Kate felt certain she should be more upset that the Viscount Bridgerton currently had her pressed against a tree as he kissed her like he was starving for her, but she couldn't bring herself to care. All that mattered was that he kept kissing her and didn't stop.

"I thought you promised to behave yourself." She murmured as he pulled away to let them breath.

"I promised to behave as long as I was under Lady Danbury's roof." He replied, grinning. "I don't see a roof anywhere above us."

His lips found hers again and she held him tighter. Everything about him felt right, from the softness of his lips to his weight pressing against her. She didn't know how she had survived without him all this time.

"You are a Siren," he murmured against her lips, "sent to torment me." His lips ghosted across her cheek and down to her neck, where he found a particularly sensitive spot and she gasped. He smiled and pulled back slightly. "I cannot wait to learn every noise you make." He nibbled at the spot and she arched against him. "Every whimper, every sigh…I am going to spend hours cataloguing every one of them and then start all over again." His lips made their way back to hers. "I shall teach you all the ways a lady can be seduced."

He went to kiss her again, but she stopped him, tugging on his hair until his eyes met hers.

"And what of you?" she asked. Her fingers pulled tighter and he groaned. "Shall I learn what makes you whimper…what makes you beg? Am I to learn how to drive the great and powerful Lord Bridgerton to his knees before me?"

"Just ask." He told her desperately. "I am yours, to do with as you like. I am yours to command, my darling. My goddess."

She reached up to her run her thumb over his swollen lips and he opened his mouth to allow her to slip inside. Her eyes widened as his tongue ran over the pad and he bit down gently. She tugged again and he released her.

"Mine?"

"Only yours."

They didn't speak again for several minutes.

"We should stop." He said finally, pulling away just far enough to rest his forehead against hers.

"We should stop." She agreed. "I am expected at breakfast."

"I am expected at Parliament." He replied. "If Hastings thought I was annoying yesterday…"

Kate laughed, pushing him away gently.

"You will just have to learn to control yourself, my Lord."

He reached out and pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her waist as she wound hers around his neck.

"I don't want to control myself, Kathani." He told her softly. "It is madness to think I will be able to sit calmly next to you in Lady Danbury's parlor or stand an appropriate distance from you at a ball. For god's sake, they will expect me to allow you to dance with men who are not me. I am telling you now that I do not think I can do it."

"You were the one who said we must play by the rules of the society we find ourselves in, Anthony." She pointed out, reaching up to caress his cheek. "Do you think it is any easier to see you speaking with other women? But I would point out that I have not danced with any man outside of your family party in quite some time. Even Edwina's suitors do not ask me to dance anymore."

"Good." He replied. "Let us keep it that way."

"You are a ridiculous man, my Lord." She told him, laughing.

"No, I am a possessive man." He replied seriously. "It is not one of my better qualities, but the idea of letting anyone else near you drives me mad."

Kate smiled softly and reached up to kiss him softly.

"You have nothing to fear." She whispered. "I am yours. Only yours."

Anthony smiled, resting his forehead against hers.

"I have had so few things that were purely mine." He told her softly. "Everything has always been for the family. Finding you was the greatest gift I could have ever received."

Kate smiled and laid her head against his shoulder, letting him hold her close.

"I really do need to go." She said finally, pulling away and he let her go.

He watched as she headed towards Isis, efficiently righting herself as she went until she simply looked as if she had been riding hard and not passing time in the woods with him.

"Will I see you today?" he asked, leaning against the tree to continue watching her as she readied her horse.

"Very likely." She replied. "I am to chaperone Edwina on a promenade this morning and Eloise is to join me. After lunch, I have a trip to the modiste planed with Daphne. I am unsure of our dinner plans, though."

"Is Edwina promenading with Lord Morrison?" he asked, and she shook her head.

"Lord Lumley. Have you heard anything more about the Earl?"

Anthony shook his head.

"It's odd." He admitted. "I would have expected to hear something by now."

"She has a trip to get ices with him tomorrow, but she has asked Mary to chaperone." Kate reported. "She's still angry with me."

