Chapter Twenty-Nine: A Devious Ruse

✨Dearest Readers,✨

Here's a long chapter to make up for the long wait. Kudos to Kayla for proofreading  We only have one last to go, but it will be full of mischief and drama and quite possibly a happy ending (or maybe not?). I definitely have a lot of twists in store for you. I also thought that once the story is over, I would share with you some of the books and movies that inspired me (perspicacious readers have already put their fingers on many references) and also write a bit about how the story progressed (and reveal some of the plans that I decided not to include, like Benedict cheating on Franny, or Franny stealing a kiss from one of the other Bridgerton boys...), that is, if you are interested :). For now, enjoy the Bridgerton-Granville supremacy

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"Now I know why prim young ladies are kept in the dark about matters of this kind," Franny pondered with a dreamy smile on her face. Cuddled up comfortably in Benedict's warm embrace she wished they wouldn't have to leave the bed.

"I take it you found the evening to your liking, then?" Benedict teased, raising a playful eyebrow accompanied by one of his languish smiles. He knew just exactly how much both of them enjoyed the night, but there wasn't a man on earth who didn't like his skills praised.

Instead of her usual eye-roll, Franny put her head on Benedict's muscled chest. The memory of how his toned body fit hers perfectly was livid in her mind. How he rained kisses all over her body, how her skin tingled where he touched her and how he ignited a never-ending fire in her.

"Perhaps fun shouldn't be reserved just for the evening," Franny suggested, her voice laced with mischief. Benedict's smile grew wilder and hungrier, as he rolled Franny on top of him. One of his arms snaked around her slender waist, while the other chipped her jaw between his index finger and thumb. Her body felt divine on his, and he couldn't get enough of the sight of her milky skin, her golden locks spread across his chest, her storm-coloured eyes gradually becoming hazy as he proceeded to kiss her senseless. It was definitely heaven.

"My lady, your wish is my command, as always."

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"I was thinking of baby names," upon Benedict's comment, Franny choked on nothing in particular and burst out coughing. The second-born Bridgerton did his best to stop his soon-to-be wife from coughing herself to premature death.

Regaining her composure, she threw a thunderous look at Benedict, upon which any sensible man would have fled. Benedict, a fool in love, however, withstood the assault, among others because facing Franny's wrath seemed to be the lesser evil compared to jumping out of a moving carriage.

"Not for now, of course, I promised to take all precautions necessary, but once we decided to have children," he corrected himself, raising his hands in surrender.

"Children, plural?" Franny added a raised eyebrow to her sneer.

"Of course. A house is empty without children,," Benedict replied, his wide smile remaining undisturbed by his bride's scornful look, "I believe in the last few weeks you have experienced the joys of a big, loving family. And you don't seem to mind any of my sisters' company, not to mention my brothers' either. If you can put up with flying peas, Anthony's scorn and most importantly Colin, you have nothing to fear"

Franny's mouth curved upwards despite herself.

"Very well, we shall have two children then. And I want to name our first-born Zoe."

Benedict, experienced enough not to argue when it came to mothers naming their children, added, "Naturally. And what if our firstborn happens to be male? Unfortunate, I must admit, but perhaps inevitable."

"Then he shall be named Zachary and we will call him Zooey."

Benedict nodded, after all the logic was flawless, "Franny and Zooey, I shall love and cherish both of you."

His sweet comment finally earned him a genuine smile that made his heart swell.

"Albeit, we will have a daughter, I am certain of it. And she will conquer the world."

"I would expect nothing less of her. I hope she will inherit your wits and determination, my dashing smile, and charming personality and the world shall lay at her feet."

Franny beamed at Benedict, who reciprocated her gesture with a wide grin, "What about our second?"

Franny grew pensive for a while, then a wide grin spread on her face. Benedict chuckled under his breath for he adored it when the spark ignited in her eyes.

"Some people hold the view that it is rather silly that you are named in alphabetical order."

"Please do not voice that opinion in front of my mother," Benedict murmured, still smiling.

"Your mother has my utmost respect, but I like to do things on my own."

"Of that I am certain."

"We could pay a tribute to her if we named our future, and in this very moment hypothetical, children in a reversed alphabetical order."

Benedict blinked, not quite won over by the suggestion, "And that would mean, in practice, that our second child's name would start with a Y?"

"Precisely. Ysabeau, Yvonne, Ynes, the possibilities are endless."

"So definitely French?"

Franny waved blithely, "Do not fret, the war will surely be over by the time our children are born."

"And definitely female."

"Naturally, I shall have two daughters."

Benedict, who knew if there was one person on earth who could predict the end of the war and the gender of their unborn children, it would be his betrothed, once again decided not to argue.

"Everything shall be as you wish, Franny. Albeit there is just one tiny problem."

"Namely?"

"I would still need to sire an heir. Otherwise, our estates and money would go to one of my brothers. The thought is not entirely unbecoming, but boys do have their perks as well."