Kathani Sharma is known to have a short temper most of the time and there are only some things that could extremely tic her off.
Today she added one man on top of that list as they returned from the races with seething Kate, who was still complaining about that vexing Viscount as they enter Lady Danbury sitting room.
"That egoistic man! How dare he plot against me to win my sister's affection!"
Edwina grimaced and was about to comfort her sister when they all realized someone was waiting for them in the sitting room. "Matt!"
Kathani's anger disappeared as she stared at the young man in front of her. "Matthew Bagwell?"
They watched as Matthew stood up and bowed a little in greetings. "Lady Mary, Edwina, Didi."
Lady Danbury eyed at this young man who apparently seemed familiar with Sharma family as suddenly both Edwina and Mary's eyes lit up an even Kate's mood seems to be settled who was now smiling at this man. "Oh Mathew! This is truly great surprise seeing you here."
"I am glad Didi." He stared at Edwina who was now blushing behind her sister. "I am glad to arrive just in time to join you in this season."
Before Kate could respond she heard clearing of a throat.
"Lady Danbury!" Her mama stepped forward as she introduced their old friend. "Lady Danbury this is Mathew Bagwell, his father and my late husband both worked for Maharaja. You must have heard of Senior Major of Delhi Sir Morris Bagwell."
"Ah! I have met your parents long ago but I thought your family is settled down in India?"
"That we are but it was my mother's wish that I attend this season and find a suitable bride for myself."
Lady Danbury nodded her head but there is inkling in her mind, after all its unlikely this gentlemen can find a willing girl to leave London behind and travel all the way to India. If he was under her care she would have advised him to return and find his bride from where he came from but since he is not her concern... "In that case I wish you the best of luck."
Soon Lad Danbury excuses herself to retire for a day and Kate also excuses herself. "Its great to see you again but please excuse me because today was a hard day and I need some rest before tonight's soiree which you are invited too."
"Then I will see you tonight Didi." Kate smiled and left as Matthew, Edwina and Mary settled down to enjoy conversation with an old friend.
She was halfway towards her room when she realized to send a footman with the list of people she had planned to invite.
Quickly grabbing the list from her room she headed downstairs to find a footman.
Once she handed the list she was ready to return to her room when she heard her sister's voice from the hallway. "I cannot Marry you Matthew, your parents made it clear that they cannot take care of my entire family and neither can you! So as much as I love you, it is still less than how much I love my family."
Kate could only stand in shock as tears fell from her eyes, she pressed her hand to cover her mouth to stop her gasping breath while hearing this conversation between Matthew, Edwina and Mary.
"As Edwina informed you in her last few letters, we recently found out the lengths Kathani went to keep us afloat after my husband's death. My poor daughter sacrificed so much for us, even her pride when she reached out to my wretched parents for help."
She could hear her Mama in tears as she continues. "Poor Kathani fell into their trap by agreeing their condition. I cannot imagine the pain she must be suffering alone all this time and it was sheer luck that Edwina and I found out about those letters otherwise it would have been too late for us to make our decision."
Mary let out a huge sigh as she informed Matt.
"And that decision is for Edwina to marry first rich suitor who will not require dowry and who is rich enough to take responsibility of myself and Kate so she would not have to leave us like my parents demanded."
"It is the only way to stop Didi from sacrificing her happiness for our sake."
Kate cried harder when Mary agreed with her sister. "It is the only way to keep this family intact even if it came at the cost of your love."
Mary told him sympathetically as Edwina stared away with broken heart.
Kate waited with beating heart when finally Matthew stood up and walked to kneel in front of Edwina. "Please do not sacrifice our love. If I know Didi she will be devastated if she ever finds out what you did to keep her in your life."
"Even then she would still be part of my life, which is far better than her living alone for the rest of her life." Edwina told him with determined voice, leaving no room for doubt as she continued. "All I have to do is accept a proposal from a rich suitor and it seems Viscount Bridgerton is going to be that man who is going to give me my sister back."
Kate's eyes turned horrified as she ran towards her room. Once inside she tried to wrap her brain around a few facts.
Number one her mother and sister knew about her deal.
