All is fair in love and war, but some battles leave no victor, only a trail of broken hearts that makes us wonder if the price we pay is ever worth the fight. The ones we love have the power to inflict the greatest scars. For what thing is more fragile than the human heart? The bond between man and bride is private, sacred. But I must tell you, I have learned that a grave fraud is afoot. As if the Featheringtons did not have enough to be dealing with, Miss Marina Thompson is with child and she has been from the very first day she arrived in our fair city. Desperate times may call for desperate measures, but I would wager many will think her actions beyond the pale. Perhaps she thought it her only option, or perhaps she knows no shame. But I ask you, can the ends ever justify such wretched means?

~ LW

The latest from the anonymous blogger wreaked havoc throughout the organization but mostly in the Bridgerton and Featherington household, and those connected to them. After Eloise and Penelope were awoken by Anthony's shouts reverberating throughout the entire house, the second eldest Bridgerton daughter snuck Penelope out of the house. She hated feeling as though she had to, especially after their emotional reunion. Penelope didn't ever tell her why she was so upset but the youngest Featherington felt like she had no one else to turn to and missed her best friend dearly. So the two had an impromptu sleepover.

Across town, in Katherine Gibbs' flat, the young woman groaned in frustration after reading the blog post and Anthony's subsequent all-caps text requesting in quite the demanding way that she get to the Bridgerton home immediately. These past few months really made her regret coming back to London sometimes.

The shrill sound of her phone ringing startled her back awake from where she was dozing back off to sleep. Seeing that it was Simon, she groaned once more. Why was there so much drama that she needed to deal with? "I don't think I ever want to marry if I'm still going to be calling my best friend in the middle of my honeymoon." She said, slowly making her way out of bed. She was going to need coffee and lots of it if she were going to make it through this day.

"What did you tell Daphne about condoms?" He asked, not even bothering to acknowledge her quip.

"Good morning to you too. That is certainly not what I was expecting you to say."

"Kitty, please." He pleaded, sounding particularly stressed.

She sat up a little straighter while she raised her hands above her head to stretch out her back, her mood more serious at the tone in her friend's voice. "That you two should still use it for protection even though you claimed you couldn't have children." Then it dawned on her. "She found out. Did you finally tell her the truth? What's happened?"

"She damaged every last packet I had. Nothing happened between us, luckily, but she's upset, with the both of us, and is rather adamant about having a child now."

Kitty sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Oh, Simon."

"It seems I must break one vow in order to keep another."

"Please do not let that man take your happiness away any longer, especially since he is no longer here on this earth."

"Have you heard anything from your father?" He asked to move on from the subject and Kitty let him. She knew she wouldn't be able to say anything that would change his mind about it.

"He found out about Luca."

"What?"

"Luca contacted him. I honestly don't even know why now after nearly a decade but the woman we gave her to was his cousin. Luca only knows about how you helped, so my dad cut wages and took money in order to pay Luca child support."

"Who else knows?"

"Anthony. He's working on trying to find something on him so that I can get out of this horrible deal my father has brokered." Her phone then started beeping, signaling another incoming call. Pulling the phone away, she sighed. "So that's Daphne calling. Try and patch things up, alright. Tell her the truth about things. I'm sure she'd understand."

"I'll think about it. Good luck." Simon hung up, rubbing a hand over his face. How on earth had they wound up here?

"Daphne! Good morning!" She answered cheerfully as if she hadn't just been on the phone with Simon. "Is everything alright?"

"No, everything is most certainly not alright. You lied to me, Kitty! You always said you would never do that and yet, you sent me into a marriage no better prepared than my mother would have!"

"What are you talking about? I told you everything you asked me about."

"And yet you didn't tell me that condoms were also used to prevent childbirth or that Simon could actually have children."

"Daphne, I know your mother kept you and your sisters extremely sheltered, especially after your father's death but you had to have known. That information is practically common knowledge. It's even mentioned in the media. As for Simon, I'm not going to tell you what isn't mine to say. That wasn't my story to tell."

"You still could have alluded otherwise." With that, she hung up the phone.

Kitty let out a sigh, resting her head on the kitchen counter a few moments before standing back up to start getting ready for the day. Well, this should be fun.

Before she could actually make it over to the Bridgerton's she stopped by her family home for breakfast. Luca had been invited and they were to have a chaperoned breakfast together. She honestly tried to get out of it, telling her father what was going on but he was having none of it.

