'Bridgerton' Season 4, Episode 4 recap − An indecent proposal

Spoiler alert! The following contains details from Season 4, Episode 4 of "Bridgerton," "An Offer From a Gentleman."

Oh Benedict, it was only a matter of time until you messed this up.

"Bridgerton" Season 4 ended its first batch of episodes on an awkward cliffhanger as the second Bridgerton son (Luke Thompson) made a serious miscalculation with the object of his affections, Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha). Plus, their love and Sophie's position is threatened by some new neighbors in Grosvenor Square. It's just the kind of mess that will take four more episodes to sort out when the hit Netflix series returns for Part 2 of the season on February 26.

Season 4 of "Bridgerton" has struggled to find its footing in a hopelessly trite plot and a less-than-captivating leading man. But it still has the chance to turn this clichéd fairy tale into something more novel, exciting and romantic. Benedict still has the chance to sweep Sophie off her feet, and "Bridgerton" still has the chance to sweep the audience off theirs.

Workplace satisfaction

After leaving their honeymoon in the countryside, Benedict takes Sophie to the new workplace he's promised her, which, of course, ends up being Bridgerton House. They're both determined to pretend they never kissed and that they aren't attracted to each other. They're just a gentleman and a maid, no funny business, OK?

After a bit of convincing, Lady Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell) and housekeeper Mrs. Wilson (Geraldine Alexander) take Sophie on as a new lady's maid for Hyacinth (Florence Hunt) and Eloise (Claudia Jessie), where the educated and opinionated Sophie is an instant hit. Indeed, everything about Sophie's new gig is perfect for her − Mrs. Wilson is a kind boss, her fellow servants welcome her warmly, and Benedict even finds a job for Sophie's friend Hazel (Gracie McGonigal) from the countryside, who was also fired in the scuffle that brought Sophie and Benedict together in the first place. Everything is perfect, that is, except all the times she runs into Benedict with his puppy dog eyes and longing looks. Can't a girl just get paid, Benny boy?

Tea in the nighttime

We must all give a standing ovation to Violet Bridgerton, who, while on the outside may seem like the most prudish, uptight pillar of Regency society, ends up being the character most successful at casting off the chains of decorum to get what she wants. While Eloise may talk a big game about her distaste for marriage and Benedict may champion his artistic "free spirit," it's Violet who is able to discreetly get it on with her lover with none of her children or peers any the wiser. Combined with housekeeper Mrs. Wilson's enthusiastic support of the enterprise, Violet's "nighttime tea" with Lord Anderson (Daniel Francis) is the most joyous and compelling part of Season 4 so far.

Elsewhere, in another bedroom, Francesca (Hannah Dodd) and husband John (Victor Alli) have an honest conversation about intimacy in their marriage, and about what sex is really for: not just for the man or for baby-making, but for becoming closer. It's a very sweet moment. Their marital bliss is somewhat interrupted by the reappearance of John's cousin Michaela (Masali Baduza), who book readers know is a gender-swapped version of a very significant character later in Francesca's life. Let's hope she doesn't ruin the good thing the newlyweds have going.

Alice Mondrich (Emma Naomi) also received an unhappy surprise this episode, when crafty old Lady Agatha Danbury (Adjoa Andoh) set her up to be Queen Charlotte's (Golda Rosheuvel) new lady-in-waiting. Poor beleaguered Agatha hopes that Alice's bold personality will make her an intellectual match for the queen, and finally let Agatha have some breathing room from both her majesty and the nobility social scene. Whether or not there is an upside for Alice remains to be seen.

A very unwelcome offer from a gentleman

Unsurprisingly, Benedict couldn't stay away from Sophie for even a whole day, and returns to Bridgerton House to declare his lust and love for the maid. The pair run into each other in the hallway of the servants' quarters and share a steamy moment together, set to a strings cover of Olivia Rodrigo's "bad idea right?," a song choice that foretells nothing good.

Sophie seems ready to give herself over body and soul to Benedict until he opens his big mouth with an audacious suggestion: He wants her to be his mistress.

Way to kill the vibe, Benedict! Not only would this be generally insulting to most women of Sophie's morals, it also is particularly grating for our poor Cinderella − you'll recall in the flashbacks in Episode 2 Lady Penwood (Katie Leung) told Sophie that her mother was a maid and her father's mistress. Not only that, the cruel Lady Penwood denigrated Sophie's mother as a disgraceful woman who died with no money, title or security for her daughter. It's not hard to imagine that Sophie would be deeply offended by Benedict's request. Without giving him an answer, Sophie leaves him standing on the servants' stairs, choosing to go for a normal night out with her friends from her own social class.

And speaking of the villainous Lady Penwood, we finally figure out who is moving into the house next door to the Bridgertons: It's the evil stepmother and step-sisters themselves! And their new house is being managed by the Featheringtons' former houskeeper Mrs. Varly (Lorraine Ashbourne)! This can't be good for Sophie.

And that's where the "Bridgerton" writers leave us at the end of Part 1. Sophie and Benedict seem hopelessly separated by the norms of society, but there are four episodes left for these crazy kids to find a way to get together. Just no more talk of "mistresses," OK Benedict? Read the room.