It was late hour and normally students and teachers alike were gone to bed but tonight everyone is gathered in the great hall.

All eyes were on five students. Out of five, three looked worse with face etched with bruises and cuts. While two students looked completely unharmed.

The Oxford Principal, Professor Charles Hector, surveyed three of these students with deep interest, his eyes finally resting on the face of Thomas Dorset who looked worse than the other boys.

"You! You Tell me what happened and how this fight started?"

Dorset was dizzy, his voice was broken moan due to all the pain his injuries had caused.

"Professor Hector." His voice slurred as he swayed but thankfully Bridgeton and Sharma were holding him.

He gave his friends a look of gratitude as he started telling the Principal everything. "Sir earlier when I was coming from village I saw Fife and Cho misbehaving with village girl. She was the orphaned daughter of a florist and these two were foxed and trying to proposition her to be their mistress. Sir everyone who visits the village knows that the florist girl is barely sixteen and they were dragging her towards the barn while Cho was covering her mouth. Sir I ran towards her and rescued that girl from their unwanted advances and in doing so I punched them so that we could run away. Once I made sure that girl was safely at home with her mother and that the local constable knew what had happened so they could take necessary measures to secure village girls only then I left to return here."

Professor Hector glared at Fife and Cho and then mentioned Thomas to continue. "Sir when I returned, Cho and Fife were waiting for me and they both attacked me in retaliation for what I did earlier. Sir they would have done me more harm if my friends had not come to my aid."

Professor Hector then turned to stare at Bridgerton and Sharma as he asked. "It was quite noble of you both to aid your friend but can you tell me why didn't you inform the professors first instead of jumping in fight?"

He could see they both were stiffen and before Sharma could say anything Bridgerton started talking. "Sir as Professor can tell you everyone heard the fight and they were reaching there anyway. Still Sharma rushes towards a nearby group of Professors and students alike and informed them about the fight."

"No sir! Sharma kicked and punched me!" Fife burst out.

The principal turned to stare at Sharma when Anthony intervenes. "No sir! It was I who jumped in to the fight."

Anthony then angrily yells at Fife to bring attention towards him. "You moron! It was I who kicked and punched you when I saw you hurting Dorset! These two were so drunk that they didn't knew who hit them!"

"You son of!" Fife and Cho were beginning to shout when Principal Hector snapped his cane and shouted. "Silence!"

"This is a prestigious institution and I won't let you all besmirch its reputation!"

He then called Vice Principal as he instructed. "Take Dorset to our university Doctor and tend to his wounds. My lad you will receive special rewards for your bravery you showed today when you rescued that girl."

They watched as Dorset walked away with the Vice Principal. Principal then turned towards Cho and Fife. "I should suspend you both for what you did but since it's your first offense I will punish you both instead of suspension."

Stepping closer he started shouting their punishment. "You both will write an apology letter which you will read to that girl in front of the entire village. If she wants to punish you then you will accept that punishment and you both are forbidden to leave these ground to visit the village for the rest of your year! You both will be washing chamber pots for three months and receive thirty lashes each right here, right now!"

"But sir!" They both splutter looking horrified of their punishment.

"Silence!" He ordered them to take their shirts off. Once they were undressed. He and another Professor start hitting their back thirty times with a leather belt.

Once they were done they both backs were bloody and they collapsed on the table.

"Take these swine's away!" Principal spat and students watched as Fife and Cho were taken away.

During all this time he could feel Kathani was shaking in fear beside him. So he discreetly stood in front of her and grabbed her hand in assurance.

She started shivering when finally Principal Hector turned towards them. "Bridgerton I appreciate that your first instinct was to aid your friend in need but violence cannot be tolerated in this university."

Anthony knew this would happen when he told Kathani to run and inform the professors about the attack.

Kathani, finally realizing what is going to happen, starts shaking her head as she says. "No sir! You cannot punish Anthony!"

"Silence Sharma! or you will receive the same punishment as your friend."

She was going to speak when Anthony squeezed her hand in warning and shook his head. "Bassett please take Sharma away."

Simon couldn't understand what is going on grabbed Sharma and start dragging him away as Anthony took his shirt off. "I am ready for my punishment."

"No!" Sharma cried hoarsely as he struggled against Simon's grip but he was no match for his strength.

"I am sorry Bridgerton but this is to set an example for other students to avoid violence."

Principal felt sorry that he had to make him an example. "Five lashes!"

