with another young lord who's station is a below Derek's and whom her father isn't quite as accepting of. She'd just convinced her father to consider Sheldon's proposal when Derek asked for her hand and her father insisted he was a better match. Derek agrees to play the jilted lover, after quietly speaking to her father, so Emily can save face, and rushes home with the family ring trying to figure out how long he can wait before proposing to Casey only to find that Casey won't agree to see him. Hurt and confused, he'd come to the conclusion that Casey does not feel the same way about him as he does about her.

Emily would tell Casey the whole truth of it very quickly, and Casey would see Derek at a dance/ball of some kind where they'd dance together and make it obvious to anyone who looked at them that they're madly in love. She'd end up saying something to him about staying, not going back to be a governess, if she had a reason to, and Derek would take the opportunity to propose in much the same fashion that Anthony did "you are bane of my existence and the object of all my desires" and "there will never be a day where you do not vex me" "promise?"

Then of course they both go back inside to find George and Nora announcing their engagement, because I love George/Nora and while Casey and Derek were all wrapped up in each other, they failed to notice their parents falling in love.

[petalsmooth]

Two years campaigning about what a dud this season would be only to have them put up these numbers. lol And this is just 3 platforms, there are others.

I mean I cannot describe to people who haven't observed it how satisfying it is to watch those trolls burn. I was going to be happy with the season even if I was the only one who ever watched.

Bridgerton is not like other shows. You get one season a couple. This is my favorite couple. So it could completely bomb and I would have my season. I had literally no stress about it because not like it was going to end on a cliffhanger for my couple. Maybe a cliffhanger about Whistledown? But not my couple. It wasn't like if the show was up and canceled because bombed that I would be left hanging on them getting together. lol

Now I like other couples and want more seasons to see them and hopefully more of this one too... and if they wanted other seasons they would want this to be a success. But if not, I'd still have this one regardless, Thats the beauty of the one book arcs.

But these people wanted to ruin this season for fans because petty, jealous, bitter and competitive and all this shows is how small they actually are. In spirit and in numbers.

Even better this season is really starting to shape up to be as close to what a book fans would want, without being the book. You can't re-write certain questionable decisions with the former show runner in the past but they did their best to bring the essence of Book Colin to this season (Luke campaigned hard for that too) given the parameters already set in previous seasons.

And for sure getting writer Colin.

And overall, with exception of Eloise's plot, this season may overtake season 1 as my favorite. Eloise's plot is the only one I really hate right now, I'm fine with the other side plots I've heard teased so far.

Anyway and oh...

Why is this my favorite btw? Well the leads have amazing chemistry for one but it's the story. I'm always been prone to favoring friends falling in love, bonus points for the best friends brother trope too. I could do without Debling but in the grand scheme he's a minor distraction. There are people online who are extremely bitter and toxic and trying to make it a race thing but it isn't. The books were written before the show. All the characters were white in the books so race had nothing to do with it because there was no comparison in that regard. I just favor the story.

Francesca and Michael is probably the one I like best after that and they haven't casted Michael yet but they did cast John and he's black. In the book they are cousins, there is some thinking the show may make them Brothers here. Either way, Francesca is not marrying white guys. And my main issue here isn't even John or Michael but first seeing if I like the casting for Francesca since the actress is new. If I don't like her doesn't matter who they casted for the other roles of her husband.

Minus one scene in the book, Eloise and Philip is next favorite as a story even though its rather dark but I wasn't even sure I liked the casting of a white guy for Philip. The actor grew on me with his appearance in season two. I think Marina treating him dismissively probably warmed me up to him. I do not like her.

I mean here she is in season 2 well taken care of, financially secure, children healthy with a good man who actually has a profession and is honorable and reasonably attractive and young and she...dismisses him. She's actually in a better situation than if married Colin and she's still abrasive. I get the person she loved died but that isn't Phillip's fault and it was his BROTHER. A brother that didn't even do the honorable thing and marry her before going to war with a good chance he'd die. I mean...I'm sorry you hate the world but the person you should be mad is the one who left you alone and pregnant with no support. Most women in the same society don't have it nearly as well off as she currently does and yet hates her life. I see no reason why I should have to like her just because she was unwed in the 1800's and landed on her two feet with a decent guy in spite of everything.

She could be the servant Berbrooke tossed out on the street. One really needs to take stock of their blessings compared to everyone else.

[honorhearted]

Benjamin learned long ago not to interrupt Eloise -- or at least, not during one of her passionate diatribes -- so he remained silent with his lips pressed together in a firm, grim line, not frustrated, so much as sympathetic since he found nothing inherently wrong with her fury. She was right: these men were emotional to the point of violence, and they were threatened by what previously went unchallenged, but he still believed there had to be a better way.

