Once Again

Since Lady Whistledown discontinued her scandal sheet some years ago, newspapers still had a section where gossip was printed. Lady Danbury was not the only person that noticed that Dorset House had come alive again after years of being dark. It was only a matter of time that word of a Lady Dorset and son had moved in. This news was in The Morning Post a few weeks after Kate and Alexander's arrival. Although there was no great detail about the new inhabitants of Dorset House, Lady Dorset would soon be expecting visitors of the Ton, invited or not.

Therefore, after his morning ride (in which there was no sign of Kate much to his dismay), Anthony decided to take up Violet's request and pay a visit to Lady Dorset. Since he was up earlier than most, and this included his mother, he walked to Clarendon House to request for some flowers from her garden (since he only had plants in Bridgerton House). He very well did not want to raise suspicion by stopping at a florist's cart and he very well could not offer his services to Kate without bringing flowers as a show of good faith. Once he was handed a bouquet of roses and lilacs, neatly tied with a periwinkle-coloured ribbon (apparently, his mother was awake after all), he made his way to the end of Mayfair.

As Anthony approached Dorset House, he saw Kate, riding on horseback, make her way to the back of the property where the stables were. He increased his gait to meet up with her before she would go into the house. She was handing the stable boy the reins and, so, her back was towards him. She was wearing the teal blue riding habit that she wore during the hunt at Aubrey Hall when Edwina insisted that Kate join the men. Anthony remembered that Benedict was of no help in Anthony's discouragement of Kate. Her acerbity on the topic would most likely be part of her character still…or so Anthony figured. So, he held the flowers behind his back as he approached her.

Once he was within earshot, Anthony said aloud, "Good morning, Lady Dorset. I see that you do go out for your morning rides still."

Since Kate was not expecting him, she jumped at the sound of his voice.

"He bhagavaan!" Kate quickly turned around to face him as she recognized the voice. "Tell me, my lord, do you always sneak up on people this early in the morning?"

Anthony smirked, "My apologies for startling you. However, I do not sneak up on people. You should have heard me coming as I did not make any effort to quiet my steps. In addition, it is not as early in the morning as you think."

"Well, I saw no one else during my ride. So, that is why I believe it to be early still."

"You are not out as early as usual," Anthony observed.

Kate's eyes narrowed at him, "Are you making note of my comings and goings? You should not concern yourself of my habits, my lord."

"I am not…" Anthony was ready to deny that he had been watching Dorset House the last couple of weeks but knew that she would skeptical (and rightly so).

He continued, "I am merely observing today that you did not go out on your ride this morning as early as you had when you first came to London for Edwina's season."

"I was out early enough," Kate huffed. Then she crossed her arms and asked, "Lord Bridgerton, what, may I ask, is the reason for your unexpected arrival?"

"Are you not going to invite me for a cup of breakfast tea? I brought you flowers," Anthony said with a smile as he produced the bunch of flowers from behind him.

Kate eyed him and the flowers warily. What is he up to now? She dropped her chin and looked up at him.

"You brought me flowers for a cup of tea?"

"Of course not. I brought them for you and to properly welcome you back to England. I am afraid that, when we met, at Clarendon House I was not prepared for your return."

"And that is your reason for behaving as you did?" Kate asked, still on guard, yet accepting the flowers.

"Whatever do you mean? I believe I behaved impeccably well. I even went along with your ridiculous idea that a shed's skylight would aid us in escape."

Kate rolled her eyes and said mumbled, "You believe…"

Just then the stable boy came back out of the stables. He was surprised to see the mistress of the house and Lord Bridgerton standing there.

"My lord," the boy said as he made his bow to Anthony. Then to Kate he asked, "My lady, was there something more you required of me?"

Kate turned to him and shook her head, "No, thank you. Lord Bridgerton and I were just about to go inside for breakfast tea." (She still had her manners, after all.)

The boy bowed and went back into the stables.

"Why, thank you, Lady Dorset. I shall accept your invitation," Anthony bowed to her with a grin.

Kate huffed and squared her shoulders.

"You…" She started but stopped.

"Yes?" Anthony asked with a smile. I see I can still vex her. Let the games begin!

Kate just turned and walked towards the side door of the house. Anthony followed. A doorman, awaiting on the step, opened the door for them. Mr. Brown happened to be in the hallway.

