(Flashback)
Mary Sharma and little Edwina watched as Kathani screamed for them at port while they were dragged away by those who promised to help them, but in truth, they broke their family apart.
They threw Mary and Edwina in one of the upper deck rooms as he threatened. "Behave yourself, Mary, and keep that low-breed daughter's of yours in check, or I swear I will throw her off this ship like I threw that filth you called daughter."
"You monster! How could you abandon my daughter like that? "Mary screamed in agony, but Sheffield just laughed. "Its your fault; if you did not abandon your family for those filths all those years ago, then that girl would not be left alone today."
He then left, and Edwina watched as her mother began to cry in despair. "Kathani!"
(End of Flashback)
"The more we moved away from India, the more our mother fell into despair. She would cry all the time, screaming and begging her parents to bring my Didi back, but they seemed deaf to her pleas. By the time we arrived in England, our mother was too weak to fight anymore."
( Flashback)
Edwina could not understand where they were or what was going on. The moment they arrived at this new land, it seemed those mean people wanted to do something with her mother.
The mean lady, Lady Sheffield, commands one maid to prepare her mother while commanding the other to take her away. Edwina cried as the maid grabbed her arm, but her mama was too weak to stop anyone.
For the entire day, she was locked inside the nursery as that maid bathed her and dressed her in frilly clothes while they took her old clothes away.
Once she was dressed, the maid walked her out towards the drawing room. There, Edwina saw her mother dressed in a white dress while the mean Lord and Lady stood on her one side and another old man stood on the other side.
A man standing in front starts saying something, and then suddenly it seems her mother has finally found her strength. "No! No! I will never marry this man! I refused to marry him then, and I refuse him now!"
The old man looked furious as he slapped her mama. "You ungrateful bitch! Sheffield, I want my money back now!"
Edwina whimper as mean Lady grabbed her mama's arm and angrily shook her. "You are marrying Lord Heston now, otherwise!"
"Otherwise what?! You broke my family already, so tell me what else you could do worse than that."
It was then that Lord Sheffield smiled evilly as he stared at Edwina before turning towards her mama. "If you would not marry Lord Heston to settle our family debt, then we will make Edwina marry him? What say you, Heston? In eight years, the girl would be sixteen."
The old man stared at her, and then her mother gasped in horror. "You monsters, how could you even consider this cruelty? I will kill you! I will kill you all! AH!"
Mary clutched her heart as if she were in tremendous pain. "Mama!" Edwina ran towards her mother, who fell to the floor while clutching her heart. "Mama! Mama!
"Edwina, I am so sorry." Mary gasped tearfully, and right in her arms, she took her last breath, leaving Edwina alone in this cruel dark world."
(End of Flashback)
"My mother died that day, and the same day I was engaged to Lord Heston as they raised me to be his wife.
When I turned sixteen, they married us in the same room where he was going to marry my mama. Heston and Sheffield's were smart; they knew if Queen found out, she would try to intervene, so they quickly married me without giving me a proper debut in society. Once we got married, no one, not even Queen, could do anything, and I was trapped in a relationship forever."
(Flashback)
It's been one year of misery that Edwina endured as the maid dressed her up in a full-sleeve gown to hide visible bruises on her arms. Like the last twelve months, every time her dreaded monthly bleeding arrived, her Lord husband would beat her even more for not bearing him an heir.
Two days ago, he burned her back with hot poker for failure and threatened her that if she failed him again, she would suffer the worst fate.
"The guests have arrived, Your Grace." Mrs. Baillie informed her.
Edwina nods her head as she inquires about her husband. "Is my husband greeting guests?"
"My lady Duke Heston has taken ill this morning, and the doctor advised him to rest. It's His Grace's wish that you will attend guests on his behalf under my supervision, of course."
Edwina was relieved to hear Lord Heston had fallen sick. Hopefully, this sickness will take his life and free her from his cruelty. "Alright, Mrs. Baillie, I am ready to attend to our guests."
Edwina walked with the housekeeper as she informed her of the necessary details about her guests.
"Aside from them, there is Prince Frederick. He is passing through our state for some business after attending season in London. Rumours are he was this close to getting engaged, but the girl who was also season Diamond chose Duke of Hastings proposal."
"It must be true love if she chose a Duke over a Prince." Edwina mused while Mrs. Baillie tutted in disapproval. "She must be caught in scandal; otherwise, any sensible girl would choose a prince over a mere lord."
Edwina wanted to disagree, but she knew if she did that, then Lord Heston would be told.
They entered the sitting room, and Edwina perfectly curtsied to her guests as she welcomed them. "Welcome to York,"
She looked up, and it seemed the world stopped as colourful fireworks burst everywhere as she saw the most handsome prince with perfect blonde hair and blue eyes right in front of her. The prince ignored his fellow gentlemen as he stepped closer and kissed her gloved hand. "It's an honour to meet you, my lady."
In that moment, Edwina knew her life was never the same.
(End of Flashback)
"Edwina and I soon became friends after that. We bonded over our loneliness and our similarities, and soon those feelings grew into something more. It's strange that the feelings I developed for her were something I never experienced, not even when I briefly courted your sister."
