Spinsters by choice: A bridgerton Fanfic!

Knocking few times, "Young master? Can I come in? I brought you something to eat?" Gertrude called as she stood by the workshop's door, she was pushing a cart carrying some refreshments for Fabian.

He has been inside that room all by himself for hours already, and she was feeling a bit worried about him, so Gertrude decided to use the tea and cake she brought as an excuse to check on his wellbeing.

"COME IN!" Fabian replied.

Smiling, Gertrude opened the door and began pushing the cart inside, her cheerful expression soon turned into a mischievous one as she grinned at Fabian.

He was standing by the working table, wearing a red apron and his hands were gloved while he worked on something diligently.

"That apron fits well." Gertrude said.

Still with his view focused on what he's working on, "What? Sorry I was not listening?" Fabian replied.

"I said the apron fits well, you and the late Lord do have similar builts." Gertrude said.

"I am taller than him." Fabian said proudly, "And apparently even more arrogant as well." Gertrude mumbled.

"Sorry Gertie, I did not hear you once more?"

"Nothing, I was just wondering...what is that in your hands?"

Fabian smiled at her question, "I thought this would turn out to be boring, but I am taking a liking to this wood crafting thing.

See for yourself, I just made a small boat!" Fabian said excitedly like a little boy as he handed Gertrude a simple enough but pretty neatly crafted boat, the size of his hand.

"You just made this, on your own?" Gertrude was amazed.

"Yes! Well done for a first time? Is it not!" Fabian replied.

"Young master this is actually...brilliant! You might've found a hidden talent of yours!"

"I have decided I will practice every chance I get from now on, I want to be able to make A present for Safa as soon as possible! I want to see her smile when she receives it!" Fabian said without realizing at first, but when Gertrude gave him a confused look, his face turned red.

Embarrassed, "Did I say the last part...out loud?" He asked and she nodded.

"Sorry that was not meant for your ears..." He said.

Sighing, "Listen young master...I'd like to warn you about something." Gertrude spoke-up, handing the boat back to Fabian.

"About What?"

"You already know that lady Vega has decided to stay away from the marriage market."

"I do..."

"So don't do this to yourself."

"Do what Gertie."

"Get your hopes up, chasing after a girl who has no need for a husband." She said, "It is my fault we are having this conversation, I suppose.

I made it that obvious that I was charmed by Safa..." Fabian said, "But I do not plan on chasing her...she might be what I desire now but not what I need.

Not to mention, we are both tragic individuals, I cannot see us united in happiness." He added looking down at his boat with a sad smile.

Sighing again, "I'm just doing my job as your servant, however... Should you both, not just one of you but both you and Safa have a change of heart at the same time and decided to get married, i want you to know my opinion on such Union which i believe would also be the opinion of your late aunt..." Gertrude said.

Curious, Fabian turned to look at Gertrude, "What opinion? My aunt had an opinion about Safa and me?"

"Yes, I think you two would be perfect for one another...i know it's not the healthiest thing to say but I believe you two would be able to heal each other and find happiness, should you both choose to seek it." Gertrude replied.

Blushing, "Oh...I see, I shall keep that in mind." Fabian said.

"Anyhow, eat something, I shall go continue my duties but when i come back again to check on you, I expect at least one eaten piece of cake." Gertrude replied with stern voice before she walked away.

Once she left, Fabian laughed a little, "Haha! What a woman, my Aunt must have adored her." He mumbled to himself before he glanced once more at his boat then at the whole room.

"I do not know if you can hear me, Lord Struat, I still think you were an annoying prick, but thank you for this room..."

...Some time later...

"James?"

"Safa?"

When the carriage carrying Wolfgang and the two girls stopped at Safa's estate, the trio descended from the ride only to find another carriage was already waiting there.

James has just arrived some minutes before the group, but when he noticed that the doors were all locked and no one seems to be inside, he became worried and waited there, hoping that the three just went on a late carriage ride to breath some fresh air.

But the sun was about to set, did they really go on a carriage ride?

"I apologize, did you wait for too long?" Safa asked, but James was busy staring at Clara in her disguise.

While carrying Denver in his arms, "James! I'm sorry I didn't leave you any note or something, I thought you won't be back until well into the night." Wolfgang spoke-up.

"Why are you outside, dressed like this?" James asked Clara.

She smiled nervously as she said, "Safa lent me her things...and then, We went to that famous modiste, Madam Delacroix!"

"My modiste recommended her, and since Clara was eager to have a day at the modiste, we took her there...is there a problem with that?" Safa asked while eyeing James's dumbfounded expression carefully.

Wolfgang can easily see that James was not doing well, so he gave Denver to a confused Clara and said "James, come with me for a second to the garden." before he approached the redhead and started dragging him away.