While Eloise chastened Madeleine for her rebuttal, the servant appeared genuinely stunned by the questions foisted upon her.

"I cannot believe you'd deprive your sex of a choice simply because you don't require one, what if society decided that it's in our nature to do boxing, what if the Queen wanted that for us? Would you slip into the ring or would you suddenly find yourself arguing for what you wish?"

"I...I do not know," she sniveled, wringing her hands. "Why must everything be so grand and over the top with you, Miss Eloise? I don't understand why a woman's life must parallel those adventurous books you read... Why can we both not be right?"

To no one's surprise, Benjamin was quick to receive Eloise's next sling of barbed arrows. "Ah yes. She brought such a change to society, left such a mark for us women everywhere, that you don't even remember her name," the girl snapped. "She's a gossip writer, which is the only reason people read her, a feminist column would not earn any interest and change nothing, simply keep me occupied on a fool's errand so that I may be more palatable."

Benjamin winced. "I can assure you, Miss Bridgerton, that I am an anomaly in this ton. Most everyone else can recall her by name, because Whistledown is a form of excitement -- an intellectual, if you will. And although I, myself have not partaken, I have heard some of her words read aloud, and she's quite clever. Surely, you can match her wit?"

Sadly, Eloise had a point that a feminist column would not fare nearly as well. There was nothing exciting nor salacious about women's rights.

Sighing, Benjamin amended, "I can't pretend to understand your plight, because clearly, I cannot -- no man can -- but Miss Madeleine has a point: can women simply be both, if they wish it? Maybe some women like being married and saddled down with babies. Just as there are no two men who are alike, I would wager the same can be said of women's wants and desires."

While they all piled into the carriage, Eloise seemed far from mollified. She fluttered her fan beneath her chin, pink-cheeked and rattled. "You must know there is no change without fighting, society has never handed anyone rights because they politely asked for them," she said. "I do not want you to duel on my behalf, but I do not want to hide and accept my fate either. To you this may an exercise in debate, to me it's my literal life."

Benjamin frowned, glancing toward Madeleine, who still appeared a touch ashen. Slowly, he nodded. "You're right," he agreed. "For me, this is just an exercise -- something I can easily walk away from, should I so choose. But you...well...at the very least, your family's wealth has secured you the ability to choose spinsterhood, should you desire it, while people such as your friend, Miss Featherington, are not nearly so lucky and must wed in order to remain financially secure." He waved a hand. "I also agree that no battle has ever been won without pushback and, in most cases, literal bloodshed. My question to you is, just how far are you prepared to go? This may not be dangerous akin to events such as the French Revolution, but what if it turns in such a way, and your neck falls upon the chopping block?"

It was a moot point to argue Eloise away from her passions; he knew she would never turn away from her cause, and yet he worried for her. Certain men of the ton were growing quite fed up with her antics, and it wouldn't be long before she said the wrong thing to the wrong person. Unless...

"Try something more middle ground," Benjamin said after a moment. "Being at war doesn't necessarily mean aggression is the best strategy -- sometimes, you need to make the other side believe it was their idea first." He brightened then, a sudden fire of inspiration stirring from within. "You're right that a feminist column would not do well, if it were written by a woman, but what if a man were to write it? You could pen your ideas under an alias...make the ton believe a highly respected and prestigious gentleman is in the corner of women's rights. If nothing else, it might get men to truly stop and consider their alternatives."

"Oh, dear..." Madeleine flicked out her own fan and shook her head, fluttering it madly beneath her chin. "Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear."

"He wasn't surging for me at all, he returned to his violent demeanor only when you stepped in between us! I shamed him out of threatening a woman, but you are a man, therefore safe target and that's what pushed!" Which truly only confirmed to her that men who accused women of being too irrational were generally the ones who couldn't think because of their own emotions. "He proved my point, too. The gall of calling a woman emotional when she's expressing her frustration and not being allowed to study, to be anything, while he couldn't take one single argument without resorting to violence..."

She wished, however, that Benjamin hadn't risked being his target; even if he could very well defend himself, he wasn't the one who deserved to be hit.

But she halted, if only for a moment, with a look of incredulous outraged at the maid's words. Can you not just let nature take its course?

"It is not nature, what society dictates! If ever since I was born I wanted to study and fence and see the world, isn't that my nature? Easy for you to follow what is decided for you when it's what you want!" she argued, striding faster towards the carriage, "I cannot believe you'd deprive your sex of a choice simply because you don't require one, what if society decided that it's in our nature to do boxing, what if the Queen wanted that for us? Would you slip into the ring or would you suddenly find yourself arguing for what you wish?"

