Kate was fairly certain she had experienced more emotions in the last half hour than she had in the last six months. She had herself under control once more, but she was exhausted. She should just go to bed. Anthony had no right to expect her to wait. She should go.
She got to her feet to do just that when the door opened and Kate was shocked to see not the Viscount, but his sister slipping inside.
"Your Grace – "
"What did I say about my friends calling my by my title?" Daphne interrupted, frowning.
"I wasn't sure you would still desire my friendship after what you just witnessed." Kate replied with a sigh, but the Duchess just waived a hand dismissively.
"I'm trying very hard to not think about what I just witnessed, but that has more to do with the fact that it was my brother than anything else. Besides, I am in no real position to judge you and Anthony after last year. Although, I should challenge you to a duel, just to give him a taste of his own medicine."
"Pistols at dawn?" Kate asked.
"I was thinking swords." She replied. "More style."
Kate laughed tiredly and sank back down into the chair as Daphne sat across from her.
"Anthony said something happened at the ball with Cressida." She said softly.
"Oh, nothing much. Just a perfect example of English civility as Miss Cowper slipped deftly from niceties to accusing me of being your brother's mistress." Kate told her in a defeated tone, a hint of her natural accent slipping in. "Just another night amongst English nobility. God, I miss home."
"Cressida Cowper is a bitch." Daphne said bluntly, making Kate's jaw drop. "She has been a bitch our whole lives and I am frankly sick of it." She reached over to take Kate's hand. "You mustn't think she is representative of the whole ton."
"Just most of it." Kate snarked before sighing. "I'm sorry. I just…I miss feeling like I belong. I may not have been nobility, but I had a place in the Maharaja's court. Lady Danbury was right, I'm out of my depth here."
"You have a place here." Daphne told her softly. "With us. With Anthony. We love you, Kate. Please don't make any decisions based on the venom Cressida spews."
"Anthony deserves a Viscountess who will be accepted by the ton." She whispered.
"Anthony deserves a Viscountess that he loves." Daphne replied sharply before softening. "And he loves you."
"Daphne – "
"He loves you, Kate. I know my brother and I have never seen him like this, you must believe me. Anthony commits to things whole heartedly and he has chosen you. Surely you do not think so little of him as to believe he would move on if you left? He would follow you to the ends of the Earth. He loves you."
A tear slipped down Kate's cheek.
"He's waiting for you to be ready." Daphne continued, her voice full of sympathy. "He will continue to wait for you for however long it takes, but you and I both know society will not. They are always on the hunt for the next bit of gossip and tonight it was a heinous bitch, but, if we're not careful, next week it may be Lady Whistledown. And it won't just affect you, your sister will be painted by the same brush." She paused for a moment. "If you don't love Anthony, that is one thing. Tell me now and I can artfully separate you." She waited, but Kate stayed silent. "I thought as much. Anyone with eyes can see you love him, so you must decide. Do you love him enough to stand the onslaught of the ton when they realize you've stolen one of their prized catches from underneath their noses?"
"I love him enough to know that I'm not worth the scandal it will bring on all of you!" Kate exclaimed.
"Tosh." Daphne replied easily. "Every one of us is ready to support both of you. You won't be alone. Simon and I will stay at your side until the ton gets over their snit. But you must allow him to show that you are the one he has chosen. Maybe not an engagement, but at least an understanding that you are his intended. And I swear, you will not be alone. Not for a second of it. Us Bridgertons stick together."
Tears were streaming down Kate's face now.
"What if he realizes one day that I wasn't worth it?" she whispered.
"He won't." Daphne replied, her tone allowing no disagreement. "You are worth it. And even if the world was to tilt on its axis and my brother lose his mind, the rest of us would just hold him down until he came back to his senses. There is no one in the world I could imagine wanting as a sister more than you." She reached up and brushed Kate's tears away. "Come, let's get you put back together." She stood up, pulling Kate to her feet. "We have a ball to return to and a cow to put in her place."
Kate smiled and allowed Daphne to re-pin her hair and straighten her dress while she saw to her face, drying her cheeks and trying to make it less obvious that she had been crying.
"Ready?"
Kate nodded and Daphne linked her arm with hers.
"Let's go."
