Five hours. Five goddamn hours was how long I was on the trains the next day; long enough for me to watch Brigadoon and then some. Edwina, optimistic as ever, expected me to arrive at three this afternoon. Yeah! Like that was going to happen. It a mild fit of rage, I put my phone on airplane-mode; something I usually did when I wanted to be left alone- like right now. That was five hours ago; it was just past five o'clock now when the train pulled up into Bath's station.

Admittedly by the time I got to Bath, I had cooled down a lot; not enough to turn my cell service back on but I wasn't angry anymore. I'd gotten a taste of my future, my beloved, precious Oxford. God, I loved it there! I absolutely adored it. During the train ride from there I realized that this summer would go by fast; I'd be living in Oxford soon enough. Might as well enjoy what little time I had left before PhD started. I was gleefully humming "I'll Go Home With Bonny Gene", if that's how you spell it, as I exited the station with my packed backpack in toe.

Ah, the city of Bath. Ok, I also really did love it here as well. This place held a special place in my heart, especially since Jane Austen lived here previously. It was like being close to her genius….. This radiant smile bloomed over my lips as I paused to toss my hair back, enjoying the fresh, warm, salty summer breeze. Then that grin soon turned mischievous.

Weeeeeeeeeeeeell, the station is quite a way from where Edwina and everyone is staying, and it was still light out. I was in the heart of the city; this magical, special city. Sure would be a shame to waste this opportunity. I never actually told my sister that I'd come straight there after Bath… And there was so much to do and see down here. I giggled to myself as my mind made up. Ah, screw it! I'm here now anyway. I'm gonna have some fun before I'm shackled to a week of "fun with the in-laws". This time was mine, and I was allowed to treasure it.

Feeling suddenly so much better, I stuck in my headphones and listened to some music as I explored the city, going to that famous bridge, cathedral, bath house, and so much more. I couldn't really go in anywhere since it was late and places were closing, but that was fine; I made it in time for the fudge shop! Wearing the world's biggest grin, I snacked on a caramel apple as I strolled around the Roman Baths, simply indulging myself. That apple did make me hungry though and it was getting close to six o'clock; time for dinner! Or at least something else to eat. Another mischievous grin passed my mouth as I began to head to Sally Lunn Buns café.

Here in the middle of downtown near the cathedral was this adorable two-store house which was converted into a café. One of the original owners, an immigrant girl named Sally Lunn, baked these massive dough balls here; rumour has it Jane Austen ate here more than once. It was popular, which made sense since their buns were DELICIOUS! Growing excited I rounded the corner to find a few people waiting in a make-shift line outside of the front door. There was a couple standing a way back and a young girl, a few years younger than me I'd say, standing off to the side. She saw me and we smiled at each other as I took my place in the cue, waiting patiently for someone to come out and get us. While I waited the girl made eye-contact with me again. She had a very friendly face and was quite beautiful. Something about the way she looked rang a bell inside my head, but I couldn't put my finger on it….. She shrugged in a casual manner.

"Looks like it might be a while," she told me and I also shrugged. "It's worth it. These are the best buns I've ever had." "Me too," she nodded. A moment of quiet fell between us until she broke it again. "Did you just to Bath?" "Yeah, an hour ago or so. Ugh, it's been a long day of traveling," I moaned and her headed nodded yet again. "Oh, for me too. It takes forever to get here now." "No doubt with all the train strikes," I commented, and she shook her head for the first time. "No, I got a ride here, but it still too all morning. This is a much-needed reprieve." "For me too," I laughed.

A server stuck her head out the door to see us. "I've just got one table ready now." The woman and I looked at each other, I motioned for her to go in. "You were here first. I'll wait." She hesitated, keeping her gaze lingering on me. Eventually she smiled again. "Would you like to join me?" "Are you sure? I don't want to interrupt anything," it was my turn to hesitate. "You're not; I'm here alone too. It'd be nice to have some company." "Well alright then! A table for two please," I addressed the server, who brought us inside to a tiny authentic wooden table on the ground floor. The woman and I sat down opposite each other. She removed her jacket and I took off my backpack, setting it on the floor beside my chair. The woman was in very fancy, elegant clothes; compared to her I looked like a dull spinster. But she seemed kind enough, not taking note of it. Her pale hands clasped together down on the table; I noticed a wedding ring on her left finger.

I sighed and glanced around the room; it was still in my beloved Georgian style. "Ah, I love it in here….." I heard myself saw out loud, and she nodded in total agreement. "Me too. I've always preferred the Georgian aesthetic." "Me too! That's so weird; most people like the Victorian or Elizabethan historical style." "Never much cared for it myself. The Georgian and Regency Era just has that…. something to it. I can't explain it." "No, no, I understand exactly what you mean. It has that pre-industrial age charm; the regal elegance without all the grime and poverty of the Victorian Era. Maybe that's why I love Bath so much…" These words stayed in my mouth for a moment. The women watched me keenly, letting her smile blossom further.

