AN: I know that it has been a while since I've posted so I apologize for that. I hope this next chapter will make up for it and hold ya over until I can post next. Thank you all for being patient! I promise I'm not giving up on this story and I'm actually getting really close to finishing writing it but there's still plenty left to post. Happy reading and much love to you all!
At the sound of knocking, Daphne looked towards her bedroom door through the reflection in the large mirror she was currently standing in front of. The young woman's face lit up in recognition seeing Katherine leaning in the doorway. "You came!" She exclaimed.
"Of course I did. I couldn't let my unofficial little sister celebrate without me."
Genevieve looked towards Katherine in the mirror. "Do I need to get something for you to wear as well?"
Katherine shook her head. "You don't have to worry about me, Gen. I've got one ready to go." She held up her garment bag. Inside was the same dress she wore to the Vauxhall event.
"That better not be a repeat dress from this season."
"And if it is?"
Daphne gasped. "Kitty, no. We've got to get you a new one. You can't show up to the reception in a repeat dress. That'll be social suicide."
Katherine chuckled as she came into Daphne's room, setting her bags on her bed. "Daph, at this point, I really don't think I'm going to have a successful season so it shouldn't matter if I repeat a dress, especially on a day when all eyes should be on you."
"You really haven't had any suitable callers, Kitty?" Violet asked.
"There's been some decent ones I guess. Just none I can see a life with." She shrugged, sitting on the corner of the bed.
"Can you see a life with my brother?" Daphne asked.
Genevieve did her best to hide her laughter while Violet and Katherine looked at the bride to be in two very different forms of shock.
"Daphne!" Violet admonished her daughter despite thinking the same thing but she knew that she could no longer push Anthony in the direction of marrying the girl.
Katherine finally started laughing. "My life is far too intertwined with your family's that I cannot see a life without any of you in it." She finally said with a smile.
Daphne rolled her eyes, sighing with a small smile on her lips.
After the dress fitting was complete, Katherine walked with Genevieve out to her SUV. "I know the Vauxhall dress would be perfect for this but I cannot have you wearing a repeat outfit." The fashion designer said as she shifted through the outfits she had hanging in her vehicle.
"Gen, you really don't have to worry about it. I pulled some other options."
"How old are they?"
"A couple of years at the most. They're from some of the more formal events I had to attend while I traveled."
Genevieve shook her head. "I will not stand for it." She pulled a crop top and a pair of high-waisted pants. "These may not be original pieces but I saw them and I immediately thought of you." She handed them over to Katherine. "I was going to hang on to them for another event but it'll be perfect for the reception. Don't even think about finding something to wear over it. And I'd wear my hair down or maybe even half up. Do you have accessories?"
Katherine nodded. "Yes, I have accessories." She laughed a bit as she took the clothing items. "Thanks, Gen."
"Anytime." She smiled, closing the hatch to her boot.
The two women hugged and off Katherine went back inside. "Will this do for the reception?" She asked as she returned to Daphne's room.
Daphne turned around from her vanity and grinned. "Kitty, that's perfect!"
"Good." Katherine smiled, hanging the pieces on Daphne's closet door. "Now we can focus on the things that actually matter."
"Yes, like the real reason I asked you to come over."
Katherine raised an eyebrow as she moved over to close the door. "I thought it was because," she unzipped her duffle bag and pulled out a bottle of wine, "I always bring the good stuff."
Daphne laughed. "Maybe just a little bit." She said as she stood, walking over to Katherine and taking the bottle from her. "This will definitely help with the conversation."
"What kind of conversation are we talking about?"
"How does sex work exactly?"
Katherine took the bottle back, tucking it under her arm. "Yes, this will be helpful indeed. Has your mum never talked to you about this?" She asked, opening the door so they could make their way into the kitchen.
"Not exactly. She keeps brushing it off and using a lot of unfinished sentences."
"Oh, Violet," Katherine muttered, shaking her head.
Once they arrived in the kitchen, Katherine set the bottle down at the kitchen island and then went in search of the bottle opener while Daphne grabbed two glasses. The pair then worked together, Daphne pulling off the foil top while Katherine uncorked the bottle. "So what exactly do you know?" Katherine asked as she poured each of them a glass.
"I know it's a continuation of what I do at night sometimes."
"So you masturbate?"
Daphne nodded, hiding her blush by taking a sip of her wine.
"That's good. Nothing to be embarrassed by. It helps you understand what you like so you can communicate that with your partner when you have sex because you're just basically going from a solo dance to a paired dance. It'll be a little uncomfortable at first but it'll all work out in the end and feel fantastic." Katherine explained, sipping on her wine.
"And this is how babies are made if Simon could have children?"