"Whatever her name is, the fact remains that she's secured anonymity and safety -- both for her physical person and her familial name."

After he spoke,he was regarded with far less anger than the maid, but also with more disappointment, "Ah yes. She brought such a change to society, left such a mark for us women everywhere, that you don't even remember her name. She's a gossip writer, which is the only reason people read her, a feminist column would not earn any interest and change nothing, simply keep me occupied on a fool's errand so that I may be more palatable. But I want to be free, I want other women to be free, and not forced to go from cage to cage and... have children and live their life entirely depending on their husbands," she could not have sounded more disgusted by the whole concept, "If only I could find Lady Whistledown, perhaps we could put her ability to write to a better use, denounce this unfairness once and for all..."

She did like the woman's style, the way she wrote. She did not care for the subject, however. Getting into the carriage, she sat heavily and fanned herself, cheeks still flushed from the anger. "You must know there is no change without fighting, society has never handed anyone rights because they politely asked for them. I do not want you to duel on my behalf, but I do not want to hide and accept my fate either. To you this may an exercise in debate, to me it's my literal life."

[celestialnxva]

Audacity

Benedict Bridgerton x Reader

Summary: Everyone in the Ton knew that Benedict was someone that did not show his irritation or anger often. However, when it came to his spouse, the Ton realized that an angry Benedict is quite a terrifying one. 

Warnings: fluff, general warning for Cressida Cowper because she irritates me, just Benedict being a loving husband, it does get kinda suggestive in the end.

benedict masterlist. | main masterlist.

To say that Benedict Bridgerton loved you was quite an understatement.

From the moment he laid eyes on you and the way you moved across the room, his eyes had opened to the enchanting world that love had to offer. With each click of your heels against the ballroom floor while you made your way towards him, your ethereal beauty and aura overwhelmed his senses and spirit. His heart throbbed painfully in chest as you danced the night away with him. He would never forget that night and how your body felt against his. If someone told him then that you would eventually become his spouse, he would’t have believed them. 

Yet you were his, and he considered himself to be the luckiest man in the entire universe.

The Bridgertons were the only family in the Ton who focused on love matches, rather than marrying for status. Granted, they didn’t have to exactly worry about their status in society or their financial security, but in every season, each Bridgerton child had found themselves their own, true love match. 

They should all feel jealous towards the family and their luck, but many members of the Ton didn’t seem to care enough to do so or simply admired the family’s fortunes. Either way, they never expressed these feelings, as it would be unwise to make enemies with a powerful family such as theirs. They may not have the highest rank in the Ton, but between their intimate connections with the Queen and Lady Whistledown’s obsession with them, it would be unwise for the Ton to cross the Bridgertons in any way. 

For those lucky souls marrying into the Bridgerton family such as yourself, it was common knowledge that the Bridgertons’ influence extended to each new family members’ reputations as well. After all, they were a lovely family and only wished for the new additions in the family to feel like they were part of their family too. Therefore, it was also an unspoken rule in the Ton not to cross their spouses too. These rules seemed to create a sense of peace between each of the families for the first few seasons with the Bridgertons, until the day you and Benedict announced your courtship and engagement to the Ton. 

All were surprised and many were shocked, as a Bridgerton had taken interest of a foreigner from another country who had only been out to this society due to Lady Danbury’s mysterious decision to sponsor them that season. Many mama’s were angry that yet another Bridgerton child had been plucked out of the marriage mart, and especially angry that it had been done by someone that had never even lived there at all. 

Despite the angry disapprovals from jealous debutantes and mama’s alike, the Queen forced them all to silence their complaints. When you were involved with a Bridgerton, it was common fact that the Queen will be watching closely of the match that blossomed beautifully in front of her eyes. In this season, the Queen had not only taken interest in you, but she sympathized with you and your journey to introducing yourself to this society. It was always difficult to be thrust into a new country without any experience in its local traditions. She of all people knew the pain and anxiety you must have felt this season. 

To make matters worse for jealous members of the Ton, you married into the family with a wedding that was personally overseen by the Queen herself. It seemed that the rest of the families’ luck dwindled down as more seasons passed by with the Bridgertons on the marriage mart, so it was only a matter of time before someone in the Ton finally snapped.

And to no one’s surprise, it was the Cowper family. 

Everyone knew that when they expressed their hatred towards someone, they made sure everyone knew about it. And with the upcoming ball hosted by Lady Danbury and the Queen, Lady Cowper and Cressida Cowper made sure that the whole Ton would know about your dirty little secret. 

