⋅˚₊‧ ୨୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅‎♡‧₊˚

Aurora stood at the bottom of the stairs, her handmaiden Stella beside her, the two of them sharing a bored look. "How is it that I take longer to dress yet I am the first ready?"

"Men are such fickle creatures," Stella joked, a teasing smile upon her face.

"They truly are," Aurora laughed. "Will you send Edmund to see if they are almost finished?" The lady nodded, scurrying off to find the male helper. The blonde waited patiently for one of the men in her family to descend the stairs, though it was quickly growing thin.

"My lady," she spun on her heel and faced Edmund, Stella moving to fret over her hair, helping Aurora fix a stray strand that fell from its place. "Lord Jasper has already departed. Lord Bridgerton will be accompanying you." Aurora looked at Stella in surprise. She knew it wasn't uncommon for a man to escort his chosen bride to a ball but he hadn't mentioned wanting to attend with her. She had just assumed they'd meet when they arrived separately. "His carriage sits outside."

"Of course, thank you Edmund," Aurora followed him to the door, bidding Stella goodbye for the evening. Standing with his head down, a single tulip in his hands, and clad in his usual Bridgerton shades of blue, Benjamin anxiously waited for the girl of his dreams to appear before him. He waited merely a few minutes before he heard the sound of the door opening and the click of her heels against the porch steps. Raising his head, his jaw dropped at the sight of her. Her dress was a pale blue shade, the bodice encrusted in jewels and sparkling under the lights that shined above her. She truly was a masterpiece to him. The most dazzling sight he'd ever seen.

"You're looking handsomely tonight, Mr. Bridgerton." He held a hand out to her, helping her ease down the steps until she stood before him. "Rather dashing, might I add." Her gloved hand rested in his and he longed to pull the fabric from her skin. The man craved the feeling of her skin upon his nearly all the time, being dangerously touch starved.

"Lady Hanford, of all the sights I've seen, none compare to you." His deep voice was low as he spoke, only wanting his words to be for her to hear. "Shall we?"

"We may," she nodded curtly, holding his hand firmly as she settled in the carriage, thankful she hadn't fallen or missed a step. "Are you prepared for the evening?"

"I am," he nodded. "Have you foregone your dance card?" His eyes flitted to her wrist.

"I have no desire to dance with anyone else, only you," she spoke with a bright smile upon her face. "You can have my first, last, and all in between."

"I will cherish every step with you," he smirked.

"You've become such a charmer these days," she teased him. "What has happened to brooding, quiet Benjamin I once knew?"

"He fell in love," he told her. He watched as her cheeks reddened, her eyes flashing him the same emotions he felt.

⋅˚₊‧ ୨୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅‎♡‧₊˚

The couple strode into the ball, a dance already happening, and people mingling about. Benjamin searched for any sight of his family while Aurora's attention went to Cressida as she danced with the Prince. She noticed he try many eyes set upon the two blondes as they moved gracefully together, noting the Queen letting out a yawn as she looked around the room bored.

The room grew silent for a moment, all eyes turning to stare above. Aurora followed their glances, her smile widening as she watched Daphne descend the stairs in a sparkling gown. "Look," she motioned for Benjamin to look upwards and he too smiled at his sister fondly. She gasped excitedly as Daphne dropped her fan, the Prince eagerly picking it up for her as they spoke. "I see being a charmer runs in your family," she teased the curly haired man beside her.

"So it does," Benjamin regarded. His eyes were trained on Simon as he watched the man stare openly at his sister. He hadn't known much of their situation, only knowing the little details Aurora shared with him, but even he could see the longing and confliction in the dark skinned male eyes. The man was a close friend to Anthony, Benjamin having only met him twice on his own, but he knew the stories. He'd heard of his many trysts and he so badly wished Daphne wasn't just another to him.

"Could it be true? The season's diamond even more precious and rare a stone than previously thought? For it now appears this treasure is set to join the likes of the Queen's ever so cherished Crown Jewels themselves. The Duke of Hastings I hear was left rather tongue tied last night, as Miss Bridgerton seems to finally grown tired of waiting for him to pose that all-important question. Or, perhaps, the young Miss has simply traded up.

Surprising? Quite. Unreasonable? Of course not. After all, why settle for a Duke when one can have a Prince? And let us congratulate one couple on their own proposal. It did not go unnoticed to this Author the affection between a certain Bridgerton male and the daughter of Earl Hanford. It seems that while one of the diamonds has swapped suitors the other has secured herself a husband."

⋅˚₊‧ ୨୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅‎♡‧₊˚

The new day meant wedding preparations had to be made. Aurora sat idly by as her father and aunt discussed the minute details with the event organizers. She absentmindedly chewed on a biscuit, occasionally voicing her opinion when asked for it. It was a manic day in the Hanford estate, the staff mucking about as they prepared the home for the festivities. At the talks of a ball, Aurora had had enough.

"Father," the man halted his conversation, four sets of eyes staring back at her. "Surely, we cannot just have a simple gathering? One with family and closest friends."

"You have the first proposal of the season, Rora. It must be grand." Madeline tried to reason with her.

"Is it not my own engagement party we are planning? Why can't it be what I want?" She was exasperated. Despite her excitement for balls and the dancing and mingling, she wished to not have something so grand for her own gathering. It was a day the two families would merge, a day where she'd marry the man of her dreams, she hated the thought of having to share that intimate moment with anyone except those who really knew them.

With a chorus of protests, the group chose to ignore her opinion and continued their own planning. She groaned and slouched in her seat, handing Jasper a biscuit as he sat beside her.

"How goes the planning?" He gestured to the group who started to argue over flower arrangements.