"Yes." She kept the answer very simple for she couldn't believe that her friend had said he couldn't have children to cover up his vow to his father. "Still keep condoms on hand though, it's just some added protection that can keep you both healthy."
Daphne nodded. "Thanks, Kitty."
Katherine laughed. "Anytime. Now should we grab all the best snacks and go watch all of the cheesiest rom coms?"
A bottle of wine, three movies, a large bowl of popcorn, and a whole sleeve of cookies later, Daphne was out like a light and Katherine was looking out the window in the hallway that overlooked the Featherington home. When she noticed that Daphne fell asleep, she took to cleaning up, but before she could go to bed, she had to take a look outside just in case. Her conversation with Ronan still ate at her nerves.
"What are we looking for?" Anthony whispered from behind her.
Katherine startled before whirling around and smacking his shoulder. "Don't do that to me!" She shoved at him for good measure, especially when he started laughing.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, but really, what are you doing Kitty? It's late, you should go try and get some sleep."
"I was just checking on something."
"I thought you said you figured out the thing with the Featheringtons."
"I did."
"Then what," his confusion slowly morphed into understanding. She was trying to keep something from him. Something happened or she wouldn't have asked to stay for a couple of days. "What are you hiding from me?"
Katherine rolled her eyes, hoping she looked more tired at his accusation than guilty. She hated that he seemed to read her so well. "I'm not hiding anything from you."
"That's really convincing, Kit."
"Oh don't you Kit me."
"You're doing such a great job of convincing me that there's nothing going on. So why don't you just tell me?"
She huffed. "I can't tell you when I don't know everything myself."
"You can start by telling me what happened."
"Someone was hanging around the docks today and told Ronan to send me a message."
Anthony glanced towards the window and then pulled her closer to him so they were concealed by the wall. "Did someone threaten you?"
"Anthony."
"Answer the question, Kitty."
"I have everything under control."
Sighing, he looked to the side to get his composure. "Then why did you ask to stay here for a few days?"
Biting her lip, she contemplated on telling him the truth. He wasn't really giving her the option though. He tipped her head up so he could see the emotions swirling around in her eyes. His anger was still there, simmering under the surface but he didn't want her to think that he was mad at her.
She didn't even know why she thought she would be able to keep things from him. Letting out a sigh, she finally answered. "Because you make me feel safe."
"Then why won't you let me keep you safe?"
"How are you to keep me safe when I don't even know who's supposedly coming back?"
"Do you trust me?"
"You know I do."
"Then trust that I will keep you safe like I always do." He smiled down at her.
Sighing, Katherine nodded. "I'll keep you updated with what I find out."
"That's all I ask. Now, will you go try to get some sleep and stop spying on the neighbors?"
A smirk of her own tugged at her lips. "I'm not making any promises."
Chuckling, he shook his head. "Good night, Kitty."
"Good night."
Katherine left the Bridgerton home for the chapel early. She had been in the middle of getting ready when Simon called, asking her to come to the chapel. She sighed, not even done with one eye yet, but agreed upon the promise that she could finish getting ready there. She packed all that she needed, slipped on her slippers and sunglasses, and was out the door.
"Do you know what this is about? He wasn't very forthcoming on the phone." She asked Will, who had been sent out to bring her to the room Simon was using to get ready.
"He said he couldn't do it without his best woman."
"I should have worn a suit." She pouted slightly as Will laughed, motioning for her to enter the room first.
"What you wore is just fine," Simon smirked her way before turning to his other friend. "If you'll give us a moment, please, Will."
Will smiled and nodded. "Of course. I should probably go find Alice anyway, help make sure the boys don't destroy anything." He agreed, closing the door behind him.
At the sound of the door clicking shut, Katherine headed straight for the large mirror resting in the corner of the room. She plopped down in front of it, folding her legs in front of her before laying out all she needed to get ready. Simon stood behind her, buttoning up his shirt. Looking at him in the reflection as she plugged in her curling iron, she raised an eyebrow when he finally glanced down. "You gonna tell me why you called me here or am I just supposed to guess?"
"I have a reason, I just wanted to do this one last time too." He said as he tucked his shirt into his pants.
She took her sunglasses off, laying them to the side as she grabbed her eyeshadow pallet. "Do what? Get ready together?"
"Yeah. It was actually one of my favorite things while we were traveling together." He smiled, bashfully.
"Mine too." She smiled up at him before focusing back on smoking out her eyeshadow. Some of the best conversations they had were during their morning routine or getting ready for some kind of event. "Now you'll get to do this with your wife."
Simon chuckled, as he tied his tie. "Yeah, I guess I will. Speaking of Daphne, that's part of the reason I asked you to come over."
