Passions Anew

Kate saw little Thomas run by her, in the opposite direction, with a cloth in his hands for Uncle Anthony who apparently could not get up. She let out a huff in annoyance.

Could not get up, indeed!

She ran up the steps of the back terrace, through the door and then down the hallway.

She called out for Alexander, "Alexander! Alexander!"

Lady Bridgerton came out of her sitting room and stood in the doorway.

"Where is my son?" Kate asked her.

"He is in here with Penelope, Agatha, and me. I just sent Thomas out with a cold cloth as Colin had asked for. Is everything alright? Is Anthony hurt? Where are they?"

Kate answered that Anthony was fine and ignored the other questions. She went around Violet and entered the sitting room. Alexander was sitting on the floor with Agatha working on a puzzle.

Kate announced to him, "Alexander, we must leave now."

"Aww, Mama, Agatha and I just started this puzzle. It is a map of the world! I would like to see it completed," Alexander said with a pleading look.

Violet came back into the room and implored, "Oh, do not leave yet. You did not get to finish your tea."

"My apologies, Lady Bridgerton, but we have stayed long enough. Alexander, please say your 'thank yous' and let us go," Kate said to Alexander with a look that made him abide.

Violet was surprised at Kate using her proper name again. She is upset about something…

Alexander stood up, bowed to Agatha and said, "Thank you for letting me help you with the puzzle, Miss Agatha."

Then he walked over to Penelope, who was sitting on the settee drinking lemonade, and bowed to her, "Thank you for letting me play with Thomas and Agatha, Mrs. Bridgerton."

"You can play with them anytime, Alexander. We just live on the outskirts of Grosvenor Square. It is but a short carriage ride," Penelope said to him with a smile.

While Kate was waiting for Alexander to say his goodbyes, she peeked her head out of the sitting room and looked back down the hall towards the open doors to the terrace. She could see Colin, Anthony, and Thomas returning from the gardens. Anthony was wiping his forehead with the cloth Thomas had brought him.

'Oh, Lord Bridgerton is quite adept at conveying false injury! Just like his first impressions!' thought Kate while shaking her head. Before she could be seen by the trio, she walked into the foyer and stood by the doorman.

"Alexander, please make haste!" Kate called out.

Violet came out with Alexander; holding his hand with a concerned look on her face.

"Kate, are you alright? You are quite agitated."

"I am sure Lord Bridgerton will apprise you of the day's events, but Alexander and I must take our leave. I am all of a sudden not feeling well. It may have been because I was out in the sun too long for today."

Alexander spoke up, "But you were hiding, Mama. You were not out in the sun. We could not find you. That is probably why Lord Anthony could not find you right away and Uncle Colin had to look for you too."

Kate looked up at Violet with a look that asked, 'Lord Anthony, Uncle Colin?' but Violet just raised her brows in return without explanation. Violet bent down and smiled at Alexander.

"I so enjoyed our visit, Alexander, and I am glad you have made fast friends with Agatha and Thomas. I do hope that your mama will not send you to school earlier than expected so that you can spend some time in the country at Aubrey Hall come summer." Violet stood up and looked at Kate while Alexander also looked up at Kate.

"Oh, Mama, I should love that!" Alexander exclaimed, looking at Kate, again, with pleading eyes.

Then he looked back up at Violet and asked, "Will Thomas and Agatha be there?"

"But of course! All my grandchildren will be there! You shall have many more friends to meet and play with! I will also invite your grandmama, Lady Mary, and your auntie, Lady Edwina, who is a countess, you know, to join us should you and your mama come," Violet answered and looked at Kate again.

Oh, Lady Bridgerton is quite gifted in her schemes! She masks this quite well, I must say!

Violet continued, "You are an aunt, Kate. Did you know that? Lord and Lady Fyfe have two daughters. Their names are Katherine and Diana. Katherine is five and Diana is two. I should think that you would like to meet them now that you are in England…?" Then looking back down at Alexander with a smile, "And, I am sure that Alexander should like to meet his little cousins!"

To which Alexander replied, "Yes, but they are little. How will they be able to play with me and the older children?"

"Well, they are your cousins nonetheless," Violet gently informed him. Alexander gave her a curt nod.

Kate's eyes had swelled with tears. Of course, she did not know any of this news. I was supposed to be the favourite aunt to Edwina's children. However, Kate had not made it so by asking Mary and Edwina to stop writing her, for their sakes. They eventually did when she no longer replied to them. Kate was not sure now if they would welcome her back to the fold.

