Most of the guests had left already and the Sharmas lingered with the Bridgertons as the last of their things were loaded onto the carriages.
Well, most of the Bridgertons.
Kate knew Daphne noticed every time her eyes strayed to the front doors of Aubrey Hall. Anthony had said they would speak before they left, but she had seen nothing of him all morning. All anyone knew was that he had an urgent note early this morning.
"Kate?"
She glanced at Mary, who was being helped into the carriage, and sighed. She hugged Daphne and Eloise before heading to join her family.
"Miss Sharma!"
She spun on her heel and saw Anthony rushing down the stairs.
"Wait." He called. Kate moved towards him and met him halfway. "May I speak with you?"
"Of course."
He took her hand and pulled her to the side, so they were far enough away for privacy, but still close enough for propriety.
"I am so sorry." He apologized immediately. "There was an accident on one of the tenant farms. I've spent the morning dealing with that and will have to remain here until it is resolved. Hopefully it will not be longer than a few days."
"I understand, of course, my Lord."
"Anthony." He interrupted, making her jaw snap shut as he smiled. "I have dreamt of you saying my name for weeks and having now heard it, I cannot go back to before. Please, Kate, call me by my name, at least when we're alone."
She searched his eyes for a moment before smiling softly.
"Kathani." He looked at her in confusion. "My name. It's actually Kathani."
"But Lady Mary and your sister both call you Kate." He said, clearly confused and Kate sighed.
"It was decided that it would be better if I had an English sounding name." she explained. "Kate was determined to be an acceptable compromise."
"So, no one has called you by your name in seven months?" he asked, shocked.
"Kate doesn't bother me." She soothed. "Really."
Anthony sighed.
"We've gotten off track, Kathani," his tongue tripped over the unfamiliar sounds, but his attempt made her smile, "but we will be revisiting it at a later point. For the moment, I know everything that happened last night was not what you wanted. I am so sorry."
"Maybe it was not the way I wanted it to happen, but that does not mean it is not what I want." Kate protested, blushing slightly. "I told you what I want. I'm just afraid you will realize that all this trouble is not worth it."
"It is." He assured her. "Any trouble is worth you, but I want to give you the time I promised. I will speak to Lady Mary when I return to Town. I will explain that we have come to an understanding, but that we are waiting to make it public, both so we don't distract from your sister's debut as well as to give you a full Season."
"Are you sure?" Kate asked, concern laced through her voice.
"I am." His voice had no uncertainty in it. "I will not change my mind; you have my word. To that end –" He reached into his pocket and pulled out an object before taking her hand to press it into it. "– this is yours."
She opened her hand and saw a black ring box sitting in her palm.
"It's the ring my father gave my mother." He said softly. "I do not expect you to wear it now, but it belongs to you."
"Anthony." She said softly, tears gathering in her eyes.
"You can still choose, Kathani." He said, his voice barely more than a whisper. "I reserve the right to try to change your mind, but no matter what you choose, that ring belongs to you."
A tear slipped down her cheek and he gently wiped it away.
"Please don't cry, my darling." He begged. "I cannot bear it when you cry."
She laughed and leaned into his touch for a moment.
"I have to go explain all of this to my family." She said with a smile. "At least your family knows."
"Not my mother." He replied, wincing. "You should pray for me."
"I have to tell Lady Danbury." She said dryly. "You'll have no sympathy from me."
"That is a valid point." He conceded. "I will call on you when I return."
"Take care of yourself." She ordered. "Do not push yourself too hard."
"Of course." He agreed with a fond smile.
They stood there in silence for a moment.
"I do not want to let you leave." He said, almost petulantly.
"And I do not want to go." She agreed. "But I must."
He closed her hand around the box and pulled it up to kiss it.
"Until later, Miss Sharma."
"Until later, Lord Bridgerton."
He led her back to her family and bid the others goodbye before handing her into the carriage. He closed the door, and, with one last look, she was gone.
Lady Violet Bridgerton knew exactly what her son had just given Miss Sharma and it took all of her considerable will power to not accost him the moment the carriage was out of sight.
