A/N: This is the last full chapter I have written and, since I've been sick, I haven't had the opportunity to write more. So, that being the case, I'm going to take a week off and try to get ahead again. Updates will resume next Saturday with the Hunt!
Kate arrived back at the house to find it a hive of activity, with last minute preparations taking place everywhere she looked.
"Kate!"
She looked up to see Daphne and Lady Violet approaching.
"Good morning, Daphne, my Lady." She greeted them, thankful that her voice was much steadier than she felt.
"Kate, we would love your opinion on some last-minute details." Daphne told her brightly. "Do you have the time?"
"Of course." Kate replied. "Allow me to tidy up a bit and I'll join you presently."
"Excellent!"
Daphne smiled and Kate made her escape. She needed a moment to process what had happened with Anthony and the bee, but it didn't look like she was going to get the opportunity. She reached her room and closed the door, leaning against it with a sigh.
"Didi?"
Kate jumped, having not noticed her sister sitting on the bed.
"Bon, you frightened me!" she scolded, quickly starting to pull off her riding habit. "What are you doing in here?"
"I was hoping to go over the suitors before they arrived." Edwina said, frowning. "I've been waiting for you to arrive back from your ride. What took so long?"
"I lost track of time." Kate replied distractedly as she pulled on a simple blue dress. "Could you help me with the buttons? I'm afraid Lady Bridgerton and Daphne have asked for my help finalizing some arrangements. Perhaps we could look over your list later?"
Edwina nodded and got to her feet to do as her sister asked.
"Why did they ask for your help?" she asked, quickly doing up the back of the dress.
"I suppose because Daphne and I were discussing the running of households the other day and she believes I can competently accomplish whatever tasks need doing." Edwina finished as Kate spun to press a kiss to her cheek. "We'll talk later, yes?"
She ran out of the room without waiting for an answer. She quickly caught up with the other two women as Lady Bridgerton finished issuing specific orders for specific guests.
"Ah, Kate, dear!" She took Kate's arm and they followed Daphne to the next room. "I wanted your opinion on the flowers for the ball."
"Mother has declared the theme to be 'Hearts and Flowers'." Her daughter told Kate. "But we're having a hard time landing on what type of flowers. We have the traditional roses and carnations, but I feel we need something more."
"Perhaps lilies?" Violet suggested slyly.
"Only if you want your eldest son to be insufferable all evening." Kate replied with a grin that took the bite from her words.
"I don't think I can listen to you two argue over whose flowers belong to whom again." Daphne agreed with a laugh. "I thought perhaps lilac, to symbolize first love."
"And maybe some tulips?" Kate said, thinking of the one she had left upstairs.
"Meaning passion." Violet said, nodding her agreement.
"And perfect love." Kate added. "That seems fitting to me."
"And the rich colors of the tulips will offset the lighter colors of the other flowers." Daphne said happily. "What do you think, mama?"
"I think the two of you have everything well in hand." Lady Bridgerton told her with a smile. "You barely even need me!"
"That is positively untrue, mama." Daphne said, wrapping her arm around Violet's. "I could not have asked for a better teacher."
Kate kindly looked away as Violet wiped a tear from her cheek.
"Very well. Come, we have much to do and I expect you two to help make this week a success."
She took off down the hall, barking orders like any good general, leaving Daphne and Kate to follow, arm and arm, her devoted lieutenants.
Benedict looked up from his work as Anthony entered the room, quickly shutting the door after him.
"What are you doing?" he asked as Anthony sighed.
"Hiding from mother and her tasks. And don't even try to pretend you're not doing the same." His older brother replied.
"Ah, but I have a valid excuse." He said, motioning to the easel. "I want to finish this before I return to London and begin at the Academy."
"So, you got in, then." Anthony said, moving to stand next to him. "Congratulations."
"Thank you."
They were silent as Anthony studied the painting of Kate once more.
"It really is beautiful, brother." He said softly.
"My subject deserves most of the credit. Are you sure you wouldn't rather keep it?"
