Chapter 10
The next few days passed by rather slowly for Kate, but the upside was that her knee was getting better pretty quickly. She had been sort of worried that there may have been something else wrong in addition to the bruise, but thankfully everything was healing up nicely. She was able to go back to work by the end of the week without a limp anymore, at least.
However, despite her healed knee, Kate felt quite maudlin. It was stupid, she knew, considering how she and Anthony weren't even together, but ever since she overheard Daphne and Edwina talking about him, she had been existing in a weird limbo of depression, confusion, and agitation.
Kate had been starting to think that maybe, just maybe, Anthony liked her back. But now she was starting to question everything. Kate wasn't blind - she knew when a guy was flirting with her, and Anthony had definitely been flirting with her at several points since they first met. But had he been flirting with Edwina too? He'd been kind to her, sure, but maybe the two of them had had some private conversations that Kate wasn't privy to. Is that why Edwina was so convinced that Anthony liked her back? The mere thought of that made Kate feel nauseous, and she was too afraid to ask Edwina since she doubted she wanted to know the answer.
Maybe Anthony wasn't the guy she thought he was. That thought was incredibly depressing, to say the least, and Mary and Edwina probably noticed Kate feeling down lately. She had a hard time hiding anything from them, but they likely just attributed her maudlin mood to her hurt knee.
It's probably better they think that anyway.
It didn't help that Edwina seemed a lot bubblier than usual lately too. She didn't mention Anthony directly, but it was pretty obvious since she practically filled the whole house with her happy exuberance. Her requited crush seemed to make her practically glow with happiness.
Kate, on the other hand, constantly felt like she was going to be sick. She was getting good at hiding it, however.
It was now Saturday, and Kate had just finished getting dressed for her first day back at the farm when Edwina suddenly burst into her room without knocking.
"Kate!" she said immediately, smiling in a hopeful way that made Kate know she was about to ask her something. "Do you think I could go to Aubrey Farm with you today?"
Kate blinked in surprise: Edwina had never asked to go with her to the farm before. "But… you don't like horses," she pointed out, frowning in confusion.
"Yeah, I know," Edwina agreed. "But you're giving a riding lesson to Eloise Bridgerton today, right? Anthony might be there too."
Kate felt a knot form in the pit of her stomach. "Oh."
"I haven't seen him since the cookout last week, and considering what Daphne told me, I think I should talk to him." Edwina practically skipped over to Kate's bed and plopped herself down on it, smiling happily. "Perhaps I could finally see where his head's at, y'know?"
Kate avoided Edwina's gaze as she picked up her knapsack and made sure all her things were inside. "Anthony may not even be at Aubrey Farm today."
"He might be," Edwina smiled before hopping to her feet and going to Kate's side. "And even if he's not, you and I can just hang out together. Wouldn't that be fun?"
Kate couldn't help but chuckle at her sister. "Yeah. Screw doing work – I'll just hang out with my little sister."
"That's the spirit," Edwina giggled, pulling her toward the door. "Let's go!"
"Hold on," Kate stopped her. "You do know I ride my bike to work everyday, right?"
Edwina didn't even own a bike, which she knew full well. However, Edwina just grinned as she reached into the back pocket of her jeans and pulled out Mary's car keys, jiggling them. "Mum doesn't have to go to work today, and she said I could borrow the car."
Kate rolled her eyes with a grin. Edwina had gotten her driver's license a few months ago, and took every opportunity she could to drive their mother's car. "This is why you want to go to work with me, isn't it?"
Edwina didn't even bother to contradict her. "I'm driving," she announced before turning and bouncing down the stairs. Kate couldn't fight her small smile as she hitched her backpack over her shoulder and followed her. She had to admit, it would be nice to be driven to work for a change, especially since her knee was still a bit sore.
Today is sure to be interesting.
~/~
Considering how Anthony had tagged along with Eloise on her first two lessons, it was pretty much a guarantee that he would be at the farm today again. And sure enough: when Kate and Edwina pulled into the small car park at Aubrey Farm, Anthony and Eloise pulled in soon after... in a shiny black Mercedes Benz.
"Oh my God, he drives a Mercedes," Edwina whispered excitedly to Kate, watching as Anthony pulled into a spot several spaces away from them, and both he and Eloise stepped out.