Anthony knew that feeling all too well as he stared at his wife. "If you really start loving her, then why not take her away with you?"
Frederick sighed as Edwina looked sad. "I tried; the day I was about to depart, I confessed my love, but Edwina denied running away with me."
(Flashback)
"Come away with me; I cannot understand why a girl like you married a man like Lord Heston. Please, my dear Edwina, come with me. I will ask my aunt to annul your marriage. I will marry you and take you away to Prussia."
"Oh! Freddy, if only you had met me before, but I fear Lord Heston and my grandparents. I fear they will exploit you for their own gain, and I cannot live with myself if they use me to hurt you."
"But what about you?" Frederick asked desperately.
"I will be fine, my love; Lord Heston is extremely old and getting sicker as the day goes by. I overheard his doctor diagnosing him with diabetes and a weak heart, and everyone knows he cannot have children anymore. Frederick will die any day, and I will be free from him and my grandparents. Please, my love, if you truly love me, can you wait until I am a widow?"
Frederick sighed as he leaned down to kiss his love. They both kissed each other desperately, and that kiss held promise that they would wait for each other as long as it took.
(End of Flashback)
Anthony heard the lovers tale of patience and waiting, but he still cannot understand one thing. "If you decided to wait for Heston to die naturally, then why did you take his life?"
Kate and Frederick both looked angry as tears dropped from Edwina's eyes. "I never wanted to kill him; even when I prayed for his death day and night, I never wanted to kill him."
Frederick enveloped Edwina in his arms, who held him tightly. "Freddy was like a beacon of hope in my life as I endured another year with Lord Heston, who became more cruel and desperate to have an heir and failed to have it. Freddy visited us at Christmas, and Lord Heston thought he was there to make more trade deals, but in truth, he would visit me. Then a few months later, my happiness increased as Lord Heston suffered a heart stroke, and his doctors told him to get his treatment in London if he wanted to survive, and soon we returned to Tonne the Queen, who sent us an invitation to opera."
(Flashback)
Edwina was confused by that small encounter. She never thought anyone would be this pleased to see Lord Heston, but that woman was so pleased, and then the affection she showed her completely boggles her mind.
"I never knew Albert's daughter would be such a beauty. Too bad he was not under my debt like your greedy grandparents; otherwise, instead of your worthless body, I would be fucking that beauty."
Edwina cringed in disgust as she saw her husband harden beneath his breeches as the light dimmed, but they could perfectly see Lady Bridgerton with her across from them.
Suddenly, he grabbed her hand and put it on his hard member while he looked at Lady Bridgerton. "Fuck me with your worthless hands; fuck me so I can imagine it's her."
Edwina wanted to die, but she performed this horrific act while he kept staring at Lady Bridgerton.
In a few seconds, Lord Heston was spraying his seed on her hands and grunting disappointedly. "Over too soon; go wash your hands and return soon."
Trying to keep her tears at bay, she quickly left her box and rushed towards her retiring room but tears made it impossible for her to see clearly. Thankfully there was a fountain nearby.
Once she scrubbed her hands in fountain water, she washed her face to hide her tears, wishing something had happened and that monster had died in that box.
She left and was walking towards her box when a hand grabbed her arm.
'Lady Bridgerton?!'
She told her to be quiet as she led her towards a deserted area. Only once, when they were completely alone, did she turn to face her. "Bon."
Edwina frowned as Lady Bridgerton gently cupped her face. "Bon, it's me, your Didi, Kathani Didi. Do you remember me!?"
Suddenly, she remembered her big sister and how she was separated from her and their mama. "Didi! Is that truly you?"
She tearfully nodded her head, and both fell into each other's arms. "I am so sorry I could not arrive in time, but now I am here, and I will not let anyone hurt you."
"Didi! Mama! Those Sheffield's, Heston."
"I know, I know." Her Didi spoke soothingly as she hugged her tightly.
"Didi, there is so much I have to tell you."
"Kate."
Both moved away, and in the shadow, Edwina saw Lord Bridgerton from far away.
"Didi, meet me at the serpentine, I will send you note when I can come to meet you there."
Edwina then rushed towards the opposite side as she saw Didi distract her husband.
By the time she returned to her box, Edwina was happier than ever because she was not alone in this world anymore.
(End of Flashback)
"I have waited three days for Edwina's letter to arrive, and I made sure we always stayed at home because I do not want to miss it." Kate admits, and Anthony remembers those blissful days he spent with his wife after opera and only left home three days later.
"So her message came three days after opera?"
Kate nods her head, and Anthony squeezes her hand to show her he is not angry at her deception anymore.
"We met at the serpentine, and luckily you decided to visit Whites with Simon, and Heston was visiting his doctor."
"It was hard to get rid of Mrs. Baillie, but since she was busy that day, I was free to leave with my trusted maid."
Kate smiled at her sister as she told him. "It was one of the best days of both our lives. We both talked as our true selves shared our sorrow and our happiness.
