Sophie Bridgerton (née Beckett) is the wife of Benedict Bridgerton.
History[]
Early Life[]
Sophie was the illegitimate daughter of Richard Gunningworth, Earl of Penwood, and a maid. Her mother died in childbirth. She was raised by her maternal grandmother until she was three; her grandmother was dying, and sent Sophie to the earl's household. The earl took her in as his ward, claiming she was the orphaned daughter of a friend. His staff knew who Sophie really was, though, because she looked just like his family. Sophie spent most of her time in his country estate, Penwood Park, while he was in London.
When Sophie was ten, the earl married Araminta Reiling, and brought her and her two daughters, Rosamund and Posy, back to Penwood Park. Sophie was hopeful to finally have a family, but Araminta wanted to send her away. The earl refused, and Araminta told Sophie to stay far away from her and her daughters. Sophie thus silently endured abuse and harassment from Araminta and Rosamund. When she was 14, the earl suddenly died, and stipulated in his will that if Araminta kept Sophie in her household until her 20th birthday, her yearly allowance would triple. Araminta reluctantly agreed, but forced Sophie to become a servant in the house.
1815[]
Sophie was now a lady's maid to Araminta, Rosamund and Posy, but she was made to do the work of three servants. While getting the three ladies ready for the Bridgerton masquerade ball, Sophie wishes that she could go to the ball. Mrs. Gibbons, the housekeeper who had known Sophie for years, overhears her wish. After sending off Araminta and her daughters, Mrs. Gibbons helps Sophie get ready for the ball, wearing an old gown of the late earl's mother, a borrowed mask, and Araminta's shoes, since they were the only ones that fit her. Excited, she headed off to the ball.
During the ball, she captured the attention of Benedict Bridgerton, and the two shared a magical time together dancing, talking, and even sharing a kiss. Sophie, though, had to leave at midnight to avoid getting caught, and was unable to tell Benedict who she really was. She returned home, and Araminta returned soon after. After Benedict stopped by looking for Sophie, Araminta figured out that Sophie was at the ball, and fired her. Not willing to let Araminta get the last word, Sophie took two of her shoe clips to sell and provide for herself.
1817[]
After barely surviving and searching for work, Sophie found employment as an upstairs maid at the Cavender household, where she was happy until their son, Phillip Cavender, came home and made unwanted advances. Sophie refused him, and Phillip became aggressive. When his parents left and Phillip hosted a party, Sophie decided to leave for her own safety. As she was leaving, she was caught by Phillip and his friends, who attempted to rape her. Sophie tried to fight back, but she was rescued by Benedict, who was also attending Phillip's party.
Benedict took Sophie to My Cottage, his place nearby, and said he would find her a place in his mother's household. Sophie recognized Benedict, but he didn't recognize her. She decided that she would part from him soon, and they'd go their separate ways. However, she came upon Benedict when he was unclothed and swimming in a nearby lake. Though she tried to hide, he caught her and tried to convince her to become his mistress. Sophie refused, not wanting to have an illegitimate child that would suffer like she did. Benedict still leveraged her to join him in London to find employment, and Sophie reluctantly went.
In London, Benedict helped her secure a place as a lady's maid in the house of his mother, Violet. Sophie was a lady's maid to Violet and Benedict's sisters: Eloise, Francesca and Hyacinth. She was happy in the household, and her attraction to Benedict grew, but she kept her identity a secret. After nearly getting caught by Araminta, Sophie went to Benedict's house to hide, and they ended up sleeping together. He again proposed she become his mistress, and she declined again.
While looking after the Bridgerton cousins, Sophie wore a blindfold to play blind man's bluff. Benedict came in, saw her with the blindfold, and recognized her from the masquerade. He was furious she never told him, but Sophie defended herself, refusing to have an illegitimate child. Benedict left, and Sophie decided to leave to move on from her heartbreak. Unfortunately, as she left, she was spotted by Araminta, who quickly had her arrested for stealing the shoe clips.
While in jail, Sophie was visited by Araminta, gloating in her victory. However, Benedict and Violet appeared, and demanded Sophie's release. Though Araminta insisted she stole her shoe clips, Posy showed up and claimed she had stolen them. She also revealed that the earl had given Sophie a dowry in his will, which Sophie was unaware of. It is implied that Araminta squandered Sophie's dowry, and Violet used this as leverage to get Araminta to drop the charges. Sophie convinced Violet to take Posy in, despite Araminta's protests, but when Violet threatened to have her solicitors find Sophie's dowry, possibly leaving Araminta penniless, she bitterly relented, and insulted Posy as a "disappointment." Furious at her insulting Posy, Sophie hit Araminta so hard, she fell to the floor and left, humiliated. Sophie and Benedict married the next week.
