When Genevieve arrived home she found Kathani pacing inside their room looking extremely worried for some reason.
"Kathani?" Genevieve has to call her out loud to break her frantic pacing.
"Oh Gen!"Kathani cried and flung herself in her arms.
"Hush, calm down." Genevieve tried to calm her down while gently rubbing her back.
"Genevieve." She sniffed as she looked up to stare at her with tearful eyes. "I feel such a wretched person! Anthony declared his love for me. He wants to ask speak with my brother for his blessing so he could propose me but he does not know that I am posing as my brother deceiving him from beginning."
Genevieve sighed because she knew this would happen when Viscount declared his feelings.
Caressing her head she tried to assure her. "You are not a wretched person. All you have been doing is keeping your father's and brother's dream alive while also protecting me with Karan's name so that I won't have to marry anyone else. Yes you lied but you never want to hurt anyone."
"But I did hurt someone!" She cried while shaking her tears away. "I formed friendship with Anthony as Karan and then Kathani. We became friends and fell in love and now my lie is going to hurt him!"
"Then tell him the truth."
As soon as Genevieve said these words Kathani gasped in shock. Genevieve, on the other hand, smiled as she cupped her face. "You have done so much for me and everyone and I know you will not continue this relationship built on lies so go and tell him everything and I know it in my heart that once he understands you he will love you more."
Kathani slowly wiped her tears as she asked in a small voice. "How can you be so certain that he will forgive me and understand my truth."
This was one answer Genevieve can give certainly. "Because your Viscount truly loves you and once you truly love someone you will stay by their side no matter what happens next."
Genevieve watched as her friend wiped her tears and dressed as Karan.
Once Kathani was ready she stared at the mirror long and then turned to face her. "Pray for me Gen, pray for me so I can confess my truth to Anthony and hopefully will not lose his love."
"Go, My prayers are with you my friend." Both girls hugged each other and then Genevieve watched as Kathani left to start a new chapter of her life and she prayed that this chapter and her entire story is going to be filled with lots of love and happiness.
Anthony was on cloud nine by the time he reached university.
He found Bassett in the courtyard with some other class mates. "Bassett!"
Simon looked up and saw Bridgerton looking extremely excited as he beckoned him to come over there.
Anthony watched as his friend excused himself and walked towards him as he asked once he got close enough for him to hear. "Is everything alright?"
Anthony couldn't help but look pleased as he replied. "Everything is alright, in fact things are quite great at the moment and will be even more once I talk with Sharma."
"So I guess you had declared yourself to Ms Sharma?" Simon couldn't help but ask feeling happy for his friend.
"Yes! I have not just declared my love for her but she also loves me too and after hearing that I have made my intention clear that I want to take the next step soon. I won't let anyone question Kathani's honour and its important that I speak with Sharma soon and ask for his blessings so that I can propose to Kathani as soon as possible."
Simon was not shocked but still surprised how fast Anthony is going. "Slow down mate! What is the rush? Your relationship is still very new and you could at least court her properly first before proposing her."
Anthony knew his friend was speaking logically but he needs him to understand why he needs to make haste. "You do not understand. I have already taken few liberties with her and we are lucky so far no one saw us but things are growing between us and I cannot risk her name to be besmirch. At least once she wear my ring she will be under my name protection. We can have lengthier engagement and I will showered her with love and affection then without being scared of scandal."
Simon nods his head in understanding, after all he himself witnessed how strong attraction runs between his friend and Ms. Sharma. "Bridgerton, if you truly think that engagement is best course of action then I wish you best of luck and if you want my advice then have this meeting with Sharma at bell tower. In case things goes south and you my friend end up getting beaten by your intended brother."
"Ha, Ha, thank you so much for your confidence in me." Anthony mocked while Simon laughed as he watched his friend walk away now feeling bit scared.
"Do not worry my friend, my prayers are with you." After al he truly needs them today.
Anthony found Sharma just when he returned from work.
