Chapter Text
After the Ball - Friday July 8 1814
Kate stared out the carriage window. She, her mother, Edwina, and Lady Danbury were on their way home from the Featherington ball. Kate was still processing that she was now betrothed to Anthony, and unsure how to tell her family her news.
Edwina looked at her sister. “Kate? Are you feeling alright?”
“Yes, I am well.” Kate said. “I am just… a little tired from the evening’s festivities.”
Her stomach twisted as she looked at the concern on Edwina’s face. It twisted into double knots when she saw the same look mirrored on her mother’s face. Lady Danbury, however, arched an eyebrow and looked at her in a way that made Kate blush and wonder if she had somehow seen her and Anthony in the garden earlier.
She would just have to tell them. “Lord Bridgerton has asked me to marry him.”
Lady Mary gave a relieved sigh, then smiled as she and Lady Danbury exchanged a knowing look. Edwina's face was blank, but Kate watched as a range of emotions passed through her eyes. Finally she said, “Does this mean you will be staying in England?”
Kate nodded. “Yes.”
“And you are happy to accept his proposal?”
Kate nodded again. “Yes. Very happy.” She smiled, looking away from Edwina as her blush deepened. Edwina wrapped her sister in a hug.
“I am happy for you, Didi. And for all of us that you will be staying in England.” She smiled. “I really did not want you to leave us.”
Kate, Edwina, and Lady Mary began crying and hugging each other. Lady Danbury sat back, watching, and smiled.
Saturday July 9 1814
The next morning, Kate was in the drawing room at Danbury house. She sat looking out the window, pretending to read. A tingling blush crept its way up her body as she thought about Anthony's declaration the night before. He loves me, she thought. He loves me and he wants to marry me. She grinned.
Lady Danbury set down her tea cup and looked over at Kate. “And what are we smiling about, Miss Sharma?”
Kate blushed, but before she could respond she saw a figure on horseback appear outside. He wore a dark cloak and a tall hat. Was that…? She watched as he dismounted and then looked up, as if sensing her watching him. He smiled at her through the window.
“Lord Bridgerton is here,” she said.
In a moment, Anthony was standing in the drawing room, politely greeting her family. He turned to her last. “Miss Sharma,” he said, breathlessly, reaching out for her hand and holding it to his lips a little too long. He looked around the room a little awkwardly, then back to Kate.
She caught his questioning look and nodded. “I told them our happy news last night.”
His face broke into a wide smile and he sat next to her on a sofa, reaching over to hold her hand while he gazed at her. Edwina shut her book and excused herself.
She had been extremely gracious about the engagement, and she was happy and excited for Kate, but she could not sit by and watch the adoring, tender man Anthony became around Kate. It made her feel stupid, honestly. The way he looked at Kate…she had mistaken it for disagreement, for ire, for hostility. Now she saw what it truly was: attraction, yearning, lust. And his desire for Kate was palpable in a way that made Edwina sick to her stomach.
She had almost married the man who quite clearly was head over heels for her own sister. She had almost locked herself in a loveless marriage, so enamored by his title and wealth and kindness that she did not see how his gaze always searched for Kate. Too enamored by him that she did not really hear what Kate had been saying to her about him the whole time.
Kate hesitated as Edwina left the room. “I should go check on her.”
Lady Mary stood. “You have a caller. I will check on her.” She smiled at the lovebirds. Anthony frowned at Kate.
“I'm sorry. I know this is…awkward.”
She shook her head, but then nodded. “It is. She is happy for us, but I think it will take some time for her to be comfortable with it.” She sighed, but then smiled at him. “I am glad to see you.”
Anthony scooted a little closer to Kate. He made sure Lady Danbury was distracted by the latest Whistledown before he leaned over and kissed her gently.
“I have something for you,” he said, reaching into his pocket. “But you do not have to accept it.” He held out a small jewelry box. She recognized it instantly, the image of him on one knee in front of Edwina surfacing in her mind. Her face must have shown her thoughts.
He shook his head. “I know.” He sighed. “Kate, I will buy you a thousand new rings if it would undo the hurt I've caused you.”
They were quiet as he opened the box, revealing the gold and pearl ring inside. Kate smiled at it. It was a beautiful piece. And she loved that it was an important piece to Anthony's family. She held her hand out to him. He smiled, cocking his head to the side. “Are you sure?”
She smiled, waving her hand in front of him. “Yes, I am.”
He put the ring on her finger, and kissed her hand. Then he reached over and pulled her face towards his.
“Ahem,” Lady Danbury said, setting down her tea cup with so much force Kate was surprised it didn’t break. Anthony jumped. He forgot she was in here. As far as he knew, it was just Kate and him, and the ring finally where it rightfully belonged.
“Right,” he said, pulling away from Kate. “Will I see you this afternoon?”
She tilted her head at him. “This afternoon?”
“My mother wishes to meet with you. I believe she wants to talk wedding plans.” He chuckled. “I must have made it here faster than our messenger.”
Kate blushed, smiling. Wedding plans. She couldn’t believe this dream was coming true. “I would love to meet with your mother. I will see you this afternoon, my lord.”
“Anthony.” He said. “Please.” He kissed her hand, his lips lingering long enough to prompt a tap of Lady Danbury’s cane.
When Kate arrived at Bridgerton House, it struck her for the first time this would be her home. She would be Lady Bridgerton. She suddenly felt dizzy with the reality of it all. Anthony was waiting at the door to greet her.
“Miss Sharma,” he said, kissing her hand. “Lady Sharma.” He bowed to his once again future mother-in-law. Mary smiled tensely at him.
