Anthony was still in shock state by the time Genevieve and Kathani led him back towards house so Kathani could change in her Karan get up before visiting Mr Delacroix again so he could invite her as Karan.
Once they reached the house Kathani quickly made her husband settle on couch before she rushed upstairs to change.
Meanwhile, Genevieve was pacing while trying to come up with solution to their problems. "We could tell him your exam is coming."
"Your father has planned dinner for Saturday so it would not mess up with our study schedule." Anthony reminded her and Genevieve groaned in frustration as she resumed her pacing.
Finally Kathani arrived dressed as Karan but she was still holding her wig in her hands.
She sighed as she sat beside her husband and put her head on his shoulder for comfort. "I do not know what we are going to do? Impersonating my brother was one thing but I cannot play both these roles together at the same time."
Anthony kissed her forehead as they both stared at Genevieve. "Gen, maybe we should tell your father..."
But before Anthony could finish that thought she started shaking her head furiously. "No! We cannot tell him otherwise he will force me to marry again!"
"But Gen what are we going to do?" Kathani yells in frustration. "Your father is excepting four of us at dinner with his friends, so tell me how can we make that possible?! It's not like I can give this wig to someone to pretend to be Karan?!"
It was a logical question in Anthony's mind but apparently something she said that lit up Genevieve's eyes. "That's it! We are going to make someone else pretend as Karan."
Anthony and Kathani stared at her as if she had gone insane.
Kathani slowly stood up and cautiously approached her friend. "Genevieve, sweetheart. I think you are not thinking what you just said. Giving this wig to someone will not solve our problems. I mean your father and his friends will recognize the deception that this wig will not be able to hide."
"Have you seen my father and his friends after two bottles of whiskey?" Genevieve ask in a mischievous voice. "I will tell them both guys are running a little late and by the time dinner will start my father and his friends will be too deep in their cups to recognize facial features."
For a while there was complete silence until Kathani mused in a hopeful voice. "This plan could work but we still need a fourth person to complete the numbers because as many drinks they consume they will notice if dinner party is one person short."
They both stared at each other in dilemma until their attention diverted when Anthony let out a long sigh. "I know a person and he is not going to like this role."
It was an average day in Simon Bassett's life.
He woke up, had a bath, then enjoyed breakfast with his friends, attended all his classes with his peers.
Enjoyed lunch with Dorset since Bridgerton is visiting town, probably to spend more time with Kathani. He then practiced boxing for an upcoming event in Palace.
So yes today was an average day in Simon Bassett's life and for a moment it seemed that nothing was going to disrupt his day, until...
"Simon! Bassett! We need your help!" Simon sighed as he turned around and sure enough found his sister (Dressed in her brother's attire) and his best friend rushing towards him.
Before he could begin Simon sighed as he told them in a stern voice. "Look guys, I know you both have needs but I just took Dorset away last night and if I ask him again he will start getting suspicious and beside I thought you both are now shagging at Genevieve's house?"
At this Kathani looked stunned while Bridgerton mouth hung open as he quickly spluttered to defend themselves. "That's ! You got it wrong! That's not why we are here!"
Simon frowned when another thought came into his mind. "Is it Fife and Cho? Are they causing trouble again? I heard Fife has been looking for retaliation ever since his winning spot was taken from him."
"Its not Fife or Cho! God Simon! can you just hear us out?! We really need your help with an important matter!"
At Kathani outburst Simon looked around and luckily they were alone in class other wise someone would notice changed in Sharma's voice.
"Alright, tell me what is this matter that is troubling you both so much ?"
It was then both his friends started talking at the same time as they explained the problematic dinner party in which both couples were supposed to be in attendance and the solution they found sounded quite absurd to Simon as he finally snapped at his friends. "You want me to do what?! This is ridiculous! I cannot impersonate your brother by just wearing a wig. What if they recognize me? I think you all have lost your marbles if you think this insane plan could work!"
Even in her brother's attire, Simon could see his sister's pleading expressive eyes as she begs. "Please Simon! Please! You know we would not ask you to do this unless there was another option! Please Simon, I swear that Genevieve's father and his friends will be too foxed to see any difference."
"And you will get to enjoy a delicious homemade meal with drinks for free." Anthony informed him, hoping to persuade him further.
So with thought of dinner and his sister and friends desperate stares Simon finally resigned as he told them. "Al right, I will help you a lot but we will not be staying for more than a few hours! And you both will be doing my assignments for the entire week."