"No Sir!" Sharma was now crying and screaming in Bassett grip.

And then right in front of Kathani's eyes she watched Anthony being punished instead of her.

He was hit five times with that belt and each time she screams No and struggled harder against Bassett who was trying to hold tightly.

Finally after the fifth lash Principal dropped the belt and students could see that Bridgerton back was etched with red welts and start bleeding from two places.

"You can leave my boy." Despite pain, Anthony stood up and with great effort turned around.

The lashes he received didn't caused him pain but seeing Kathani shaking in tears break his heart.

He couldn't let her see him in this state so he left to tend his wounds. Not for his sake but hers.

It was late at night and everyone had long gone to sleep.

Anthony was restless as his bruises started hurting him again. 'Looks like I have to apply the medicine again.' He thought annoyingly.

He stood up and grabbed the numbing jar ointment and soap from his bedside as he slowly crept outside the bedroom not knowing that someone saw him heading out.

The bathing area was eerily quite as he managed to fill one copper tub with warm water before filling it with herbal soap like Doctor had instructed before he could apply a new layer of numbing ointment on his back.

He then took his shirt off and was trying to clean the previous ointment but his hands were not reaching his back.

Feeling frustrated, he tried once again when he felt soft hands touching his back and his senses were invaded with the scent of lilies.

Turning around he saw Sharma, no his Kathani staring at him. Her eyes were red and swollen as if she was crying this whole time.

"You shouldn't be here." He told her. Her dark eyes sparked as she said angrily. "And you shouldn't have taken my blame on yourself!"

Anthony couldn't believe this. "So what should I have done?! Should I let Principal take your shirt off so you could take the lashes in front of the entire university! Huh! Tell me is that what you wanted?!"

Her eyes filled with anguish tears as she yells. "Maybe I deserve that! I hurt you with my lies and then you got hurt again because of me! You should let them punish me! Why did you save me! You hated me, there was no need to protect me from Fife or that punishment." She burst into tears and began sobbing hard.

Anthony couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You really think I hate you!? That there is any world where I will not protect you?"

He watched as she slowly wiped her tears away. Once again he was struck by his stupidity of not figuring her truth out. Her eyes alone is gateway to her soul and how was it possible that he couldn't figure it out.

Her gaze was full of hope as she whispered in a scared voice. "You don't hate me? Even after knowing my truth?"

Anthony couldn't help but groan as he looked at sky and prayed for extra strength for his answer. "No Kathani. I don't hate you." He replied feeling drained. "My heart is filled with too much love for you that there is no place left to put hate in there."

He finally looked towards her and she was watching him with hopeful eyes.

"But earlier at Bell Tower." She looked down feeling guilty of what she did. "When you left me I thought you hated me too much to stay with me anymore."

Shaking his head, Anthony finally walked closer and gently cupped her face. "Listen to me Sharma and listen carefully. I was shocked, I felt like a fool and I was hurt a lot but never in my wildest dreams I could hate you."

"You don't?"

"No Kathani, your truth is not going to make me hate you nor will it make me stop caring for you, for loving you, for protecting you."

Once again she started crying and before he knew it he pulled her into his embrace as he started comforting her. "Calm down sweet heart. Please my love, stop crying. I swear I don't hate you."

"I am so sorry!" She cried against his skin while holding him tightly in her arms. "That's why I was so rude to you and everyone else when I came here because I knew my lie would hurt me and others if I made any friends. I was afraid they would expose my secret if my truth came out."

Her words and her earlier behaviour is now making more sense to Anthony but he still couldn't figure one thing out. "Why did you do it? Why take such a great risk with your honour?"

She pulled away and wiped her tears away as she replied. "I did it for my family?"

"What do you mean?" Anthony inquires, still feeling confused by her reasons.

"When My Appa was alive he worked very hard on our education but no matter how brilliant our family were they couldn't get higher jobs in Palace because they required Oxford or Cambridge university degree. My Father spent his entire life doing his best work so he could impress and gain favour from nobility. Finally his hard work pays off. A noble man who was a retired Oxford professor promised my father that my brother could study here under his recommendation."

Anthony watched as Kathani's face fell in despair. "My Appa fell sick right before Karan's departure. Truth was that he was suffering from heart condition but he didn't rest or get treated because he wants Karan to get admission in prestigious university. He died with heart failure two weeks before Karan was supposed to depart. My family was shattered and Karan didn't want to leave at all but my uncle, my father's cousin assured us that he will look after our family. The only problem was that our family was dependent on my father's salary and my uncle can only accommodate two people in his home."

