The Viscount's Son

Kate moved to the back of the room to stand by the fireplace. She grabbed hold of the mantel to keep herself upright and steady. Oh, Alexander! What is to happen now?

Violet Bridgerton bent down to Alexander's level and held out her hand of biscuits.

"Were these what you were looking for, fine sir?" Violet asked playfully.

"Thank you, Ma'am." Alexander bowed and reached out to take the biscuits.

Violet moved out of the way and extended her hand back into the room. "Will you be joining us then?"

Alexander looked at his mother. Violet turned her head towards Kate with a look that said, 'There is nothing in this world that will make me leave now!' Dowager Viscountess Bridgerton knew.

"It is alright, Chintu. I just thought that you needed a little while longer to nap since you had just gone to sleep before our visitor came upon us," Kate said gently.

Alexander smiled and sat down on the chaise, now happily nibbling on his biscuits. Violet sat down beside him.

"What is your given name, sir?" Violet inquired.

"My name is Alexander Thomas Dorset."

"A fine name, that is! I am Lady Violet Bridgerton. However, you can call me Grandmama!" she smiled at Alexander. "All the children I know call me 'grandmama'," she said pointedly at Kate.

"Grandmama?" Alexander asked, looking at his mother.

"Daadee ma," Kate answered him back with the word in Hindi.

Alexander looked back at Violet. "My grandmama's name is Mary. She is my mama's mother. Mama says, now that we are in England, we may go to visit her."

"But what of your grandmama on the side of your father?" Violet asked him; knowing that the true story was kept from him.

"Mama said that she died a long time ago and that Mama never knew of her."

Oh dear! Kate started to fan herself with a hand. She moved to the window to open it. She took in deep breaths of lily scented air when it wafted in from the garden.

"Are you alright, Mama?" Alexander asked worriedly.

"Kate, might you go and lie down for a bit? You do not look well. You can call your housekeeper to attend to us while you are resting. Alexander can finish the visit with me in your place." Then to Alexander, Violet smiled and said, "After all, that is one of the duties of a viscount…to entertain guests."

Kate closed her eyes and breathed out. This visit has gone so far now! If only Alexander was not so curious!

"What is a viscount? Is it a 'baron' in Hindi? I am a baron, you know," Alexander advised Violet. Then, he stood up, bowed towards her, and said, "I am the Baron Alexander Dorset. I am at your service, ma'am."

Violet smiled and tears formed in her eyes. 'Alexander is exactly like Anthony at his age,' she remembered. Anthony was so animated and loved to converse with anyone around him. He, too, knew of the title he would inherit one day and always made it known to anyone and everyone much to his siblings' dismay. It was not until Edmund's death that he took it much too seriously.

"My apologies. I stand corrected. However, a baron does have the same duties as a viscount in entertaining guests," Violet informed Alexander.

"Then I shall be happy to continue our visit in place of my mama. Mama, if you are not feeling well, you can go lie die down. I shall stay with…" Alexander hesitated, as he was not yet sure that he should give Violet the title of 'grandmama.' However, she was an elder and he did not want to disrespect her by not doing so.

"Grandmama." Violet finished with a nod to give her approval. "And may I call you Alexander?"

Alexander smiled and nodded, "Yes. I shall like that. Please call me Alexander then. Mama, I shall stay with…Grandmama and finish our tea and biscuits."

"I do think we shall require more biscuits and a fresh pot of tea. Perhaps, you can go find your butler and advise him of this. I shall make sure your mama can get to her room safely," offered Violet.

Kate knew that one would just have to pull on the rope to ring for Mr. Brown. She had a feeling that a discussion of import was soon to come…

"Of course!" Alexander stood and bowed towards Violet. Then, to Kate, "Mama, I hope you feel better once you have rested." He bowed and exited the room in search of Mr. Brown.

Violet stood and faced Kate.

"He is Anthony's son, and you cannot tell me otherwise! You will not be able to keep him from society…from Anthony. Alexander is to inherit a title!" Violet declared.

"He is to inherit a barony…" Kate replied.

"He is to inherit a viscountcy!" corrected Violet.

Kate stared back at her. In the dark, deep, recesses of her mind, Kate knew this possibility might come to pass upon their return to England. However, she had hoped to send Alexander to boarding school until he came of age to avoid this situation altogether. She would have been fine to contend with the Ton, if need be, in order to secure Alexander's standing in society. However, now that she was at this point, Kate could not see how she could keep Lady Violet Bridgerton from keeping Alexander's parentage a secret. Kate thought she had kept Anthony from losing his honour and saved herself from shame by leaving all those years ago. Now she was back only to have to contend with them altogether, plus try to keep the Dorset name intact.

Oh, Thomas, why did you have to leave us?

Nevertheless, Kate knew that she would be foolish to have Lady Violet Bridgerton as an adversary in this regard. So, she tried to plead to Violet's motherly nature.

"Lady Bridgerton…Violet…please…Do not take my son away from me. I am his mother," Kate quietly pleaded.

Violet calmed herself down and spoke gently, "I would not take a child away from his mother. However, Alexander must know his father…and Anthony must know his son. "

But what of me? "Alexander already knows of his father!" cried Kate.

