Charlotte was tired as the constable left along with Lord and Lady Sheffield. The truth is, she despises those people after how they acted towards their daughter, her diamond, Mary. Charlotte was appalled when she found out what they did to their granddaughter and why they chose her to be married, but by that time, the girl of seventeen years was married to a man who was once her late mother's fiancé.
Charlotte hoped the girl ran away, but Sheffield's are convinced the New Duke of York has abducted their granddaughter, and even Constable found proof of struggles after the old Duke was murdered.
She just hopes they have already found the culprit because she cannot stand hearing the same thing over and over again.
"Your Majesty, Dowager Viscountess Bridgerton, is here for an urgent audience."
Queen Charlotte suddenly perked up, hoping for some news about the missing Viscountess. With Heston's murder, she was unable to inquire why Viscountess Katherine Bridgerton left her husband without any explanation. Agatha says she was a fraud, but aside from that, no one knows much about what happened, and surprisingly, Lady Whistledown was also unable to unearth this secret.
"Send her inside, Brimsily."
A few seconds later, the Dowager Viscountess arrived and curtsied her.
"Take a seat, Lady Bridgerton." She offered and watched Dowager quickly take the seat, although she looked quite pale for some reason.
"So tell me, why do you ask for an urgent audience?"
"Your Majesty, my Queen, I do not know what to do anymore, and then I thought if anyone could save him, it was you."
"Save?" The queen asked with a frown on her face. "My dear lady, please speak plainly about who you want me to save."
"Anthony, my son."
Queen Charlotte's eyes widen, and behind her Brimsily looked shocked as they both watched Lady Bridgerton tremble in fear.
"Tell me everything, Lady Bridgerton."
So Charlotte began to hear a mother's tale about how her son was depressed when his wife turned out to be a lady maid to his fiancé, whose identity she had stolen. How she used her son and herself to find Lord Heston. The day after the Heston crimes took place, the impostor disappeared from their lives.
"Anthony became obsessed with finding Kate after her previous fiancé, Thomas Dorset, informed him how she used everyone to get here in these lands. After that, for the past few months, he has been working tiredly, and I thought it was his way of coping with grief, but last evening he gave us his last will of testimony and secured our family's future before he left."
"Left?" Now Charlotte felt strange terror for Lord Bridgerton as she inquired. "Where had he gone?"
"I do not know." Violet explains as she burst into tears. "He did not tell us where he was going, but Benedict told me a case of pistols was missing from his study. We fear either he will kill her or kill himself in this quest. Either way, my son's life will be finished, so I am begging you as a mother to another mother to please save my son's life."
Charlotte stared at Lady Bridgerton with a shocked face until it morphed into anger as she stood up and commanded angrily. "Brimsily, send royal summons everywhere, even in our territory regions, and command them to capture this impostor, this Kathani Sharma, and bring her here in front of me alive! Put a ten thousand-pound prize on her head."
Charlotte stares at LadyBridgerton as she assures her in a hard voice. "Do not worry; if your son did manage to take his revenge, then I will give him the prize money, but trust me, if we capture Kathani Sharma alive, then her punishment will make her wish she would be dead by your son's hand."
Anthony arrived in Prussia under the guise of discussing trade with Prussian aristocrats.
He became friendly with young aristocrat Vance Shaw, and after two days of gaining his trust, he went for his next step. "You know, my sister Daphne almost became Princess of Prussia. Your Prince Frederick was quite enamoured with her when he visited England two years ago."
Vance chuckled, not surprised by his claims. "His Highness had offended many ladies of Prussia because he has an exotic taste. Rumours are that on his recent trip, he finally returned with a beautiful foreign woman whom he wants to get married."
Vance then looked around as he lowered his voice. "Apparently, the Royal family was against this union because his bride was rumoured to be previously married, but Prince Frederick claims she is now a widow. It took many months, but finally the day is set, and soon they will get married in a small ceremony before leaving for a honeymoon. I think they will pass England because, for some reason, he has kept his aunt, Queen Charlotte, in the dark."