“My mother is expecting you in the drawing room, Kate. Lady Sharma, may I speak with you privately?” Anthony held his arm out to Mary.
Kate shot a worried glance their way before following the footman to the drawing room. Violet stood and greeted her warmly. “Miss Sharma.”
Kate smiled. “Please, Lady Bridgerton, call me Kate.”
“Alright, Kate. But you must call me Violet.”
They chatted comfortably about the lovely weather and the previous night’s ball. Eventually, Lady Mary and Anthony joined them. Violet and Lady Mary greeted each other, speaking for a moment while Anthony slid next to Kate on the sofa, snaking his arm around her waist.
“My lord, our mothers are right here,” she said, scooting away from him.
“Please, you must call me Anthony.” He looked at her intensely.
“Anthony.” she smiled. He removed his hand from her as their mothers sat across from them.
After tea and wedding planning, Anthony asked Kate if she would like a tour of the house that was soon to be hers. Violet said, “There is much more for us to discuss, Anthony.”
“Then you and Lady Mary may continue to discuss. I am sure Kate would like a break.” He smiled at her, then stood and held out his hand to her, and Kate flushed. She hesitated, looking at their mothers.
“I am sure you are right. Go on, Kate,” Mary smiled at her. She looked at Violet. “I am sure your staff and other children are wandering about.”
Violet smiled hesitantly, looking at Anthony. “Yes. There are eyes everywhere.”
Kate’s face burned but she let Anthony guide her out of the room. She half expected him to push her against the wall right outside the drawing room, with the look he had been giving her. But he did not. He instead walked her around the home, and gave her a tour like the gentleman he was always claiming to be.
They ran into each of his four youngest siblings and he grinned as he re-introduced Kate as the future Lady Bridgerton to them. Hyacinth wrapped Kate in a hug. “Will Newton be coming to live with us?”
Kate laughed. She had not even had a chance to think about it. “Yes, I suppose he will be.” Anthony grumbled. Eloise, Francesca, and Gregory all greeted Kate warmly, although she felt Eloise was not feeling quite like herself. She had retreated back to her room shortly after congratulating the couple.
Eventually, they made their way to the third floor. Anthony turned and smiled at her. “We rarely come up here. It is usually only used when we have guests.”
Kate shook her head in disbelief. She was about to live in a home that had an entire guest floor. He frowned at her. “Are you concerned about being up here alone? We can go back-”
“No,” she cut him off, stepping forward while looking around to make sure they were indeed alone. She kissed him. “I just can not believe this is all real.”
He smiled and turned his head towards one of the empty rooms. “Would you like to…?”
She allowed him to lead her into a room with a few sofas that were covered in sheets. He sat down and pulled her onto his lap. He held for a moment, inhaling the scent of her. “Do you wear it to torture me?”
“What?” She laughed.
“Your perfume. The lilies. It is all I can think of, all day long. How I want to be here, right here, holding you, smelling you.” He kissed her neck, his arms moving up her torso. She damned her corset for making it impossible to feel the warmth of his touch.
‘It is my soap, my lord,” she giggled.
He growled. “I told you, you must call me Anthony.” He shook his head. “I do not wish to be your lord.”
“Alright. Anthony.”
She kissed him, and soon she was straddling his lap, his hands reaching up under her dress while his lips tasted as much of her bare skin as was easily available to his mouth. His hand was between her thighs and she was moaning under his touch. She pulled at the waistband of his trousers while grinding against him. He groaned, holding her tightly with his arm around her back as he flipped them so he was on top of her. He began to pull down his pants. He stopped suddenly, pulling back and shaking his head.
“No, I am sorry, I should not- I should not take such liberties with you.” His voice was hoarse and the look on his face was so hungry it almost frightened her. She had never felt so desired before.
Kate blushed and reached up to touch his face. “You can not take what is being given to you freely.”
He groaned again. “No, this is not the way I want to do this.” He sat up, straightening his cravat and then tidying her hair.
“What is the way you want to do this?” She asked, laughing.
He shook his head again. “You deserve more than a rushed moment while our mothers await us downstairs.” He kissed her again, before making sure her gown was righted. He stood and held his hand to her. “Shall we?”
As they approached the drawing room, Kate asked, “What did you talk to my mother about?”
Anthony's cheeks turned pink. “I needed to clear the air with her. I needed to make sure she knew how I felt about you, that this engagement was not just another way for me to hurt her daughters.” He frowned. Kate stopped walking, pulling him back towards her so she could look him in the eyes.
He continued, “I had to make sure she knew I will take care of you. And her and Edwina as well, of course.”
Kate's eyes brimmed with tears. “You will take care of them?”
Anthony nodded. “Of course. They are your family, and mine too now.” He smiled, but a grimace peeked through. “Surely I have put us all through enough to be considered family now.”
Kate placed her hands on his face and kissed him. “I no longer wish to hear of your regrets about the past. Let us only speak of our future from now on.”
He smiled. “I would like nothing more.” He pushed her up against the wall, deepening his kiss and pressing his hands against her hips.
“Brother!” a voice called out. Benedict walked into the hall, as Violet and Mary followed him out of the drawing room. Anthony and Kate had just enough time to jump apart before the mothers noticed.
“Benedict. You know Miss Sharma, the soon to be Lady Bridgerton,” he said, gesturing towards Kate with a smile on his face.
Benedict laughed. “Wow, what a difference when you are with the right bride.” There was a tense silence.
“Are we not laughing about this yet?” Benedict asked. “Apologies.”