"Oh?" She asked as she applied her eyeliner.
"I want you to be the one to help her adjust to her new role. I think she has some vague understanding of the world we are a part of, but she was introduced right at the end of her education. While I trust Lydia, she's been out of both sides of the business for a while now and you're the only person I know of who handles both sides with grace."
She rolled her eyes at his comment about handling things with grace before she continued applying mascara. "You know I'll help out in any way I can. I'm pretty sure I'm supposed to help with transitions anyway."
"Speaking of transitions…" Simon trailed off as grabbed his vest.
"My dad is still keeping me off your account?!" She sat up straight, looking up at him in the reflection of the mirror, concealer lines still needing to be blended under her eyes. "Did he at least give you a reason why this time?" She asked, moving back to her crouched position in front of the mirror as she blended in her concealer and started putting on her foundation.
"He just said that we're not to work together until you take over the company and thanks to the ideas that I've put in your head it seems like it won't happen for a very long time." He shrugged, pulling on his jacket.
"What the fuck is that even supposed to mean?" Katherine yelled as she started to curl her hair. While Simon had told her what her father said she had angrily finished putting on her foundation. She'd put on her lipstick after she finished doing her hair.
"I honestly couldn't tell you."
Sighing, Katherine focused on her hair for a bit, not wanting to burn herself. "I'll talk to him soon. But I will still help Daph. I mean it'll be far easier a conversation than the sex talk we had last night. Which by the way," she turned around and pointed her curling iron at him, "you told her you can't have kids?"
"She told you that?"
She nodded, turning back around to finish her hair. "You know can't and don't want are two very different things right? But I didn't give you away. That's on you."
"I know. Thank you, Kitty, for everything."
"Yeah, yeah." She smiled at him before focusing on finishing getting ready.
Once done, Katherine unplugged her curling iron and cleaned up the area around her before standing. She switched her bedroom slippers for wedges and dusted off her pants before turning around to Simon. "Beautiful as always." He smiled at her.
"You don't look so bad yourself." She smiled back. "Now, c'mon, let's go get you married."
When Katherine and Simon made their appearance in the chapel, Nicky Mondrich ran right towards them with a shout of excitement. Katherine scooped up the small boy as Simon greeted Lydia. The toddler's shout soon turned into laughter as Katherine tickled his belly and told him that he needed to use his inside voice.
Alice came over, looking apologetic. "I'm so sorry about that."
Katherine waved her off. "Don't even worry about it." She tried to hand the boy back to his mother, but he held on tight.
He shook his head before tucking it under Katherine's chin. "Wanna stay with Kitty."
Laughing, Katherine smiled reassuringly at Alice. "Okay, you can stay."
"Please be good for Kitty or I will bring you to sit with me and daddy, okay?" Alice said before going back to her husband.
"I didn't realize you were so good with children, Kitty," Lydia commented.
Katherine shrugged. "I have many hidden talents."
"You just wait until she's running Gibbs Communications," Simon smirked, causing Katherine to roll her eyes.
With a few pats to her chest, Nicky got ahold of Katherine's attention. "I wanna play a game!" He declared.
"How about a sit-down game then?" She asked, moving around Simon to take a seat in one of the empty pews. Soon the two were caught up in a riveting game of I spy until it was time for the wedding to start.
The ceremony itself was brief considering the archbishop himself was officiating the union. Katherine couldn't help but notice the looks of wonderment and restraint on the bride's and groom's faces. She hoped the two of them could figure things out. Before all of this, it was clear as day how much they loved each other. Surely they would be able to find that again underneath the weight on their hearts about how this marriage came to be.
After the ceremony, she grabbed her things and helped Will clean up the room they borrowed. "You know," he started as they left the room, "if you ever wanted to leave that fancy business of yours –"
"I could come babysit for you?" She joked, causing him to laugh.
"Well, yeah. But really," he said after his laughter calmed down, "thanks for keeping him entertained."
"Of course." Katherine smiled. "Hey, are you still teaching those self-defense and boxing classes?"
"Sure am. I could send you a schedule if you'd like. Am I about to see you back at the gym more often?"
"Possibly. I feel like I need a bit of a refresher on some things."
"You know you're welcome anytime. I'll send you the schedule after we drop the boys off at Alice's mum's house."
She waved him off as Gregory Bridgerton was calling out her name from the SUV window. "Take your time. See you soon!" She then turned, grinning towards the youngest Bridgerton brother. "What is it, Gregory?"
"Come ride with us!"
Katherine peeked inside of the very full SUV that held Violet, Gregory, and Hyacinth. "Looks a little full in there, bud. How about I save you a dance at the reception instead, hmm?"
