The morning after the Queen's Ball found the ladies in Danbury House practically girding themselves for battle.
"Lord Lumley." Kate told them as they looked over her list. "At the top."
"Is he not something of a dandy?" Mary asked, skeptical.
"I would use the term gallant." Her older daughter shot back.
"Is that what you look for, Edwina?" she asked, turning to her younger daughter.
Edwina just smiled.
"If Kate believes in him, so do I."
Mary just shrugged as Kate smiled triumphantly.
"I note Lord Bridgerton is not on this list." Lady Danbury said with a gleam in her eye that made Kate decidedly uncomfortable. "An oversight on your part, my dear? After all, he danced with Edwina as well."
"Oh, now, he is what Edwina is looking for." Mary exclaimed with a grin that was everything wicked.
"Oh, yes," Edwina chimed in, clearly enjoying torturing her older sister, "surely Lord Bridgerton will pay a call! He was such a wonderful conversationalist, wanting to know all about my family!"
"I'm starting to understand the appeal of a muzzle." Kate muttered to herself.
"What was that, dear?" Mary asked innocently.
"I was saying that Lord Bridgerton is hardly suitable for Edwina." She replied in a louder voice.
"For Edwina, yes." Lady Danbury repeated, mirth clear in her voice. "I wholeheartedly agree."
Kate chose to ignore her and turned back to her sister.
"You know what you are looking for, Bon." She told her. "You must not forget that. Lord Lumley is a good option."
She reached out and squeezed her sister's hand as a footman opened the door.
"Mr. Balfour, ma'am."
Edwina smiled excitedly and went to sit as Kate rolled her eyes.
It was going to be a long day.
~.~
Fratricide really should be legal. Anthony thought.
Benedict had refused to go back to his apartments after the ball the night before and was now sitting beside him as their valets shaved them, needling him about Miss Sharma.
"I thought you were choosing your bride with your head, not your heart, brother."
"I'm fairly certain I pay for apartments for you." Anthony pointed out. "Shouldn't you be more comfortable there?"
"I am quite comfortable here, brother, but thank you for your concern." Benedict replied primly. "Now, are you going to actually see the woman you keep dancing with or are you simply hoping she'll trip during a dance and miraculously end up at the altar?"
"I have a plan." Anthony ground out.
"I'm sure you do." His brother agreed cheerfully. "But you had a plan last week which involved marrying the Diamond of the Season and instead you danced twice with her sister last night. Excuse us if the family is rather confused."
"The family need not concern itself." The elder Bridgerton replied. "As always, I will do what I think is best for all of us."
"And you believe that to be Miss Sharma?" Benedict asked, suddenly serious. "Do not take me the wrong way, Anthony. I quite adore Miss Sharma, but she has no dowry, no highborn family, no connections outside her stepmother and sister. We don't even know who her mother was, only that her father was clerk who ran to India with Lady Mary." Benedict had his valet pause so he could sit up and look his brother in the eyes. "If you think she will make you happy, we will support you and her."
Benedict was never this serious, so Anthony ignored the anger his words had stirred and made himself listen to what his brother was saying.
"Make sure you are positive about her, though. Don't do something rash because you're thinking with something other than your brain. Because if you mess this up, you won't just be hurting yourself and our family, but three women who do not deserve the derision of the ton. As I said, I like Miss Sharma. Frankly, she deserves better than you."
Anthony forced himself to not think of the last time he had allowed himself to get caught up in feelings and, instead, forced himself to think about what his brother had said.
"I will be careful." He said finally. "Both with our reputation and hers. I will make the right decision for both me and this family. You have my word."
"I know you will." Benedict replied, sitting back to allow his man to finish.
Anthony watched him in silence for a moment.
"You like her, though?"
Benedict cracked his eye open.
"Better than I like you most of the time. And if the men of this city ever get past her blocking their way to Miss Edwina and see what's in front of them, you may have a fight on your hands."
"From you?" Anthony asked curiously.
Benedict just scoffed.
"I've seen how she looks at you when you're not looking." He told his older brother. "I may be a fool for love, but I'm not stupid."
Anthony smiled and sat back as Benedict closed his eyes again. He needed to think about his planned trip to Danbury House.
He needed flowers.
~.~
Kate wished she had something heavy nearby so she could bash her head against it. Or, better yet, bash some of these idiots' heads against it.
If she had to listen to one more poorly recited sonnet…well, she really couldn't be held responsible for her actions.
She sighed and forced down her more murderous impulses. She had promised Edwina she would be on her best behavior today and she would not upset her sister. They had come here to find Edwina a husband. If that meant she had to listen to a few…hundred bad recitations of Byron, that is what she would do.
Did it have to be Byron, though?
Assuming Mary could handle anything Lord Lumley could do, Kate went to check on the rabble outside.
