Return Into the Arms of The Viscount Chapter 7: Hidden and Found, a bridgerton fanfic

Hidden and Found

The Dorset carriage pulled up to Clarendon House. The house was not as big as Bridgerton House, but Lady Bridgerton's townhouse was just as colourful with climbing wisteria that welcomed everyone who visited. The lady of the house was already on her doorstep awaiting her guests with a beaming smile.

Alexander jumped out of the carriage, then turned and stood in front of the footman to replace him. Alexander extended a hand up to his mother who was exiting more demurely.

"Let me help you out, Mama."

"Thank you, Alexander. Though, I ask that you do not jump out of the carriage the next time we come to the end of our journey. You scare our hostess," Kate gently admonished her son.

"Welcome! Welcome!" greeted Violet as she made her way down the steps. "I am so glad you came! Colin and Penelope and the children are already inside. I told them that I had invited you to tea since they were here."

"Did you tell them that it was I that was invited?" Kate asked worriedly. Violet knew what she meant.

"Well, I told them that Lady Dorset was coming to tea…not specifically you. I think it will be a pleasant surprise when they see it is you, however. They already knew of your arrival...or rather Lady Dorset's arrival. You do remember how the Ton love to talk," Violet said with a smile as she ushered Kate and Alexander up the steps, toward the door that was being held open for them. Down the hall, the Clarendon butler was waiting for them at the entrance of her sitting room.

Violet entered her sitting room with Kate and Alexander following close behind her and she stopped abruptly. Colin had his back to them with his head bent down. Penelope was in front of him but could not be seen. Violet cleared her throat. Penelope poked her head out into view, her face flushed.

"Oh! We did not hear you come in!" Penelope says with a blush rising. Colin then turned around, adjusting his cravat. Then bows to his mother.

"Apologies, Mother. We sent the children to the garden to play and expend some energy. We thought to expend some of our own while we had a chance," Colin said demurely while giving Penelope a sideways glance. His comment was rewarded with a slap on the arm from his wife while the blush continued on her cheeks.

"It is a good thing that you two are married already," Violet admonishes as she gave them a pointed look. "Never mind…my guests are here! This is Lady Dorset and her son Alexander."

She turned to bring Kate and Alexander out from behind her. A gasp was heard from Penelope.

Colin then said, "Miss Sharma…uh, Lady Dorset! What a surprise!" and gave her a nod. Then he looked at Alexander and said, "And who is this?"

"My name is Alexander, sir," Alexander said with a bow to Colin. Then to Violet, "Grandmama, I did not have a chance to bid you good day upon our arrival," and bowed to her. Colin looked at his mother with a quizzical brow. Grandmama?

Violet ignored him and smiled down at Alexander.

"Oh, Alexander! Might you give me a hug?" and she opened her arms wide for Alexander to walk into them.

Kate's brows knitted worriedly as she took a quick glance at Colin who was still wearing a queried look on his face, watching the scene.

Penelope walked up to Kate with a friendly smile and gave her a small bow, "Lady Dorset, welcome to London…or rather, your first time back to London."

The two had not really known each other from nine years back. Kate knew of Penelope as Eloise's best friend and the youngest daughter of Lady Featherington. However, she found her friendly enough. Penelope knew of Kate as Miss Sharma, Edwina's sister, who suitors had to obtain approval from the season they arrived from India. This trait was dear to Penelope as her sisters were not as kind to her.

"Thank you both for your warm welcome," Kate replied.

"Come, come. Let us all sit and I will ring for tea," Violet suggested as she indicated for them to sit.

"I have already rung for tea and sandwiches, Mother. I think that your staff was waiting for you to come back before serving tea," Colin said. Then, "Ah, and here it is, thank goodness! I am famished!" Mr. Hughes, the Clarendon butler entered the room carrying a large tray of sandwiches; and a maid followed carrying the tea tray.

The adults made their way to a seat and sat down. However, Alexander remained standing. He heard the children playing outside in the garden and was interested in going to see what they were up to. He kept turning his head in the direction of their voices.

"Might I go outside to play with the children, Mama?" he asked Kate.

"Alexander, we have been invited for tea. You should grace our hostess with your presence," Kate replied.

"Let us have some tea and a sandwich first, Alexander. Tell Unc…er…Colin and Penelope all about yourself," Violet said to Alexander as she enticed him with a sandwich while patting the space beside her. Alexander could not resist and followed her request.

"Alright…I am nine years old, and Mama and I came from India to live here because I am to be the Baron of Dorset when I am eight and ten. Is that correct, Mama?" Alexander said between bites of his sandwich.

"You are correct," Kate said behind her cup of tea.