A noise at the end of the hall brought Kate back to the present and she dabbed away the tears with gloved fingers while Violet turned to the sound.

"Ah, there you are!" Violet called aloud to the trio that were making their way back in from the terrace.

"Uncle Anthony was alright after all, Grandmama, but required the cold cloth nonetheless," Thomas said as he came bounding ahead, towards them.

"Oh, well then. It was a good thing that you brought it to him, Thomas," Violet said as she put her other arm around her grandson.

Kate held out her hand to Alexander as she gauged the distance of the other two men still down the hall.

"Come along now, Alexander," she directed. Alexander took his mother's hand and both mother and son bowed to Violet.

"Lady Bridgerton, I thank you for your hospitality as always."

"Yes, thank you, Grandmama." Then to Thomas, "Goodbye, Thomas. I hope we shall play together again soon."

"Are you leaving now? Will you not be staying for dinner? Can they not stay for dinner, Grandmama?" Thomas asked looking up at his grandmother.

Oh, these Bridgertons! They are relentless!

Before Violet could issue an invitation, Kate exclaimed, "No, no! We must go!" and she turned Alexander and herself to exit, waiting for the doorman to open the door for them.

"Oh, leaving so soon?" asked the smooth voice of the viscount. Kate closed her eyes and shook her head.

"Good lord! Are we never going to quit this place?!' She softly said to herself, but Alexander heard her.

Nevertheless, Kate turned herself and Alexander back around to face them all (well, except for Penelope and Agatha who were still in the sitting room).

Kate looked at Anthony and was about to tell him that, indeed, they were leaving when Alexander spoke up, "My mama is not feeling well, my lord. I shall need to take her home post haste."

Anthony had his jacket back on (which fitted him quite well, one might notice), walked up to them and reached into his breast pocket. He pulled out the kerchief that was tucked within.

He bent down and said to Alexander, "Of course. Please take this kerchief then and use it for your mama should she need it during your ride home, Lord Dorset."

Kate let out a small gasp as she noticed the kerchief with the monogramed "D" and instantly knew how Anthony came to be in possession of it. Anthony, in turn, heard the gasp and knew the reason for it. After Alexander took the kerchief from him, Anthony stood up his full length to impart a knowing look to Kate.

And so, with a pleasing smile, he bowed to her and said, "Until we meet again, Lady Dorset."

'It shan't be too soon,' Kate thought to herself with gritted teeth as she could not express the thought aloud.

Instead, she made her bow with Alexander following her lead. Then, they turned around, again, towards the door that was now being held open for them and finally departed for Dorset House.

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"Well! What an eventful afternoon, was it not?!" Colin cheerfully exclaimed when the door shut behind the Dorsets.

Thomas turned to him to agree, "Yes, Father! Alexander was fun to play with! He did not so mind that Agatha and I were younger than him. Shall we play with him again?"

"That will be up to his mama," Colin advised him. Then to Anthony with a smirk and an arched brow, "…And if Uncle Anthony can behave himself when in her company again."

"Why? What did you do?" Violet asked with a frown, looking from Colin to Anthony.

"Colin knows not what he is about. I was the perfect gentleman," Anthony said to Colin while delivering a blistering look. Colin was unruffled.

"Thomas, let us get back to Mama and Agatha to see what they are up to in the sitting room. Hopefully, they have not finished all the sandwiches and lemonade." Thomas took Colin's hand and bowed to Violet. Father and son then left for the sitting room. Violet turned to Anthony, about to say something.

However, Anthony spoke first, "I, too, shall take my leave, Mother. I have much to do now that I have wasted the afternoon playing games."

Violet's eyebrow arched and directed her gaze to him, "Truly? Was this a wasted afternoon?"

Anthony walked towards Violet with a hand on his hip and exclaimed, "Mother, I knew you were up to something!"

"Anthony! I am not deserving of such reproach! I merely think that spending time with loved ones on a beautiful day, such as this, was not wasted! Hmph!" with that Violet turned her head to the side to avoid looking at him, as if hurt.

Loved ones that included persons not of our family? What is she getting at now?

Anthony eyed his mother but decided that now was not the time to get into an annoying conversation about who was and was not actually part of the family during this afternoon's tea. Instead, he kissed her on the cheek and then put his hat on.