"So you decided to accompany your brother?" Anthony guesses and Kathani nods her head. "Maharaja promised Karan a high ranking job once he got his degree. He arranged our voyage and promised that part of my father's salary would be delivered each month to my stepmother and another part would be sent to Oxford to cover expenses as long my brother is studying there. Karan wanted to find part time job to send money home but Genevieve and I wanted him to focus on his studies so it was decided that I will stay with Genevieve and work as apprentice and the money I will earn along with allowances from Maharaja will be send home to our step mother Mary and sister Edwina while Karan and I keep small portion for ourselves."

Anthony felt his heart breaking for this family. He was lucky to be born into wealthy families, but not many families are lucky as him. "What happened to your brother?" He finally asked even though part of him knew as she said.

"My brother." Her breath caught as fresh tears fell from her eyes and somehow he held her closer as she managed to say between broken sobs. "There was a storm." Sniff. "Karan told Gen to take me back to our quarters because I was afraid of storm."

She then started crying. "He was gone! My brother! lost in the sea along with other people and I lost them! I lost Appa and then Karan...!" She was unable to carry on as she fell back in Anthony's arm and he didn't stop her.

He let his Kathani cry in his arms. He let the love of his life mourn the loss of her father and her brother.

They both lost track of time as they sat together on the bench in the bathing area.

"Genevieve planned everything." She told him as she laid in his arms answering each question as Anthony patiently listened.

He indeed listened to each word as his Kathani poured her heart out. "Genevieve was afraid that her father would force her to marry someone after the truth came out. She still believes Karan is alive, that he survived in the sea."

"And you?" Anthony asked and felt Kathani sighing. "I want to hope that my brother survived but hope is not going to feed my family. With Karan being lost my family is now my responsibility and if My uncle , Maharajah or anyone find out that Karan didn't even make it here then they would have demanded for my return and I don't know what would have become of my family and Genevieve's future then."

"So what was your plan? Anthony couldn't help but ask. "Even if you manage to hide this truth for four years, what will you and Gen do when your time is up?"

"Genevieve was hoping Karan would return within four years and I have only have to pretend to be my brother until then."

Anthony couldn't help but stare at her incredulously. "Please tell me that you thought of Plan B?!"

Kathani rolled her eyes as she huffed. "I am not stupid Anthony! My plan was that I will study here and get the degree not only to fulfil my Appa and brother's dream but to also use it to get job at Maharajah Palace."

"How would you do that? I mean the degree will be in Karan Sharma's name not Kathani?" And here they both knew it was the biggest injustice of their world. Kathani is the best student of Oxford history but Anthony was sad that her brilliance meant nothing once her gender was revealed.

"I was planning to show that degree to the Maharaja to prove that Karan had completed his studies. Gen and I would makeup story that he was drowned on our journey back and Gen is his widow. That way, Gen can start a new life in India and I will ask for a job as teacher or governess at the Palace. I will tell them Karan had thought me everything he learned here. Maharaja can take my test to be certain and I hope that this way Genevieve and I can look after Mary and Edwina."

Once she told him everything she felt Anthony was gone quite as he think hard.

"You think my plan won't work?"

Anthony shook his head as he replied. "I must admit your second plan is much more logical than the first one but."

She moved away to stare at him properly. "But what?"

"Kathani, please don't take me wrong way but you only thought of pros and not consequences of your plans. One major flaw that you overlooked is that you thought you could survive the next three and a half years with your secret. I fear one day your secret will come out and Kathani I fear that day you will be punished severely for your lie. You can get expelled, your sponsors in India will disown you for this lie and in the worst case scenario you can be sent to prison for impersonating as your brother."

She looked completely horrified at these points. "But I never meant to hurt anyone!"

"Kathani people won't sympathize you for your reasons but they will be angered for being deceived by your lies no matter how much noble your reasons were." Anthony gently tried to explain the way of men.

"So what should I do, my Appa and Brother's dream? My family? Genevieve? What am I going to do?"

Anthony sighed as he stared at Kathani and even in Karan's disguise he can understand how many people's life and dreams are connected with Sharma twins when they departed from their home.

Dreams and responsibilities that now Kathani is carrying alone on her shoulder and for that he love and respect her even more.

In that moment he knew how he is going to help his love while making her fulfil her Appa and Brother's dream.