Number two, they are ready to sacrifice Edwina one true love to keep her in their life.
But worst of all, Edwina will willingly bind herself in loveless marriage for her sake and that she will let that happen no matter what cost she has to pay.
Anthony knew he was making a fool out of himself like these other gentlemen but he could not help feeling triumph in his heart when not only he attended this gathering uninvited but Lady Danbury listened to him over Ms Sharma.
The stubborn lady was still glaring at him in disdain when he began to recite Benedict's poetry. "What is it to admire a woman."
The more he said these words the more it felt so wrong coming out of his mouth and the triumph he was feeling seconds ago has now completely vanished.
Anthony was feeling fraud when he said. "To honor..." His voice flattered as he stared at Ms Sharma who was now staring at him with deep disappointment and to his surprise pain as she shook her head and quietly marched out of the room without hearing what he had to say.
He stared dumbfounded and hurt for some reason with her departure.
"Well done Lord Bridgerton." Ms Edwina began to cheer for him probably to save him from this embarrassing incident and it seemed others followed her example as they began to applaud for him while few cheered for his courage to attempt this poetry reading.
Anthony, on the other hand, was feeling worst and quickly he excused himself to remove himself from this humiliating situation.
He had just crossed Lady Danbury's gardens towards his carriage when he spotted Ms Sharma who was pacing angrily for some reason and for reasons unknown to him, he went towards Ms Sharma so that he could get bottom of these new feelings that came out of nowhere in his heart just like this woman.
Kate was pacing angrily while trying to keep herself from falling apart.
She did not know who is the cause for such anger.
The Viscount, who made this game of tug and war between them as both of them trying to pull Edwina on their side. Was she angry with her mother and sister for finding out her truth and now they made plans for themselves.
Or in truth she is angry on her circumstances that ruined everything in her life as well as those she loves.
She wiped away her tears and tried to calm herself down when she heard a voice. "Was my poetry that good to make you cry."
Anthony hoped his joke would lighten her mood but apparently it only irked her. "I was crying because my sister is planning to bind herself to a man whose words are opposite of what he desires."
Anthony fumed as he tries to clarify. "First thing, for your sister to bind with myself, we first needed to court which is something we are unable to start because of you!"
She was about to retort but Anthony was not done yet. "And secondly, my words are not meaningless because I am offering your sister a kind of marriage that exists in our society. She will have the name of a prestigious family, respect, riches and everything that any girl in marriage mart dreamed of achieving."
Anthony watched as Ms Sharma looked thoroughly frustrated by his words as she yells back. "What about love My Lord because even though love is the furthest thing you desire in your marriage, it is the first thing my sister once dreamed of having in her!"
Something she said must have caught Viscount's interest as he inquires in a hopeful voice. "You said once? So does this mean your sister does not require love in her marriage?"
To Anthony's surprise all the fight left from Ms Sharma's mind who then burst into tears. "Love is the reason my sister will sacrifice her happiness."
She fell on the bench, her body shaking with sobs while Anthony stared at her in confusion. "I do not understand?"
Kate could not explain herself why but at that moment it seemed her heart burst open as she began to recount the tragic tale of three women who were ready to sacrifice anything for the sake of another.
By the time she finished speaking Anthony found himself settled beside her.
His hands itching to reach out and comfort this young woman who face similar and yet in her case worst circumstances all her life.
At least Anthony had Bridgerton name, Viscountcy and above of all riches to provide his family but even still he struggled so much and now hearing Ms Sharma struggles he respects her greatly because she did not have any title, name, male relative or riches to take care of her family but not only she managed her family but was able to raise a Diamond by teaching her everything with her limited resources.
"Now you see My Lord, if you insisted on this game and proposed to my sister, Edwina would not hesitate for a second and say yes. Even if it came at the cost of breaking her heart and Matthew's heart. She would do it so that I would not leave my family behind."
Anthony sighed as he felt her pain because even though he did not want love for himself, he could understand the pain of lost love.
"You both are wonderful ladies Ms Sharma and yes I could not in good conscious bind your sister in marriage if her heart belongs to another."