He knew he should wait but waiting one more second means he is one more second away from proposing his Kathani and that thought is unbearable to him.
"Sharma!" He calls him as he ran towards him.
"Bridgerton." He barely acknowledged him because his eyes were darting elsewhere.
Anthony tried his best not to be discourage by Sharma's sullen look. 'Maybe he has disagreement with his Fiancé.' He assumes.
"Sharma, can you accompany me to the bell tower? There is something I would like to discuss with you."
Sharma looked extremely uncomfortable for some reason as he tried to keep walking away. "Um, Bridgerton can we talk some other time, I am really tired..."
But he never completed his sentence because Anthony started pleading. "Sharma please! Its utmost importance that I talk with you! Can you please just follow me?"
Anthony can see he seems reluctant so he grabbed his friend arm and started leading him towards bell tower while ignoring his protest.
Once they reached their destination Sharma managed to yank his arm away as he shouted at him. "Anthony, I need some time..."
"I want to marry your sister!" Anthony yells at the same time as Sharma said his words.
He was so worked up that he didn't notice change in Sharma's voice nor how he gasped.
"I know you must have lots of questions and trust me as your friend I was hesitant to peruse your sister but truth is your sister is my missing half and once I found her, I was unable to stay away from her and now we have developed deep liking, no deep love for each other and there is nothing in this world I wouldn't give her. I want to take care of your sister for rest of my life and that's why I want to ask you for your blessing and ask you for your sister's hand in marriage."
For a while no one said anything and just when Anthony was going to begin pleading, he watched Sharma starting to step back as he said in a low voice. "Before anything else is said, can you promise me that you won't hate me?"
Anthony frowned as he tried to step forward but stopped by raised hands and then Sharma hand reached towards his hair.
"I am so sorry." It was Anthony's turn to gasp as the wig is being pulled off and two long braids fall on Sharma's Shoulder.
"What?!" Anthony gasp as Karan, no Kathani's eyes filled with tears.
She was crying as she joined her hands and started asking for forgiveness. "I am so sorry Anthony! It was never my intention to deceive you or anyone here but once I fell in love with you I started realizing how hurt you can get when my truth ever comes out."
She then stepped forward as she wiped her tears away and told him in a strong voice. "I love you Anthony and that's why I am telling you my biggest truth! It was I pretending to be my brother Karan Sharma since the first day we met. I am so sorry but my circumstances..."
She didn't get the chance to finish her sentence as Anthony raised her palm to halt her in mid sentence.
He gave her such a disappointed look that Kathani speech flattered. "Anthony?"
"I, I." He shakes his head and walked away. Leaving her in Bell tower surrounded by guilt and fear of losing her one true love.
Once her wig was again in its place Kathani walked down thinking to hide away in the library before Anthony exposed her and she was kicked out of school for pretending to be her brother.
She was passing hallways when she heard drunk raised voices. "You think you're so smart Dorset!"
Cho was punching Dorset. "Oi! She rushed to help her friend when she was pushed by Fife. "Stay away from our fight." He warns.
"You stay away from my friend!" She yells back and kicked Fife in his stomach.
"You bastard!" Fife yells and was about to punch when Anthony grabbed his hand and punched him hard knocking Fife out cold.
He noticed Cho and Dorset were too injured and on the ground in state of semiconscious to noticed what happened with Fife.
Looking around, he gently cupped Kathani's face while ignoring that treacherous wig covering her long hair.
He examined her face and body to check for any injuries as he asked. "Are you alright? Did they hurt you?"
"No, I am fine, its Dorset who they were hurting." She replied feeling both happy and hopeful that Anthony still care about her well being despite her betrayal.
Anthony sighed in relief but it was short-lived because it was then they heard many footsteps including voices of students and professors alike.
He then turned to stare at her, his eyes reflecting the fear she was feeling as he yells. "Run Kathani!"
Part two of this chapter will come in 2023