———

You were almost tempted by Benedict’s offer to skip the upcoming ball hosted by Lady Danbury, as it would only occur shortly after your honeymoon. Even though you considered what he suggested, you knew that it was only right to attend. After all, you owed it to Lady Danbury for taking you under her wing and securing for you this season’s famous love match. It was only right to go.

“My darling,” you said with a sympathetic look in your eyes. Benedict had stopped kissing your neck and leaned back to stare into your eyes out of concern. Did he say something to offend you? He hoped not. He started overthinking before you leaned in to kiss his forehead tenderly. 

“We must go to the ball, love. I consider Lady Danbury to be a mother figure in my life, and I would also like for you to remember that if it were not for her sponsorship, I would have not met you,” you said lovingly. He supposed you were right. You always were. He grumbled in reluctant agreement. “Then we shall go to the ball.”

“Although,” he said before slyly wrapping his arms around your waist to pull you closer to his chest. He leaned in until his lips were inches away from yours. “Do not think for a second that I will let you wander even an inch away from my side,” he whispered teasingly. You giggled at his antics and wrapped your own arms around his waist as well. “But my love... I was planning to wear your favorite gown that you bought for me the other day,” you whined childishly before your lips pursed into a seductive smirk.

“If you must insist on me staying close to you tomorrow night, I will do so. However,” you paused and leaned in to kiss him slowly before pulling away to shyly look up at him through your lashes. “I will make sure that when I do walk away from you, you will enjoy the sight of me doing so,” you purred before the two of you lost yourselves in each other’s loving embrace for the rest of the night.

———

Everyone at the ball felt the emotional high of being at Lady Danbury’s ball once again, as it was rare for her to host more than one ball each season. They chalked it up to her wishing for her favorite tea time confidant to come back and spend time with her after their honeymoon. That, and it was a rare ball in which the Queen had proposed to host alongside Lady Danbury. Clearly, you were a favorite of the Queen’s and nobody could ever dispute that.

As each family slowly wandered into the ballroom, Lady Danbury’s sharp eyes searched for the Bridgerton family. After a few minutes of searching and feeling a sense of defeat, she finally caught sight of the family walking in with the rowdy bickering between the siblings. She smiled excitedly and made her way to where they had stationed themselves and tapped her cane to announce her presence. The entire family whipped their heads around to look at her and when they did so, they all greeted her warmly. It was then did she finally notice yours and Benedict’s absence. She frowned.

“Where exactly are the newlyweds, Lady Bridgerton?” she asked suspiciously. She saw the other woman flash her a sheepish smile before she spoke. “They wrote to us and expressed their wishes to attend the ball. Rest assured, Lady Danbury, they are most likely making their way to where we are at this present moment.”

Lady Danbury supposed that it was a good enough reason for her to excuse.

With an approving hum, she bid her farewell and made her rounds around the room to make sure that everyone was finding everything to their satisfaction.

It had been what she felt to be an hour that had passed since that conversation when she heard from across the room the gentle lilt of your voice. She turned around towards where the voice came from and sure enough, you were standing with your in-laws, Benedict’s arm wrapped possessively around your waist. It took everything within herself to not roll her eyes at the sight as she made her way towards you.

When you saw your mother figure and sponsor, you practically launched yourself into her arms, catching the lady by surprise. Your endearing actions made your in-laws fall more in love with you. You were just as sweet as Benedict, and it was clear to them that you and Benedict were made for each other. They couldn’t wait to see what new mischief the two of you will cause when you visit them again.

After a short conversation with your family, Benedict decided to dismiss the both of you to fetch a glass of punch together. Just as he promised last night, he refused to let you wander away from his side. The family groaned, knowingly familiar with Benedict’s desire to show you off to the whole world. Not wanting to see such sickening displays of affection, the family (well, mostly Eloise and Colin) dismissed him immediately. With a chuckle, the two of you made your way across the room to talk near the refreshment table, greeting the Queen fondly with a polite bow on the way there.

It had only been but a few minutes alone with your husband before a crowd of (rather fake) debutantes cornered you both with an onslaught of shallow compliments and congratulations for your love match and marriage. You felt particularly uncomfortable, as you were still not used to the passive aggressive behavior and damaging gossip that existed in this society. From where you came from, these antics certainly existed, but they were never as consuming as it was here. When Benedict expressed to you that he wanted to settle with you in the countryside, you couldn’t have been more grateful, as you certainly did not want to associate with this society and their stifling judgements about your foreign status.

As they all spoke to you and Benedict at the same time, you noticed a particular head of blonde hair in an updo and froze in fear: Cressida Cowper was here and that could mean trouble.