Her hands stilled on the saddle and Anthony strode across, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his chin on her shoulder as she leaned back into his embrace.

"She will forgive you." He told her softly. "She's just hurt you kept it from her. She'll come around."

Kate nodded and let him hold her for a few moments, reveling in the peace she found with him. Finally, she pulled away, but he simply turned her in his arms, pressing a sweet, almost chaste kiss to her lips. When he pulled away, she gently caressed his cheek again and his eyes closed as he shuttered. He opened them again to find her smiling brightly.

"Siren." He growled.

Kate just laughed.

Kate linked her arm with Eloise's as they followed Edwina and Lumley. Edwina was laughing at something the Lord said, but Kate got the feeling that any affection her sister had held for the man had dissipated. She rather got the feeling that this whole display was to make her younger sibling seem desirable to someone else. Kate was frankly surprised. She hadn't realized Edwina could be that duplicitous.

"Did you see the latest Whistledown?" Eloise asked, bring Kate out of her thoughts.

"I did." She replied dryly. "I even had parts of it read aloud to me."

As predicted, Lady Whistledown had written about Anthony's delivery of flowers. Edwina had read whole sections of the pamphlet at breakfast until Mary made her stop.

"Ah, yes." Eloise laughed. "Anthony was particularly pleased with 'Miss Sharma, the terror of the men of the ton, seems utterly besotted with the seemingly reformed rake, Lord Bridgerton'. I think he's planning on having mother embroider it on a pillow."

"Are you truly enamored with your eldest brother?" Kate asked. "How much would you really mourn him if he were to mysteriously disappear?"

"You would miss him far more than me." Eloise shot back. "Besotted as you are with him."

Kate bumped her with her shoulder, but smiled, nonetheless.

"As interesting as your courtship, which happens most days right in front of my face, is, I was actually talking about the pamphlet itself. Have you ever noticed anything of interest about the paper?"

"I don't know that I've ever considered it." Kate replied thoughtfully. "Why do you ask?"

"Last Season, the Queen asked me to help unmask her." The younger Bridgerton confided. "She eventually gave up, but I haven't. I believe the answer lies in her printer and I think I have identified him! I spoke to an apprentice – "

"You went to a print shop?" Kate demanded, pulling them to a stop. "By yourself?"

"I took a footman." Eloise defended herself.

"That is incredibly dangerous, Eloise!" Kate scolded her. "Not just to your reputation, but to your person! You also put that poor footman in danger. Did you even stop to think what would happen to him if something happened to you while you were in his care? At bare minimum, he would lose his position."

"But nothing happened!" she protested. "I just spoke to an apprentice!"

"And what if someone had seen you speaking to a man unchaperoned, Eloise? You would be ruined."

"You speak with Anthony unchaperoned all the time." The younger woman muttered petulantly.

"It is not the same and you know it." Kate told her strictly. "Anthony and I are in the same social sphere and he has made it well known that he intends to marry me. This apprentice is nowhere near your status. If something untoward were to be even suggested, it would ruin not just you, but potentially Francesca and Hyacinth. You have lived a relatively sheltered life, Eloise, but I know even you know that your actions can have consequences beyond yourself!"

"Nothing happened!" Eloise exclaimed.

"And nothing can happen ever again." Kate replied. "You must promise me, Eloise."

"Are you going to tell Anthony?"

Kate sighed and resisted the urge to rub her temples.

"Kate?"

She turned and saw Edwina looking at her, clearly annoyed. She and Lumley had pulled quite far ahead in the time she and Eloise had been arguing and now stood waiting for them.

"Coming, Bon." She called before turning back to Eloise. "I won't tell him if you swear to me, Eloise. Swear you won't go back into that shop."

"Fine." Eloise said shortly. "I won't go into the shop."

"Thank you." Kate sighed with relief, linking their arms once more and heading back towards Edwina.

"Everything alright?" she asked, annoyance clear in her voice.

"Everything is fine, Bon. We just got caught up in conversation and did not realize how far we'd fallen behind."