"Is this your first time in Bath?" She inquired curiously. "No, I've been here once before, back in my teenage years. I had heh, a bit of a Jane Austen phase." "Mmmmmm I love her books too. Pride and Prejudice is my favourite." "I'm more of a Persuasion girl myself, but maybe that's because I resonate with Anne Eliot. Heh, and do you with Elizabeth Bennett?" She laughed. "Well, I think that's more my sister. I'm an Emma, if anyone." "Well Emma's quite lovely, and rich- can't beat that." Her giggling continued. "I suppose so, though I can't say my husband is as…. valiant as Mr. Knightly."

I smiled. "Your husband? Is he here in Bath with you?" Her head shook. "No, he stayed home with our son. I'm just here visiting family….. or more like avoiding them right now," her eyes rolled and I chuckled. "You and me both. My sister's here, and she was very keen on me joining her…." "Oh? You didn't want to come?" She sounded surprised all of a sudden. I peered down at my own clasped hands on the table now too, pressing my palms together. "It's not that I didn't want to come. It's just that….. I'm super busy at the moment….." Tighter and tighter my palms pressed. "With work?" She ventured to query and I gently shook my head, glancing back up her way with a small grin. "Not exactly…." Not yet anyway.

I think she was going to ask me something else but our server- a man in a black and white uniform this time- approached our table. "Good evening, ladies." "Good evening," we both rang politely. "May I take your order?" I glanced to the woman as to give her the green light. "Ladies first," I added and she smiled. "A chocolate butter, please. And a Sally Lunn Blend tea with milk and sugar." "Excellent choice. And for you, miss?" He then turned to me. "Uh, a cinnamon butter bun and hot chocolate, please." "Wonderful. I'll put that through for you right away." "Thank you," we both called back as he took off. Then our grins returned to one another. She was so pretty and nice; I liked her already, I decided. And judging by the way she was smiling at me, I'd say she didn't hate me either. Both our fingers unfolded to grab our napkins and sliver-plated forks.

"Chocolate butter? I've never had that one before." "You should try it! It's delicious- better than Nutella." "Ah, I'm kinda in-love with my cinnamon bun," I admitted. "I've never tried that one either. I don't get to come here often; my family isn't keen on the food." "They don't know what they're missing," I rolled my eyes. Oh, the irony; Edwina wouldn't eat here either. The woman leaned forward a little.

"So where did you come from so late on the train?" "Uh, well….. erm, Oxford," I suddenly felt bashful, gazing downward. Her eyes widened slightly. "Oh? You live there?" "Um…. not yet. I'm…. kinda starting school there in the fall." She gasped in surprise. "Really? Like…. at Oxford." "Uh, yeah…. I'm getting my PhD there," it was weird talking about it aloud to strangers like this; felt kinda like I was bragging a little. But she didn't seem at all put off, instead beaming in stunned admiration.

"You are?! Really?! Wow! That's incredible! They have less than a ten precent admissions rate for PhD!" "I know…" My hand rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly. Man, this was uncomfortable. The only one I'd really told since moving here is Edwina; it felt like bragging to bring it up randomly. I doubt even Anthony knew… But the woman leaned forward even more, eager to discuss the topic at hand.

"Oh, that's so amazing! You must be REALLY smart!" My hands immediately shot up in front of me. "Oh no! No, I'm not smart. I'm just good in my niche field." "Good enough to get into Oxford. My older brothers went to Oxford." "Oh really? Did you go too?" Her head shook. "Nah, university wasn't really for me; that's more my sister's thing. And my brothers only went because our mother forced them to. They didn't really enjoy their time there…. Not to say that you won't! Academics just never really was their thing." "I understand that. My sister's the same way; she'd much rather get married and settle down. Not that there's anything wrong with that!" I instantly tacked on, making her laugh. Her hand rose up a tad. "It's ok. I'm just lucky; I met the love of my life when I was young, only nineteen years old." "N-Nineteen?!" I gasped shocked, but she nodded in complete calm. She rested her chin in her other hand's palm wistfully. "It all happened so fast… One thing led to another and we just… got married along the way."

I couldn't stop myself from smiling at her. There was more than a hint of romance, of love in her tone; it sounded like she really loved her husband. A twinge of pain pang through my heart. Daddy said young love like that never lasts….. That it's just a bunch of chemicals in our brains making us attracted to each other so we can breed. It'd die down eventually; she'd fall out of love with her husband eventually. I felt sorry for her, this lovely, beautiful, kind woman. I really didn't want that to happen to her; I wanted her to be the exception…. But everything my father ever taught me screamed otherwise. I must have been eying her a bit too long since she blinked my way curious again. The lines around her mouth relaxed a sliver.