She managed to wait a whole fifteen minutes.
"Should I arrange for the banns to be read here or in London?" she asked as she followed him into his study. "Do you know if there are traditions from home she would like to be included? I should look into finding an Indian chef."
"We are not reading the banns." He told her, leaning against the front of his desk. "Not yet."
"I'm surprised you want a long engagement, but that will be fine." She agreed easily. "We should hold an engagement ball. If you had just asked the other night, we could have repurposed last night."
"We are not engaged."
That brought his mother up short and her jaw dropped in shock.
"But the ring!" she sputtered.
"We're waiting until the end of the Season." He explained patiently. "This was supposed to be Miss Edwina's Season and Miss Sharma does not want to overshadow that. She has also never had a London Season and I want to give her the freedom to enjoy it without the business of planning a wedding. She and I may have an understanding, but she still has the right to choose. You were the one who counseled patience, after all. I gave her the ring to assure her of my intentions."
"The end of the Season?" Violet repeated, still working through her shock.
"After the Duchess's display last night, everyone knows I intend to marry her. The rest is formalities."
Violet was quiet for a moment.
"What happened last night?"
Anthony started.
"There wasn't a compromise, otherwise we'd be talking about a wedding like with Miss Featherington and the new Lord Featherington." She continued, putting the pieces together as she went. "You, Daphne, and Miss Sharma disappeared for a time. I didn't think any thing of it because you came back alone and the girls returned together and if you were sneaking off for a rendezvous, you wouldn't have brought your sister, which means your sister was needed for something. After they returned, Daphne went to work introducing Miss Sharma to everyone who is anyone in our circle. Meanwhile, your siblings went to work making it clear that they support her, even Eloise. I believe if something was done to Miss Sharma, you would have caused a scene, so that leaves something being said. So, Anthony, what was said to Miss Sharma at the ball last night?"
Anthony stared at his mother in shock.
"Close your mouth, dear." She told him. "I have been doing this for a long time. Allow me to help."
Anthony sighed, slumping slightly.
"My reputation hurt Miss Sharma." He said softly. "Miss Cowper implied our relationship was less than proper. It upset her and it was all my fault."
"Oh, my dear." She said comfortingly. "You've changed so much since last Season. I'm sure Miss Sharma does not blame you."
"She should." He replied. "Instead, she accepted my past with a grace surpassing what I deserve."
"You deserve to be happy, Anthony. And I have never seen you as happy as you are with her. So. Tell me how I can help."
"Daphne believes we need to show support for Miss Sharma, so everyone knows she is the next Viscountess Bridgerton." He told her. "Miss Sharma believes it will cause a scandal, given her lack of title and dowry."
"That is easily overcome." Violet dismissed. "Especially given Lord Morrison's seeming interest in her sister. It also would not hurt if her connection to the Maharaja was known." She smiled brightly. "I will make sure the ton accepts her."
"Thank you, mother."
Her smile turned soft.
"You are welcome, my dear. Now," her tone turned brisk, "we will be leaving in a few hours. Do you know yet when you will follow?"
"Hopefully no more than three days." He replied.
"Very well. We will see you in London in three days."
Anthony just smiled as she swept out of the room before sighing and rounding his desk to get back to work.
Kate was studiously ignoring the other occupants of the carriage as they slowly made their way towards London. Even Newton seemed to be staring at her. Luckily, she had managed to hide the ring box in her pocket before entering the carriage, so at least there was that.
"Miss Sharma, if you do not begin to speak this instant, I shall not be held responsible for my actions." Lady Danbury told her in annoyance.
"Lord Bridgerton is detained in Kent for a few days, but he will be coming to speak to Mary when he returns." She said slowly.
"So he has proposed, then." Lady Danbury said, satisfied.
"No." Kate said, surprising them all. "But we have come to an…understanding."
"Explain, Kate." Mary ordered. "Now."
"Lord Bridgerton wants me to have a London Season before we make anything official." She replied. "I didn't want to distract from Edwina." She ignored the laugh of derision from her sister. "So, we agreed that he would wait until the end of the Season."
