Anthony waited at their usual spot. It was another beautiful dawn. The sky was pink, blushing as it changed from its glimmering black dress to a bright blue one. Anthony frowned. He had been waiting for a long time and was now having ridiculous thoughts about the sky. He scanned the park again for Kate but there was no sight of her. He felt a pang of worry creeping in. What if she had fallen on the way to their spot?

Anthony galloped towards the Danbury House and hesitated. He didn't see her on the way, and it won't be proper to call the house so early. He decided to ride towards the park again, taking a longer route. And there she was! Anthony sighed in relief. She seemed to be returning from her morning ride.

As he rode towards her, she looked up and scowled at him. She started to race away from him and towards the Danbury House. Confused, he followed her. Why did it feel like he has done the exact same think so many times now? He couldn't catch up with her and saw her disappearing into the house. She was clearly trying to avoid him. The number of misunderstandings they had was getting out of hand. He glared at the sky.

"You sent me back. Couldn't you do something more and actually help us having a proper conversation?"

It seems like he was heard. That morning, he received a note from Edwina.

I heard that it was going to be a good afternoon for a walk in Hyde Park.

Anthony was not going to lie. At this point, he was feeling a lot discouraged, but he also couldn't feel like it was an answer to his question this morning. It couldn't hurt to go for a walk now, could it?

"Eloise!" Anthony went to his sister's side. "How about a walk today afternoon at the Hyde Park? You can tell me how your article is shaping up."

Eloise's eyes brightened. "Yes, brother! That sounds great."

Anthony and Eloise were walking along the lake in Hyde Park and Anthony was staring at his sister. He almost forgot his paranoia about falling into the lake because of her words.

"Let me get this straight. You want to me to go to the printer's shop in the other side of town to give an unmarried man a letter from you, my unmarried debutante sister."

"Yes. His writings are admirable, brother. There are some errors though and I want to bring them to his attention. I also want to recommend him some books and ask his opinions on the piece I'm writing."

"No."

"What do you mean no?"

"No, you're not writing him any letters. I forbid you to see him or communicate with him in any way."

Eloise tightened her grip on Anthony's arm. "You said that you'll understand and support me. If I'm going to write an article, I need the opinions of others."

"I can give plenty of opinions."

Eloise groaned. Her brother always did have plenty of opinions. "You are not a writer though!"

"Be sensible, Eloise. You know I can't let you correspond with a boy who works at the printer's shop."

"I want to discuss my ideas with the world. If I can't interact with anyone, how am I supposed to do that?" Eloise made desperate eyes at her brother.

Anthony sighed. "Does he know who you are?"

"No. Why do you ask?"

"Don't tell him who you are. Let it be a secret. Write whatever you want in a letter. I'll make sure he gets it. I can't guarantee he'll write back though."

Eloise nodded eagerly. "Then, it's my turn to help you. Come." She pulled him in a direction, and he saw Kate and Edwina walking Newton. In a purple dress, Kate was looking gorgeous and took his breath away. She was sending threatening glances to Newton as the dog eyed a ball two children were playing with.

Eloise and Anthony greeted the Sharma sisters. "Miss Edwina! I have to talk to you about tidying dogs." Eloise said to Edwina and pulled her away. "I apologize for stealing you companion for a moment, Miss Sharma. My brother will give you company."

Kate scowled as both the younger sisters disappeared.

"Do you really think my intention to court you is because of some twisted revenge I want?" Anthony asked incredulously.

"Just a few days ago, you were interested in courting my sister. You also hated me. Am I supposed to believe you completely changed your mind at the races and started developing feelings for me?"

"First, I was never truly interested in your sister. I have told you that. I only wanted to get to know the diamond and I'm glad I tried to do that during the races. If I hadn't, how would I have spent time with you? Even that day when we first raced each other at the park, I felt the spark between us. Didn't you feel it too?"

Kate looked away from him. She remembered the tingle she felt the first day they met. She remembered how she couldn't stop watching him at her first ball. She'd wanted to talk to him that day, until she had overheard his cold requirements of his wife.

"Didn't you tell your friends that love is the last thing you desire? Why the talk about feelings and spark now?"

"Are you going to only stress on that one conversation you overheard and ignore all the times I tell you what I feel? You dislike me, Miss Kate Sharma."

"Of course I dislike you."

"Why though? Is it because you really don't like me or because you are scared that you might like me too much?"

Kate tightened her lips, her hearting beating fast. "Don't be presumptuous, Viscount Bridgerton. You have only tried to manipulate from the beginning. I saw what you did with Lord Lumley. Then, you hatched a plan with Mr. Dorset. Now, you made it so that Edwina and I will visit Aubrey Hall in a few days. Lady Danbury told me about the invitation Lady Bridgerton extended."

"And doesn't that tell you about the sincerity of my feelings? Do you think I'll involve my family if I'm not sure about this? All I'm asking is for a chance to get to know each other. After that, if you don't feel the same, I will walk away. I know how you felt when you won at the races and even during the race we had the first day. Didn't you love that feeling? Don't you want to try and see if you can beat me again?" He asked with smoldering eyes that was setting Kate's skin on fire.

"There's no try about it, Viscount. I will always beat you. You should know that by now." She said risking a glance at his lips.

"Anthony."

"Pardon?"

"You should call me Anthony." He said with a small smile.

Kate fluttered her lashes at that smile. It should come with a warning.

"Don't distract me. The main reason for our visit to London was to get a match for Edwina. As you invited us to Aubrey Hall, Edwina is going to miss a whole week in London."

"Edwina and her suitors will survive a week without each other. Also, don't they say absence make the heart grow fonder?"

"How would you know? It's not like you have a heart to understand the matters of it."

