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As Aurora readied herself for the next ball, Benjamin's words echoed through her mind. She found herself excited at the mere thought of him presenting himself as a suitor, or even at the idea of asking her for a dance, and suddenly she wished to be present at the ball already. "Which dress do you wish to wear this evening, Miss?" Aurora turned away from her reflection in the mirror to see Stella standing before her closet. With the vast array of dresses hung up, there was only one she had in mind. The dress was one that she had been begging to wear, one she knew no other girl in ton had.

"The one the Modiste just finished." Stella smiled, pleased with her choice. Her newest dress was one that was sure to turn heads, it was simplistic in style, but the color was iridescent. In different angles of lights, the dress would appear to be pink, but in another, the color turned blue. The dress had no other design to it, except for a thin layer of lace that was covering it. It had to be the simplest dress she owned but the one that made the most statement. Stella went about finishing her look for the evening before she escorted her down the stairs to meet her brother in the foyer.

"You sure will turn heads tonight, sister." Jasper smiled as he gazed at her in awe.

"That is to be the plan, brother." Aurora smiled back. "Is Oliver not joining us?"

"It appears not. He has some business with father to attend to. It is to be just you and I this evening." He guided her towards the carriage and assisted her in before seating himself beside her and closing the door. With a bang of his fist, they were off to the ball.

"It has been quite some time since we have had a moment with just us two." Aurora commented.

"I believe it has Rory." The childhood nickname brought a smile to her face as it had been quite sometime since he had last used it. "That guest of ours seems to be taking up all your time."

"He is merely trying to woo his way into my heart. As are all the other men who come to our home." Aurora grinned. "And what of you? Where have you been traipsing at odd hours of the night? Visiting that secret person you've tried to keep hidden from me?" Jasper paled as he realized his sister's words. "Do not fret brother, your secret is safe with me." She patted his leg but he was still tense.

"You mustn't tell father." Jasper begged of her. "He can not know-"

"Know that the reason you can't give him an heir is because the person you are in love with is-"

"You do not need to say it aloud." He quickly shushed her as he glanced around frantically. She suppressed her giggles as he fidgeted in his seat. "How long have you known?"

"Not too long. Your secret really is safe with me brother, I would never tell anyone." She smiled reassuringly at him and he breathed a sigh of relief, kissing the top of her head in thanks. "We have arrived." The carriage came to a stop and the two wasted no time rushing to the festivities. They weren't inside for but a minute before Aurora was whisked away to dance and Jasper went in search of his friends. He found the four Bridgerton men standing by themselves in a corner and he grabbed a glass of champagne as he approached them.

"Bridgertons." He greeted them with a nod of his head.

"Alone tonight, Jasper?" Colin asked, noticing no one beside him.

"No. Aurora is already dancing the night away. I'm here as her chaperone tonight so there won't be any fun for me." Benjamin stood to his full height as he looked around the dancing couples for the blonde girl he spent all day dreaming about.

"And what of her suitor, where is he?" Benedict inquired, noticing the way his twin tensed up at the mention of the Scottish man.

"I didn't care enough to ask." Jasper shrugged, finishing off his drink. The music came to an end but the five men noticed Aurora had another partner lined up, ready for his turn.

"Jasper," the men turned as Violet appeared beside them, "I must know where your sister had her dress made? She's quite the star tonight because of it." The Bridgerton men finally took notice of the fabric, quickly realizing she outshone the other debutantes in attendance, attracting attention from every man.

"Father had it imported from somewhere. I shall have him send you the details so you may have one made for Daphne." She smiled in thanks and left the men alone. "I fear I will have my hands full tonight. Rory is causing quite the uproar."

"When is she not?" Colin laughed. The atmosphere became tense as Anthony nudged Benedict towards Daphne, leaving the other men alone as he walked off to converse with Simon.

"I shall return." Benjamin noticed Aurora leave the dance floor and he quickly made his way to her. "Miss Hanford."

"Benjamin!" She greeted him with a curtsy, ignoring the formalities of referring to him as a Lord.

"You look beautiful this evening." Aurora felt her heart skip a beat as she received what she thought to be her first compliment from him. "May I?" He gestured to her dance card. She lifted her wrist and she watched as he signed his name on the last line. "I may not have been your first dance, but I intend to be your last." He placed a chaste kiss atop her knuckles before leaving her to her thoughts. She was taken aback at his forwardness, not used to seeing him so abrupt and upfront towards her.

"Miss Hanford, a dance?" She smiled politely at the man before her as she nodded, her mind still on the man with perfect penmanship. The man she danced with bored her with the same usual questions, answering them himself before she could muster up a reply. Her night bore on much the same after that, her dance partners becoming increasingly more boring than the last. The night was nearing its end and she wondered when the brooding man who watched her the whole evening would claim his turn. It wasn't until she noticed people starting to leave that he finally approached her.

"My turn." He smirked as he bowed before her. She gave him one of her beaming smiles and curtsied.

"Took your time, have you?" She teased him. "I was beginning to think you had changed your mind."

"When it comes to you, I would never." He replied, his lips twitching into a small smile. "I may not have been your first dance, but every girl knows that it is the last dance that she dreams of the whole night." Aurora didn't know how to respond to him so instead she focused on the steps. She could feel many stares on them as they danced but as he twirled her around, she found herself ignoring every glare and instead kept her mind on the man who held her hand. As the dance came to an end, Aurora was wrapped up in his strong arms. He reluctantly released her, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "You must join my family at our picnic tomorrow."