1817–24[]
Benedict and Sophie moved to My Cottage after their wedding, and settled there permanently. Posy used to visit often and, at some point, Sophie decided to find a suitor for Posy. She decided to match her up with Hugh Woodson, the new vicar in their county, and Posy and Hugh immediately fell in love. They married soon after.
1824[]
Sophie and Benedict came to London to celebrate Violet's birthday with their three sons: Charles, Alexander, and William. While there, Sophie revealed to Benedict that she was pregnant. They both agreed that if they had a daughter, they would name her Violet.
Sophie and Benedict again returned to town when his brother, Colin, married Penelope Featherington. Sophie went back to My Cottage, where Benedict arrived with his brothers, Anthony, Colin, and Gregory. They had been looking for Eloise, and also brought her to My Cottage. Sophie then attended Eloise's wedding to Phillip Crane, who lived nearby Sophie and Benedict's home. After the wedding, Eloise arrived unannounced at My Cottage one day, and found out Charles was ill. She helped keep vigil over him with Sophie and Benedict, who were worried when Charles didn't get better. Phillip arrived, looking for Eloise, and used his knowledge as a botanist to cure Charles, to both Sophie and Benedict's relief.
Personality[]
Abused and neglected, Sophie Beckett has always longed for family, love and acceptance. Then one night, she meets Benedict Bridgerton, and her life is transformed. Despite the happiness she finds, Sophie is afraid of her heart being broken again, and keeps Benedict and her dreams at a distance.
Relationships[]
Romantic[]
Benedict Bridgerton[]
Benedict was Sophie's "Prince Charming." Sophie was swept off her feet and fell in love. But because of her status as a bastard and servant, she felt a future for both of them would never happen. When Benedict unexpectedly came back into her life years later, Sophie still held to the belief that they could never share a future and didn't tell him the truth. Her love for him grew, and she ended up sleeping with him. But when Benedict said that she should be his mistress, Sophie refused his offer. Benedict figured out that Sophie was the Lady in Silver and got angry about her not telling him. When Benedict left, upset, Sophie thought she had lost him. However, Benedict came back and helped her in her darkest time, when she was arrested. Sophie was thrilled, and she and Benedict married, living happily in the country with their children.
Familial[]
Eloise Crane[]
Sophie was once a lady's maid to Eloise, but Eloise considered her a friend. She helped Benedict meet with Sophie so that they could marry, and Eloise became her sister-in-law. Years later, Eloise came and stayed with them after being found unchaperoned with Phillip Crane, who lived nearby. Sophie advised Eloise to get to know Phillip, as well as dealing with her overprotective brothers.
Posy Reiling[]
Sophie and Posy became stepsisters when they were around ten years old, but Araminta told Posy to stay away from Sophie. Even though Araminta and Rosamund would abuse Sophie, Posy didn't. After Sophie became a maid to them, Posy treated Sophie more kindly than Araminta or Rosamund. Posy helped Sophie escape from the home after Araminta fired her. Posy saved Sophie from being arrested by claiming she was the one who stole Araminta's shoe clips. Sophie returned the favor by having Violet Bridgerton take in Posy so she would be away from Araminta's wrath. The two became close, finally able to be sisters.
Violet Bridgerton[]
Sophie was hired to be a maid in Violet's household, but Violet took care of her like a member of family. Because Violet took better care of her than Araminta ever had, she was reluctant to leave. Violet later was critical in helping Sophie avoid being sent to jail by Araminta, and helping Sophie marry Benedict by crafting a false backstory of Sophie's parents. Sophie married Benedict, and Violet became her mother-in-law; in honor of Violet, Sophie named her daughter after her.
Friendships[]
Professional[]
Notes and Trivia[]
- Sophie's favorite color is green.[1]
- She never knew her birth mother, given she passed away during childbirth.[1]
- She has dark blonde hair and moss green eyes, just like her father's.[2]
- For Sophie's 7th birthday, her father gifted her a porcelain doll from London.[2]
- She can speak French and Latin.
- She resides in Wiltshire with her husband, Benedict, along with their four children.
- She grew up in Norfolk.[3]
- At the Penwood House, Sophie lived in a tiny little chamber tucked under the eaves, that took three flights of stairs to reach.[1]
- Sophie step-mother, Araminta never allowed Sophie to take a day off, even though Araminta allowed other servants to.[1]
Appearances[]
| Bridgerton Books | |||||
| #01 | "The Duke and I" | #04 | "Romancing Mister Bridgerton" | #07 | "It's In His Kiss" |
| #02 | "The Viscount Who Loved Me" | #05 | "To Sir Phillip, With Love" | #08 | "On The Way To The Wedding" |
| #03 | "An Offer from a Gentleman" | #06 | "When He Was Wicked" | #09 | "The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After" |
References
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