"Done!" Bridgerton said gratefully while his sister jumped into his arms and hugged him hard as she squealed. "Love you Simon! You are the best brother in this world."
And as he hugged his sister back Simon realized the average day in his life is so overrated.
On the evening of dinner just as Genevieve assumed her father friends arrived on time. To her irritation one of those friends was an innkeeper and Siena's father Mr Russo.
"Welcome! Welcome my friends! Please come inside." Her father greeted them as she took their coats away.
"Has your son-in-law and Viscount arrived yet?" Mr Russo inquires with great interest while Mr Mason and Mr Pence were peering around hoping to see them any moment.
"Sorry lads, Karan send me letter this morning that he and Lord Bridgerton will be arriving little late. You know they are selected to represent their university at Palace." Her father boosted with puff chest, making Genevieve hide her smile.
His friends seems pretty impressed that they didn't question anymore about them being late. 'Good, time to execute my plan.' Genevieve thought as she hurriedly walked away towards the kitchen.
Kathani was in middle of preparing dinner when Genevieve arrived looking quite content.
"They bought the excuse." She announced in an exciting whisper.
"Great! Now please get them drunk before My husband and brother arrive." Kathani begs and Genevieve grabbed two bottles of whisky and few glasses as she said. "Wish me luck."
Kathani shake her head as Genevieve went outside where her father was entertaining his guests. "Papa, how about you all enjoy a drink until our guest of honour arrives."
Mr Delacroix frowned as he said. "I think it unwise to start on an empty stomach. We will drink when boys also join us."
Genevieve knew she would need to push just a little for her father to crack. "Oh, it's okay, I thought you wanted to celebrate with your friends." She tells him this in her most sad voice and just as she guessed her papa melted instantly. "Of course my sweet girl! Come my friends, let's make toast for my beloved daughter and my brilliant son-in-law!"
"Cheers!" All four friends clicked their glasses full of whiskey and Genevieve left them with two bottles hoping beyond anything her plans work.
An hour later a carriage arrived at Mr Delacroix's house. Sienna and her mother watched from their inn window as two men descended from the carriage.
"Is it them?" Mrs Russo asked. Sienna peered but in darkness she could only see their backs but it was enough to confirm her who is who. "Yes, mother its them Viscount Bridgerton and the one next to him is Karan Sharma, Genevieve's husband."
"Such a handsome man! Genevieve is so lucky to find such a handsome and well-educated man otherwise girls in this village never found such men."
Sienna fumes inwardly as she stomped away while her mother keep staring at Mr Delacroix house just in time when door opens.
Meanwhile at Mr Delacroix house Genevieve and Kathani both opened the door and then gaped because Simon looked quite different in Karan's wig and poor guy had also shaved his face clean while he was fidgeting nervously as he whispered. "Are they well in their cups? Is it okay for me to go inside?"
"Come, mate, let's find out for ourselves." Anthony says while patting his back in encouragement.
So with prayer in their hearts all four of them walked towards the living room.
Mr Delacroix and his friends were laughing loudly at some joke when suddenly they stopped as their eyes fell on four people standing on the door way.
Mr Delacroix had to squint his eyes for a few seconds but all he could make out blurred faces of four people.
For few seconds Simon, Anthony, Kathani and Genevieve stood there as they watched Mr Delacroix and his friends peering at their faces and just when fear of getting caught began to set in their hearts...
"Karan! Lord Bridgerton! So glad you boys made it!" He slurred these words joyously as he and his friends welcomed them with open arms.
"Thank God for small miracles." Simon whispered while Bridgerton happily took his seat. "That and two bottles of whiskey." He reminds his friend as they begin to enjoy delicious dinner made by girls and entertaining conversation provided by Mr Delacroix and his drunk friends.
It was getting late when Sienna and her mother closed the inn and left it under the charge of caretaker before they decided to head home.
While her mother was giving last minute instructions to the caretaker, an idea from in Sienna's mind. "Mama, how about we picked papa from Mr Delacroix house? You know how much foxed he gets whenever he and his friends get together."
"Splendid idea and this way I will congratulate happy couples myself." Her mother beams and Sienna rolled her eyes as they begin to walk over Genevieve's house.
Kathani was laughing as she was perched up on her husband lap while watching Simon and Genevieve dancing with Mr Delacroix.