"You wish to be seen in public with me once more?"

"Always." He bowed and placed a kiss on her knuckles, her heart hammering against her chest in delight. "Until tomorrow, Aurora." She watched him leave with a smile on her face and her cheeks red. He sent her one last fleeting glance before he disappeared with his brothers.

"Have a good time, sister?" Jasper came up beside her, mildly oblivious to how her night ended.

"The best time." She confessed.

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"Let it be known dear reader, that if this bizarre behavior portends yet another scandal, then be sure that I shall uncover it, for there is nothing like an excursion into nature to lift the spirits and loosen the tongue."

"I must confess, Violet, this picnic is far grander than any I could have hosted myself." Aurora greeted her friend's mother with a hug. The Dowager Viscountess was not surprised by the blonde's presence, she had been hoping for her to join them. She noted the girl looked radiant in her usual shade of pastel pink, white flowers embroidered on the fabric.

"You flatter me, dear. Sit wherever you'd like." Aurora looked upon the family and it seemed none of them had noticed she joined them yet. Anthony and Colin entertained the youngest of the bunch with a game, Daphne sat on her own feasting on treats, while the twins sat on chairs talking quietly to each other. Instead of joining her best friend as she usually would have done, she approached the man who extended the invitation to her.

"Lovely weather we're having, isn't it?" The two snapped to attention, both rising to their feet as they greeted the girl. "May I sit?" Benjamin moved aside and allowed her to take his seat, occupying the empty chair beside her. "How has your day been so far?"

"Better now that you are here." Benjamin remarked, much to the surprise of his brother. Aurora simply giggled and matched his smile with her own.

"You've become quite the charmer as of late Benjamin." She grinned. "You must be wise with your words, I may get the impression that you've begun to like me."

Benjamin went to respond but he was interrupted by the sound of his youngest brother calling for the girl to play with them. "Excuse me." She left their side, her small purse discarded on the chair as she joined their little game.

"My, my, my Benji. Are you trying to woo Miss Hanford?" Benedict and Benjamin stood as they watched her interact with their siblings.

"And what if I am?" Benjamin quipped.

"Then I would say that it is about time." Benedict smirked. The two stepped closer to the game, watching in amusement as the Hanford girl easily bested Colin on his turn.

"Bridgertons! I bring cheerful news!" The game was abruptly stopped as Lord Berbrooke strode their way. He stopped before Violet and Anthony, Aurora moving closer to overhear the conversation. She felt a presence behind her and with a quick glance she found it to be Benjamin. He easily towered over her as he glared at the man interrupting their family moments. "I have taken matters into my own hands and sought a special license for my wedding to Miss Bridgerton." Aurora gasped and looked for Daphne, her friend appearing betrayed by the news.

"There is to be no wedding!" Daphne exclaimed.

"I told you I canceled the arrangement." Anthony stated.

"Lord Berbrooke, you look in a great deal of pain. Should we continue this in a more private location?" Violet stepped in between her eldest son and the bumbling Lord at an attempt to keep the peace.

"I require no further conversation." Lord Berbrooke declared. "Though perhaps, I am finally speaking to the true head of Bridgerton House. For if it were you, I imagine you would have instructed your sister to take better care than to encourage certain attentions while alone with me on the Dark Walk at Vauxhall." Aurora felt Benjamin tense up behind her and she discreetly reached behind her for his hand, grasping it loosely as a way to show her reassurance. "Of course, mere heresay of such a scandal could wreak havoc on even the most influential of families." The Lord took a glance around the family, his eyes stopping for a moment on Aurora before turning back to the matriarch. "What would perhaps, Lady Whistledown, do with this unseemly information?"

"Is that a threat?" Anthony glared at him.

"It is certainly not." Lord Berbrooke grinned slightly. "Because in three days I am to marry. I have one of the diamonds of the season. I have the very the best the ton has to offer. I have a Bridgerton." He stated, his eyes darting back to Aurora. "Unless of course, there is another you would be willing to offer in her place." Seething at his words, Benjamin moved the blonde girl behind him, shielding her from the babbling man. "I look forward to the union of our great families." He sent the sneering man a smirk before bowing. "Bridgertons, Hastings. Lady Hanford." Benjamin went to have a go at him but Benedict was quick to hold him back.

"Let us go." Violet rushed to pack things away.

"Yes, I must return home also." Aurora smiled slightly at the family, bidding them goodbye and heading towards her family's carriage.

"Aurora, must you leave so soon?" Benjamin stopped her.

"Yes, I have to make preparations for the next ball." She smiled kindly at him. "Should I be so forward to ask that you will spare time to dance with me?"

"Only your last." He grinned. Aurora smiled widely and took a bold move. Rising slightly on her toes, she placed a small kiss on his dimpled cheek, stepping back once she heard him let out a small gasp.

"Good day, Benjamin." He watched her go with a smile adorning his face. The girl had wormed her way into his heart and though he was highly opposed to it at first, he now found himself with the clarity of knowing that he simply didn't care anymore. He intended to make an honest woman out of the girl, even going as far as to toy with the idea of appearing in her midst as a suitor. He was completely taken by the girl and to his amusement, she had no clue.

"A good day indeed."