"Hmm."

Edwina turned back to Lumley and they continued on. Eloise refused to speak for the rest of the time and when they were all home again, Kate was grateful to be allowed to return to her dark room to lay down.

Kate's nap was far too short as Daphne arrived after lunch for their trip to the modiste. When Lady Danbury declared her intention to join them, Kate gave up any hope for a relaxing afternoon.

Madame Delacroix seemed quite pleased to have their custom and quickly had fabrics available for viewing and her books of designs laid out on the counter. She, herself, stood nearby to answer questions as the ladies perused the selection.

"I believe we should stick to bold colors." Daphne said. "Your coloring allows for the richer colors and it will allow you to stand out amongst the pinks, yellows, and whites of the other debutantes."

"Rich purples, like you already wear." Danbury agreed. "Perhaps some shades of orange. No reds, but perhaps red accents. We don't want to bring attention to your age."

"You must have blue." Daphne interjected. "All Bridgertons wear blue."

"A darker blue, though." Lady Danbury added. "It shows solidarity with your intended's family, but that you are still separate for the moment."

Kate allowed them to bicker back and forth about shades as she flipped through the book of designs.

"Miss?" Madame Delacroix held out her hand and Kate handed the book to her. "I believe you may enjoy these designs."

She flipped to the back of the book and revealed several new designs. Kate ran her fingers over the drawings as she set it back on the counter. They were still clearly of English and French design, but the style had a hint of the saris she had worn at home. Something about the drape reminded her of the elegant court dresses of the Rani.

"They are beautiful, Madame." Kate told her softly.

"And are perfect to remind everyone that, while you may move among the ton easily as one of them, you are not." Danbury said, looking over her shoulder at the designs. "And that that very fact is what drew Lord Bridgerton to you. An Indian ruby amongst English diamonds, shining just as brightly and more colorfully. I believe that it is time to stop shying away from who you really are, Miss Sharma."

Kate nodded and Madame Delacroix smiled, noting her choice on a piece of paper. They continued to pick fabrics they thought would suit her and soon she was being helped onto the platform to have her measurements taken and to get an idea of what her new gowns would look like.

"Is that Anthony?"

The three other women turned to look out the window Daphne was peering through and saw Lord Bridgerton, in all his finery, calmly reading the paper at a table at the café across the street.

"Your Grace, kindly go and find out why your brother is loitering outside a dress shop." Lady Danbury ordered.

Daphne sprang up to do just that and they watched as she approached her brother, who calmly kept reading as she talked at him.

"I was so hoping to go at least one issue of Lady Whistledown without being mentioned." Kate muttered.

"I believe that is the opposite of Lord Bridgerton's goal." Danbury replied. "It helps his cause to discourage any other suitors."

"As if I have any other suitors." She scoffed.

"Not for lack of trying on their part." The matron muttered, making Kate look at her sharply.

"What does that mean?"

"Never you mind." Danbury replied as Daphne returned. "Well?"

"I am to invite Miss Sharma to dinner." She reported, shaking her head. "Apparently he doesn't want to intrude upon your hospitality, Lady Danbury, but I'm family, so it doesn't matter."

"I would never want to intrude." Kate assured her, but Daphne just waived away her protest.

"I will suffer my brother's company if you agree to dine with us." She told her brightly.

Kate just shook her head fondly at the siblings' antics.

"I shall inform your mother and sister of your plans." Lady Danbury said. "Madame, do you have what you need to begin on the dresses?"

"Oui, Madame Danbury." The dressmaker replied, beginning to remove the pins. "They should be ready for a fitting next week."

"Excellent."

Kate was quickly redressed and shortly walking out on Daphne's arm. Anthony looked up and quickly set aside his paper to stand and greet her.

"Miss Sharma what a pleasure to stumble across you here." He said, grinning. "And may I say, you look utterly beautiful today?"

Kate just glared at him.

"You are a menace, Lord Bridgerton."

Anthony's grin only got wider.

"Lovely to see you as well, your Grace."