"Apologies, Mother. You are a most gracious hostess. The day getting away from me was of my own doing since I stopped by unannounced. You are always welcoming of all your children and grandchildren…blood or not. However, I must bid you adieu as I have plans for this evening at White's."

He bowed and turned to leave.

"Anthony!" Violet called out to stop him and he did so.

Ah, escape was imminent!

Anthony patiently turned to face her with questioning brows, "Yes?"

Violet walked up to him and gently smiled, "Please do me the favour and stop in at Dorset House some time in the coming weeks to make sure that Lady Dorset and her son are settled well into Society. She is not so familiar in the ways of the Ton, especially now that she must uphold the title of 'baron' for her son to inherit."

"Mother…"

Violet's face was now solemn, "Anthony, there are no Dorset family around her that can help her navigate it all. You know what will be expected of Alexander when he comes of age. You can help her prepare him."

Then, she turned away from him and softly said, ""Unlike I was of help to you…"

Anthony closed his eyes and hung his head with his hands on his hips.

'Steady…steady…she is your mother,' he reasoned to himself. His mother was known to use this tactic on him and his siblings from time to time. Anyone outside of the family would not see it as so but to garner empathy towards her.

He lifted his head and took a breath, "Mother, Lady Dorset can handle herself very well amongst the Ton, if you do recall."

"Things are different now. She is a mother. She is responsible for her son and the direction his life will take."

"Exactly! She is responsible for their lives. I do not see why I need to be involved."

Violet turned back and stared at him. If only you knew…

"I understand. However, I would hate to see the House of Lords take advantage of her naÏveté with regards to the barony. She has no one to direct her in those matters."

Anthony looked into his mother's eyes. There was genuine concern in them. Granted the Bridgertons have a history with Kate and her family, specifically to do with him. However, it was nine years later now, and the people involved have different lives. Well…maybe except for him.

However, that history surely does not entail me in this regard?

Violet sensed his hesitation. So, she gently added, "Anthony…she is alone; raising a child with no husband for countenance in care, well-being, and love…not only for her child but for herself. I know this hardship well."

Anthony stared at her. Goodness! She is but exaggerating! What is she asking of me?

However, he did not want to stay any longer whittling a point that he most likely will not win with his mother. All he wanted to do was to sit in his darkened library and drink himself to oblivion over his new finding…Kate.

He let out a sigh at the thought of her but realized that Violet was still looking at him with an expectant look of agreement from him.

"I shall give thought to your request, Mother. Although should I take up the endeavour, I do not believe that Lady Dorset will welcome unsolicited service from me whatsoever."

"My dearest, I am sure that you will be able to persuade her one way or another. Enjoy the rest of the day, Anthony." Violet gently patted him on the cheek and returned to her sitting room.

Anthony closed his eyes and let out a breath. Heavens above! Pray tell, what am I getting into now and again?!

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Alexander ran up the steps of Dorset House while Kate exited the carriage. Mr. Brown was holding the door for them. Mrs. Brown was also standing in the foyer, awaiting her mistress' instructions.

"How was your afternoon tea at Clarendon House, Master Alexander?" asked Mr. Brown.

"Oh, Mr. Brown! I had such fun! I was introduced to Agatha and Thomas Bridgerton, who are brother and sister. We played 'Hide and Seek!' Mama even played but we could not find her. So, Lord Bridgerton had to help us. But then he, himself, got lost; and Mr. Bridgerton, Agatha and Thomas' father, went on the search with us. He was the one that found both, Mama and Lord Bridgerton, in a shed! However, Lord Bridgerton must have gotten hurt because Mr. Bridgerton told us to go back to the house to get a cold cloth for Lord Bridgerton. Thomas went back with the cloth as Agatha did not want to run back anymore. So, I stayed with her and had sandwiches and lemonade! Aaaaannnnd, we started a puzzle that was a map of the world! I would have so wished to have stayed and see it completed. But Mama was not feeling well after being found. So, we are here now," Alexander gushed and then, finally, took a breath.

"My word, Master Alexander! Such an exciting afternoon indeed!" replied Mr. Brown.

Mrs. Brown looked over at Kate and asked, "Did you have enough sustenance, my lady? Lady Bridgerton is known for having a generous array of treats during teatime."

Kate smiled and said, "Yes, I did and, yes, Lady Bridgerton did not disappoint. However, I did wish I had my chai instead."

