Chapter 6.
Unfortunately, it took Lady Whistledown's letter to get the Sharmas, the Bridgertons and, well, the formidable Lady Danbury in the same room. It was disgusting how much insider information the writer had. Perhaps she was with them in Aubrey Hall or tongues had begun wagging since they last entertained guests during the Haldi ceremony. There was no time to find out. Instead, action had to be taken before word reached Queen Charlotte.
Funny enough, it was word reaching the Queen that had everyone scurrying about. Everyone had been so suffocatingly passive since the incident, it seemed they reached an impasse. The servants moved about the room bringing in trays of piping hot tea and simple pastries that Lady Violet Bridgerton ordered.
The Viscount was the first one in the room and he looked out from the window gardens appearing stoic and pensive despite the cheery yellow shine from the afternoon sun. Incidentally, this was the same room where the ladies held a shagun merely days ago before the other ceremony . It was also the same room that the Sharmas used for wedding related prep work.
This was painfully evident from a small, pearl-like statue of the elephant-headed Hindu Lord Ganesha by the shelf near the mantlepiece. It was a makeshift altar of sorts and he recognised some of the items. There was a decorated tray with flowers, a ghanta , incense sticks, oil lamps or diyas and kumkum powder placed in a little, gold-plated, ornate box. Anthony was by no means religious but the Sharmas were practising Hindus.
Earlier, Anthony learnt that Lord Ganesha was worshipped before the start of any new beginnings and having a seated almighty encouraged a peaceful atmosphere. Talk about a proverbial elephant in the room, he thought to himself, ironically.
"Alright, brother?" Benedict interrupted his train of thoughts as he clapped a hand on his shoulder.
Colin, his other younger brother had come to his other side, eyeing the items placed about for the wedding with rapt fascination. He wisely chose to keep quiet as everyone entered the room. Daphne had entered with Mother, holding her hand in support. Lady Mary had walked in with Miss Edwina Sharma and Lady Danbury.
Eloise and Penelope Featherington had also entered too, both looking worried and uncomfortable. Well, it was mostly Eloise dragging Penelope in. Penelope threw him a curious but sad look.
"What are those two doing here?" Colin asked quietly, eyeing the younger girls.
"Do not question it. I barely managed to get Francesca, Gregory and Hyacinth off our backs." Benedict whispered back.
There was a quiet murmur as the ladies greeted one another with an awkward politeness. Anthony was almost thankful for Daphne's Marchioness status. No one wanted to defy her when she was politely offering refreshment. However, silence soon fell when Kate walked into the room. It was clear that her arrival had not been anticipated.
Anthony was concerned as he took in her pale visage and her unusually passive countenance. Naturally, she looked alot better from the last time he'd seen her, unconscious, soaked to the bone and coated in blood and mud. There was a grey shrug wrapped around her shoulders and she wore a sage green dress unlike her usual vibrant turquoise. She had attempted to tame her mass of curls with a loose plait. She looked beautiful, so, so beautiful but alas, defeated so, so defeated.
Despite the unwelcoming, cold silence in the room, she held her head high as she walked in. What others may perceive as pride, was really her vulnerability, he realised. When did she become so easy to read to him but so difficult to read for her own family?
Miss Edwina's expression turned stormy and Lady Mary looked even more anxious if it was possible. In that moment he realised, even though she had family in the room, she was very much alone.
Lady Danbury was the first to recover. "Sit here, child. You should be resting." She chided lightly as she patted Kate's arm. She seemed to be the only one whose thoughts were aligned to his.
Before Kate could respond, he heard a childish scoff from the other side. "Clearly, she has rested enough."
"There is no need to forget your manners, is there, Miss Sharma?" Lady Danbury shot the younger Miss Sharma a quick but baleful look effectively silencing her for the time being.
He did this to her.
The Marchioness cleared her throat glancing around the room wearing a tentative but determined smile.
"Miss Sharma…Kate, would you care for some tea?" She offered.
Kate smiled at her gratefully but before she could respond, Anthony butted in. "She does not take English Breakfast. Can you ring for a special spiced blend please, Daphne? I believe it's called Masala Chai ."
The women eyed him in disbelief. Even Benedict threw him a shocked look to which he shrugged in response.
"Ah yes, Kate's favourite Masala Chai?" Daphne smiled as she rang the bell.
The room was silent once again before Lady Mary spoke up.
"We need to resolve this matter. The entire ton knows about this. The reputation of my daughter is at stake. What are we to do?" Lady Mary fretted anxiously. She was a far cry from the furious mother Anthony had seen moments after he kissed Kate.
Maybe it was the fact that he had his eye on Kate from the moment she walked into the room or maybe it was Lady Mary's words. But, words were more than enough to make an individual feel like an outsider amongst the people they considered their own. With those words, Kate was quite officially outcasted. Anthony felt outraged even though he was her criminal. They'd almost lost her merely days ago too!
Was her reputation not at stake too? Hadn't he compromised her? Or did anyone not care, simply because she was a spinster with little to no prospect of marriage?
For the first time, he understood why Eloise abhorred the institution of marriage in the ton. Because, a woman had little to no identity or even respect beyond her marital prospects and as he'd seen with the Featheringtons and Penelope Featherington, and now, with the Sharmas, this extended to their own family members.
