Daphne and Simon stood at the helm of their courtyard, greeting the guests to their ball. It had been a few years since they had last hosted, and every member of the ton was turning up in what was touted as the event of the season. Even though the courtyard was already crowded, guests were still coming in, some in individual groups, some in streams.
Daphne decided that she and Simon would wait another 15 minutes, then make their way inside to perform their duties as hosts just as another couple walked in.
"Your Graces."
Daphne watched them position themselves in front of her and Simon. Her body tensed for a second, but she remembered her hostess demeanor as they bowed and curtsied.
"We are so honored to be here at your ball."
Daphne put on a placid smile, but her eyes became shrewd, watching the couple with suspicion.
"Lord Sheffield, Lady Sheffield. I am glad you were able to come."
On hearing their names, Simon's arm twitched slightly in Daphne's grasp. They were well aware of who these people were, and the connection to Anthony and Kate.
"Of course. We would not miss this grand affair. Everyone who is anyone in the ton will be here tonight, is that not right?"
"Indeed, it is," Daphne replied in a monotone, but placid manner. She was saved from saying any more as another family came in, forcing the Sheffields to make their way down the steps and into the buzzing crowd of the ball. Simon and Daphne just looked at each other, a conspiratorial spark in their eyes.
Lord and Lady Sheffield made their way around the ballroom, talking to old acquaintances here and there. It was while they were talking to Lord Selby that Lord Sheffield noticed the tall figure with dark brown hair that he'd only seen once just a couple years before.
"Lord Bridgerton is here," Lord Sheffield said in a matter-of-fact statement. This made his wife look in that direction, as well as Lord Selby.
"Well, of course," Lord Selby replied, stating the obvious, "the Duchess is his sister."
"Is she now?"
Lord Sheffield looked over with some envy at the viscount's many connections.
"He is bound to come, of course."
"I have yet to say hello to them," Lady Selby said, looking in their direction. "I'll be right back, my lord."
"We'll come with you," Lady Sheffield replied, a hard edge to her voice.
"Are you sure?" Lady Selby looked at her with a slight hesitation.
"Quite. Let's go, Lord Sheffield."
Though skeptical, Lady Selby led them over. It wasn't Lord Bridgerton she wished to see, but rather the tall, dark-haired woman standing next to him that Lady Sheffield wished to get a glimpse of. After insulting them so blatantly, Lady Sheffield had heard that his wedding to their granddaughter had been abruptly aborted at the altar.
So who was the woman who took her place and who clearly Lord Bridgerton was attached to, given how he was grasping her arm? She had to know.
They were behind Lady Selby, who finally had reached their target.
"Lord Bridgerton!"
He turned his head in their direction, and his wife also turned around to face the voice.
And Lord and Lady Sheffield stood there, frozen in shock.
For there, standing in front of them, was their daughter's stepdaughter who they rejected, now clearly Lady Bridgerton.
Anthony and Kate noticed the Sheffields standing behind Lady Selby, and let satisfaction seep into their faces at their shell-shocked expressions. They then turned to face Lady Selby.
"Lady Selby, an honor to see you again," Kate responded in a courteous, but toned-down manner, trying to conceal her tension.
"And you, as well. Though I must say I'm surprised. How are you able to manage in your condition?"
Kate looked down at her protruding belly, which was keeping this crushing group at bay. Anthony looked down in pride.
"Don't worry, your ladyship. I won't be going into labor anytime soon. The baby's not due for another six weeks."
Anthony possessively put his arms around her shoulders, as she kept one hand on her bump. They had adoring smiles only for each other. The Sheffields were still too stunned to speak.
"Well! I'm sure Lord Bridgerton will have something to say about that," Lady Selby replied, clearly immune to seeing the affection they shared.
"Oh, come now, Lady Selby," Anthony replied, "I know better than to disagree with my wife. Besides, Kate is only doing her duty as a chaperone to my younger sisters, and I wouldn't be a good brother if I didn't let her do that. Besides, Eloise and Francesca are rather fond of her."
Kate smiled at her husband's acquiescence. Lady Selby also gave a smile of being impressed, as Lady Bridgerton clearly had her husband wrapped around her finger.
She made her excuses when she saw Lady Cowper, and bid farewell to them. And this left Kate and Anthony facing Lord and Lady Sheffield.
Neither couple spoke as they continued to stare at each other. Despite her initial shock, Kate couldn't help but feel proud at the stunned expressions on the faces of the Sheffields. They had continuously dismissed her the last time she saw them, and believed her unworthy of being part of the ton.
Now, she was even more prolific in the ton than them.
It was Lady Sheffield who finally broke the silence.