Grabbing her hands, he began in a determined voice. "First of all I am going to use my contacts to find your brother but Kathani you have to promise me that once we get definite news about him you will stop impersonating him."

Kathani bit her lip but nodded her head and Anthony sighed in relief as he began. "Secondly, as soon as university gives us winter vacation you and Genevieve will travel with me and there we will take my family in confidence and get married and afterwards I will arrange your mother and sister to be brought here so they could live with my family."

Kathani gasped, her eyes gone wide but Anthony was looking at her seriously. "Anthony you still want to marry me."

Anthony felt impatient as he pulled her closer. "Of course I want to marry you vexing! Brilliant woman! I couldn't protect you from your crazy planning as your fiancé! No! I have to be your husband to make sure that no one could hurt my Kathani and my new family including Genevieve. We will take her with us and when we return we will tell her father that Karan and Genevieve also got married along with us. This way she will be under protection of your brother's name. I wonder how you both didn't think that part when you reached here?"

Kathani looked sheepishly as she replied. "Because we didn't thought about it."

Anthony huffed in annoyance but then Kathani jumped into his arms and she looked extremely excited. "Ask me properly Bridgerton!"

Anthony smirked as he said. "Sharma can I marry your crazy sister." "Anthony!" She yells angrily and tries to get up but he holds her tightly in his arms as he pulls her wig off her hair. He gently undone both braids, freeing her long luscious hair. "There she is, my brilliant and beautiful Kathani Sharma."

He then kissed her sweetly and then asked. "Will you marry me Kathani Sharma?"

Kathani's eyes glitter with happy tears. "Yes!"

She then pulls her fiancé for a passionate kiss and Anthony was surprised as her tongue peaked out begging for entrance. He opens his mouth and they both moan as they get a taste of each other.

Kathani was in bliss as she kissed Anthony with all the love she ever felt for him. She was sure after tonight she loved him even more.

Anthony can feel his soft hand exploring his naked shoulder. Her fingers gently touched his back, making him hard in his breeches. "Kathani darling, you need to stop."

"No." She wines against his mouth as she rocked harder and the friction of her clothed centre was bringing more pleasure to his hardened member.

"Kathani." He tried again but she pulled away only to render him speechless as she took her shirt off.

Anthony watched mesmerized as she then loosens her white binding to free her breast.

He may be a gentleman but he is still a young lad who for the first time seeing breasts and these beautiful peaks belong to the beautiful woman he is maddeningly in love with.

Kathani smirked as Anthony gaped at her. His mouth hung open as drool began to form on his lips. Tilting his face so he could see her eyes, she instructed in a commanding voice. "We will stop when your future wife says we can stop! Do you understand?"

Anthony was barely able to nod when she yank him back and resumed kissing him passionately making him loose his mind in the process.

He hissed when their bare chest connected and their hips start moving together. At this rate he was going to lose control.

He gently pulled away and kissed her neck as he begged. "We need to slow down my love otherwise we will have our wedding night in Oxford bathing area and I don't think either one of us want that."

Kathani wines in frustration but her lust filled brain finally listens to his logic.

With great strength she moves away little so that their hips are separated. "Fine." She grumbled and then ordered him. "You better marry me soon Bridgerton otherwise I will take your virtue before you can say I do."

Anthony burst into laughter and it was crazy that after everything that happened today his Kathani is now making this demand. "As you wish my love."

Kathani smiled and then her eyes fell on his swollen lips as she asked. "We can still kiss each other until then, right?"

In answer Anthony gently kissed her and this time they shared sweet kisses that were filled with love.

It was dark when Fife walked towards the Bathing area.

Even after consuming more Alcohol in his room the pain is still there and he has no choice but to use that pathetic ointment on his back.

He was about to reach there when he heard laughing sounds and he had to stop and listen hard because he was sure that one of the voices belonged to a woman.

He peeked from the open window and saw inside and his eyes widen in shock because there he saw Bridgerton sitting on the bench but what surprised him was that there was a woman with long black hair straddling Bridgerton as they share kisses.

Even extremely drunk he could see they both were half undressed or maybe not because large copper tub is obscuring their bottoms half but no matter what it's still big thing that Bridgerton managed to bring a girl inside the university.

Feeling excited, he rushed towards room to tell Cho about Bridgerton but before he could reach there he collapsed in the middle of hallways near his room and passed out due to his drunken state.

"Bridgerton brought a girl." Was the last thing he slurs before succumbing into deep sleep.