Anthony returned to the ballroom and immediately sought out Benedict.
"Is Kate alright?" he demanded without preamble.
"Miss Cowper said some…unkind things." Anthony told him with barely restrained anger. "Probably as retaliation for dinner the other night. It upset her, but Daphne is with her. She also has marching orders for us."
"Oh, General Daphne has reappeared?" Simon asked, joining the brothers. "What's caused that?"
"Miss Cowper was her charming self to Kate." Benedict explained.
"Your wife seems to have taken this a personal attack." Anthony added. "She with Kate now."
"Kate?" Benedict repeated with an arched brow.
"Is Miss Sharma alright?" Simon asked, ignoring Benedict.
"She was upset, but I left her with Daphne to help her." Anthony replied before turning back to Benedict. "Daph wants you, Colin, and Eloise to be heard supporting Miss Sharma. Given how clear you've all made your preference for her, that shouldn't be too difficult."
"Not at all." Benedict agreed easily. "I assume our sister wants to deal with Miss Cowper herself?"
Anthony nodded.
"I suppose I should be on hand to assure your sister doesn't go too far." Simon said dryly. "She has a rather intense dislike for the woman."
"Oh, let her go." Benedict told him. "Someone should have put her in her place ages ago."
"Well, this is the last Bridgerton affair she is invited to, I assure you of that." Anthony said, his face stormy. "If I could throw her out now, I would."
"I think mother might object to the spectacle." Benedict said with a laugh. "But I'd enjoy it, if that means anything."
"Go find Colin and Eloise." Anthony ordered.
Benedict gave him a lazy salute but did as asked.
"Is Miss Sharma alright?" Simon asked again.
Anthony nodded, his shoulders slumping.
"She was very upset. Daph will help her, I'm sure."
"Are you alright?"
Anthony closed his eyes.
"I don't like seeing her cry." He admitted softly. "Especially when there's nothing I can do to fix it."
"I understand." Simon said, clapping him on the shoulder. "But she's not alone. And neither are you."
Anthony took a deep breath.
"Thank you."
Simon squeezed his shoulder and let go.
"Let's go find your sister and your intended."
Anthony nodded again and let Simon steer him back into the fray.
Kate took a deep breath as she and Daphne reentered the room.
"I'm not sure about this." She whispered.
"If you don't return, Cressida wins." Daphne pointed out as they joined the crowd.
"I just want to go to bed."
Daphne grabbed two glasses and handed one to Kate.
"Too bad. Duchesses do not hide and neither do future Viscountesses. Miss Cowper is a nobody with money. I will not allow her to slander my family."
"I am nobody without money." Kate pointed out dryly. "Miss Cowper is the daughter of a Lord with far more to recommend her than I do."
"Except she's just the worst." Daphne replied. "Come on, we need to be seen."
The Duchess took her arm and they moved through the room, pausing here and there to speak to other guests, and Kate slowly began to relax. With everyone they spoke to, Daphne made sure to praise Kate and subtly insinuate how happy she was that the 'dear Miss Sharma' would be joining the Bridgerton family. The attention made Kate uncomfortable, but she could always spot Anthony across the room, watching her with pride, and it made it all alright.
"Sister. Miss Sharma."
The women turned to find a smiling Colin approaching.
"I have been told that we are to be supporting Miss Sharma." He said softly. "To that effort, Miss Sharma, would you join me for a dance?"
"Of course, Mr. Bridgerton."
She gratefully took his arm, allowing him to lead her to the floor.
"Are you alright?" he asked as the music began. "Pen said you rescued her and was worried something might have happened because of that."
"It wasn't her fault and I shall make sure she knows that." Kate assured him. "It hasn't been the easiest hour of my life, but all of your support has helped tremendously. That being said, thank you for your brief respite from you sister."
"I believe she could take on Napoleon by herself." He said, making Kate laugh. "But you should trust her. The Duchess wields considerable power amongst the ton."
"I have given myself over to her care." Kate confirmed. "Honestly, if it were up to me, I would be in bed."
"Welcome to being a Bridgerton." Colin replied with a smirk.