Luca seemingly hadn't changed since the last time she saw him. His hair was longer. If he actually did his hair she was sure he could slick it back into a pompadour instead of the strands hanging down to frame his face. He also needed to shave, and give up on trying to grow a beard because it looked far from neat. He looked at her as if he was seeing paradise for the first time after being through hell.

She scoffed at the thought. He had been the one to leave her, to leave them. There was a moment in time when she would have given it all up to live a normal, happily married life with him and their child. But he had left and she was reminded that she was too good at her job, at living this lifestyle and it was no place to raise a child with someone who didn't know the dangers, who wouldn't know how to watch their backs or understand why they would need to take so many extra safety precautions. There was no family life for her unless her partner was someone who not only knew the life she lead but lead the same life as well. And she honestly was more than happy to accept that that wasn't possible until she and Anthony crossed the line of friendship. She could picture everything with him, a part of her always had.

"I missed you," Luca said when she finally sat down.

"You have a funny way of showing that." Katherine quipped, unfolding her napkin in her lap. Her parents were trying once again to smooth things over with waffles. They honestly shouldn't have tempted her with any sharp objects. One wrong comment from Luca and he could have a knife through his hand, or a fork depending on just how much pain she wanted to cause.

"Katherine!" Her father warned from the other end of the long dining table.

She sent a glare down at him before stuffing a piece of waffle in her mouth to keep her comment to herself.

"No, no. She's right. I should have called." Luca said trying to keep everything calm, to keep her parent's favor. "I just wasn't sure you would even want to hear from me since you left me behind."

"Stop with the bullshit. You were the one that left me and your child. I did what was best for her which was to give her to a loving home where she could always be safe."

"And a successful communications company isn't somewhere safe?" He asked before taking a bite of fruit.

"You have no idea what happens behind closed doors."

"You never let me have the chance. I told you I was coming back and off you ran with Simon."

"It didn't align with your schedule or your plan like everything else had to. Is that why you're here? You didn't get your big break as a sports announcer? And just for the record, I ran off with no one. You left me the minute you found out I was pregnant."

Howard slammed his fist on the table. "Enough! You are to be reconciling so that you may take care of your family as you should have from the moment you knew you were pregnant."

Katherine grabbed her knife and raised her arm to throw it at her father but a strong grip around her wrist stopped her from completing her impulsive mission. "Give me the knife." A voice she instantly recognized whispered in her ear before she eased open her hand so he could take it from her.

"Anthony, dear, we didn't hear you come in!" Elizabeth exclaimed, trying not to show just how grateful she was that he showed up.

"I didn't mean to interrupt," he smiled over at the matron of the house as he lowered Katherine's hand, "but I request Kitty's presence to assist in some family matters of our own."

"Fine. Maybe she could learn something while she's there." Howard waved them off.

"And maybe you'll learn how to trust your own daughter instead of listening to this two-faced liar scheming you out of money that's not even yours!" She exclaimed as she pushed herself away from the table.

Elizabeth turned to face the young man who was glaring as Anthony escorted Katherine out of the room. "Mr. Dawson I think it's time for you to leave as well. I'd like to speak with my husband in private."

Luca grit his teeth before nodding his head. This was not how he wanted this to go. Katherine used to be so charmed by him. Why couldn't he get her to like him again? Then again he had noticed how her anger seemed to melt when she tilted her head up to meet Anthony's gaze. He didn't really remember them being that close when he and Katherine dated. He'd have to do some digging of his own to see if he was someone else he'd need to get out of his way so he could get what he wanted. "Yes, of course. I hate that it seems she views our time together so poorly. I hope that I'll be able to see her again soon."

Once he left, Elizabeth turned to her husband. "What is causing you to become so blind to your daughter's story? Those are not the actions of a woman seeing the man she left for the first time in years. That boy hurt your daughter and this is how you are handling things? You should be ashamed of yourself."

"And are you not upset that she kept this from us? That she has kept a grandchild away from us?"

"With your behavior, I understand why." She stood, making her way to her office to get some work done. "Make things right with her. Someone might not be there to stop her from throwing a knife at you next time."

"So you seem to be handling things very well." Anthony glanced over at Katherine as she stared out the window.

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Kit, you were about to throw a knife at your father."

"That would be the least of his problems if King found out what he's done to the Hastings account."

"And you would have to fight to get back everything you've worked hard for. I'm supposed to be the angry, impulsive one."

She looked over at him with a small pout. "But what if I need to be the angry, impulsive one?"

