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An Offer from a Gentleman is a historical fantasy, Regency romance novel written by Julia Quinn. It is the third book in the Bridgerton novel series set in Regency England and tells the story of Benedict Bridgerton, the second son of the aristocratic Bridgerton family. It follows a Cinderella-style love story.

Prologue
At the age of three, Sophia "Sophie" Maria Beckett became the ward of Sir Richard Gunningworth, the Earl of Penwood, as the orphaned child of an old friend. Due to Sophie's resemblance to the earl the household staff members knew that she is the illegitimate daughter of the earl. When Sophie is ten years old, the earl marries Araminta Reiling who brings two daughters from her previous marriage, Rosamund and Posy, who are close in age to Sophie.

Four years later, the earl unexpectedly dies, passing his title to a relative. Araminta is willed a yearly income of two thousand pounds; however, if she agrees to care for Sophie, the amount will be tripled every year until Sophie reaches the age of twenty. Araminta agrees; however, she treats Sophie as a servant.

Part 1
After the age of twenty-one, Sophie continues to live with her stepmother and stepsisters as their maid. As the Bridgerton Masquerade ball approaches, Mrs. Gibbons and the other house servants allow Sophie a chance of attending the esteemed function by providing her a costume and transportation to and from the Bridgerton House. Sophie wears a gown and a pair of gloves that belonged to her late grandmother and borrows a pair of Araminta's shoes. She is instructed to leave the ball no later than midnight to avoid being discovered by Araminta.

At the masquerade ball, Sophie meets Benedict Bridgerton whom she considers her Prince Charming for the evening. The two start to fall in love; however, Sophie never reveals her name. At the stroke of midnight, Sophie promptly leaves, inadvertently leaving behind one of her gloves. In the following morning's issue of Lady Whistledown's Society Papers, Sophie's secret identity is given the name of "the lady in silver."

Determined to find Sophie, Benedict uses her glove as a clue while searching for her and ends up in the Penwood house. Benedict meets Araminta, Rosamund, and Posy, while Sophie was kept out of sight. Following Benedict's visit, Araminta is able to conclude that Sophie is the lady in silver and orders her to leave the house.

Part 2
Two years later, Sophie's appearance has changed: she has cut and sold her long hair and lost weight. One day, while her employers, Mr. and Mrs. Cavender, are away, their son Phillip hosts a party, to which Benedict is invited. While trying to leave the property, Sophie is discovered by Phillip and his friends who begin to harass her. Benedict comes to Sophie's rescue, helps her to end her employment with the Cavenders and promises her employment with his mother, Violet Bridgerton.

Benedict and Sophie set off to his nearby property, My Cottage, before heading to London. Benedict catches a head cold and the two are forced to extend their stay. The pair fall in love; however, Benedict remains hopeful that he will find the lady in silver. Benedict asks Sophie to be his mistress; she refuses and begins to feel jealous of her other identity as the lady in silver. Sophie tries to run away, but Benedict tricks her into agreeing to return with him to his mother's house for employment as he had promised her.

At Violet's residence, Sophie is given the lady's maid position to his unmarried sisters, Eloise, Francesca, and Hyacinth. During her employment with the Bridgertons, Sophie continues to receive visits from Benedict and becomes close enough to the family to attend their daily informal tea. One evening, Benedict happens to find Sophie while bind-folded during a game of Blind Man's Buff. Benedict recognizes her as the lady in silver and confronts her. Sophie reveals that even if she had told him her identity, they could never marry because of her social class.

Sophie decides to leave her job with the Bridgertons, but before she can leave, she is caught by Araminta who has her sent to jail for theft. Benedict, feeling deceived and conflicted, ultimately decides that he will marry Sophie because he loves her for who she is. With the help of his mother, sisters, and Posy, Benedict finds and frees Sophie. Sophie is given a new identity as the daughter of the late Earl of Penwood's cousin, Charles Beckett, thus allowing the two to marry. Posy is disowned by Araminta and taken in by Violet.

Benedict and Sophie are scheduled to be married three days later.

Epilogue
Benedict and Sophie are happily married and expecting their fourth child.

Main

 * Benedict Bridgerton, the second Bridgerton son, often referred to as "Number 2" by other members of London society
 * Sophia "Sophie" Maria Beckett, the illegitimate child of Richard Gunningworth and an unnamed lady's maid

Bridgerton Family

 * Violet Bridgerton, Dowager Viscountess Bridgerton, matriarch of the Bridgerton family who named her children in order of the alphabet, starting with the letter "A"
 * Anthony Bridgerton, the Viscount Bridgerton, the first Bridgerton son who inherited the title after his father passed away
 * Kate Sheffield, the Viscountess, Anthony's wife
 * Colin Bridgerton, the third Bridgerton son
 * Daphne Bridgerton, the Duchess of Hastings, first Bridgerton daughter
 * Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings, Daphne's husband, and Anthony's longtime friend
 * Eloise Bridgerton, the second Bridgerton daughter, unmarried and living with her mother
 * Francesca Bridgerton, the third Bridgerton daughter, unmarried and living with her mother
 * Gregory Bridgerton,(mentioned) the fourth Bridgerton son, who is away at Eton
 * Hyacinth Bridgerton, the fourth Bridgerton daughter, unmarried and living with her mother