It was entirely regressive, entirely infuriating. Kate was the family member who shouldered their responsibility after her father's death. She adored her Bon for goodness sake! Even now, her eyes were glued imploringly on Miss Edwina Sharma, willing her to look at her.
"I do believe that the reputation of both daughters are at stake also, but more so Miss Kate Sharma's. May I remind you that she is the one compromised." He intervened coldly from where he stood ignoring Lady Violet's looks for him to reign in his temper. Lady Mary looked suitably chastised.
Turning to face the sisters, "Miss Sharma and Miss Edwina Sharma, I have done you both a grave injustice. One that I would never wish upon any of my sisters. There is no amount of apologising that I can do that will permit either of you to forgive me. But, if you will have me, I will right this wrong." He said with utmost sincerity.
Ever since his talk with Lady Violet Bridgerton, his mind was made up. No, ever since he tasted Kate, ever since he held her battered body in his arms praying to the almighty being, his mind was made up. He will do what is right, for Kate.
"Yes, but Edwina was supposed to marry you. What will the world think if the "Diamond of the Season's" engagement breaks? Who will marry my Edwina? How could you be so irresponsible, my lord?" Lady Mary cried.
The fury he'd seen merely a few days back in his study emerged. But it was only for one of them, despite his earlier reminder that she had two daughters.
"M-maybe… We could take a stand against Lady Whistledown and...declare the news to be false?" Kate suggested in a small voice. A gasp and a hush sounded from the corner where Eloise and Penelope sat.
"She wants to take on Lady Whistledown?" Eloise could be heard sounding gleeful before Benedict shushed her from where he stood in Anthony's corner.
"I do not believe that is an entirely feasible idea, my dear." Lady Violet Bridgerton who'd been silent all this while said gently using the same voice she often used with Gregory or Hyacinth when they were behaving far too energetic and silly.
"Mama, with all due respect, we discussed this. The Viscount who I thought could love me, does not. I see it now, clear as daylight. I want to marry for love. I will marry for love. That has been my only condition this season and it will continue to be so." Miss Edwina Sharma spoke determinedly if not a little bitterly.
Over the days as she reflected, the anger, the heartbreak, the sadness started to fade. Edwina had come to a realisation, she inevitably got trapped in the web of glamour that the ton had to offer, the position of a coveted diamond that was once her mother's, the idea of marrying "above her station". It was all a sham, really.
What constitutes a "diamond of the season"? Was it an outstandingly pretty face? A kind and altruistic heart? Being a person who went out to help the poor and vulnerable?
Edwina was none of the above. Whereas Kate, Kate shone in all her glory. Whether it was on her horse, or the way she treated everyone equally, the way she tried to help the poor, the way she did not stop to consider herself when she stepped up to care for her family post Appa's death. Or even in the way she loved. Who was the real "diamond"? Certainly not Edwina Sharma.
Everyone wanted Edwina when she was a shining, seemingly priceless stone. But, who would want her when she was left as a social pariah, nothing but a piece of coal?
Her feelings for Anthony had been comparable to a teenager's crush or admiration. The way one mooned over swoon worthy male heroes in romance novels. Flattery, if you will for garnering the interest of one of the ton's most eligible, handsomest bachelors. But as she considered, she realised she could never draw the Viscount's heart out the way Kate did. Yes, it hurt, one might even call it Edwina's first heartbreak of a romantic nature. But, it was for the best, she could not lead a life with a man knowing that he lost his heart to another.
It hurt to know that she had been so caught up with herself, she failed to see that Didi had dreams that she put behind for the wellbeing of Amma and herself. Edwina failed Didi. Some "diamond of the Season" she was.
"Edwina…" Amma began.
"Any discussion of a marriage between myself and the Viscount ends this instant. But, this is not the end of the discussion." She added fiercely looking at her mother and then finally meeting her sister's eyes before nodding solemnly at Anthony. For once, he noted, there was some semblance between hers and Kate's personalities.
It was heartening to watch Edwina eventually acknowledge her sister. It appeared as though they were on a path of grudging acceptance, of forgiveness.
The younger stood up and walked towards the makeshift altar where she worked towards lighting the diya. She folded her hands in prayer, uttering a few words that were too soft for anyone to hear before turning and walking towards Kate who looked up at her with eyes that were filled with hope.
"Didi, my lord, will you come with me, please?" She beckoned Kate gently albeit formally as she led her to the altar. Anthony and Kate followed, puzzled but he saw happiness glow in her eyes from being acknowledged by the younger. There was some murmuring and shushing in the room.
"Today, Lord Ganesha, the fire from the holy diya and everyone else in this room bears witness to the promise that you've made to make everything right, my lord. It is time that you live up to your word." She said before she lifted an ordinary looking brass box from the altar. She placed it in Anthony's palm, lifting up the cap to reveal a powdery vermillion or what Anthony recognized as Sindoor.
"My lord, please marry my Didi this instant."
*Ghanta - A bell used during prayer.
*Shagun - The meaning of the word is 'auspicious', 'blessing' and 'good omen'. Shagun is also a pre-marital ritual ceremony that involves an exchange of gifts between both the bride and groom's families. Common gifts include sweets, dry fruits, sarees, suits, jewellery.
*Sindoor - Sindoor is a vermillion red or orange powder that is traditionally applied on a married woman's forehead also known as maang. The sindoor is first applied to the woman by her husband on the day of her wedding.