"Dad once said that Mom was nothing but a headache when he first knew her.
His most favourite headache ever."
Dreading going back into the ballroom, I paused at the door readying myself. Ok… Ok, Kate; calm down. You likely won't see him inside; you'll likely never seen him again. Just go in, grab Edwina, and get out. Easy as that. You can do this. You can do this!
Taking in a deep, stilling breath, I forced myself to go back in there. The crowds were smaller now, which helped set my mind at ease. Oh good, maybe he's already left. Now there's just to find my sister…..
Relief suddenly filled me when I heard her laughter from across the room. I'd know that flirtatious giggle anywhere. Good! I've found her; now we can leave. My feet couldn't have hurried in her direction fast enough. I finally caught sight of her at the tail end of the room, talking with someone I couldn't make out. She looked delighted with her companion, whoever she or they were. "Edwina!" My tone wasn't as light-hearted as hers. Her lovely head spun towards me and her eyes lit up, like my arrival was a good thing.
"Oh, here she is now! Kate!" As I approached her, I caught sight of the person- or should I say, guy- she'd be conversing. My legs immediately froze, and he looked as taken aback and horrified as I was.
Oh my god, kill me. Kill me! It can't be him! It just can't be! Why on earth is Edwina talking to that…. that creep?! Did fate just hate me or something? No, that can't be the case; I did get into Oxford, after all. But still! Why'd he have to be here; didn't he already ruin tonight enough for me? What's worse is that my heart leapt a little like it was actually happy to see him or something! That's absurd! Why would I ever have a positive emotion regarding him? And why the hell is he standing so close to my sister?!
I wanted to die when Edwina came over to take my hand, practically dragging me nearer to him. "Anthony, this is….." "Your sister?" He interrupted her with this half-statement, half-question. Edwina blinked back at him a tad surprised. "Uh, yes? This is Kate, my elder sister," she remarked and that charming, dastardly smirk appeared across his evil lips once more, making my insides quiver.
"Kate? So that's your name? Now was that so hard?" He mocked, making me shoot him a scowl. My sister, who admittedly had the bantering skills as Friedrich, glanced between us both puzzled and mildly concerned. "I-I'm sorry…? Have you two met already?" "Not officially," I spat, not taking my glare off him. While I was glaring daggers at him, he was more than happy smirk cunningly back my way. Edwina meanwhile flashed me a brilliant smile, squeezing my hand tightly.
"Sis, this is the Viscount Anthony Bridgerton. Didn't I tell you he was handsome?" She said this last part a bit too loudly. But my eyes couldn't have grown wider as I suddenly gawked at her. "Him?! He's Anthony Bridgerton?! Your fiancé?!" My finger lifted up to point in his direction incredulously. Kate seemed startled by my negative reaction to the introduction; the lines on her face morphing to one of worry.
"Is something wrong, Kate? You're acting weird." "No, I'm not! Only…. Do you know what time it is? We've been at this "gala" long enough. Come on," I reached to take her hand, which she immediately pulled back. "What?! But I only just introduced you to my fiancé." "Don't call him that! Look, let's just go! I'll explain everything to you on the way home." "Explain what? What's the matter with you? I thought you'd be happy for me!" I will be, once you're away from him.
Anthony- I guess that's his name- calmly clasped his hands behind his back, gently gazing to Edwina after giving me one more teasing smirk. "Perhaps you should go. Your sister seems quite determined to retire for the evening," there was this infuriating mocking in his tone, making me want to strangle him. Edwina's head darted back around his way frantically. "Oh no! We can't go yet! She just got here; we all must spend more time together."
Anthony chuckled softly, leaning forward a little. "Don't worry; we'll have plenty of time to get to know one another this summer. In the meantime, you ladies be sure to get home safe. Perhaps I should call you a cab?" "Oh, how thoughtful!" Edwina chimed and I rolled my eyes, still yanking her along. "No, thank you. We don't need anything more from you, "Lord Bridgerton"." His eyes sharpened onto me intently…. Impishly. "You'll accept whatever kindness I offer you, "Miss Sharma"." "He's just trying to nice, Kate! Don't be so rude!" His teasing tone went right over Edwina's head, causing me to roll my exasperated eyes. Yet I kept on pulling her to follow me. "We don't need a cab. We can get home on our own."
"Don't tell me you'll be biking home?" Anthony nearly caused me to burst a blood vessel. My sister giggled, glancing back at him. "Of course not! You should see the state of Kate's bike back home; she's not riding anywhere on that thing." "I can believe it," he retorted back jokingly, and I wanted to die a millionth time that night. Ugh, I DETEST that man! Why does he have to be so terrible? Poor Edwina; she doesn't know what a monster he truly is. I'll have to rectify that.
Anthony watched us go, keeping his hands clasped behind his stupid back the whole time. Edwina gave him a little goodbye wave as I ushered her towards the exit. "I'll call you!" She called back and he gave her a polite head nod. "Have a good evening, Edwina…." There was a pause right before we reached the door before he spoke again. "Have a good night….
Kate."
My heart skipped a beat. Several beats. He said my name so naturally, but it was the way he said it…. He savoured it in his mouth before and afterwards, enjoying my reaction once he said it out loud. It's almost like it tasted sweet to him, lingering on his lips after the fact. It was mocking and sincere all at the same time. He knew it'd push my buttons, and he relished that fact. He enjoyed watching me squirm as much I did him, and it REALLY got under my skin. Just as we were about to exit through the front door, I took the world's quickest peek over my shoulder back in his direction. And just like before out in the garden, he was watching us, or rather me….. And he was smiling. He wore that smile I hated so much; the expression which made me want to scream…..
And secretly, somewhere deep, deep down, made me want to smile too.