In the dark night Kathani arrived in the woods of Aubrey Hall along with Penelope and Sophie by her side.
As soon she reached the little clearing she saw Philip, Michael, Jacopo, Genevieve and the final member of their group Brimsily was already there waiting for them.
She didn't waste time as she stared at Brimsily and inquired. "Prince Frederick! Tell me everything you know about him!"
"He is heir to the Prussian empire throne which he will get according to their law on his twenty-fifth birthday which will be in two months."
Kathani nodded her head as he continued. "He joined the Naval forces when he was seventeen and created a name for himself. At the age of twenty-one he retired from naval and joined the Military and provided aid of Military forces to Prince Regent until last season when he retired and joined London season to find himself wife as its law that he had to get married before his twenty-fifth birthday in order to get throne."
"He was quite impressive last season and almost got engaged to Daphne but somehow Duke of Hastings beat him as he proposed to her first." Penelope informed everyone.
"No wonder Duke and Duchess were uncomfortable seeing him." Sophie mused. Penelope, however, didn't agree. "There was no need for them to get uncomfortable because Prince respectfully left soon after Daphne got engaged."
"A gentleman through and through." Genevieve said rather fondly, making Jacopo frown as he asked. "If he failed last season then why did he return this season? Are there no girls in Prussia?"
Brimsily sighed as he replied. "I don't know the exact reason for his sudden appearance but from what I could gather with his and Queen conversation is that he is here to visit a friend."
"Still I want you to keep a close eye on him. His arrival this close to the deadline and with everything going on maybe a coincidence but after everything I have seen in this world I know one thing that there is no such thing as coincidence."
With that she turned around and walked back inside towards her fiancé who was sleeping peacefully inside protection of this home.
Anthony was feeling restless as he sleepy tried to hold his Priyaey tightly in his arms.
It took him few moment to realize that its not his fiancé delectable body in his arms but something much softer.
Opening his eyes he found his face inches away from Pillow that Kate was using and his fiancé was no where to found.
He groggily sat up and looked towards the open window. It was still too dark so where could she have gone?
Before he could decide to get up and get dress before he went to search for his fiancé, his bedroom door opened and Kate stepped inside.
Still dressed in her white nightgown and purple shawl. He saw a glass of milk and a plate of fruit cake in her hands.
As she stepped inside her eyes fell on him and she looked momentarily surprised to see him awake. "Anthony! How long have you been awakened?
"I woke up just a few minutes ago only to find you weren't there but your pillow in my arms." He explained as she crossed the room, placed her pillow back in its place and settled beside him. "Sorry, I couldn't sleep so I thought warm milk and your cooks delicious cake might help me fall asleep."
"You should have woken me up, I could have accompanied you to the kitchen." Anthony told her as he helped himself with Cake while she drink her milk.
"I didn't want to disturb you." She said while wiping crumbs of his lips and squealing when he playfully bit her thumb.
Once they finished, Anthony put a plate and glass on his side table while Kate took her shawl off and settled back in his arms.
For awhile they simply laid together as Anthony gently caresses her hair. Her hand was running over his chest and then he felt it ventured downwards as she finally reached his member and started stroking it gently.
"Hmmm." Anthony hummed as his hand on her hair grabbed the back of her head. He tilted her face and started kissing her while his other hand reached out to open her front button so he could play with her breast.
For a few seconds they both were enjoying these touches, her hand stroking his member until he became hard and leaking in her hands.
His hands were also coaxing sweet moans out of his Priyaey's mouth as he pinched her breasts until they are harden peaks.
"Anthony!" She moans against his lips in a pleading way and soon he moves on top of her.
His hand lifted her nightgown around her hips as he touched her opening and found her drenched for him. "Fuck! You are so wet for me!" He moans in a most ungentlemanly way as she tightens around his finger.
He fucked her for a few seconds with his fingers before replacing them with his rock hard member.
"Ah!" She screamed loudly while cumming after one trust making him shiver in delight how tightly she gripped him as she came around him.
Once her breathing got even he started moving his hips and with each pass their breathing started to get erratic as her walls clenched his member tightly.
He felt her hand roaming over his back until Kate reached his ass and gave it squeeze as she breathed. "Faster darling! Fuck me faster!"
Hearing such crude words spilling in moment of passion makes him loose control. Anthony latches on her breast as he drove hard and fast inside her making her scream his name.
"Anthony! AH! AH!"
"Fuck Kate!" So beautiful! My love! My fiancé! My wife!"
"Yes! Yes! Your Wife! I am yours!" She leaned forward to kiss him passionately and after a few wild snaps she screamed against his mouth as she came hard around him.
Suddenly Anthony was pushed on his back and before he could understand anything his Kate was already crawling down as she grabbed his member and started lapping it.
Anthony couldn't believe it but apparently she loves sucking him after she came around him. He gently grabbed her hair as she took him deeper in her mouth so that he could feel the back of it.
It was the most erotic sight as she moved away, her drool sticking around his wet member as she gasped. "Anthony I love you."
With that she started sucking him earnestly and after few trust he screamed her name as he came deep in her mouth.
For a while his eyes got cross eye as he got back from his pleasurable high.