"Ah, there you are, Lady Dorset. I see that you have a guest. Good morning, Lord Bridgerton," Mr. Brown observed as he bowed to Anthony.

"Yes, Mr. Brown. Please show his lordship to the breakfast room. I shall change my dress and be down momentarily after I look in on Alexander."

"Master Alexander is already in the breakfast room, my lady."

"I see. Please send Mrs. Brown to my rooms to assist me so that I do not keep Lord Bridgerton waiting," Kate replied. Then she turned to Anthony, "My lord, Alexander will provide companionship until I am able to join you."

"Of course, Lady Dorset. He will be most suitable company," Anthony informed her with a bow.

"I thank you for your patience," Kate said as she bowed likewise and turned to ascend the stairs to her rooms.

Anthony watched her make her way up the stairs. Kate sensed that he was watching her but did not dare look back to see. However, as she turned at the middle landing to continue onto the next flight, she took a sideways glance in his direction and saw that he was watching her. He caught her glance and answered it with a bow. Kate quickly returned her gaze to look forward but felt a slow heat warm her face.

00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Kate entered her rooms, threw the flowers onto the bed, and started to disrobe while waiting for Mrs. Brown.

Aaargh, Anthony! Why is he here?

"Good morning, my lady. I beg your pardon, I did not hear what you just said."

Kate did not realize she was grumbling aloud.

"My apologies, Mrs. Brown. It is of no consequence. We have an unexpected guest which will delay any plans that I had for the day," Kate explained as she went into her dressing room. She came back out in a lavender dress. Mrs. Brown was still in the room, awaiting further instruction.

"Would you mind, Mrs. Brown, helping me brush out my hair and tie it in a plait please?"

"Of course, my lady. However, with Lord Bridgerton in attendance, it would be demure to have it in a coif," Mrs. Brown advised.

"No, thank you, Mrs. Brown. He will have to accept me as I am," Kate said in a hard tone.

"Of course, my lady," Mrs. Brown consented and went about combing out Kate's hair.

0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Meanwhile, in the breakfast room, Anthony was seated beside Alexander, at the head of the table. A bevy of delicacies sat in front of them for the morning meal. However, neither of them had anything on their plates since they waited on Kate's arrival.

Alexander looked at Anthony and asked with a small frown, "Why are you here?"

While others would have been shocked at the audacity of Alexander issuing such a direct question without acknowledging his title, Anthony smiled and thought to answer him in normal conversation. He is of Kate's heart, after all.

"I happened upon your mother this morning while I was out for a walk. She had just returned from a morning ride, I believe, and invited me to join you for breakfast," Anthony answered.

Alexander's mouth pouted to which Anthony inquired, "Why has your mouth fallen, Lord Dorset?"

"Mama is supposed to wake me when she is to go riding."

"I see. Do you ride?"

Alexander's head bobbed up and down.

Anthony continued, "Well, I suppose you were fast asleep that she did not want to disturb you since she went out quite early."

"I suppose," Alexander quietly conceded. Then, "I do wish Mama would make haste! I am starving!"

Anthony chuckled and said, "I will not mind if you took a scone. It may be some time before she comes down. Ladies do like take care to ready themselves when they have a guest."

"Only when the guest was invited," said Kate from the entrance of the breakfast room. Both Anthony and Alexander looked towards her and stood to bow.

Kate looked at Anthony and continued, "I did not take care today, Lord Bridgerton, as I believe you are a man that does not want to be kept waiting." She raised her brows and wondered what the viscount would say to that.

Anthony gazed at her. She was wearing her hair down in a loose plait, tied at the end with a purple, bejeweled hair bangle of some sort. Small tendrils of hair framed her face, making her eyes stand out. Her dress was simple yet of the day's fashion which helped her all her features stand out in Anthony's eyes.

"I would have been none the wiser, Lady Dorset. Your beauty is effortless," Anthony said as he bowed to her again with his eyes holding hers. But Kate rolled her eyes at him.

"I am no debutante, my lord. So, you do not need to affect your charms on me," Kate advised him.

Anthony frowned at her, "I see that your character has not changed. Why are you argumentative? I merely gave you a compliment, Lady Dorset."

Sensing that both adults seemed to have forgotten that he was in the room, Alexander spoke up, "You look beautiful, Mama!"