The dance went on and Kate lost herself in the steps, trusting Colin to lead her safely. When the set was over, he delivered her to the edge of the floor where Anthony now stood with Daphne and Simon. He took her hand from Colins with a nod to his brother, who quickly disappeared into the crowd, and pressed a kiss to it before tucking it into his arm. She allowed herself to lean into him and felt him relax slightly.
"What are the chances your sister releases us from her clutches before the last dance?" she asked with a slight smirk, making him chuckle.
"Next to zero." He replied. "But she is a kind despot. She has allowed me the privilege of staying at your side for the rest of the evening."
"How kind of her." She said dryly.
"I could go, if you prefer?" he teased, but she could see the real worry in his eyes.
"And unleash you on some other poor, unsuspecting woman?" she said in theatrical horror. "No, I think not, sir. You shall stay right here, where I can keep my eye on you."
She felt him finally relax fully and he gave her a soft smile.
"As my Lady commands."
"Yes, yes, you two are darling, but you will be coming with me, Anthony, to make nice with mother and Lady Mary while Simon dances with Kate." Daphne interjected, making them both jump.
"Yes, dear sister." Anthony said with a long-suffering tone as he handed Kate off to Simon.
"Shall we see if the rumors about your dancing are true, Miss Sharma?" the Duke teased as they took their places.
"I will have you know that I haven't stepped on anyone all night, your Grace." Kate replied primly. "But perhaps I should make an exception?"
"Peace." He replied, laughing as the dance began. "You know, you are experiencing one of the better of the Bridgerton traits tonight."
"Their management of a crisis?" Kate quipped.
"Their innate desire to protect one of their own." Simon replied with a smile. "Not one of them hesitated to do as my wife said when they learned Miss Cowper had been unkind to you. See?" He spun her around and she spotted Eloise, standing with Penelope in a group of young women, looking supremely uncomfortable, but talking, nonetheless. "As a group, they are sometimes a lot to handle, but they love with a fierceness I had never imagined until I married Daphne. That kind of loyalty is a rare thing among the ton. We are lucky to be included in it."
"We are." Kate agreed softly.
They continued to dance in comfortable silence as Kate thought about what he had said. Finally, the music came to an end and Simon took her arm once more.
"If we are to be the non-Bridgerton Bridgertons, I feel we should support one another." He told her as he led her off the floor. "I assume my wife has already assured you of our support, but I will reiterate it. You shall never be left alone to face the derision of the ton. You have allies, powerful ones. Cressida Cowper means nothing in the grand scheme."
"Thank you, your Grace." She said softly. "I shall endeavor to remember that."
"We will remind you as often as needs be."
He smiled at her and finished delivering her to Anthony before retaking his place at his wife's side.
"If there is a person in this room who doesn't know that Kate is Anthony's intended, I'll eat my tiara." She said, smirking at her husband.
"Daphne." Her brother rebuked sharply as Kate blushed.
"Oh, hush." She dismissed him. "This was what we wanted."
He looked to Kate and she nodded, smiling softly, and it filled him with warmth.
"Now," his sister continued, "to deal with Cressida."
"Couldn't we just let it be?" Kate asked with a sigh, but Daphne just glared at her. "Alright, but I want to go to bed. Soon."
"Yes, yes." Daphne agreed, waiving her hand. "Now, to battle!"
She linked her arm with Kate's, abandoning the men as she led her off, towards where Cressida stood.
Edwina felt like she was floating. She had danced every set and she could feel the eyes on her as she danced a second one with Lord Morrison. He was the perfect gentleman, everything she was looking for, and she felt certain that this was the one she wanted. The perfect setting for a Diamond.
Nothing could ruin her night as he led her off the floor and back to her mother.
"I believe I will retire to the smoking room for a while, but I hope I will see you again before the night ends, Miss Edwina?"
"You shall, my Lord." She agreed bright, curtsying as he bowed and took his leave, before turning excitedly to her mother. "Isn't he wonderful, mama?"
"He seems lovely, darling." Mary agreed, but Edwina could tell she was distracted.
"What is it? What's happening, mama?"
Mary glanced at Lady Bridgerton and the two women broke into bright smiles.
"It seems your sister and Lord Bridgerton have finally come to an understanding." Her mother whispered excitedly. "It is all anyone is talking about. Can you imagine? Your sister is to be a Viscountess!"