"You saw me half an hour ago when you promised you would leave if I agreed to invite Miss Sharma to dinner."

"And did you?"

"I don't know, did you leave?"

"Alright, dear siblings." Kate interjected, laughing. "Yes, I will be dinning at Hastings House tonight, my Lord. Your sister was kind enough to ask me. Now, will you permit your sister and me to continue on our day? Or are we to have a peer of the realm as our shadow?"

"I have no idea what you mean, Miss Sharma." Anthony replied happily. "I will of course bid you a fine day and see you at dinner tonight. Good day, your Grace, Miss Sharma."

He strode off as Kate giggled and Daphne sighed.

"Happy Anthony is going to drive me to drink." His sister muttered. "Come, let's get on with our shopping. I still would like to stop by the book seller, and you need to go home to change."

Kate let her lead her off, still laughing.

"Darling?"

Edwina looked up from her book to her mother in the doorway.

"The last of the gentlemen callers have left." Mary told her.

"Lord Morrison?"

Mary just shook her head. Edwina's face turned stormy and she turned back to her book as Mary came to sit next to her.

"He said he would see you tomorrow." Her mother pointed out. "It's not unreasonable to not see him every day."

"And yet we are subjected to Lord Bridgerton's presence morning, noon, and night." Her daughter replied petulantly.

"The Viscount has been courting your sister for some time now, if unofficially." Mary replied patiently. "He has had time to get to know Kate and to form an attachment. You've barely met Lord Morrison. You must give it time, darling."

"But this was supposed to be my Season, mama." She complained. "I was named the Diamond! Everything was perfect. But now, all anyone wants to talk about is Kate and Lord Bridgerton. And Kate didn't even want a Season!"

"Your sister has fallen in love; certainly, you cannot begrudge her that. Don't you think she deserves to be happy?"

"Of course I do!" Edwina replied. "But must it be at the expense of mine? Lord Bridgerton does not care that she doesn't have a dowry, but the other men of the ton do. And she hid the conditions of it from me! She sold my choice out from under me!"

"She didn't 'sell your choice'." Mary said, sighing. "She did what she thought was best for this family, as she has always done, and now you have an option. You do not have to take your grandparents dowry. You will still be the Diamond and any man of the ton will be lucky to have you, dowry or not. And when your sister is Viscountess, she will grant you even more opportunities. So do not fret, my darling. All will be well."

She patted Edwina on the knee and rose to leave. Edwina smile at her mother as she left, but inside, she was seething.

More opportunities when Kate was Viscountess? When Kate had the role she had been trained for practically from birth? How many times had Kate, herself, told her that she was worthy of a prince? And now an Earl wouldn't even call on her while Kate bumbled her way into being a Viscountess!

It wasn't fair!

More opportunities when Kate was a Viscountess. She wouldn't take her sister's scraps, begging for her time as the Bridgertons pulled her further and further into their orbit. Already, she spent more time with Daphne than she did her sister, valuing the opinion of a Duchess more than Edwina's. Soon she would have no time for her little Bon, too busy dining with Dukes and Princes to care that Edwina was alone.

Well, fine then. If Kate wanted to be a Bridgerton so badly, let her. Edwina would be a Morrison if it was the last thing she did and then she wouldn't need anything from anyone.

Opportunities when Kate was a Viscountess.

Ha.

She'd make her own opportunities.

Anthony was waiting at the door of Hastings House when Kate arrived.

"Please tell me that you were not waiting at a window from me to arrive." She said as she handed her cloak off to a footman.

"He absolutely was." Simon informed her as he and Daphne joined them. "It was quite pathetic."

"I once saw you run to the door because you thought you heard a sound that might be a carriage carrying Daphne, who was not set to return for another whole day." Anthony struck back. "You have no room to talk."

"And they help run the country." Daphne commented as her husband and brother sniped back and forth. "God help us all."

Kate laughed as she took Anthony's arm. The Duke and Duchess kindly pretended not to see as he quickly pressed a kiss to her cheek.

"How was your day?" he asked as they followed his sister and friend to the parlor.