Once he found his bearings he found his love kissing his sweaty brow while touching him soothingly.
"Kate." He finally says breathlessly as he gently touches her cheek. "I love you too." She smiled and laid in his arms.
He was in bliss feeling immense happiness after such a long time. He is looking forward to loving this woman his entire life and he can't wait to create a family with her.
Suddenly he shifted so they were watching each other as he asks the question ever since they got engaged. "Kate, Sweet heart have you thought about having children with me? I know you told me you have miscarriage pregnancy with your late husband but have you thought about our children? You know if you want we can start right away after all we are getting married in a week."
He watched carefully as so many emotions passed on her face until her eyes became vacant as she said in a calm and composed voice. "I cannot find a man more worthy of being a father than you my love."
Anthony felt his heart blossoming with happiness but before he could say anything she averted her eyes as she said. "Still I need time to adjust, you know with new family, new house hold and as your wife and Countess Bridgerton. I need some time before I add being a mother into this list."
Logical she was right but still he was a bit sad as he asked. "How long do you need?"
"A year at least." She replied still unable to meet his eyes and he couldn't let this one thing diminish their upcoming happiness. Lifting her face so she can see sincerity in his eyes, he assures him. "Take your time and when you are ready we will make little Edmund and Kathani."
She gasped, her eyes watering as she asked. "Edmund? Kathani?"
He smiled as he shared his deepest wish. "I want to honour two people who meant the world to me before you. I hope you do not mind that I want to name..."
He didn't get the chance to finish as she pulled him in her arms and kissed him with so much love that for a moment he could feel her soul in that kiss. Finally she broke away with a teary face as she told him. "Just when I thought I loved you enough, you said something to make me love you more."
He gave her his pleasing smile as he told her. "Loving you will never be enough my darling and I promise I will love you more with each breath I take."
It was one promise that he knew he would keep it as he becomes her husband and father of her children.
Next morning everyone gathered around the breakfast table and waited as Queen and Prince arrived.
As everyone bowed and curtsied them Kathani noticed Frederick making his way towards Edwina as he asked her to sit beside him.
Edwina blushed as they re arranged the seating arrangements so that Edwina could sit beside him.
"Lady Bridgerton, I hope you spare me time to show your Magnificent Gardens." Queen says and Violet looked deeply honoured as she replied. "It will be my honour."
"Perhaps Ms Edwina can join us on this tour." Prince Frederick suggests making everyone stare at him and then at Edwina, who blushed hard as Queen replied with an amusing smile. "Of course Frederick we will make sure Ms Edwina joins us on this tour."
Kathani heard Simon sighing in relief. "Thank God he moves on."
Daphne discretely hushed him while Anthony and his siblings laughed.
Kathani, on the other hand, was observing Prince so intensely that Penelope had to remind her. "Glaring at Prince suspiciously wont do you good." She whispered and Kathani averted her eyes planning ways to get Edwina alone.
She did get a chance later when she invited Edwina to choose her tiara for wedding.
"Oh I love this pearl and diamonds tiara."
Kathani watched as her little sister placed it carefully on her head and they both admired how it looked on top of her veiled head.
Taking it off Kathani couldn't help herself anymore as she turned to ask her. "I noticed you and Prince Frederick were quite comfortable with each other. Do you know each other from before."
Kathani watched as she blushed hard and nodded her head. "I knew Prince for many years actually. Our families are quite close and we often spent summer in Prussia when I was young. Last year our friendship grew stronger after Prince Frederick had failed season but before he left he promised he would return this season only for me."
Kathani was stunned but Edwina didn't notice as she sighed dreamily. "Truth is I love him since I understand the meaning of love and luckily when I told my grandparents that I wanted to wait for him in case he made his intentions clear towards me they both were happy to support me but encouraged me to have other options too. That's why I was not courting anyone seriously and now with Prince Frederick here I hope he also starts looking at me as his potential wife."
Kathani felt this dreaded feeling as she asked. "If he proposed will your grandparents give him their blessing?"
In answer Edwina gave her confident smile as she says. "Oh! They would be delighted if he ever proposed to me! After all who can be better match for their granddaughter then A prince and future King of Prussia."
Kathani and Anthony were following a little bit behind as they watched Violet showing gardens to Queen and Prince.
Kathani was watching how closely Prince was holding Edwina by his side. Her eyes narrowed as she watched Prince caressing Edwina's hands in an intimate way.
"You know we can trust him for little Dina." Anthony voice startled her as he gave her an understanding stare.
" I know you have noticed the attention he is bestowing to her and I can vouch for his character. Prince Frederick is quite a decent gentleman of my acquaintance, no dept, Prussia is thriving under his care." Anthony informed her but it still wasn't enough to placate her.
"Everyone is saying he courted Daphne last year."
Anthony nodded as they continued watching them. "Its true, in fact if Simon was not in the picture then there is a higher chance Daphne would have chosen him. He was quite gentlemen about the whole matter and respectfully stepped back once he heard about Daphne and Simon loving each other."
This information didn't placate her in fact it reminds her of another similar story like this. A prince who lost his intended because she fell in love with another.