"But you have his word that he will ask?" Lady Danbury pushed and Kate nodded, blushing. "Very good. We will need to make sure you are prepared when he does ask. You will need a new wardrobe."
"What?" Kate exclaimed, surprised. "Why?"
"Despite being only six and twenty, you have been dressing as if you are already a spinster." Danbury told her. "Now you must be a blushing bride. I will also be speaking to your lady's maid. You wear your hair much too severely. We will find new styles to soften your look."
Kate stared at her.
"My Lady – "
"The ton will be looking for any avenues of attack." She interrupted. "Your age is an easy one, so we must counteract it."
Kate sighed, but she nodded.
"The rest of the Season will be about promoting you as the next Viscountess." The matron continued. "Luckily, you are already on good terms with the Dowager Viscountess and can anticipate her support. The Duchess of Hastings also clearly favors you, which is another boon."
"We will have plenty of time to discuss strategy." Kate said, taking a deep breath. "There is something else I wish to discuss, something I should have confessed for some time now."
She met Lady Danbury's gaze and the elder woman sighed, waving a hand for her to continue. Kate took another deep breath and turned to face Mary and Edwina.
"I wrote to the Sheffields before we left India." She said, barreling quickly on as Mary's face went slack with shock. "I had hope that they might be willing to help us. They replied, saying they were willing to give Edwina a dowry and make sure you were settled comfortably."
"What do they want in return?" Mary demanded. "My parents do nothing out of the goodness of their hearts. What are their demands?"
"They have a…condition for Edwina's husband." Kate admitted, looking down. She couldn't bear to see the disappointment in her stepmother's face. "He must be of English nobility."
"Well, that explains why there was never less than a Lord on any of your little lists." Edwina said snidely. "I bet you were so relieved when I caught the eye of Lord Morrison. What would you have done if I had fallen for a second son, god forbid? I guess we should be glad you caught a Viscount, or we might never have told us that, while you were preaching about my 'choice', you had already sold it away!"
"That is enough, Miss Edwina." Lady Danbury said sharply as Kate stared open-mouthed at her sister. "You sister was only doing what she thought was best to save you from ruin. And she is not the only one to hope for reconciliation with your grandparents. I, too, wrote to them, hoping to facilitate one."
"You'll turn them down." Mary spoke up. "I want nothing from them. You will tell them that."
"You will not."
They all turned to look at Edwina.
"Bon – "
"You already made the deal." Her sister said. "Lord Morrison fits their requirement. Why not reap the benefits?"
"This is exactly why I didn't tell you!" Kate told her. "You should not have to think about money while trying to fall in love!"
"But you have told me now and I have made my choice." Her sister settled back against the seat. "I will marry Lord Morrison."
"He still has to make an offer to you, girl." Lady Danbury said dryly.
"He will." The young girl said confidently. "I am sure Kate will make sure of it, if she's not too busy with the Bridgertons."
Kate's jaw dropped.
"Bon – "
"I'm tired." Edwina interrupted. "I think I'll rest for a while."
She closed her eyes and turned away, effectively dismissing Kate. The elder sister saw Lady Danbury frowning out of the corner of her eye as she turned back to Mary.
"Mama?"
"I wish you hadn't written them." She told her bluntly. "I also wish you hadn't done it behind my back but what is done is done. We will see how it all turns out."
Kate nodded, holding back tears. Mary sighed and reached forward to take her hand.
"None of this changes how pleased I am for you, dearest." She told her, smiling. "I believe Lord Bridgerton will make you very happy."
"I believe so as well." Kate agreed with a small smile. "I like him very much."
"I am so glad." Mary smiled again before pulling back.
"Well." Lady Danbury pronounced. "I did say these weeks would be interesting."
Kate just shook her head.
She was really beginning to question the wisdom of falling in love with Anthony rather than a nice second son like Benedict. A life of painting in the country seemed considerably more pleasing than sitting in the Duchess of Hastings' parlor, sipping tea with debutantes.