"I'm sure I would." Anthony replied. "But it wouldn't be appropriate. Besides, Lady Mary deserves to have a painting of her daughter. I don't believe they had the means to have one done before this."
"Most likely not." Benedict admitted. "Perhaps I'll do one of Miss Edwina, as well. Not together, though. Not when the whole point of the exercise was to show Kate that she didn't belong in her sister's shadow."
"What do you mean?" Anthony asked. "And must you call her Kate?"
"She is my friend." Benedict replied with a grin. "One of the benefits of not courting her: I don't have to wait until we're engaged to call her by her name."
"How very nice for you." Anthony groused. "What did you mean about her being in Miss Edwina's shadow?"
"Just that." Benedict replied, returning to the painting. He glanced at Anthony's confused expression and laughed. "It's almost adorable that you don't understand what I'm talking about."
"Explain, Benedict." Anthony ordered. "Succinctly."
"Despite what you may believe, brother dear, when Kate and her sister enter a room, the eyes stray to Miss Edwina, not your intended. Part of that is simply that Miss Edwina is the type of classical beauty valued by the ton, but the other part is Kate herself. She…makes herself small, so as to not distract from her sister. I think she's done it for so long that she no longer sees the truth of who she is, which is a tragedy given how utterly beautiful she is. That's why I asked her to let me paint her."
"To show her what you see." Anthony quoted, remembering what his brother had said to Kate.
"Exactly. And what is an artist good for if not to show the world the truth?"
Anthony turned that information over in his mind.
"She doesn't believe she's beautiful?" he murmured, and Benedict shook his head.
"I may not feel for her the way you do, but she is my friend. I couldn't allow the falsehood to stand. Hence the painting."
Anthony was quiet for a moment.
"Thank you, Benedict."
"Whatever for?"
"For telling me this." His older brother replied. "For supporting us. For being her friend."
"It's an easy thing to do." Benedict replied. "As her friend, though, you do plan on proposing sometime this century, do you not?"
"I will propose when I see fit." Anthony replied, annoyed.
"The longer you wait, the harder it will be to chase away her other suitors." Anthony flushed and Benedict laughed. "Has she even noticed that you intervene whenever another man approaches?"
"No." Anthony ground out. "And I'd rather it remained that way."
"Probably for the best." Benedict agreed, chuckling. "It wouldn't do for her to kill you before you accomplish marrying her."
Anthony just shook his head at his brother's amusement. His attention wandered back to the painting.
"She is beautiful." He said softly.
Benedict clapped him on the shoulder.
"You should tell her that."
Edwina was growing frustrated as she looked for Kate. She didn't even understand why Kate was helping ready the house. The Viscount clearly wasn't going to propose. He had had the perfect opportunity to do so at dinner and had done nothing. He was clearly toying with Kate, but that was to be expected of a man with his reputation. Kate would realize that soon, realize that her initial assessment was right and that he would only offer for a high-born lady, and all would go back to normal.
But none of that changed the fact that she could not find her now!
"Oh!"
"I'm sorry!"
Edwina found herself looking up into deep blue eyes as the man she had just collided with helped steady her.
"I'm the one who should be sorry." She said demurely. "I was not watching where I was going."
"That is quite alright." The man replied, giving her a charming smile as he bowed. "I think almost any man would count himself lucky to have been run into by the Diamond of the Season."
"You have me at a disadvantage, sir." She replied, returning his bow with a curtsey. "You know who I am, but I cannot say the same of you."
"Lord Percival Morrison, Earl Leicester." He told her gallantly. "I am sorry we have not been introduced before this, but I have only just arrived from my estate."
"I shall accept that excuse this time, my Lord." She replied brightly.
"How very kind of you, Miss Edwina." He said with a laugh. "Now, were you looking for someone in particular before our fortunate accident?"
"My sister, my Lord." She told him. "I'm afraid Lady Bridgerton has absconded with her hours ago and I have completely lost her in the shuffle."