Kate looked down at Alexander and graciously said, "Thank you, Chintu."

She bent down and kissed Alexander on the forehead. Then she walked past Anthony to sit on the other side of him, across from Alexander. Anthony smelled the familiar scent of her and gladly let it envelope his senses. Then he moved to hold her chair for her.

"Of course, how can one argue with that?" Anthony whispered in her ear as she made her way into her chair.

Kate quickly looked up at him and he winked back at her. He sat down in his chair just as Mr. Brown entered to pour their teas. Kate continued to stare at Anthony but he his attention was already turned to helping himself to the breakfast.

The viscount was always a charmer. It was part of his reputation of being a well-known rake. He had never discounted it. So, why would I think that he would be any different all these years later. It is probably why he has never married!

"So, Alexander, are you studying Latin with a tutor?" Anthony asked Alexander, trying to bring a sense of normalcy to the atmosphere for the boy.

"No, I am not. Mama and I are to set out in a fortnight to Sherborne Grammar School in the town of Dorset. Mama is busy preparing for the journey." Alexander informed him between bites.

"I see," said Anthony.

Then he turns to Kate, "Why is he being sent to school so early? School will be breaking for the summer and will not be in session for a couple of months. There will not be many students in attendance for him to make friends with, regardless that it is a boarding school. Most families of the Ton will collect their children to spend their summer days in their country estates."

"Because we had travelled for six months to arrive here, I am afraid that Alexander has missed much in his education to the level of English education. I wish for him to start his levels earlier than the next school year so that he is not kept behind by more than a year," Kate explained.

"Can you not hire a tutor and stay in town until school is begins again? It would be a shame for you to miss the balls of the Season now that you are back in London," stated Anthony.

"Balls?" Alexander asked. "What are balls? Are they fun?"

"Balls are parties where there is dancing, eating, drinking, and merriment," Anthony answered him with a smile.

"I did not think you enjoyed them yourself, Lord Bridgerton," stated Kate. "Nonetheless, I am a widow now and widows do not take to the dance floor which will make attending balls dreadfully boring. Therefore, I do not care to attend any," she continued.

Anthony ignored her comment and asked, "Did you ever enjoy them yourself? In any case, what you say is not true of widows. I have danced with many-a-widow over the years."

Oh? And which widows were they? Kate could not help but wonder if those widows were still in Society and part of his life still. Of course, she was not going to voice her curiosity to the man himself! In any case, she needed to move on and one way to do so was to make their interactions light and unaffected.

"Come now, my lord, did you truly enjoy balls? Even the ones of the season in which you courted Edwina?" Of course, Kate knew the answer to this and, thus, was smiling behind her cup of tea as she sipped it.

Anthony looked at her, trying to assess the manner in which she spoke. However, he caught the smile and it lightened his heart.

"The Queen did help me by choosing the Diamond of the Season," Anthony answered with a smirk to which Kate gave a ladylike snort.

Then, his countenance all of a sudden went serious. He leaned towards her and said in a low voice so that Alexander did not hear, "Let us not bring up events of the past that may cause heartache. I wish to start anew with you."

Kate was surprised at this and just stared at him. While she had tender feelings for him still, she did not think that the viscount would consider being acquainted her again after all these years. For her, once she resolved not letting any feelings get the better of her for the sake of her son, she did not expect to be in the viscount's company at all, or at least very little. Yet, here he was…this morning in her breakfast room…having a meal with her and her son. Their son. She would not make sense of it. So, she shook her head at these thoughts.

Anthony saw the motion and took it to mean that she did not want the association. So, he sat back up in his chair and continued eating to finish his meal. In time…In time.

"Mama, I am finished eating. May I be excused from the table? I shall like to go out to the gardens and play," Alexander asked.

Kate nodded her assent. She continued to sip her tea but kept her eyes downcast towards her now empty plate. She was still ruminating about what Anthony had just said. However, as much as she was uncomfortable with his words, she felt a sense of settlement from him. Maybe it was because they were both now mature.

"I should like to see the gardens myself," Anthony announced as he pushed himself away from the table and stood up. He held out a hand towards her to help her out of her chair. "I remember them to rival Bridgerton House when I visited Thomas during our Eton days."

Kate did not take his hand but looked up at him. I cannot spend time with him like this…this easy-going nature of his will surely bring my guard down and I cannot let it be….