"Sigh one more time and I will stab you with a fork." Kate heard Daphne hiss at Eloise, who was doing just that on the other side of her.
"I do not see why I cannot be allowed to read." The younger Bridgerton hissed back.
"It would not kill you to make friends."
"I have friends!"
"Penelope does not count."
Kate glanced over at the young Featherington in question and saw her picking at her sandwich. Deciding to abandon the still sniping siblings, Kate made her way over to her. On her way, she passed Edwina, who was chatting amicably with two other girls. Her sister had thawed, but she was still clearly annoyed with Kate. The elder Miss Sharma had decided the best course of action was to give Edwina her space. They would make up eventually, they always did.
"Everything alright, Penelope?" she asked as she sat down, making the other girl look up in surprise.
"Oh, Kate! Yes, everything is fine. My sister's getting married, did you know?"
"To your cousin, yes, I heard." Kate replied slowly. "I'm sure she's very happy."
"Ecstatic." Penelope agreed.
There was a long moment of silence.
"Are you not happy about it?" Kate asked finally.
Penelope thought about the question for a moment.
"I worry my sister doesn't know what she has gotten herself into." She replied softly. "I love my sister, I really do, but she's not…the brightest star in the sky. And that's alright! But I – " she glanced around before lowering her voice even further. "I believe my mother may have orchestrated the compromise because she believes she can control Prudence."
Kate could tell this had been eating at the younger girl and she reached over to take her hand.
"I'm sure your mother only wants what's best for you and your sisters." She told her. "Do you believe your cousin will mistreat your sister?"
"No!" Penelope replied instantly. "Cousin Jack's lovely. I just…"
She broke off again and Kate squeezed her hand.
"Do you have feelings for your cousin?"
"Not at all." Penelope replied absently. "I – "
She cut herself off, blushing.
"You…fancy someone else?" Kate teased the girl. "Perhaps…a younger Bridgerton someone?"
"I have no idea what you are talking about." Penelope replied, but her face was bright red.
"Of course not." Kate agreed with a light laugh, deciding to let her off the hook. "I do not know what I was thinking. As for your sister, as long as you think your cousin will be kind to her, I wouldn't worry too much. Happy marriages have been built on less."
"But shouldn't we dream of love?"
Kate was distracted from the question by the door opening and the footman entering with what looked suspiciously like a bouquet of lilies. As Daphne got up to read the card, Kate suddenly felt a keen desire to sink into the floor.
"It's not all it's cracked up to be, I assure you." She muttered.
"Kate, dear!" Daphne called, grinning wickedly. "I believe my dear brother has sent these to you!"
She would kill him. That was all there was to it. He was a dead man.
Seeing no other option, Kate got to her feet and made her way to the Duchess, ignoring the whispers as she went.
"Isn't this sweet?" Daphne asked, unreasonably amused in Kate's opinion as she handed the envelope over.
"I do hope you are not terribly attached to your brother." Kate said through the clenched teeth of her smile.
She opened the note and was rather annoyed by how easily her annoyance melted away as she read it.
Kathani –
Only my duties in Parliament have kept me from
storming my sister's humble abode and demanding
that I be allowed into your presence.
I hope that my lilies will be a welcome substitution
until I see you at dinner tonight.
Know that I have thought of you every moment
we have been apart and that I eagerly
await our reunion.
Aubrey Hall was not the same without you.
Yours, Anthony
"He's back in London." Kate said, smiling softly. "He says he'll see me at dinner."
She heard a nearby girl sigh and blushed. She really was going to kill him.
"Well he must be invited to Danbury House, because I haven't heard anything." Daphne replied, directing the footman to take the flowers to be put in a vase. Kate stopped him and took a flower to keep with her and then let him go. "You two really are quite precious. It's rather sickening."
"Says the woman whose husband would move heaven and Earth to get you whatever your heart desired." Kate shot back, taking the seat next to the Duchess as Eloise scurried away to whisper with Penelope.
"Simon is rather wonderful." Daphne replied dreamily, making Kate laugh.