Kate gave her sister a withering look. "Seriously? You're going to judge a man by how fancy his car is?"
"Not judge him, necessarily," Edwina said innocently. "But it is definitely a point in his favor, don't you think?"
Kate didn't quite know how to respond to that, and Edwina didn't wait for a response as she opened the car door and got out. Kate grimaced to herself before opening the passenger side door and getting out herself.
"Edwina," Anthony smiled at the younger girl as he and Eloise approached them. "This is a pleasant surprise. I didn't know you were coming to Aubrey Farm with Kate today."
"Yeah, I just decided to tag along today," Edwina said, smiling prettily at him as she tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "It's really good to see you again, Anthony."
The breathiness in her voice didn't escape Kate's notice, and she swallowed down the uncomfortable lump in her throat.
"Yeah. It's really good to see both of you," Anthony said sincerely, glancing between Edwina and Kate. "Kate, your knee looks a lot better."
Kate smiled at him slightly. "I'm not limping anymore, at least," she said. Anthony smiled at her.
"Well, you look great," he said kindly. Kate felt her heart stutter slightly when he looked at her like that, but tried her best to ignore it.
"Kate, if you're not ready for another horse riding lesson yet, I completely understand," Eloise said firmly. "I can force my brother to give me the lesson instead."
"Force me? I told you, I'd be more than happy to teach you," Anthony said defensively, frowning at Eloise. "Do you really think you're that unmanageable?"
"For you? Yes," Eloise said without hesitation. Kate couldn't help but giggle.
"Well, if you let me be your instructor today, Eloise, I'd be more than happy to give you your lesson," Kate said to her, grinning. "I'm ready to get back in the saddle, if you will."
Anthony and Eloise laughed as Edwina groaned. "Seriously Kate? Horse puns?"
"You're just jealous because I thought of that joke first," Kate said with a smirk.
"I'm not jealous that you're a dork," Edwina smirked back at her, poking her in the side.
"Don't listen to her, Kate. I think you're funny," Eloise grasped Kate's hand in her own, tugging her toward the farm's entrance. "C'mon, let's go. I'm ready to learn how to gallop today!"
Kate smiled as she allowed Eloise to pull her toward the farm. Being back at Aubrey Farm was making her feel like her old self again, and she hoped against hope this feeling would last.
~/~
Eloise was a fast learner when it came to horseback riding, which Kate knew at this point, though it was still clear she was a beginner. She needed lots of guidance and reassurance from Kate that what she was doing was right, which Kate was happy to do for her. It took a lot of patience to be a teacher, so she always made an effort to be reassuring to all of her students.
It didn't help, however, that during the entire lesson, Kate could see Anthony and Edwina chatting with each other off to the side of the fenced paddock. From what she could tell, it was a very friendly conversation: both of them smiled and laughed as they chatted together, both of them giving all the appearances of friendly acquaintances. Kate tried not to make it too obvious that she was staring at them, but it was difficult to look away, especially when she heard one of them laugh particularly loudly.
Stop it. I'm sure it's not what you think.
Kate focused on her lesson with Eloise, showing her how to move her horse from a trot to a faster gallop. It was challenging, but Eloise was slowly getting the hang of it – Kate stood off to the side as she watched Eloise and Lipton trot slowly around the paddock, gently moving faster into a gallop. Kate smiled at the look of delight on Eloise's face as she realized she was finally getting it, and Kate couldn't help but feel proud.
Kate was standing near the main building, and she could see a few customers coming in through the front doors. Mrs. Danbury was helping some of them, and since Kate was comfortable with Eloise riding solo for a few minutes, she went inside to assist.
Two of the customers were a couple wanting to sign up for a horse riding session this week, so once they were signed up, Kate went back to the stables to find the schedule and figure out what horses would be available for their time slot. Kate picked up the clipboard hanging near the door and scanned it, walking down the main pathway of the barn to where all the horses were in their individual stalls.
Kate was absorbed in the schedule she was reading, so she didn't hear someone enter the barn from behind her.
"There you are."
Kate turned around to see Anthony, looking annoyingly handsome as he smiled at her. Kate forced herself to look back at her schedule.
