Benedict & Sophie – Their Full Story [Bridgerton S4: Part 2 Love Story]

Have you taken an interest in a young lady? And she says it was because he met someone at my masquerade ball. You met a gentleman? I met a gentleman. Behind the cover of a mask. Stay masked all evening until the clock strikes midnight. I have just found this young lady's dance card, but unfortunately my name is up next. Can you imagine how beautiful a ball would be? It is rare to see someone beaming with joy at one of these things. How would you give anything to go to a ball? Positively spilling out of you. We are free to be anyone we so choose. Just to have that feeling for one glorious night. It is a spectacular night. It was the most extraordinary night of my life. Are you not also hoping to be noticed? Being looked at as if you belong in the room instead of as if you were a part of the furniture. Truly? Truly. It is only one night. I am merely hoping to enjoy myself. All to yourself. Singularly self-possessed and yet you do not feel as if you fit in. Anything can happen. You're the artist. Do you see anyone remotely inspiring? I see my reputation precedes me. Not exactly a part two. Merely a second self. There are advantages to being the second born. You are number two. Yes. That is my name. Heirs have the responsibility. Second sons have the fun. Which requires you to be a gentleman and not a... You really did not know who I am? Not until now. You and I both know I am not the Bridgerton anyone should give their heart to. I am charting an adventuresome course outside good society. I am a lover of pleasure, a free spirit untrammeled by mere convention. You are a rake. Oh, I am not looking for a husband. You are not? No. The eligible ladies of the tom, many of them are lovely but they all have the same dream of marriage. You're not like the other young ladies, you know. They display no true animation, no zest for life, no personality. You can now respect what they're all up against. You must remember that those young ladies have spent their entire lives preparing for the pursuit. Hundreds of hours of preparation. All in the hope that you might simply notice them. You sound as if you have been made a new man. I asked her many questions but her answers were few. Who are you? Where did you grow up? Here. It's the art of revealing precious truth with words. To lift us up from the drudgery of a humdrum existence. I feel more comfortable appreciating the details of an event than I do participating. People become quite senseless when they're envious. She's right. I am envious. When one makes an error, one is meant to apologize. Please accept my deepest apologies. I am cleaning a thousand shoes. My fingers are cramped, of course my back is up. What is even worse is that that man is a notorious rake. How dare you? Is that something you do? Unserious one and free spirit. Put all of the attention on others so that no one might see beneath your surface. What is it truly to admire a woman? I cannot dance. A lady who cannot dance? Why me? Why is it that you wish to dance with me? To look at her and feel inspiration? You are perhaps the most intriguing person I've ever met. To delight in her beauty. You are quite the teacher. And you are quite the pretend student. That is what the true poet describes. What does it mean? It is nothing. It was a moment and it is over. This author cannot help but wonder what he is searching for. We must find the owner of this glove. You have her glove? Why ever do you have a lady's glove? Because a lady lost it. Benedict has met a young lady. Ah, I'm merely trying to return a glove. I simply would like to thank this particular young woman for a genial conversation. If I cannot know your name or where you live, how will I have a moment to call on you tomorrow? I will never see him again. That will not be possible. I do not even want to see him again. When would I ever see him again? What if he's looking for you? He's looking for you. Has this handsome gentleman come out of the cold to join the warmth of society? Perhaps he will recognize you. He will not. Perhaps there is a particular lady whose company he seeks. You should go in. It's one night a moment. He does not even know what I look like. She left before the unmasking. I did not even get her name. She dropped this in her haste to leave me. Could it be that this rake has reformed? I barely know what she looked like and can no longer remember the sound of her voice. Searching for her has been fruitless. How is the search going for the young lady from the masquerade? I am not getting married anytime soon. You wanted to. Though it seems the suitor for whom they thirst has eyes only for a woman who has yet to appear. To the glove lady. I thought it could be possible. She clearly did not agree. There must be someone out there for you. Mr. Bridgerton. You certain we've not met? Forgive me, but do we know one another? No, we do not know each other. How could we have, sir? Name only a maid. What is your name? Remind me of your name again. I did not give it. Please tell me your name. Who could have imagined that so very much would be upended by one unassuming maid? She's only a maid! Apologize to her! What is happening between him and her? Treat a woman in such a manner ever again, an old person shall never return to society. He certainly does not treat her like a maid. You will be sleeping in your guest bed. You'll do no such thing. I've already said, you are my guest. Mr. Bridgerton is most kind, but I would not mistake his kindness for familiarity. Sophie. Mr. Bridgerton. Also, it is going to rain. I do not think so. It is going to rain. It is not. Keep going! Go, go! No! Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go! Will you please call me Benedict? Mr. Bridgerton. Benedict. Call me Benedict. Altitude! I climbed through the window. What are you doing out here? I am taking my daily walk. And these paintings? It was a passion of mine. I've forgotten how much I enjoyed this. The style is unrestrained, but it gives the impression of real feeling. You are an artist. No, I, no. Excuse me. We might be here all night. We will hardly see one another. I was most certainly not spying. I think you were. I was not. You assuredly were. I was not! All my paintings are unfinished and most of them aren't even any good. Dreams seem tangible. In fact, it was one of the happiest weeks of my life. Perhaps he likes her. He cannot like her. No, we should not. We should not what? One must eventually wake up. I hope you do not... I apologize. I should not have... No, I apologize. I should... You bring a maid to this house, yet you do not treat her as such. It was improper. I regret it. You need not apologize. It is important for all of us to remember our place. As soon as we are on the road, we need not speak of it or this episode ever again. Are you still cross at me for bringing you here? How short, exactly? So short, in fact, that your new job is where I live. No. Ever since I was a child, I wish to be part of a family like yours. There is something about her that makes me want to protect her. Please do not go. Start with how someone as educated as yourself ended up in the countryside. It is rare to encounter a maid who... Lady Penrith thought it best they not continue with Rosamund and Posey. I never met a maid who knew so much about art. It seems almost as if Sophie is running from something. It is my home as well. How dare you? This was never your home. The late Lord Penrith did not include you in his will. I do intend to learn your secrets. Please, do not leave. If you wish to stay, I do not want to jeopardize that for you. You have no idea what it is like to be in a room with someone you cannot live without, and yet still feel as though your oceans apart. No. Sometimes it is easier to stay in shallow water. It takes courage to live outside the traditional expectations of society. With a little imagination, possible seems possible. You do not have to do the housework. Leave it. I shall do it. May I help you? Do not be foolish. Dull to swim in the same waters day after day, even if they are warm and pleasant. Gentlemen meet eligible young ladies, and I am a maid, and I clean up after. It is the way of things. You mean always to be on your guard? That is no way to live. Do you believe I am afforded that choice? We do miss our time in the countryside. Well, you may see her as a friend, but her station does not allow her a choice in the matter, does it? You should not have to witness it. It is highly unhelpful when you say things like that. Even more so when you fill my head with foolish ideas, as you did last night in this very spot. Whatever there is between the two of you, she must acquiesce because it is what you wish. You talk of doing the same. Be my mistress. Your mother was a maid. A maid who let herself become a mistress. But perhaps it is merely just that. That all the world's a stage, with us each a role to play. She died when you were very small. With no title, no money, no dignity. You wish to be true to yourself, then be who you are. This is the very best position I have ever had, but I cannot stay if you are living here and you are ruining it. If you wish me to leave, I will. You deserve more. I meant it when I said you deserved better. Now I'm determined to give it to you. Every day, everywhere I turn, there you are. What about honour? Romance? What would you know of either? If this lady is important to you, do not let her be like one of the projects in your study. Something you are passionate about today, but forget about tomorrow. It must be so very difficult to want something and not be able to get it. Beings from opposing worlds are often drawn to one another. But the truth is, I stay away because you consume me. It will burn, should they meet. So much so that all your defences crumble. You are able to do whatever you want, so do it. Be bold. She is not a person of any rank and I asked her to be with me. Why do I search for you everywhere I enter? Making her your mistress is the only way tolerated by society. We cannot be together, Alfie. It is a terrible thing to have been asked. You did not answer my letter. Because I do not wish to see you. You did not answer my letter. Why do you find it suitable to kiss me? I had hoped for an answer. To whether or not I will be your mistress. Because you are irresistible. Tell me what is wrong. It will be easier to inform you of what is right. But why is it suitable? Sir, please, let us stop this. I cannot be subjected to more. You are asking me to relinquish my virtue, my dignity, my self-respect, all to be reduced to a glorified courtesan who will never be able to marry. I'm here for you. But I did not ask you to be. Do you not understand that? I may not be as high as a lady but I refuse to be that low. I did not ask you to show me a world that could never be mine or to let me believe it could be. I am necessary and now here you stand, attempting to rob me of that too and for what? There is not a single moment you do not fill my mind. Shall we please watch? I apologize. For if you did, you would know that being your