Bridgerton Season 4: Episode 4 'An Offer From a Gentleman'

As with episode 3 this episode picks up at the point that the previous episode left off, with Benedict and Sophie returning to London after their time at My Cottage.  Benedict secured employment for Sophie at Bridgerton House because his friend's wives were told not to employ her, linking back to episode 2 where Araminta told Sophie she would make sure Sophie wouldn't be able to work in Mayfair again.  When Benedict brings her to Bridgerton House Violet is initially reluctant until she discovers that Sophie saved Benedict's life, and so decides Sophie can be the ladies maid for Eloise and Hyacinth.  

Image Credit: Netflix

Benedict returns to searching for the Lady in Silver, despite his memory of her fading. Violet assists him in his search, however, this proves to be a failure.  Also assisting in the search is Alice Mondrich, who is enlisted by Lady Danbury as a ruse to ingratiate Alice with the Queen in order to try and set Alice up as the new Lady in Waiting. When Alice realises she is angry, and upset, however, Lady Danbury talked her around to accepting.    

Image Credit: Netflix

Sophie fits in with the Bridgertons and the servants of the house, and she proves popular with both Eloise and Hyacinth, whose relationship is strained at times.  Though Sophie is thriving in the house, the tension between her and Benedict continues as they work to deny their attraction.  One evening, as Sophie is stargazing out the window she is interrupted by Benedict, and they share more about themselves, with Sophie revealing she had always wanted to be part of a family like the Bridgertons and working for them was a dream come true, she begged Benedict not to ruin it for her. Benedict moved out of Bridgerton House and back into his bachelor quarters that evening. 

Image Credit: Netflix

Benedict eventually gives up his search for the Lady in Silver as he realises that Sophie is his reality and the Lady he met at the Masquerade is nothing more than a fantasy. This realisation leads Benedict to go to Bridgerton House to look for Sophie. They meet on the stairs to the servant's rooms and after a moment of passion and heartfelt words from Benedict he asks Sophie to be his Mistress, prompting Sophie to leave without a word.

Benedict is not the only Bridgerton with intimate matters on their mind. Francesca has been hoping to reach her pinnacle, and after one very bad attempt at trying to convince John that she reached her pinnacle, they have an honest, if awkward, discussion eir on own intimacy and what they mean to each other. Meanwhile Violet has decided to take her relationship with Marcus to the next step, and with the help of Mrs Wilson she arranges to have Marcus over while the family are at Francesca and John's for dinner.

The episode ends revealing araminta, and her daughters Rosamund and Posy are the new neighbours of the bridgertons, and they have acquired the services of Varley as the housekeeper.

Highs:

• Green Flag John. He was so understanding with Francesca, it was one of the sweetest scenes in the show
• Benedict moving out because Sophie was uncomfortable with him in the house 
• Unerrated potential couple Footman John and Hazel, they became closer and definitely have the look of a potential couple.  
• Michaela turning up during John and Francesca's dinner.  It will be interesting to see how this dynamic goes in part 2
• Araminta and the Li Girls turning up at the end of the episode

Cringe: 

• Violet's 'I am the tea you are having', the dialogue was just so cringe.  
• 'Be my Mistress' Definitely a moment.  Despite understanding the whys of this, it was still a little cringe after his beautiful speech about how Sophie is everything and how she consumes him.