"It goes," she sighed. "What do you have for yourself today?"

"There's a boxing match occurring later," he shrugged. "Might attend that."

"That's exciting," she mused. "Can I accompany you?" He looked at her in shock, not even considering she'd ask the question.

"Why?" He inquired.

"Surely a boxing match is more fun than this," she waved her hand towards the other four in the room. "At least at a match, the arguing will be exciting."

"Seems fine with me. Oliver will be attending as well, though."

"Will any of the Bridgertons be going also?" She hadn't heard any stories from Benjamin about the matches though she knew Anthony was always in attendance for them.

"Anthony never misses one. The twins I've seen a few times, hardly ever Colin though."

"Should I wear a dark color in case blood spatters on me?"

"If you feel you must," he chuckled. "I'll tell Stella when it is time for you to dress." She nodded at his words and the two sat in silence as they watched their father and aunt bicker with a stranger over fabric colours. "Maybe if we shall be so lucky, they might start to throw fists at each other as well."

⋅˚₊‧ ୨୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅‎♡‧₊˚

"In a town filled with ambitious Mamas and fortune-hunting gentlemen, marrying above one's station is an art form, indeed. But Miss Daphne Bridgerton's advance from future duchess to possible princess is an achievement that even this jaded author must applaud.

"Though this author cannot dismiss the Duke of Hastings quite so soon. He may have let the diamond slip through his fingers for now, but I shall wager he is not a man to ever hide from a fight.

"And let it be known, that the female Bridgerton was not the only in her family to marry above, Mr. Benjamin Bridgerton securing a higher match for himself. What ever their mama is teaching them must be studied, for surely we can all learn something for ourselves."

⋅˚₊‧ ୨୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅‎♡‧₊˚

The loudness of the place excited her. Men waved slips of paper, eagerly placing bets on the two men who prepared to fight. Aurora spied only a few other females, the sea of men ignoring her presence as they betted. Aurora didn't mind, she enjoyed not having many stares set upon her by the ravenous women of the ton.

Her eyes darted around for one man, tall with curly hair and ocean blue eyes, but she hadn't spotted him. "If father knew I brought you here, he'd have a conniption." A

"And by the time he realizes I am here, it will already be over and be too late for him to have an opinion," she mused quietly. He guided her up the seats, finding an empty spot to settle in. "What normally occurs at these events? Besides the hitting?"

"That's primarily the gist of it," he hummed. "Men yell while men fight."

"Such fickle creatures, indeed," she repeated Stella's words.

"Niece, nephew," Theodore greeted them as he sat beside them. "I didn't know you'd be in attendance Rora," he spared a glance at Jasper who smiled sheepishly. "Only a few women attend, simply escorting their husbands as they enjoy the matches. You should start acquainting yourself with the place, your future in laws are frequent visitors." He pointed to where the four Bridgerton men stood chatting with one of the boxers and the Duke of Hastings.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, please take your seats!" A loud voice echoed around the room, the men rushing about to claim their spots to watch the match. Aurora stayed put between her brother and uncle, her eyes twinkling with anticipation for the fight.

Benjamin, as if sensing she was near, shot his head up to his right. His eyes immediately found Aurora's form. They widened in shock for a brief moment before narrowing in confusion. "Did you know she was coming?" He heard Benedict ask him and Benjamin merely shook his head as an answer. "Well don't just stare at her, go." He felt his twin nudge him but he stayed put.

"I promised to attend with you, did I not?" Benjamin's words warmed his twin's heart. Benedict had quietly feared that once his brother married, he'd see much less of him. He knew he was stupid to worry over such a thing, but there hadn't been a day in his life where his twin wasn't with him and the thought of no longer sharing the same home jolted him.

"That you did, let's sit." Benedict grabbed Colin by the arm and made their way towards where Anthony sat, occupying the empty seats he'd saved. Benjamin tried to give the match his full attention but he couldn't help but glance over to where Aurora sat. She flinched occasionally but the large smile she wore never left her face. She stayed sitting as the Hanford men stood their feet and hollered. Feeling his brothers move, his attention turned back to the match and he shouted along with them.

Aurora's eyes found him straightaway. She'd never seen him in such a state before. He was normally quiet, introverted, but there he stood. Shouting, hollering, his eyes flashing with intensity as he got swept up in the excitement. It was truly a sight to see. She stared attentively as he ran a had through his curls, messing the carefully styled strands. The fight ended though Aurora paid no mind to who had won for Benjamin had turned his intense stare to hers. The eye contact had her body warming, subconsciously squirming in her seat as she gasped in a short breath. His brother garnered his attention, the four men following the others into the gentlemen's club room.

"Are you ready to leave?" She hadn't noticed that only her uncle stood beside her. She glanced to her side curiously before looking back to Theodore. "Jasper's joined the other men."

"Did you not wish to go also?" She grabbed his outstretched hand and held onto it as they descended from the bleachers. They walked amongst the crowd as they departed.

"Despite what you may think, men are horrid gossips. I'm fine with sitting this one out," he grinned.

"Oh, don't I know it!" Aurora laughed. "Some of you men are more notorious than most women."

"Your brother being one of them." The two shared a knowing smile. "Did you enjoy yourself this afternoon?"

"It was quite exciting!" She gushed. "Do the boxing exhibitions occur often?"

"Usually," he nodded. "Though not always the same fighters."

"I would like to go again. You must let me know when the next one is to happen!" Her excitement was contagious, he wore a smile that mirrored her own.

"Let's not tell your father of this outing as of yet," he extended his pinky towards her and she instantly interlocked her own with his. A silent promise was made.