"The first time I saw them together, I knew….."

Daphne and I got an Uber to the estate. It was after nine o'clock, getting close to ten now and she thought it was too late to walk ourselves- despite it being the safest area of Bath, but whatever. She and I were shocked to hear that we were staying in the same street, never mind the same neighbourhood. So getting a ride together just made sense; we could spilt the cost. Or so I planned.

The car pulled up in front of a house that had a free parking spot in front of it. It wasn't the right house, but close enough. I unbuckled my seatbelt and Daphne pulled out her wallet before smiling up at me. "You go ahead. I'll cover this." I hesitated to open the door, glancing back her way. "You sure?" "Yeah. You got dinner and it's not that much. I'll meet you outside." "Well, alright," grabbing my backpack, I stepped out of the vehicle. It was pretty dark out by now; the streetlight lit up a good portion of the sidewalk, but that's it. Closing the car door behind me, I dug around in my backpack to find my phone. It had the address on it which I didn't remember. I'd also forgotten that I turned my phone on airplane mode almost ten hours ago. Edwina was expecting me here at five….. Oops. My eyes widened as I turned off airplane mode, only to discover twelve missed calls and over twenty texts from a variety of numbers, some I recognized and others I didn't. Before checking the address I opened Messenger to send a quick message to my sister that I'd be there in a minute or so.

Well, turns out I didn't have to do that. Before I could type half a sentence, one of the doors down the street burst open. I looked up to see my sister, as well a bunch of other people, come out of it. Edwina practically screamed my name, running down the steps and towards me with wide opened arms. I was too stunned to react as she threw her arms tightly around my neck, holding me really close.

"Oh my god, Kate! You're ok! You're ok!" She cried again and again, like this was a situation to panic about. It really wasn't THAT big a deal; I'm a fully grown woman, for crying out loud. It shouldn't be this big emergency when I go missing for four or five hours. Still, I did feel a little bad, not realizing my phone was still off. I hugged her back for a minute before retracting my arms. "I'm fine, I'm fine, really." And with that, I noticed the group of whom I assumed to be Bridgertons come up behind us, including a very pissed-off looking Anthony. Our eyes locked momentarily before Edwina grabbed the side of both my arms, still frantic.

"I thought the trains broke down and you were stuck in Oxford or something! We didn't you answer my calls?! You have a portable battery in case your phone dies. Why were you ignoring me?!" "I wasn't….. ignoring you. I just…. had my phone off for a while. I didn't think you'd worry," that was kind of the truth. I left out the part of being angry at my sister and wanting to be left alone because of it, but I was over that now. "You didn't think I'd be worried?!" Edwina, on the other hand, was clearly livid at me, and she wasn't the only one.

Anthony stepped forward, his hands firmly clasped behind his back. He shot me a punishingly harsh glare. "Do you have any idea what time it is?" I immediately frowned back, unimpressed with his dominating tone. "Uh, yes? I don't see what the big deal is. I'm a grown woman, and this is Bath! What's the worst that can happen here?" "That's not the point. Do you have any idea how worried we've been?" "How worried you've been," the girl I knew to be as Eloise snickered under her breath, earning a sharp look from her brother, who instantly glared back in my direction. "You told your sister you'd be here at five. We expected you at five." "I told Edwina that I'd come as soon as I could. Five was a baseline, not a promise. Look, I'm sorry to have worried you all, but I'm fine! I don't see what you're so mad about." Anthony's shoulders stiffened. "You can hardly blame us when we had no idea where you were or what time you'd get here! And another thing…!"

"Kate?" I spun around as we all blinked to the confused Daphne finally exiting the car. She eyed us like she didn't know what was going on, and I'd totally forgotten she was there for a second. "Oh Daphne…" I began but was cut off when she suddenly glanced to the swarm of Bridgertons opposite me, particularly gazing at Anthony wide-eyed. "Anthony?" She next asked, and this hard lump started to form in the pit of my stomach. Oh no… It couldn't be….. That's impossible!

All the Bridgertons appeared equally as flabbergasted as we were. The only old woman present, whom I assumed to be their mother, pointed at me directly. "Daphne? Do you know this woman, dear?" "U-Uh, yes! W-We met in town. Um, but Kate….. How do you know?" Edwina's eyes lit up in surprised delight as her head turned toward Anthony. "Oh, Anthony? Is this your sister, Daphne?"

I couldn't have gasped louder. In a pure state of utter horror and overwhelming embarrassment, I shot around to face Daphne, mouth hanging open. "No….. You're not…. You're not related to him, are you?!" I had meant to say "them" so to imply all the Bridgertons, but they weren't the ones I was ranting and raving about a few hours prior. This mischievous, sudden knowing grin curled across her beautiful lips as her nodded slowly nodded, and I wanted to die. My hand lifted to cover my face in agony. Disappear…. I'd give anything to disappear just then. This'll teach me to opening up to strangers so easily. My lips sputtered as I tried- and failed- to think of a decent-enough apology.

"I…. I am so, so sorry. Words cannot explain….." I sounded like a blithering mess, causing her to burst out laughing. This of course deeply perplexed all on the other side of us, who watched the scene in a sort of awe. Daphne's hand reached up to rest on my right shoulder.