Colin, after finishing a couple of sandwiches, asked Alexander, "Is your father then Baron Thomas Dorset?" Colin knew of the Dorset family's history.

"Yes. He was a doctor. Then he became a baron…but I do not know how he became one. But then he died and, now, Mama says that I am to be the baron," Alexander explained.

"I see...and when did your Mama marry your father?" Colin more directed the question to Kate. Colin knew Thomas Dorset was an Oxford friend of Anthony's. However, he did not think that Kate and Thomas had known each other, much less get married.

"Mama will have to tell you that," Alexander answered. Then to Violet, he said, "I have finished my sandwich, Grandmama. May I go out to play?"

Colin looked at his mother, again with a questioning look on his face. Grandmama? Why is my mother allowing Kate's son to call her that?

Again., Violet ignored him and looked at Alexander, "Of course...I know how eager you are to meet some new friends!" Then to Colin, "Why not introduce Alexander to Agatha and Thomas. I am sure they will get on with each other. Leave us ladies to enjoy our tea and chat amongst ourselves."

"But there are still sandwiches to eat," grumbled Colin.

"Fine. Take the tray with you. The children will need to eat too...and tell Mrs. Wilson to have another tray made up for us then," Violet prompted.

"Come along then, Alexander. Let us see what Agatha and Thomas are doing," Colin said. Then he stood up, took the tray of sandwiches, and then held out a hand for Alexander to take. Alexander was hesitant and looked to Kate.

Kate nodded with a smile and assured him, "It is alright, Chintu. I shall be out in a bit to watch you have fun with your new friends."

So, Alexander took Colin's hand, and they left for the back terrace.

Penelope put her teacup down on the table beside her and turned to Kate, "Well, now that the men are out of the room, we can catch up with one another! How have you been? You look very well!"

Kate was surprised in Penelope's interest in her. Penelope was closer in age to Edwina and had befriended Edwina in her first season. However, Penelope was friendly enough and a lot had changed in both of the women's lives. So, Kate did not begrudge Penelope in her questions.

Penelope continued, "How did you come to be Lady Thomas Dorset? Was he not the fellow that you rode in the boat with before he fell in the lake with Anthony? Oh, my brother-in-law, though he was not my brother-in-law at the time, was in such a black mood after that. Although, I do not blame him…having to ride home in the carriage all soaking wet…It must have made the journey home feel so long..."

"My dear, Penelope," Violet gently interrupted her. "Do let Kate answer your questions as I, too, would like to hear how she came to be Lady Thomas Dorset." Then both pairs of eyes settled on Kate, awaiting her tale.

"Well, it is such a long story that I feel I would not have time to relay it all to you," Kate said trying to dissuade them.

"Oh, nonsense! We have the whole afternoon! Colin is like a child himself when playing games with the children. He will be with them for hours!" Penelope exclaimed.

Just then, the door flew open and the children came running in; Thomas, Agatha, then Alexander.

"Mama! We cannot find Papa!" cried Thomas.

"What do you mean you cannot find Papa?" Penelope asked.

"I told Thomas that we just have to keep looking for him," Agatha explained with a roll of her eyes. "We are playing 'Hide and Seek', after all!"

The three women laughed.

Then Violet said, "Your Papa did like that game when he was your age and would stay hidden for hours! Let us see if we can help you find him." She turned to Kate and Penelope, "Shall we take our tea to the back terrace? It is a beautiful day outside. We may as well take advantage of the sunshine ourselves, shall we not?"

The other two women complied and followed her down the hall and through the open doors that led out onto a terrace. There were lots of well manicured shrubs that Colin could be hiding behind, but he was not. He was at the far end of the terrace standing beside a small table, eating a sandwich from the tray.

"Papa! You are supposed to be hiding!" exclaimed Thomas has he ran up to his father.

"Well, I was hungry while I was hiding. When I saw you lot run into the house, I thought you gave up looking for me and ended the game. So, I came out to have a sandwich."

Then Alexander exclaimed and turned to Kate, "Mama! Now that you are here, might you like to play too?"

Agatha joined in, "Yes, Mama! You play too! Let it be that the girls hide, and the boys look for us!"

"Oh, that does sound like fun!" Violet chimed in and looked at Kate and Penelope. "You, two, do play and I shall make sure that there are refreshments awaiting you when you are found."

Kate looked at her son and saw that he was enjoying himself immensely. She had not played games in a long time, a very long time in fact. She decided to let her guard down and agreed to join in. So, as the men were counting, the women (but Violet) ran out onto the grass and into various shrubs and trees to hide themselves. However, Kate ran further away to the back of the garden. She found a shed that had a little window facing back to the house.