Anthony tried to keep his face away from the true emotions of his heart as that crest drawing still burned in his chest pocket, along with her sketch.
"I am happy he managed to convince his family, Vance. Can you arrange something so I could offer my congratulations in person?"
Vance looked positively excited as he showed him the invitation. "Luckily for you, I am invited to the masquerade ball tonight, and you can come with me as my guest. I am certain Prince will be glad to see you."
"I am sure." Anthony mused as he excused himself. "I better go; I cannot meet Prince and his future princess like this."
Anthony left to get prepared for the biggest events of his life.
That evening at Masquerade Ball, Anthony arrived at Palace with Vance. The first thing he noticed was the sunflower crest everywhere that was on the carriage, which Ms. Featherington claims had it, and Kate ran away.
He looked around, hoping beyond anything that Stone was wrong, because how could she manage to trap Frederick when he was not even in England? But Stone recognised Crest as a Prussian Crest, and after making inquiries for months, he finally found out about Prince Frederick's personal guest, whom he was interested in marrying. Who seemed to have Indian features.
Anthony clutched his pistol, praying that it was not his wife who was rumoured to be a guest of Prince Frederick living in the palace all these months while destroying his life.
Suddenly, even when he was praying he should not see her here of all places, his broken heart was now completely crushed when, after so many months, he finally saw his wife again.
She was wearing her favourite colour of gown. Anthony knew this because his wife loves emerald and purple most of all colours.
She picked up a black feather mask, and even though she covered her eyes, he could see those liquid brown eyes glowing in candlelight.
Donning his own black mask, he left Vance as he followed behind his wife. Soon she arrives where the royal family was standing. She perfectly curtsied them and whispered something in a man's ear, who turned and began to laugh.
Rage filled in Anthony's eyes as the man turned, and even though he was prepared, it still hit him hard when that man turned out to be Prince Frederick.
He watched how shamelessly his wife impressed these people, like they were her family. Did these people know what she did to those who trusted her? Are they going to be her next victims?"
Clutching a pistol in his coat pocket, he stood in the corner as the dance began.
If it were someone else, it would be easy to lose them as everyone danced in masks, but Anthony could still find Kate among the crowd. After all, no one here was as beautiful or graceful as her.
She managed to charm everyone here as Anthony watched her dance with Prince Frederick, his father, and other noble gentlemen.
He even witnessed one instance where Prince Frederick's old cousin, Duke Orlando, started dancing with his wife, and his hand was roaming quite lecherously at his wife's back.
He thought any woman in her place would slap that bastard, but instead Kate smiled and whispered something in his ears before the dance ended.
The old Duke looked extremely pleased as Kate left the dance floor.
The bastard arrived at the table and eagerly boasted to his friend. "It looks like I am going to taste Frederick's exotic whore tonight."
Kate, on the other hand, whispered something to Frederick's ears, who patted her arm, and Anthony watched Kate leave the ballroom while Frederick started moving towards a group of noble men standing around that bastard.
Taking this chance, Anthony quickly followed Kate outside.
He was a few paces behind her when he noticed her enter the royal wing.
The footman bowed at her as Kate moved past them to enter what seemed to be her chambers.
Anthony waited, and luckily, ten minutes later, the guards were called to switch their positions.
Taking advantage of a few minutes of empty hallways. Anthony took out his pistol and went straight towards the room.
Tonight, it seems luck was in his favour because the room was unlocked.
He carefully stepped inside the chamber, and apparently she heard him because she started speaking in Indian. "Mein nay Frederick ko kaha ha mai theek hu." (I told Frederick, I am alright.)"
He watched as she huffed and stood up as she spoke, this time in English, without looking. "Seriously, go enjoy yourself."
"Anthony?" She gasped when she finally turned around, and Anthony watched in satisfaction at how shocked she seemed to see him pointing a pistol at her face. "Celebration time is over for you, my love; it's time you start paying for your sins. It's time to face your death."