"Did you need me for something? I'm sort of busy," she said, continuing to walk down the pathway, trying to ignore the loud thrumming in her ears.
"I just wanted to talk to you. I haven't seen you in days," Anthony said, following her into the stables. "How are you?"
"I'm good," Kate said, not looking at him. "I told you, my knee's doing much better."
Anthony stopped, frowning. "Are you angry with me or something?"
Kate stopped too and turned to look at him. "No," she said, but the doubt showed on Anthony's face.
"What's going on?" he asked her.
"Nothing," Kate said, turning back around. "Where's Edwina?"
She could hear Anthony coming up behind her. "She went to talk to Mrs. Danbury. Hold on –" he took her arm and moved up so he was in front of her, forcing her to stop. "What is it, Kate?"
Kate looked into his eyes, which gazed at her in concern and some other emotion that made her feel as if her heart couldn't be contained in her chest. She swallowed.
"Daphne came by our house the other day," she blurted out after a moment. "Did she tell you?"
Anthony stared at her. "No," he said slowly. "Why did she come by?"
"To bring over some cookies your mum made for me," Kate said. "And to talk about you, apparently."
Anthony didn't say anything as he slowly removed his hand from her arm, an annoyed yet resigned expression on his face. "I'm sorry. I asked her not to speak with you," he said quietly.
"She didn't speak with me. She spoke with Edwina."
Anthony blinked in surprise. "Oh."
Kate felt emotion fill her throat, and she let out a humorless laugh, shaking her head. "Yeah...I'm sure you especially didn't want Daphne talking to her, did you?"
Anthony frowned. "What do you mean?"
Kate tried to walk away. "Nevermind."
"No, tell me," Anthony insisted, stopping her. "What do you mean?"
Kate turned and glared at him, a flare of emotion suddenly filling her body. "You lied to me. You like Edwina."
Anthony stared at her, completely dumbfounded. "What?"
"Daphne told Edwina that you like someone, and it was pretty clear who she was talking about," Kate said angrily, pushing past him and stalking away. "And seeing how the two of you have been acting all chummy this morning, it's obvious that you've been lying to me this whole time about being interested in her!"
"I haven't been lying to you," Anthony insisted, following her. "You clearly misheard what my sister said."
"I didn't mishear anything," Kate argued back. "I know what Daphne said."
"Clearly not," Anthony stopped her again, forcing her to turn back to him. "You said that Daphne said I liked someone, and you assumed she meant Edwina."
Kate stared into his eyes, as if willing herself to see the truth. "Didn't she?"
Anthony stared back at her. "What do you think?"
Kate didn't answer for a few moments as they looked at each other. Her heart pounded in her chest, and the air around them seemed to crackle with something she couldn't quite name. "I already told you what I think," she said quietly.
Anthony gave a frustrated sigh, shaking his head. "Dammit Kate," he growled out. "Why do you have to make everything so difficult?"
Kate felt taken aback. "I'm making things difficult? What about when –?"
But she didn't get a chance to finish twhen Anthony swiftly moved forward and pulled her in for a kiss.
Kate was so surprised by his lips against hers that she instinctively dropped the clipboard in her hand. Anthony took the opportunity to pull her closer so she had no choice but to place her hands against his shoulders. Heat seemed to whoosh throughout Kate's body as Anthony kissed her, and she couldn't resist opening her mouth against his and sliding her arms up around his neck, holding him close.
Anthony groaned against her mouth as their tongues danced together, his nose and forehead brushing against hers. It was as if he were trying to meld with her completely, and Kate wanted nothing more than to sink into him too.
She knew what Anthony was trying to say with this kiss:
I don't like Edwina. I like you.
How could something make her feel so foolish and exhilarated at the same time?
After what felt like an eternity, Anthony slowly pulled away, his lips hovering over hers as he gazed into her eyes. The emotion swimming in his eyes Kate was sure reflected in her own.
"I hope that was clear enough for you," he whispered after a moment, his eyes boring into hers. Kate could only stare back, not saying anything.
Without another word, Anthony stepped away from Kate and walked out of the barn, leaving Kate standing there, feeling as if her whole world had been shaken.
A/N: Gosh I love these two lol
Please comment and let me know what you think!