Ah, well this looks like a good place to hide and I can see the game in play while I am hidden.

She saw the door to the shed was propped open with a brick. She slightly opened the door and looked around inside. She was confident that she could hide herself without being seen through the window. So, leaving the brick in its place, she slightly opened the door and slipped herself in. She positioned herself into a hiding spot and waited to be found.

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Anthony saw two carriages waiting in front of Clarendon House when he rode up on Thunderbolt. One had the Bridgerton crest on it and recognized that it was Colin's carriage. The other carriage, however, had no identifiable markings.

I wonder if Colin is here and not just Penelope.

Anthony liked his sister-in-law. However, Penelope did not have much to say when Colin was not around but other men were; even if they were her brother-in-laws. Trying to have a conversation with Penelope was akin to pulling teeth at times. She would just sweetly smile and nod all the while looking for Colin.

Anthony dismounted and took out the bunch of flowers he had carefully tucked in Thunderbolt's saddle sack. He then took the kerchief out of his breast pocket and carefully wrapped the flowers in it. Together with the flowers, the scent on the kerchief was enhanced and he breathed it in deeply. It seemed to soothe his soul but, for the life of him, he did not know why. After handing the reins to a stable boy, he took the steps up to his mother's townhouse, two at a time. The door was opened by Mr. Hughes.

"Lord Bridgerton, the dowager viscountess was not expecting you."

"No, Mr. Hughes, I was not expecting to stop by until I was in the park and picked these flowers for her. I see that my brother, Colin, is here. Should I join them in the sitting room?" Anthony asked as he made his way down the hall.

"I am sorry, my Lord, but they are out on the back terrace having their tea outside," the butler called out after him.

"Thank you, Mr. Hughes," Anthony said over his shoulder as he continued to the back doors.

Anthony stepped out onto the terrace and found his mother sitting at the table at the far end. She was smiling while watching Colin, her grandson, and another little boy search the grounds for something or someone. Since Penelope and Agatha were nowhere to be seen, Anthony gathered that they were the ones being searched for.

"Good day, mother," Anthony called out to Violet as he approached her.

Violet turned in his direction and said, "Anthony! What a pleasant surprise! I was not expecting you!" She offered her cheek to him as he bent down to kiss it.

Why is everyone saying that? "Of course not. I was not expecting to be here myself. However, I was riding in the park and picked these flowers for you. I thought I should give them straight away so that they can get into some water," Anthony explained and handed Violet the flowers.

"Oh, thank you! Lily-of-the valley. They are so full of fragrance, are they not?" Violet sniffed them deeply; then noticed the lace wrapped around them

"How nice that you thought to wrap them in lace, Anthony, but I thought you said you just picked them?"

"It is a lady's kerchief. I found it along with the flowers. It has a monogram 'D" on it. I thought to ask you about it."

Violet unwrapped the lace from the flowers and saw the monogram. She recognized the monogram and knew whose kerchief it could possibly be. She held it out to Anthony to give back.

"I am not sure as to who the owner of it may be. You should hold on to it and ask Mr. James if he recognizes the monogram. He has been around a long time and knows who's who of the Ton and may well recognize the monogram," Violet suggested, all innocent like.

Anthony nodded and took back the cloth; tucking it back into his breast pocket.

Seeing Colin and the two boys skulking about the garden, he asked, "Mother, who is the boy playing with Colin and Thomas?"

"Ah…er…that is Alexander…Dorset," Violet informed him gently. Something in her tone caused Anthony to look at her.

"Alexander Dorset? Tommy's boy? Is Tommy here with his wife? I should like to meet them now that they are back in London," Anthony said looking around.

"No, Anthony. It is only Lady Dorset and their son that have come back to London. Thomas died from malaria in India a year ago."

"I am sorry to hear that. And so she arrived a widow."

"Yes, and she is playing 'Hide and Seek' with them at the moment. It is girls against the boys," Violet explained with a smile as she watched the game ensue.

"Well, it does not look like Colin is having much success in finding the girls…" Anthony says. Then he calls out to Colin, "Would you like my help, Brother? You do not seem to have much success in your endeavour!"

"You are more than welcome to join in the fun, Anthony!" was Colin's comeback as he rounded a tall planter with greenery growing from it. Then, "Ah-ha, dear wife! You cannot hide from me! Especially when your bright pink dress does not blend in!"

Penelope was about to comment as she stepped out of hiding but her husband grabbed her around the waist and kissed her soundly. Any retort she may have had melted away in his kiss.