In a state of panic, you gripped onto your husband’s arm tighter. When he also saw Cressida, he let out an irritated sigh and reached over to rub your arm comfortingly. It was his way of silently communicating with you that what you were about to face, you would do it with him; together as a unit. Your braced yourself for the moment Cressida finally pushed her way towards the front of the crowd with her drink in hand. Of course, she did it quite dramatically, ‘accidentally’ spilling her drink on other debutantes outfits and kicking their shins painfully to make her way through. When she finally reached to the front, she let out a sigh of relief and flashed the most sinister smile you have ever seen anyone make.

“Well, if it isn’t the Bridgertons,” she cooed before leaning back arrogantly. “The famous love match!”

You winced at her words, afraid of what she was about to say. True to your intuition, she loudly drew the attention of a crowd as she spoke.

“It was quite the love story; a story that was similar to Cinderella’s, was it not?” she sneered victoriously. You went rigid in Benedict’s arms while he was losing his usual calm demeanor. Cressida continued to explain to everyone what she was talking about to the room.

“Of course, it would be such a shame for your new husband to know about your lack of rank or blood relation to any noble family in the Ton,” she announced with a haughty laugh. She was so ugly, inside and out, and she was a terrible person to expose your background in front of everybody. You’ve had enough. You didn’t care anymore that she was part of the Ton. Nobody spoke to you that way. Nobody.

“Miss Cowper, I suggest you choose your next words wisely, or—“

“Or what?” She cut you off. “What will you do? You have no rank.” She leaned in threateningly. “I don’t have to listen to poor foreigners like you, Mx. Bridgerton,” she said and practically spat in your face.

A series of gasps echoed throughout the room. Whether it be because of Cressida’s audacity to behave so poorly in a public setting or a reaction to your status, that you would never know. But what you did know was that Cressida was an evil woman who deserved nothing but bad karma.

At the point, your husband was fuming, and it was actually visible to everyone in the room. It was a foreign sight, since everyone usually saw him to possess a light-hearted attitude and an earnest expression. With that knowledge, there was a sudden shift of energy when Benedict wrapped his arm around your waist protectively. Not only was he pissed off by Cressida’s comments about his spouse, but he was furious that she did it in front of everyone in the Ton, including the Queen herself.

Because of that, he allowed himself to break out of his gentle demeanor and throw his manners that were taught to him completely out the window. Nobody messed with his spouse. Ever.

“At least my spouse has married someone, and that certain someone comes with high status and a lack of care for their background.” Your head perked up to stare at him in shock. You have never heard him sound so angry before. Seeing him so angry compelled you to hang onto every word he spoke to Cressida with the belief that he has the ability to counter Cressida’s rude behavior and ruin her reputation in front of everyone in the room.

He tilted his head to the side and smirked, though this one was not his usual playful smirk. No, this time, it was one that sent shivers down the spine of anyone who was witnessing this confrontation. He continued to speak to her.

“How about you, Miss Cowper? I have yet to see you with any suitors, let alone be married to one!” he said in mock curiosity. He laughed dryly. “You have been in the marriage mart without any suitors for the last three seasons now, yes?” 

Her eyes widened in shock. He grinned at her reaction. “What does that say about you and your reputation? I would like for you to enlighten me on that, Miss Cowper.”

He leaned in and mimicked her mocking stance moments earlier towards you before he proceeded to insult her.

“Let me make this clear. I am a gentleman, and I was raised to respect every person I meet. But when it comes to you, I am willing to set aside my upbringing to tell you how I feel.” He practically growled his next sentence. “My family has been aware of my spouse’s background before my marriage to them, and we still accepted them with open arms. The Queen had done so as well. Do you wish to know why?”

Cressida was scared at this point and completely humiliated by the Bridgerton she least expected to lash out at her. It was always the quiet ones that held the most anger, especially if it involved the bullying of a loved one. She watched as he leaned back to stare down at her with eyes filled with the fury and wrath likened to that of gods.

“You will never compare to my spouse. With your outburst tonight, you have managed to make a fool out of yourself in front of the entire Ton and-- most importantly-- Lady Whistledown herself. If you so much as to breathe in my spouse’s direction—or in any of my family’s, I can assure you that you will regret that decision for the rest of your life.”

She gasped and angrily stared him down. “Are you threatening an innocent lady, Mr. Bridgerton? You should feel ashamed. Where are you manners—“

“You aren’t and will never be an innocent or respectable lady in my eyes, nor in anyone’s eyes, from what I can see right now. I want you out of my sight for the rest of the night and the other balls after that. Your family should tread carefully and be grateful that they will not experience the wrath of the Bridgerton family tonight. But you should know,” he paused before pulling you close to his chest.

