Episode 4:

INT. AUBREY HALL BEDROOM - MORNING

Edwina wakes up, and turns over, then sees Kate is still asleep. She gets out of bed, wanting to be alone

EXT. AUBREY HALL TERRACE – MORNING

Cut to Edwina walking on the terrace, in thought. She has finally found someone she likes, but who cannot support her family financially. She doesn't know which to choose

MR. BAGWELL (O.S.)
Miss Edwina.

Edwina, startled, looks up, then smiles with delight at the intruder of her thoughts

EDWINA
Mr. Bagwell.

MR. BAGWELL
You seem to be deep in thought this morning.

EDWINA
I thought scholars enjoy states of deep thought.

MR. BAGWELL
Well, I certainly do. And I
find myself intrigued by where
your thoughts are taking you.
Poetry, philosophy, perhaps?

EDWINA
Neither, unfortunately. I've been
thinking about my family…and our
situation.

MR. BAGWELL
Your financial situation?

EDWINA
Yes.

MR. BAGWELL
It should not fall entirely to you
to help your family out. Your sister is
there, too.

EDWINA
But she's not the Incomparable
of the Season. And she's not even
looking. My mother and Kate have
pinned all their hopes on me to
make sure I marry someone who
can help our family.

MR. BAGWELL
And you can't think about a
scholar with little money as a
potential suitor.

EDWINA
(with a sad smile) That's just
it. You're the only man I
can think about. Ever since
we met, all I want is to talk to
you. I'm so happy when I am
with you. But I love my family
too. I'm in a battle between my
heart and my head.

MR. BAGWELL
The eternal battle for all of us.

EDWINA
You know what? It's not a battle
that needs to be fought today.
It seems like there will be
other times for that. I'd like to
get to know you, because that is
what will make me happy. If you're
inclined in the same way, that is.

Mr. Bagwell smiles eagerly. He definitely is.

MR. BAGWELL
Shall we adjourn to the breakfast
room, and continue our conversation
on Roman archaeology?

EDWINA
I would love to.

The two walk together inside, arm-in-arm, eager to spend time together

EXT. AUBREY HALL BACKYARD – AFTERNOON

The guests enjoy various outdoor activities and chat with each other.

Edwina walks onto the lawn, notices Mr. Bagwell sitting with some other men. She wants to join him, but just watches out of propriety.

ANTHONY (O.S.)
Miss Edwina.

Edwina turns to and sees Anthony approaching her

EDWINA
Lord Bridgerton.

ANTHONY
I hope you've been enjoying
your stay here at Aubrey Hall.

EDWINA
I have, very much. It's quite
a new experience, but I have
found it exhilarating…in
more ways than one.

She sneaks a glance to Bagwell's table again

ANTHONY
I'm happy to hear.

Edwina smiles and glances to her right, notices Kate arriving

EDWINA
Oh, Kate!

Kate looks to the sound, where Edwina and Anthony are standing

EDWINA
Come join us!

Kate reluctantly makes her way towards them. Anthony watches her, unable to look away

EDWINA
Lord Bridgerton and I were just
talking about the country party.
It's very different from London
and India, is it not?

KATE
Indeed, it is.

EDWINA
It's definitely a change from the
bustle of the city. We are used to
the crush of people, which was
common in Bombay. Though, Kate
loved when we visited the village.
I think this party is more to her taste.

ANTHONY
Is it now?

Kate and Anthony look at each other, trying to assess one another

EDWINA
She feels very comfortable in the
solitude of the country than
the rush of the city.

Edwina smiles, but continues to watch Anthony & Kate interact, a mischievous look in her eyes as she sees the attraction between them

DAPHNE
Miss Sharma. Miss Edwina.

Kate and Edwina both look to Daphne, who has just joined the group. They greet her with a curtsy

EDWINA
Your Grace.

DAPHNE
Would you two be interested
in joining me and some other
ladies in a game of cards?

EDWINA
That would be wonderful. Kate?

KATE
Indeed. It would be an honor, Your Grace.

Daphne starts to lead them away, but then stops to look at Anthony

DAPHNE
Enjoy your hunt today, Anthony.

EDWINA
Oh, you're going hunting?

ANTHONY
Indeed. We have organized
a hunting party this afternoon.

EDWINA
Kate, why do you not go?

Kate looks thrown by Edwina's suggestion

EDWINA
Kate is an excellent shot.

ANTHONY
Of course she is.

KATE
Do you not believe so?

Anthony & Kate argue, and Kate joins the hunt. The two talk while on horseback, famous leg scene, Kate disappears, Anthony tracks her down

ANTHONY
It is rather like you,
leaving everyone behind.

KATE
No one wishes to hear what
you think you know about me.

ANTHONY
I do not think, I know.

KATE
You don't know anything about me.

ANTHONY
And you know everything about me?