"Egad! You are not going to get very far in the game if you stop to do that, Colin! There are children about!" Anthony said aloud as he started to remove his hat and riding jacket to join the game. Then the two boys came running up the steps with Agatha behind them wearing a surly look. The boys were nonplussed and each grabbed a sandwich to replenish themselves.

Anthony held out his hand to his niece and asked, "Dear Agatha, whatever could be the problem?"

Agatha huffed, avoided his hand to sit down beside Violet and said, "It is not fair that I should be found when Thomas threw pebbles up in the air in the area of my hiding spot. Then one hits me on the head causing me to yelp aloud!"

"What?! Thomas! Why did you do that?" Violet asked, feigning shock while hugging Agatha to soothe her.

Thomas was so very much like his father. Colin always liked to do pranks as a child and, sometimes, did so still to this day. Thomas sat on the other side of Violet with his sandwich.

"I already knew she was there, Grandmama," Thomas shrugged. "I had pebbles in my pocket that I had to get rid of anyhow. They were weighing me down."

Anthony laughed at the innocent pun and tousled his nephew's hair. Then, he looked around behind him and saw Alexander standing off to the side. He noticed the boy's dark colouring and thought that the boy's almond-shaped eyes looked familiar.

Hmmm, he does not resemble a Dorset, however…he must take after his mother.

"Hello, you must be Alexander Dorset. I am Anthony Bridgerton," Anthony said to Alexander.

"How do you know my name? Did Grandmama tell you already?" Alexander asked, looking at Violet.

"Grandmama?" Anthony looked at his mother with an arched brow.

"I have extended the title to Alexander to call me so," Violet said with a lift of her chin.

Anthony acquiesced with a nod. After all, Phillip's children, Oliver and Amanda who are not of Eloise, call Lady Bridgerton 'Grandmama.' Colin and Penelope rejoined them.

"Has the game ended then?" Colin asked. "Because I would so like to finish my tea."

"But what of my Mama?" Alexander asked. "She is yet to be found!"

Ah hah! Violet all of sudden stood up and spoke, "The sun is getting too high in the day. We should save ourselves from getting more freckles! Colin, Penelope, let us bring the children in and get them some lemonade. Since Anthony has just arrived and knows the property well, he shall look for Lady Dorset."

Anthony furrowed his brow and looked at his mother. What is she getting at?Why should I look for the lady when I have not yet even been introduced to her?

Colin had a curious look about him and wore a toothy grin. He looked down at Penelope and said, "I agree. Let us go inside to get some lemonade!"

Penelope looked back up at him but did not say a word and nodded her assent. So, arm in arm, they ushered their children back indoors. Violet walked over to Alexander and held out her hand to him.

Alexander hesitated again and looked up at Anthony to ask , "Will you find my mama?"

Anthony looked again to his mother. Her face told him that he must comply.

"I am at your service, Lord Dorset, and shall find your mama. I shall bring her back to you safe and sound," Anthony said, hand on heart, as he bowed to Alexander. The boy bowed his gratitude and walked back into the house, hand in hand with his grandmama.

Anthony shook his head exasperatedly. How do I get myself into these things? He put his jacket back on, grabbed his hat and started down the steps to search the garden.

Well, maybe this was too good of a hiding spot!

It had been a while since Kate heard Agatha's yelp when she was discovered. Kate had poked her head up then and saw Agatha come out of her hiding spot. Now, there was silence. Kate slowly poked her head up to the window but only so that her eyes could see out. She did not see anyone searching for anyone.

Maybe they gave up on me! But surely Alexander would not have given up!

If there was one trait that Kate knew Alexander inherited from her, it was her love of competition. As a mother, she did allow Alexander to best her from time to time in the children games that she taught him. However, as he got older, he knew when she did that and was never pleased about it. He would then ask her to play again but only to play fair and square.

Just as she thought to relinquish her position, she saw a flash of royal blue to the left corner of her eye. She let out a little squeal and dropped herself back down from the window; hoping that she was not heard.

As he searched behind all the shrubbery closest to the terrace, Anthony knew that there was the gardener's shed at the back of the property. Since the Lady Dorset had not been found, he deduced that she most likely was hiding there since he was not finding her anywhere else in the garden. He made his way in the direction of the shed and, as he approached, he heard a noise, not unlike a mouse's squeak. He arrived at the door and he saw it was slightly ajar. Then, he smelled the scent again. The scent of lillies…and tangerine. Though, he remembered the kerchief tucked in his breast pocket. The scent, however, was now more poignant than ever.

Anthony slowly pulled open the shed door and, as he stepped over the threshold, the brick was released and fell onto the grass. So, when he was fully inside the shed, the door shut firmly behind him; and to his right, he saw her.