What is a ward? Sophie's 'Bridgerton' backstory, explained

The latest season of "Bridgerton" is now streaming, or shall we say, steaming, as fans eat up a new love story from the Shonda Rhimes show.

Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha), is the latest leading lady, as the fourth season follows her romance with Bridgerton family brother Benedict (Luke Thompson). They meet at a masquerade ball, where she stuns in a silver getup. Cavorting with the "ton's" more affluent members, Sophie is actually the maid at Penwood House.

But, before that, she lived at the estate as a ward of Lord Penwood (Arthur Lee), who was, in actuality, her father.

So what is a ward exactly? In an interview with Netflix, which streams the show, Ha explained the term was used in this sense to avoid scandal. Lord Penwood knew that she was his daughter, but did not want to beckon the controversy that comes with claiming an "illegitimate child."

By raising her as his ward, he could gift her all the benefits of nobility without acknowledging their blood relation. In that Regency era, during which "Bridgerton" is fictionally set, a ward would not have been uncommon. It refers to a child or dependent who is placed in the care of a noble family and given the elite tutelage and education afforded to that echelon of wealth. After Lord Penwood's death, her stepmother Lady Penwood (Katie Leung) no longer wanted to let Sophie live like nobility, and instead forced her to become a maid in the household. In the season premiere, she sneaks into the masquerade ball for one night of upper-class glory, where she meets Benedict.

Based on Julia Quinn's novels, every season of "Bridgerton" spotlights one of the eight Bridgerton siblings. This time the attention is on Benedict, who hates the idea of having to settle down "despite his elder and younger brothers both being happily married."

How to watch'Bridgerton' Season 4

Season 4 of "Bridgerton" will premiere on Netflix in two parts. Part 1 released on Thursday, Jan. 29, while Part 2 will drop on Feb. 26.

Like previous seasons, this season will also have eight episodes in total. Seasons 1 to 3 of "Bridgerton" are also available on the streaming platform.

Contributing: Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY