As a new day began, Anthony found himself opening his eyes as if he had just slept a second ago but in reality it was quite late in the morning when he finally succumbed to sleep.
Just like every other morning he spent with her, he found her eyes wide open staring at him with great reverence and love along with a hint of longing which he now understands.
He knew they were still completely naked covered with blanket as they stared at each other, memorizing this moment between them.
Finally he reached out to gently move away a stray curl from her face as he gave her a sleepy smile. "Good Morning Priyaey."
"Actually, its afternoon my love." She replies while moving closer in his arms. Anthony frowned and grabbed his father's old watch and sure enough it shows quarter past thirteen.
"We slept in late?" He mused as his wife kissed his chest as she corrected him. "You did, I was just content lying in your arms watching you sleep peacefully, still marvelling at my fate that you are in my life."
He sighed sadly as he kissed his wife's forehead making a promise to her and himself. "One day, you will find peace too and I promise that day you will be able to sleep peacefully."
Kathani tries to hold back a dark remark because she didn't wanted to hurt her Anthony anymore because she knew perfectly well only her death can bring her that peaceful sleep. Instead of saying this she gave him a small smile as she said in a fake hopeful voice. "You are right. One day when this is over I will find peace."
Anthony kissed her nose as he assured her knowingly. "And one day you will believe these words on your own and not lie for my sake."
At getting caught Kathani refrained from rolling her eyes because now that her truth is out she is like open book to this vexing man she loves beyond reason.
Deciding to distract him from this topic she gave him a seductive look as her hand trailed down his naked chest. "You know, I have been waiting long enough for you to wake up."
"Kathani." He sighed dejectedly while gently grabbing her hand to kiss it. "I will not allow you to use your body as distraction, you are my wife, my best friend and it pains me that you think seducing me will distract me from worrying over you."
She wanted to deny how clearly he sees through her but before she could utter a word Anthony suddenly rolled them over so that now he was hovering over her as he stared at her face with pure love. "There is no need to seduce me Kathani Bridgerton because my body burns for you."
To prove his point, he brushed his hardness against her, making her gasp as he kissed her passionately before prepping kiss all over her face.
"But you need to stop wearing that mask on your face to hide your true self from me because that trick is not going to work on me anymore."
"I am not trying to hide my true self." She said defensively but when Anthony started at her knowingly she huffed and scrunched her nose. "I liked you better when you were all ignorant."
"And I love you even more now I know you like an open book." He counters while playfully kissing her scowl away.
They kissed each other softly as Anthony gently caressed her back making Kathani purr like a kitten as she was still getting used to this new sensation after being so long of anyone touching her back.
Her body arched towards him as he continued caressing her skin while kissing her neck. She was this close to loose her mind when she heard his sultry voice whispering in her ear. "Promise me you will never hide yourself from me again."
He then slipped inside her but did not move as he waited for her to gather her wits to reply to him.
Kathani opened her eyes and saw her husband smirking at her. She couldn't help but narrow her eyes as she finally realized something. "Using my own tactics of seduction against me, Lord Bridgerton? Are you really going to play this game."
"Is it working?" He teased and when she huffed in defiance Anthony slowly thrust inside her, making her gasp as she clutched his back, her dark eyes widened in disbelief. "Oh, I must say, it is working really, really well." He chuckled cheekily while resuming his small thrust, making her frustrated with this pace.
He could see his wife is not one to yield but if he was going to keep her safe her from herself then he could not lose this game. So he began the sweet torture, he sometimes sped up and only when he could feel his wife reaching her release he stop moving all together.
Kathani was going crazy with her husband's game and as much she wanted to win she could not help but growl in frustration when her husband stopped moving again. "Anthony! You annoying fucker!"
"Such bad language Lady Bridgerton." He tutted while thrusting hard, making his wife scratch his back as hiss left from his mouth.
Staring at his angry kitten, he leaned closer to whisper against her lips. "Choice is yours darling, promise me that from now onwards there will be no secrets between us, in fact from now on you and I are going to be equals in everything we do."
Kathani seems hesitant and as much this irks him he decides to gave her ultimatum. "Kathani, I know how your minds work and I know that despite many people helping you when the time comes you will try to jump into danger alone but I will not allow this anymore."
"Allow!" She asked angrily and tried to squirm away but soon she moaned as her devious husband began to move inside her. "Yes! I will not allow you to face any danger alone anymore because from now on we will face them together. So what's it going to be? Do you agree to this condition because if you don't then I will only be your husband and friend only but not your lover anymore."
"What? You cannot be serious?!" She stammered and Anthony smirked as he suckled her peaks. "You are not the only one who could use seduction to get what they want."
"This is not fair!" She cries out in frustration and pleasure as he speeds up his torturous thrusts.
"What will it be? Will you treat me as your equal partner or should I stop this now." To prove his point, he slows down and with angry but defeated growl Kathani finally tightened her legs around him as she conceded. "Fine! You won! I will treat you as my equal partner! I will not hide anything from you! I will let you face all dangers with me! Happy! Now for God sake move Bridgerton!"
"As you wish my lovely Partner." He then started thrusting hard inside her while kissing her with passion and all the pent up frustration of previous days.
His Kathani moans and hold him closer as they moved vigorously within each other. Apparently his wife is not one to be tamed as in a surprising move he sucked on his neck making him momentarily loose his mind as she quickly flipped them over so now he was underneath her while his wife was straddling him with a triumphant smile as she took her pleasure from his body. "Equal we maybe but you will still listen to me understood?"
He could not help but give her a cheeky smile as he said. "I have no problem to listening to my wife unless she is agreeable to listen to her husband."
"I will not follow your orders Anthony." She warned while squeezing her inner muscles, making him groan as he asked breathlessly. "How about suggestions? Will you agree to that?" Kathani flattered on top of him but he continued moving inside her, making her eyes flutter as her head rolled back. "God! You are so good at negotiations."
With a great smile on his face, he sat up and kissed his wife passionately as they finally came to both in agreement and their releases. For a while they lazily kissed each other while trying to calm their wildly beating heart.
"So equal partners." He asked once again to confirm their agreement. Before she could reply a knock on the door disturbed them. "What?!" His wife yells.
They heard Jacopo's hesitant voice from the other side. "Um, I know it's not the right time but your uncles Rokesby and General Langham have arrived and they brought a few guests with them."
While he frowned, Kathani sighed as she called out. "Tell them we will join them in five minutes." As they heard Jacopo's footsteps fading away, his wife turned around and held out her hand. "Come partner, its time to meet new players."
With that, Anthony and his wife begin to get ready to face what ever is going to come their way as equal partners.
Jacopo was pacing near stairs for past twenty minutes huffing at each turn when no one appeared yet.
Michael who was watching with amusement at the second in command huffing and puffing face at Kathani's tardiness, he couldn't help but leaned down to whisper to their group. "Who want to bet their money that they are late because Kathani is now in better spirits after spending a comforting night with our dear lord Bridgerton and now she was busy riding St. George, oh pardon me my king, I meant riding St. Anthony."
King George coughed violently at that little crude joke before he thought to explain his embarrassment. "Sorry, I just remember how my peers used to tease me with that phrase." He told everyone making Queen Charlotte giggle like young bride while Prince George and Prince Frederick shuddered in disgust.
All married ladies got their cheeks red while unmarried ones looked confused. Sophie and Genevieve hit Michael on his head while Lady Danbury hit him with her cane as she scold. "Shame on you boy?"
He rubbed his head and leg with both hands before pulling out few shillings. "What? I am getting bored and I bet after what happened yesterday only Bridgerton is a reason that Kathani is still not arrived yet."
The others stared at each other before glancing at Jacopo as another five minutes passed.
Finally Simon took out few coins and placed it on table. "My money is on Bridgerton."
"Simon!" Daphne exclaimed.
"What? I know your brother since we were young lads."
Daphne rolled her eyes as her brothers also place their bets and then to her surprise her mother too.
"Mother! Tell me you are not taking part in this madness!"
"After everything we witnessed I just want my children to be happy." She replied as she stared longingly towards the stairs not watching as Queen, Lady Danbury, Sarah and even Portia also put their money on the table.
After that all bets were placed in hopes that Michael is right and finally Anthony was able to comfort Kathani.
Edwina watched how all people in this room were deeply invested in her sister's happiness and that made her feel even more guilty about her cruel behaviour towards her last night.
Before she could ponder over her behaviour even more. A giggle echoed the house as her sister descend hand in hand with her husband like jolly children.
Everyone smiled as they watched Kathani and Anthony smiling widely at each other as their joined hands swing between them.
"You are late." Jacopo scolded her but as might he tried he couldn't help but be happy to see Kathani this happy all thanks to the man beside her.
"We were getting ready Jacopo." Kathani explained but Genevieve scoffs as she inquires "My husband is pacing for thirty minutes while you both were getting dressed."
Before Kathani could make a retort a voice reached her ears. "It does not matter how late they were, I am glad they to see my nephew and niece again."
"Uncle George! Uncle Andrew!" Kathani exclaimed as she dragged her husband to greet their uncles.
Behind them General Langham stood up as he walked towards them and bowed respectfully. "Its great to meet again Countess, You to Lord Bridgerton."
"Please, there is no need for formality." Kathani insists. "You can call me Kate or Kathani, all my friends call me that."
"Kathani! Now that's a new name I have heard for you Senorita Zetara Priest." A voice with rough accent reached their ears.
Kathani looked surprisingly happy as she saw person behind General Langham. "Diego!"
Anthony who was quite happy until now felt his smile slipped away as he watched his wife enthusiastically greeting this handsome Spanish guy.
"Ahem, Ahem," He feigned cough while his wife and that Spanish guy were chatting in Spanish.
Finally he couldn't take it anymore and walked towards him ignoring the guys snickering behind his back. "Priyaey, who is this gentleman."
At that Kathani turned to face him and then to his immense pleasure she looped their hands as she began the introduction. "Anthony, meet Admiral of Spanish fleet Diego Della Vega, I saved his and his crew lives near Caribbean seas."
"And how enchanted you were Senorita, never saw a woman diving deeper into the sea and emerging from those dangerous waters like beautiful siren."
Kathani beamed and as Anthony pulled his wife by her side that Spanish guy finally take notice of him as he ask. "And who is this Gentle Senor?"
Behind him his brothers and Simon snickers as Kathani introduced her husband. "Diego meet Earl Anthony Bridgerton, my husband."
For a moment Anthony couldn't help but puffs his chest in pride but then that moment disappeared as.
"Ha! Ha! haaaaaa!"
Diego start cackling like he heard the most funniest joke as he managed to say words in his language. "Tiburónsecasaconpezdorado!
(Shark marries gold fish!)"
"Diego!" Kathani warned as her eyes flared up but Anthony put gentle hand on her arms as he pulled her closer while staring at their guests as he says. "I take no offence darling because you are beautiful and deadly like a shark and yet despite everything you chose me as your husband."
Diego stopped laughing as he stared inquisitively at him. "Pardon my manners my lord but at first you did not seems as a type of person I imagine for Zetara, especially her history with the great Arth..."
"Diego!" Kathani hissed as he remembers their audience. "Pardon me Senorita but what I am trying to say is that it seems you saw something more in him that no one can see, after all, only a great man can be husband of a great woman like you."
Anthony stared at his wife before shaking Diego's hand. "On that, we can agree with each other."
As they introduced their guests to everyone Kathani stared at General Langham as she inquires. "Where are the other Admirals?"
"They are all gathering in your safe island near British shores. I cannot believe how many Admirals came by just reading your letter."
"We all owe our lives to her and her crew." Diego informed them while staring at Kathani and her fellow mates from her ship.
While Diego was getting reacquainted with Philip, Michael and Jacopo. Kathani and others informed General Langham, uncle George and Andrew what they missed since they left after wedding.
"That bastard!" Uncle Andrew yells while uncle George stares at her in disbelief. "Victor! Prince Victor is that master mind."