"You," she said in a rather condescending manner, but still in disbelief.
Kate proudly stuck her chin out slightly, not willing to cower. "Me," she said in a matter-of-fact tone, daring Lady Sheffield to accept it.
"You married Lord Bridgerton?"
Kate let out a small huff, and smiled as she glanced sideways at Anthony, who was also showing amusement at Lord and Lady Sheffield's shock.
"I can't imagine our granddaughter was too happy about that," Lord Sheffield interjected, not willing to accept the truth about Anthony & Kate.
Anthony then turned, and showed his boastful stance, being every bit the viscount he could be. "Oh, don't worry, she gave her blessing to us."
"She did?" Lady Sheffield's voice was quietly in disbelief. "That cannot be!"
"I assure you, it is," Kate replied proudly, "Edwina was happy for the two of the us."
"Ah, Lord Bridgerton! Lady Bridgerton!"
The four all turned to the booming voice that had announced her presence in a manner that only one lady in the ton ever could.
"Lady Danbury," Anthony greeted in reply, "It's a pleasure to see you. And you, as well, Lady Mary."
Mary smiled in delight as she watched them both, standing next to Lady Danbury. "I'm so happy to see you both."
She turned her loving expression from them to her parents, and immediately changed her expression to an assessing glance bordering on suspicion. When Lady Danbury had pointed them out, Mary was initially apprehensive. But when she saw that they were with Anthony & Kate, her fierce protectiveness kicked in, and she followed Lady Danbury over to support her daughter and son-in-law. Her parents mirrored her assessing glances, watching the two ladies who clearly had sway in the ton, from their proud postures.
"I heard you two were in town, and planning to come. Didn't know if you actually would."
Lady Sheffield quickly stood up a little straighter, despite still being the shortest in the group. "We thought it was time to re-enter the ton. After all, it's been years since you married that commoner, and humiliated us. The ton seems to have forgotten about that."
"Yes, they have," Mary said with a smirk, looking back at Kate, "And they've accepted both my daughters now as one of their own. Kate is now Viscountess Bridgerton, and well-respected by everyone in the ton."
"Indeed?" Lady Sheffield looked skeptical at this.
"Oh, and don't worry about Edwina. You don't need to pay any trust for her. She didn't marry English nobility."
Lord and Lady Sheffield perked up at that. "She didn't?" he asked.
"She married Prussian royalty," Mary said, her words coming out with a puffed chest of pride.
"What?" Lady Sheffield let out, her tone still one of disbelief.
Lady Danbury stood up straighter, firmly planting her cane. "Edwina married the queen's nephew, Prince Friedrich of Prussia. In fact, her majesty introduced them herself. She is now Princess Edwina of Prussia."
"Yes, they married just six months ago," Kate continued, boasting ever so slightly, "We attended the wedding as a group in Prussia. It was quite grand, was it not?"
"Indeed, it was," Lady Danbury replied, "And how is her highness? Settling in well?"
"I received a letter from her a few weeks ago," Kate replied, a maternal joy infusing her tone, "She is slowly learning the language, and has enjoyed meeting the many subjects. She and Prince Friedrich are beloved by the country, and by each other."
Mary smiled, the same joy and pride infusing her face as Kate's. "I would hope for nothing less."
She turned back to her parents, becoming stoic again. "So, as you see, Lord and Lady Sheffield, despite my marriage to a commoner, as you have pointed out, my family has turned out just fine."
She turned to Kate with pride. "My elder daughter is now a Viscountess…" She turned back to them, her proud expression back. "And my younger daughter is a member of Prussian royalty. We have everything we'll need and more than you ever will. Because we have a family."
Lord and Lady Sheffield watched all four of them, measuring all. They had clearly band together to support each other. Their allies were limited since they had retreated to their seat. No one would support them the way Kate, Anthony, Mary and Lady Danbury were supporting each other.
"Ah, Anthony, your mother is calling us over," Kate said, looking over at her husband with pride.
"Indeed, she is," Anthony replied, also noticing Violet over Kate's shoulder, "We should not keep her waiting. Excuse us, Lady Danbury, Lady Mary." He turned and made a quick bow to the other two. "Good evening, Lord & Lady Sheffield."
He held out his arm to Kate, who happily took it. Lord and Lady Sheffield watched them go, still showing disbelief, while Lady Danbury and Mary looked on with smiles of pride.
Anthony and Kate walked away, only staring ahead. Once they were a safe distance away, they looked at each other. Identical smiles of satisfaction came on their faces. They had managed to upstage Lord and Lady Sheffield by sticking together. They always did, and always would, from now on.
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