"You probably know as well as I do." She replied. "You seem to have stalked me for half of it."

"Just the trip to the modiste." He said, not at all ashamed. "I know nothing of the rest of your day."

"I'm afraid I may have made Eloise angry with me." She said with a sigh as they sat down. "We had a disagreement about the…freedoms women can exhibit in society. Between her and Edwina, I do not seem to be faring well with younger sisters at the moment."

"I noticed Miss Edwina seemed out of sorts the other day." Daphne said. "Oh, she played her part to perfection, but there was a coldness between you that struck me as odd."

Kate glanced at Anthony, who just shrugged.

"I revealed some information about her grandparents that I had been keeping from her." She said with a sigh. "They had agreed to settle a dowry on her as long as she marries a member of the English nobility. She did not take it well and she blames me for keeping it from her."

"Well, as far as I can tell, they've been falling all over themselves to impress her." Daphne said. "Surely she can find one among them she can love."

"That is my hope." Kate said with another sigh.

"And if she can't, it's not like Anthony wouldn't give her a dowry." Simon added.

"I couldn't – "

"Of course, I would."

Kate broke off, staring at him and making him shift uncomfortably.

"Well, you can't imagine I would leave your mother and sister destitute, can you?" he asked. "If Miss Edwina can't find a husband to meet her grandparents' standards, of course I will give her a dowry. She'll be my sister, after all."

Kate couldn't stop staring at him.

"Your Graces, if you wouldn't mind looking the other way, I need to kiss your brother."

Daphne laughed as Anthony smirked.

"I think we've played with fire enough, don't you?" Simon replied dryly.

Kate met Anthony's eyes and blushed, knowing he was thinking of their interlude in the woods that morning, just as she was.

"Quite right." Anthony agreed, clearing his throat. "Daph, are you planning on feeding us at any point?"

"You sound like Colin."

"You take that back!"

His sister just ignored him, getting up to check on dinner. Kate reached over and took Anthony's hand, threading her fingers through his and not caring if Simon saw.

"I know you dislike the word, but your kindness is one of my favorite things about you." She told him softly. "Thank you for being willing to take care of my family."

"They'll be my family, too, Kathani." He told her. "You may have heard that we Bridgertons take care of our family."

"I have heard." She replied, smiling sweetly.

"Dinner is ready, your Lordship." Daphne said snidely as she returned.

"Brilliant." Anthony ignored her tone as he helped Kate to her feet.

Dinner was pleasant with just the four of them, filled with teasing and laughter.

"You must come with us to the opera tomorrow." Daphne was telling them. "It's a production of Spontini's La vestale. I've heard the soprano, a Miss Garnier, is supposed to be tremendous."

"I will have to check that I have been promised to no engagements, but I would love to attend." Kate replied. "I haven't had the chance to attend an opera since we arrived."

"I will be there, as I would never deny Miss Sharma any pleasure." Anthony said.

"We are well aware." Daphne muttered.

Simon stifled a laugh as the other two glared at her.

"So, baring any complications, the opera tomorrow night." He said before Anthony and Daphne could start arguing. "Perhaps Lord Bridgerton will even be a useful member of society if he knows he will get to see Miss Sharma at the end of the day."

"Why did I decide to open myself up to such abuse?" Anthony asked as the women laughed.

"Because you know the alternative was either mother or Lady Danbury if you wanted to see Kate." Daphne replied.

"Oh, right."

Kate just laughed, making him smile.

If he snuck a kiss at the end of the night, his sister and best friend were kind enough to not see it.

The next day passed with relative ease for Kate. Lilies arrived with breakfast and she smiled at the note that simply read:

Only yours – A.

Edwina had left shortly after with Mary, leaving Kate alone with Lady Danbury.

"We must plan what you are to wear tonight." The matron announced, getting up from the table and expecting Kate to follow. "This will be your first public outing with the Viscount. You must look perfect."

Kate dutifully followed her upstairs and prepared herself for a long afternoon as Lady Danbury summoned her ladies maid. The older woman's first order of business was Kate's hair.