Kathani looked up in shock and found understanding in Lord Bridgerton eyes as he continues. "You see my father also passed away when I was a young lad of ten and eight, I understand the pressure of duties and I did sacrifice many things for the sake of my family."
"Just like me?" Kate concluded in wonder and then she realized something. "Your mother?" She felt her breath hitched but she had to ask. "Did your mother also get consumed by her grief like my mother did?"
Her heart break for this man as Lord Bridgerton eyes filled with sadness as he nods his head. "That is the reason love is the furthest thing I desire because I saw the ugly end of it."
She wanted to argue but Lord Bridgerton shake his head to stare at her. "But we are not talking about myself, what are you planning to do about your sister's situation? Even if I stop pursuing her she will still marry another rich suitor or you will go with your original plans and still break your sister's heart because even if you left Mr Bagwell is not part of nobility to fit your grandparents require."
But as he asks all these questions Ms Sharma's mind seems far away until she says something that he could never expected out of her mouth. "Or we could get married."
For a while Anthony stared at her dumbfounded. He was certain he had heard her wrong. "Can you say that again?"
Kate knew her sudden proposition must sounded ridicules to his ears but she had to present herself as the perfect option. "Look, I understand we started on the wrong foot and I know that my blood is not noble enough in your eyes to bear your children."
"Those words were not meant for you." Anthony reminds her but once again she ignores him and continues what she has to say. "Aside from that, I fit every category for a woman you are searching for as your Viscountess."
Anthony stared at her in disbelief but Kate was not like those shy debutante as she began to state the facts with confidence and a hint of desperation. "I am still young enough to bare your heirs and spare or any number of children you require."
Anthony gulped suddenly feeling warm when he thought about children with this woman, the same woman who he dreamed of and with jolt he realized that he would enjoy lying with her many times to have as many children as they want.
Since Anthony could not agree with this point without revealing his true excitement, he just nods his head for her to continue. "Everything Edwina has learned came from my teachings and if I became you Viscountess I could not only teach those things to your siblings but together we could guide them for their suitable match."
Another valid point in Anthony's opinion. A Diamond are many but it takes skills to shine true Diamond and Ms Sharma has proven her skills in that category. Plus the way she interacts with Eloise earlier tonight earned her bonus points in his book.
"The most important thing that I have known is what grief can do to one family like yourself and still I let my family afloat like you did after your father's death. I can say this with certainty that no debutante has knowledge to run a household in time of crisis."
Now Anthony was truly impressed. Only this one fact makes her the best contender for his Viscountess than any other woman in existence but there are still a few things he needed to clarify. "All your facts made you perfectly fit to be my Viscountess."
Kate felt herself sigh in relief for a few seconds until... "Yet there are a few things we need to make sure."
"What things? What more do I have to do for you to accept my proposal?"
"First thing first you need to assure me that love will never be part of our marriage. I can give you respect, loyalty, everything I own and even passion at times when I visit your bed but I can never give you my love, I will not give you something that destroyed my mother, my entire family."
And myself but he could never admit that out loud.
He watched Ms Sharma's face hardened before she sighed and nod her head. "Alright Lord Bridgerton, we would have everything in this marriage except love but in return you have to take care of those I love. You will provide dowry for my sister and provisions for my mother and in return I will care for your family and be the perfect wife and Viscountess you ever want."
"But can you be dutiful? Can you let go of your free spirit and views to be a dutiful wife?" Anthony inquires and as soon he said those words he wanted to take them back as Ms Sharma's eyes flared up. "Duty is all I have ever known Lord Bridgerton!"
"Ms Sharma." He tries to apologize but was stopped again as she stood up in determination. "Do not worry my Lord, my free spirit and my outspoken views will be locked away. I will pay any price for my family happiness and I will be the perfect Viscountess you ever wanted."
She held out her hand and Anthony was once again speechless as he stared at this fearless woman. "So we are in agreement? Will you marry me and I will be your wife, your Viscountess."
She waited for what seemed like eternity but in reality it was a few heartbeats as they both comprehended this life changing deal.
Finally Anthony shake her hand before pulling it to kiss her gloved hand as he said one word that changed their life forever.
"Yes."