"And you? Is there anyone special in your life?" "Ha! Hardly. I've got enough drama dealing my sister's own engagement," my arms dropped down miserably at my sides. Her grin began to fade. "Oh? It's not going well?" "Well, she's happy…. I think. The problem's not so much with her; it's her jerk of a fiancé." She chuckled softly then before leaning back in her seat. "So you don't like the guy?" "Like him?! I can barely stand him. I still can't believe she's going to marry someone like that." Her hand gave a dismissive wave. "Ah, he can't be all that bad…. Can he?" There was some hesitation her last two words. I was gripping the fork in my right hand annoyedly now. Nugh, Anthony! Even when he's not here he has to ruin a perfectly good bun meal. Oh well, maybe this was the ideal opportunity to vent; I didn't know this girl and I doubt she had any connections to the Bridgertons. Why not get all this pent-up rage off my chest once and for all? My eyes hardened as my breathing quickened its pace.

"Oh, he's bad. He's a stupid creep! He's got an ego the size of his big head, and he just loooooooooooves bossing people around, especially me. And you should hear the way he talks about women! Ugh! He's only marrying my sister cause she "fulfils" his absurdly long list of shallow requirements for a suitable wife. He doesn't actually love her; I don't even know if he respects her! He's just so… Nugh! I can't stand that guy!"

The woman listened attentively, waiting patiently for me to finish. When I was done my tirade, I had to suck in a few deep breaths, giving her time to finally speak. "Wow, you're right; he DOES sound like a creep. Have you talked to your sister about all this?" "Ugh, yes, but she doesn't seem to have a problem with his attitude. The guy's rich; like REALLY rich." "Oh, I see. So she's marrying him for his money then, huh?" "That's the basics of it, yeah. She's not really interested in a love-match, which is fine! But I just wished she picked someone more agreeable," someone like Friedrich.

The lady leaned back in her seat; this playful grin rolling across her face eventually. "Heh, and now she's dragging you into this mess?" "You can say that again. This guy! His old girlfriend even called me to warn me about him." "She did?!" Her eyes grew in astonishment as I nodded my head resolutely. "She told me he's super moody and never smiles around anyone," well, except for me apparently. The woman chuckled to herself, lowering her head. "Sounds like my brother." "Oh trust me, your brother can't be anywhere near as horrible as this jerk. He's in a league of his own. And get this?! He bought my sister a car when she doesn't even have her driving licence! He doesn't know anything about her!"

"Maybe he also doesn't want a love-match with your sister, so he's not putting in any effort into the relationship?" She pondered. "Well, she did say that he isn't interested in falling in love either… But I mean the man puts in the bare minimum into his farce of a "relationship"! He put more thought into my gift than my sister, HIS fiancée!" Her eyes widened a sliver. "Wait, he got you a gift?" "More like a peace treaty. We met….. before I knew who he was, and I sort of wrecked my bike. He replaced it for me," my hand lifted to rub the back of my neck awkwardly.

She blinked at me again. "Oh! Well that was nice of him." "Yeah, it was….. It brought me to tears actually. The guy's so weird; he even has moments where he's even almost nice to me." "Really?" Her eyebrow raised, and I caught onto what she was thinking immediately, waving both my hands out in front of me again. "That's not the problem! The problem is that he's totally inattentive to my sister. It's her he should be nice to." "Maybe he's being nice to you cause he wants you to like him? You're going to be in-laws, after all." "Mmmmmmm, you're probably right about that," I gazed down towards my hands thoughtfully. The woman watched me a moment before smiling.

"Heh, well if he is anything like my eldest brother, he'll be a pill to swallow. That guy needs to find some real love in his life before it's too late." "Oh, I'm sure he will. Anyone related to you must be lovely," I mirrored her gentle expression. Our eyes locked, merely resting on one another. Then I rubbed the back of my neck again a tad regretfully. "Ah, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have vented to you like that. You don't need to hear all my life problems." "Not worry! Believe me, I've had my own family and romance drama myself; I'm no stranger to any of this." "Thanks for listening all the same; it was really kind of you. I'll cover our meal." "Oh, you don't have to do that!" "Yes, I do. You listened to me, now I want to thank you properly," I said and her smiled grew naturally. Her eyes lowered in a gentle fashion.

"That's really thoughtful of you. How 'bout this? You cover this time, and next time we'll come and I'll raddle off all my drama for you. Then it'll be my turn pay." "Heh, sounds good! Maybe we can throw in a walk or trip to the Roman baths too." "I'd like that. I wasn't expecting to make any friends during my time here in Bath, but I guess I just got lucky," and I nodded at her. "We both did. I'm glad to have run into you, and someone with such good tastes in buns!"

She pulled out her phone and opened a new contact page. I typed in my number and name, and gave it back to her. "Kate?" She read the screen. I nodded. "Yep! My name's Kate," and she responded with yet another kind smile. "Pleased to meet you, Kate.

I'm Daphne Basset."