KATE
I know enough to know you're
not a good match for my sister.

ANTHONY
And how exactly did you come
to this conclusion? By what you
heard that night on the terrace?

KATE
Do you honestly expect me to
trust my sister with a man
who refuses to love his wife?

Anthony shakes his head in frustration

KATE
If you cannot show affection for
your wife, how do you expect to care
for her and know what she needs?

Anthony looks at her in disbelief

ANTHONY
So now you think I don't
know what others need?

KATE
Not when it comes to my sister.

ANTHONY
I can guess. Tell me if I'm wrong.

Kate turns to him with a challenging look, expecting him to be wrong

ANTHONY
You and your sister are making your
debut at the same time. That's not
uncommon, but it's telling. Neither of
you have a dowry, do you? Your family is
making ends meet the best they can, but will
eventually run out. The hope is that one of
you, probably Miss Edwina since she's the
diamond, will marry someone with wealth.
Someone who is generous enough to be able
to provide for your mother and you in the future.

Kate stays silent, continuing to watch him

ANTHONY
I am a gentleman, a nobleman. I come from a
large family, one I have been the head of
for over a decade, and have provided for and taken
care of to the best of my ability. Given that
my family is of good standing and we're very
well off, as you've probably heard, why can I not be
able to provide a comfortable life to yours?
Why would I not care for your family,
the way I have cared for mine?

KATE
Taking care of one's family and
loving your life partner are not the same.

ANTHONY
Why should they be different? Should a
partner not be part of a family too?

Kate becomes silent, hears a rustle, points her gun. Anthony tries to correct her. They come in close proximity, then are interrupted by the other men in the hunt. They head back.

INT. AUBREY HALL BEDROOM - NIGHT

Kate keeps tossing and turning, unable to sleep, thinking about Anthony. She finally gets up, and puts a shawl around her, heading out of the bedroom carefully to not disturb Edwina

Cut to library, Kate searches the shelves for a book. She pulls one out, A Study in Greece, and opens it. She reads a couple lines, and shakes her head in disinterest before shutting it again. Just as she lifts it to put it back, a loud thunderclap and lightning storm flash outside

Kate screams and drops the book in fright. She turns away from the window, breathing hard, trying to will away the panic.

KATE
No, no, please, no.

Another thunderclap hits, and Kate twitches in fright, gripping the table to steady herself

Cut to: Anthony is making his way down the stairs, and sees the thunderstorm raging outside. He watches, enamored by how powerful it can get. He looks down, and sees the light coming from the library. Confused, he makes his way there.

Anthony walks in, and sees the candle on the table. Another thunderclap and lightning bolt flash, illuminating the room. Anthony hears a whimper. He follows the sound, finds Kate curled up in a ball on the other side of the table, facing away from the window.

ANTHONY
Kate. Oh, my god.

He sits down next to her, shocked by her state of fear

ANTHONY
Kate…can you hear me?

He puts his arm on hers

ANTHONY
You're freezing.

He wraps his arm around her shoulders, trying to warm her up

ANTHONY
It's all right, Kate. I'm here.

He pulls her close into an embrace as she continues to shiver, and tries to help her calm down

Kate finally pulls her head away from her knees, leaning her head into Anthony's chest

KATE
I don't remember.

ANTHONY
You don't remember how
you got here?

Kate just stares blankly at the wall in front of them, unable to say or think coherently

ANTHONY
Have you always had
this fear of storms?

KATE
Yes. During the monsoons in
India, my father or Mama would
often stay and comfort me in the
night.

ANTHONY
Your father loved you very much.

KATE
He did. He used to read to me
and sing songs that I'll never forget.

ANTHONY
My father used to read to me
too. Robinson Crusoe was one of
the books I remember most.

KATE
Sounds like he was a good
father, too.

ANTHONY
The best. Losing him was the
worst thing that happened to me.

KATE
I understand. I feel the same
way about my father…and my mother.

ANTHONY
Do you remember your mother at all?

KATE
Not really. Mary married my father
soon after she died. He wanted me to
have a mother figure, and eschewed
the mourning period. Mary has been the
only mother I've known, and she's been
wonderful.

ANTHONY
That's fortunate.

KATE
Yes.

Anthony looks at the window, and sees the storm is starting to pass, as the rainfall slows down outside

ANTHONY
Shall we get up? The rain
seems to be dwindling now.

Kate looks at him, then hesitantly looks at the window. She sighs in relief, and tries to get up.

ANTHONY
Allow me.

Anthony helps her to her feet, and the two stare at each other. They don't know how to react after what has happened between them.

KATE
Thank you…for helping me.

ANTHONY
I didn't do anything.

KATE
No, you did everything.

Kate leaves the room, and Anthony watches her, still dazed. Kate is walking up the stairs, but stops midway, thinking about Anthony and how he helped her.