Edwina felt her heart drop. Surely it was a joke. Kate, married to the Viscount?
"But he hasn't proposed!" she protested, but Mary waved it away.
"That hardly matters." She told her. "Her Grace was overheard telling Lady Crawley how excited she was to have Kate join the family and both Misters Benedict and Colin were heard talking of how happy they were that Lord Bridgerton has found a wife!"
Edwina needed to talk to Kate.
Her mother turned back to talk to Lady Bridgerton, and she began to scan the crowd, looking for her sister. She needed to find Kate and warn her of what was being said, before she got hurt.
There was no stopping Daphne as they approached Cressida, laughing and talking with her usually allies.
"Cressida, dear!"
The blonde turned and her smile slipped for only a moment as she spotted Kate at Daphne's side before it was brightly turned to the Duchess.
"Your Grace, how lovely to see you!" she twittered.
"I just had to come over." Daphne said, leaning in conspiratorially. "You see, Kate and I were discussing your dress. It's so…daring. You must tell me where you got it."
"The new modiste on High Street." Cressida said proudly. "You must go there next time you're in town, your Grace. She only serves the…highest clientele."
She gave Kate a look, but Daphne just ignored it.
"I thought it must be her." She said, nodding. "Madame Delacroix would never have something like that in her shop. Ah, well, I could never wear something like that, could you, Kate?"
"No, I do not believe I could." Kate agreed and Cressida's face soured.
"Nonsense." Daphne instantly reversed course. "You look lovely in everything. It's quite frustrating! Doesn't she always look lovely, Cressida?"
"She does, your Grace."
The blonde now looked like she had bit into a lemon.
"We must go shopping when we return to London." Daphne told Kate, now fully ignoring Cressida. "I'm sure Madame Delacroix could do wonders with you. And you have so much you must buy before the end of the Season!"
"You're returning to town, your Grace?" Cressida asked, trying to reinsert herself in the conversation. "I thought I heard you and the Duke had decided to forgo the Season."
"We had." Daphne answered breezily. "But then the Viscount introduced us to Kate, and I cannot bear to be separated from her just yet. We Bridgertons just adore her, don't you?"
"Of course, your Grace. Miss Sharma is lovely."
Kate was fairly certain the last lie had physically hurt Miss Cowper, given her expression.
"Yes, I am so glad Anthony met her." Daphne just kept smiling as she threw out the next barb. "He truly waited to find a perfect jewel amongst the rough stones. I have never seen him so enraptured."
"Daphne." Kate protested, but the Duchess just ignored her, fully focused on Cressida.
"I now understand why he was never interested in the other debutantes that some men were taken in by. I can think of no one who could ever hold a candle to my dear Kate."
All the blood seemed to have left Cressida's face, except for two angry red marks on her cheeks.
"Well, I suppose we should continue to mingle, should we not, Kate?" Daphne asked, once again excluding Cressida. "We should also really discuss what you might like to do next Season. Oh, and you must help me plan a ball at Hastings House for the end of this Season! I know it will be last minute, but you were such a help with this one, I am certain we can throw something together to wow the ton!"
She linked her arm with Kate's once more and led her off, not even bothering to bid Cressida goodbye.
"There." Daphne sounded far too pleased with herself. "That display, combined with a lack of invitation to my ball, should ruin her capital in Society for the Season. Unfortunately, she is rather like a cockroach, so I am sure she will recover by next year."
"You are very scary, your Grace." Kate told her as they headed back towards a waiting Simon and Anthony.
"That is the goal, Miss Sharma." She replied. "When you are Viscountess, you will find that it is often more useful to be feared."
Kate blushed, but she couldn't stop herself from smiling as Anthony held out his hand.
"Are you alright?" he asked softly as he pulled her to his side.
"Other than being terrified of your sister, I am fine."
"You are in good company. I have been afraid of her since she was ten."
"That is not comforting, my Lord." She told him dryly.
"Didi!"
Kate quickly turned to find her sister rushing towards her.
"Bon, what is it?" she asked, concerned.
"I must speak with you." Edwina told her urgently. "Alone."
"Of course, Bon."
She gave Anthony a confused look and he just shrugged.
"I will eagerly await your return."
She smiled softly before allowing her sister to pull her away.