They crossed paths at old out house when suddenly everyone stopped and Kathani watched as the Queen admired the house that once belonged to Sharma's. "This is a beautiful house."
"Ah! Yes, my husband has gifted it once to our dear friend but for the past few years Anthony has using it whenever he visits Aubrey Hall."
Before Anthony could stop them he watched as his mother led their party inside.
Kathani was last to enter and once she stepped inside she found the home she knew once is completely changed and not look old at all.
Apparently Violet also noticed these changes as she turned to stare at Anthony. "What happened to the house?"
They watched as Anthony grimaced nervously. "Apologies Your Majesty. Mother, I didn't want you or our family to worry unnecessarily but three years back there was an accident. A fire happened on the grounds and even though we were able to put it out before it could cause severe damage unfortunately we couldn't save this house. Everything burned inside and I had to build it again."
While everyone around them asked many questions regarding that fire Kathani's heart filled with disappointment as she thought about the possibility of evidence being perished in fire.
Kathani didn't waste time and informed her friends that very night about the fire at outhouse. "The outhouse was burned three years ago and if there was any evidence hidden there, chances are high that it perished along with the house."
"So what are we going to do now?" Philip asks, feeling worried about hitting another dead end.
"Anthony said he managed to salvage some things during the fire that he kept in the shed. You, Jacopo and Michael will search for it later and if you fail we will continue searching until no place is left."
Kathani was not optimistic but it hurt when next morning Philip told her that they found no evidence among the things they found in the shed.
Over the next few days, while the family was busy with wedding preparations and entertaining the Queen, no one noticed how sometimes the few people in the house slipped away from time to time.
Penelope and Sophie slipped away from the girls group as they all were checking out the last fittings of Bride's dress.
Well Colin and Benedict did encounter with them but after last time they learned their lesson and didn't question the girls when they saw them walking out of their Father's private sitting room.
Before they could say anything Penelope started making excuse. "This house is so big, I was lost on my way to Eloise room and Sophie was kind enough to guide me in the right direction."
"Its no problem Ms Penelope. Now if Mr Bridgerton can excuse us I would like to escort you to your bedroom."
Benedict knew enough to move out of the way as Colin waved Penelope, still dazed by seeing her in blue dress. "Goodnight Pen!"
Penelope smiled shyly as she waved back. "Goodnight Colin."
Benedict couldn't help but groan at his love struck brother but then his eyes fell on Sophie's long hair and he couldn't help himself as he called after her. "Good night Sophie."
He watched as Sophie turned around in surprise before a small smile graced her lips as she nodded her head and walked away with Penelope.
Aside from that one little disturbance, the wedding was a perfect opportunity as they continued searching the Aubrey Hall for evidence.
The only downside was that they couldn't find anything yet and with each passing day Kathani was getting confirmation that the evidence must have perished in out house fire.
Finally two days before the wedding Kathani was forced to halt the search.
"The guests are going to arrive tomorrow." She told everyone on the last night of their search. "With the wedding rehearsal tomorrow and then the wedding taking place the day after tomorrow we won't have time to search any more places so I will resume with the search after everyone left."
"But you will only be here for ten days for your honeymoon?" Michael reminds her.
"I will make do with the time I have left. Meanwhile Penelope, I want you to try hard to make Colin proposed to you so we can have another wedding to continue with our search."
"Kathani we need to prepare for worst case scenario. What would we do if we didn't find the evidence?" Jacopo asks with a hint of desperation in his voice.
"That's where Brimsily and Michael came in. Guys when you return I want you to find anything about those men who were aiding Viscount Bridgerton. The owners of those seals." Brimsily and Michael stared at each other before agreeing to plan as Brimsily assured her. "I will do my best to find out whose those seals belong to."
"Great the rest of you keep an eye on Prince and Edwina. I want to know everything that will happen while Anthony and I are here for our honeymoon."
With the plans being finalized the next day Kathani stood with her fiancé and family to receive the wedding guests.
She was happy when the Dorset family arrived and she rushed to greet Uncle Timothy who was sitting in a special wheelchair.
"Welcome Dorset! Welcome to Aubrey Hall. " She watched as Anthony and Phillip shake hands with Thomas while Violet looked delighted to see Sarah again.
"Oh it's so good to see you again after such a long time."
While others were too busy they didn't notice as a carriage stopped until Francesca screamed. "Look! Aunt Billie! Aunt Poppy has arrived!"
Kathani stood up and saw familiar faces stepping out of the carriage and then two men descended after their wives making Kathani gasp as she finally recognized them.
The men uncle Edmund could trust with his life.
"What's the matter?!" Philip ask who saw her shock face. "
The seals GR and AR! It belongs to them!" She pointed towards two men who were greeting Anthony by hugging him affectionately.
"Who are they!?" Philip watched as they left the group and walked towards Timothy Dorset.
"They are Anthony's uncles." Kathani whispered back in shock. "George Rokesby and Andrew Rokesby!"
And as she watched both men greeting Uncle Timothy with so much respect but there was pain in their eyes too, she knew for sure that she may not have found the evidence but this wedding had given her Uncle Edmund's old allies.