Anthony laughed at their silly dances on crude song sung by Mr Russo and Mr Pence. His wife was laughing harder and Anthony couldn't help but adore how Kathani's eyes were lit up when she was feeling so much joy.
Kathani felt her husband's lips against her cheek as he whispered in her ears. "Shall we take this party upstairs."
Kathani couldn't help but let out a soft moan as she squirmed on her husband's lap and then grabbed his hand while whispering in his ears. "Come my Love before they notice our absence."
Anthony smirked as he and his wife left the party. They were just heading upstairs when they noticed two approaching figures which made Kathani squeak in horror. "Its Sienna and Mrs Russo."
Anthony and Kathani watched them walking towards the house for only one second when they both rushed back towards the party and started gesturing to their friends.
Simon was tapping his feet with Genevieve when his eyes fell on his friend's panicked faces as they both gestured them to come over.
He nudged Genevieve and together they left the group to join their friends.
"Sienna and her mother are coming right now!" Kathani informed them in a panic voice while Anthony pointed at a window where they could see them getting closer.
"That's it! We are going to get caught!" Simon told them as he started freaking out.
"What are we going to do?!" Anthony yells while Kathani suggests. "We could sneak you both from the back door."
"Right! Your husband and brother disappearing from the middle of a party would not sound suspicious!" Simon yells sarcastically.
"Wait a minute! There is no need to leave." Genevieve stopped her friends in mid scare as she told them. "I have a backup plan in case someone sober shows up but we need to move quickly!"
With that she led all three of them upstairs and a few minutes later the door knocked.
For a while no one answered the door but after a few minutes passed the door started banging and the noise reached Mr Delacroix's ears.
He stumbled towards the door and with some difficulty managed to open it.
Sienna and her mother noticed straight away how drunk Mr Delacroix was as he peered at their faces before he slurred. "Who are you girls?"
Her mother giggled as she shook her head. "Its me Maria Russo and my daughter Sienna, we came here to pick up my husband."
"Maria! Lovely Maria please come inside." Instead of grabbing her mother's arm, He grabbed her arms much to Sienna's mortification and her mother amusement.
As soon they went inside they found the entire party too foxed as they sang and danced on crude songs but it was then Sienna noticed someone was missing. "Where is Genevieve, Lady Bridgerton and their husbands?"
Mr Delacroix shrugged while her mother helped her father on his feet as she said. "Maybe they retired for bed."
Sienna frowned because it was unlike for Genevieve to leave her father unintended in this condition. "Do not worry Mama, I will wake Genevieve up so you can congratulate her on her wedding."
"There is no need sweet heart." Her mother tried to stop her but Sienna was already heading upstairs and there were two rooms side by side and from one she could hear faint voices.
Twisting the lock she opened the door before stepping back as her face got red with embarrassment because on the bed laid shirtless Viscount and she saw Kathani hair and her unopened corset as she was nuzzling her face against Viscount's neck while their feet peaking out from beneath the sheets that were covering their lower body as they moved sensually against each other. Sienna was so stunned that she didn't notice when finally Viscount Bridgerton lifted his face over his wife's shoulder and yelled angrily at her. "Get out!"
"I! I am sorry!" She stammered and closed the door only for other door to open revealing Genevieve and her husband staring at her with shocked faces.
"What are you doing sneaking outside my sister's room?!" Karan Sharma inquires furiously while Genevieve stared at her in disappointment. "Spying on our doors Sienna! That is even a new low for you?"
Sienna spluttered embarrassed but Genevieve raised her fingers threateningly as she said. "Leave Sienna otherwise I will tell the entire village how shamelessly you were spying outside married people's rooms."
They watched as Sienna ran downstairs and a few seconds later they heard the door closing and through the window they could see Sienna rushing her parents home.
While Genevieve and Kathani sighed in relief a door opened and Anthony emerged from inside along with Simon Bassett dressed in trousers, green corset and long black wig making him look ridiculously beautiful.
He twirled his fake hair as she raised his eyebrows at Genevieve. "You young lady own me a large bottle of whiskey and you my lovely sister own me one month's worth of assignments for all this trouble I am taking because of you."
With that he flipped his hair and ordered his friend. "You untie this corset right now before I beat you up for involving me into this craziness."
Anthony sighed in defeat as he followed his friend inside but not before they heard the girls' loud whisper reaching their ears. "Love you Simon."