"You know of what I mean..." Then Violet gently said, "Kate, you are the mother of his child…a son, no less. Anthony will not abandon you."

Kate shook her head and whispered, "You do not know that."

There have been many-a-men of the Ton that have sired children out of wedlock, married someone else, then kept child and mother housed elsewhere. The mother and child may have been taken care of but were never recognised properly. On the other hand, the same men may have married the woman and gave name to the child but did not love them. Either of these outcomes was not what Kate wanted for herself, much less for her son.

Violet stared her in the eye and said, "I know my son, Kate. Once he knows Alexander is his, he will take measures to care for you both."

'Out of duty…out of honour…but not of love. Nine years later, I am back to where I left off…' Kate thought to herself. However, she had whispered this aloud and Violet heard.

"Pardon me?" Violet asked.

Violet knew that Anthony had had feelings for Kate back then. She knew it was love when he broke down and cried out of relief when Kate awoke from her injury. She did not know of any further actions on his part, however. Kate leaving for India indicated to Violet that his love was not reciprocated. Why Anthony was intent on locating Kate was but for Lady Mary and Miss Edwina's sake…or so she was told. When he did not locate Kate, Violet saw her son close his heart on love and throw away the key. This broke her heart for him.

Obviously, a 'certain' encounter occurred beforehand…but what is Kate going on about here and now?

Kate looked at Violet with a forlorn look and shook her head. However, she then squared her shoulders and lifted her chin.

"I have felt a man's love and I cherished it. I can take care of my son on my own."

"Kate…"

'This conversation is getting out of hand', Kate felt. She had to bring it to a point.

"Violet, I am Lady Thomas Dorset. Widow of the Baron Thomas Dorset. Alexander is his son. Thomas has acknowledged so in writing. You must let it be," Kate said firmly.

Violet inhaled a sharp breath. Violet knew that, with documentation such as Thomas' will, Kate did not have to include Alexander in Anthony or Violet's lives.

This cannot be so! He is Anthony's son! He is my and Edmund's grandchild! He is a first-born Viscount Bridgerton! Something must be done to make this come to pass!

An idea formed in Violet's mind and in her heart. She must make Anthony fall in love with Kate all over again and Kate find love in Anthony. They had to...…for the sake of their son, for the sake of themselves.

Just then the door opened with Alexander bounding in; Mr. Brown followed closely behind him.

"Mama! You are still here! I thought you were going to lie down. No matter…we have more tea and biscuits!" Alexander indicated to the tray that Mr. Brown was holding.

"Oh, how wonderful, Alexander! Your mama has decided to stay with us after all. The fresh air through the open window has calmed her." Then to Kate, "Come sit with us, Kate. Let us hear of your plans for Alexander's education," Violet said as she sat beside Alexander and motioned to Kate to sit as well.

Mr. Brown poured the teas, then left the room while Alexander helped himself to a biscuit.

Kate sat down on the other side of Alexander with a sigh, grateful for a change of subject.

"I have enrolled him in the Sherborne Grammar School. He shall be boarding there during the season to catch up on what he missed while we were on our travels. We will go up to Sherborne in Dorset in a month's time to get him settled before his tutelage is to begin."

"That is a good plan. The Ton will not need to see him until he is of age; when he is to inherit his title," Violet said agreeably.

To which title? Kate wondered. She was not so sure about Violet's sudden yet agreeable demeanor at the present.

"Uh…yes. I will miss him so. Children in India are not sent away to boarding school but are taught in the home. I was hoping to do the same here and have him tutored here. However, Mr. Brown advised me that, due to the barony, Alexander's education must be exemplary."

"Indeed." Again, Violet agreed as she nibbled on her biscuit and smiled down at Alexander.

Violet continued, "However, it is a shame that Alexander and his newfound 'grandmama' will have such a short time to get to know one another." Then, "Colin and Penelope will be having tea with me on Thursday next. They will be bringing their brood for a visit with their grandmama! You and Alexander must join us so that Alexander may meet his…" She paused.

Steady now…I must have a strategy if Alexander is to become a Bridgerton!

"…So that Alexander may meet new friends before he is off to school!" she concluded.

"Oh, thank you, but we have much to do before then," Kate said in hopes that Violet will accept her decline.

"Nonsense! I am sure Alexander will want to play with other children since I am sure he has not done so since his arrival. You will join us at Clarendon House," Violet instructed.

"You are not at Bridgerton House?" Kate asked, her delicate brows furrowing.

"No. I bought my own townhouse just down from there. With everyone else married off, it was just Anthony and me left in that big house. I felt that he would have more success, if he tried the marriage mart again, if I was not around," Violet said, laughing at the last remark.

"I see," Kate said, her mind whirling. Then, she steeled herself and gently asked, "And did your efforts come to fruition? Is there to be a Viscountess Bridgertion?

Violet looked at Kate and then she came to a realization...

Kate loved Anthony all those years ago! How come, then, did she leave?

Violet knew the answer to this question from what Kate murmured before...

Because Kate had not felt Anthony's love. Kate thought that if Anthony found out she was with child, he would have married her out of duty. Oh! if only they knew of each other's love back then!

Violet's heart pained for them both. Now, however, she was resolute that they find their way back to each other.

Of this, I am determined...