His face lit up. "Really? You mean that?"
"Sure do. I'll see you soon, okay?" She ruffled his hair, smiling as he pulled away.
She then turned to head to the other SUV to see if there was room there when Anthony pulled around in a convertible. "Hop in, Kit." He grinned up at her.
Katherine couldn't help the laughter that bubbled forth. As she tossed her things in the boot of the car, Benedict and Colin popped out of the back window and sunroof and started to wolf whistle. In a very not church-like manner, both Anthony and Katherine turned to face the two and flipped them off causing the two to laugh.
"Your brothers are menaces." She teased as she buckled in.
"And yet you still chose to get in the car with me." He smirked.
"Anthony Bridgerton, what are you about to do?"
"Trust me." He smiled before revving the engine and speeding out of the driveway.
After she got over the initial shock of how fast he pulled out of the driveway, she began laughing. "What has gotten into you?"
"I can just be for the rest of the season, Kitty. I don't have to worry about finding the perfect match for my sister anymore. I just have to worry about the business until next season. And you know what? I think I might just skip town for a little while." He looked over at her with a large grin briefly before focusing back on the road. "You can come too, of course. We can go to the coast for the weekend. You don't have to worry about whoever the fuck is trying to come after you or the season either. We can just breathe for a little while."
Katherine turned in her seat to better face him, a soft smile on her lips. "A trip to the coast sounds lovely, really, but my father would have both our heads if I left with you in the middle of the season. How about a rain check when the season is over? We'll need some time away to plot my take over the company."
Anthony sighed. "Still no one of interest I take it?"
She shook her head. The only one she'd actually consider was sitting across from her and she had stopped all potential confessions so far and she hadn't changed her mind either.
"No one's good enough anyway." He quipped.
"Oh really?" She asked with a laugh.
He nodded. "I looked through all of them for Daph, remember? And if none of them were good enough for her, they are definitely not good enough for you."
"Sounds like you're still a little invested in the season to me." She teased him.
"Maybe a little." He chuckled.
"We're almost done but for now we have a wedding to celebrate."
He chuckled. "That we do."
"Kitty, dear, you should be out enjoying the party, not in here working," Violet said when she found the woman about to carry out a tray from the kitchen where the catering company was working.
Katherine gave the older woman a sheepish smile. "One of them asked for help on getting the door and well, I asked if they needed anything else, and so here I am."
Violet sighed, shaking her head before taking the tray from her. "I will not have you running about as you did at the Trowbridge's. You are here as our guest, not our public relations agent, now go back out there and enjoy yourself."
"Yes ma'am." Katherine smiled and followed Violet back out to the party.
When she and Anthony had arrived, they were both pulled in different directions. Anthony to help with last-minute setup and Katherine to go help Daphne change from her wedding dress. She had stopped to chat with Lucy Granville when she had seen the catering staff carrying so many trays they could barely see over them.
She looked around to see if she could spot anyone she could converse with when she heard her name being called. Turning around, she smiled seeing Marina approach her. "Marina, how've you been?"
"So you do actually care?"
"I never stopped. Just because I stopped making house visits didn't mean you had to stop calling me or returning my texts."
"Does this business really stop people from caring about others?"
"Marina, if the people in this room think for a second that you have a heart, you are just as good as dead in their eyes. Did I want to stop how much I was involved with things, of course not but I also can't do a whole lot when I am not wanted? If you want someone to be mad at, maybe look towards Mr. Featherington."
The young woman sighed. Katherine was right. She had stopped returning the other woman's texts after she had been informed that she would no longer be around as much. Marina just felt abandoned once again but despite having to halt all house calls, Katherine had messaged her often to check-in. "Then I suppose you should be happy to hear that Mr. Rutledge has found someone else to marry and I'm hoping I can get Colin to propose."
Katherine turned to fully face the young woman, eyebrows raised. "Colin? As in Colin Bridgerton?"
"Now you're starting to sound like Penelope." Marina rolled her eyes. "Colin actually likes me and he'll make a good father."
"Marina, are you sure you know what you're entering into if you do marry Colin? What that actually means?"
"I'll be taken care of and so with this child. I just need to find him and get him alone."
Katherine gave Marina an exasperated look. "You can't be serious."
"Why can't you just support me on this?"
"Because this can blow up in your face like that." She snapped her fingers. "And when it does, I can't help you. I'll have to be on the Bridgerton's side cleaning things up because Archie Featherington has screwed over his family."
"Speaking of my husband," Portia piped up from behind Katherine just as Colin found Marina in the crowd. "What have you found out?"
