(Credits: Netflix)

The fourth season of Bridgerton arrived on Netflix with jaw-dropping drama as the Regency-era series spotlighted a pair of star-crossed lovers, Benedict Bridgerton and Sophie Baek.

Viewers first come across Sophie, disguised as the Lady in Silver, during the fourth season’s masquerade ball. Like Benedict, the audience is left in the dark about her identity until she returns to Penwood House and changes into her maid uniform.

Yet, while at the masquerade ball, the Lady in Silver effortlessly manages to sweep Benedict off his feet, and he takes her to the Bridgertons’ terrace for a memorable dance. Just as the clock strikes midnight, she, however, disappears, and later, when she stumbles onto Benedict as Sophie, she doesn’t mention her alter ego.

While that’s a very Cinderella-like encounter, what’s Sophie’s backstory?

All about Sophie’s history

Sophie turns out to be the illegitimate daughter of the late Lord Penwood and an unnamed maid in the fourth season of Bridgerton. Araminta, Sophie’s stepmother, mentions that her birth mother died without wealth, title, or a husband, since she was a mistress. But flashbacks from Sophie’s childhood reveal that she had a happy childhood. She was raised as Lord Penwood’s “ward,” which allowed her every perk of aristocracy: good clothes, proper education, and most importantly, her father’s affection.

Sophie’s life took a devastating turn when Lord Penwood tied the knot with a widow with two young daughters, Araminta. While Araminta was unreasonably hostile to Sophie, things got worse when Lord Penwood passed away during her teenage years. Lady Penwood revealed there was nothing for Sophie in Lord Penwood’s will and offered her a maid position for “protection.” And that’s how Sophie has been living her life since.

Then, what does Benedict propose to her?

In the second half of the midseason finale of Bridgerton season four, Violet tells Benedict that “reality is where love grows,” which pushes him to let go of his fantasy of the Lady in Silver and pursue Sophie, not knowing they both are one and the same. But the first part of the instalment ends rather awkwardly for Sophie when Benedict proposes that she be his “mistress.”

For Benedict, this is the best offer possible considering the restrictions set by the ton. While viewers don’t know Sophie’s response to it yet, showrunner Jess Brownell offers possible insight into the character’s mindset during the conclusion of episode four in a conversation with Tudum.

“For Sophie, the idea of being a mistress is the worst possible thing she could be asked,” Brownell says, especially keeping in mind her family history. “Sophie doesn’t really want to ever put a child in the situation she was in. Despite the societal rules, there is a part of Sophie that’s hoping that Benedict could see beyond [the ton] and that what they have is so special it could overcome the obstacles of class.”