9.

                                    

                                          

Seven Months Later.
It only took two more months to marry her.
Three more months to move to London.
Then another two months after that led him here...
To standing in his daughter's nursery, holding her hand, looking into her beautiful crystal blue eyes. He couldn't believe just how lucky he was. "Aggie, we're going to have to discuss a few rules ok..." Benedict started to say unknowingly being watched by his wife who was leaning against the doorway, "... firstly, no boyfriends, until you are at least 30, and no miniskirts, oh and of course...  I forgot, you are absolutely never allowed to listen to Auntie El, she is a very very very bad..."
"Are you trying to tell our daughter to disobey and ignore her godmother?"
Benedict turned with his daughter in his arms and smiled.
"Absolutely, she's an evil woman, isn't she my darling..." Benedict said cooing over his daughter.
"She needs to sleep Ben, in her basket," Penelope pointed to him to put her down.
Benedict shook his head, "but she likes my arms so much better."
"Benedict."
He rolled his eyes in protest, "Fine. But I'm only doing this for one reason and one reason only."
Penelope raised her eyebrow in confusion, "what's th..."
Before she could finish her husband's hands were around her waist and he was slowly pushing her out of the door with his hands on her hips. "So I can make stupid mad love to my wife of course," he said seductively while nibbling down her neck. Penelope laughed, "Benedict, I haven't shaved, I need a shower, and I'm sure I stink of a delightful aroma of milk and baby sick."
Benedict pulled back and grinned, "Oh baby, don't tease..."
Penelope laughed, "you are something else Mr Bridgerton..."
"Only for you my love..."
And Two Years Later After That...
"Are we really not going to discuss this?"
"I don't know what you want from me Penelope."
They had been bickering for a good few months. Benedict had been promoted within the art department – it was a great pay rise, but it was more demanding with teaching hours and hours physically spent on Oxford Campus. (The commute wasn't long, but traffic could delay him getting home sometimes, and Penelope was tired... so damn tired of feeling alone)
"I just want my husband to spend time with me."
Benedict sighed and quickly pulled the car over. Her heard the struggle in her voice, and he couldn't handle it. They had managed to secure a babysitter for the night as it was their anniversary, and the majority of the night had been spent in either arguments or silence. He didn't say anything as he unbuckled his seatbelt, but he got out the car and leaned over the railing of the bridge they had stopped on.
"Benedict, get in the bloody car," she shouted from the passenger seat.
"No."
"Benedict we are in the middle of nowhere, and I want to go home."
"No Penelope."
He heard her open the door and slam it.
"Christ! What is going on with us Benedict!"
He turned towards her. She looked absolutely beautiful, but then she had done, all night, and he just remembered that he hadn't told her once. He saw her run her hands up her arms and sigh exhaustively. She looked so hurt, so lonely and it was all his fault.