"Many dismiss Blake's work as childlike, insubstantial…"
Kate shook her head with a smile as she reached the door. At least it wasn't Byron.
"Miss Sharma, am I to be kept on the threshold all day?!" the next of the idiot suitors complained as she shut the door. "Lumley's already had an inordinate amount of time with her!"
"That is because my sister is so enraptured with him at the moment." Kate replied. "You wouldn't want me to interrupt your discourse when it is your turn, would you?"
"I say we heed the young lady," called a voice that Kate instantly recognized, "and wait with the grace our hostess affords us."
Kate sighed as the man she would most like to bash in the head (granted for different reasons) came bounding up the stairs. For a second, she was thrilled to see him, but then she saw the flowers in his hand and her heart dropped.
Of course, he was here to see Edwina.
No matter, she thought. It doesn't matter. Edwina is all that matters. Stick to the plan.
"Thank you, Lord Bridgerton." She said shortly as he stopped in front of her, grinning brightly. "I'm afraid you are much took late and now find yourself at the back of a very considerably long queue to see my sister."
"Once again, you assume I'm interested in the wrong Miss Sharma." He said softly before holding out a lovely bouquet of roses. "For you. I left bouquets for your mama, Miss Edwina, and Lady Danbury with the butler, but I wanted to give you yours personally."
Kate hated that her hands shook as she took the flowers from him.
"Thank you, my Lord." She replied, just as softly. "And thank you for thinking of Mary. She'll be so happy."
"One of Daphne's suitors brought her and mother flowers last Season and I remember how happy they made her." Anthony told her.
"What happened to him?" Kate asked, thinking she might consider him for Edwina.
"He married my sister." He replied with a roguish smile, making her shake her head fondly. "Are you attending the races this afternoon?"
"I am." She replied, smelling her flowers happily.
"Would you allow me to escort you?"
Her smile slipped away as she looked back up at him.
"I'm sorry, my Lord, but I have already agreed to chaperone Edwina and Lord Lumley." She said before rushing to explain herself for some reason. "It's just that Mary dislikes horse racing and I said I would go, not anticipating – "
"It's alright." He interrupted, laying a hand on her arm to comfort her. "I completely understand. You have a duty to your sister, something I am uniquely familiar with. It's no matter. I will still be attending with my family. I look forward to seeing you there."
He squeezed her arm gently before letting go.
"Thank you for the roses." Kate told him sincerely. "They are lovely."
"You're very welcome, Miss Sharma."
Anthony caught her gaze and held it for a moment before bowing and taking his leave. As he left, Kate realized that the line of suitors had been watching them, and she felt her anger at him return before looking back down at his flowers once more.
Maybe she wouldn't kill him, but a little maiming never hurt anyone.
With that thought, she took a deep breath and reentered the lion's den, closing the door behind her.
~.~
Anthony arrived at Bridgerton House slightly dejected but resolved. He may not be able to escort Miss Sharma to the races, but he could still spend that time with her. He could also take this opportunity to see how she interacted with the heathens he called his siblings.
"And where, may I ask, is our intrepid viscount?"
He was surprised to hear that particular voice coming from the parlor.
"He is…back from courting already." His mother said as he entered.
"Colin!" he greeted his brother happily, if distracted. "You've returned. Even better." Looking around, he addressed his whole family. "I should like you all to ready yourselves for the races today. We will be attending, united as one."
Hyacinth and Gregory cheered, running off to do as asked. Eloise sighed and linked her arm with Penelope's.
"I am only agreeing to this because I will get to see Miss Sharma again." She told him loftily. "Also, you may take the money you would spend on my new journal and quill and put it on the horse of my choice."
"No betting, Eloise." Her mother scolded.
"Of course not, mother." Anthony agreed.
Violet turned away, content, and Anthony nodded his agreement to his sister. She smiled and led Penelope out of the room.
"I'm sorry." Colin said slowly. "Did mother say you were off courting?!"
"Yes, and if you hurry, you will be able to meet her at the races. Off you pop."
"Come along, Col." Benedict said, slinging his arm around his younger brother. "I'll tell you all about the madness that has gripped our dear brother by the name of Miss Kate Sharma."
Benedict led Colin away, leaving Violet and Anthony alone.
"Did it not go well at Danbury House?" she asked him softly. "We weren't expecting you back so soon."
"Miss Sharma is busy chaperoning her sister." Anthony replied distractedly as he picked up a biscuit. "We will see her at the races, though."
Violet was quiet for a moment.
"I like her, Anthony." She told him, making him go still.
He was quiet for a moment.
"I like her, too." He said finally.
Violet nodded.
"Just…" she trailed off for a moment. "Just make sure you're happy, darling."
Anthony nodded before turning to go get ready.