"You have been wearing your hair severely to make yourself appear older, I imagine, to make people take you seriously." Danbury commented. "And I understand why. You were nominally the head of your family while your mother was…indisposed. But that is no longer the case and you must appear young and desirable now." She directed the maid to take Kate's hair down. "You are a beautiful young woman. You are also intelligent, shrewd, and resourceful. All of these qualities will make you an excellent Viscountess. I am sure of it, and the ton will also realize it as long as you believe it."

Kate watched as the maid pulled and twisted her hair until it was pulled away from her face but fell loose down her back in a waterfall of curls.

"You will also wear these tonight."

Kate twisted in her seat and watched as Lady Danbury motioned to a servant, who was carrying a jewelry case. She opened it to reveal a magnificent parure, consisting of a necklace, earrings, and tiara, all gold set with brilliant rubies.

"Your mama is English, and she has a beautiful English diamond for a daughter," the matron told her, "but she also has a magnificent Indian ruby. You are not English, and you must stop pretending to be, Kathani. Your strength lies in being exactly who you are. The ton will not respect you just because you can pass as one of them. They will respect you because you make them respect you, and you do that by being true only to yourself."

She took the tiara from its case and handed it to the ladies maid, directing her to place it on Kate's head.

"I know you worry about your lack of dowry and your seeming lack of station," she continued softly, "but all of that can be overlooked if you can make them all believe you belong. You have royal blood running through your veins, Miss Sharma, even if you, yourself, are not royalty. Your lineage stretches further back than most of the families of the ton. Certainly, further back than your sister's Sheffield blood. You are just as worthy to stand next to Lord Bridgerton, no matter your financial or social status. You are a daughter of Kings, my dear. Act like it and the rest will follow."

Kate took a deep breath, fighting back tears, and nodded.

"Good." Danbury said, nodding as well. "Now, as for your dress…"

~.~

"Oh my god, Eloise was right. You do get nervous!"

Anthony glared at his sister, who was sitting across the carriage from him next to her husband.

"You do know all hope you had of impressing her is long gone, yes?" she continued gleefully. "She's seen you play Pall Mall. You cannot un-ring that bell."

"I cannot wait until I do not need a chaperone to sit in a carriage with Miss Sharma." Anthony muttered.

"Believe me, brother dear, we all long for that day."

It had been a long day, but he had made it through his meetings without going crazy, which he rather thought made him deserving of his sister's silence, but the Duchess disagreed. He had barely kept himself from abandoning all his duties and arriving at Lady Danbury's hours before he was supposed to just so he could spend ten minutes with Kate. He kept waiting for this…longing to be in her presence to abate but, if anything, his need was getting worse. He had never felt like this before. She was all he thought about, night and day. When they were apart, he wondered what she was doing, and when they were together, he wanted to know every thought in her head.

He had no idea how he was supposed to make it through the entire Season.

The carriage stopped and he immediately jumped out, ignoring his sister's laughter. As he climbed the stairs, the front doors opened, and Anthony stopped dead.

Kate stood at the top of the stairs, dressed in a golden gown that turned red when she moved and perfectly matched the rubies that adorned her.

"Well?" she asked after several minutes of shocked silence from Anthony.

"You cannot wear that." He blurted out. At her hurt look, he rushed to explain himself. "You cannot expect me to sit next to you, looking like that, and believe I will be able to behave myself. You are so beautiful, and I am just a man. A saint could not do what you ask of me. No, you cannot wear that for my sake."

He weakly shook his head as she slowly approached, smiling a slow smile that had him seriously considering how quickly they could get to Gretna Green.

"You, Lord Bridgerton, will behave yourself because if I come home with even a hair out of place, Lady Danbury will have your head." She said, stopping in front of him and smoothing the lapel of his jacket. "Also, I have been longing to attend the opera since I arrived in England and I would like to enjoy it with minimal distractions."

He caught her hand and pulled it up to press a kiss to it.

"The second reason is more compelling than the first." He told her. "But am I to understand some distraction will be permitted?"