"Well, perhaps my taller frame shall help in your quest." He held out his arm. "Shall we?"
Edwina happily took his arm. He may not be a Duke, but an Earl would do her just fine.
Dinner that night was a much more refined affair than the Bridgertons and Sharma families had become accustomed to over the previous week, a fact the youngest Bridgerton was very distressed by when her appeals to join the dinner were denied. She only agreed to stop her tantrum when Anthony summoned Kate and she offered to ride with her the next morning, provided she cooperated now.
"Thank you." Anthony said with a sigh as they left the young girl's room, Hyacinth happily playing with Newton.
"It's nothing." Kate assured him. "Your mother is quite busy at the moment. Besides, sometimes it is easier to behave for someone who isn't related. There was a time when Edwina wouldn't do anything unless the Rani asked it of her. It was maddening."
"I have a hard time imaging Miss Edwina behaving in such a manner." He told her, making Kate laugh.
"Edwina can be her own, special kind of hellion when she puts her mind to it, I assure you."
They had reached the point where Kate would need to separate to head to the guest wing.
"And you, Miss Sharma?" he was smirking at her again. "Were you your own special type of hellion as well?"
"I resent your implication, Lord Bridgerton." She replied archly. "I was always a perfect angel."
"And angel." He repeated with a click of his tongue and a shake of his head as he stepped closer. "A goddess, that I could believe, but an angel?"
"A goddess?" Kate repeated coyly, stepping away from him. "Whatever gave you that impression?"
He quickly grabbed her hand, pulling her back to him as he pressed a kiss to the back of it.
"Your soothing touch." He grew serious, lowering her hand but not releasing it. "I am sorry for my behavior earlier."
"There is nothing to forgive." She assured him quietly. "I am the last person to hold your fears against you, not after you've been so patient with mine."
"It isn't rational, for a man to be so frightened of such a small creature." He said, frustrated.
"It is when the creature in question has taken so much from you." She returned. "I am just glad I was able to lend some measure of comfort."
"You are the only one I believe I could stand to see me like that." He admitted softly. "I do not wish to hide any part of myself from you."
"Nor I from you." Kate replied.
That made him smile.
"I can make a list of things I would like see." He told her cheekily.
"Behave, my Lord." She ordered. "I need to get ready for dinner, as do you."
Anthony finally released her and took a step back.
"Until later, Miss Sharma."
"Until later, Lord Bridgerton."
Kate prided herself on the fact that she did not look back as she walked away. She arrived at her room to find Mary exiting her own room.
"There you are! Edwina has already gone downstairs and I was just heading down myself."
"I'm sorry, mama." Kate told her hurriedly. "I got caught up helping Miss Hyacinth with something. You should head down without me and I will catch up."
"Very well." Mary agreed. She paused, looking Kate over. "I'm sorry the Viscount hasn't proposed."
"Do not be." Kate assured her. "I understand perfectly where the Viscount and I stand. Do not fret, mama."
"If you are sure." Mary told her skeptically. "We do not need to stay if you are uncomfortable."
"Truly, I am alright." Kate reassured her. "Viscount Bridgerton has been nothing less than a gentleman. I am quite happy to stay."
"Alright." Her stepmother relented. "You'll be down soon?"
"As soon as I am changed."
Mary nodded and headed down as Kate hurried into her room. Her maid was waiting for her and quickly helped her into a beautiful emerald green gown. She quickly added jewelry and left the room. Down the hall, she saw Penelope Featherington leaving her own room.
"Miss Featherington, I didn't know you had arrived!" she greeted her as she waited for her to join her.
She took a moment to really look at the unfortunate gown the poor girl was wearing. Really, yellow did nothing for her complexion.
"Lady Bridgerton always takes pity on me for these sorts of things." Penelope said as she joined her. "Both in inviting me and in housing me far from my mother."
"I'm sure Eloise has quite a bit to do with both of those facts." Kate said, linking her arm with the younger girl's as they made their way down.