Katherine sighed before smiling towards the third Bridgerton son. With Marina and him gone, she turned to face Portia. "All of the reports have so far been good coming from the Casino. You just have to figure out how to drum up more business and you should start getting everything back."
"So you can come back to us then?"
Katherine shook her head. "A few good reports mean nothing, Portia. I need to see that you've paid your debts and then we can discuss my return to your account. Now if you'll excuse me I have a promise to keep." She smiled. "Enjoy the rest of the party."
On her way to pull Gregory away from annoying his younger sister, she bumped into Eloise who was walking backwards as she surveyed the room. Katherine caught the teenager as she stumbled to catch her balance. "What are you doing?" She asked amused once Eloise turned to face her.
"The whole organization is here, Kitty. I'm trying to figure out who LW is." Eloise explained as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Have you asked anyone yet?"
Eloise nodded. "Lydia Danbury but she's not it, but," she grew excited, "Charlotte King asked me to keep her informed of my findings, can you believe it?"
Katherine smiled at her enthusiasm. "That's fantastic, Eloise."
"She even told me that I should look into doing what you do since you'll be needing a replacement soon."
"I'm not going anywhere." Katherine didn't know whether to feel flattered or uneasy.
"No! I think she meant for when you take over your family's company and focus on only the big accounts like Hastings, the boss', Mrs. Danbury's and then you've already taken over my family's and the Featherington's. So the smaller companies will need someone and she thought that could be me."
"Oh! Well, then in that case if you need an internship or really want to learn what I do. I'm more than happy to have you be my shadow."
"Really?"
"Of course!" She exclaimed. "Now speaking of the Featherington's, how are you and Penelope?"
Eloise sighed and looked down at her feet. "Not great. We bumped into each other earlier and barely even said a word."
Katherine placed a comforting hand on Eloise's shoulder. "She'll come around eventually."
"Thanks, Kitty." She smiled before giving the woman a hug. "Now, off to find LW."
"Good luck," Katherine called after her before continuing on her way to find Gregory since the two youngest Bridgerton siblings had seemed to run off again.
She stopped in a less crowded spot in the room, looking around for any familiar face. Eloise was right. Everyone from the organization was in attendance. She should honestly be networking right now instead of looking for Gregory to make sure she kept her promise before he along with Hyacinth was sent off to bed.
"Miss Gibbs," Charlotte King said in order to get the young woman's attention.
Katherine's eyes widened before she schooled her features into a pleasant smile. "Mrs. King," she greeted, turning to face the boss of the entire organization, "it's always a pleasure."
When Katherine went to handle the Berbrooke fiasco, she had officially met the boss of the King Organization. She felt just as nervous now being approached by the woman as she did then when she was presenting why Nigel and his family should be removed.
"Yes, likewise. I've rather enjoyed watching you grow within the company, even more so now that you're back on English soil. And yet on this front, you've disappointed me. I knew it would take someone special to be worthy of you and yet I have not heard of one suitor running from your home in tears."
"I assure you, Mrs. King, there have been tears," Katherine smirked a little. "Do you see the man to your left that's in that green velvet jacket?"
Charlotte glanced in the direction that the younger woman mentioned and nodded.
"He came to my family home with a bouquet of flowers that already looked half dead and then started to recite, horribly I might add, Wild Nights – Wild Nights! by Emily Dickinson to me. I stopped him in the middle of it and told him that I had far better things to be doing than hearing him butcher Dickinson's work. He kept trying to continue and even switched to trying to have a conversation but I kept cutting him off. I made him so frustrated he threw the flowers down and left in tears."
An amused look crossed Charlotte's features as she returned her focus onto Katherine. "I cannot believe our beloved LW didn't catch wind of this."
Katherine chuckled. "They may claim they know everything that goes on in the organization but there's only so much that they can actually hear second hand. Not every detail gets to them for I believe they did mention my claim on having better things to do. A man isn't going to admit he ran away crying after all so LW would never hear those details."
"Are you helping Miss Bridgerton in her hunt for this LW?"
"I'm doing my best to. She sends me her theories often and I try to steer her down a path that might prove beneficial."
Gregory chose that moment to run over and wrap his arms around her. "Kitty! There you are!"
Katherine stumbled slightly from the force of the youngest Bridgerton son practically running right into her. "Here I am. Gregory have you ever met Mrs. King?" She asked as she placed a hand on his back to bring him more forward from where he came up behind her.
The boy shook his head.
"Mrs. King, may I introduce you to Gregory Bridgerton."
The woman's face softened at the sight of the child. It had been so long since her own children were his age. She crouched down and offered a small smile. Gregory was trying his best to act all tough all the while still holding shyly onto Katherine. "It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Bridgerton."