But then she fell quiet, turning the lily over in her hand.
"You really did miss him, didn't you?" the Duchess asked with a soft smile.
"Like a part of me was gone." Kate replied absently, her attention on the flower. "I suppose I grew spoiled, having him always available at Aubrey Hall."
Daphne thought for a moment.
"Why don't you send a note back?" she whispered so the other young ladies wouldn't hear.
"I couldn't!" Kate hissed, but Daphne had clearly seized on this idea and wasn't going to be dissuaded.
"Oh, of course you can! I assume he's at Parliament, most likely with Simon, who I assume will be willing to deliver it. We can include it in a note I send! No one will question a wife sending her husband a note!"
She took Kate's hand and pulled her up, excusing them to the others, before dragging her out the door and down the hall to Simon's office. She sat her down at the desk with pen and paper before heading to a side table to write her own note.
Kate stared at the paper for a moment before sighing and picking up the pen.
Anthony –
I want to thank you for the stir my lilies caused.
I am sure you it will appear in the next Whistledown,
so you'll be able to read all about it.
As for storming your sister's home, can it be
considered storming if the doors are thrown open
for you? All this to say, I just as eagerly
await our reunion. London has not
been the same without you, either.
Your Kathani
She let the ink dry before folding the note and slipping it into an envelope and sealing it.
"Excellent!" Daphne took it and slipped it into her own note. She hurried off and Kate sat back down.
It really had been a long three days. She had not expected to miss him as much as she had and she had longed for the comfort of his steadying presence in the face of Edwina's displeasure.
Most of all, though, she had simply missed him.
"All sent."
She looked up at a grinning Daphne.
"There really is no controlling you, is there?"
"No." The Duchess pulled Kate up and led her back out.
They reentered the parlor and Daphne was quickly distracted by the fact that Eloise seemed to have disappeared, so Kate went to sit next to Edwina.
"So, Lord Bridgerton has returned to town?" her sister asked pleasantly as she sipped her tea.
"He has." Kate confirmed. "Supposedly, he will be joining us for dinner."
"How lovely. Perhaps Lord Morrison would like to join us as well."
Kate tried to resist the urge to wince.
"I am sure Lady Danbury could send a note, if you like." She replied evenly.
"I would." Edwina said, setting down her cup. "We should take our leave. I would like some time to rest before dinner."
"Very well, Bon." Kate agreed, getting to her feet. "I shall inform Daphne."
She quicky found her trying to evict her sister from the library.
"Of course." She told her. "I'll have your carriage brought round. Are you still available tomorrow for a trip to the modiste?"
"If Lady Danbury has anything to say about it." Kate replied with a laugh. "She is trying to soften my appearance."
"If Kate gets to leave, I should as well." Eloise interjected, making Daphne sigh.
"I can't help with that," Kate told the younger girl, "but, if you like, you could go with me to chaperone Edwina on a promenade tomorrow. I promise you will not have to speak to anyone."
"But only if you return to the parlor for at least another half hour." Daphne added. "Then I shall release you."
Eloise considered the offer for a moment before nodding with a sigh.
"Very well. But I do not know why I thought it would be a good thing to add another older sister to my life."
"Because you know we love you and only want is best for you." Daphne replied, pushing her out the door none too gently.
The sisters escorted Kate to the foyer, where Edwina was already waiting.
"There you are, Didi. The carriage is ready. Thank you for having us, your Grace."
"Of course, Miss Edwina."
They all curtsied, and the Sharma sisters took their leave.
Kate was alone in the parlor when Anthony arrived.
"Good evening, Kathani."
He held out his hand, pulling her close when she took it, and pressed a lingering kiss to her own. His eyes met hers and her breath caught at the feeling she saw there.
"Good evening, Anthony."
He wanted to kiss her. The taste of her lips was now imprinted on his mind and he had thought of nothing else for days.
"Everything is alright in Kent?" she asked, a tad breathlessly, hoping to break the tension between them.
"Fine." He replied softly. "Lonely without you."
"Anthony." She murmured, desperation leaking into her voice and making him grin.