"Bon, what is the matter?" she asked, worried, as Edwina dragged her to the relative privacy of a nearby corner.
"Kate, you need to be careful! Everyone is talking about you!"
Kate's blood froze in her veins. It hadn't worked. Cressida's cruel words were spreading, and she was ruined. Edwina was ruined.
"Everyone is saying you have come to an understanding with the Viscount!"
She almost laughed with relief. Really, these last few hours had been too much. She was becoming giddy with exhaustion.
"Everything is fine, Bon." She assured her sister. "I know what's being said. Everything is under control."
Edwina gaped at her.
"You know?" she hissed. "Did he compromise you? Is this why you're allowing this?"
It was Kate's turn to stare at her sister.
"Of course not!" she hissed right back. "Lord Bridgerton is a consummate gentleman." Their moment in the study popped into her brain and Kate fought against her blush but continued on anyway. "He would never do that!"
"Then he has proposed?" she demanded, and Kate sighed.
"No, Bon, he has not." She was getting a headache. She needed to talk to Anthony. "We have simply had a discussion about where we would like our relationship to go."
"But – "
"Miss Sharma, Daphne is requesting your presence."
Kate turned to find Simon hovering nearby, trying to preserve their privacy.
"Of course." She agreed before turning back to her sister. "We'll discuss everything on the way back to town tomorrow, I promise. You should return to mama."
She squeezed her sister's arm before taking Simon's and letting him lead her back to Daphne.
"Anthony is dancing with Eloise so she can tell mother she danced one set." The Duchess reported as she led Kate across the room. She glanced to the floor and saw a sullen Eloise dancing with Anthony, who was clearly teasing her about something. "There are two more sets. You and Anthony will dance the last set."
"Have you considered asking the Queen to lead the army?" Kate asked, making Simon stifle a laugh. "The Little Corporal would capitulate within a week; I am sure of it."
"Society is a battle." Daphne told her primly. "Anyone who says differently is either naïve or lying."
"Very well." Kate agreed with a sigh. "Once more unto the breach."
"We few, we happy few." Simon quoted.
Daphne just glared at them as they laughed, and they quickly schooled their features once more.
"Come." She ordered. "You need to meet Lady FitzAlan."
Kate meekly followed. Over the next hour, Daphne continued to introduce her to everyone until Anthony finally rescued her for their last dance.
"I think I've spoken to more people in the last hour than I have in the last six months." She told him as they took their places.
"Would you prefer I remain silent for the set, then?" he asked with a grin.
"I suppose we could converse." She said primly as they took the first steps. "Unless you plan on vexing me."
"Silence it is, then."
Kate laughed and Anthony beamed with pride.
"I am sorry tonight was so stressful." He told her softly as they came together. "I wanted these weeks to be as stress free as possible."
"I will survive one night, I assure you." She told him. "Your sister would allow nothing else."
"Yes, I am afraid the power is going to her head." Anthony said seriously. "We may have to stage a coup before this is all over."
Kate laughed again and Anthony's smile turned soft.
"You know, the night of Lady Danbury's ball, when you refused to give me your name and then assumed I was trying to court your sister," she discreetly stuck her tongue out at him, "I heard you laugh with Benedict and I was lost. All I wanted was to hear that sound again."
"You confused me so much those first days." She told him.
"And I thought I was being so obvious." He shot back, grinning.
"You were, that is what was so confusing!" she replied with another laugh. "You danced with me and were so different from what I expected. I didn't know what to do!"
"You terrified me." He said simply, spinning her. "You still do."
She smiled softly.
"What do you think you do to me?"
The dance continued and it was like they were caught together, constantly pulling one back when the other would stray to far. In the end, they always came back together.
Finally, the music ended, and the crowd broke into polite applause before beginning to disburse.
"We'll discuss our plan going forward before we depart tomorrow?" he asked as they made their way back to her family and she nodded.
They reached her sister and Mary as Lord Morrison was wishing Edwina a goodnight. When she spotted them, Mary's face broke into a wide smile. Anthony quickly bid her and Edwina a good night before taking Kate's hand a pressing a kiss to it, his eyes never leaving hers.
"Good night, Miss Sharma."
"Good night, Lord Bridgerton."
It was hours before either slept that night.