"It's a pleasure to meet you too, Mrs. King."
She gave a small nod as she returned to her full height. "Always a pleasure to talk with you Miss Gibbs, I'll leave you and Mr. Bridgerton to it."
"Enjoy the rest of your night, Mrs. King."
Gregory looked up at Katherine once the other woman left and asked, "What does she do?"
"She is the boss."
"The boss, boss?"
Katherine laughed. "Yes. She's the boss of all of the people here."
"And you know her?"
"We've spoken a couple of times. Now, don't I owe you a dance?"
Gregory beamed up at her. "Remember that dance you taught me last time you were home?"
She nodded. "Of course."
"Can we do that one? I've been practicing."
Katherine motioned to the dance floor. "Lead the way."
During their years of travels, Katherine and Simon always came for a visit around Christmas. The last two weeks of December were always slow anyway and Katherine could never find it within herself to stay away during a time where she felt like it was all dedicated to family. She had been waiting for Anthony to finish getting ready for New Year's Eve because they were going to meet Simon at a party that Will had turned them on to. They would all make an appearance at the King's party but soon would dip before heading somewhere they could be a little more open.
While waiting for him, Katherine had started practicing her waltz steps because a gala was planned soon after she would return to Germany. Gregory had snuck out of bed in the hopes of getting into something when he saw her in the hall and asked what she was doing. After her explanation, he asked her to teach him which she happily agreed to.
The song playing now wasn't exactly a great song to waltz to but Katherine couldn't help the smile from growing as Gregory was trying so hard to keep count without looking at his feet, even if there were times where he glanced down. "You're doing great." Katherine encouraged.
They didn't move far, mostly staying within their own very small square. When she noticed someone approaching, she looked up and grinned seeing that it was Anthony. As Gregory stepped back, Anthony tapped his youngest brother on the shoulder. "I believe it's time for you to go to bed. I'll be sure to finish out the dance." He said when Gregory turned to see who interrupted them.
"Do I have to?" Gregory whined.
"Yes, you do. Mum's looking for you." Anthony ordered, motioning to where Violet was standing with Hyacinth.
Gregory sighed before turning back to Katherine. "Thank you for the dance."
"You're most welcome. Sweet dreams."
Once the boy ran off, Anthony swept her into his arms and started to spin her around the dancefloor. "He's been practicing that I swear every day since you taught him."
Katherine laughed. "He's getting good."
"You barely moved." He chuckled.
"I didn't teach him how to turn."
"Ah, that explains it." He smirked as he turned them around, spinning her out before bringing her back in.
"Oh, now you're just being showy." She teased him.
"Am I?" He did it again. "Because I thought that was one of your favorite parts of dancing?" He spun her out one more time before bringing her back in and dipping her with a large grin on his face.
Her laughter filled the room as she held onto him until he brought her back up to a standing position. "You are insufferable."
"I'd like to think it's one of my many charming traits you like about me." He teased causing her to roll her eyes, a smile still lighting up her features.
"I suppose."
The two were incredibly close. Anthony's fingers on her back somehow managed to find the sliver of skin between her top and high-waisted pants. She wasn't even sure if the light caresses were even a conscious movement. Just a small raise up onto her tiptoes and their lips could meet. She had wondered for such a long time what they would feel like against hers. It seemed so had he, for he kept glancing down. It would be so incredibly easy and he was truly the only man from this organization she could see herself with.
Someone tapping Anthony on the shoulder broke them apart. They both startled. Anthony jumping at the intrusion had Katherine stepping back in shock. That is until she noticed that it was the man she pointed out to Charlotte earlier.
"I was wondering if I could maybe have this dance?" He asked Katherine who used every ounce of self-control not to roll her eyes.
"Let me put this into words that you may understand. This is from one of my favorite poets, En Vogue." Katherine said before clearing her throat a little.
Anthony looked at her puzzled, wondering what on earth she was about to do. Had this man been bothering her before? Was this the person that was threatening her?
"No, you're never gonna get it, never ever gonna get it, no, never gonna get it, my love." Katherine continued and it took everything in Anthony to not start laughing especially when he saw that the other man did not recognize the lyrics.
"Now if you'll excuse me, gentleman, I have a vehicle to decorate." She squeezed Anthony's shoulder as she passed, silently telling him goodbye.
The man who interrupted them sighed, looking defeated. Anthony couldn't keep his laughter in any longer but he tried to spare the man by keeping it at a few chuckles. "Did you honestly think you had a chance? Especially since it seems she's rejected you before?"
"Everyone in this room except for you, Mr. Basset, and Mr. Wetherby have been rejected by her. And we keep trying because a union with her means advancement for most of us. She may just be a soldier now but you and I both know she's going to wind up being the best chief advisor this organization has ever seen."
"And that is where you all are failing. She's not some prize. She's not some stepping stone to get closer to King. She wants someone who will treat her as an equal and until you see that, she will continue to reject you."
"Then why aren't you pursuing her more steadily?"
The comment threw him off momentarily until he came up with the perfect reply. "Because unlike you, whenever I want to see her, all I have to do is pick up my phone." With that, he turned on his heel and went to look for Katherine.
He checked the garage area first but with no sign of her, he then made his way around to the front circle. Laughter bubbled up as he saw her practically all the way out of the sunroof tying on a giant bow on the railings on the roof of the SUV. "Kitty, what are you doing?"
That's when he noticed Eloise's head pop out from behind her. "What does it look like we're doing?"
"You roped in my sister with your shenanigans?"
Katherine rolled her eyes. "I don't think you realize how often I do or you would not be this surprised." She teased him. "Besides I needed someone to be lookout."
"It should actually be the other way around. Daph and I always pull you into something." Eloise laughed.
"Now that is true." Katherine joined in the teenager's laughter.
"Hey," Eloise started once her laughter died down, "with you two out here, can I go back inside? LW is bound to be working on something."
They both rolled their eyes. "Go on. Anthony might be a better lookout anyway." Katherine teased.
"Not my fault he came around from the side and not the front door." Eloise laughed as she popped back down into the SUV and climbed out. "It's looking really good by the way." She said before making her way back inside.
"What are you doing out here?" Katherine asked as she finished securing the bow.
Anthony chuckled. "The party grew dull after you left."
"Uh, huh." She teased him, moving on to the next bow.
"I also would like to reiterate that those men in there are unworthy of you."
Katherine laughed. "What happened in the maybe five minutes I was actually gone?"
"They only want to marry you because you'll eventually be the next chief advisor."
A small smile crossed her lips. "Tell me something I don't know, Anthony."
"So you're aware?"
"Of course I am. Why do you think I've not accepted anyone?"
"Because you have high standards?"
Katherine laughed. It was true, partly. Sure she had high standards after the Luca fiasco but it was also mostly in part that no one ever measured up to the man she was currently talking to. "How's the wife hunt going along?"
Anthony groaned, rolling his eyes. "Luckily with all of this wedding planning, mum's eased up some. But I'm sure tomorrow morning she'll be back on her kick. Maybe I should just come round to yours, pursue you more steadily."
"What the fuck is that?" Katherine asked with a laugh. "Pursue me more steadily?"
"Oh, Mr. Green Coat in there made some comment like I actually had to follow season rules to see you."
She shook her head. "He's a wanker anyway. I wouldn't mind you coming around to rescue me from an empty drawing room and my father's judgmental stare though."
"Should I bring chocolates or flowers?" He looked up at her with a smirk.
"Chocolates, always. What am I going to do with flowers? You know I have the opposite of a green thumb."
Anthony laughed. "Yes, you are indeed the grim reaper of plants."
"My dreams of being a crazy plant lady will never come true." She dramatically sighed before bursting into a fit of laughter along with Anthony. She dropped back down into the SUV before climbing out, window chalk pen in hand, laughter still bubbling forth. "Now scoot." She waved her hand towards Anthony. "I've got to make this window look absolutely darling."
"You showed your design to my mother, didn't you?"
Katherine chuckled. "What gave it away?" She pulled up the mock-up on her phone before handing it over to him. "Hold this please."
A comfortable silence fell over them as Katherine started writing on the window. Every so often she would request that he zoom in so she could see something better. For the most part, however, they worked in silence. When she finished, she took her phone back. Holding it out as she compared the mock-up to the finished product with a smile. "What'd ya think?"
"Absolutely darling." He imitated his mother.
She rolled her eyes and poked him a few times, making him squirm from being ticklish, before fixing him with a pointed stare.
"You did a great job, Kit, really." He poked her in the side in retaliation.
She squirmed away, giggling a bit. Anthony moved after her, continuing to poke and tickle her side as she tried to retaliate the best she could. Soon an all-out war between the two started. Katherine moving away from the vehicle so they wouldn't mess up the decorating job she had just done. Except neither of them was really paying attention to where they were going so with one step backward, Katherine bumped into the edge of the fountain, and down she went.
Anthony watched on with large eyes while trying to hold in his laughter. Momentarily all he saw was her arm, holding her phone up in the air so that it wouldn't get soaked. She popped back up, hair sticking to her face. She gasped for air as she came up, wiping away the excess water from her face.
"Oh, now you've done it." Katherine chuckled, shaking her head. There was no way this was not going to appear on LW's blog.