"That's quite alright; I thought it was rather funny. So he's the "stupid creep", huh?" "No! I mean… I didn't mean that! Don't listen to me! Nugh, I shouldn't have said anything. I'm an idiot!" "Haha, no, no; I get it. You're just new to all this Bridgerton madness and chaos. You'll get used to it," she laughed, and I gazed up at her unsure.

Anthony's upset lips pursed together like he was about to blow a gasket. "Would you two mind explaining what's going on here?" He demanded, making both of us blink over at him. Daphne waved her hand flippantly in his direction, as if to banish away the tension. "Oh, stop it. Kate and I met at the Sally Lunn bun shop earlier and spent a very pleasant evening together. I didn't know that you'd already been introduced." "And I didn't know she was your sister," I tacked on honestly, humiliated. Edwina's eyes drifted between Daphne and me in a curious manner, like she was contemplating the scenario and deciding if it was good or not. She must have decided that it was good since she soon smiled, stepping near to us.

"This is good! You've met and like each other!" "Yes," Daphne flashed me a kind grin, which I hesitantly tried to match. Other introductions were next made, first to Daphne's mother and the rest of her siblings- she had seven of them, including Anthony. He stood off to the side with a sour expression the whole time, keeping his hands clenched behind his back. Or he did until Daphne announced that it was getting late and I'd probably like a bath before bed, to which she was right. Everyone began to head back inside together, Daphne with her mother and Edwina, the kids together, and Eloise with Colin and Benedict. That left me and Anthony out there by ourselves for a moment- a very awkward moment. I didn't want to say anything as I went to climb the staircase, but just as my hand grabbed the rail Anthony's voice made me stop. "Kate, a moment," he said chillily. Gulping slightly, I nervously glanced over my shoulder. I don't know why I felt so weird and uncomfortable; probably because I just bashed him to his own sister. That was real "smart" of me; insert eyeroll here.

Anthony glared back in my direction, taking a stern step forward. I didn't budge an inch, waiting for him to make the first move. His tense lips parted a sliver. "I know you weren't keen on coming to Bath, but for the remainder of your time here, you WILL keep your phone both on and on your person. Do you understand?" "Excuse me?!" I gasped, purely astonished by his audacity. But Anthony wasn't backing down, taking another step my way. The distance between us was closing now….. Something I always hated…. since it was easier to see his face- his gorgeous, flawless face…..

"I'll not have you worry Edwina like that again." "Edwina?! Edwina's never worried about me before. I came back six hours late in Athens once, and she didn't even know I'd left the hotel room!" My voice raised. So did his. "All the same, I want you to keep your phone on you. It's a matter of safety, Kate! Think of your sister." "My sister wouldn't worry on her own; that's not her style. She wouldn't worry unless someone put the idea into her head…." I verbally heard what I said out loud, and my eyes immediately widened upon realization. Hey, wait; that's true. Edwina rarely ever worried about me disappearing for hours on end before; she'd never had a problem with me turning my phone on airplane mode in the past. It was usually the other way around, with me concerned about her when she went out clubbing and bar-hopping all hours of the night. It wouldn't be Edwina's first instinct to worry….. Just like Eloise had said.

I didn't say anything following this, but simply staring at Anthony. He too seemed to catch on to what I was thinking, and instantly turned his head to the side, clearing his throat awkwardly. "Yes, well….. In any respect, please keep your phone on for the duration of your stay…. just in case someone needs to get a hold of you." Anthony….. My heart began to beat in the wonderful, magical way he could cause it to. My hand was gripping the handrail so hard, it was starting to hurt. "Are you asking me… or telling me?" There was a distinct difference here.

Anthony's eyes reached over to mine, holding them intently. Our expressions completely matched as he took his time to answer. I doubt he was contemplating an answer; he already had one in mind. No, it was like….. he was just enjoying a quiet, still moment between us… and my heart was beating so loudly, it was ringing in my ears. His lips eventually parted a tiny sliver.

"I'm telling you. Don't make me worry about you like that again," he said so resolutely, so sincerely….. My own mouth opened as I tried to catch my non-existent breath. "You were worried….?" I asked, already knowing the answer. Anthony didn't reply, but kept his eyes glued onto me. That's when I gave a gentle, warm-hearted smirk, suddenly feeling all sorts of indescribable ways inside.

"Heh, you're telling me that the infamous Lord Viscount Bridgerton has time to worry about little, old, inconsequential me?" My tone was playful and mocking. His was not. He simply, naturally lowered his head a tad, never moving those glorious eyes of his once. "Being a viscount has given me no end of worries; mere trifles, like pebbles in my shoe. Worrying about you though…. is a brand-new sort of pain, and one I'd rather not get used to." "Anthony….." Both my lips trembled. Anthony came over to me, only stopping mere inches from where I was standing. He was close enough that I had to look up at him, and him down at me. His mouth opened a tiny bit, as did mine. We stared so deeply, effortlessly at each other….. I think the right word is "beheld"; we "beheld" one another in that instant. "So yes, I am telling you. I am commanding you, and asking you, and begging you, and beseeching you, and ordering you… Don't make my life harder than it already is.

You're already a headache enough as is….. and one I'm steadily growing accustom to."