The following version of the novel was used to create this study guide: Quinn, Julia. An Offer From a Gentleman. Avon, August 25, 2015. Kindle.

In the romance novel An Offer From a Gentleman, Julia Quinn’s third installment in her Bridgerton series, Benedict Bridgerton believed he had found his future wife when he met a mystery woman dressed in silver at a masquerade ball. Benedict searched for the woman for months after the dance, but was unable to find her or even anyone who knew who she was. Meanwhile, Sophia “Sophie” Beckett, the mystery woman, avoided London because she had fallen in love with Benedict. She knew, however, that because she was the illegitimate daughter of a nobleman who worked as a housemaid that she would never be an acceptable wife for someone of Benedict’s standing.

Sophie is the daughter of the Earl of Penwood and his mistress, a housemaid. She came to live with her father when she was three. Until she was 14, when her father died, she lived the life of the daughter of an earl. When the earl died, his wife, Araminta Gunningworth, forced Sophie to work as an unpaid housemaid and lady’s maid to her and her two daughters, Rosamund and Posy.

One evening as Sophie helped the women dress for a masquerade, Sophie wished out loud that she could attend the party. Mrs. Gibbons, the housekeeper, heard Sophie’s wish. She and the other maids found Sophie a dress to wear and fixed her hair so she could attend the dance. Because Sophie’s face would be covered, there was little chance anyone would recognize her.

Sophie captured the attention of Benedict Bridgerton, the son of a viscount, at the dance. She refused to tell him her identity, but was determined to live a lifetime in that one evening. The two fell in love with each other, but Sophie abandoned Benedict promptly at midnight to return home so that it would appear she had never left. Araminta, however, found a scuff on a pair of shoes she had never worn, the pair Gibbons insisted Sophie wear to the dance. This scuff, along with Benedict’s visit to the house, led Araminta to believe that Sophie had attended the ball. Araminta ordered Sophie to pack her bags and leave.

Two years later, Sophie was working as a housemaid at the same house where Benedict attended a party. The host of the party, Phillip Cavender, had been chasing Sophie hoping to have sex with her. Sophie was tired of being chased and decided to leave. She was walking away from the house carrying her packed bags when Phillip and two of his friends caught her. Sophie knew she was about to be raped, but then heard Benedict’s voice. He was bored with the party and looking for Phillip to take his leave. He saw what was happening with Sophie and ordered Phillip and his friends to leave her alone. Phillip fired Sophie for insubordination, but Benedict promised her that his mother would give her a job.

During the carriage ride to a nearby cottage that Benedict owned, Sophie realized that Benedict did not recognize her. She decided it was perhaps better that way. At the cottage, Benedict developed a terrible chest cold. Sophie nursed him back to health. Even though Benedict believed she was not the woman in silver for whom he had longed since he met her, Benedict fell in love with Sophie. Because she was a housemaid, the rules of society dictated that he could not marry her. Benedict asked Sophie to be his mistress, an offer Sophie refused because she did not want to bring an illegitimate child into the world.

Benedict, who wanted to see that Sophie was taken care of even if she would not live with him, forced Sophie to go to London with him by telling her that he would report to the authorities she had stolen from him to keep her from going away on her own. Sophie went to London and was hired as a lady’s maid by Violet Bridgerton, Benedict’s mother. Violet suspected there was more to Sophie’s story than she was telling them and was determined to find out the truth. She also sensed that Sophie and Benedict were in love with each other.

Benedict continued to pursue Sophie and try to get her to be his mistress until his brother, Colin, confronted him concerning Benedict’s obvious love for Sophie. Benedict went home, determined to propose to Sophie. When he found her, she was playing blind man’s bluff with some children. With part of her face covered, as it had been at the masquerade, Benedict finally recognized Sophie as the woman in silver. He was so angry with Sophie for not telling him the truth that they had a terrible argument. Sophie felt she had no choice but to leave the Bridgerton family and find another job.

Sophie left the house and was confronted by Araminta. Araminta recognized her and called to authorities, claiming that Sophie had stolen from her. Sophie did steal a pair of shoe clips from Araminta when she was thrown out of the house to help pay her expenses until she could find a job. Araminta also claimed that Sophie had stolen her wedding ring.

Benedict and Violet went to the jail when they found out that Araminta had Sophie arrested. Benedict surprised Sophie by referring to her as his fiancée. Posy, Araminta’s less favorite daughter, came to the jail as well. She told the magistrate that no one had stolen her mother’s wedding ring, that it was at home in a jewelry box. She also claimed that she had stolen the shoe clips. To make matters worse for Araminta, Posy told those gathered that she had read the earl’s will. He had left Sophie a dowry, but Araminta had never told Sophie about it. It was suspected that Araminta had spent this dowry on herself and her favorite daughter, Rosamund.

Sophie was released on Posy’s statement. Violet came up with a story that Sophie was the daughter of Charles Beckett, a distant cousin to the earl, and warned Araminta if she spread rumors that Sophie was illegitimate she would have lawyers investigate what had happened to Sophie’s dowry. At Sophie’s request, Violet invited Posy to live with the Bridgertons from that point forward. Sophie and Benedict married three days later.