Gunningworth Family

 * Richard Gunningworth, the Earl of Penwood and Sophie's biological father
 * Araminta, Dowager Countess of Penwood, formerly Miss Wincheslea, Mrs. Reiling, Lady Penwood, Sophie's stepmother
 * Rosmund Reiling, Araminta's elder daughter from a previous marriage, who is one year older than Sophie
 * Posy Reiling, Araminta's younger daughter from a previous marriage, who is the same age as Sophie

Others

 * Penelope Featherington, longtime friend of Eloise Bridgerton and the Bridgertons
 * Lady Whistledown, unknown author of Lady Whistledown's Society Papers, a gossip sheet that increasingly popular among members of the ton
 * The ton, general name for the other members of high society in London
 * Whickham, butler for the Bridgertons
 * Marie, lady's maid who leaves the Bridgertons to work for Araminta
 * Nicholas, Elizabeth, John, and Alice Wentworth, cousins of the Bridgertons
 * Mr. and Mrs. Crabtree, caretakers of "My Cottage"
 * Sophie's mother, worked as a lady's maid
 * Sophie's grandmother, cared for Sophie until she brought Sophie, at the age of three, to Richard Gunningworth
 * Sara Louise Gunningworth, Sophie's paternal grandmother, whose initials "SLG" is embroidered on the gloves that Sophie wears to the Bridgerton Masquerade ball


 * Mrs. Gibbons, housekeeper for the Gunningworths
 * Miss Timmonns, Sophie's childhood governess
 * Rumsey, butler for the Gunningworths
 * Dulcie, scullery girl for the Gunningworths
 * Mr. and Mrs. Cavender, a couple living in Wiltshire, Sophie's employer for two years before working for the Bridgertons
 * Phillip Cavender, Mr. and Mrs. Cavender's son
 * Lady Danbury, friend of the Bridgertons

Reception
In 2021, An Offer from a Gentleman placed third on the New York Times mass market bestseller list and 14th on the USA Today bestseller list. It is regarded for its use of the Cinderella trope. In 2013, a second epilogue to this story was released in a companion book titled The Bridgertons, Happily Ever After due to gaining interest in what happened to the characters after the story ended.

Adaptation
The Bridgerton book series that this book is a part of is currently being adapted in Netflix's Bridgerton series. The Netflix series premiered December 25, 2020, with Luke Thompson portraying Benedict Bridgerton. The first season of the Netflix series corresponds with the first book, The Duke and I, telling Daphne's story and the second season corresponds with the second book, The Viscount Who Loved Me, which tells Anthony's story. The third season of the Netflix series will instead be closer to the fourth book, Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, which tells Colin's story.

Differences between the book and Netflix's Bridgerton Series

 * In the books, Sophie encourages Benedict to pursue an art career and reveals Benedict's interest in art to the Bridgerton family. In the Netflix series, it is Anthony and Eloise who encourage Benedict's interest in art in Season 2 and Benedict starts drawing openly among his family during Season 1.
 * In the Netflix series, Benedict goes to art school and is described as artistic and creative, wanting to create his own identity separate from his family affiliation.

Timeline in the series

 * 1814 – Anthony and Kate marry
 * 1815
 * Bridgerton Masquerade ball is the final ball that Violet hosts at Bridgerton House
 * Sophie meets Benedict for the first time at the Bridgerton Masquerade ball
 * Anthony and Kate move in to Bridgerton House and Violet, Eloise, Francesca, and Hyacinth move out to a residence at 5 Burton Street
 * Kate gives birth to Edmund, a first-born son
 * 1817
 * Kate gives birth to Miles, a second son
 * Sophie meets Benedict the second time
 * Sophie and Benedict marry

Relevance within the series

 * Sophie shares a few things in common with Edwina Sheffield (appears in The Viscount Who Loved Me): They are both fans of Lady Whistledown and Lady Whistledown's Society Papers, learn about the Bridgertons and other members of the ton from this gossip column, and find it exciting to have their names mentioned in the gossip column.
 * Lady Whistledown's Society Papers often give additional stories or extra information. In this book, it includes Araminta's story of "maid-theft" after Sophie leaves her without a maid.
 * Eloise being mentioned as able to "get Napoleon to spill his secrets" is repeated elsewhere in the series.
 * Hyacinth and Felicity Featherington's friendship mentioned in this book is repeated elsewhere in the series.
 * Sophie mentions that she is living in Bridgerton House while working for Violet; however, Violet had already moved out of Bridgerton House to reside at an unnamed residence at 5 Burton Street.
 * The scene in which Colin declares that he will not marry Penelope is also mentioned in the prologue of the fourth book, Romancing Mr. Bridgerton.
 * During this time period, the punishment for theft is generally either the death penalty or being sent to Australia. It may be possible for the owner of the stolen property to request another punishment.