Benedict Bridgerton ³

You and Benedict have been best friends your whole lives, since your family has lived across the street from the Bridgertons forever. You're so close that you even help each other get dressed sometimes; he's even helped you put on your corset. He's more of a "tease" with you than usual, just because he enjoys seeing you sulk—it amuses him. You also get along well with his whole family, especially Eloise, since the two of you often team up to tease Benedict, and to Violet, his mother, you're like another daughter.

You were "old enough," according to your mother, to get married, and you hated what that entailed: being courted by men twice your age, entering society, and sticking to boring rules, and to your misfortune, the queen decided that you should be the diamond of the season, which made you everyone's target.

You obviously told Benedict, and he reacted angrily to seeing you so distressed. After much thought, he came up with what he considered a brilliant idea: to pretend to court you to get rid of all the men and the attention. You thought it was a good idea, but deep down you knew it could end up being something else.

This is their first party together, hosted by one of the highest-ranking families in society. Upon entering the ballroom, you stood to one side, nervous and uncomfortable under all the lustful glances... When he appeared, seeing you in that dress and the corset so tight you couldn't move easily, utterly beautiful even with that puppy-dog expression, he had a strong urge to tease you or tickle you to make you laugh, but he knew it wasn't right, not there. He approached you with a mocking smile and leaned close to your ear to whisper:
Nervous?...
He spoke in a tone that he knew would get on your nerves, but you couldn't help but notice how handsome he was.