Many things changed after they got married. Everyone in their families said that they were happier, more relaxed and carefree now that they were together. Kate had settled into her role as viscountess and was beginning to understand her new social position. Anthony was 110% back in all of his family's lives to the joy of his younger siblings and the ire of his older ones. He and Kate spent as much time as they could together with their two families that it really felt like Mary and Edwina had married into the Bridgerton clan too.
Something however, didn't change. Much to the amusement of everyone else.
Kate hadn't had the pleasure of meeting the Duke of Hastings Simon Basset until last night when he and Daphne had dined with the rest of the Bridgerton family. He had been away for a month with business in France and had finally returned much to the joy of Daphne. She had yet to really speak to him other than hello as the couple had spent much of the night talking to each other and she had been more than happy to follow their example with Anthony.
One of the purchases the Duke (she still found it weird to call him Simon even if She and Daphne were quite close.) was a very well bred thoroughbred race horse. That he announced was entered into a race this weekend and they were all invited to come watch. Kate hadn't been to the race track since Anthony had tricked her with his friend.
"Well dear?" he had asked her that night at dinner after Simon had announced the idea.
"It depends dear," Kate had drawled back at him, desperately fighting the smirk that was forming on her lips. "Is your friend Dorset accompanying me or you?"
Kate managed to keep a straight face long enough to watch Anthony's face go through the full range of emotions as Colin nearly choked on his chicken from laughter. "And here I thought wife were supposed to become more agreeable after marriage. Which got a scoff from Kate and Elosie.
At the race track their competitve nature took the better of the regardless of the lack of sexual tension between the two at the start of the day at least.
"What do you mean? You can't possibly think a filly with TWO starts and no win on GRASS will beat any of the horses in the field." Kate threw her arms up in exasperation.
"Have you gone mad? Not a single mare in this damn county has the breeding she does!" Anthony scoffed right back at her. "Dirt track or the field be damned. Talent rises above."
"HA!" Kate scoff turning away from him shaking her head.
Beside her, Simon barely hid his smirk behind his lemonade glass. There had been two races so far and they were one a piece on bets. "Oh I see why Daphne likes you." He leaned over to tell her.
Kate let go of the irritations she had at Anthony's nonsensical opinions with a deep breath. "Well, I quite enjoy speaking with your wife. But I must ask, was he always this bone headed?"
This time Simon didn't bother hiding his laugh and neither did Daphne on his other side even as Anthony turned back towards them to glare. "Oh, no. I'm afraid this has always been an… area of difficulty for Anthony." Simon confirmed take great pleasure at the look on his best friend's face.
Then Kate's face lit up as she spotted someone. "Oh look dear husband, isn't that your friend Mr. Dorset?" she said innocently.
Anthony immediately scowled, which made Simon frown as they had all been good friends at university. "Don't you dare." he threatened.
"Whatever for brother? I thought you two were good friends?" Daphne asked, leaning over and beating Simon to the questions.
"Oh the best." Benedict piped up, turning around from the row below them. "The kind of friends that would do them any favor, like being a wingman for example maybe distract the right person."
"Shut up!" Anthony hissed, swatting at the hat on his younger brother's head. As Elosie, Kate and Colin all snickered.
"I think we're missing something here." Simon said watch the interaction closely.
"Oh only that Lord Bridgerton might have roped into helping him court me, by distracting and lying to my sister." Edwina spoke up sweetly for the first time.
Simon could feel a smile breaking out across his face at his best friend's lunacy. "Why brother, I don't know how you thought that one was a good idea?" Daphne laughed.
"It was not. I can admit that it was an ill thought out plan." Anthony said shortly.
"Still no hard feelings over it right?" Kate said challengingly to her husband. "You should invite him over. After all, I thought he was quite pleasant to talk to." Anthony was staring her down still not finding this amusing at all. "He was impressively well versed on India and maybe Edwina would enjoy talking to him." she said, raising an eyebrow to him.
Anthony let go of some tension after her final sentence. "Well Edwina?" He asked the younger woman.
"Oh sure I would like to. Kate said he was well read. I think I wouldn't mind talking to him." she agreed.
"I shall call him over then." Anthony gave him as Kate since him a triumphant smile but took his hand. He shook his head at her as Dorset made his way to him. "Must you vex me?" he whispered to her.
"I thought that was in our wedding vows." She said as she sent him a dazzling smile. He leaned over and kissed her cheek. She was right they had joked about it but he would always vex her and she him and he wouldn't want it anyother way. It was also good to let Dorset see him kiss her cheek and remind him that she had chosen him even after their false start.