"I have not had a chance to assess their state since living here, my lord. I do not think today is the day for me to entertain you in the gardens," Kate informed him as she stayed sat, hoping that he would end his visit at this point.

Anthony was tired of hearing her address him so formerly. Surely, she remembers the night they "entertained" each other in the Bridgerton House gardens? However, he could not remind her of that now for fear of losing the acquaintanceship altogether.

"Do you think we can call each other by our given names?" he gently asked her.

"Do you mean for me to call you 'Anthony'? You had never given license to anyone outside of your family before," Kate said. Anthony shrugged his shoulders.

"I only mean that since we have history…" Anthony started then he quickly corrected himself, "Our families have history with one another…" he paused in case she was going to interrupt. When she did not, he continued, "…can we not call each other by our forenames? I, Anthony, and you, Kate?"

Kate, ignoring his hand, slowly stood up and let out a slow breath. To be familiar in this way will surely lessen my resolve.

Anthony knew the reason for her hesitation which is why he suggested this familiarity. It was in hopes that she will allow, at least, a friendship which, in time, would have to develop into something more.

"I must ponder on this, my lord. We have only become acquainted once again and we are two different people now than when we first met," Kate said with a lift of her chin.

"Shall you ponder while we walk the gardens together then, Kate?" Anthony asked, trying to stay in her company a little while longer.

"I should not like to keep you from your day, my…" Kate stopped when Anthony's brows went up signaling that he was expecting her to use his name but she would not capitulate…not yet.

"I should not like to keep you from your day," was all she said and walked out into the hallway leaving the decision up to him; whether to turn left to exit out the front door or turn right to walk out the back doors into the garden. She was hoping for the former.

Anthony chuckled. He walked up to her and offered his arm while facing the back doors.

"Come. I do not have anything pressing today that I cannot provide you with my company."

"I did not request for your company, my lord!" Kate said looking up at him but not taking his arm still.

"No? Then it must be I that requests your company then. You also need to work on dispensing with the formalities, Kate," Anthony warmly smiles down at her while he takes her arm in his. Surprisingly, she did not resist and started walking with him down the hall, towards the gardens.

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Once outside, Kate looked to see where Alexander had gotten to. The grounds of Dorset House were vast and the gardens almost encompassed every corner. However, she saw his little head bobbing up and down amongst the lavenders and tall Delphiniums in the northeastern part of the garden. She wanted to quicken her pace to go to Alexander but the viscount had his other hand on her hand to keep her by his side.

"It is unseasonably warm, do you not think?" Anthony asked. Kate did not say anything right away.

Then she asked with a small smile on her lips, "You wish to speak to me of the weather?"

Anthony smiled back. He remembered all their repartees and arguments from long ago and did not realize that he had held them dear until now.

"Truly, no, but since I wish to start anew, I thought to start with on a neutral topic.'"

"How boring. However, I shall play along…I actually welcome this weather. I am used to the heat of India. If I am to be truthful, I was not looking forward to returning to England because of the weather…nor the tea," Kate laughingly explained. Anthony joined in her laughter. When their laughter died, they walked in silence a little more with his hand still on hers.

Then he asked her, "If there was no barony to claim, would you have returned to England?"

"Do you mean without Thomas still?" Kate asked looking back at him. He nodded, waiting for her answer.

She shook her head, "I do not know but most likely not. Alexander and I were in dire straits not long after Thomas died. He was a doctor but most of his patients were local people who did not have money, necessarily, to pay him. Most of the time, he was paid with whatever they had grown. I tried to find work as a governess again but was not successful in securing employment. We definitely did not have the money left to make the decision myself to come back to England."

"Did you not write to your mother and sister regarding your new situation?" Anthony asked softly. His heart pained for her and what she went through.

"I had lost touch with them in the early years of my marriage with Thomas. They went on with their lives as did I. My time here that season was another lifetime for me once I was back in India. Other than knowing that Mary and Edwina remained here, I did not feel I had any ties with this place."

This stopped Anthony in his tracks. She stumbled back in his abruptness. He faced her but still held her arm in his, though tighter. His other hand grabbed her other arm. She was surprised with his sudden forcefulness and looked up at him with a frown. He had anger in his eyes.

"No? And what of me?" he asked through gritted teeth.

"What of you? I do not know what you mean," she asked him, not knowing what had come over him.