"Well now it makes sense his deep involvement in our Military and naval forces even after he was long retired and moved to Prussia." General Langham mused.
He then frowned as a troubling thought came in his mind. "It still does not explain how is he managed to get control of entire nation after you abducted King, Queen and Prince Regent? I thought in that scenario the control will fall on their second son and yet not only Prince Victor manages to take control but he even has authority to summon everyone and announce war on other European nations."
At these words everyone stares at each other feeling loss to come up with answers. Even Kathani couldn't understand how Victor was able to get this much control and then something clicked in her mind.
Apparently she was not only one who figure this mystery out as thunderous voice of Queen reached her ears. "You good for nothing imbecilic! Tell me what did you do?!"
They all turned to see Prince George cower under his parents angry glares as he finally confessed. "Mother! Father! I am so sorry!"
"What have you done boy!" King inquires sharply making everyone flinched.
"He terrorised me father! He make me doubt myself and then advice me to strengthen our Military and naval forces and to range wars against our enemies because they conspired against you and made you sick."
"What exactly have you done?" Kathani ask and Prince George was so ashamed as he said his next words. "Wars are costly and to create a strong forces came with a cost."
He wiped his forehead as he stared at his parents. "I wanted to prove my capabilities as your heir and Victor used knowledge that against me. He encourages me for wars and even loaned me huge amounts of money whenever I needed to cover Military and naval expenses."
"And what did you gave him as security for those loans?" Kathani ask in harsh tone knowing exactly well what is going to be his answer.
Prince George was unable to meet their eyes as he replied in remorseful voice. "I hand over our country and all our other controlled territories as security for that loan."
Everyone gasp in shock while Queen clutched her heart in disbelief. "You did what?!"
"How could you?!" King exclaims as he still trying to process his son's stupidity.
Kathani on the other hand didn't dwell on this shock as finally last few pieces of puzzles fall in places giving her the clear picture.
"So that was his plan all along?"
She turned to both her uncles as she said. "Remember you once said about those missing pieces uncle Edmund couldn't found out, well here you go, our esteem prince was that missing piece of the puzzle."
Kathani start pacing as she began from the start. "Victor swear revenge on my father and our king the day King refused his annulment request. Maybe he was conspiring against the crown before but that refusal made him thirst for revenge. He joined hands with my father's enemies Crane and Sheffield's and together they formed plan to take their targets out starting with Our King, then my Appa. And finally he start poisoning the very country he was deprived from ruling. He used Crane concoctions and Sheffield's connections and corrupt people like Herbert, Smith and Welsh to do his dirty deeds."
"Why did he goes through all this trouble? Why didn't he kill me instead?" King George inquires.
"Because killing you won't gave him satisfaction. I believe he wanted to destroy your entire legacy, same legacy where he is rumoured as bastard. No, Victor is a sadistic monster and your death will not bring him satisfaction as destroying everything in front of your eyes while he uses your son for his gains. I bet he called your children so he could used those concoction on people and made them killed by his controlled mob, after all royalty dying in civil wars is not uncommon."
She then stared at Prince Frederick as she continued with her thoughts. "He married your mother to gain power of Prussia and I can bet my fortune that he was behind you father's demise and your mothers sickness and as Sheffield confessed he was trying to get rid of you and prince George to get control over both notions on one shot."
Prince Frederick gulped as he finally realised something. "My mother, she is still under control of that monster."
As Frederick collapsed fearing for his mother's life Kathani continued. "That monster disgraced my Appa and ruined mine and Mama's life and even that was not enough and he was going to ruined Edwina's life too."
Edwina sniffed while Mary tried to calm Kathani down as she stopped her frantic pacing. "He didn't ruined everything because you managed to survive and in turn you saved us all."
"But it was too late Mama!" Kathani cried out as she stepped away.
"Yes I survived but many didn't! He killed so many people Mama! So many people died because of him!"
She stared at Portia, Penelope, Simon, Sophie, Philip and finally all Bridgerton's especially her husband as she cried. "Lord Featherington died because he figured out about those concoction! Simon's and Sophie's fathers were killed because they wanted to control their lands! They killed Philip's brother and sister in law! They harmed uncle Timothy and locked up Michael's family in their own house and Not forget what they did with uncle Edmund! What they were planning to do with Anthony!"