He reached over and brought the back of her hand up to his lips, pressing a kiss across her knuckles. "Then I'll be here to remind you that there are better ways to use that anger as you do for me."

A small smile tugged at her lips before worry eased them into a small frown. "You're not mad at me for keeping Marina's status a secret are you?"

Letting out a heavy sigh, he gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "No. You were doing your job. We just now need your help in smoothing things over."

She nodded. "That I can do."

Miss Marina Thompson's recent fall from grace continues to echo through every drawing room in town, days after it was revealed her engagement to Colin Bridgerton was nothing more than a sham. Of course, a lady's disgrace does not merely tarnish her own name. Like the tars of the Thames, it also leaves a horrid smear on anyone nearby. While there is no parasol strong enough to shelter a ruined woman, the fallen Miss Thompson can only hope she shall find a refuge, somewhere.

It also seems as though this is the reason why Miss Katherine Gibbs has been unable to attend to her own personal affairs. The Featheringtons must have kept the poor dear quite busy. I surely hope they compensated her for all the work she must have done. Then again perhaps this is why she most recently hasn't been connected with them as much as the other families she supports.

~LW

"Miss Thompson must be in agonies over these lies. Why can I not visit her?" Colin asked, looking toward his mother. Anthony and Benedict stood near the hearth as Katherine sat on her laptop trying to manage all things the reveal of Marina's secret had revealed while also making sure that her own secret wouldn't be published next.

"Listen to me Colin," Anthony spoke up, cutting Violet off, "Though the organization devours every bot of LW's on-dit, it is the only thing keeping this family from shame. Because of them, no one thinks that you are the father of Marina's child. But if you were to go near her, then they'll presume you're responsible for her ruin, and all your sisters will pay the price for your notoriety. Is this what you desire?"

Colin sighed, looking away to try and keep his tears at bay. "Of course not, but -"

Daphne's arrival interrupted his comment. They all turned to her in shock. No one was expecting her to show up, especially since she was supposed to be in the middle of her honeymoon.

"What are you doing here?" Anthony asked, seeming to be the first person to regain his words. "Shouldn't you be enjoying newlywed bliss?"

"I came as fast as I could when I heard the news."

"Basset must surely be cursing the Bridgerton name for this. Aren't you looking into something for him too, Kitty?" Benedict asked.

"The only thing that's similar is that I'm stuck doing damage control before things get too out of hand," Kitty answered without looking up from her screen. She was honestly only still here because every time she tried to leave someone asked her to stay. So the Bridgerton home became her command center for the time being.

"We have all things in order, Daph. Kitty's been working diligently from here. We do not require your assistance." Anthony said.

"That is simply not true, Anthony, and you know it," Violet spoke up. "Kitty has been of great help but I can already see just how thin she is starting to be spread despite the great comfort her presence has been for all of us. Daphne may be the answer to all of our problems. Once the organization sees that we have the favor of Hastings Banking, then the whispers may very well cease, and we shall go about our daily lives as if nothing has happened as if nothing is awry."

"And no one will be the wiser," Daphne commented. "Pretending that nothing is amiss is the perfect way to lure the ignorant into submission. Is it not, mum?"

Kitty pinched the bridge of her nose at the oldest daughter's quip towards Violet as Anthony and Benedict shared a look trying to figure out what exactly their sister meant. She then made the mental list to reach out to Simon to make sure he wouldn't require any of her services while they were both in town. Then again Daphne had barely even looked at her so Kitty was sure that she would be next for a passive-aggressive remark if she wasn't too careful.

"Now, what grand event will the organization be descending upon this week?" Daphne asked when it was clear that she wasn't going to get an answer.

"King is hosting a luncheon," Violet answered after clearing her throat.

"I'm sure, Simon and I can secure an invitation. Kitty, would you help us?" She asked.

"I'll add it to my list," Kitty said as she started typing up all that she needed to get done before she felt too overwhelmed to be able to do anything that needed to get done.

"Good, thank you." Daphne nodded. "If we are lucky our return to London will give everyone so much to talk about, they simply have no breath left to discuss other matters."

"I'm so very glad this has all been settled on my behalf." Colin scoffed, finally speaking up since his sister's arrival before he stormed out of the room.

"Would you like for me to go talk to him?" Kitty asked, after the echoing of the slamming door stopped.

"Haven't you done enough harm, Katherine? How do you live with yourself keeping so many secrets? You could have stopped this before it even happened." Daphne glared at the other woman, her words clearly taking on a double meaning.