"Would you like me to bring you some in the sitting room?" Mrs. Brown offered. Mr. and Mrs. Brown had come to learn some of the exotic dishes and drinks that Kate and Alexander adored, with Kate's guidance, of course.

"What I would like is a bath with my lily soap. I am in need to calm my nerves and a bath infused with lily scent will help do so," Kate bided.

"Of course, my lady, and perhaps lie down afterwards to give yourself some further rest," Mrs. Brown suggested.

"I shall take a respite myself, Mama," Alexander said. Then he took his mother's hand, "Come, let us make our way to our rooms while Mrs. Brown readies your bath."

"Chintu, you are so wise," Kate smiled down at him as she let him lead her up the stairs.

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It was now evening, and Anthony was having a brandy in his library after having finished dinner…alone. He stood in front of his windows that looked out onto Grosvenor Square. He wasn't particularly looking out at anything since the sheers were drawn. But he could make out the flickering lamp posts that stood in front of Dorset House in the far distance. He did not have solid plans to go to White's as he told his mother. White's was always open to the Ton whenever they chose to go. No, Anthony had much to think about…about what happened nine years ago; about the present; about the future.

Was this another chance with her? Had the fates intervened? Did they have a hand in her return now?

Anthony was not a man to leave things to chance… except maybe in the gaming halls. Even then, he would have assessed the other gentlemen's record of gains and losses, if he already did not know of them. No, he must do the same with Lady Kate Dorset: assess her gains and losses; in manner, in life, in love.

Yes, love. That is the endgame, is it not?

Anthony was not the same man he was nine years ago. He had learned the hard way when he did not name his true feelings to himself or to her. After she was gone, he knew he had lost the chance to tell her. His longings, his desires for her were not only physical in nature he later realized, realized too late. He loved her. He loved her but he did not declare it in his proposal and that…that, of course, was what she was in want of. She wanted it for her sister. Why did he think she would not want it for herself? He downed his drink and walked over to the drink tray that was readily set up to pour himself another.

But my younger self was a fool!

He emptied his glass and poured himself another. Just then, there was a knock on the door.

"Enter," Anthony bellowed.

Mr. James, his butler, entered the room with a small note on his tray.

"This just arrived, my lord," the butler announced as he held out the tray to Anthony.

After a few drinks, Anthony was wary of a note being delivered this late into the evening. He did not reach for it straight away.

Instead, he asked, "Who is it from?"

"It arrived from Trowbridge Manor, my lord."

Anthony looked at Mr. James who looked straight ahead over Anthony's shoulder. Mr. James knew of his master's dalliances but of course never begrudged his master of them. Lord Bridgerton was a single man after all. However, James had a feeling that his master knew of love lost.

Anthony heaved a heavy sigh and took the note, "Thank you, James."

James bowed and asked, "Shall I have your carriage awaiting out front, my lord?"

"No, thank you, James. I will not be going out tonight. You can turn in."

"Thank you. Goodnight then," James said as he made his bow and exited the library.

'Oh, Lady Trowbridge is not the widow I wish to be summoned to on this night,' Anthony thought to himself as he, once again, drained the brandy in his hand. He went to the settee and stretched out on it. He sighed and opened the note, in any case:

My dear Lord Bridgerton,

The usual entrance is unlocked for your entry. I will be awaiting your arrival in my bedchambers. I have a new trousseau for your careful inspection.

Yours in confidence,

Lady Alicia T.

Again with a heavy sigh, Anthony got up and threw the note into the fireplace for when he would have a fire next. Lady Trowbridge will not be happy to be kept waiting as she would be expecting him because he had taken her up on her offer many times before. However, tonight he will have to disappoint her as he must think things through about renewing his association with Kate.

I may just have to act on Mother's request of her favour after all…

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Kate sat on the window seat in her room, staring out into the night. She knew all along that returning to England would mean seeing Anthony again. However, she thought that having loved Thomas as she did would have quelled all the memories and feelings of passions she felt towards the viscount so long ago. She realized today that such was not the case. Her memories and feelings were just locked away until such time her heart deemed to release them. That day was today.

I must let these passions cool! I have Alexander to think of now. He carries the name of Dorset. He must continue the line for Thomas' sake, the only father he knows. No, I must continue on as Lady Kate Dorset, widow of the late Baron Thomas Dorset. Whatever the viscount and I once thought we shared has long passed. Our lives are our own but must remain separate.

With this resolution, Kate got back into bed and stared at the ceiling, hoping that sleep would come.