“That we do not have to do anything to ruin your life. You have done so yourself. You have dug your own grave. Now…lie in it,” he venomously spat out at her.

When he finished his outburst, the chatter of the entire room had been replaced with a tense and heavy silence. Never have they seen Benedict so furious. If Cressida had spoken ill of you for another second after, they were sure to believe that Benedict could’ve actually done something to actually be scared for her and her family’s lives. But with his words tonight, they already knew that it was enough to humble the family that they despised the most, and that was victory enough for them, after all the toxicity they have spread throughout the Ton for many years.

As for his family, they were a bit embarrassed by his confrontation, but they were more proud of him and his public display of love and protection. The Queen must have felt the same way, as she was the first to stand up from her seat. All eyes shifted to her and waited on baited breath to hear what the Queen had to say. She looked down at Cressida from her place on the pedestal and glared at her.

“Get out of my sight,” she declared in an icy tone. The rest of the Ton gasped and started to whisper sensationally with each other. Cressida felt tears form in her eyes at the Queen’s words and tried desperately to defend herself. “Your Majesty, I—“

The Queen’s eyes flared with fury. “Are you going against my orders, child? I am your Queen and you have finally lost all of my respect. Get out of my sight.”

At this point, her mother had run to her side so she could support her daughter. Of course, she was just as irritatingly rude as her daughter. Cressida did have to get it from somewhere.

“I do not understand. Why does everyone support this pathetic, low-life peasant? They don’t deserve to breathe the same air as you, Your Majesty!” Lady Cowper exclaimed, turning her head to glare accusingly at your timid form.

Hell hath no fury like a mother figure witnessing her child be humiliated in front of her. “Lady Cowper, you are quite fortunate that I do not have you executed for your direct disobedience against your Queen and your questions about my decisions!” She pointed an accusing finger at the Cowpers. “Mr. Bridgerton is right. You are not to step foot into his Ton ever again. So, I will repeat for the third time of what I asked you to do.” Her finger pointed towards the large open doors.

“Get. Out. Of. My. Sight.”

The whispers of gossip became louder at the Queen’s words. At this point, nobody felt bad for the fate of the Cowpers. They finally got what they deserved. As they finally watch the accused party disappear from the ball, everyone assumed back to the lighthearted atmosphere they previously had before. The Queen made eye contact with you and flashed you an affectionate smile. She made a mental note to invite you for tea so she could comfort you. The Bridgerton family across the room had the same sentiments.

Despite everyone defending you, Cressida’s words stung and hurt more than you thought. You didn’t know why you let her words get to you, but perhaps it was because she exposed your secret unfairly to the Ton without any mercy. Finding yourself close to tears, you slipped away from Benedict’s embrace and ran off to call a carriage for yourself so you could go home.

Benedict ran after you immediately, flashing a sad expression to his family and the Queen before he went off to come find you. When he did, he saw that you were waiting outside in the cold with a shawl that covered most of your exposed skin. When he squinted his eyes more, he saw that there were tears that were falling from your eyes and that your eyes were red from crying so much. His heart broke at the sight of your insecurity about his love for you and your place in society, so he decided that he would do everything in his power to make sure you knew how much he loved you with his entire body, mind and soul.

Once you two entered the carriage, you had barely sat down before he immediately pulled you to him as much as could so you were slightly on top of him. He kissed you passionately, his hands delicately rubbing your sides up and down. You let a surprised squeak, but welcomed his passionate actions nonetheless. You always adored Benedict’s very passionate and romantic gestures because it made you feel like a deity incarnate. It was like he worshipped you with his entire being.

You became flustered at his boldness and pulled away to catch your breath. When you did so, he decided to speak while he kissed down your neck. “You are not a Cinderella, (y/n). You are my spouse and the most beautiful creature that God has ever created.”

When he heard your blissful sighs and noises from his kisses, he felt compelled to pull you closer and press your body flush against his chest. He was lucky that there was a barrier of thick clothing, or else he would’ve had his way with you at this very moment. He was that passionate to show you how much he adored you.

“You are my muse, the air I breathe, and the sun to my moon,” he murmured hotly against your flushed skin. You tried your best to quiet down your excitement as he continued to touch your body in a way that flustered you to no end. For a moment, though, he paused his kisses and guided your chin down to stare into your eyes.

“You complete me, my darling. No matter what anyone says, you are perfect for me. You transcend human concepts of perfection and class, as you are the most divine being that rivals the most beautiful of angels,” he said with so much love and adoration for you.