mistress is the last thing I would ever want. I will leave first and no other servant see me. I do not care who sees, all I care about... Of course you do not care who sees but when do you stop to think about me? Forgive me, I will go. No matter her rank, the woman truly desires to be hidden. I know there's nothing more terrifying but once you've met that young lady who was meant for you, who challenges you, sees you as you are, you cannot let any amount of fear stop you from letting your heart speak. I've heard every qualm you've raised about being with me and I wish there was some other way for us to be together. But we are not in a fantastical world. But the thought of spending a single day without you torments my soul. You would willingly take on any pain, any burden. Do you need something? No, I found it. My heart beats when you're near. To honour her being with your deeds and words. You deserve the very world but how else am I to be with a woman society has made it impossible for me to be with. But if I'm learning anything from my art studies, it's that it is almost always a matter of perspective. The woman I was foolish enough to fall in love with. What? And one day you will meet a suitable young lady. I did in fact meet one. Do you have feelings for her? I did. It is you that I want now, Sophie. I love you, Sophie. You cannot. No, I cannot. Society's rules make little men out of all of us. A maid, Benedict. I cannot love a maid. I cannot be with a maid. It is not a dalliance. I cannot think of a maid every waking hour longing for a life with her and yet... I am intent on showing you how serious I am. You have taken possession of me. I have not agreed to be with you. Shot me back to life. But we... We've caught up in the moment. I was not caught up. Who wishes to be in one single place besides you? I love you, Sophie. For as long as I might live. You love me but you can never be with me. And what if you change your mind? You will change your mind. Your attention will be drawn elsewhere. Promises can be broken as easily as they are made. Hiding from your family every day until night falls. I promised myself I would never, never fall into bed with a gentleman. I want you. I've wanted you for so long. But you and your stupid hair and your stupid eyes and that stupid smile. It is not ideal or proper as you deserve. Good thing I am no gentleman. But is it not better than not being together at all? I love you. Of course I love you. Then let me love you. You have shown me a tremendous amount of love. More than I have felt in a very long time. My love for you is greater than anything I've felt before. Love is always a thing to be proud of. Believe that the love I felt in my head was made up from the beginning. Believe that I should not expect you to recognize me or love me or commit to me. Sophie. If you ever have a family, what the reality of life would be like for those children? It was about love. Forgive me if I'm not convinced that love is enough. I thought it could be enough. I will show you it is. I wanted it to be enough but we both know it is not. Sophie does not want to be with me. I could not live with myself if I tore you away from me. Very much that that is the case if you ask her to marry you. Please do not call what happened between us a mistake. All I have ever wanted for my children was to find love. I must ask you to release this woman at once. So if you have found it, you deserve to go after it before it is too late. I may never be able to make you my wife but I will be bound to you in every way that counts. If you marry Sophie, it will never change how much I love you, Benedict. He is clearly lucky. How long have you known? A silver ingenue who can never be seen again. A silver ingenue. I met her at the masquerade ball my mother hosted but she left before I could learn her name. I found your necklace in my bedroom last night. You're the person I've been searching for all my life. I never wish to lie to you. Do not leave me. You put your hand in mine. He does not want to find me. He wants to find the lady in the silver gown. I could not stand to think of your disappointment. Upon learning that the woman you searched for all that time would turn out not to be an enchanting young lady but she is not real. Me, a perfect fantasy. I'm not certain she even exists. At least not in the way you had imagined in your head. Trying to remember this moment exactly so that if I wish. The very last thing I feel knowing it was you is disappointment. I can escape here. It is all very well to dream but Benedict, you can only chase the imagined. I fell for you at the masquerade because you saw me. Perhaps it's why you were so drawn to it. What kind of a man would I be if I only ever saw you as the lady in silver? I also know that reality is where love grows. Reality feeds your heart. The reality of you has become more tantalizing than any fantasy ever could be. Quite the fantastical tale. Made gentleman in love. Time for everyone to reveal themselves including you at last. You'll have to see it in equal portion, darling. The woman Benedict Bridgerton is in love with, a woman capable of making that man settle down. It still does not make you legitimate or an appropriate match for a gentleman. And I do not care about whether you're appropriate or not. While the Queen's blessing their union might protect us all from a scandal. You would have made a wonderful diamond. Will you not wade out deeper with me? One I cannot live without. Will you marry me? Yes, yes I will. I can stay. I was hoping you might stay forever.