"I'm sure she does, given that these are the closest guest rooms to the family wing." Penelope replied. "Which is why I am unsurprised to find your family housed here. I hear the Viscount has been paying you quite a bit of attention."
"Hush." Kate told her, blushing. "Lord Bridgerton might actually kill her if he finds out Eloise has been gossiping about him."
"It's not just Eloise." She replied. "Lady Whistledown seems particularly interested in how often you dance, and I find she is rarely incorrect. At least," she grimaced, looking down at her dress, "she is rarely incorrect about me."
Kate suddenly remembered a particularly scathing comparison to a lemon in a recent issue and winced.
"Don't be silly." She said, but both ladies knew she was just being polite.
"My mother is convinced that yellow is a happy color and a happy girl will secure a husband." Penelope said with a weary sigh.
"That is…unfortunate." Kate admitted with a laugh. "I'm so sorry."
"I am as well. What she refuses to grasp is that such a happy shade of yellow makes me unhappy and positively repels the gentlemen."
"Perhaps you should suggest green." Kate told her, motioning to her own dress. "I think it would suit your hair quite well."
Penelope just shook her head.
"She doesn't like green, says it's melancholy."
Kate stopped and stared at her.
"Green?" she repeated in disbelief.
"I don't even try to understand her." Penelope said with a shrug.
"Huh." Kate marveled for a moment before shaking her head and carrying on. "Well, I'd offer to loan you one of mine, but I believe the height difference would be a problem."
"And it would only make the yellow more painful when I had to return to it." She added with a laugh.
They reached the drawing room to find most of the guests already there.
"I didn't realize Lady Bridgerton had invited so many people." Penelope murmured. "Oh, no. She invited Cressida Cowper."
Kate followed Penelope's gaze and just managed to not groan.
"She hates me." The other lady continued miserably.
"She hates everyone." Kate assured her.
"No, she really hates me."
"Why?" she asked, curious as to how anyone could hate someone as sweet as Penelope Featherington.
"I bumped into her last year and caused her to spill punch all over herself and the Duke of Ashbourne."
"So?"
Penelope rolled her eyes.
"She's convinced he would have proposed if she hadn't appeared clumsy."
"Unlikely." Kate scoffed. "Ashbourne is a big a rake as they come. He's not going to marry anytime soon."
"That's what they said about Lord Bridgerton at the beginning of the Season." Penelope said slyly, making Kate blush again. "And yet your room is as close to the family wing as you can get and still be a guest."
"You are a menace." Kate groused.
"I just spend too much time around Eloise." She replied, laughing. "Oh, no, she's coming this way."
"Don't worry about her." Kate told her strictly. "She's no better than you. In fact, people like you, unlike her."
"That doesn't make her any less unpleasant." Penelope hissed back. "And she always goes out of her way to make sure I have to deal with her."
"Penelope!" Cressida trilled with a patently false smile before giving Kate a dismissive look. "Miss Sharma. What a surprise to see you here."
"Why?"
Cressida seemed surprised by Kate's blunt question, but quickly recovered.
"Well, I suppose it's not such a surprise to see you here, given your…connection to Lord Bridgerton." Kate didn't like the way she said 'connection'. "And your sister is much in demand, and we know wherever she goes, you follow in her wake, but Penelope's presence…" she shrugged daintily. "Well, who am I to judge. Lady Bridgerton is a most kindhearted woman."
Kate couldn't stop her jaw from dropping at the stunning display of rudeness from the other lady.
"That's a lovely gown, Penelope." Cressida continued with a smile so sweet that Kate itched to slap it off her face. "It takes a very special complexion to wear it, don't yo- Oh! Lord Bridgerton!"
Cressida's whole demeanor changed as Kate turned to see Anthony approaching with Benedict at his side. Kate stepped to the side to allow the two men to join them and briefly considered kissing Anthony as he greeted only her and Penelope, giving Cressida the cut directly.