When he saw you tear up from his words, he didn’t hesitate to pull you into a loving embrace, happy to see you feel so comfortable and safe in his presence. You stayed silent, but your actions spoke loudly of your feelings. Each kiss you placed on his face was proud of him for standing up for you and that you were grateful for his endless devotion to you. Most importantly, the lopsided smile you gave to him was your way of letting him know that you were happy that Cressida and the rest of the Ton had tasted the fear that struck into their hearts the moment Benedict decided to confront them all about their pathetic excuses to disapprove of your relationship. After the events that occurred tonight, you knew now that your relationship in the eyes of the public had shifted. They’ve finally accepted what you and Benedict have known all along:

You were his and he was yours. Nobody, not even the Queen herself, could take that away from you both.

If there was one thing the Ton had learned from tonight, it is that Benedict was scary when he was angry. If he felt so passionately about you, then they couldn’t even imagine how you would be when someone tries to disrespect your husband in the future. With that, they realized that your marriage was more than a Cinderella story: it was a love story for the ages, and anyone who thought this wasn’t true would swiftly be reminded by you and Benedict of how wrong they were to think otherwise. They will be reminded about how messing with both of you is like messing with hell itself.

Cressida will know that for the rest of her life, especially after reading the Lady Whistledown issue that was published the next day.

[merlinsbudgiesmugglers]

Saw this post today talking about how one of Bridgerton failings is that it doesn’t take Austen’s “one lesson” of marriage being about money and security and that love should be “rightfully second”.

And, um, I think we read different Austen novels.

Emma marries well, but only because she loves Knightley, she was determined to never marry before she realised she loved him and he agreed to live with her and her father.

Elizabeth definitely marries well, but she turned his first proposal down because she didn’t like him. She could have saved her entire family from an uncertain future if she had put money and security first, but she didn’t. (And this is the second proposal that could have saved her family that she has turned down).

Fanny marries fairly well, though Edmund is a second son and is going into the Parish.

Eleanor marries a disinherited parson.

Marianne probably makes the most sensible financial decision out of all the heroine’s, but that’s only after she’s been scorned by fanciful love. I also don’t think she would marry Brandon without there being any love there.

Catherine marries Tilney who again is a second son parson.

Anne initially turns down Wentworth because it’s the financially sensible thing to do, but when we meet them years later they are still both struggling with those feelings. Luckily Wentworth had made his fortune at that point, but his fortune has very little to do with Anne’s acceptance of him. Her family still are not impressed by their acquaintance.

In fact, women who seem to set out to marry financially well ultimately end up without the happy ending. We don’t know what happens to Caroline Bingley but she certainly isn’t portrayed as happy. Maria Bertram marries well, but she has an affair and is ruined. In fact, most woman that seems to be out just to marry financially well are portrayed as vindictive and mean. Even the men who marry for financial stability (Willoughby for example) are shown as selfish.

[girlkisser13]

being married to eloise bridgerton would include

• CHILDHOOD BEST FRIENDS TO LOVERS>>>

• penelope watched the two of you be hopelessly in love with each other for YEARS while also being afraid that the other didn’t feel the same.

• THE YEARNINGGG

• the thought of marriage never crossed eloise’s mind until she met you.

• she has always thought of marriage as "a prison for women". but you’ve shown her that marriage is simply a promise to each other. a promise that the two of you will spend the rest of your lives together.

• you know that scene in the seven husbands of evelyn hugo where evelyn proposes to celia in their bed and they do the ceremony and everything there? that’s what happened between you and eloise.

• the two of you are cottagecore lesbians.

• she can’t go five seconds without touching you. when the two of you are in public the most pda the two of you do is hand holding (and maybe some subtle thigh rubbing under the table).

• when you guys are in the comfort in your own home, she’s ALL over you.

• kisses on your cheeks, lips, forehead, shoulder, neck, and hands.

• LOVES it when you play with her hair when she reads.

• she especially loves when her back is against your chest with your arms are around her when she reads.

• you, eloise, and penelope have a secret three person book club.

• the two of you have matching lockets with pictures of each other in them.

• yapper + listener= eloise + you.

• she’s definitely the type of person who would wake you up in the middle of the night to ask you a random philosophical question that popped into her head (she’s just like me fr).

• after you guys get married eloise becomes a writer. she writes articles and essays under a pseudonym to advocate for social change and equality. she uses her intellect and passion to fight for a better world,

• you’re her biggest supporter and if you’re also interested in writing, the two of you would definitely write things together.

• neither of you would even think about marrying a man. let’s be honest here, the bridgertons are LOADED. the two of you will not need to worry about needing the financial security of marriage.

