Chapter 25

A Friday morning, at the Church where the future Duke and Duchess of Strathearn were going to get married, were the Princess, her Private Secretary, the Queen, the Prince Regent, all the Bridgertons, including the Duke and Duchess of Hastings, with the Archbishop of Canterbury.

At the moment, Thomas was with Benedict and Charlotte discussing a few details of the ceremony.

"Alright, I have written down the songs to be sing at the ceremony. Now, there is a well known soprano here in London, Miss Siena Rosso," Thomas explained. Anthony's head immediately snapped in the direction of the Private Secretary, and the Viscount received a brooding glare from his mother. "Miss Rosso will lead '', as the rest of the people in the church sing as well. After that, His and Her Royal Highness will walk out of the Church, and to the carriage."

"Alright," Charlotte nodded.

"Now, about the bridesmaids and your pageboy..." Thomas spoke directly to Charlotte, who only nodded and the two walked away towards the Bridgerton girls, and Gregory.

Benedict stayed behind and remembered he had to ask his brother to be his supporter. He wanted to ask Anthony, whom despite everything, has always been there whenever he needs him...whether it is to talk, or just to pass the time.

He suddenly remembered the night he was slapped in the face by the duel, and how there was a possibility for him to become the man of the house, the Viscount Bridgerton. He was terrified of the fact of losing Anthony, but it was also a moment that connected them in the strangest of ways.

That was something Benedict deep down never wanted. To lose his brother.

He also remembered the day he found Anthony alone with Charlotte in his office. Benedict was not the jealous type, or at least he thought he was not, until that day. And specially since Anthony admitted to him his feelings for her.

But he was his brother. There was no way he could held him any resentment for that, or anything. And more importantly...he didn't want to walk down the isle of the church without his brother by his side.

"Anthony," the Viscount turned around at the mention of his name. "Can I talk to you for a second?"

"Of course," he nodded and the two walked a bit far from the two families to speak. "What is it?"

"Do you still love her?" He blurted out the question.

"What?" Anthony frowned and shifted uncomfortably where he stood. "You mean Charlotte?"

"Of course I mean her. Who else would I mean?" He sighed. "I just... There is something I want you to be, and I...do not want you to feel uncomfortable."

"You can ask anything of me, Brother," he placed a hand on his shoulder. "Absolutely anything. It is your wedding. I will do anything for you."

"Thank you," he nodded, with a small smile. "But..."

Then, he thought of Colin. The eldest of his youngest brothers. The one he was spent most time with since Anthony became the Viscount. He couldn't left him out.

And one last thought crossed his mind... If Charlotte could have all his sisters as her bridesmaids, why could he not have all his two brothers as his ''?

"Colin," Benedict called for him too. He excused himself from his conversation with George and walked towards his two brothers.

"What is it?" Colin asked once he arrived to their side. "Is everything alright, Brother?"

"Yes. Everything is absolutely fine," Benedict said with a smile as he placed a hand on each of his brother's shoulders. "I just wanted to ask you two... If you could grant me the honor of being my supporters on my wedding day?"

"It would be my honor," Anthony said with sincerity as he squeezed hi s brother's shoulder with a grateful smile.

"I would love to," Colin nodded and also placed his hand on his brother's shoulder.

Seeing the way they had a hand of each of their shoulders, the three hugged each other tightly. It's always been the three of them. The three eldest. And now, one of them, was leaving the house in just a matter of a few weeks.

But they knew for certain... They will always be brothers, no matter what.

They pulled away and patted each other's backs with chuckles and smiles before they walked back to the others. Just in time, the Private Secretary finished explaining the bridesmaids how they had to make the entrance.

"Shall we begin the rehearsal?" Thomas asked the Princess. She looked at Benedict, who nodded that he was ready. "Has His Royal Highness chosen a supporter?"

"Yes," he nodded. "The Viscount and Mr. Colin Bridgerton."

"Ah. Two? But it is..." Thomas paused when he noticed the glare from the Princess and her raised eyebrow. She knew her Private Secretary just wanted to follow tradition, but it is HER wedding, and her betrothed could have as many supporters as he desired. "Yes, sir. Alright. Then the Viscount walks on your right, and Mr. Bridgerton on your left; when they reach this end, where we stand, the Viscount stands on your right, and Mr. Bridgerton next to him. Is that clear?"

"Yes, sir," both Anthony and Colin nodded.

"This is just a rehearsal, Tommy. Everything will be fine," Charlotte chuckled softly and looked at George. "Shall we, Brother?"

"Of course," he nodded and looked at the Bridgerton girls, and Gregory, who nodded back, and walked behind them towards the entrance.

"I really wish Papa was here," she whispered to her brother, who looked at her with sympathy. "I know it is for the best that he does not attend, but I am sure he would have loved to be the one to hand me over."

"Hand you over? If anything, Benedict Bridgerton is the one handing himself over to the Crown," he said with chuckle...half jokingly and half seriously. "He will live under its residencies, under its rules, under its utter miser—"

"Do not be like that, Brother. May I remind you, you have lived all your life under its residencies, under its rules, under its utter misery, as you say, so stop complaining about it," Charlotte stated, and sighed. "Benedict can handle it. I know he can."

"May God hear you, Sister. For your sanity and his," he said sincerely, and she could not hold back on rolling her eyes. "And I must say, not even my own wedding was this rehearsed. It happened so fast, I can barely remember it."

"You mean the wedding you were heavily drunk?" Charlotte countered with a glare, and her brother scoffed. "The legitimate one, I must remark."

"Very funny," he stated sarcastically.

"Behave yourself. Please! This is going to be my wedding. One of the best days of my life! And here I thought you were happy for me," Charlotte whispered angrily to him once her bridesmaids and pageboy walked passed them, so they could not overhear them easily. "Can you at least pretend to be happy for me?"

"I am happy for you, Sister. Truly. You are marrying for love, legitimately. And not to your cousin like I did," he said sincerely, and sighed. "I am also proud of you. I hope everything turns out well."