"Huh, what a strange reaction, I thought that he of all would start flirting relentlessly with you once he sees you all dolled up." Safa said to Clara, "Who?James? He never outright flirted with me to be honest, sometimes he would compliment me but it's often silly innocent compliments like, 'Clara you're so smart!' or 'Clara you're adorable.'...but he also he apologizes." Clara replied.

"Apologizes? What for?"

"Like yesterday, when he apologized because Wolfgang and I did the dishes while you and James talked...he must've been ashamed that we had to clean while he sat comfortably, since we're all supposed to be friends now."

surprised, "James apologizes to you when you do your job as a maid?" Safa asked.

"Not everytime I do my job, but almost every apology he gave was while I was cleaning or doing my work...at first he was apologizing a lot and I think it's because of how young I was, everyone else was mature and old and I was 16 when I started.

He must've felt bad for me.

But after a while, his apologies became less frequent although he Still gives them from time to time, I guess it became a habit for him." Clara explained, she looked down at Denver who started back at her with big eyes making her laugh.

"How peculiar...Anyhow, James would not be James without his peculiarity.

Come, let us go inside the house, I cannot wait to rest my feet, I need my full strength before I decide what punishment I will be giving Wolfgang for the stunt he pulled earlier." Safa said earning a giggle from Clara.

"Aww c'mon the boy meant well! Please let him off the hook this time! You already refused to talk to him the whole ride!" Clara replied smiling.

"I see that You are using your cuteness against me, but I will not be falling for your charms this time, I am adamant about making him pay!" Safa said.

"WOOF!" Denver barked and startled growling at Safa.

"Hehe, Denver doesn't like you talking about punishing his Papa." Clara said giggling.

...Meanwhile...

Why did you bring me here?" James asked, "You were acting strange again." Wolfgang replied.

Sighing, "I'm sorry, it just... Clara never left my side for the past 6 years without me knowing where she is exactly, so I wasn't expecting her to be gone anywhere when I came back." James said.

"She was with me and Safa, besides...You do realize that she is her own person? Clara I mean? Just because she's your maid doesn't mean she has to stay put until you give her permission to go anywhere!" Wolfgang replied.

"I'm well aware of that, I was just worried about her and then I saw her in that dress..."

"I don't understand, you knew she was going to get a gown sooner or later because of Safa, why were you surprised that Clara was wearing an actual gown?"

"Nothing Wolf...I was just surprised because she seemed pretty in that dress..." James replied.

"James, why are you always so caring about her? I've seen how you treat other servants, you're always professional and you keep a distance with them, but Clara... you've always been invested in her.

Does this have something to do with the secret you've been harboring?" Wolfgang asked.

"Wolf... Now is not the time."

"When is time then James? When this whole thing ends up bursting in your face?"

"I'm sorry, I'm really tired I want to rest." James said, "Fine! You can go rest, but I'm going to remind you, that I'm here for you, if you wish to finally unburden yourself from that secret." Wolfgang replied.

"I know..."

"Then, come, let's go inside...I probably have a punishment waiting for me."

"What for?" James asked, "Safa refused to go into madam Delacroix's shop so I threw her over my shoulders and carried her there, and put her inside with Clara." Wolfgang replied.

Surprised, "You did what?! How are you alive?!" James asked.

"I don't know, it's a miracle she didn't kick me out of the carriage...I thought she would at least try to stab me with the cane." Wolfgang replied.

Sniggering, "Hehe, Sounds like you three had quite the day." James said, "We did, Clara was the happiest I've ever seen her today." Wolfgang replied.

"Thank you Wolf."

"For what..."

"I know it's out of your control, but thank you for loving me...your feelings have brought us together this way." James said.

Blushing, "You're really behaving oddly today." Wolfgang replied.

As the color of sky has changed to its last shade of pink before it began darkening, the sun was almost gone now and James gave it a one last long look, "This moment, right here, with you, is all I could ever need right now." He said sighing.

"For a man who isn't sure of his own feelings, you sure do know how to make my feelings stronger for you..." Wolfgang replied with a defeated smile.

Suddenly, he was puzzled when James approached him and wrapped an arm around his waist pulling him closer, their faces were now almost touching.

"James...!"

Wolfgang could hear both their hearts banging in his ears, James was as nervous and as excited as he was.

"Can I kiss you now...or is it still too early Wolf..." James asked.

With a shy nod, "Go ahead." Wolfgang whispered.

...Meanwhile...

"Oh my god! Safa come quick! Hurry!" Said Clara who was spying on the couple from the drawing room's window with Denver in her arms, "What now?!" Safa asked and approached the window.

Despite the dark taking over the sky, The two ladies were able to witness as James and Wolfgang kissed passionately without a care in the world,

"WOOF! WOOF!" Denver barked loudly.

"Shush! I know your Papas are kissing but don't be so loud! They might hear you and stop!" Clara replied.

Grunting, "Dammit, now I lost motivation to punish him! UGH!" Safa said.