( Flashback)
"Didi, it seems you really love your Lord Bridgerton; please tell him the truth now that you found me. I am sure he will forgive you and accept you as your wife."
Edwina can see her. Didi was not convinced, as she told her. "I will tell him everything, but only after you are safe with your prince Bon, you must leave with him at once. You do not have to wait for his death anymore. I am in a good position to plead your case to our Queen. I am sure once she finds out what those Sheffield's did to our family, to our mama, I am sure The Queen will punish them severely, along with that monstrous Heston."
"Really Didi?" Edwina inquires, hopefully.
"Really. Write a letter to your prince and tell her to take you away from here. Once you are gone, I will tell Anthony everything, and hopefully he will help me plead your case."
(End of Flashback)
Anthony squeezed his eyes shut because he now remembered what happened that same night. "I told you about the surprise invitation."
Kate sadly nods her head. "That invitation messed up everything. You see, Edwina sent a letter to Freddy on my request the very same night. The next day, I tried to contact her, but you told me that we needed to spend the night at Bridgerton House before dinner so we could look over the preparations ourselves. I have to tell you the truth soon before it comes out, but before that, I need to tell Edwina about a change of plans, so that night I snuck out of the house to visit my sister.
( Flashback)
Dressed in her black hooded cape Kate climbed thick weeds towards an open balcony. Luckily, the distance was not that high, but through the open door, she saw something she never wished to see.
Her sister was on her hands and knees as Heston took her brutally from behind while she cried in pain.
Her young sister was defiled by this monster, and suddenly Kate could not stand it.
Picking up a nearby vase, she crept behind that lecherous bastard and hit him hard on the head. "Ah!"
Heston collapsed unconscious on the bed, and her sister quickly moved to stand up. "Didi!"
"Come Bon! We must leave!"
"But Didi!?" Edwina protested in fear as Heston whined.
"There is no time. I think Anthony invited someone who knew my late mistress Katherine, so it's important we tell him everything tonight, but first I need you safe."
But before anyone could move, someone grabbed both their hairs, and Edwina was thrown on the floor while Kate struggled to be free. "What truth are we speaking about? Huh? And what is this, Didi? Who are you? tell me? Tell me?"
Heston yanked Kate's hair and turned her towards the bed. "You know what happened to naughty ladies like you who left the protection of their homes to visit other men? Let me show you what happened to them."
Kate struggles as he shoves her towards the bed, but before he can move an inch towards her, he screams loudly in pain.
Blood drops scattered on her hood as Lord Heston collapsed with a knife on his back, and behind him, Edwina looked shocked.
Kate, in horror, dropped behind Heston's body and touched his back, which was now soaking in blood.
She watched her hand red with blood as her sister looked shocked.
Suddenly someone was pounding the door, and Kate knew there was no time left.
"Come, Edwina, we need to leave."
"No, I cannot leave."
But Kate did not give her choice as she pushed her sister down the balcony towards the garden, and for a split second, she turned around and saw an old woman before she jumped down and dragged her sister away."
(End of Flashback)
Afterwards, I bring my sister to Bridgerton House, but not before leaving a note to deliver to Prince Frederick by Edwina's trusted maid, who helped me enter Heston House."
"Luckily, I had arrived in London that very day after receiving Edwina's letter a few days prior, in which she told me about her long-lost sister who could help us. I arrived at Heston House and was surprised to see the entire ton gathering there, and before I could enter the house, Edwina's most trusted maid Betty gave me the note they left for me, and I knew we needed to get Edwina out of London as soon as possible."
"It was not easy," Kate admits. "I wanted to tell you, but you left, and then I knew it was too late. I was sneaking away with Edwina from the back gardens when Frederick arrived, and before we knew it, we were forcing Edwina inside the carriage to take her away before she could be captured for Lord Heston's death."
"Only she was never suspected of Heston's death." Anthony informed them as he saw their shocked faces. "What?" Edwina inquires.
"Mrs. Billie saw Kate dragging you away with her hands covered with blood. She told everyone it was a woman who killed Lord Heston and abducted his wife."
"But Didi is innocent?!" Edwina cried.
"Do not worry; your grandparents blame the New Duke of York for the Heston murder and your abduction, while he thinks that you committed murder and ran away with your lover."
"What a mess?!" Frederick said, and Anthony glared at him. "A mess that could be avoided if you told your aunt about yours and Edwina's relationship instead of listening to a seventeen-year-old girl who has been kept in fear her whole life."
Frederick looked guilty, while Edwina looked near tears as Kate glared at her husband. "Anthony! Let's not point fingers when everyone in this room makes mistakes."
Anthony sighed as he stared at these people, who suffered a lot in their own ways.
"I am sorry, Edwina; I am sorry, Your Highness. I am the last person to criticise you, but the fact remains that we need to do something to protect the women we love."
Frederick nods his head earnestly. "Tell us how we could do that."
Anthony braced himself for something he never dared to imagine, but for his wife and his new sister sake, he had to do. "We need to go to London and see your aunt, because if anyone in this world can protect them, it is the Queen of England herself.