"Who's to blame? You are the one who stole it." Anthony whispered.

Kate stilled and stared at him. He did not just say that. A traitorous blush crept over her face, and she dropped her face down to hide it. She reminded herself that he was a rake and had probably told this exact sentence to many women. Still, her eyes won't listen to her. She gazed up slowly and they locked eyes. A prickle of awareness went straight through her.

Anthony was getting lost in the depth of her brown eyes. He dipped his gaze to her lips. All he wanted to do was lean in and bring her closer. He leaned in an inch.

A bark broke his trance and he blinked. Anthony reminded himself that he was a gentleman and that they were in the middle of a crowded park. Then, he realized that Kate was frowning and trying to pull the leash. Apparently, Newton was trying to escape.

"Newton! Sit down." Kate ordered but Newton's focus was only on a ball that was rolling in the ground. Two children were already chasing it and it looked like Newton desperately wanted to join the chase. Newton yanked hard and started running. Kate stumbled forward helplessly and lost her grip on the leash.

"Newton!" she shouted and started running after him. Anthony didn't know whether to laugh or groan and for the second time that day, he raced after her. Only this time, the whole ton was staring at them, and he was able to catch up with her. Then, he saw it. The demon dog leaped and jumped right into the lake. At least the splash didn't hit him. He huffed and turned to see Kate hitch her skirts up a little, looking at Newton with a determined gaze.

No! She wasn't going to, was she? Horror hit his core and he caught her wrist fast.

"What are you planning to do?" He asked with wide eyes.

"I have to jump in and save Newton! Let me go." She told, not taking her eyes off the bloody dog.

He sighed and said sadly, "I am a gentleman."

She turned at him questioningly to see him look at the lake with resignation like a man going to a battlefield knowing that there was no chance to survive. He jumped into the lake and swam towards the happy dog.

Newton was splashing around trying to take the ball in its mouth. It was perfectly safe. It could have swum back to them. But no! Kate had wanted the dog with her safe and sound immediately and Anthony had to swim in front of everyone with his clothes dragging him down heavily. He took the dog and returned to Kate. Keeping the dog tight in his arms, he took off his jacket, dripping water all over.

Kate watched the sight with her mouth wide open in shock and wonder. She laughed when both the man and the dog shook themselves at the same time. Newton gave her a playful bark, but Anthony's face was seething with rage.

"You!" He growled menacingly.

Kate bit her lips trying not to laugh again. "You are not blaming me for this. I never asked you to jump in."

"If I had waited for a second, you would have jumped in. Without a second thought. Don't tell me you wouldn't have done that."

Kate would have definitely jumped in, only because she had been really worried about Newton. Why would Anthony care about it though?

Edwina and Eloise rushed to join them. Eloise was snorting and doubling up with laughter. Edwina exclaimed "Oh my! Are you alright?" Kate could hear the controlled laughter in Edwina's voice.

"It seems like your sister and her dog have made it their mission to humiliate me as much as they can." Newton chose to lick Anthony's face that moment to give his support to the statement.

Kate watched with fascination as a vein started leaping in Anthony's temple. It looked like his face was going to explode. She took Newton away from him swiftly and Anthony walked past them rigidly. Eloise followed him gasping. It looked like she wasn't going to stop laughing anytime soon. Suddenly, Anthony came to a stop and turned back.

"We are leaving to Aubrey Hall tomorrow. I'll be busy tomorrow morning."

Kate blinked, trying to figure out where he was going with this. "Alright."

"Promise me you won't go on morning rides without me."

Edwina raised her eyebrows, not knowing that the Viscount was privy to her sister's secret rides.

Kate blinked again, taken back. That was not what she was expecting. She saw the determination in his eyes and knew that this wasn't an argument she was going to win. She didn't want to argue with him too when he was drenched. He made a very distracting sight.

"I promise." She blurted out with her eyes trailing a water drop on Anthony's neck. He nodded stiffly and walked away.

Speechless, Kate's eyes followed his path. Anthony's white shirt was clinging to his skin. Her eyes widened and breath sped up as she realized she could see every inch of his back. His muscles. As her eyes glazed, she felt a nudge at her side. Edwina was looking at her with humor in her eyes. "Come now, Didi. It is not proper to stare."

Kate huffed. She was the one who taught Edwina manners. It never should be the other way around. She adjusted Newton and started her way home. She couldn't stop thinking about Anthony jumping in the lake for Newton. Will any man do it in front of the whole ton for the dog of a woman he doesn't care about?

It was hours later, and Kate still couldn't stop thinking about it. "Do you really think that the Viscount has feelings for me, bon?" Kate asked staring at the ceilings of her room.

Edwina had never seen her sister being this obtuse. "You read me a story when we were young. It said that when two people are in love, it is not eyes that meet but souls that dance. I see that when you and the Viscount see each other. It is like your eyes are writing a poem together. A poem that only you both can see. He is attuned to your every move. How can you doubt his intentions, Didi? Do you really think Lord Bridgerton is a man who courts a woman when he has feelings for her sister? He is much too honorable and conscious to do something like that. He is clearly interested only in you. Even a blind person can see that."

The image of a wet Anthony glaring at Newton as he rescued him came to her mind. Maybe she could give the Viscount a chance. Maybe she could try getting to know him and his family during their stay at Aubrey Hall.

"Do you really not mind missing some of the social events in London for our stay in Aubrey Hall?"

Edwina sat near her sister. "There are no highly anticipated events during that time, and I think we should let my suitors miss me a little. It will leave them all wanting more."

Kate thought Edwina made a good point. There was no need to feel guilt for going to Aubrey Hall now. She could let herself just feel the anticipation and excitement expand throughout her body.