"We shared a night together and I proposed to you! Did those events not count for something in your heart?" Anthony asked painfully.

"Did they affect your heart, Anthony?" she spat back. Anthony noticed that she spoke his name but only when vexed. This was not in the manner he wanted her to use his name.

He released her abruptly and shouted, "I proposed!"

After regaining her balance, Kate looked him in the eye and quietly said, "You proposed after apologizing for that night and that was all. I could not accept you because of it."

"What are YOU speaking about?" Anthony questioned.

Just then Alexander screamed and came running out of one of the gardens. Kate and Anthony turned to him. Then Kate ran towards Alexander.

"What has happened, Alexander?" Kate asked worriedly as she reached him and bent down to wrap him in her arms.

"I was stung by a bee!" Alexander exclaimed and showed Kate his upper arm where a welt started to form. Upon hearing this, Anthony's blood ran cold. He started to get agitated and ran up to mother and son.

"We must get him inside and call for a doctor straight away!" Anthony bellowed. Then he scooped Alexander in his arms and started running back to the house. Alexander was taken by surprise and did not like being carried.

He looked back at Kate and called out to her, "Mama! Mama!" He started wiggling in Anthony's arms.

Kate could not react in time to prevent Anthony and ran after them.

"My lord! Wait! It may not be as dire as it seems!" she called out as she ran.

Anthony reached the terrace and had to put the wiggling Alexander down to keep from dropping him. Anthony crouched down and held Alexander still with both hands on the boy's shoulder.

"Hold still and let me look at you!" Anthony instructed.

Alexander stopped moving but his breathing was now laboured. He looked at Anthony with wild, worried eyes. To Anthony, this was dire. Kate caught up to them and crouched down to assess Alexander herself.

Anthony looked at Kate, "He is affected! Look at him! Take him inside and I will call for my doctor. Has he been stung before? Did you know that he would be affected like this with a bee sting?"

Kate shook her head with worry, "He has never been stung. Though I do not know why it affects him as so. I have been stung and I did not react this way."

Anthony picked up Alexander again and went into the house. Mr. Brown had heard all the yelling (both earlier and a few moments ago) and had come out to the hallway.

"My lord! What is the matter with Master Alexander?" Mr. Brown asked worriedly.

"Call Dr. Jarvis at once! Where is Alexander's room? I shall bring him there," Anthony called over his shoulder as he made his way up the first flight of stairs.

"It's the first door on the right, my lord," Mr. Brown called up to him.

Then Mr. Brown sent a footman to Dr. Jarvis' office. Kate ran up to Mr. Brown.

"Mr. Brown, please get the cook to chop up some basil and mash it into a poultice with some olive oil to make it into a paste…and quickly! Please have Mrs. Brown bring a cool cloth to Alexander's room!"

Mr. Brown bowed and quickly walked to the kitchen. Kate ran up the stairs after Anthony and followed him into Alexander's room. Anthony laid Alexander onto the bed. He did not know what more he could do. The boy's breathing was still laboured. Anthony stepped aside as Kate knelt down beside the bed and took Alexander's hand. She saw that he was scared as she looked into his widened eyes.

"Chintu, steady your breathing. Take deep breaths in slowly if you can and let them out slowly. Close your eyes and listen to my voice. Breathe in slowly, breathe out slowly," Kate instructed gently.

Mrs. Brown came in with the cold cloth, "My lady, here is the cloth as you requested." She handed it to Kate. Kate cleaned the area where the welt had formed.

"Thank you, Mrs. Brown, but where is Mr. Brown with the poultice? Not much is needed. However, I need it now!" Kate ordered.

"I will go and hasten him," Anthony offered and quickly left the room. His heart and his mind were racing.

This cannot be happening! Kate's son cannot die! He is but a child!

Anthony ran down the stairs and burst into the kitchen when he reached it.

"Where is the poultice that your mistress requested?! She is in need of it now!" he thundered.

"Apologies, my lord. I have it here now," said the cook as she handed the mortar and pestle to Anthony.

Anthony grabbed it from her and left the kitchen to run back upstairs with it.

"My lord!" Mr. Brown called out to him from the front foyer. Anthony stopped and turned to him.

"My lord, Dr. Jarvis was not available, but his assistant is here now," said Mr. Brown as he ushered in a man of East Indian descent. "This is Mr. Acharya."