Katherine snapped her laptop shut, chin tipped up defiantly. "Welcome, Mrs. Basset. Your new world is filled with secrets. I highly suggest you get used to dealing with them or else you won't survive." Tucking her laptop under her arm, she too, stormed out of the room.

"Daphne!" Violet admonished, horrified at her daughter's actions. "That is no way to treat Katherine. You want to be sure that she remains an ally or you too could wind up as the Featheringtons, falling apart with no one to help you. Her hands are often bound by red tape, and she ensured that your brother was protected in all of this despite not verbally telling us the reason behind it. You will apologize."

Daphne nodded. "Yes, mother. I'll go speak with Colin first if that's alright. I believe both Kitty and I need a few moments to cool down."

Anthony sighed, pushing away from the couch. "I'll go find her," he promised, "smooth things over."

"Are you sure, you're the man for the job?" Benedict teased as his older brother left. Anthony wasn't exactly known to be calming but as of late it did seem he had that effect on Katherine.

The eldest Bridgerton heir scratched the back of his head with only his middle finger as he left the room causing Benedict to snicker.

Katherine looked up from where she was pouring herself another glass of wine when she heard footsteps approaching the kitchen. A soft smile tugged on her lips when she noticed the relieved look on Anthony's face. "This isn't the first place you looked, was it?" She asked, pouring a second glass to hand over to him.

He shook his head. "After you weren't in my room, I started to get a little worried." He confessed.

"You looked in the study and the guest room before then didn't you?"

"You could have left me a note at least if you knew exactly where I was going to go." He teased.

She held up her wine glass. "Someone should have also known that I would want a drink." She smirked around the rim of her glass as she took a sip.

"Do I even want to know what my sister meant with her comment?"

"Don't go getting your knickers in a twist. Everything's fine. They just need to have a proper conversation and things will all sort out but both parties need to set aside their stubbornness."

"Then it seems I'll need to have a word with Simon."

"You will do no such thing. This is between them."

"And you apparently."

"Your sister's just taking her anger out on the wrong people. That's not the worst thing that's ever been said to me and you know it."

Anthony sighed, setting his glass down before going around to look over Katherine's shoulder. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pulled her back to rest against him. Since she was sitting on a stool she was slightly taller than him but the height difference still allowed for him to rest his chin on her shoulder. "Is there anything else I can do to help?"

She eased into his embrace and let out a sigh of her own. "I don't think so. Everything else is going alright, though? No other funny business at the docks?"

"We're good on that front. A shipment came in yesterday and it's going through quality before distribution starts next week."

"Good. And Trowbridge should be sending me specs for their latest move soon which means if I can just settle all of this nonsense then things could go back to normal." She turned to look at him. "Happen upon anything yet?"

He shook his head. "Nothing yet but I think I'm getting close to something. I'll let you know if it leads to anything."

Placing a kiss on his cheek, Katherine turned back to her laptop to finish the email request to have an invitation for the Bassets. "Is there anything else I need to do that can't wait until morning?" She asked once she clicked send.

A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he kissed along her neck. "I believe there's just one more thing." He quipped as he spun her around to face him.

"I think that's doable." She smiled, leaning in to meet him halfway to share a kiss.

They melted into each other. Katherine wrapped her legs around his hips to bring him even closer. They hadn't had the time to further explore this side of their newfound relationship and yet the desperation they both felt to take things further simmered underneath the surface as they set a lazy pace to explore each other.

"Oh, gross, you two could at least do that in the privacy of a bedroom," Eloise said as she entered the kitchen before realization struck her. "Wait, no, does this mean? I have so many questions."

At the sound of his younger sister's disgust, he and Katherine pulled apart, startled at getting caught. They both started to straighten out their clothes and smooth out their hair before Katherine turned back around and finished off her wine. Anthony cleared his throat. "If you could keep this to yourself, Eloise. We're not quite ready to make it official to the organization yet."

"But wouldn't it help get the organization to stop talking about Colin and Marina? LW seems to be a fan of the two of you getting together." Eloise asked. This only made her have even more questions about the couple.

"Actually it would cause even more of a stir. What else could the Bridgertons be hiding?" Katherine said with a mocking announcer voice as she poured the remaining wine into her glass. "There's a lot of moving pieces to this especially since I'm trying to make sure they're not accused of trying to rise in ranks." She stood, hugging her laptop to her chest. She was on glass number three so she needed to get to bed before she was more than a little buzzed.