"Tell me you missed me."
Kate glared at him.
"I believe I said that in my note."
"You implied it." He disagreed. "I would like to hear you say it."
"Did you miss me?" she shot back.
"Desperately." He replied easily. "Every second of every minute of every hour of every day. And you?"
Kate let out a huff of annoyance, but a smile played at the edge of her mouth.
"Only as much as I might miss a limb." She admitted. "I did not like having you so far away."
Anthony glanced back at the open door before pressing a kiss to her cheek. He lingered for a moment, allowing her scent to settle him, before taking her hand and leading her to the couch, sitting an appropriate distance from her.
"I think Newton is the true victim of our parting." Kate told him with a smirk. "He has moped since returning to London, missing you I am sure."
"Newton misses the treats my siblings were always feeding him." Anthony corrected. "Your monster simply likes to vex me, not unlike his mistress."
"I vex you?" she exclaimed. "Pray, tell me, sir, how you have come to that conclusion!"
"You tell me how I am supposed to focus on Parliament when you are sending me notes that turn all my thoughts to you." He shot back with a bright smile.
"It is not my fault your self-control is lacking, my Lord." She told him primly.
"I think my self-control is quite good, actually."
His voice was bland, but the look he gave her was anything but. Her blood began to hum and she was fairly sure they were on the precipice of acting quite improper.
"Lord Bridgerton."
They both looked up to see Lady Danbury in the doorway, watching them with a suspicious look.
"I trust, my Lord, you are not abusing my hospitality." She continued, crossing the room as they stood to greet her.
"Of course not, my Lady." Anthony replied, bowing. "Simply awaiting the pleasure of your company."
"Hmm." She said, utterly unconvinced. "You will be openly courting Miss Sharma under my roof, Lord Bridgerton. You will behave with all the good manners that I know your mother and father instilled in you. Am I understood?"
"Of course, my Lady." He said smoothly. "I am a gentleman and I would never treat Miss Sharma as anything less than a Lady."
"See that you do not."
With that, she stood and led them out to join the rest of the family. Kate was relieved to see Lord Morrison had not joined them and then immediately felt guilty as Edwina's face tightened when she saw Anthony. Her sister greeted him evenly, though, and dinner passes pleasantly. After dinner found them all chatting happily and, eventually, Anthony got up and wandered to the window. After a moment, Kate joined him.
"Are you planning on riding tomorrow morning?" he asked, his voice low enough that only she could hear him.
"I was." She replied, just as softly.
"Meet me where we first met." He said with a hint of pleading in his voice. "I am sure we will have very little time alone for the foreseeable future and I haven't held you in three days. I find that abhorrent."
Kate blushed as a small smile graced her lips.
"I thought you were a gentleman." She teased.
"I am." He replied with a wicked grin. "Hence why I am refraining from kissing you right here, right now."
Kate considered him for a moment.
"I suppose I could find myself wandering that way." She said slowly. "After all, it wouldn't do for England to come to ruin because one of her Lords is incapable of keeping his mind on task."
"If nothing else, Hastings will thank you." Anthony told her. "I'm fairly sure he was considering beating me if I didn't stop complaining."
Kate laughed at that.
"I suppose I will have to send His Grace a note of apology, but, honestly, it was his wife's fault. It was her idea to send it with a note for her husband."
"I have told Hastings many times that he should control his wife better."
"Do you believe you will control me?" Kate asked with an arched brow.
"Allow me my illusions, my darling." He told her with a roguish grin. "We two know that the opposite is the truth of the matter."
"I like it when you call me that." She said without meaning to and immediately blushed.
"My darling?" he repeated with a slow smile. "It is what you are. My darling Kathani."
He was torturing her and he knew it. She very well might actually kill him for it.
"Kate?"
She turned to her stepmother and took a steadying breath.
"It is time to bid Lord Bridgerton good night." Mary said with a soft smile.
"Of course, mama."
She turned back to Anthony with a soft smile.
"Until tomorrow, Lord Bridgerton."
"Until tomorrow, Miss Sharma."