"Miss Sharma, you look beautiful." He told her with a warm smile, making her blush. "Benedict has requested I relinquish you for the evening, if that's acceptable. I believe he has some news he'd like to share, so I am hoping Miss Featherington will take pity on me and allow me to escort her to dinner."
Kate really wanted to kiss him.
"But you can't escort her in!" Cressida blurted out, seemingly despite herself.
Anthony turned an icy stare on the other woman. Kate knew she was technically correct, that if Anthony wasn't going to escort the woman they all believed him to be courting to dinner, his duty was to escort the highest ranking lady, which certainly wasn't Penelope. Kate knew he didn't care in this moment, though. She knew him well enough to know that his protective nature would always drive him to protect the weakest of his circle, which most certainly included Penelope and excluded Cressida.
"I'm sorry," he said in a hard voice, "I don't believe I included you in this conversation but, as Pen is an old friend, I don't see any reason why I shouldn't." He turned back to Penelope with a smirk as he held out his arm. "I do hate a bully, don't you?"
Penelope took his arm with a bright smile and allowed him to lead her away towards the dining room which was good for Kate, who had been seriously considering grabbing and kissing Lord Bridgerton, despite the gathered crowd.
"Kate?"
Cressida turned bright red at Benedict's use of her first name.
"The Academy?" she asked, ignoring the other woman completely.
"I got in!"
Kate smiled warmly, taking his arm and squeezing it in congratulations.
"I suppose you are just glad I won't be storming them to defend your honor!"
Benedict just laughed as he led her away, leaving a fuming Cressida in their wake.
After dinner, Lady Bridgerton opted to forgo the separation of the sexes in favor of after dinner conversation in the parlor. Penelope drifted back to Eloise's side and Benedict was drawn into another conversation, leaving Kate and Anthony alone at the side of the room. Kate caught sight of Cressida across the way from them, laughing flirtatiously at something the man with her had said and Kate couldn't help but glare at her.
"We are never inviting her to another party." She muttered, taking a sip of her drink. When Anthony didn't respond, she looked at him to find him smiling softly at her, making her self-conscious. "What?"
"We are never inviting her?" he repeated softly, making her blush. She seemed to be doing that a lot tonight, to her annoyance.
"Hush, you." She replied archly, making him laugh, before smiling herself. "Thank you for supporting Penelope. The poor girl doesn't deserve to have Cressida Cowper torturing her."
"It was nothing." He replied, now self-conscious himself. "Pen is basically family. I would do nothing less for Eloise."
"You are a kind man, my Lord."
Anthony choked on his wine.
"You take that back." He ordered, coughing as she just grinned at him.
"Never." She replied happily. "I think kind describes you perfectly."
"Dangerous, I would accept." He replied with a roguish grin. "Or handsome – "
"Kind." Kate insisted.
"Kate!" Daphne slipped her arm through Kate's as she suddenly appeared next to her, Simon following with a fond grin. "Tell me why Anthony escorted Penelope Featherington to dinner this instant."
Anthony glared at Kate, making her grin wickedly.
"He was playing hero to Miss Cowper's monster." She told his sister and friend over his protests. "It was quite wonderful."
Anthony couldn't help standing straighter at the sound of her praise even as Daphne gave him a watery smile.
"Oh, Anthony!"
"Please don't make a big deal out of this, sister." He pleaded. "You know how I feel about bullies."
"I was just telling him what a kind man he is." Kate continued, making him groan.
"Just the kindest." Daphne agreed.
"I'm no longer speaking to either of you." He told them strictly. "Hastings, I need a drink. And if the word 'kind' comes out of your mouth, I shall banish you to the stables for the remainder of the week."
Simon laughed, but he dutifully followed his friend as he stalked away.
"I give him five minutes before he's back at your side." Daphne commented as the two women observed the room. "He can't seem to stay away from you."
Kate found herself blushing again to her annoyance, but she smiled all the same. Before she could respond, though, she spotted Edwina across the room, speaking to an unfamiliar man.
"Daphne, who is that?"