• you and eloise are able to create a beautiful and fulfilling life together.

• the two of you constantly gift each other annotated copies of the books that you’ve read.

• you both are fiercely protective of each other's reputations and well-being. any threat to each other will be met with quick thinking and decisive action to ensure your love remains hidden but intact.

• the two of you have a secret language that you guys use to communicate with each other.

• your home is constantly filled with the sound of laughter and lively conversations. she keeps you on your toes with her witty comebacks and playful banter.

• despite the constant secrecy, you'd both continue to pursue your individual interests and roles in society, supporting each other's independence while cherishing your hidden life together. <33

[theviscountbridgerton]

What I’d really like to see in Season Two is for the show to embrace the reality that the Sheffields are hunting for a rich husband because they can’t afford the luxury of a love match. So often in literature and TV, women looking to marry wealthy, powerful men are regarded as gold diggers and looked down on and mocked for their ambitions. It’s always the mothers pushing for it and never the fathers looking to make wealthy and powerful connections and elevate their family’s reputation and status.

In Pride and Prejudice, Mrs Bennet is looked down on for her hopes to have all her daughters married and pushing Jane towards the wealthy Bingley - but as a mother of five daughters and no sons she knows that if her husband dies she and her children face poverty with no means to support themselves, unless her daughters can marry well. Her ambition isn’t for status and wealth, it’s for financial security and stability for her daughter and herself when she’s widowed.  This is the the misfortune that befalls the Dashwoods in Sense and Sensibility - their father dies and their half-brother reneges on his promise  to provide for them, leaving Mrs Dashwood with no income to support herself and her three daughters. 

It’s easy for the Bridgerton girls to seek a love match and turn down offers from wealthy suitors because they have a wealthy brother who will always provide for them, and it’s indicated that Violet has money of her own. If something were to happen to Anthony, the next three men in line to inherit his title are Benedict, Colin and Gregory. The Bridgerton ladies are financially secure and don’t have to make marriage decisions based on practicalities. They have the luxury of saying no. Without the right to possess property, be educated or work for a living, women are entirely dependent on their male relatives to support them financially. In families without a son, the future of the women is precarious. They are wholly dependent on the generosity of the male heir. This is the situation the Featherington and Sheffield women find themselves in now. 

The Sheffields and Featheringtons are like the Dashwoods; they’re two families made up of women who have lost their father and are now without income. They’re only hope of avoiding poverty is for one of the daughters to marry well. For them the marriage mart isn’t about becoming a duchess or a princess. It’s about having a roof over their heads for the rest of their lives. The reality of their situation is that their options are severely limited, they need one of the girls to marry somebody wealthy, somebody who can afford to support three women.

I’d love to see Bridgerton really delve into the Sheffield’s situation, the Featheringtons too - to show why the mamas are so ‘ambitious’, to have them actively pursue a wealthy powerful husband without shaming them for it, for them to court attention from men not to make another man jealous but because it’s the only path they have to financial security.

I think it would be interesting to see the mamas turn their attentions and ambitions on Anthony when it becomes clear that he intends to marry, despite his rakish reputation because he’s rich and well connected and instead of portraying the women’s ambitions negatively, really getting into the politics of the marriage mart and the social significance of why women would seek a wealthy husband over a love match.

[bridgertonbabe]

I can only imagine Philippa and Prudence reactions to Evil!Jack’s revelation, like the man helped secured their love matches and provided them care. Surely this had to be a mistake, Portia also in horrific shock as she can’t believe Jack was a monster all along and only wanted one thing… M O N E Y.

Ngl I see Philippa and Prudence taking Jack's side in spite of everything that's come out about him. He's always treated them nicely and without him they wouldn't be married off. I can definitely see them saying to Penelope something along the lines of "well he wasn't a dick to us" and at that point Penelope couldn't care less what they think. She considers the Bridgertons girls her sisters far more than her actual ones so she shrugs their reaction off (though Colin is pissed on her behalf).

I think Portia would actually be the one to take Penelope's side on the matter and she would admire her daughter for earning all of that money on her own. Money plays a big part in the Featherington family and after the Baron's mishandling in S1 with all his gambling and debts, Portia has nothing but respect for her youngest daughter, delighted that she is financially independent and would never end up in the same position as she found herself in with her late husband. That Jack's motivation to marry Penelope was just to get his hands on her fortune would shock Portia and she would be proud that her daughter avoided such a fate. Not only that but Portia is elated that her youngest has married a Bridgerton - she might not have believed it at first or understood why Colin fell in love with Penelope of all her daughters, but she does see their marriage is that of a true love match, and that's more than she could have hoped for.