The moment she started laughing, Anthony lost all control as he made his way to try and help her up. He held out his hand and she sat her phone along the edge of the fountain, far enough away that she would hopefully not drip on it. Taking his hand, she started to use him for leverage to stand but one wicked smirk later, he knew what was coming.
Down he went, making a splash that Katherine turned to try to dodge the best she could. He came out of the water with a gasp, shaking his head much like a dog would to dry itself. She grinned as she watched and when the two locked eyes, laughter exploded between them. "I can't believe you just did that." Anthony laughed.
"If speculation about me coming back inside drenched is going to wind up on LW's blog tomorrow I am not going to be in there alone," Katherine explained through her own laughter.
Nodding, Anthony moved to the edge of the fountain. "Fair." He pulled himself up so he could step out before turning around to face Katherine once more. "Can I actually help you out now?"
"Yes." She chuckled, moving to the edge so he could help her out.
Shaking off the water from her hands she grabbed her phone as Anthony peeled his suit jacket off. "C'mon, we can dry off in the pool house before going back inside." He held out his hand for her, which she took as she followed him around to the back of the house.
Without turning on the lights he took them straight to the linen closet inside of the pool house. He tossed his soaked suit jacket on the counter so he could have both hands empty. She quickly placed her phone there as well so she could better dry off. He draped a large beach towel over his shoulder before grabbing another one and unfolding it so he could wrap it around Katherine's shoulders.
"Thank you." She smiled at him as he made sure it would stay even as she went to grab a hold of the ends.
He easily returned her smile before he noticed some of the clover in the fountain had gotten into her hair. "You've got…" he trailed off as he took a step closer so he could pull a few sprigs of clover out of her hair.
"Do I get a wish or am I just extra lucky now?" She joked.
Anthony chuckled, holding out the clover to her. "It doesn't hurt to try both, right?"
She shook her head, a small smile on her face. "Okay, here it goes." She closed her eyes and leaned closer to the clover before blowing gently on them.
Letting the clover fall away, Anthony smiled as he watched her. "What'd you wish for?"
She rolled her eyes. "I can't tell you or it won't come true. But since I'm supposed to be extra lucky too, maybe a hint won't be so bad."
"And what's the hint?"
Standing on tiptoes, she leaned in and pressed a lingering kiss to the corner of his mouth. Sure she was still nervous about what them stepping over the line of friendship would look like and that he still was hung up on Sienna but if tonight proved anything to her, it was how much she wanted Anthony Bridgerton to always be in her life.
She pulled back to see a stunned Anthony. Unsure if he had caught on or if he would reject her, Katherine started to back away. "I'm gonna head back -"
He interrupted her by pulling her to him and kissing her until she was breathless, until they both were, like they both had dreamed about. His hands cupped her jaw, angling her head upwards to meet his lips. Her fists gripped and tugged at his soaked shirt, trying to bring him closer to her as they stumbled back until they reached the kitchen island.
His hands moved down, caressing her skin and curves as he went until they finally settled on her hips. "Jump." He muttered against her lips as he moved to kiss along her jawline.
She tilted her head back, her groan of frustration turning into a moan as he found her more sensitive spot along her neck. "Anthony…" She tried to get his attention, but with how his lips were moving against her skin and the feel of his hands squeezing her hips, she really didn't want this to stop.
"Hmmm?"
She somehow mustered enough self-control to push at his shoulders. "We need to go change so we can see your sister off."
He groaned burying his face in her neck. "Kitty, why?"
"The second they're gone we can go back to your room or would the guest room be better?"
Chuckling, he pulled away. "Sadly there are too many people near both of them and I'm not about to scar my youngest siblings or my mum."
She sighed, nodding. "Alright, let's go be responsible."
"You know, you are the one that stopped us." He teased her.
"And you're the one that thinks that we can't be quiet."
Anthony just smirked. "When I'm done with you, you'd have the whole block knowing how good I make you feel."
A shiver went down her spine and she wasn't so sure it was because she was still dressed in soaked clothes. "You seem very sure of yourself, Mr. Bridgerton."
"I've been wanting to make you scream my name for a while now, Miss Gibbs, and I intend to do just that but as you mentioned, we have a prior obligation so it'll just have to wait." He gave a small shrug and grabbed his jacket before walking off.
When he got to the door and noticed that she still hadn't moved from her spot, he smirked over at her. "Well, are you coming?"
"You are going to be the death of me." She said, shaking her head as she grabbed her phone before making her way over to him.
"Kitty, I'm pretty sure it's the other way around." He kissed her sweetly when she got to his side before nudging her forward out of the pool house.