"But they can't get any higher in ranks. Mr. Featherington is already a captain." Eloise argued.

"People have accused for less. Remember they didn't start out that way." Anthony said.

Archie Featherington had started out as a soldier under Lydia Danbury. His rise to the rank of captain within the organization was very much earned and done with proper promotion. Lydia had been handling most of the money for the organization along with Hastings Bank. As the organization grew, she recognized she needed someone else to take over one of the operations. Archie had been a model soldier and knew his stuff when it came to counterfeiting bills. So Lydia got King's permission to promote him.

Katherine nodded. "He's right. The best thing for them to do right now is to lay low until it blows over. But since Portia doesn't know the meaning of lay low, things will be tricky for awhile."

"The rest of the family didn't do anything though! Do you think LW would write something else? Right the wrong that's been done to them?" Eloise asked. She hated how this scandal was hurting her friend.

"If you can find them or contact them, it wouldn't hurt to ask. In the meantime, I am trying to save face for the girls. I just don't think they'll get their matches this season." She gave a small shrug as she took a sip of her wine. "I'm going to bed now to wrap up a few things. We can finish this conversation in the morning."

As she passed Eloise on the stairs she pressed a kiss to the girl's head. The teenager fought a smile before checking to see that she was well and truly gone before turning to face her brother again. "You could at least tell mum. She'd be thrilled at the news."

"Could we not give our mother emotional whiplash, please? Kitty and I will tell her when we're ready." Anthony gave her a pointed look.

Eloise raised her hands up to show him that she would let the matter drop. She would certainly be looking for a moment she could steal Katherine away to get all of her questions answered.

The only thing keeping Katherine Gibbs from marching into the Bridgerton drawing room was the fact that Genevieve Delacroix walked into the foyer. When she found out that Daphne had set up a secret meeting between Colin and Marina, she was furious. It was one thing to be upset with her but to go against all direction was another. If she found out then others would find out which meant LW would be writing even more speculation in that gossip blog of theirs and Katherine would be left to clean up the pieces yet again. She already spent the majority of her night making sure medical records and bank statements were truly under lock and key. The organization didn't need to know just how much she was involved in covering things up. Her involvement could truly be taken in so many different ways, she just was glad LW seemed to be okay with her for the time being. She also made sure her investigation into Archie's problem was locked away so that didn't come out either. The organization would surely exile them then.

"Let us not start this beautiful morning with a fight, hmm?" Genevieve said as she steered Katherine back towards the stairs.

Katherine let out a huff but followed her friend back up the stairs and towards the room she was staying in. "How'd you even know I was here?"

"A little birdie told me." She smiled, nudging her friend into the room.

With a small sigh, she sat down at the vanity. "Anthony."

"Mmhmm." Genevieve hummed as she hung the dress bag on the hook on the ensuite door. "He told me they've been keeping you here ever since it broke that Miss Thompson was pregnant. It seems to me this luncheon might be good for everyone, including you who seems to have some cabin fever?"

Katherine rolled her eyes and stripped down to her underwear. "There's just some eager birdies ready to fly the nest that aren't there yet. And they may drive me insane by the end of all of this."

"Knowing you, you'll handle things and no one will ever know the difference." She pulled out the navy blue dress with white flowers scattered around the fabric. "Now come try this on."

Taking the dress, Katherine entered the bathroom and wrapped the fabric around her, tying the dress closed with a small belt made of the same fabric. She straightened out the skirts as she smiled softly to herself. Genevieve had done it again. Opening the door, she was just about to compliment her friend when she noticed that in Genevieve's place stood Daphne Bridgerton.

"Gen went down to get my dress for today's luncheon. She didn't realize I was here." She said as if that explained her presence.

"Oh. Okay. Well, is there anything you need?" Katherine asked.

"No…" She trailed off. Talking with Marina started to put some things in perspective for her. While in some ways it fueled her anger at being kept in the dark, she now understood that Katherine was doing what had to be done. "Actually I wanted to apologize to you for how I acted yesterday and even for yelling at you on the phone. You were just doing the best that you could with what had to be done. I can't be upset with you for that when I too did what I had to do."

Katherine bit the inside of her cheek to keep from throwing a quip Daphne's way. "For what it's worth, neither Simon nor I kept anything from you to harm you. He and you need to have a conversation about everything because also taking his choice away isn't the answer. You two have a very strong connection so I know you'll both be able to get through this together after you both put your stubbornness aside."