The Duchess followed her gaze.
"Lord Morrison, I believe." She replied. "I knew mother invited him, but I'm still surprised he came."
"Why?"
"He just assumed his title last year when his father passed. He's been out of society as the household observed the year of mourning. When he didn't arrive at the start of the Season, it was assumed he was remaining in mourning. I don't know much about him, honestly, but Anthony probably does. I believe he attended Oxford as well." Daphne considered Edwina and Morrison for a moment before pulling Kate forward. "Come. I want to see the Miss Sharma that is making the men of the ton quake in their boots."
Kate shook her head, but let Daphne lead her on as she did want to meet this new Lord.
"Didi!" Edwina greeted her. "Your Grace."
"Are you having a pleasant evening, Bon?" Kate asked, pressing a kiss to her sister's cheek.
"I am!"
"Lord Morrison, I am so pleased you could make it." Daphne said. "My condolences on the loss of your father. I am sure he will be missed."
"Thank you, your Grace. I can only hope to do him proud."
"I am sure you will."
"Kate, may I introduce His Lordship, Percival Morrison, Earl of Leicester?" Edwina introduced. "My Lord, this is my sister, Miss Kate Sharma."
"It is lovely to meet you, Miss Sharma." The Earl said, bowing to her.
"You as well, my Lord." She replied, returning the bow with a curtsy. "Tell me, how did you and my sister meet?"
"I was looking for you, Didi, when I quite literally ran into Lord Morrison." Edwina told her brightly. "He was kind enough to overlook my clumsiness and offered to help me in my search."
"Clearly, you were unsuccessful." Kate said dryly.
"Not for lack of trying, let me assure you." Morrison replied with a laugh, making Kate stiffen.
"I'm afraid that was my mother and I's fault." Daphne interjected. "We simply found Miss Sharma's help indispensable. My apologizes, Miss Edwina, for monopolizing her time."
"No need, your Grace." Edwina replied. "I have always found Kate indispensable and Lord Morrison was perfectly fine company!"
"I quite agree that your sister is indispensable, Miss Edwina."
"Less than five minutes." Daphne muttered as Anthony and Simon joined them.
"Morrison." Anthony and Simon both shook the other man's hand. "Glad you could make it."
"Bridgerton, Hastings. Thank you for having me." He replied. "Lady Bridgerton is an excellent hostess. I am sure this will be a week of good food and company."
His eyes strayed to Edwina and Kate narrowed hers.
"So, have you returned to town in search of a wife this Season, my Lord?" she asked, making Edwina's jaw drop.
"Didi!"
Kate ignored her sister's hissing.
"I am unsure, Miss Sharma." He replied easily. "It has been a trying year. I am hoping this week will allow me a gentle transition back into society."
"How did the estate fare during this trying time?" Anthony asked.
"My Lord, I feel quite parched." Edwina interjected. "Would you mind fetching me a lemonade?"
"Of course not, Miss Edwina." He replied instantly. "I won't be but a moment."
The moment he was gone, Edwina glared at Kate as Daphne let out a giggle.
"That's so much more fun from the outside." The Duchess said, her amusement clear. "There really are two of you."
"What is more fun, your Grace?"
The group turned as Lady Danbury joined them.
"Watching Anthony and Kate torture a suitor." She replied gleefully.
"I am suddenly very glad that I was never considered a serious suitor by Lord Bridgerton." Simon said dryly. "Also, that Anthony did not meet Miss Sharma last Season. I don't believe any of us would have survived."
"Ah." The matron said dryly. "The four of you, shoo. I shall chaperone Miss Edwina for the rest of the night."
"Lady Danbury – "
She cut Kate off with a look.
"I said, shoo."
Simon wrapped an arm around his still giggling wife and led her away. Kate sighed and gave Edwina one last look before allowing Anthony to do the same.
"I will send inquiries first thing tomorrow." He whispered.
Kate smiled and wrapped her arm more securely around his.
"See? Kind."
Anthony just growled at her.