Kathani was shaking in rage as Anthony finally pulled her in his arms and tried to calm her down. "As much as you want, you cannot stop what those monsters did in the past."
"He is right my child." Mary gently assured her daughter. "And despite everything look how many lives you were able to save ever since you have returned."
"Mary is right." Violet says as she joined her sons side. "You really protected our family and everyone else since you returned and I am sure that you will defeat that monster and avenge all those people we lost because of him."
"And you are not alone my child, we all will help you to bring Victor down." The King proclaims as his Queen agreed with him. "Let's sense Victor to the deepest part of hell!"
One by one every person in the room stepped forward to show their allegiance and in that moment Kathani felt to overwhelmed by their trust.
"It is too much! I don't deserve your allegiance! I don't deserve your trust."
"You do Kathani." Anthony tried to make her believe her worth but Kathani was not listening.
"Have you not heard anything! Victor has taken control of everything! He is going to use this country forces to rage war against other nations and with help of his concoctions he is soon going to conquer the world!"
"Well, he cannot declare wars if all nations united against him and exposes his world domination ploy." General Langham mused making everyone think hard about this solution.
Uncle Andrew presented his advice. "All the gathered Admirals can present this case against Prince Victor
To their respective sovereigns and if we are able to convince them all then they can help us bring Victor down."
"And we will be witness against his crimes." King George declared while his wife and son nod in agreement.
"I will stand against him too." Prince Frederick declared making Kathani respect this guy.
But even with witnesses something deeply bothered her as she stared at Diego. "Ate witnesses is enough to convince other nations sovereigns?"
Diego scratches his beard as he thought hard. "We need evidence for his crime along with witnesses."
Kathani's heart sank as Philip replied. "We have few evidence that Jacopo and Genevieve gathered from Sheffield's and Crane mansion but the only problem is that they are dated to this year while..."
"While his crimes predated decades." Diego finished as he sighed hopelessly. "I am sorry Senorita but we needed solid evidence that are older than this year."
"There was some solid evidence against his connected minions but I am afraid they are lost." Kathani informed him making uncle George frowned as he ask. "So you failed to find Edmund's hidden evidence at Aubrey Hall?"
Kathani nodded her head dejectedly when her husband's alarmed voice reached her ears. "Father's hidden evidence?! What are you all talking about?!"
Kathani then start explaining everything while Anthony and other Bridgerton watched her dumbfounded.
"So that's what were you searching for all those nights?" Anthony ask and Kathani once again sighed as she pulls out an old paper from her pocket which she has been carrying for weeks.
"I am sorry Anthony but I failed to find uncle Edmund's last secret."
Everyone watched as Anthony took the letter from her hand and start reading it to himself until he read one line again and again and each time his voice changed a little.
'I will be hiding all the evidence in my handmade kingdom between my treasures."
"I will be hiding all the evidence in my handmade kingdom between my treasures."
Finally Anthony looked up and stared at his wife in disbelief as he ask. "How could you not found it yet!?" He exclaimed.
Kathani and everyone looked shocked at his outburst. She tried to understand his outrageous reaction as she defended herself. "I searched everywhere Anthony but I couldn't find this secret place."
"But why? Because if anyone should figure that place out is you and me! Think about it Kathani! The place our treasures were hidden the place you Appa and my father build it with their hands."
And while everyone stared at this pair in confusion, Kathani walked back towards her memory lane. Her beautiful childhood surrounded by Tulip field at Aubrey Hall and..."
With gasp her eyes snapped at her husband who like her was thinking about the same place.
"Fuck! The evidence was hidden all this time in our secret tree house!"
With that in front of everyone eyes Kathani grabbed Anthony's hand as she left instructions behind her. "Jacopo, take everyone to safe island! Anthony and I are going to get that evidence."
Before Jacopo or anyone could protest they both ran outside and by the time everyone came outside, Kathani and Anthony were galloping on their horses towards Aubrey Hall.