Kate just smiled and threaded her arm through his, letting him lead her to the carriage.

"You look lovely, Miss Sharma." Simon said as they set off.

"I absolutely adore that dress." Daphne told her. "I wish I could wear such fabrics. White, pink, and blue do get boring after a while."

The quartet continued to chat as they headed to the theater. When they arrived, Simon exited first, helping Daphne out after him, but when Anthony exited, Kate hesitated.

"Miss Sharma?"

Kate took a deep breath and took Anthony's hand, allowing him to help her out. The moment she linked her arm with his, she felt the eyes of the assembled ton land on them. She felt herself start to freeze, but Anthony squeezed her hand and she relaxed.

All that mattered was them.

They followed Simon and Daphne inside, stopping here and there to greet friends and acquaintances. Finally, they arrived at the Hastings' private box and got settled. They had been sitting there for only a few moments when the announcer stepped onto the stage.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to tonight's performance of Gaspare Spontini's La vestale. I regret to inform you that our usual Julia, Miss Garnier, has taken ill and will be unable to perform. The role will instead be played by Miss Sienna Russo. We hope you enjoy the performance."

Anthony felt detached from his body, like it was part of the scene in the opera that he was watching from a distance. Surely, he had heard wrong. This couldn't be happening. She couldn't be here.

"Breathe, Anthony."

The whispered words accompanied by the squeeze of her hand in his suddenly brought him back. He glanced at Kate, but her eyes were turned to the stage.

"We can leave." He whispered. "We don't have to stay."

"Yes, we do." She replied, finally turning to look at him. "I have been reliably informed that future Viscountesses do not hide. We will speak at intermission, but I came here to see an opera and I intend to do just that."

She turned back to the stage as the curtain rose, but Anthony's eyes stayed on her. He was so focused on her, on seeing her obvious enjoyment of the spectacle on the stage, that he didn't even realize Sienna had appeared for several minutes. When he finally recognized her voice, it surprised him how little he felt. He had been prepared for to feel the desire and need that had always accompanied the sound of her, but now…it was gone. He turned to look at her and found that she was still beautiful, still talented, but the all consuming need to have her, to be near her, was simply gone. All he felt was concern that her presence would hurt the woman next to him, that he would be the cause of her pain once more. That he could not bear.

He turned back to Kate and watched her pure enjoyment of the music as she sat next to him, her hand in his, and felt something in him settle.

He knew he had loved Sienna; he knew he had, but it was incomparable to what he felt for Kate. He squeezed her hand was rewarded with a bright smile. He settled back in his seat and watched Kate watch the opera, perfectly content.

The first act finished, and Anthony applauded politely before leaning around his sister to see Simon.

"Will you allow us a moment?"

His best friend nodded and Anthony took Kate's hand, leading her into the connected private room.

"I'm sorry." He told her. "I wanted a pleasant night and now…" he trailed off. "I cannot stand that you might be hurt by me again."

"Again?" Kate repeated. "I do not understand."

"My reputation is the reason Miss Cowper said those things to you." Anthony hung his head. "I do not want to be the reason you are ever hurt."

Kate took his face between her hands, making him look at her.

"You are not to blame for the venom Cressida Cowper spewed." She told him softly. "You have a past. So do I. None of that matters. All that matters is the future, the one we choose together."

Anthony was silent for a moment, studying her.

"She said I was lost." Kate gave him a confused look. "Sienna. When we…parted ways. She said I was lost, and she was right. I was so lost, and I didn't even know it, but I'm not now. You found me."

"And I always will." She told him, smiling softly. "Now, can I enjoy the rest of my opera?"

Anthony pulled her into his arms, holding her as she wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head against his chest.

"Why am I not forcing you to marry again?"

The couple turned as Daphne and Simon entered the room.

"Because you'd rather help plan a wedding thoroughly instead of in a rush?" Anthony replied, releasing Kate.

"Oh, right." Daphne pulled up her glove. "I'm thirsty. Kate?"

Kate just laughed, following the Duke and Duchess out, Anthony at her side.