"Where is Dr. Jarvis? Why is he not attending to this matter?" asked Anthony.

"Dr. Jarvis has gone to Kent to deliver a baby, my lord," informed Mr. Acharya. "I am a doctor myself back in India. I am training under Dr. Jarvis to get my license in order to practice here in England. I can make an assessment and make record of whatever ails Lady Dorset's son."

Then, from upstairs they heard Kate yell, "Where is that poultice?!"

"Very well, Mr. Acharya. Please follow me in haste," Anthony ordered and ran up the stairs as Mr. Acharya followed.

In the room, Kate was still instructing Alexander to breathe. His eyes still closed.

"I have it now, Kate," Anthony said as he passed the mortar and pestle to her. Kate nodded her thanks and started to apply the poultice on the welt with her fingers.

Anthony spoke, "Kate, this is Mr. Acharya. He is Dr. Jarvis' assistant. Dr. Jarvis is not in the city at the moment. Please let Mr. Acharya assist."

Kate finished applying the paste and stood up to move out of the way for Mr. Acharya.

As Mr. Acharya moved to the spot she vacated, he asked, "What happened? How did he get to this state that his breathing is laboured as it is?"

Anthony answered, "He was stung by a bee."

"Has this happened before?" Mr. Acharya asked again and pressed two fingers on Alexander's neck, just under the jaw.

Kate answered this time, "No. He has not been stung before. However, I have been stung and I did not have this reaction myself."

Mr. Acharya then laid an ear on Alexander's chest and listened. Next, he felt Alexander's forehead with the back of his hand.

"He is a little warm," assessed Mr. Acharya. "You must keep him cool with a cold cloth." He took the cloth that Kate had set aside and wiped away the paste she had applied. The welt had subsided somewhat and the redness had lessened.

"What did you apply on the welt, Lady Dorset?"

"It is a poultice of basil, ground into a paste with olive oil. It works to lessen the reaction in this type of ailment," Kate replied.

"Indeed it does. Good thinking!" Mr. Acharya said in return and reapplied the paste.

Then he stood up and turned to face Kate. He gasped as he looked at her and his eyes widened.

Anthony knew how this man felt. Kate's beauty took his own breath away. However, this is not the time to let her beauty affect you, man!

Kate's brows furrowed and she asked, "Is something wrong, Mr. Acharya? You must tell me this instant!"

Mr. Acharya collected himself and cleared his throat.

"My apologies, Lady Dorset. Have we met before?"

"I do not believe so, Mr. Acharya. Now what of my son?"

"Right." Mr. Acharya turned back to Alexander and noticed that the boy was no longer breathing hard to take in air. It seemed that the boy had fallen asleep. He turned back to Kate.

"That poultice seems to have helped. The medicinal properties of the basil have countered the reaction he suffered after being stung. He is sleeping now. As I said, keep him cool until his temperature has lessened. How did you know that the concoction would help?"

"I lived in India with my husband who was a doctor. I worked alongside him as a nurse. We used herbs for medicinal purposes for locals that couldn't afford medication," Kate explained.

"Oh? You lived in Bombay?" Mr. Acharya asked as he looked from Kate to Anthony. Then back to Kate.

Anthony interrupted, "Let us not converse while the child is sleeping. Shall we make our way down to the parlour?"

"Yes, let's do that," Kate agreed and went to kiss Alexander on the forehead while he slept. Anthony held the door open, indicating to Mr. Acharya that he should make his exit.

Kate was the last to exit Alexander's room. As the three of them made their way down the stairs, Mr. Acharya informed Kate and Anthony that he would have to depart as he had to continue to the other patient he was on his way to see until he was rerouted to Dorset House for the emergency.

"Well, thank you, Mr. Acharya, for coming when you did. I shall have your bill settled by my agent," Kate said as she and Anthony walked him to the front foyer.

"You had it all well in hand, Lady Dorset," Mr. Acharya acknowledged with a bow in Kate's direction. Then to Anthony, "Good day, Lord Dorset."

"Lord Bridgerton," Anthony corrected. "Good day, Mr. Acharya."

Mr. Acharya was startled by this but did not make an outwardly show of it.

"My apologies, Lord Bridgerton! Good day to you both." Mr. Acharya turned on his heel and hurried out the door that was already being held open.