Daphne looked away, not quite ready to hear Katherine's words. Deep down she knew she was right. She just wasn't sure how to approach her husband after all the words they had thrown at each other. "I'm still going to need some time before I can." She looked back at Katherine, trying not to become too affected by the other woman's slightly disappointed look. "I'll leave you to get ready for the luncheon. That dress looks beautiful by the way."

Katherine sighed once the bedroom door closed behind her unexpected guest. She couldn't deal with marital disputes right now. The argument between Daphne and Simon felt so small compared to everything else she was dealing with. She did hope that they could work it out, though. They were good together. They just needed to take their blinders off so they could see just that.

She slid on her heeled white sandals before going back into the bathroom to start on her hair and make-up. When she just started her braid crown a knock sounded throughout the room before Anthony entered. "Are you wearing navy or purple?"

"Navy." She responded, turning to look at him, hands still tangled in her hair as she braided. "Are you planning on matching?" She asked, amused.

"No. I just didn't want to clash." He leaned against the doorway, watching her as she braided her hair. "I honestly wish we didn't have to go to this thing."

"If only." She breathed out a wistful sigh as she tied the ends of her braid. "I just hope my father doesn't try to do anything. I may have been dodging their calls." She really didn't need to deal with Luca on top of everything else. After wrapping the braid around her head and tucking in the end, she tugged on some strands so that they could frame her face.

"Does this look okay?" She turned and asked Anthony.

Standing a little straighter, a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. The thing he could easily get used to now that he and Katherine were giving dating a try was the fact that he could openly admire her. He always thought she was beautiful but something about this being the first time he was able to look upon her as more than just a friend, it was like he was seeing her beauty for the first time.

"You're stunning." He breathed out as soon as he remembered how to speak. And then he remembered why he had sought her out in the first place. Holding up a long, black velvet case, he opened it to reveal a diamond and sapphire choker that Violet had given him. "Mum would like you to wear this as a thank you for all your help recently."

Katherine's eyes widened at the intricate choker made to look like a daisy chain. The sapphires were the center of the flowers while the diamonds made up the pedals. "Oh, Anthony, I couldn't. This is too much and if I go in with Bridgerton family jewels on it could cause a whole other fiasco."

"Good thing this isn't a typical piece worn by the Bridgerton family and they're not actually family jewels. Do you remember the Drakes?"

Looking up to the ceiling she went through her mental list of all of the families involved in the organization. When she remembered, she grew puzzled. "You mean the ones that the Trowbridges used to work with? The ones who are currently sitting in jail because their son got all holier than thou?"

"The very ones." He smiled. "This is a piece that they gave my parents for helping them in one of their first heists. No one knows that mum even has it."

"I still can't take it."

Anthony rolled his eyes. "And why not?"

"Because I feel as though I need to just hide in the background for this event. I need to remain as neutral as possible. I was even planning on leaving before you guys too."

"Kitty, you are aware that no matter what, heads turn when you enter a room, right? And to be honest, I'm not entirely thrilled that I still have to share you with everyone. That's not going to change if you wear the necklace or not but will you at least try it on? Then if you don't like it or if it's too much you don't have to wear it and we'll tell mum that."

"Oh, alright." She agreed before turning her back to him.

Gently taking the choker out of the box, Anthony brought it around her neck so that he could clasp it. Katherine stood completely still, not wanting to swoon at the featherlike touches he placed on her neck. What she really wished they could do is not go to this blasted luncheon and actually get acquainted with each other as lovers. He still had a promise to keep and she really needed for things to calm down so that he could actually make good on it.

Turning to face the mirror, Anthony stepped behind her to see how it looked for himself. The necklace complimented the dress beautifully. Katherine really didn't want to take it off either. It looked good. "Looks like I'll be going to find Violet to thank her." She said, bringing a hand up to gingerly touch the jewels.

"And I'm supposed to keep a friendly distance?" Anthony asked, glad that she was going to wear the necklace. It was the very least his family could do for her. He, however, now hated the thought that he couldn't keep her at his side and that she'd be expected to mingle.

"Yes, just for today though. If this goes as planned we'll actually make it to Amore's and let the entire organization know that we're together." The news of Luca, Colin and Marina's engagement and lastly Marina's secret cut into their date. So instead of making it to the reservation, Anthony had gone to pick up food for the whole family from the restaurant instead and the two had eaten their dinner together in his office. It wasn't quite the romantic scene they were hoping for and yet it was perfectly them.

"Then here's to things going as planned." He smiled at her through the reflection before pressing a kiss to her neck.